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Før var Faten best i klassen sin på skolen. Nå er hun 15 år og tjenestepike hos en velstående familie i Beirut. Alle pengene hun tjener går til familien hennes hjemme på landsbygda. Faten er ensom og fortvilet, men hun nekter å oppgi tanken på egen utdanning og selvstendighet. Og hun har et håp om at den unge mannen i nabohuset vil hjelpe henne.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2010
31 people are currently reading
846 people want to read
About the author
Fatima Sharafeddine
197 books131 followersSee also فاطمة شرف الدين.
Fatima Sharafeddine was born in 1966 in Beirut, Lebanon, and spent the first six years of her childhood in Sierra Leon, in West Africa.
Three years after she returned with her family to live in her native country, the Lebanese civil war started. She spent the next 15 years of her life moving between cities, houses, and schools, always trying to refuge in the safest area.
In 1989, she received her B.A. in Early Childhood Education from the Lebanese American University. A year later, she got married and moved to the USA where she received a Master’s degree in Educational Theory and Practice (1993), with focus on Children’s Literature, and a Master’s degree in Modern Arabic Literature (1996), both from Ohio State University.
She moved to Houston, Texas in 1996, where she worked for two years as a lead teacher with children aged 3 to 6. At a later stage, she taught Arabic Language and Culture classes at Rice University (from 1998 to 2001).
In 2001, she moved with her husband and two children to Brussels, Belgium, and decided to become fully dedicated to writing for children. She currently works with three publishing houses, ASALA (Lebanon), KALIMAT (UAE), and MIJADE (Belgium). She mainly writes for children between 0 and 12 years old, but recently started writing for young adults. Over the last 6 years, she has written and published over 45 books, and translated several others from English and French into Arabic.
Moreover, several of her books have been translated to various Asian and European languages (details in the bibliography).
In March of 2007, she won the award of the best book of 2007 for her book “Mountain rooster” from the ‘National Committee of the Lebanese Child’, and in February 2009, her book “There is war in my city” was chosen to be on the honor list of Anna Lindh Foundation.
In 2010 she was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, for her achievements in Children’s Literature in the Arab World.
Fatima is an active member of the Society for Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Brussels branch, where she participates in several workshops a year, as well as organizes bimonthly critique group meetings. She also attends several book fairs during the year, mainly the Frankfurt book fair, the Bologna book fair, and the Beirut International Book fair. She participates in various reading activities in Lebanon, such as the Reading Week (in spring) and the Book Festival (in summer), where she gets a chance to go to remote villages in Lebanon and read to the children in schools and public libraries.
She has recently started to give workshops, in various Arab capitals, for writers who want to focus on children’s literature.
Fatima Sharafeddine was born in 1966 in Beirut, Lebanon, and spent the first six years of her childhood in Sierra Leon, in West Africa.
Three years after she returned with her family to live in her native country, the Lebanese civil war started. She spent the next 15 years of her life moving between cities, houses, and schools, always trying to refuge in the safest area.
In 1989, she received her B.A. in Early Childhood Education from the Lebanese American University. A year later, she got married and moved to the USA where she received a Master’s degree in Educational Theory and Practice (1993), with focus on Children’s Literature, and a Master’s degree in Modern Arabic Literature (1996), both from Ohio State University.
She moved to Houston, Texas in 1996, where she worked for two years as a lead teacher with children aged 3 to 6. At a later stage, she taught Arabic Language and Culture classes at Rice University (from 1998 to 2001).
In 2001, she moved with her husband and two children to Brussels, Belgium, and decided to become fully dedicated to writing for children. She currently works with three publishing houses, ASALA (Lebanon), KALIMAT (UAE), and MIJADE (Belgium). She mainly writes for children between 0 and 12 years old, but recently started writing for young adults. Over the last 6 years, she has written and published over 45 books, and translated several others from English and French into Arabic.
Moreover, several of her books have been translated to various Asian and European languages (details in the bibliography).
In March of 2007, she won the award of the best book of 2007 for her book “Mountain rooster” from the ‘National Committee of the Lebanese Child’, and in February 2009, her book “There is war in my city” was chosen to be on the honor list of Anna Lindh Foundation.
In 2010 she was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, for her achievements in Children’s Literature in the Arab World.
Fatima is an active member of the Society for Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Brussels branch, where she participates in several workshops a year, as well as organizes bimonthly critique group meetings. She also attends several book fairs during the year, mainly the Frankfurt book fair, the Bologna book fair, and the Beirut International Book fair. She participates in various reading activities in Lebanon, such as the Reading Week (in spring) and the Book Festival (in summer), where she gets a chance to go to remote villages in Lebanon and read to the children in schools and public libraries.
She has recently started to give workshops, in various Arab capitals, for writers who want to focus on children’s literature.
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June 25, 2016
The Servant tells the story of Faten, a 15-year old girl living in a village in Lebanon with her parents and several siblings, whose father arranges for her to move to Beirut and work as a maid/servant, 24/7, for a family with two teen daughters. Faten’s paychecks are paid to her father. As a result of her father’s dictate, Faten’s education abruptly ends, and she is thrust into a world where she has no family and one friend. The primary focus of The Servant is on how Faten develops and executes on her plan to pursue her education, with the ultimate goal of becoming a nurse.
The first half of the novel focuses on Faten’s constricting circumstances – her lack of free time off to explore Beirut or pursue other interests, her lack of money since her earnings are going to her father -- and the barriers these circumstances present to Faten’s educational attainment. She pursues a relationship with a young engineering student, Marwan, living in a neighboring building – not initially or primarily for romantic reasons, but as a means to gain his knowledge and access to information, in order to determine how she can complete her high school education and be accepted into a college-level nursing program. Ultimately, as the GR description above indicates, a romance of sorts develops between Faten and Marwan. The second half of the novel is all about how Faten obtains her short-term educational goals with the assistance of Marwan and another female friend in Beirut, including establishing independence from her father so that she can remain and study in Beirut. Not only does The Servant offer a, “you can be anything you want to be if you are diligent and put your mind to it” message, it gift-wraps for the reader a happy ending in every respect.
So . . . why only 3 stars for the Servant? The Servant has as its clear purpose empowering young Lebanese women to pursue their education and independence first, and romance and marriage only once education and independence have been secured. I applaud these goals and they square with my politics and values 100%. Having said that, I expect an author as esteemed as Fatima Sharafeddine to present, first and foremost, authentic characters who act consistently with their own context, background and values, and to put those characters in the Beirut of 1987, e.g., give the reader a strong sense of place. Here, in her first YA book after a long string of successes with books targeting children under 12, she did not meet my expectations on either count.
