Santa Claus in Baghdad and Other Stories about Teens in the Arab World by Elsa Marston
How truly unique are we? Sure we all look different, act different, dress different, and have different personalities. But deep down we all want the same thing. We all want to feel safe, we all want to feel like our lives have purpose, we all want someone to love us, and we all want to help those we care about.
How truly unique are we? Sure we all look different, act different, dress different, and have different personalities. But deep down we all want the same thing. We all want to feel safe, we all want to feel like our lives have purpose, we all want someone to love us, and we all want to help those we care about.
In Santa Claus in Baghdad and Other Stories about Teens in the Arab World, Elsa Marston shows readers how identical we are to people on the other side of the globe. Marston has compiled eight stories from different Arab countries including Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, and Egypt. Each excerpt tells of a different desire through hard times whether it’s during an on-going war, a divorce, moving somewhere new, or life in a refugee camp. The stories talk about hope, love, believing in yourself, and friendship in all different forms.
These eight stories are true stories about teenagers ranging in ages 13-19. They are written from a teenager’s perspective with wonderful descriptive language. This book can be used in a number of ways. Both middle school and high school students can use this book in a social studies class for current events or a culture fair. In a writing class, students can use this book as a reference and then students can write their own stories.
In the world we live in, it’s critical to find a way for us to unite in our commonalities. Teenagers always think no one understands them. Through books like Santa Claus in Baghdad, they’ll know they aren’t alone and in our hearts, we are all the same.
4 comments:
I am really glad you mentioned how this text could be used in a social studies/history class! This is one of the few YAL texts that I really felt from their reviews could be integrated into a history lesson. It also strikes me as having a sort of "Chicken Soup for the...Soul" theme as well because of the layout with all of the short stories and the fact that they are actually factual accounts.
I am also big on wanting to expose all our commonalites despite our unique differences as a teacher. This sounds like a perfect book to do that. It also seems like a good way to break down stereotypes such as the ones addressed in the Arab graphic novel that was reviewed as well.
I am also big on wanting to expose all our commonalites despite our unique differences as a teacher. This sounds like a perfect book to do that. It also seems like a good way to break down stereotypes such as the ones addressed in the Arab graphic novel that was reviewed as well.
Yes, this book seems like it would be a great fit with the graphic novel I reviewed, "Arab in America." While that book shows all the prejudice and stereotypes that Arabs encounter in America, this book could show students just how alike we all really are. And I think that's especially important given how the news and media often portray those in the Middle East as so very different from ourselves. These true stories would give students a much more realistic look at our world.
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