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Das Mädchen Wadjda
Riad, Saudi-Arabien: Die zehnjährige Wadjda (gesprochen: Wodschda) wünscht sich nichts sehnlicher als das grüne Fahrrad aus dem Laden um die Ecke. Dass Mädchen in ihrem Land gar nicht Rad fahren dürfen, interessiert den kleinen Wildfang wenig. Stattdessen setzt sie ihren Plan, sich das Geld für das Fahrrad selbst zu verdienen, geschäftstüchtig auf dem Schulhof um – bis ihr die strenge Schulleiterin auf die Schliche kommt. Da fällt Wadjda nur noch der hoch dotierte Koranwettbewerb der Schule ein; gleichzeitig eine willkommene Gelegenheit, sich wieder mit den Lehrerinnen gutzustellen. Am Ende kommt zwar alles ganz anders als gedacht, dennoch verliert Wadjda nie ihren Mut. Und so geht der lang gehegte Traum doch noch in Erfüllung …
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
59 people are currently reading
1048 people want to read
About the author
Haifaa al Mansour
3 books12 followersHaifaa al-Mansour (Arabic: هيفاء المنصور Hayfā’a al-Manṣūr; born 10 August 1974) is a Saudi Arabian film director. She is one of the country's best-known and most controversial directors, and the first female Saudi filmmaker.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
July 19, 2018
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
As an only child she had to navigate the dark paths of her parents' tumultuous marriage struggles; her relationship with the teachers and girls in 4th Girls' school in Riyadh East; the owner of the bicyle shop where she reserved the green bicycle and bought her video game to learn the Koran faster; and the day-to-day challenges of growing up in the circumstances which was dealt to her by destiny. With the support of her only best friend Abdullah, she learnt how to negotiate her tomboy self out of trouble while learning the mysterious difference between teenage love and forbidden friendship between boys and girls.
Happiness was within each person's grasp, she learnt, but only if you accept that it does not always deliver in the way you hoped for.
The world around this courageous little girl was often cruel, but behind closed doors she found the love and support of her beautiful mother, who finally took her own giant leap to a prosperous new life for both of them.
I concluded the book wishing them both a life of goodness and greatness wherever their courage would lead them, with blessings from their own will to succeed.
This was a beautiful, touching, heart-warming, delightful YA-read.
RECOMMENDED
From her heart, they poured forth. Words for her bicycle, for her mother and her long commute, for her father and his lonely branch on the family tree. For Abdullah, the way he was always there when she was most in need. For Fatin and Fatima, shrunken and lost. Words for them—and words for her. Words to push back everyone who thought she couldn’t do it, to say to all the people waiting for her to falter and fail: No.Eleven-year-old Wadjda Al Safan's voice was was soft, but then it lifted, rising and falling in cadence with her words. Her recitation found its rhythm, and the beauty in her tone changed everything she had to overcome to be the girl she knew she can be, and the young woman she will become.
As an only child she had to navigate the dark paths of her parents' tumultuous marriage struggles; her relationship with the teachers and girls in 4th Girls' school in Riyadh East; the owner of the bicyle shop where she reserved the green bicycle and bought her video game to learn the Koran faster; and the day-to-day challenges of growing up in the circumstances which was dealt to her by destiny. With the support of her only best friend Abdullah, she learnt how to negotiate her tomboy self out of trouble while learning the mysterious difference between teenage love and forbidden friendship between boys and girls.
Happiness was within each person's grasp, she learnt, but only if you accept that it does not always deliver in the way you hoped for.
The world around this courageous little girl was often cruel, but behind closed doors she found the love and support of her beautiful mother, who finally took her own giant leap to a prosperous new life for both of them.
I concluded the book wishing them both a life of goodness and greatness wherever their courage would lead them, with blessings from their own will to succeed.
This was a beautiful, touching, heart-warming, delightful YA-read.
RECOMMENDED
May 28, 2019
Wow. Good book to read about what life is like in Saudi Arabia for women and girls. The oppression that they face every day is truly terrible. Watch out; this book will probably make you really angry in certain parts!
May 2, 2021
I had come across the film based on this book called Wadjda. It's on Netflix, go watch! The book's author is also the director of the film! Both are wonderful, heart-warming depictions of Saudi society.
A brilliant coming of age book about a young Saudi Arabian girl, The Green Bicycle follows the life of a young girl called Wadjda, who lives in a highly restrictive society. She sees her best friend, Abdullah, racing around in a bicycle and wants one for herself. When she sees a green bicycle in a shop, she falls in love with it and begins to save for it. Will she eventually get her bike or not?
I simply loved this book! As a soon-to-be teen, Wadjda begins to realise the hardships women face in her society and rebels mildly against some rules. She is not a completely "nice" character but you still find yourself rooting for her because her actions are authentic. Her needs are understandable. But most of all, it's thrilling to see that she is rebelling in a hardcore sexist society like Saudi Arabia.
There are other themes that are subtly explored in the background. Polygamy and its repercussions, religious oppression of women, fanaticism, sexism, and parental negligence are explored but the story does not come down heavily on any of these themes, making it an easy and delightful read. I also enjoyed Wadjda's and Abdullah's friendship. It was nice to see that both Wadjda and her mother come out with a ray of hope in their lives, leaving the reader hopeful for the future. I hope more such books come out of Saudi in the near future.
A brilliant coming of age book about a young Saudi Arabian girl, The Green Bicycle follows the life of a young girl called Wadjda, who lives in a highly restrictive society. She sees her best friend, Abdullah, racing around in a bicycle and wants one for herself. When she sees a green bicycle in a shop, she falls in love with it and begins to save for it. Will she eventually get her bike or not?
I simply loved this book! As a soon-to-be teen, Wadjda begins to realise the hardships women face in her society and rebels mildly against some rules. She is not a completely "nice" character but you still find yourself rooting for her because her actions are authentic. Her needs are understandable. But most of all, it's thrilling to see that she is rebelling in a hardcore sexist society like Saudi Arabia.
There are other themes that are subtly explored in the background. Polygamy and its repercussions, religious oppression of women, fanaticism, sexism, and parental negligence are explored but the story does not come down heavily on any of these themes, making it an easy and delightful read. I also enjoyed Wadjda's and Abdullah's friendship. It was nice to see that both Wadjda and her mother come out with a ray of hope in their lives, leaving the reader hopeful for the future. I hope more such books come out of Saudi in the near future.
