Fifteen-year-old Leila, her mother, and
seven-year-old brother, Bastian, escape from their oil-rich
Mideastern country when her father, the ruler, is assassinated by his
brother, the General. In America, Leila is faced with a foreign
world. The palace is replaced with a one-bedroom apartment. No body
guards surround the family. Her brother adapts quickly to his new
surroundings, but her mother plots to return to power in their
homeland.
In the high school, Leila finds herself
surrounded by bouncy, bright Americans who find loud music and
sexually suggestive dancing amusing. Leila, on the contrary, hears
gun fire and can't forget her conservative, veiled upbringing. She
makes friends, but these friends bring up uncomfortable ideas. Was
her father responsible for the bloodshed in her country? She becomes
friends with a boy from the opposition, giving her a glimpse of what
her father's policies did to people.
Although this novel is targeted at a
young adult audience, it can be equally interesting for adults. The
author did an exceptionally fine job showing how Leila reacted to the
cultural differences between her country and the United States. It
also shows how ordinary people get caught up in international
intrigue and the cost this entails for their families.
I highly recommend this book. The
characters, particularly Leila, are well drawn, as is Amir, her
friend from the opposition. Some of the American teenagers seem one
dimensional, but that is appropriate since they are seen through
Leila's eyes. It is only as the book progresses that she is able to
see that Emmy, her best friend and supporter, has her own serious
problems to deal with.
The bonus material at the end is well
worth reading. The author explains how she got the idea for the book,
and Dr. Cheryl Benard , RAND Researcher, presents a personal view of
women caught up in international politics on the Mideast.
I reviewed this book for Net Galley.
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