Taking the second issue first – Beirut in 1987 -- If not for the dust jacket and the GR blurb, I wouldn’t have learned that The Servant takes place in 1987 until at least halfway through it, and then only because of a reference to music popular at that time. There’s one scene in the first third of the book where a bomb lands in Beirut, but the family with whom Faten is staying are relatively unconcerned, and there is no mention for the remainder of the novel of any stress, worry or change in behavior, or any dialogue at all indicating concern about the war, the outcome, personal safety or the safety of friends and family. Prior to The Servant, I have not read a single novel set during a time of war that was so absent any indication of war or its effects on society. Candidly, it seemed as though Sharafeddine picked a year in which to set her story and then promptly forgot about the civil war and unrest that continues to impact Lebanon today. Fatima Sharafeddine was born in Beirut, but lived elsewhere for her childhood, returning to Lebanon 3 years before the Lebanese civil war commenced, and moving time and time again over the next 15 years within Lebanon for survival. Hence, given Sharafeddine’s personal experience living in Lebanon during the 1987 war, her choice to avoid the topic almost entirely is odd. As a reader, I was incredibly disappointed. I anticipated gaining from this novel a sense of what is was like to be a 15 – 19 year old woman living for the first time in a major city, away from my parents and siblings (are they okay?), during a civil war, wondering whether it mattered if I pursued an education, whether the universities would survive the war, whether I would live to the age of 25. Similarly, Sharafeddine creates Marwan as a Christian character, but doesn’t disclose this fact to the reader until 75% of the way through the book when Marwan is explaining to Faten that his mother has selected a Christian girl to be Marwan’s wife. Was Faten oblivious to the significant impediment her being Muslim and Marwan being Christian presented for long-term romance and marriage – in 1987? I didn’t buy it.
In terms of lack of authenticity, two key points are representative. The first is a sudden shift in the approach and decision of one of the daughters (of the family with whom Faten lived), that results in her marriage and departure from the household. We’re given an explanation, but there’s insufficient foundation for it. Then later we see why. This was the most glaring example in The Servant of Sharafeddine’s use of a character to hammer home her point that women shouldn’t marry (or reproduce) until they achieve their education. This character’s actions have as their sole purpose showing teen female readers “what no to do”, or “Be like Faten, not like The Daughter.” The second plot point that wasn’t believable for me was Faten’s father’s prompt (and nigh unto effortless on Faten’s part) forgiveness of not only her lying to him but also the loss of income for the family that results from her prioritizing her goals over helping her family. A Lebanese dad in 1990 or so interpreting his daughter’s aggregate actions not as a betrayal, but excusable – without the passage of any time, any heart-rending pleas from her for forgiveness? Perhaps, but Sharafeddine’s choice to make Faten’s father’s disapproval a non-issue ducked what could be a major impediment to independence and education for many young women – the struggle to achieve their independence and educational goals without losing the love and respect of, or letting down, their families. How will Faten’s mother and siblings fare without her income contributing to the family pot? She doesn’t ask and no one expresses worry. In fact, Sharafeddine makes every potential obstacle -- war, lack of resources, homesickness, family disapproval – every one but how to sneak out and take 3 days of tests -- melt magically away for Faten. She could have made The Servant a 5-star book, as well as supported her moral tale, by giving Faten more depth and showing Faten addressing and overcoming at least one of those obstacles, given her target YA audience.
The Servant is written in a simple, straightforward style. YA readers though deserve more from an author of Sharafeddine’s talents than a patently moral instruction to women to make sure they don’t let boys get in the way of obtaining their education, and thereby securing their independence. I hope we see the day when she writes the YA or adult tale she has the talent to write.
June 23, 2019
لقد أنهيت قراءة هذا الكتاب في جلسة واحدة البارحة وكم أحببته. هذا كتاب يبعث على الأمل والتفاؤل ويثير مواضيع غنية للنقاش. يتطرق الكتاب الى مواضيع شتى مثل عمالة الأطفال وتعليم المرأة ومكانتها في المجتمع والقيود الأجتماعية والحرب الأهلية في لبنان وأحلام الطفولة والتمسك بالتعليم والوقوع بالحب لأول مرة وأهم نقطة: الحرية وكم هي ثمينة.
أنه فعلاً كتاب رائع! أتمنى أن تحظى كتب كهذه بجمهور أوسع أو أن تتحول الى عمل سينمائي. القصة تدور حول فتاة في الخامسة عشرة من عمرها اسمها فاتن. يرغمها والدها على ترك المدرسة والضيعة والعمل كخادمة عند عائلة زين في بيروت مع أنها كانت متفوقة في المدرسة.
ذكرني الكتاب بقوة بقصة عائشة سعيد الباكستانية الأمريكية بعنوان الأمل بلا قيود حيث تقع أمل في موقف مشابه بعمر أصغر حتى من فاتن. وكأمل تجد فاتن أن أفضل ما حصل معها ابتعادها عن ضيعتها وأهلها. لأن العمل جعلها ترى بوضوح أنها ترغب بأكمال تعليميها ولا ترغب بأن تبقى كما هي في وضعها الحالي ولا ترغب بالزواج المبكر.
أعجبتني النهاية المفتوحة وشعرت بالسعادة عندما حققت أمل أهدافها وبدأت بملاحقة أحلامها. أشجع الجميع على قراءة هذه الرواية. أحببت حركات "ابن الجيران الي هنا قصادي" واضحكتني... كما أحببت انسيابية القصة والاحداث ووصف الحرب الاهلية.
سأتحدث عنها في فيديو قريباً... الا تبدو الفتاة على الغلاف كفيروز؟
أنه فعلاً كتاب رائع! أتمنى أن تحظى كتب كهذه بجمهور أوسع أو أن تتحول الى عمل سينمائي. القصة تدور حول فتاة في الخامسة عشرة من عمرها اسمها فاتن. يرغمها والدها على ترك المدرسة والضيعة والعمل كخادمة عند عائلة زين في بيروت مع أنها كانت متفوقة في المدرسة.
