Gr. 7-10. Women, though mentioned in the holy books of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, have never really gotten their due. This book tries to rectify that situation in 18 stories. Using sacred writings as their basis, the five women authors have reshaped the stories of such individuals as Sarah, Mary Magdalene, Eve, and Khadiji, the wife of Mohammed. The authors also give voice to some unnamed women--for example, the servant girl who confronts Peter for denying Jesus. The stories are short and simply told, but they are intriguing and invite discussion. Two of the most interesting concern the dismissal of Hagar and Ishmael from Abraham's tents: one is told from Sarah's viewpoint; the other from Hagar's. The story endnotes give the basis for each telling. An interesting way of showing how three religions spring from the same sandy landscape.
Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
From the Inside Flap
Eighteen intriguing stories that give voice to often-overlooked figures from the holy writings of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Women—though seldom educated—played key roles in the development of these three great faiths, but their lives and contributions are rarely honored. The men who recorded and copied the sacred Scriptures and other important texts included very little about how women passed on their experiences of God through storytelling, song, and ritual.
With the help of imagination and careful research, Daughters of the Desert introduces us to the lives and loves, personalities and dreams of women who are only hinted at in the Scriptures, but whose faith and strength were vital to the growth of their beliefs. Taking as starting points passages from the Hebrew and Christian Bibles and the Qur’an, this diverse collection of short stories allows us to hear the voices of our common female ancestors loud and clear.
Ideal for anyone who has ever wondered what life was like for our spiritual foremothers, these stories bring life and breath to the past. What the Scriptures have often only outlined in passing is here fully imagined—from thrilling events that decided the fate of thousands to everyday moments of friendship and love.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