September 7, 2016
I loved this book! This is what they're talking about when they say #WeNeedDiverseBooks. We NEED a book about a sassy pants eleven-year-old Saudi Arabian girl who sells forbidden contraband and uses her smarts to save up money to buy a forbidden bicycle.
I must admit, I was nervous when I saw this book was written by a filmmaker and based on her film "Wadjda." Novelizations of movies typically aren't very good. But this is NOT a novelization. It's a beautifully written novel that stands on its own. That being said, I did just order the DVD of "Wadjda" so I can enjoy that, too.
The best thing I can say about this book is that it made me want to run right out and buy a pair of black Chucks with purple laces - Wadjda-style!
I must admit, I was nervous when I saw this book was written by a filmmaker and based on her film "Wadjda." Novelizations of movies typically aren't very good. But this is NOT a novelization. It's a beautifully written novel that stands on its own. That being said, I did just order the DVD of "Wadjda" so I can enjoy that, too.
The best thing I can say about this book is that it made me want to run right out and buy a pair of black Chucks with purple laces - Wadjda-style!
October 10, 2016
3.75 stars.
This book is based on the author's award winning film, Wadjda. It is not, however, the novelisation of a movie. It's very much a novel in its own right, as evidenced by the fact that the movie came out in 2012 and the book came out in 2015.
Anyway.
This is the story of an 11 year old girl living in Saudi Arabia. She's a precocious and rebellious kid who wears jeans and ratty Converse under her school uniform, who sells mix tapes and snacks at massive mark ups to help her mother pay the bills, and who wants nothing more than to ride a bike.
It's a book about how difficult life often is for women in Saudi society (though obviously I can't speak to the authenticity of this) with women made to cover themselves any time they leave the house, with women unable to drive, unable to travel without permission from a husband or male relative, unable to play sport or sing or do anything that might damage their reputation.
As much as it's about Wadjda's rebellion against the system, it's also about her mother's eventual rebellion. Wadjda's mother is unable to have more children, and so Wadjda's parents spend a lot of time arguing about whether or not her father will take a second wife to provide a son who can continue the family name. And as heartwarming as Wadjda's story is, her mother's is equally heartbreaking.
It took me a little while to get into this one, but on the whole I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm glad I read it.
This book is based on the author's award winning film, Wadjda. It is not, however, the novelisation of a movie. It's very much a novel in its own right, as evidenced by the fact that the movie came out in 2012 and the book came out in 2015.
Anyway.
This is the story of an 11 year old girl living in Saudi Arabia. She's a precocious and rebellious kid who wears jeans and ratty Converse under her school uniform, who sells mix tapes and snacks at massive mark ups to help her mother pay the bills, and who wants nothing more than to ride a bike.
It's a book about how difficult life often is for women in Saudi society (though obviously I can't speak to the authenticity of this) with women made to cover themselves any time they leave the house, with women unable to drive, unable to travel without permission from a husband or male relative, unable to play sport or sing or do anything that might damage their reputation.
As much as it's about Wadjda's rebellion against the system, it's also about her mother's eventual rebellion. Wadjda's mother is unable to have more children, and so Wadjda's parents spend a lot of time arguing about whether or not her father will take a second wife to provide a son who can continue the family name. And as heartwarming as Wadjda's story is, her mother's is equally heartbreaking.
It took me a little while to get into this one, but on the whole I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm glad I read it.
May 16, 2016
Wow! The Green Bicycle was published in September 2015, after the very successful 2012 feature film Wadjda garnered world-wide respect for Haifaa Al Mansour, the first female director to come from Saudi Arabia. Sometimes I make the mistake of setting my expectations for a long-awaited book too high, but this book did not disappoint me. In fact, Al Mansour captures every facet of a middle-class, working woman’s world in Saudi (reading this brought me right back to my eight years in Kuwait). The tendency for Westerners to think of all Saudis as oil rich snobs or overflowing with new money has got to be stopped. Increasing exposure to Western culture often sends middle-class Muslim girls mixed messages that a coming of age story is perfectly suited to deal with. Wadjda’s struggles to remain independent are innocent, but also become more weighty as they begin to affect those around her—her family, her friends, her classmates, and mostly, her own sense of being. The theme of Wadjda’s struggle to find herself is very much echoed in the subplot of her mother’s struggle to be a woman of independent means in a patriarchal society where both men and women suffer because of cultural and moral restrictions placed upon them. For example, Wadjda’s mother is forced to teach at a school two hours from home because teaching in an all-girls school is one of the only acceptable professions for Saudi women and local positions are flooded. So she and 8 other completely-covered female teachers must endure a two-hour drive to and fro on a crazy-dangerous desert highway, in a van with no A/C, driven by a surly Pakistani man who is her social inferior due to his illegal immigration status but who feels he can berate her because she is a woman. There is also the tense relationship between Wadjda’s mother and father. What happens when a Saudi woman cannot bear a son?
What superstitions would keep a girl from riding a bicycle in the first place? Everything about this book was so real—the streets, the empty lots, the dust, the political elections. The longing of Wadjda’s mother to break social norms, but her reluctance to do so because of social tradition. The principal of the school, Ms Hussa, with her designer clothes, high heels and sense of self-importance, the attitudes of the girls in Wadjda’s school. Seriously, I felt like I was right back in the Gulf.
I don’t think, as some critics have said, that Al Mansour seeks to cast Saudi in a bad light. She is showing it with ethos and pathos. She completely honors Koran. The plots are beautifully woven, and shine brightest in the moment that Wadjda and her mother recite Koran which brings them together, “And of His Signs is that He creates for you mates out of yourselves, so that you may find tranquility in them; and He has put love and mercy between you.” This is beautiful, and Al Mansour turns a traditional male-female dynamic on its head by reinterpreting it as an unbreakable and triumphant bond between a mother and a daughter.
What superstitions would keep a girl from riding a bicycle in the first place? Everything about this book was so real—the streets, the empty lots, the dust, the political elections. The longing of Wadjda’s mother to break social norms, but her reluctance to do so because of social tradition. The principal of the school, Ms Hussa, with her designer clothes, high heels and sense of self-importance, the attitudes of the girls in Wadjda’s school. Seriously, I felt like I was right back in the Gulf.
I don’t think, as some critics have said, that Al Mansour seeks to cast Saudi in a bad light. She is showing it with ethos and pathos. She completely honors Koran. The plots are beautifully woven, and shine brightest in the moment that Wadjda and her mother recite Koran which brings them together, “And of His Signs is that He creates for you mates out of yourselves, so that you may find tranquility in them; and He has put love and mercy between you.” This is beautiful, and Al Mansour turns a traditional male-female dynamic on its head by reinterpreting it as an unbreakable and triumphant bond between a mother and a daughter.