ذكرني الكتاب بقوة بقصة عائشة سعيد الباكستانية الأمريكية بعنوان الأمل بلا قيود حيث تقع أمل في موقف مشابه بعمر أصغر حتى من فاتن. وكأمل تجد فاتن أن أفضل ما حصل معها ابتعادها عن ضيعتها وأهلها. لأن العمل جعلها ترى بوضوح أنها ترغب بأكمال تعليميها ولا ترغب بأن تبقى كما هي في وضعها الحالي ولا ترغب بالزواج المبكر.
أعجبتني النهاية المفتوحة وشعرت بالسعادة عندما حققت أمل أهدافها وبدأت بملاحقة أحلامها. أشجع الجميع على قراءة هذه الرواية. أحببت حركات "ابن الجيران الي هنا قصادي" واضحكتني... كما أحببت انسيابية القصة والاحداث ووصف الحرب الاهلية.
سأتحدث عنها في فيديو قريباً... الا تبدو الفتاة على الغلاف كفيروز؟
August 9, 2016
What a wonderful surprise this short novella turned out to be! Because it is written for young adults I was expecting it to be dumbed down, but that's not the case at all! It's a story where the protagonist just happens to be young. I read it as part of a reading challenge to read books by women writers from the Middle East and am happy I came upon this delightful book. Written in clear language and direct storytelling, The Servant tells the story of 17 year old Faten who comes from the country to work as a maid in Beirut. Because she was only 15 when her father made this arrangement, Fatem was never able to finish school. Secretly she dreams of not only getting her baccalaureate, but going on to university and becoming a nurse. On the balcony of the home where she works, she watches a handsome young man leave and return to the adjacent appartment building. She slowly arranges to meet him, not so he can rescue her, rather so he can help her find out how she can complete her studies!
The message in this novel is for young Arab women is to finish school and get a career before getting married. However it is not heavy handed and the story is enjoyable. What also made the novel interesting is that it is set in Lebanon in the 80s in the midst of the Lebanese civil war. Those unfamiliar with the situation will be surprised to read that in spite of the intense war, life went on. People in Lebanon studied, married, went to restaurants, partied in spite of the war. I knew this already from the many Lebanese I know, but it's good to read about. The author Fatima Sharafeddine up to now has only written children's books. This is her first young adult novel. I like her writing style and hope she writes more!
The message in this novel is for young Arab women is to finish school and get a career before getting married. However it is not heavy handed and the story is enjoyable. What also made the novel interesting is that it is set in Lebanon in the 80s in the midst of the Lebanese civil war. Those unfamiliar with the situation will be surprised to read that in spite of the intense war, life went on. People in Lebanon studied, married, went to restaurants, partied in spite of the war. I knew this already from the many Lebanese I know, but it's good to read about. The author Fatima Sharafeddine up to now has only written children's books. This is her first young adult novel. I like her writing style and hope she writes more!
February 9, 2015
رواية تربوية هادفة واقعية و شيقة ، باسلوب سهل وبسيط غير ممل مع المحافظة على مستوى جيد للغة العربية، مما يشجع فئة الشبان على متابعة القراءة خاصة في اللغة العربية . للاسف المكتبة العربية فقيرة جدا" بهذا النوع من الكتب مما يؤثر سلبا على نسبة القراء للرواية العربية.
برواية فاتن تبني الكاتبة فاطمة شرف الدين قاعدة متينة لقراء الرواية العربية من الجيل الجديد!! chapeau bas :-)
اكثر ما لفتني في الكتاب هي جملة ذهبية في موقعها و توقيتها من الرواية: " عليّ أن أعرف كيف أمارس حريتي بذكاء".
مما يدل على ذكاء تربوي للكاتبة!!!
highly recommended for young adults :-)
برواية فاتن تبني الكاتبة فاطمة شرف الدين قاعدة متينة لقراء الرواية العربية من الجيل الجديد!! chapeau bas :-)
اكثر ما لفتني في الكتاب هي جملة ذهبية في موقعها و توقيتها من الرواية: " عليّ أن أعرف كيف أمارس حريتي بذكاء".
مما يدل على ذكاء تربوي للكاتبة!!!
highly recommended for young adults :-)
December 4, 2010
The "Best Book" prizes are out at the 2010 Beirut Book Fair, and Fatima Sharafeddine's first young-adult (YA) novel, فاتن, has very deservedly taken first prize.
The book follows a bright, ambitious, sensitive young girl---فاتن---as she is brought by her parents to Beirut for the first time and placed into service with a wealthy family. What happens to her and to the family's elder girl, Dalia, form the center of the novel.
The novel is both a breakthrough for Sharafeddine, who had not previously written YA, and for the entire YA genre in Arabic. Sharafeddine's book---along with two by Samah Idris, and another by him released at this year's Beirut fair, فلافل النازحين---provides a model of simple, beautiful, straightforward prose, written in short sentences for easy and enjoyable digestion by adolescent readers.
Oh! And ألف مبروك، يا فاطمة. We all can't wait for the next one!
(Oh, and although I felt it was a bit heavy on denouement, I loved the end.)
The book follows a bright, ambitious, sensitive young girl---فاتن---as she is brought by her parents to Beirut for the first time and placed into service with a wealthy family. What happens to her and to the family's elder girl, Dalia, form the center of the novel.
The novel is both a breakthrough for Sharafeddine, who had not previously written YA, and for the entire YA genre in Arabic. Sharafeddine's book---along with two by Samah Idris, and another by him released at this year's Beirut fair, فلافل النازحين---provides a model of simple, beautiful, straightforward prose, written in short sentences for easy and enjoyable digestion by adolescent readers.
Oh! And ألف مبروك، يا فاطمة. We all can't wait for the next one!
(Oh, and although I felt it was a bit heavy on denouement, I loved the end.)
December 13, 2010
قلة هي تلك الروايات التي تشدك من أول صفحة إلى آخرها، فتبدأ بها ولا تريد لها الانتهاء، تتحيّن الفرصة والوقت القصير لديك لتفتح صفحاتها وتستمتع بها، تنهيها خلا يومين لا أكثر ثم تفكر بإعادة قراءتها مرة أخرى مباشرةً، تبتسم حيناً وتدمع عينك حيناً... أخرى، هذا ما فعلته بي "فاتن". أسلوب سلس، لغة سهلة، شيء يذكرك بتلك الروايات القريبة من القلب، النابعة من الحياة اليومية، فيها الكثير من الذكريات والتفاصيل الدقيقة التي تجعلنا نعيش مع بطلة القصة وننتظر خطوتها المقبلة، مليئة بالأمل والثقة بالنفس. ليست فقط للشباب والشابات، إنها لنا جميعاً، لقد ملأتني سروراً وأملاً، لقد غيرت نظرتي الى من تعملن بالمنازل مكرهات لا حول لهن ولا قوة.
