The Pearl Diver

by Julia Johnson

Saeed is going to learn how to dive – his father has promised to teach him! It is the start of the pearling season and this is his first trip out on the waters of the Arabian Gulf. Leaving the rest of his family behind on the shore, Saeed and his father join the crew of a pearling dhow and set out to spend the hot summer months on the high seas. He learns how the pearl divers hunt for the treasures of the seabed, and discovers the secrets and dangers of the sea.

This delightful story, carefully researched from oral and written sources – some dating from more than 150 years ago – offers an insight into the way of life that sustained the Arabian Gulf right up until the discovery of oil. The winning charm of Patricia Al Fakhri’s watercolors combine with Julia Johnson’s narrative to make The Pearl Diver a perennial favorite with children aged 8 to 12.

Since its first publication in 2003, it has sold more than 30,000 copies worldwide.

The Pearl Diver is a suggested resource in Hamilton Trust’s Key Stage 2 unit on stories from other cultures.

Genres: Childrens, Middle East

56 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2003

Reviews

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing, it captures the history and the life of pearl diving.
The hardship and fortunes of the men at sea are introduced to young readers through Saeed who is accompanying his father on the Big Dive to work on deck and learn the business.

The details are accurate and Arabic words and names are used when needed with a full glossary at the back.

The Author does very interesting talks and visits to schools where she brings with her the Pearl Divers equipment and explains their uses to the students.

My son is reading this at school this year, but he still remembers her visits from two years ago.

The only thing I didn't like are the illustrations, I just wish they were a bit more detailed.

[Shinae Wyckoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful living book! After pearling on the sambuk with Saeed and Abdullah for a few weeks, it’s hard to believe we won’t see them again for a time. The characters feel like real acquaintances and the world of the pearl-divers feels like a visit we will remember for a long time.

Plan for a few regular sittings to read this one aloud; it’s time well-spent. You could read it when your homeschool hits on Islam (the characters are Muslim, and Allah is mentioned by the characters), or the Arabian Peninsula/Persian Gulf, seafaring, etc. It is one of those that could flex with your needs.

The watercolor illustrations deserve their own mention - their beautiful artwork gives the story an ethereal oceanic touch, like you’re there with Saeed, peering at everything through a layer of water.

Beautiful book.

[Aisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very facinating short story about pearls divers from a diver's son prespective. The book presents the hardship that pearls divers went through just to survive. And it does not fail to present the history of pearl diving. It is interesting how one short story was able to summarize a very huge part of pearling history.

[Tod Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for what it is. I'll be teaching this soon to 11 year olds- quite looking forward to it.

[Hoor Channel · Rating 4 out of 5]

hi

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poorly edited but an interesting story to read aloud.

[Abdulla]

to redsl,dl; dm;lmdl;mv v;,v;',df

[Megan Geissler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting back story of the pearling industry in the gulf while following a young boy's journey into maturity. Very detailed with pretty, dreamy water color illustrations.

[Abdullrahmanazooz · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want read this book

[Maha Alzaabi]

The story is nice

[Reem]

the story about the diving for a pearl in the past