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September 10, 2018«وجدة» السعودية من فيلم سينمائي إلى رواية أخيراً!
كاتيا دبغي
لمع اسم المخرجة والكاتبة السعودية هيفاء المنصور، من خلال فيلم «وجدة» الذي نال عدة جوائز عالمية، وشارك في مهرجانات سينمائية دولية وعربية في العام 2012. ولكن مَن شاهد وجدة «السينمائية» سيحظى حتماً بمتعة إضافية لدى قراءتها بنسختها «الورقية»، حيث صدر عن دار هاشيت – نوفل أخيراً كتاب يروي سيرة وجدة الفتاة السعودية الحالمة والمتمردة.
فور قراءة الصفحات الأولى، تأخذك وجدة في رحلة مشهدية وبصرية، فتقترب الحواس من الأحداث لترافق هذه الصغيرة في حياتها داخل أسرة سعودية محافظة ووسط مجتمع تسوده الضوابط، وفي مدرسة البنات وخارجها حيث تتلخص كل أحلام وجدة -التلميذة الصغيرة، في قيادة دراجة خضراء أسوة بصديق الطفولة والحي عبدالله، هذه الدراجة التي منذ أن وقعت عيناها عليها في أحد محلات الألعاب، وهي لم تكف عن الحلم بالحصول عليها في ظل وجود عدة عوائق، أبرزها أن البنات لا يقدن دراجة، وغير مسموح لهن باقتناء دراجة أسوة بالصبيان، فضلاً عن العائق المادي لأن الدراجة ثمنها مرتفع نسبياً، بالنسبة إلى فتاة مثلها معدمة مادياً ولا تجرؤ حتى على مفاتحة ذويها برغبتها هذه كونها من المحرمات.
القصة في أسلوبها السهل الممتنع تدخلنا إلى أعماق وجدة الحالمة والمتمردة، فنتعاطف معها في مقالبها وضروبها وعفويتها، وتستمر رحلة التعاطف لتصل وجدة إلى هدفها الذي يقف عند حدود الدراجة الخضراء وما تمثله من انطلاق وحرية، فتنتابنا عدوى فرحها ونشعر بعميق حزنها ونتفاعل مع غضبها ونلامس خفايا الواقع الذي تعيشه وسط عائلة تتنازعها قيود العادات والتقاليد.
نجاح مدوٍ
وإذا كان الفيلم قد حقق نجاحاً مدوياً لدى عرضه قبل 6 أعوام تقريباً ونال عدة جوائز ووضع السينما السعودية على الخارطة العالمية للمهرجانات، فإن قصة وجدة في نسختها الورقية وبين دفتي كتاب تأخذنا أيضاً في رحلة إمتاع، يجملها أسلوب الكتابة التي نجحت في تحويل تحفة سينمائية إلى تحفة مكتوبة، وأجادت لعبة نقل المشاهد البصرية إلى منصة أدبية تمكنت من جذبنا أو سرقتنا في خضم إغراءات التكنولوجيا الحديثة ومشاغل العصر لقراءة ممتعة من الغلاف إلى الغلاف.
Source: https://goo.gl/d5b24j
كاتيا دبغي
لمع اسم المخرجة والكاتبة السعودية هيفاء المنصور، من خلال فيلم «وجدة» الذي نال عدة جوائز عالمية، وشارك في مهرجانات سينمائية دولية وعربية في العام 2012. ولكن مَن شاهد وجدة «السينمائية» سيحظى حتماً بمتعة إضافية لدى قراءتها بنسختها «الورقية»، حيث صدر عن دار هاشيت – نوفل أخيراً كتاب يروي سيرة وجدة الفتاة السعودية الحالمة والمتمردة.
فور قراءة الصفحات الأولى، تأخذك وجدة في رحلة مشهدية وبصرية، فتقترب الحواس من الأحداث لترافق هذه الصغيرة في حياتها داخل أسرة سعودية محافظة ووسط مجتمع تسوده الضوابط، وفي مدرسة البنات وخارجها حيث تتلخص كل أحلام وجدة -التلميذة الصغيرة، في قيادة دراجة خضراء أسوة بصديق الطفولة والحي عبدالله، هذه الدراجة التي منذ أن وقعت عيناها عليها في أحد محلات الألعاب، وهي لم تكف عن الحلم بالحصول عليها في ظل وجود عدة عوائق، أبرزها أن البنات لا يقدن دراجة، وغير مسموح لهن باقتناء دراجة أسوة بالصبيان، فضلاً عن العائق المادي لأن الدراجة ثمنها مرتفع نسبياً، بالنسبة إلى فتاة مثلها معدمة مادياً ولا تجرؤ حتى على مفاتحة ذويها برغبتها هذه كونها من المحرمات.
القصة في أسلوبها السهل الممتنع تدخلنا إلى أعماق وجدة الحالمة والمتمردة، فنتعاطف معها في مقالبها وضروبها وعفويتها، وتستمر رحلة التعاطف لتصل وجدة إلى هدفها الذي يقف عند حدود الدراجة الخضراء وما تمثله من انطلاق وحرية، فتنتابنا عدوى فرحها ونشعر بعميق حزنها ونتفاعل مع غضبها ونلامس خفايا الواقع الذي تعيشه وسط عائلة تتنازعها قيود العادات والتقاليد.
نجاح مدوٍ
وإذا كان الفيلم قد حقق نجاحاً مدوياً لدى عرضه قبل 6 أعوام تقريباً ونال عدة جوائز ووضع السينما السعودية على الخارطة العالمية للمهرجانات، فإن قصة وجدة في نسختها الورقية وبين دفتي كتاب تأخذنا أيضاً في رحلة إمتاع، يجملها أسلوب الكتابة التي نجحت في تحويل تحفة سينمائية إلى تحفة مكتوبة، وأجادت لعبة نقل المشاهد البصرية إلى منصة أدبية تمكنت من جذبنا أو سرقتنا في خضم إغراءات التكنولوجيا الحديثة ومشاغل العصر لقراءة ممتعة من الغلاف إلى الغلاف.
