Review: THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES by Joelle Stolz

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Stolz, Joelle. 2004. The Shadows of Ghadames. Translated by Catherine Temerson. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385901314.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In The Shadows of Ghadames by Joelle Stolz, we meet Malika, a young Berber girl who lives in the city of Ghadin southern Lybia at the end of the 19^th century. The story, told by Malika, begins with Malika’s merchant father leaving on a two week journey. In the city of Ghadames, the women wait at home on the rooftops while the men populate the streets, conduct business, and are allowed to travel. At twelve years old, Malika will soon be of marriageable age, and the freedoms of childhood will give way to the restrictions being a woman. Malika struggles with the constraints of the traditional way of life, and dreams of a life beyond the walls of her house. She doesn’t think it is fair that just her, Jasim, is allowed travel and learn to read just because he is a boy. Change occurs in Malika’s point of view when Bilkisu, her father’s second wife, rescues a fugitive who is injured while being chased by the men of the city. Bilkisu and Malika’s mother Miriem make the decision to disobey the norms of their society and hide the fugitive on the rooftop. This is when Malika begins to realize that the women have a power of their own.  

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Originally written in French, this story is set in the late 19^th century in southern Lybia. The text is historically accurate in its representation of the roles of the men and women of that time period and location. The text describes the religious beliefs of the traditional Muslim world, and how those affected their daily lives. The description of the character’s clothing and the architecture of the city were also accurate according to the information about the ancient city and its population during an on-line search. The author depicted authentic relationships when she described Malika’s family as one in which her father had two wives, “the wife from home, and the “wife of the journey. In the author’s note at the end, Stolz addresses the time period of the story, and contrasts the city of Ghadames in the 19^th century with the modern city.

 My one complaint was that I would have liked to have known the time-period at the beginning of the book. I found the book to be captivating. The writing style flows and carries the reader along with Malika from the beginning of the story to the end.  The Shadows of Ghadames was a book that I did not want to put down, and would highly recommend for others to read.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

KIRKUS REVIEWS: Setting her tale at the end of the 19th century, Stolz not only weaves the sights, sounds, and daily rhythms of life in Ghadames into a vivid tapestry, she creates a cast of distinct characters, each of which displays a unique blend of strengths and weaknesses, as well as sometimes unexpected intelligence and compassion.

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW: “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.”

5. CONNECTIONS

This would be a great story to read while studying women’s movements in America. Students could draw connections between the woman suffragists and the strong female characters in the Shadows of the Ghademes. Students could also write a paper comparing their lifestyle to that of Malika.

*Other children’s novels with strong female characters:

O’Dell, Scott. Island of the Blue Dolphins. ISBN-10: 0440439884
Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia. ISBN-10: 9780064401845
Creech, Sharon. Walk Two Moons. ISBN-10: 0064405176