Module 1 Shadow of Ghadames

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY Stolz, Joelle. 2004. THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES. New York, NY: Delacorte Press. ISBN 385731043.
(originally published in France in 1999 by Bayard Editions Jeunesse(Les Ombres de Ghadames), translation by Catherine Temerson)

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Eleven year old Malika is growing up in Libya during the nineteenth century. She experiences many restrictions due to her gender. A stranger enters her life and helps her rethink some of the traditional views.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDLING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Malika’s story is an interesting read about an area of the world that is not very well known to many Americans. The story’s setting in Ghadames is central to the book. Women were not allowed to walk the streets freely and therefore socialized on the rooftops only with other women. Stolz uses these women only conversations as a way to communicate to the reader what life was like. It was probably very accurate that the women were not unhappy and did not seem to mind the status quo. It would have been unrealistic if the women characters were all acting like women’s liberation members. Women’s rights or lack thereof is only exhibited when Malika and her second mother sneak out of the house. The story’s mood changes because the reader realizes the danger of women leaving the house alone.

Much of the story surrounds Malika’s coming of age. She is learning from her elders that she is almost the age to become a wife. This will probably surprise young readers today because she is only eleven years old. Malika is more interested in seeing the world like her brother and learning to read. The brother character, Jasim, is an important character because it allows the reader to compare and contrast the freedoms allowed to young boys and girls. Stolz is very consistent is showing that Jasim is learning to read and use business skills, while Malika is doing housework and cooking.

Muslim culture and religious practices are also highlighted in the story. Malika and her family have daily prayer, strict diet and rituals of specialized bathing. Readers will see how all aspects of her life are intertwined with her religion.

THE SHADOW OF GHADAMES is an interesting look into the female Muslim world that few experience.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Batchelder Award 2005
“This quiet story is notable for the intimate picture of the traditional Muslim world that it conveys; unfortunately, not until the author's note at the end is the time period made evident. The imprecise use of language may make it difficult for readers to visualize this distant world and to understand the characters' motivations. Still, this novel would be useful in schools studying this part of the world.” SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
“Starred Review. The story of an outsider who unsettles a household and helps a young person to grow is certainly nothing new, and some of the lessons here are purposeful. But Stolz invigorates her tale with elegant prose and a deft portrayal of a girl verging on adolescence. The vivid backdrop is intoxicating, but the story's universal concerns will touch readers most: sibling jealously, confusion about adult customs, and a growing interest in a world beyond family. BOOKLIST
E. CONNECTIONS
Readers might like to discuss how their families would deal with difficult family decisions and who makes family decisions.
Female readers would enjoy comparing and contrasting their home life and role to Malika’s.
Use nonfiction materials to learn more about Libya and the city of Ghadames.