March 17, 2014
I read it in one day. Such a beautiful book for young teens and young adult. Can hardly wait to discuss it with the bookclub members ♥
December 18, 2015
.قراءة ممتعة جداً
May 11, 2013
Back in December and January I signed up for many (too many) reading challenges and as per usual I am drastically behind especially with my Middle Eastern Reading Challenge which is why when I saw that my library had The Servant I had to read it.
The Servant was a really wonderful coming of age story about a young Lebanese girl named Faten working in Beirut during the late 1980's during a turbulent time in the city's history. Faten is a maid for a family but dreams of bigger and better things for herself and wants to be a nurse. Unfortunately her father forces her to work and takes all her pay leaving her stuck as the lives of others seem to pass her buy in her two years of servitude.
I really enjoyed this book because I love reading novels no matter the genre set in different places and this was the first book I've ever read set in Beirut and it won't be my last. There is such a sense of hope in Faten's story and I really connected to her as a character. I hated the way she was treated as a servant not as a human being but I loved how strong she was and how determined she was to get her education even if it got her into trouble I liked how the novel ended. It definitely ended on a brighter note and there was a lightness to it that was absent in the beginning.
This was definitely Faten's story and she was the main character and the most developed out of the rest of the cast of characters and I just wish they also had a little more substance which is why I did not give this book 5 stars. I enjoyed seeing Faten grow and become a strong independent young woman and thought her story was inspirational.
The writing is what surprised me most since I'm not usually a fan of shorter novels but author Fatima Sharafeddine created such a realistic story I was very drawn to the story. While the book was a short and quick read it did pack a punch and there was a lot of skill demonstrated in the way the author chose to tell her story.
Overall, this is probably one of the best YA books I've read this year. It was a nice change to read a book set somewhere else in the world and see life through another persons eyes during a hard time in history. Plus I loved learning about a culture that while I'm not totally unfamiliar with still has some mysteries for me and I enjoyed being exposed to it through reading Faten's story.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary young adult fiction that is set in a unique place with a strong heroine and a story about discovering one's own sense of self.
The Servant was a really wonderful coming of age story about a young Lebanese girl named Faten working in Beirut during the late 1980's during a turbulent time in the city's history. Faten is a maid for a family but dreams of bigger and better things for herself and wants to be a nurse. Unfortunately her father forces her to work and takes all her pay leaving her stuck as the lives of others seem to pass her buy in her two years of servitude.
I really enjoyed this book because I love reading novels no matter the genre set in different places and this was the first book I've ever read set in Beirut and it won't be my last. There is such a sense of hope in Faten's story and I really connected to her as a character. I hated the way she was treated as a servant not as a human being but I loved how strong she was and how determined she was to get her education even if it got her into trouble I liked how the novel ended. It definitely ended on a brighter note and there was a lightness to it that was absent in the beginning.
This was definitely Faten's story and she was the main character and the most developed out of the rest of the cast of characters and I just wish they also had a little more substance which is why I did not give this book 5 stars. I enjoyed seeing Faten grow and become a strong independent young woman and thought her story was inspirational.
The writing is what surprised me most since I'm not usually a fan of shorter novels but author Fatima Sharafeddine created such a realistic story I was very drawn to the story. While the book was a short and quick read it did pack a punch and there was a lot of skill demonstrated in the way the author chose to tell her story.
Overall, this is probably one of the best YA books I've read this year. It was a nice change to read a book set somewhere else in the world and see life through another persons eyes during a hard time in history. Plus I loved learning about a culture that while I'm not totally unfamiliar with still has some mysteries for me and I enjoyed being exposed to it through reading Faten's story.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary young adult fiction that is set in a unique place with a strong heroine and a story about discovering one's own sense of self.
May 1, 2017
The Servant is an international young adult novel written and translated by Fatima Sharafeddine. The book was recommended by Professor Quiroa, RLL520 course instructor. This realistic-fiction novel is set in war-torn Lebanon during the late 1980s. When Faten’s father arranges for her to work as a live-in maid for a wealthy family in Beirut, the fifteen-year-old Faten is forced to leave her village life. Suddenly, deprived of her family, friends, and education and treated callously, Faten feels trapped and hopeless. At least, she has Rosalynn, an African immigrant working in Beirut, to confide in. And there’s the mysterious young man whom Faten gazes at adoringly from the apartment window. The novel’s plot unfolds when Faten, now seventeen, decides to seek help from the young man, Marwan, as she plans to secretly continue her education and follow her dream of becoming a nurse despite the obstacles she must face.
The story draws in the reader awakening sympathy for this brave and ambitious protagonist who, despite her socioeconomic status and personal fears, strives to achieve her goals and escape the life of servitude. Additionally, the novel promotes self-determination and independence as Faten’s choices set her free from a rather conservative way of life. I think this novel would resonate with adolescent readers who may, just like Faten, struggle to determine their futures. Furthermore, the author portrays the quarrel between modern and patriarchal society shedding light on Faten’s dilemma as she struggles for autonomy and freedom. Student discussions about the differences in class, wealth, and society’s strict expectations would also be appropriate.
The story draws in the reader awakening sympathy for this brave and ambitious protagonist who, despite her socioeconomic status and personal fears, strives to achieve her goals and escape the life of servitude. Additionally, the novel promotes self-determination and independence as Faten’s choices set her free from a rather conservative way of life. I think this novel would resonate with adolescent readers who may, just like Faten, struggle to determine their futures. Furthermore, the author portrays the quarrel between modern and patriarchal society shedding light on Faten’s dilemma as she struggles for autonomy and freedom. Student discussions about the differences in class, wealth, and society’s strict expectations would also be appropriate.
May 1, 2019
The Servant is a beautifully written coming of age story. It starts out with young Faten sad and crying for having being taken away from her family at the hands of her father to work in order to send money back home to help her family. She misses her family, friends and small village. As the story goes on Faten with the help of the handsome guy in the blue car and her friends, grow in many ways. She finds strength to continue her education, escape the servitude of working for the family in Beirut and finds love. Who knew that a girl could come into her own in just three short years? I find it intriguing that throughout the story the author shows different ways Faten's life could have been different by writing in other characters the same age as Faten and showing a parallel between Faten and May (the young spoiled rich girl where she works), and also her best friend Dalel.
