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Overview
Ever since she was a little girl, Amani has wanted to be a shepherd, just like her beloved grandfather, Sido. For generations her family has grazed sheep above the olive groves of the family homestead near Hebron. But now Amani's family home is being threatened by encroaching Jewish settlements. As Amani struggles to find increasingly rare grazing land for her starving sheep, her uncle and brother are tempted to take a more militant stance against the settlers. Then she meets Jonathan, an American boy visiting his father. Away from the pressures of their families, and despite their differences, the two young people discover a secret meadow where Amani can graze her sheep. A moving novel about one of the most hotly disputed pieces of land on earth.
Synopsis
Ever since she was a little girl, Amani has wanted to be a shepherd, just like her beloved grandfather, Sido. For generations her family has grazed sheep above the olive groves of the family homestead near Hebron. But now Amani's family home is being threatened by encroaching Jewish settlements. As Amani struggles to find increasingly rare grazing land for her starving sheep, her uncle and brother are tempted to take a more militant stance against the settlers. Then she meets Jonathan, an American boy visiting his father. Away from the pressures of their families, and despite their differences, the two young people discover a secret meadow where Amani can graze her sheep. A moving novel about one of the most hotly disputed pieces of land on earth.
Children's Literature
Amani knew by the time she was six years old that she wanted to be a shepherd. She loved sheep, the mountain tops, and her grandfather, Seedo, who agreed to teach her how to become a shepherd. Her mama is against the idea because she feels it is too dangerous for such a young child and a girl. It is only because Seedo, the head of the family, that Amani is allowed to go with him. The dangerous mountain trails, the hard headed ram Nasty, and keeping up with wandering sheep are not the things Amani had to worry about most when she decided to follow in her grandfather's footsteps. Once summer is over her parents want her to give up her dream and go to school. Once again it is Seedo who comes up with a compromise. Amani's cousins think that she is crazy and call her names and exclude her from their gatherings. Amani still refuses to give up her dream. As time goes by there are two things that Amani cannot ignore. One is that her grandfather's health starts to decline and the second one is how the settlers of Israel are taking her family's land in Palestine. Amani must learn to survive in a very turbulent time in her life, the life of her family, and her country. She has much to lose and gain. Readers will want to know how Amani is able to deal with issues that are totally out of control and hold onto what is most dear to her. This book reflects conflicts that young people currently face in our world in an informed, compassionate, engaging way. Reviewer: Laura J. Brown