A Hand Full of Stars
Mid-twentieth century Damascus, Syria, is the locale of an autobiographical novel detailing four years of a youth's growth to adulthood. When told by his greatly admired "Uncle" Schami "... I have experienced so much that was important ... If I had learned to write, I would have the power to preserve the mountains, fields, and valleys, and every thorn on the stem of a rose ...", the high-spirited 14-year-old narrator secures a journal, thinking of his writing as a personal rearview mirror. His secret journal entries prove him to be forward-looking, too, and they mature throughout the book, just as he does. He experiences the boredom of labor, and he becomes involved in a romantic relationship; he observes the impacts of political oppression and censorship. After witnessing his journalistic mentor's efforts, he assumes a leadership role in putting out a subversive underground newspaper. Several types of courage are exhibited within writing rich in characterization, full of dialogue and memorable in setting. Specifics about the hot, dusty region in which the story takes place and details about the culture of poverty where an education cannot be taken for granted interlace an impressive, award-winning book first published in Germany and subsequently translated into more than ten languages. ©1990 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Translated by Rika Lesser. Translated from the German
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 12 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
20th Century
Autobiography/Memoir
Courage
Diaries and Journals
Economic Hardship and Poverty
Education
Free Speech
Historical Fiction
Journalism and Media
Love and Romance
Oppression
Politics and Political Systems
Syrians and Syrian Americans
Translated Books
World History
Diversity subjects:
Arab
Asian
Middle East
Publisher:
Dutton
Publish Year: 1990
Pages: 195
ISBN: 0525445358
CCBC Location: Fiction, Schami