This would be a good book for young girls who need a little encouragement to maybe do a little more or try a little harder in life. Things aren't as bad as it seems and it's up to them to make it better.
This would be a good book for young girls who need a little encouragement to maybe do a little more or try a little harder in life. Things aren't as bad as it seems and it's up to them to make it better.
Read
December 28, 2023this was a simple read but had layers to it that I appreciated. I enjoyed hearing faten's attempt to pursue nursing in secrecy and having a "romance" while being a servant at a young age - unfortunately that is the reality for many girls in beirut but im so glad faten managed to find her way out. would def recommend!
February 1, 2018
This novel provides a look inside a young woman name Faten's life as she struggles with balancing her family expectations and completing her own goals. During her early teenager years, she is force to work as a maid in Beirut amidst chaos and war. This centra question is: How can Faten complete her goals while obtaining her independence and securing her lover's attention? This is a great read for young adult readers because it discusses the complexities that one endures when taking ownership of their life. In addition, this will be great to utilize in a middle school environment as an opportunity to expand students' knowledge of other cultures. Also, this novel can be used in a classroom to discuss themes of risk versus safety and internal happiness versus external happiness.
April 29, 2017
The Servant is an engaging coming of age story. Faten moves away from her home, family, and friends when she is seventeen years old to become a slave for a wealthy family. She feels like any other seventeen year old would in this situation, hopeless, but instead of letting that hopelessness sink in she begins to dream. She dreams about how her life could be if she were not a servant anymore. She even falls in love with someone who is of a different socioeconomic status, and in Lebanon that does not happen. The Servant is a story of hope. Hope when you may think there is none.
The Servant would be an interesting book to do a culture study on with students in the classroom. They would be able to compare Faten's life as a seventeen year old, and the life of a seventeen year old in America. They would be able to empathize with young adults from other cultures, and see the hope they have in their own lives.
The Servant would be an interesting book to do a culture study on with students in the classroom. They would be able to compare Faten's life as a seventeen year old, and the life of a seventeen year old in America. They would be able to empathize with young adults from other cultures, and see the hope they have in their own lives.
May 9, 2013
Fifteen-year-old Faten quits school, leaves home, and becomes a maid for a wealthy family in Beirut. She does all this at her father's behest since he has decided that she must be the family breadwinner. In fact, all of her earnings go to home, leaving her with little financial resources to find a way out of this dead end. Often, the family members treat her with disdain and can't even be bothered to call her by her name when they want her to do something. As the years pass, though, Faten continues to dream of having more, and with the help of some old and new friends, she fashions a plan to attend the university and become a nurse. The author does an excellent job of describing war-torn Lebanon in the late 1980s as well as creating a likeable character in Faten. What makes this story engaging is how determined, resilient, and resourceful she is, studying on her own, and clinging to hope for a bright future even while her love interest, Marwan, a musician and engineering student who lives across the way, seems unable to stand up for himself and his own dreams since those clash with what his parents want for him. Ultimately, this book celebrates the power education has to provide better, brighter futures for women such as Faten who deserves so much more than serving others for menial wages that she never even gets to keep.
September 13, 2015
There’s a good foundation for a story here. But it would be a lot better if it was written like a good story. Instead, it too often reads like a director’s prompts for a TV documentary. Faten is the main character, an admirable strong-willed Lebanese teenager. Her father has hired her out as a maid in Beirut, but she has plans for a better life. There’s a fairytale romance tangent, but the rest of Faten’s efforts and obstacles are entirely believable, and interesting.
Or at least it’s interesting as long as I focus on the events, and not the words. Sharafeddine originally wrote this book in Arabic, and provided her own translation. She has taught culture classes at Rice University in the US, but she still could have benefited from a more thorough Arabic-to-English overhaul. The 3rd person narration is very detached, as in the following scene, when one of the family members is about to get married. “Here is May, surrounded by the seamstress, the hairdresser and the makeup person. Faten hopes with all her heart that May is not making a big mistake that she will soon regret.”
The telling significantly outweighs the showing through most of the book. By the time I reached the final page, I wasn’t really sure how much I cared about what just happened.
Or at least it’s interesting as long as I focus on the events, and not the words. Sharafeddine originally wrote this book in Arabic, and provided her own translation. She has taught culture classes at Rice University in the US, but she still could have benefited from a more thorough Arabic-to-English overhaul. The 3rd person narration is very detached, as in the following scene, when one of the family members is about to get married. “Here is May, surrounded by the seamstress, the hairdresser and the makeup person. Faten hopes with all her heart that May is not making a big mistake that she will soon regret.”
The telling significantly outweighs the showing through most of the book. By the time I reached the final page, I wasn’t really sure how much I cared about what just happened.
September 4, 2013
This book would have been a 4- 4.5 star book had the ending gone down differently. By that I mean that it seemed rushed. "The Servant" is a shorter book, but the plot was progressing with just the right amount of detail and timing until about 100 pages in. Suddenly, once the protagonist starts to resolve her circumstances (which I was loving!) the author seems to breeze us through towards the end. Is there a sequel planned? If so, then the ending makes sense.
Other than that, this was a pretty great YA novel. I would have loved to learn a little more about the conflict happening in Beirut during the setting of this novel, but the author doesn't really go into it. The protagonist, Faten, is inspiring. She was forced into a confusing situation by her family right in the middle of her high school years to work as a maid. Faten realizes that she's far too ambitious to be able to live as a maid for the rest of her life. She takes life into her own hands and makes strides towards fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse.
So, because of the way the book ended, I am only going to give it 3 stars.
Other than that, this was a pretty great YA novel. I would have loved to learn a little more about the conflict happening in Beirut during the setting of this novel, but the author doesn't really go into it. The protagonist, Faten, is inspiring. She was forced into a confusing situation by her family right in the middle of her high school years to work as a maid. Faten realizes that she's far too ambitious to be able to live as a maid for the rest of her life. She takes life into her own hands and makes strides towards fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse.
So, because of the way the book ended, I am only going to give it 3 stars.
