Nobody's Child [Paperback]

Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

When the Armenians of Turkey are marched into the desert to die in 1915, Mariam is rescued by her Turkish friend Rustem, and lives with mixed acceptance as a guest in his father's harem. Kevork is shot and left for dead in a mass grave in the desert, but is rescued by nomadic Arabs and nurtured back to health.

Both teens must choose between the security of an adopted home or the risk of death in search of family.

A sequel to the highly successful The Hunger, Nobody's Child is a stirring and engaging account of one of the twentieth century's most significant events.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Marsha Skrypuch includes references to the three major massacres against Armenians: first, Adana in 1909, then the genocide in 1915; then, she takes us back to the Hamidian massacres in 1896... In this way, the novel presents the three great catastrophes that befell Armenians in a twenty-year period and provides an important background and context to the psychology of the Armenian characters.

...The characterizations are strong. We care for the children and admire their strength. They and their parents are victims, yet the children refuse to give in. They always accept the struggle to survive in the hope of being reunited. They have chances for a safer life but refuse to give up their Armenian identity for it.

...We must thank Marsha Skrypuch for using her talents once again to tell a story from our past that will help explain to younger generations an unfortunate part of our history. At the same time, the characters in the novel exhibit the strength and resolve of Armenians to survive. I urge you to read Marsha Skrypuch's compelling novel, Nobody's Child."

Dr. Lorne Shirinian, author of The Armenian Genocide: Resisting the Inertia of Indifference, and Head of Department, Department of English, Royal Military College of Canada

From the Inside Flap

A sequel to The Hunger, this is a stirring and engaging account of an Armenian girl and a Turkish boy during the Armenian Genocide.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Dundurn (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550024426
• ISBN-13: 978-1550024425
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,847,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marsha Skrypuch is the author of many books for children and young adults. She has written more novels about the Armenian genocide than any other author in the English speaking world, yet she is not Armenian. "I write about people who must give up everything that is dear to them and travel to a new country. To me, these people are heroic."

Marsha tricked her teachers into thinking she knew how to read until it all caught up with her in grade 4 when she failed the provincial reading exam. Adding insult to injury, they made her repeat the year. As the tallest and oldest kid in the class, she didn't want to be seen learning to read with little skinny books and she was too proud to ask for help, so she taught herself how to read by taking out the fattest book in the children's section of the Brantford Public Library -- Oliver Twist. She kept on renewing it for a whole year. Reading that book was a turning point in her life. She decided that she loved reading, and wanted to write too.

Marsha loves speaking with students of all ages, especially those who are struggling academically or who feel "different".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling story about often forgotten event, April 5, 2004

By 

Author-thing (Hamiltonacorn, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nobody's Child (Paperback)

Nobody's Child is a moving and compelling story that addresses serious issues with charm, power, and hope. The book humanizes the tragedy of the Armenian genocide through its strong portrayal of young adults caught in the middle. The young characters in this book, through their determination, courage, and love for each other and their families provide a powerful illustration of the fortitude, compassion, the hopefulness, and the strength of young people even in the most difficult circumstances.

While not shying away from the vivid portrayal of events that were part of this terrible moment in history, the author skillfully manages make the portrayal not overwhelm the young reader. The reader has a foothold (the characters' stories and their immediate context) in the larger historical moment.

Finally the author is careful to portray compassionate and decent Armenians AND Turks. The author expands the reader's understanding of different religious and cultural experiences, not simply painting "good guys" and "bad guys." The terrible thing is the genocide. Those who acted with compassion, integrity, and courage on both sides are celebrated. In the end, they are who we care about. They are who we learn from.

Yet again, Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch has created compelling fiction that addresses important issues, broadening the reader's understanding of the peoples of the world and their history. After reading Skrypuch's books, I believe that readers will take a personal interest in those peoples and their history.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific, must-read book for teens, April 14, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Nobody's Child (Paperback)

A superb read, and a tough, no nonsense look at the Armenian Genocide of the early twentieth century. Marsha Skrypuch helps us to remember the atrocities of the past, so that hopefully history will not be repeated.

This book is a prequel, in a sense, to *The Hunger*. If you've read that, this is a must read. If you haven't read *The Hunger*, I suggest you do so now, and then read *Nobody's Child*. You won't be disappointed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, February 11, 2005

By 

stargaterfan (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nobody's Child (Paperback)

I read this book for the Red Maple awards, and I thought it was amazing! It shows what exactly happened at that time and the children's lives at that time. I haden't read the hunger before but I could still follow! Great job!