The Shadows of Ghadames

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stolz, Joelle. 1999. THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES. New York; Delacorte Press. ISBN 0440419492

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The Shadows of Ghadames is a historical fiction which takes place in the Libyan city of Ghadames at the end of the nineteenth century. The story is about eleven year old Malika who is quickly approaching her twelfth birthday where she will be at the marriageable age and be restricted to the world of women. In Ghadames, these restrictions confine woman to doing their house duties on the upper levels of their homes and visiting with each other on the roof tops while men conduct business in alleyways and boys play in the streets. Malika dreams of traveling beyond her city but must comes to terms that she is tied to the traditions of her people, until one night when a stranger comes into their home and offers her a chance to grow and explore the world outside her city by teaching her to read.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Joelle Stolz has written a story that portrays the life and traditions of Ghadames, a Muslim community in Libya around the end of the nineteenth century.
Stolz weaves several cultural markers which creates a sense of accuracy and authenticity to the story. Within the story the cultural markers include married women wearing veils to cover their faces and gold coins across their foreheads, the uncle having authority over the women of the house when the brother is gone and the discussion of two sets of descendents one of lighter skin and the other darker skin and the Berber dialect and the soft sounding Hausa language. The Muslim culture is explored and helps readers understand the issues and restrictions that are put on the Muslim women living in Ghadames. These restrictions include women being confined to their homes and only being allowed to roam the city by rooftops, taking off their jewelry when the man of the house is gone, and performing daily chores that include housekeeping, cooking and food preservation. Through the point of view of a twelve year old girl, Malika, readers will see the strained relationship between Malika and her brother because of Malika’s jealousy toward him because she is not allowed to attend school, learn to read or travel with her father throughout the city. The author also reveals the submissiveness that women are under when Malika makes the statement, “men step putting their heels down first, in manly, self-confident fashion, and women put their toes down first, timidly, in a way that befits and inferior creature. That’s how we’re taught to walk by our mothers when we’re very little and heaven help us if we forget it!”
The dialect that Stolz uses helps to connect the reader to the Muslim Cultures. This dialect included vocabulary such as Jinn(spirits), malafa (rectangle of embroidered wool tied under the chin with laces that girls wear on their heads until married), Kerna (wide, hard base of a palm tree branch) and burnoose (clothing). This vocabulary helps to enhance and give authenticity to the culture and story.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Booklist: “The vivid backdrop is intoxicating, but the story's universal concerns will touch readers most: sibling jealously, confusion about adult customs, and a growing interest in a world beyond family.”

5. CONNECTION
Other fictional books that deal with the Middle East:
Nye, Shihab Naomi. SITTI’S SECRET. ISBN 9780689817069
Khan, Rukhsana. THE ROSES IN MY CARPET. ISBN 9781550050691