Al_ryanleagre's Reviews > Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind

Shabanu is the story of a desert family and their struggles to endure life in an arid, dangerous world. Shabanu and her sister Phulan have reached the ripe age where they can now be married to men, but their marriages are pre-arranged. Most of the story focuses on Phulan's upcoming marriage, all the while suriving the challanges of the desert. They are a nomadic people, and are forced to travel whenever the rain stops providing for them. All is normal until tragedy strikes the family, and Shabanu's life is transformed from normal to unbearable. She faces a difficult decision, between one that tears away her freedom, and the other that provides her and her family safety and security for the rest of their lives.

This is a great book to have students read in order to expose them to vastly different cultures than our own. However, the story takes a long time to draw the reader in, which for me did not take place until half way through the book. But, if you can reach that point, you'll begin to love the story and respect Shabanu, who faces difficulties greater than I can even imagine.