Leyla: The Black Tulip

This book is wonderful not only to teach about different times, but different people and places. This book talks a little about Muslim culture, and talks about the old tradition of keeping harems.

Leyla ends up selling herself into slavery in order to save her family, which has been suffering ever since her father disappeared. Opportunities open up for her, however, as she is added to the harem of the Sultan in Istanbul (the harem consists of at least a thousand woman who do many different tasks). She finds a place in the gardens growing tulips and succeeds in creating a black one. She also finds a place for her talent at artwork despite being in a muslim society, and gains the confidence of a prince and princess.

loved it