by Spark Notes
First published 2014
This study guide dissects Suzanne Fisher Staples' novel about Shabanu, a young girl living with her nomadic family in Pakistan's Cholistan Desert. The guide provides chapter by chapter breakdowns of the story. It explains the major themes that run through the book, including the clash between tradition and personal desire. The analysis covers important symbols and recurring elements that Staples uses throughout the narrative. Students get quiz questions to test their understanding of the material. The guide also suggests essay topics for writing assignments. Harvard students created this resource specifically for other students who need to study the novel quickly and effectively. The format makes complex literary analysis accessible for late night cramming sessions and paper writing.
Genres: fiction, literature, historical-fiction, contemporary, adolescence, africa, asian-american, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Cholistan Desert, Pakistan
Period: 20th-century
102 pages · Kindle Edition · Sparknotes