January 7, 2016
Dette er en veldig god ungdomsroman som jeg leste på kun en dag og som jeg gjerne vil anbefale alle tenåringer å lese. Teksten er lettlest, men Sharafeddine klarer likevel å formidle en historie som får meg til å heie på hovedpersonen Faten og håpe, slik hun håper, at hun skal nå målene sine.
Den gir innsikt i livet, drømmene og ønskene til en libanesisk jente i Beirut på midten av 1980-tallet. Faten har jobbet som hushjelp siden hun var femten, men begynner etterhvert å drømme om å skaffe seg en utdannelse og bli sykepleier. Hun har lite frihet i jobben sin. Er det da mulig for henne å nå målet sitt?
Den gir innsikt i livet, drømmene og ønskene til en libanesisk jente i Beirut på midten av 1980-tallet. Faten har jobbet som hushjelp siden hun var femten, men begynner etterhvert å drømme om å skaffe seg en utdannelse og bli sykepleier. Hun har lite frihet i jobben sin. Er det da mulig for henne å nå målet sitt?
January 15, 2021
This 157 page young adult book is translated from Arabic and while at times the story seems intentionally choppy, at other times it seems that the translation is making it more jarring than it needs to be. I found the book interesting and powerful, in much the way a short story can be, but the length was awkward, as it was too long for a short story, and not long enough to really read as a novel with detail and depth and connection. I love the growth and retaking of control that the protagonist embodies and I absolutely love the ending being left intentionally unresolved. There is no mention of religion in this story set in Lebanon, until nearly the end when it states that she is Muslim. I wonder if the translation took out some of the ‘Salams’ and ‘inshaAllahs’ that would have clarified it a bit even if prayer, or the athan or any outward signs of being a Muslim are clearly absent. The book is probably fine for ages 13 and up.
SYNOPSIS:
Faten is essentially sold in to servitude by her family. Her family lives in a village outside Beirut and when money gets tight she is forced to go and work as a house keeper/maid for the Zein family. Once a month Faten’s father comes and collects her salary showing little to know affection for the eldest of his children. The small Zein family has two daughters and lives in a flat. While the girls are in school, Faten cooks and cleans and dreams of being a nurse. The family is not particularly cruel to Faten, they often refer to her simply as ‘girl,’ but they are not particularly kind to her either. The highlight of Faten’s day is watching a young man across the street that drives a dark blue car, come home, study, and play piano. On occasion she catches his eye, so he knows she exists, but the two know nothing about one another. On Faten’s 17th birthday she decides she is going to gift her self something, and writes a letter to the blond man across the street. She has her only friend in Beirut, Rosalynn, a much older house servant in the apartment downstairs from Sierra Leon, deliver the letter which asks the boy to meet her so that she might seek his help in a very important manner.
When Faten and Marwan meet, Faten asks him to obtain information about how she might study nursing and change her future. The two secretly meet with Rosalynn’s help on Sunday’s, Faten’s one day off. Faten borrows May’s books to study as she learns what exams she must take to make her dream a reality. Marwan helps her with questions she needs assistance with and Faten and Marwan become close friends, with both feeling some attraction for one another just beneath the surface. One day however, they are discovered by a friend of Mrs. Zein at a beach side cafe, drinking coffee and Faten is forbidden from leaving the apartment as a result. With the oldest girl, May, married now, and nothing to look forward to on her days off, Faten dives in to her studies and is more determined than ever to pass her exams.
To even take the multiple day exam requires a few lies, a few favors, and the willingness to take a huge risk. When the Zein’s find out she is let go, and now must face her parents back in the village. With the help of her childhood friend, Faten clings to hope, confidence in her ability, and determination to pave her own way on her own terms.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I love that while Faten is the victim of cruel parents, and an unfortunate circumstance, she rises up and fights for control. I love that she has feelings for Marwan, but that they don’t overshadow her future goals, nor does she become overly dependent on him. I really love her strength in handling the situation with him when it is good, when it is tested, and when she has to walk away. There are elements of it being a love story, but that is just one thread of the book, her charting her own path is much more the central story line. I wish her religion and his religion would have come to the surface more, and sooner. Lebanon is a diverse place and just saying they were of two different faiths could have provided a lot of insight and fleshing out of the culture and the dynamics the two would have faced. The classism is a bit obvious, but even when that is explored it provides a better understanding to the characters and to the arc they are moving on. I like that her childhood friend and family are so loving and that her mom is not completely written off as a passive flat character. Overall, I like the story and the book, set in the 80’s it really could have gone a lot of ways, but it held close to the theme and provided enough side details that it felt grounded, believable and ultimately was enjoyable to read.
FLAGS:
When May is entertaining suitors there is some ogling that young kids might question. There is a lot of lying and deception and the possible romance between Faten and Marwan that in the text is pretty clean, but there is some hand holding if memory serves and implied desire for the friendship to be more.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
The book offers a lot in terms of classism and forced labor to be discussed and the cliffhanger ending between Marwan and Faten would allow the readers to decide if they could be together despite their different faiths, economic status and families, or not. I probably wouldn’t do it as a book club, but if I were a high school teacher, I might offer some sort of extra credit assignment involving the book, as the ending really lends itself to the reader projecting the characters’ futures based on their own perspectives which would be fascinating to hear.
SYNOPSIS:
Faten is essentially sold in to servitude by her family. Her family lives in a village outside Beirut and when money gets tight she is forced to go and work as a house keeper/maid for the Zein family. Once a month Faten’s father comes and collects her salary showing little to know affection for the eldest of his children. The small Zein family has two daughters and lives in a flat. While the girls are in school, Faten cooks and cleans and dreams of being a nurse. The family is not particularly cruel to Faten, they often refer to her simply as ‘girl,’ but they are not particularly kind to her either. The highlight of Faten’s day is watching a young man across the street that drives a dark blue car, come home, study, and play piano. On occasion she catches his eye, so he knows she exists, but the two know nothing about one another. On Faten’s 17th birthday she decides she is going to gift her self something, and writes a letter to the blond man across the street. She has her only friend in Beirut, Rosalynn, a much older house servant in the apartment downstairs from Sierra Leon, deliver the letter which asks the boy to meet her so that she might seek his help in a very important manner.
