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Clever Ali

Name: Clever Ali
Author: Nancy Farmer
ISBN: 9780439370141

by Nancy Farmer, Gail De Marcken (Illustrator), Gail de Marcken

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Overview

Three-time Newbery Honor Book author Nancy Farmer joins bestselling artist Gail de Marcken in this enchanting, original tale told in the tradition of the Arabian Nights.

Ali is finally old enough to join his father in tending pigeons for the evil Sultan of Cairo. The boy is given a pet pigeon, but warned NEVER to feed it too much, lest it become spoiled and lazy. But Ali feels sorry for his hungry pet and disobeys. When the overfed bird becomes greedy and ruins a plate of the Sultan's cherries, Ali is in big trouble! Now he has only three days to replace the Sultan's 600 cherries from the snowy mountains of Syria. Only then can he save his father from the dreaded Oubliette: a deep pit where a giant demon is waiting!

Synopsis

Publishers Weekly

In Farmer's (The House of the Scorpion) pleasing tale set in long-ago Cairo, Ali's father holds a crucial position as the Sultan's pigeon keeper. The pigeons carry messages across Egypt to and from the ruler. When Ali overfeeds one of the birds, chaos results, and the boy must come up with a plan to save his father from certain death in the Sultan's "deep, dark oubliette." The Sultan demands 600 cherries within three days (that "only come by swift ship from the snowy mountains of Syria"). Ali uses the pigeons in an ingenious plan to complete the task. Farmer bases her tale in part on an actual 12th-century ruler who craved fresh cherries from Syria and received them via 600 pigeons. The repetition of phrases recalls the oral tradition, though the book's lengthy narrative may deter read-alouds. Resembling a fable in some parts, historical fiction in others, the tale offers glimpses of this ancient culture (e.g., Ali's father has two wives; men and women live in separate quarters). De Marcken's (The Quiltmaker's Gift) watercolors take on the richness and palette of silks. She incorporates Arabic script in the borders and Islamic mosaics behind many of the text blocks. While the story contains several morals, the upbeat surprise ending ensures that they do not feel heavy-handed. All ages. (Oct.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

About the Author, Nancy Farmer

A former chemistry teacher and insect pathology technician who grew up in a quirky hotel on the Arizona/Mexican border, Nancy Farmer's futurisic, fantastical adventures -- like the 2002 National Book Award Winner The House of the Scorpion -- are clearly a reflection of a happily unconventional life.

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly

Children's Literature - Kathleen Karr

On turning seven, Ali takes "the first step on the long road that leads to manhood." He must move into the men's part of the house and learn about pigeons with his father, the Keeper of Pigeons for the wicked Sultan of Cairo. Ali is afraid, but says nothing. So begins the saga that leads to the training of his own pigeon, Othman—who, most importantly, Ali must never feed too much. Forget all of Nancy Farmer's honors. One only need read this slim story to realize she is a consummate writer. Farmer effortlessly describes the cultural differences (the living arrangement between two wives and one husband; the separation between sexes of housing and meals). Her word choices, turns of phrasing, and use of repetition are perfection. The resulting story is sly, and Ali clever indeed. But wait—the book is prefaced with an irresistible excerpt from the medieval intellectual Al-Jahiz's "In Praise of Books," and the whole is illustrated with wonderful thought and grace by Gail de Marcken's lovely watercolor pictures and Arabic marginal notations. It is a beautiful book.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 4-Farmer presents an imaginative tale based on a true story about a 12th-century Egyptian ruler, Al-Azeez. Ali, at age seven, works with his father taking care of messenger pigeons for the Sultan of Cairo, a harsh and wicked man. He is given a young bird to train, and although he has been warned that the animal will become "spoiled and selfish" if fed too much, he still sneaks Othman sweets. When the greedy pigeon disrupts the Sultan's feast of rare cherries, the cruel man threatens to throw Ali's father into the oubliette, a dark hole leading down to the domain of an enormous yellow-eyed demon. Ali has three days to replace the 600 cherries and save his father. Vivid watercolors depict the characters and the setting and lend atmosphere to the action. Readers will be especially impressed with the dramatic, fiery-red illustration of the demon surrounded by his jewels. Intricate patterns decorate the pages and appear behind text boxes. De Marcken's endnote explains that these designs have been copied "from Cairo's mosques and Islamic antiquities," giving the art an authentic Arabic flavor. Throughout, elegant borders feature the words of al-J hiz's "In Praise of Books" (a poem presented at the tale's beginning) written in the Kufic form of Arabic. This beautifully written story is a treat for the eyes and ears.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Ali has turned seven years old, and has taken the first step on the road to manhood: He's learning to be a royal pigeon-keeper like his father. Every morning, Ali and his father set out through the streets of Cairo to the palace of the wicked and cruel Sultan. There, father cares for all of the Sultan's pigeons and Ali cares for one, whom he names Othman. Father has only one rule for Ali: never to overfeed Othman or he will become spoiled and selfish. But Ali saves all of his desserts for Othman, because the pigeon loves them so. Alas, greedy Othman steals a cherry from the dreaded Sultan, and clever Ali must use all his wits to avoid being thrown into the Sultan's demon-inhabited oubliette. De Marcken's jewel-like watercolors adorned with Arabic calligraphy and mosaic patterns are well suited to this sweet and gently humorous tale. Though the text is lengthy for this format, it is replete with silly sound effects for a fun one-on-one read-aloud. (Picture book. 4-6)