Zafir

Through My Eyes

by Prue Mason, Lyn White (Editor)

Zafir has a comfortable life in Homs, Syria, until his father, a doctor, is arrested for helping a protester who was campaigning for revolution. While his mother heads to Damascus to try to find out where his father is being held, Zafir stays with his grandmother - until her house is bombed. With his father in prison, his mother absent, his grandmother ill and not a friend left in the city, Zafir must stay with his Uncle Ghazi. But that too becomes dangerous as the city becomes more and more besieged. Will Zafir survive long enough to be reunited with his parents?

Genres: Young Adult, War, Cultural, Historical Fiction, Childrens

179 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 22, 2015

About the author

Prue Mason grew up on a farm in South Australia. She is a licensed pilot and has travelled the world working in various jobs, including teaching English as a foreign language and working for a children’s magazine in Dubai. Besides writing, Prue does workshops and gives presentations at schools and writing festivals. In 2005, her first book Camel Rider won the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award and was a Notable Book at the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards. Prue has received several grants towards research for her books, including a May Gibbs fellowship for Amazing Australians in Their Flying Machines.

Reviews

[Rosanne Hawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zafir by Prue Mason is another great title in the Through My Eyes war series for children created by editor Lyn White. Zafir is living in Homs, Syria in a family of mixed religion, Muslim and Orthodox Christian. There is much going on around Zafir politically and much he doesn't understand which no doubt is what conflict is like for children. Lots of research evident here and much scope for Middle school students to get their teeth into. Congratulations to Lyn White for a wonderful series which has kept a high standard throughout.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zafir is living in Homs (Syria) with his parents after moving from Dubai. When he sees a body thrown from a car in the street his life changes forever. No-one stops to help and when Zafir assists his father, a doctor, in getting treatment for the injured man, a protester, an unstoppable chain of events begins.
Zafir starts to realise there is a lot he does not understand about Syria. Why does his best friend, Rami, move away with this family? Why does he write email messages to Zafir in code? How come Eleni, his new friend moves away too?
As a revolution begins in Syria, Zafir comes to realise his father, who has been arrested for aiding the injured protester in the hospital, and other members of his family are in terrible danger. His favourite uncle, Ghazi, is taking photos of what is taking place and his friend, Azzam Azzad is writing for a blog to let the world know the suffering of the Syrian people.
This is a compelling tale of revolution and the "little people" whose lives are turned upside down when it is in full flight. Zafir is quite wide-eyed and innocent at the beginning of the book, but by the end he is more worldly than he has ever been before. Even in the face of a seemingly hopeless situation, Zafir never loses hope - a testament to the reslience of children everywhere. He adapts to the situation around him and is a resourceful child. Zafir is also part of a family that straddles Christian and Muslim beliefs - a really interesting device that shows the differences, but also the similaries between the two doctrines, which is a masterstroke by Prue Mason. Because the events are seen through Zafir's eyes, the complex situation in Syria is confusing and never "black and white". This is what makes the stories in this series so believable and poignant and it is a credit to series creator and editor, Lyn White, that this authentic feel has been sustained through all six books in the current series

A gripping story from a child's point of view, set during a turbulent time from the recent history of a fascintating country.
Recommended for ages 12 and up.

[Alisha Rahman · Rating 3 out of 5]

conceptually it is a very nice book, just very forgetful, but very realistic, the ending not very cohesive but again realistic.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving story about a 13 year old boy and his family who get caught up in the civil unrest in Syria. The book shows an ordinary family who have a house, a good job and most modern day items. They never expected that all this could disappear when civil unrest started in their country. Zafir has to grow up quickly when the city in which he lives gets bombed and he is separated from his parents.

[Nick Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. It tells you all about the difficulties and consiquences of war, and the life of the people in the middle of it. I highly liked this book because it was touching, educational and exiting with every knew page.

[Allison Sirovy]

Explains from the eyes of a 13 year old boy the conflict, heartbreak, and terror of living in Syria during the uprising . . . An important read for teen or adult to help view the world from another perspective . . .

[Fatema · Rating 5 out of 5]

nathing

[BuildingCommunity]

This book made me want to read the whole series.