When Faten and Marwan meet, Faten asks him to obtain information about how she might study nursing and change her future. The two secretly meet with Rosalynn’s help on Sunday’s, Faten’s one day off. Faten borrows May’s books to study as she learns what exams she must take to make her dream a reality. Marwan helps her with questions she needs assistance with and Faten and Marwan become close friends, with both feeling some attraction for one another just beneath the surface. One day however, they are discovered by a friend of Mrs. Zein at a beach side cafe, drinking coffee and Faten is forbidden from leaving the apartment as a result. With the oldest girl, May, married now, and nothing to look forward to on her days off, Faten dives in to her studies and is more determined than ever to pass her exams.
To even take the multiple day exam requires a few lies, a few favors, and the willingness to take a huge risk. When the Zein’s find out she is let go, and now must face her parents back in the village. With the help of her childhood friend, Faten clings to hope, confidence in her ability, and determination to pave her own way on her own terms.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I love that while Faten is the victim of cruel parents, and an unfortunate circumstance, she rises up and fights for control. I love that she has feelings for Marwan, but that they don’t overshadow her future goals, nor does she become overly dependent on him. I really love her strength in handling the situation with him when it is good, when it is tested, and when she has to walk away. There are elements of it being a love story, but that is just one thread of the book, her charting her own path is much more the central story line. I wish her religion and his religion would have come to the surface more, and sooner. Lebanon is a diverse place and just saying they were of two different faiths could have provided a lot of insight and fleshing out of the culture and the dynamics the two would have faced. The classism is a bit obvious, but even when that is explored it provides a better understanding to the characters and to the arc they are moving on. I like that her childhood friend and family are so loving and that her mom is not completely written off as a passive flat character. Overall, I like the story and the book, set in the 80’s it really could have gone a lot of ways, but it held close to the theme and provided enough side details that it felt grounded, believable and ultimately was enjoyable to read.
FLAGS:
When May is entertaining suitors there is some ogling that young kids might question. There is a lot of lying and deception and the possible romance between Faten and Marwan that in the text is pretty clean, but there is some hand holding if memory serves and implied desire for the friendship to be more.
TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
The book offers a lot in terms of classism and forced labor to be discussed and the cliffhanger ending between Marwan and Faten would allow the readers to decide if they could be together despite their different faiths, economic status and families, or not. I probably wouldn’t do it as a book club, but if I were a high school teacher, I might offer some sort of extra credit assignment involving the book, as the ending really lends itself to the reader projecting the characters’ futures based on their own perspectives which would be fascinating to hear.
July 25, 2015
رواية للناشئة، مشوقة جدا. تدور الأحداث أيام الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية.
قصة كفاح في سبيل الحرية والطموح.
المثلبة الوحيدة هي علاقة فاتن بمروان؛ أرى أنها خطرة وكانت فاتن محظوظة أن مروان كان يحبها ولا ينوي أن يتسلى بها. كما أنه يصعب التصديق أن فتاة قروية في ذاك الزمان هي من تبادر بمراسلة الشاب وتقبل بالخروج معه دون أن تتوجس.
لم أستحسن موافقتها العودة إليه في النهاية، ربما لو انتهت الرواية بسؤاله وترك تقدير الرد للقارئ لكان هذا أجمل.
أجمل ما قرأت في الرواية قول فاتن:
"ما النفع إن كنت لا تفكر بهذه الطريقة لكنك تتصرف بها؟"
قصة كفاح في سبيل الحرية والطموح.
المثلبة الوحيدة هي علاقة فاتن بمروان؛ أرى أنها خطرة وكانت فاتن محظوظة أن مروان كان يحبها ولا ينوي أن يتسلى بها. كما أنه يصعب التصديق أن فتاة قروية في ذاك الزمان هي من تبادر بمراسلة الشاب وتقبل بالخروج معه دون أن تتوجس.
لم أستحسن موافقتها العودة إليه في النهاية، ربما لو انتهت الرواية بسؤاله وترك تقدير الرد للقارئ لكان هذا أجمل.
أجمل ما قرأت في الرواية قول فاتن:
"ما النفع إن كنت لا تفكر بهذه الطريقة لكنك تتصرف بها؟"
January 3, 2015
جيدة جداً للمراهقين في عمر بطلة الرواية ، أول ما خطر لي أنها مناسبة جداً لأختي الصغرى ، وأخيراً يوجد لدي شيء ما مناسب لها هادف وشيق بنفس الوقت ، من المثير رؤية توجه الكتاب لهذه الفئة التي تضيع بين أدب الأطفال وأدب البالغين.
January 22, 2011
lovely! Although it's supposed to be targeting young adults, it's a very mature novel, delicate and empowering and totally mood-lifting :) Bravo Fatma! :)
November 2, 2015
Boka tar opp et viktig tema!... men jeg skulle ønske forfatteren formidla dette på en annen måte. Hendelsene føltes "kunstige" og "enkle" ut.
February 10, 2020
This book captured me from the beginning to the end. In fact, it reminded me of another book that I was supposed to read for a previous course but didn't find the time to read until I stopped reading The Servant, and picked up the other book, read that and went back to The Servant. I was very invested in the success of the protagonist, Faten because I felt she was put in a subservient position due to her gender and social status. I usually stay away from U.S. books that push a feminist agenda but I really don't mind them when the books come from abroad. My thinking behind that is I believe there is no agenda to be pushed, these books are dealing with reality and one can see the need for more forward thinking. Anyway, Faten carries on with her new life as a maid and is very aware of her position in life compared to the family that employs her. For such a young age when she was plucked out of her village high school and into Beirut upscale neighborhood, Faten felt more wise beyond her age than the daughters of the employer. She's even aware that the daughter closest to her age is also trapped in a world of patriarchy in which she also must do what her parents expect of her despite going to the best high school, having the best clothes, living in the best neighborhood. This daughter lives a life of no real choices of her own except choosing the wrong partner. Faten is determined that no man, no person will have that much control over her destiny and that she must do all that she can to fulfill her dreams of an independent life on her own terms.
This is one of those books that would add value to a young person's life to know what life is like in another part of the world. Some young people in the U.S. grow up thinking and believing their options are limited but they are limited by their desire to do what is necessary to succeed.
This is one of those books that would add value to a young person's life to know what life is like in another part of the world. Some young people in the U.S. grow up thinking and believing their options are limited but they are limited by their desire to do what is necessary to succeed.
March 6, 2025
Sharafiddien never disappoints. I’ve read her ever since I was a kid, and now, reading her nonfiction stories hits hard. I swear it’s like every time I read one of her books, I learn so much.