Source: https://goo.gl/d5b24j
July 30, 2018
The Green Bicycle was written by the director of Wadjda, the first feature film shot in Saudi Arabia by a female director. In this case the film actually came out first. The director and author Haifaa Al Mansour said in an interview that in the novel she wanted to go deeper into the minds of the characters, which definitely she does.
The story is about Wadja, a spunky and sassy 11 year old who gets it in her head that she wants to buy the green bicycle that she sees in a store window. She has a lot to contend with. She's already a misfit in her religious public school. As well, her mostly absent father does not contribute to their income and Wadjda and her mother have to live on her mother's income as a teacher, a job she has to commute over 2 hours each way to get to. They have just barely enough for the bare essentials. Nevertheless Wadjda is strong and feisty and determine to do things her way.
Although it's written for a younger audience, I recommend this book to everyone who wants to learn more about life for women in Saudi Arabia.
The story is about Wadja, a spunky and sassy 11 year old who gets it in her head that she wants to buy the green bicycle that she sees in a store window. She has a lot to contend with. She's already a misfit in her religious public school. As well, her mostly absent father does not contribute to their income and Wadjda and her mother have to live on her mother's income as a teacher, a job she has to commute over 2 hours each way to get to. They have just barely enough for the bare essentials. Nevertheless Wadjda is strong and feisty and determine to do things her way.
Although it's written for a younger audience, I recommend this book to everyone who wants to learn more about life for women in Saudi Arabia.
October 16, 2015
Set in modern day Saudi Arabia, this will give a lot of insight into life in a place many U.S. children are unfamiliar with
Grades 4-6
Grades 4-6
September 28, 2019
Me: Okay, I have to read the book before I watch the movie!
Book: “Based on the award-winning film!”
Me: … Oh.
The book is actually written by Haifaa Al Mansour, the film director and screenwriter who also created … you guessed it, Wadjda. This is also her first novel. It’s also surprisingly well written for a book based on a movie, and also a debut by someone focusing on film (most movies-to-books have been … pretty lackluster in my experience).
Content warnings:
homophobia/lesbophobia
lots of in-book misogyny
Eleven-year-old Wadjda lives in Saudi Arabia with her mother … and … nope, just mother (dad? What dad?). While her mother seems to struggle to get by on her teaching job a long, long drive away through the desert, her father has a ton of money that neither of them really see (it’s all spent on himself: gaming consoles, a TV, and, unfortunately, a dowry for another bride that threatens to tear the family apart). Meanwhile, at school, Wadjda sells forbidden mixtapes and jewelry for extra cash so she can buy the most Amazing green bicycle. Even though girls riding bikes is forbidden. Along with most other things. But Wadjda is determined to buy this bike and beat her best friend, Abdullah, in a race. The only problem(s)? The bike is 800 Riyals, her mom has forbidden her to buy said bike, and she’s just been caught selling mixtapes.
While this IS one of the best movies-to-books I’ve ever read, it failed to keep my attention all the way through. It’s a pretty big book for so simple a plot, ultimately: Wadjda dreams of getting her green bicycle. The PoV also alternates at completely random times → mostly just to Wadjda’s best friend, Abdullah. It still threw me off. Alternating PoVs as a concept should be introduced early on so readers can be well acquainted to it -- not midway. Done that way it’s one of the things most likely to throw a reader out of the story/world.
I would also like to mention that this book has a very Western bias, and I’m not sure what I can say about that except that the author does present the story and her culture through that Western lens. No opinion on this (not that I really can have one here), just a statement.
Now, what I really didn’t like:
There’s a really lesbophobic element (and yes, I know it could/might happen in Saudi Arabia every day. However, I didn’t like the way Haifaa Al Mansour particularly handled it in this book. And possibly the movie as well. Spoilers for clarity:
For anyone who didn’t read the spoiler: basically Wadjda told a lie that led to two fellow classmates being publicly humiliated and now treated awfully by everyone else at school (due to lesbophobia). Wadjda never apologized, and the narrative acts like “going back to her troublemaking self” makes up for it, since those girls called her a traitor for “being the school’s favorite convert” and playing nice.
As a lesbian reading this, though … it … doesn’t? Not for me, at least. In fact, Wadjda gets away with So Much without ever apologizing or talking things through. And buying something or pouting -- or even a simple look will get her back in good standing. Everyone else around her, including her poor mom, does everything for her and gets nearly nothing back. I even felt sorry for Abdullah a couple times, and I never thought I would with his sexist ways!
Anyway, I’ll still watch the movie, but I think the lesbophobia will still throw me off. Though the mother and daughter moments holding strong in the face of Wadjda’s father are the highlights, they don’t make up for the rest of the book, which just paled in comparison.
Book: “Based on the award-winning film!”
Me: … Oh.
The book is actually written by Haifaa Al Mansour, the film director and screenwriter who also created … you guessed it, Wadjda. This is also her first novel. It’s also surprisingly well written for a book based on a movie, and also a debut by someone focusing on film (most movies-to-books have been … pretty lackluster in my experience).
Content warnings:
homophobia/lesbophobia
lots of in-book misogyny
Eleven-year-old Wadjda lives in Saudi Arabia with her mother … and … nope, just mother (dad? What dad?). While her mother seems to struggle to get by on her teaching job a long, long drive away through the desert, her father has a ton of money that neither of them really see (it’s all spent on himself: gaming consoles, a TV, and, unfortunately, a dowry for another bride that threatens to tear the family apart). Meanwhile, at school, Wadjda sells forbidden mixtapes and jewelry for extra cash so she can buy the most Amazing green bicycle. Even though girls riding bikes is forbidden. Along with most other things. But Wadjda is determined to buy this bike and beat her best friend, Abdullah, in a race. The only problem(s)? The bike is 800 Riyals, her mom has forbidden her to buy said bike, and she’s just been caught selling mixtapes.
While this IS one of the best movies-to-books I’ve ever read, it failed to keep my attention all the way through. It’s a pretty big book for so simple a plot, ultimately: Wadjda dreams of getting her green bicycle. The PoV also alternates at completely random times → mostly just to Wadjda’s best friend, Abdullah. It still threw me off. Alternating PoVs as a concept should be introduced early on so readers can be well acquainted to it -- not midway. Done that way it’s one of the things most likely to throw a reader out of the story/world.
I would also like to mention that this book has a very Western bias, and I’m not sure what I can say about that except that the author does present the story and her culture through that Western lens. No opinion on this (not that I really can have one here), just a statement.
