The Shepherd's Granddaughter [Hardcover]

Anne Laurel Carter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008

Amani longs to be a shepherd like her beloved grandfather Sido, who has tended his flock for generations, grazing sheep on their family’s homestead near Hebron. Amani loves Sido’s many stories, especially one about a secret meadow called the Firdoos. But as outside forces begin to encroach upon this hotly contested land, Amani struggles to find suitable grazing for her family’s now-starving herd. While her father and brother take a more militant stance against the intruding forces, Amani and her new American friend Jonathan accidentally stumble upon the Firdoos and begin to realize there is more to life than fighting over these disputed regions. Amani learns a difficult lesson about just what it will take to live in harmony with those who threaten her family’s way of life.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–8—Palestinian teen Amani tends her extended Muslim family's sheep alongside her beloved grandfather, Seedo, and helps tend their vineyards and olive groves. When their quiet rural life is disturbed by Israeli settlers encroaching on their land, Amani's uncle reacts with anger, while her father tries to resist peacefully with the help of a sympathetic rabbi. After Seedo dies, Amani has sole responsibility for the diminishing flock and experiences physical threat and gunfire from the settlers as well as friendship with their son, who just wants to return to New York. The tension escalates until Amani's family compound is destroyed, and her father and uncle are imprisoned. Carter strikes a splendid balance in character development, portraying both parties' flaws while demonstrating Palestinian sympathies. Background and cultural information are seamlessly woven into the narrative, which is written simply and clearly in a skillful depiction of a sensitive situation.—Joyce Adams Burner, formerly at Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Groundwood Books (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088899902X
• ISBN-13: 978-0888999023
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #331,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written fiction showing a conflict from one point of view, January 13, 2010

By 

M. Knapp "Maggie Knapp" (Fort Worth, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Shepherd's Granddaughter (Hardcover)

I have looked at this book several times and was always put off by the cover. Last night I started reading it and was immediately drawn in. The story follows independent Amani (starting from age 6 to mid-teens) as she and her close-knit Palestinian family deal with the conflict with Israel. I am not able to speak to the accuracy of the portrayal of politics in the book, and it is obvious this story is told from Amani's point of view. All that aside, the story is riveting, Amani and her family are wonderfully rich characters, and I predict you will find the book hard to put down. This book would spark an interesting discussion on the conflict Middle East, and could be a stepping stone to finding other books (both fiction and nonfiction) that portrayed the situation from the Israeli point of view. Suggestion to the publisher: add a map, and change the cover.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Important book that offers much for discussion!, May 13, 2010

By 

Staci "Life in the Thumb" (Jeddo, MI, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Shepherd's Granddaughter (Paperback)

When I finished this book I couldn't for the life of me understand why anyone would want to remove it from libraries. This book does not make Israeli's out to be evil people, but it does bring to light some of the issues that Palestinian's live with on a daily basis. I feel that this book is important because it gives notice to both sides of the story and portrays each side in favorable and unfavorable lights. Yes, Israeli's are portrayed, at times, as tyrants pushing their way into the lands occupied by Palestinians. But then the author shows how some Palestinian's want to react with violence and threats. We all know that this way of dealing with conflict can not continue, but how do you stop it??? Well, it sure as hell isn't by censoring and removing books that certain groups of people take issue with. We start by educating our children and showing them that violence, no matter which side of the fence you're on, is not the answer. And hope and pray that this new generation of humans will somehow bridge this cultural difference. Will it happen? I don't know, this conflict is ancient, but I do know that we need to have honest, thoughtful discussions about the issues. I for one will be talking about this book to the students at my school that I feel will appreciate the story within the covers and be smart enough to start asking questions, investigate, and make an informed decision about how they feel in regards to this situation. I urge you, the reader, to pick this book up and make that decision for yourself...should we allow groups who don't like that another point of view (other than theirs) is being brought to light and they want to stop you from questioning the information that you've gathered from the nightly news, newspaper, magazine, and the internet get away with censorship?????? Regardless of where you stand on this issue, this book deserves to be on the shelves of libraries worldwide. I am one librarian who will make sure that the copy at my middle school is never pulled from circulation.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving Insight ..., April 22, 2010

By 

Busy Mom (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Shepherd's Granddaughter (Paperback)

I have only become interested in the Middle Eastern conflict because it seems that there is more to the eye than what is being printed in the media. This book is definitely one of them. I am also starting a collection of books for my sons to read; books that are being banned in other countries or talk about controversial issues that we may not be aware of. This book is definitely going to be included in that personal library.

In this book, we meet Amani, who wants nothing more than to be a shepherd like her grandfather. Throughout this entire book, the story tells of how the Jewish settlers keep invading in the land that her ancestors have lived upon for hundreds of years. Not only that, the story also shows how her uncle and even her father got arrested for nothing more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is anger being stirred up especially towards the end, but Amani and her family find encouragement and support from the least likely supporters that she would have never imagined.

It is an insightful book and so very beautifully written. It is a moving account of a story told from a young child's eyes. If nothing else, this book will at least open your eyes to the fact that there are two sides to every conflict.

4/22/10