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The Beduins' Gazelle
When she and he were only babies, they were pledged in marriage. Now Atiyah has been sent away—a political pawn in a war between the Beduin tribes in the year 1302. He vows to return to her as soon as he can.
But while Atiyah is studying at the great university in Fez, Halima is lost in a sandstorm. Rescued by an enemy tribe, she is told that she must marry their powerful sheikh and live in his harem—never to see her people again. Halima does what she can to resist, but she has no choice. In three moons' time she will become the youngest wife of the cruel and greedy Raisulu—unless Atiyah can find her. But where in the vast sea of desert can he begin his search for his beloved?
The last novel from award-winning author Frances Temple, this companion to The Ramsay Scallop is a romantic tale of intrigue, adventure, and true love, set against the backdrop of medieval Arabia.
But while Atiyah is studying at the great university in Fez, Halima is lost in a sandstorm. Rescued by an enemy tribe, she is told that she must marry their powerful sheikh and live in his harem—never to see her people again. Halima does what she can to resist, but she has no choice. In three moons' time she will become the youngest wife of the cruel and greedy Raisulu—unless Atiyah can find her. But where in the vast sea of desert can he begin his search for his beloved?
The last novel from award-winning author Frances Temple, this companion to The Ramsay Scallop is a romantic tale of intrigue, adventure, and true love, set against the backdrop of medieval Arabia.
150 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1996
12 people are currently reading
629 people want to read
About the author
Frances Temple
9 books17 followersFrances Temple grew up in Virginia, France, and Vietnam. About her third book she wrote, "The Ramsay Scallop is about our need for adventure and motion, for throwing in with strangers, trusting and listening. The story began to take form in northern Spain along pilgrim trails; was fed by histories, stories, letters, by the testimony of a fourteenthcentury shepherd, by the thoughts of today's pilgrims. Concerns echo across years-clean water, good talk, risks welcomed, the search for a peaceful heart. Traveling in Elenor's shoes, I found out how strongly the tradition of pilgrimage continues." Ms. Temple received many honors during her distinguished career. Her other critically acclaimed books for young people include: France Taste of Salt A Story of Modern Haiti, winner of the 1993 Jane Addams Children's Book Award; Grab hands and Run, cited by School Library journal as one of the Best Books of 1993; and Tonight, by Sea another novel set in Haiti.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 26, 2018
What a gorgeous little book! It's been a long time since I was this enthralled by a children's story. The writing is concise and immerses the reader immediately into the adventure set in the vast desert of the Maghreb. It doesn't matter that the story is a trope, or that it's predictable, or that it's sweet; what does matter is that the action is shown in scenes from the first to the last page—no telling—and the cultural exposition of the Bedouin is beautifully rendered, which demonstrates thorough research (or first-hand experience) by the writer. It's sad to learn that Temple died from a heart attack the day she finished this book.
July 27, 2008
This is a book where I'd like to split my rating. The first 3/4 of the book is very good - capturing some of the intricacies of life in beduin culture. However, the ending came too abruptly, with too many loose ends. According to her husband's forward, Temple finished the book on the day she died; I wonder if all she had finished was a very rough draft.
May 12, 2023
A nice, Arabian story set during the 1300's. I liked getting to see the different aspects of culture in it, but I wasn't...wowed or anything while reading. Not sure if I'd ever read again or not, nothing really stuck out to me in the story.
June 1, 2014
In my last book review, I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade I complained about the amount of books I've been reading lately involving 12-year old girls getting married or betrothed. I said I was done, enough. Little did I know..... This book involves (you guessed it) two very young teenagers who are betrothed at birth!
Notwithstanding being entirely fed-up with reading about child marriages, this was a good book. I had a period of my life where I was all into the Beduin culture, largely thanks to The Black Stallion and I would have loved this book then. Although it's insulated acceptance of Islam was... A bit disconcerting. Either way, good book, good read, but please please please let my next read be about, I don't know, two elderly people falling in love. So done.
Notwithstanding being entirely fed-up with reading about child marriages, this was a good book. I had a period of my life where I was all into the Beduin culture, largely thanks to The Black Stallion and I would have loved this book then. Although it's insulated acceptance of Islam was... A bit disconcerting. Either way, good book, good read, but please please please let my next read be about, I don't know, two elderly people falling in love. So done.
March 30, 2013
This is a book easily read in a day, more short story than whole book, but it says very much with few words. The story is simple, a boy's fight to win back his love, but the most amazing part is the very vivid descriptions of life amoung the desert Muslims which gives a sense of their culture and religion, still important to Arabs today. It helps the reader understand this complex group of people and understanding is something both sides could use now.