Now, what I really didn’t like:
There’s a really lesbophobic element (and yes, I know it could/might happen in Saudi Arabia every day. However, I didn’t like the way Haifaa Al Mansour particularly handled it in this book. And possibly the movie as well. Spoilers for clarity:
For anyone who didn’t read the spoiler: basically Wadjda told a lie that led to two fellow classmates being publicly humiliated and now treated awfully by everyone else at school (due to lesbophobia). Wadjda never apologized, and the narrative acts like “going back to her troublemaking self” makes up for it, since those girls called her a traitor for “being the school’s favorite convert” and playing nice.
As a lesbian reading this, though … it … doesn’t? Not for me, at least. In fact, Wadjda gets away with So Much without ever apologizing or talking things through. And buying something or pouting -- or even a simple look will get her back in good standing. Everyone else around her, including her poor mom, does everything for her and gets nearly nothing back. I even felt sorry for Abdullah a couple times, and I never thought I would with his sexist ways!
Anyway, I’ll still watch the movie, but I think the lesbophobia will still throw me off. Though the mother and daughter moments holding strong in the face of Wadjda’s father are the highlights, they don’t make up for the rest of the book, which just paled in comparison.
April 12, 2017
Wadjda lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where it seems like there are a million rules governing how girls and women are supposed to behave. Wadjda's mother has to cover herself from head to toe, everything but her eyes, when they are out in public, and Wadjda, too, has to wear a long black abayah that covers her clothes and hair. Wadjda hates being confined by rules; she secretly loves Western music and wears Converse sneakers under her school uniform. Her greatest wish, though, is to race her best friend Abdullah on a bicycle. The problem is that only boys like Abdullah are supposed to ride bikes in Saudi Arabia; it's considered unseemly for a girl to do so. But that won't stop Wadjda, especially when she sees a beautiful green bicycle - a girl's bicycle! - in a nearby toy shop. The green bicycle cost 800 riyals, an impossible amount of money, but Wadjda is determined she'll buy it somehow. Whether she has to sell mixtapes, bracelets, and snacks to her classmates or somehow win the prize money for the school-wide Quran recitation competition, Wadjda is sure she will someday feel the wind in her hair as she and her bicycle leave Abdullah in the dust.
This book could have stood to be a little shorter, and I can't say it was a page-turner, but this is a story I'd never heard before, and I love that. The setting of Saudi Arabia is vividly described from an insider's perspective. While I was so sad to see how oppressed women and girls in that country truly are, I could also see how resilient some of the female characters, especially Wadjda, can be. She is such a great character! By the end of the book, I had this kernel of hope that surely, even in such an oppressive environment, nothing could keep Wadjda down forever. (This may be weird to say, but I almost saw this as a type of dystopian story that focused on life in the dystopia instead of the overthrow of the dystopia? Except it's more-or-less real life?) Anyway, I loved this window into the life of a girl with, in some (important) ways, a very different childhood than mine.
I would recommend this book to grades 5-8, especially those who want to know what it's like to live in a country like Saudi Arabia. This might be a good readalike for The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney or The Princess and the Foal by Stacy Gregg.
This book could have stood to be a little shorter, and I can't say it was a page-turner, but this is a story I'd never heard before, and I love that. The setting of Saudi Arabia is vividly described from an insider's perspective. While I was so sad to see how oppressed women and girls in that country truly are, I could also see how resilient some of the female characters, especially Wadjda, can be. She is such a great character! By the end of the book, I had this kernel of hope that surely, even in such an oppressive environment, nothing could keep Wadjda down forever. (This may be weird to say, but I almost saw this as a type of dystopian story that focused on life in the dystopia instead of the overthrow of the dystopia? Except it's more-or-less real life?) Anyway, I loved this window into the life of a girl with, in some (important) ways, a very different childhood than mine.
I would recommend this book to grades 5-8, especially those who want to know what it's like to live in a country like Saudi Arabia. This might be a good readalike for The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney or The Princess and the Foal by Stacy Gregg.
August 30, 2017
A former student of mine really enjoyed this book and suggested I read it. This is a lovely story of a Muslim girl who is a total tom boy with a strong spirit. Wadjda is an 11 year old living in the traditional and religiously strict world of Riyadh where women and girls have few to no rights and little freedom. However, Wadjda sells things on the side to earn extra cash, makes mix tapes of Western music, and dreams of buying a green bicycle. Along this quest for the bicycle, we witness the solid friendship between Wadjda and Abdullah, a view of Muslim life from a female perspective, and how a little girl keeps hope and persistence strong in her heart.
I rated this novel 3/5 only because it took me forever to read given my busy work schedule.... It is a solid read for tweens. I think our Western readers will benefit from a view of another culture yet still find the main character completely relatable..
I rated this novel 3/5 only because it took me forever to read given my busy work schedule.... It is a solid read for tweens. I think our Western readers will benefit from a view of another culture yet still find the main character completely relatable..
June 7, 2018
I was challenged to read a book by an author from Saudi Arabia. And it really was a hard challenge! Mostly because it was really hard to find a book by a Saudi Arabian author. I would really prefer to read fiction, but 1) The Green Bicycle was the one and only Saudi Arabian book in my library; 2) Even if I wanted to ask for a book from another library, there is nothing to ask for. All I found were several stories about the fate of girls in that country written by female authors who happily escaped. I guess the same zeal that was underlying the plot in this book is the reason for the poor literary heritage. The story itself is written well enough and pleasant enough to read, even though it's not overly consistent in terms of tenses and points of view. The plot, however, is not too exciting. Besides, it doesn't seem finished. After the heroine rides off into the sunset on her new bicycle, there should be religious police and repercussions. There is just no other way it could go.
September 13, 2015
Delightful coming of age story about an 11 year old girl in Saudi Arabia who has lots of spunk and doesn't quite fit in to the strict society.
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this novel, in part because it is so unique to read a YA novel set in Saudi Arabia, but also because usually books from this region focus on oppression. Although that forms a natural part of this story, it doesn't overtake it or distract from the main storyline which is about family, belief and hope.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this novel, in part because it is so unique to read a YA novel set in Saudi Arabia, but also because usually books from this region focus on oppression. Although that forms a natural part of this story, it doesn't overtake it or distract from the main storyline which is about family, belief and hope.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2018
La cosa più difficile, secondo me, quando si parla di un mondo soffocante, dove il controllo è estremo (immaginario o reale, come può essere definita l'Arabia Saudita) e si vuole inserire un personaggio che "si ribella", è crearlo in modo che sia "credibile" per chi legge. Perché se nasci, cresci e respiri una determinata cultura, devi avere delle motivazioni credibili per rifiutare quella stessa cultura.
