I was convinced by this moving story of a young teenage girl, Shabanu, raised in a nomadic desert family. Her account of her daily life - it's written in the first person - gave me some real insight into her life, and its real differences from 21st century European life. But her emotions as she confronts the marriage choices made for her as circumstances change around her are ones it's easy to identify with too. She has some very hard lessons to learn which are not the kind of lesson it would be palatable for a young western girl to accept. But as her mother warns, 'Shabanu, you are wild as the wind. You must learn to obey. Otherwise . . . I am afraid for you.' ( )

What a hard life these people live, and more so the women. I do not understand how women can be treated so horribly. Shabanu is loved by her father, and yet he says he'd killer her if she embarrassed the family. And he means that. Literally. ( )

Shabanu, the eleven year old daughter of a camel herder, must sacrifice her dreams for the sake of her family and become the fourth wife of a man older than her father once she comes of age. This first edition of this Contemporary Realistic Fiction, set in the Cholistan Desert of Pakistan, was a Newberry Award Winner in 1990. The first book in the series of three, Shabanu gives some insight for readers into the coming of age for a young girl in the Muslim culture in Southern Asia.

A fascinating and powerful coming-of-age story about a young Muslim girl living in the Cholistan Desert of Pakistan and coming to terms with her upcoming arranged marriage. Recommended. ( )

Shabanu, daughter of a camel herder, has grown up with more freedom than many girls in Pakistan. However, changes are coming for Shabanu. Her older sister is soon to be married, and Shabanu herself is approaching womanhood. When a frightening encounter changes everything for her family, Shabanu must make a difficult choice.

It took me a little while to get into this book, but by the time I was halfway in, I could hardly put it down. I do wonder how accurate it is in its portrayal of the culture it represents. ( )