For example in Faten, you feel attached to the main character, and she really delivers a detailed experience of what it was like to live in Lebanon during the war. It’s so realistic, which is nice but still very upsetting, for obviously, that was the state of most back then.
When I read this book, I remembered an older book I once read, from the same author. It was titled “I’m not an eagle” "أنا لست نسرا"
I read it when I was like 6 or 7. It had pictures and all the kind of kiddie stuff.
It follows the story of a pigeon or something that was flying with its family but got shot and ended up falling on some Island. It learnt to live there with humans and without its family. The story ends with the pigeon saying, “I’m not a lion. I’m not an eagle. I’m a pigeon.”
Stupid story, that’s what I thought as a kid. But after finishing faten, I reread it for fun.
It’s literally describing the state of those who flee from their home country, specifically Lebanese people (the author is Lebanese). She delivers a message by showing how those isolated from their family by war (in this case the shot) learn to live with new people; however, their identity never changes.
She’s a genius, yes it’s still so sad.
For example in Faten, you feel attached to the main character, and she really delivers a detailed experience of what it was like to live in Lebanon during the war. It’s so realistic, which is nice but still very upsetting, for obviously, that was the state of most back then.
When I read this book, I remembered an older book I once read, from the same author. It was titled “I’m not an eagle” "أنا لست نسرا"
I read it when I was like 6 or 7. It had pictures and all the kind of kiddie stuff.
It follows the story of a pigeon or something that was flying with its family but got shot and ended up falling on some Island. It learnt to live there with humans and without its family. The story ends with the pigeon saying, “I’m not a lion. I’m not an eagle. I’m a pigeon.”
Stupid story, that’s what I thought as a kid. But after finishing faten, I reread it for fun.
It’s literally describing the state of those who flee from their home country, specifically Lebanese people (the author is Lebanese). She delivers a message by showing how those isolated from their family by war (in this case the shot) learn to live with new people; however, their identity never changes.
She’s a genius, yes it’s still so sad.
November 16, 2019
"The Servant", by Fatima Sharafeddine is an inspiring and heartwarming story, about a young woman who with courage and perseverance , achived her greatest dream. This novel,presents a beautiful and motivating life story, in which values, faith and braveness become a key theme of these lifechnaging story. "The Servant" is not just another ficticious story,insteade, its an engaging and inspiring story, in which the reader has the opportunity to find out the beatiful message hiden throught the protagonist of the story. This novel message, encourage many of us, to fight for what we bealive and for what we had always dream about. This book had taught me that when everything seems lost, there's still an opportunity to rise up, and keep fighting, beucase at the end of the tunnel, theres always a cause to keep trying. In these novel, Fatima Sharafeddine, reavels these beutiful message, throught the story of an ordinary girl,that with effort and dedication, she was able to find her path and happiness. I think, this novel goes much farder than just a book. For me is a story that with a beautiful message, shows us ,that with faith and hard working everything we bealive in could be achived. In conclusion, I could say that I defenitly would recommed this book, to all those pasionate readers out there.
November 23, 2020
Letto grazie al gruppo Libri dal mondo.
Una storia per ragazzi ambientata in Libano negli anni '80 ben scritta e meno scontata di quanto può apparire inizialmente.
Conclusa la lettura si ha voglia di leggere Amin Maalouf.
Read thanks to the reading group Libri dal mondo.
A young adult novel set in Lebanon during the eighties well written and less predictable than you can expect at the beginning.
When the book is over you want to read Amin Maalouf.
Una storia per ragazzi ambientata in Libano negli anni '80 ben scritta e meno scontata di quanto può apparire inizialmente.
Conclusa la lettura si ha voglia di leggere Amin Maalouf.
Read thanks to the reading group Libri dal mondo.
A young adult novel set in Lebanon during the eighties well written and less predictable than you can expect at the beginning.
When the book is over you want to read Amin Maalouf.
August 4, 2022
THIS IS AN AMAZING BOOK! Words can’t describe how exited I was at the end of it! So much happend in such period of time really made my heart pound! I loved the romance, the hard working and the side stories in this book! Faten worked hard everyday and the book really put me into the perspective of not having much freedom, money and education. This book is for all ages, all genders and it’s an amazing book to read regardless if you like to read or not! It’s a short book so it’s easy to read but still carries a HUGE masterpiece! Forever thank you to the author who wrote this book! I love this book and I hope you will potentially or have (I gotta check EEEK) written more books about Faten! I love Faten forever and ever <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2019
روايه فاتن هي من اجمل الروايات التي قمت بقرائتها مسبقاً و الى الان اتذكر احداث الروايه لانني فعلاً عشت مع شخصيه فاتن الفتاه الريفيه الطموحه و البنت الذكيه التي انتقلت من قريتها الريفيه البسيطه الي مدينه بيروت للعمل في منزل اشخاص من الطبقه الوسطى تتحدى ظروفها التي تمنعها من تكمله تعليمها في المدرسه و تقوم بالقراه و المذاكره في غرفتها بعد الانتهاء من امور المنزل الذي تعيش فيه ، تقوم بالتخطيط للخروج من الحاله التي تمر فيها و تقيدها عن الوصول لاهدافها ، تصادق جارهم و تقوم برسم خطط للهرب معه لتنتهي من القيود و تصبح حره اخيراً .و كل التقدير للكاتبه فاطمه شرف الدين على هذه الروايه المبدعه 💛
September 8, 2021
3.5 stelle
Una storia molto semplice e lineare. Seguiamo la storia di Faten, una ragazzina che vorrebbe solo essere padrona della sua vita e del suo destino ma che, invece, come tutte le donne in Medio-Oriente, è costretta a sottostare agli ordini del padre
La storia non è nulla di eclatante, non si parla della guerra civile (se non con qualche cenno), ma la storia ed il coraggio di Faten sono tutto ciò di cui si ha bisogno.
Consigliato ad un pubblico giovane, si può leggere a tutte le età
Una storia molto semplice e lineare. Seguiamo la storia di Faten, una ragazzina che vorrebbe solo essere padrona della sua vita e del suo destino ma che, invece, come tutte le donne in Medio-Oriente, è costretta a sottostare agli ordini del padre
La storia non è nulla di eclatante, non si parla della guerra civile (se non con qualche cenno), ma la storia ed il coraggio di Faten sono tutto ciò di cui si ha bisogno.
Consigliato ad un pubblico giovane, si può leggere a tutte le età
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