In questo caso secondo me funziona: Wadjda mi ricorda per certi versi la piccola Marjane all'inizio di Persepolis, una ragazzina innocente, che ama la musica e che ha dei sogni che si scontrano con i rigidi dettami della teocrazia saudita. Vorrebbe cose che ci sembrano assolutamente scontate: ascoltare la musica, non doversi preoccupare della moralità a ogni movimento o sguardo o risata, poter andare in bicicletta. Wadjda inoltre vive una situazione familiare che, per quanto sia ammessa dalla legge islamica, viene fatto intendere non essere la norma.
La madre di Wadjda infatti non ha avuto figli maschi, e la suocera preme perché il figlio prenda una seconda moglie, relegando però la prima a un ruolo secondario. L'uomo appare e scompare, risultando un marito e un padre abbastanza manchevole, sia dal punto di vista affettivo che economico: sempre pronto a regalarsi dei nuovi gadget tecnologici, lascia le donne di casa in una situazione precaria, tanto che la ragazzina non si può permettere le scarpe regolamentari per la divisa scolastica, mentre la madre deve lavorare in una scuola lontanissima da casa, discutendo tutti i giorni con l'autista che l'accompagna in maniera violenta e volgare. Marito dunque poco presente, che però quando si tratta di dire dei no non si fa attendere: la moglie potrebbe lavorare nell'ospedale di fronte a casa, ma dovrebbe lavorare a contatto con uomini, quindi no. A un certo punto Wadjda trova la madre a ponderare se tagliarsi i capelli come desidererebbe, frenata però dalla consapevolezza che il marito non sarebbe d'accordo. Wadjda, per quando giovane, assiste a tutto ciò e se ne domanda il senso. Come tante bambine vorrebbe parteggiare per suo padre, e a volte lo fa, tuttavia i suoi comportamenti la lasciano basita.
La madre di Wadjda forse è la donna più interessante, per certi versi: ha dei tratti di ribellione (fuma, quando sa di essere da sola, ama cantare canzoni appartenenti alla tradizione saudita, ma ormai bandite perché troppo licenziose) ma è comunque parte della società in cui vive. Anche lei nega la bicicletta alla figlia perché "potrebbe perdere la verginità", che e ci pensiamo è veramente un'assurdità. Mette spesso in guardia la figlia che i suoi atteggiamenti impertinenti potrebbero causarle la libertà, e un matrimonio organizzato in fretta e furia per mettere a tacere le voci. Quando sul finale
L'altro aspetto soffocante è ovviamente la scuola: questo ambiente mortificante, dove qualunque iniziativa personale o piccolo atto di vanità viene subito severamente, e dove le ribellioni di Wadjda vengono poco tollerate.
Il libro è interessante, attinge a un mondo che l'autrice conosce ed è messo in modo che una persona giovane possa capire le costrizioni a cui le donne sono sottoposte in Arabia Saudita.
In questo caso secondo me funziona: Wadjda mi ricorda per certi versi la piccola Marjane all'inizio di Persepolis, una ragazzina innocente, che ama la musica e che ha dei sogni che si scontrano con i rigidi dettami della teocrazia saudita. Vorrebbe cose che ci sembrano assolutamente scontate: ascoltare la musica, non doversi preoccupare della moralità a ogni movimento o sguardo o risata, poter andare in bicicletta. Wadjda inoltre vive una situazione familiare che, per quanto sia ammessa dalla legge islamica, viene fatto intendere non essere la norma.
La madre di Wadjda infatti non ha avuto figli maschi, e la suocera preme perché il figlio prenda una seconda moglie, relegando però la prima a un ruolo secondario. L'uomo appare e scompare, risultando un marito e un padre abbastanza manchevole, sia dal punto di vista affettivo che economico: sempre pronto a regalarsi dei nuovi gadget tecnologici, lascia le donne di casa in una situazione precaria, tanto che la ragazzina non si può permettere le scarpe regolamentari per la divisa scolastica, mentre la madre deve lavorare in una scuola lontanissima da casa, discutendo tutti i giorni con l'autista che l'accompagna in maniera violenta e volgare. Marito dunque poco presente, che però quando si tratta di dire dei no non si fa attendere: la moglie potrebbe lavorare nell'ospedale di fronte a casa, ma dovrebbe lavorare a contatto con uomini, quindi no. A un certo punto Wadjda trova la madre a ponderare se tagliarsi i capelli come desidererebbe, frenata però dalla consapevolezza che il marito non sarebbe d'accordo. Wadjda, per quando giovane, assiste a tutto ciò e se ne domanda il senso. Come tante bambine vorrebbe parteggiare per suo padre, e a volte lo fa, tuttavia i suoi comportamenti la lasciano basita.
La madre di Wadjda forse è la donna più interessante, per certi versi: ha dei tratti di ribellione (fuma, quando sa di essere da sola, ama cantare canzoni appartenenti alla tradizione saudita, ma ormai bandite perché troppo licenziose) ma è comunque parte della società in cui vive. Anche lei nega la bicicletta alla figlia perché "potrebbe perdere la verginità", che e ci pensiamo è veramente un'assurdità. Mette spesso in guardia la figlia che i suoi atteggiamenti impertinenti potrebbero causarle la libertà, e un matrimonio organizzato in fretta e furia per mettere a tacere le voci. Quando sul finale
L'altro aspetto soffocante è ovviamente la scuola: questo ambiente mortificante, dove qualunque iniziativa personale o piccolo atto di vanità viene subito severamente, e dove le ribellioni di Wadjda vengono poco tollerate.
Il libro è interessante, attinge a un mondo che l'autrice conosce ed è messo in modo che una persona giovane possa capire le costrizioni a cui le donne sono sottoposte in Arabia Saudita.
October 3, 2019
رواية وجدة the green bicycle
_هيفاء المنصور ترجمة ولاء محمد النابلسي
_دار نشر هاشيت. انطوان/نوفل
هو عمل ينقلك الى جانب غير معروف من المجتمع السعودي و يعبر بكل واقعية عن الحياة اليومية الطبقة المتوسطة من السعوديين(المواطنين وليس الوافدين).
