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CM . . .
. Volume X Number 6. . . . November 14, 2003
excerpt: "When all you have to choose between is patience or impatience, you'll find patience much easier on the mind." "That's fine for you. You're old. You probably wouldn't do anything even if you could. I'm young. I have plans." "How old are you?" "Fourteen." "I'm sixteen," the woman said. For a long while, Shauzia didn't speak. Then she asked, "What happened to you?" "A man threw acid in my face." "Why did he do that? "He didn't like what I was doing. I thought I would be safe in a refugee camp, but I don't think there is a safe place for me anywhere." "What were you doing that he didn't like?" "I was teaching his daughter how to read." "Was he Taliban?" "Does it matter? Not all men with bad ideas belong to the Taliban. It hurts me to talk. Let me rest now." Why is it that some people, when faced with overwhelming disaster, are able to carry on - even make progress - while others in the same circumstances resort to evil or to the torpor of indifference? In truth, not much separates these two polarities. In suffering, it is easy to slip from fierce determination to survive, to callous rejection of the needs of others. In this brutal examination of life in a Pakistani refugee camp, Deb Ellis once again compels us to look into our own hearts as we follow the harrowing journey of 14-year-old Shauzia. Shauzia has left her grasping, cold family to strike out in the world on her own, dressed as a boy. While working with some Afghani shepherds, she befriends a dog, Jasper, and the two of them end up in 'Mud City," a refugee camp just inside Pakistan, near the city of Peshawar, where she works with Mrs. Weera to run the Widows Compound, a section of the camp for women and children. Irritated by what she sees as inertia, Shauzia leaves for the city of Peshawar, hoping to earn enough money to get to France, where she has promised to meet her friend, Parvana (the main character of The Breadwinner and Parvana's Journey), at the Eiffel Tower. In Peshawar, Shauzia does odd jobs but finally resorts to picking through garbage for items to sell. Finally, she ends up begging and is falsely imprisoned. Shauzia is rescued by a rich American, Tom, who bribes the police to release Shauzia from prison, but Tom and his wife., Barbara, return Shauzia to the refugee camp when she invites other needy people into their opulent home in their absence. After Shauzia's leg is broken in a food riot, she has a lot of time to think about her position, and she finally follows Mrs. Weera back to Afghanistan to nurse the refugees there, leaving the faithful Jasper with another young girl who needs him. Shauzia is a strong, compelling character who moves from the crabby self-interest of an impatient young girl to the realization that happiness may come with service to others. Other strong characters are Mrs. Weera, a former phys ed teacher who is determined to change the lives of girls and women in Afghanistan, and the compassionate Tom and Barbara, who represent Western countries that will help the impoverished as long as it doesn't threaten their own lifestyle. The refugee camp is brought to life, complete with stifling heat, flies, unclean water, food distribution and UN tents. The streets of Peshawar and the desperation, anger and cruelty of its inhabitants are also vividly painted for the reader. Mud City could have been a horrifying book, far too frightening for children, as the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan is indeed appalling. Ellis is careful to tell only enough to keep students glued to the story and not so much that children would be terrified. This careful writing ends optimistically as Shauzia takes off with Mrs. Weera for another adventure - this time with a more adult attitude. A gripping, heart-stopping novel, Mud City serves both to entertain and to inspire. The author clearly supports equal rights for men and women, the necessity of education for all children and the reform of the political and prison systems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mud City ends with an "Author's Note" explaining the political situation in these countries, the role of the Taliban and a web site students can access to offer help. A glossary covers the few words not explained by their context. Maps at the front of the book position the story in the real world. It is worth noting that the author has set an example for students by donating the royalties for this book to Street Kids International, an organization which support children living on the street around the world. Highly Recommended. Joan Marshall is the teacher-librarian at Fort Richmond Collegiate, Winnipeg, MB.
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