Oman

Children's Literature

This installment in the "Modern Middle East nations and their strategic place in the world" series describes the land, history, politics, religions and people of Oman, a country situated on the Persian Gulf. Set up like a traditional textbook, the sections are well written, albeit somewhat repetitive, and the content is interesting. The topics seem to be presented fairly, as with the look at oil in the country—the source of wealth, but also the source of pollution. The Sultan, in power since the 1970s, is portrayed as a progressive leader in terms of the environment and education, but at the same time seems satisfied with only 16% of Oman's females in the workforce. A section about foreign relations will be of particular interest to older readers, since it describes Oman's significant role in helping British and American troops in the region. With a subject like the Middle East, it is hard to have a text very up-to-date, but there is mention of Oman's position on America's recent war against Iraq. Photos are plentiful throughout the book, but many are not of the highest quality. The book includes a chronology, glossary, index, a further reading section and Internet resources. The Foreign Policy Research Institute, a Middle Eastern think tank, lends credibility as Editorial Consultant on the series. 2004, Mason Crest Publishers, Ages 12 to 15.
— Jane Harrington