مع "وجدة" البنت الحالمة و المتمردة على الاعراف و القوانين نحن امام نموذج جديد للفتاة السعودية العصرية التفكير فعلى طول الصفحات نعيش معها مغامراتها للحصول على دراجة/سيكل (رمز التحرر و الثورة باعتباره ممنوعات بل ومحرما على البنات خوفا من فقدان العذرية وبالتالي إستحالة زواجها)و صراعاتها مع المديرة كنموذج للسلطة التقليدية الرافضة للتغير و مع امها كنموذج للمرأة التي تريد ارضاء الجميع حتى و على حساب نفسها ومع زميلاتها النسخ المكررة اللاتي يمشين مع القطيع .
مع وجدة ومغامراتها البسمة تتلاقى مع الدمعة في أكثر من موقف(ضبطت نفسي أكثر من مرة أضحك او أمسح دمعة) .
أحداث الرواية شيقة و النهاية بقدر ماهي حزينة الا انها تبعث الامل كالعادة اترككم لاكتشافها بانفسكم.
9/10
أكثر ما أعجبني هو قدرة الكاتبة على الحكي بطريقة سينمائية ممتعة و قدرتها على نقل نظرة فتاة صغيرة للحياة و للمجتمع .
_هيفاء المنصور ترجمة ولاء محمد النابلسي
_دار نشر هاشيت. انطوان/نوفل
هو عمل ينقلك الى جانب غير معروف من المجتمع السعودي و يعبر بكل واقعية عن الحياة اليومية الطبقة المتوسطة من السعوديين(المواطنين وليس الوافدين).
مع "وجدة" البنت الحالمة و المتمردة على الاعراف و القوانين نحن امام نموذج جديد للفتاة السعودية العصرية التفكير فعلى طول الصفحات نعيش معها مغامراتها للحصول على دراجة/سيكل (رمز التحرر و الثورة باعتباره ممنوعات بل ومحرما على البنات خوفا من فقدان العذرية وبالتالي إستحالة زواجها)و صراعاتها مع المديرة كنموذج للسلطة التقليدية الرافضة للتغير و مع امها كنموذج للمرأة التي تريد ارضاء الجميع حتى و على حساب نفسها ومع زميلاتها النسخ المكررة اللاتي يمشين مع القطيع .
مع وجدة ومغامراتها البسمة تتلاقى مع الدمعة في أكثر من موقف(ضبطت نفسي أكثر من مرة أضحك او أمسح دمعة) .
أحداث الرواية شيقة و النهاية بقدر ماهي حزينة الا انها تبعث الامل كالعادة اترككم لاكتشافها بانفسكم.
9/10
أكثر ما أعجبني هو قدرة الكاتبة على الحكي بطريقة سينمائية ممتعة و قدرتها على نقل نظرة فتاة صغيرة للحياة و للمجتمع .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2023
Die Geschichte der kleinen Protagonistin Wadjda ist sehr rührend und nimmt einen durch die ganze Geschichte mit. Die Geschichte passt relativ gut zu den jetzigen aber auch damaligen Situation in Saudi-Arabien. Spannung wird erzählt wie Wadjda ihrem Traum, ein eigenes Fahrrad zu besitzen, immer näher kommt auch was für Hindernisse und Dilemmasituationen hinter all dem steckt. Auch sehr schön ist, dass berichtet wird, dass die meisten der Bewohner von Riad nicht die Sichtweisen des Regimes teilnehmen und an die "Moderne" glauben. Wirklich sehr schön geschrieben. Ab und zu mal wurde die Geschichte leider in die Länge gezogen, was einen etwas demotivierte weiterzulesen. Ansonsten 4,5/5.
September 13, 2020
Charming tale about a spunky girl trying to find joy in a strictly religious society. Loved the inside look the author brought into women’s lives in Saudi Arabia! Definitely worth reading! 4 stars
May 12, 2023
~For work~
4 stars, pretty cute
4 stars, pretty cute
March 21, 2018
The Green Bicycle by Haifaa Al Mansour is the story of Wadjda, a precocious and enterprising eleven-year-old girl in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Wadjda is a tom boy who refuses to conform to her culture’s expectations of what is considered appropriate behavior and mannerisms for girls. Her best friend and playmate is a young boy called Abdullah. When Wadjda sees a green bicycle in a toy store, she decides to earn the money to buy it so she can race with Abdullah. It is considered highly improper for girls to ride bicycles in Saudi Arabia, but Wadjda will not allow that obstacle to deter her.
Based on Al Mansour’s award-winning film, the novel explores gender roles and the restrictions placed on women in Saudi Arabia. It provides a glimpse of the education system for girls, dress requirements for females, and the limitations imposed on a woman’s movement and speech. Wadjda challenges these restrictions with every aspect of her being. Eventually, her mother gets on board and launches her own rebellion.
Al Mansour captures the struggles of life in Saudi Arabia and the social expectations and traditions that place a burden on both men and women—with women shouldering the heavier burden. Wadjda’s father takes on a second wife since only sons are recognized in the family tree and Wadjda’s mother can no longer bear children. Al Mansour is careful to distinguish between the cultural prohibitions placed on women and the precepts of Islam, attributing prohibitions to tradition and dismissing many as superstitious in nature. For example, Wadjda is repeatedly warned that riding a bicycle will inhibit her ability to bear children—an admonition she dismisses as mere superstition.
Wadjda’s relationship with her mother is heartwarming and handled with sensitivity. Their bond is unbreakable, infused with love and understanding. One of the most touching scenes is of Wadjda’s mother teaching Wadjda to recite verses from the Qur’an. Wadjda is moved by her mother’s sonorous voice as she delivers the words with passion:
Gently, she clasped Wadjda’s hands in hers and placed their joined palms, fingers interlaced, over her own heart. Words spilled from her mouth, full of a sincerity and passion Wadjda had never seen before. A passion her mother had, up until that point, kept locked inside.
The connection between mother and daughter is unwavering. As the mother says to Wadjda when her husband takes on a second wife, "It’s all right,” she said softly. “He made his decision. It’ll be just the two of us now. We’ll be fine.”
And you know they will.
Recommended for children ages eleven and up—and for those young at heart.
Based on Al Mansour’s award-winning film, the novel explores gender roles and the restrictions placed on women in Saudi Arabia. It provides a glimpse of the education system for girls, dress requirements for females, and the limitations imposed on a woman’s movement and speech. Wadjda challenges these restrictions with every aspect of her being. Eventually, her mother gets on board and launches her own rebellion.
Al Mansour captures the struggles of life in Saudi Arabia and the social expectations and traditions that place a burden on both men and women—with women shouldering the heavier burden. Wadjda’s father takes on a second wife since only sons are recognized in the family tree and Wadjda’s mother can no longer bear children. Al Mansour is careful to distinguish between the cultural prohibitions placed on women and the precepts of Islam, attributing prohibitions to tradition and dismissing many as superstitious in nature. For example, Wadjda is repeatedly warned that riding a bicycle will inhibit her ability to bear children—an admonition she dismisses as mere superstition.
Wadjda’s relationship with her mother is heartwarming and handled with sensitivity. Their bond is unbreakable, infused with love and understanding. One of the most touching scenes is of Wadjda’s mother teaching Wadjda to recite verses from the Qur’an. Wadjda is moved by her mother’s sonorous voice as she delivers the words with passion:
Gently, she clasped Wadjda’s hands in hers and placed their joined palms, fingers interlaced, over her own heart. Words spilled from her mouth, full of a sincerity and passion Wadjda had never seen before. A passion her mother had, up until that point, kept locked inside.
The connection between mother and daughter is unwavering. As the mother says to Wadjda when her husband takes on a second wife, "It’s all right,” she said softly. “He made his decision. It’ll be just the two of us now. We’ll be fine.”
And you know they will.
Recommended for children ages eleven and up—and for those young at heart.
April 16, 2016
I love the protagonist in this book, a girl named Wadjda, who is growing up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We see life and the people around her through her eyes. She is smart and savvy and conflicted. All she wants to do is own a green bicycle that she has seen for sale in the town. I learned a lot about Muslim culture and customs and expectations in this book. From a Western perspective, it is hard to believe that people would be so against a girl having her own bicycle but there it is. Wadjda's mother is raising her alone and trying to make ends meet. Her father is exercising his right to have more than one wife. And at school, there are restrictions that make it hard for Wadjda to be who she is. Abdullah, a boy who is her friend, started out as a bully in the story. He ends up being an ally and a person who really can understand her fierce desire for the green bicycle. And, of course, the green bicycle becomes emblematic of so much more than just a toy. *I cannot wait to see the movie, which, in this case, came first.
Saw the movie, WADJDA, wonderful!!! I highly recommend and make sure to watch the extras on the DVD so you learn even more why the movie is an extraordinary feat!!! Terrific! Breaking all sorts of barriers.
Saw the movie, WADJDA, wonderful!!! I highly recommend and make sure to watch the extras on the DVD so you learn even more why the movie is an extraordinary feat!!! Terrific! Breaking all sorts of barriers.
July 10, 2016
This is a tender story of a young girl who is struggling to be herself in a world that has very definite opinions about who she should be and how she should behave. Wajda is a feisty, spunky entrepreneurial protagonist who sets a goal for herself and, despite challenges, works hard to achieve it.
I'm not sure how to feel about the story. The writing is very good, don't misunderstand! But reading this book about modern day Saudia Arabia and Muslim practices made me feel conflicted. I wasn't sure what sort of reaction the author wanted to provoke. Certainly my western lens caused me to view the story differently. On the one hand I was privy to a world with which I have little knowledge and zero experience. On the other, I was incensed by the treatment of women and the very narrow lives they may lead. Western bias. This could be a good discussion book if handled well. At the end of the story I was left wondering what becomes of Wajda. I am interested in seeing the movie after reading the book.
I'm not sure how to feel about the story. The writing is very good, don't misunderstand! But reading this book about modern day Saudia Arabia and Muslim practices made me feel conflicted. I wasn't sure what sort of reaction the author wanted to provoke. Certainly my western lens caused me to view the story differently. On the one hand I was privy to a world with which I have little knowledge and zero experience. On the other, I was incensed by the treatment of women and the very narrow lives they may lead. Western bias. This could be a good discussion book if handled well. At the end of the story I was left wondering what becomes of Wajda. I am interested in seeing the movie after reading the book.
June 6, 2018
An easy, enjoyable read, but it read like a cheesy young adult novel. It was clearly written with an agenda to communicate a Westernized women’s perspective on women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, and I felt it left me with less of an understanding of the culture and more of a reinforcement of my own preexisting bias against the rules imposed on women in Saudi Arabia. I would have preferred to understand more why the women don’t unite and rebel more and to hear a perspective from someone who has never left the country. That said, it was fun to see a spunky girl persevere against all odds.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2015
Great for young readers to follow this spunky girl as she tries living like a good Muslim girl in Saudi Arabia. Even with all the restrictions in her life, she finds ways to still be herself and have fun. She has a dream and she doesn't give up.
September 25, 2019
قصة جميلة لفتاة طموحة ذات أحلام .. احببت وحدة و مغامراتها الخطيرة و ثقتها و طموحها .. أحببت كيف أثرت فيمن حولها : امها و صديقها .. رواية جميلة .. الترجمة أكثر من رائعة كنت قد بدأت قراءة النسخة الإنجليزية الأصلية و لم أستسغها و لكن الترجمة هنا أضافت نكهة جميلة للرواية
July 3, 2017
3,5 ....
December 14, 2018
Bellissima la storia di Wadjda, questa piccola ribelle in una delle nazioni più difficili da vivere per una donna, la nazione che è arrivata per ultima al suffragio femminile.
Per tutto il tempo continuavo a pensare di leggere un distopico, poi mi commuovevo quando mi rendevo conto che no, era tutto vero. Cioè, sì, era un romanzo, ma molto verosimile.
Per tutto il tempo continuavo a pensare di leggere un distopico, poi mi commuovevo quando mi rendevo conto che no, era tutto vero. Cioè, sì, era un romanzo, ma molto verosimile.
November 7, 2019
Wadjda, you rebellious girl, you've made me nervous throughout the book. I, myself, am kinda rebellion but you've the next level. Sometimes, i liked you for your deeds, sometimes hated, sometimes admired, and other times i was in utter dismay. Wonderful story. Nicely written. Well placed twists. Worth a read.
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April 4, 2022Writing to older girls, al Mansour explores the ideas of culture, identity, and gender norms. As her character Wadjda struggles with culture, identity, and gender norms, girls will learn the power of being strong willed and standing up for what one wants in life. Wadjda desperately wants a bike but knows she must overcome the gender norms that forbid girls from riding bikes in her culture. Readers will feel compassion and root Wadjda on her journey. I highly recommend this book to both girls and boys who are interested in learning that standing up for rights makes you powerful and makes your voice known.
November 19, 2017
This book gives kids and adults alike an insight in what it's like to be female in Saudi Arabia.
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