May 30, 2019
The Beduins' Gazelle is a fictitious story written by Frances Temple, a school teacher and award-winning author. It was the last book she wrote and she never saw it published, which was first done in 1996 by HarperCollins Publishing. In fact, she died on the day she finished writing it.
For as long as she can remember, Halima was promised to her cousin, Atinah in marriage. However, when Atinah is banished from his tribe for political reasons, Halima fears that she will never see him again, even though he promises to return. Her fears seem to be realised when she gets lost in a sandstorm and is taken in by an enemy tribe. She is told that she must marry their sheikh after three moons and become his youngest wife. That is all the time that Atiyah has to rescue her, but how will he know where she is?
The Beduins' Gazelle goes into great detail describing the lives and customs of the nomadic desert tribes. It shows the way that poetry is used in everyday conversation which makes it beautiful to read. However, the storyline is fairly weak. It is predictable and the ending is particularly disappointing. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the author passed away on the day that it was finished and so was not able to revise it. Altogether, though, the way the story is told almost make up for its weaknesses.
The Beduins' Gazelle is very good for learning how the people of the desert live. It is a light, easy read and would probably be best for children between about twelve and fourteen years old.
For as long as she can remember, Halima was promised to her cousin, Atinah in marriage. However, when Atinah is banished from his tribe for political reasons, Halima fears that she will never see him again, even though he promises to return. Her fears seem to be realised when she gets lost in a sandstorm and is taken in by an enemy tribe. She is told that she must marry their sheikh after three moons and become his youngest wife. That is all the time that Atiyah has to rescue her, but how will he know where she is?
The Beduins' Gazelle goes into great detail describing the lives and customs of the nomadic desert tribes. It shows the way that poetry is used in everyday conversation which makes it beautiful to read. However, the storyline is fairly weak. It is predictable and the ending is particularly disappointing. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the author passed away on the day that it was finished and so was not able to revise it. Altogether, though, the way the story is told almost make up for its weaknesses.
The Beduins' Gazelle is very good for learning how the people of the desert live. It is a light, easy read and would probably be best for children between about twelve and fourteen years old.
March 1, 2011
This story took place in a desert in the middle east... (it doesn't exactly tell where). It took place around 1302 according to the christian calender and 680 according to the Muslim calender.
The two main characters are a girl named Halima and a boy named Atiyah betrothed to marriage from birth. They are cousins.
What happens is Atiyah gets basically banished from their tribe to learn in city called Fez. After that Halima goes out traveling and gets caught in a sandstorm only to be rescued by a enemy tribe. The Sheik of the tribe asks her to marry her and she doesn't answer. Then Atiyah goes out of the city to get her cause he hears she is dead... but he says she isn't so him and a friend go find her. Then they find her in the tribe and the Sheik says that she as agreed to marry him and the ngives her up to him after Halima pleads to the Sheik of the other tribe. I kinda liked this book... I don't think there was enough action and violence.
The two main characters are a girl named Halima and a boy named Atiyah betrothed to marriage from birth. They are cousins.
What happens is Atiyah gets basically banished from their tribe to learn in city called Fez. After that Halima goes out traveling and gets caught in a sandstorm only to be rescued by a enemy tribe. The Sheik of the tribe asks her to marry her and she doesn't answer. Then Atiyah goes out of the city to get her cause he hears she is dead... but he says she isn't so him and a friend go find her. Then they find her in the tribe and the Sheik says that she as agreed to marry him and the ngives her up to him after Halima pleads to the Sheik of the other tribe. I kinda liked this book... I don't think there was enough action and violence.
January 22, 2010
Atiyah will someday be head of the Beni Khalid, and Halima, his cousin, will be his wife. Crazy about each other, betrothed since birth, and wanting no other life but that of their nomadic desert tribe, the two find themselves separated by a petty, dastardly plot. Temple was a skilled and poetic author. This is a companion/sequel to The Ramsay Scallop. 6th grade and up.
June 17, 2010
A slender book that imagines life for three young people (an Arab boy, and Arab girl, and a French boy who is studying Arabic culture) during the days of the Beduin tribes in the 1300s. In several ares, the various characters learn how to step out of their traditional viewpoints and see the world with fresh eyes.
January 19, 2012
The Beduin's Gazelle by Frances Temple is a very good historical fiction novel that takes place in Morocco. It is about a girl named Halima, who is meant to marry her cousin Atiyah. But when he goes away to Fez, trouble brews.
This is a book that I think that historical fiction lovers would enjoy. But with its humor, Beduin culture, and romance, this is a book that anyone would like.
This is a book that I think that historical fiction lovers would enjoy. But with its humor, Beduin culture, and romance, this is a book that anyone would like.
July 12, 2013
I loved this story, first of all for finding the rhythm and ebb and flow of the poetry of the desert, but also for capturing the feelings, the expressions, and the culture and time of this people. This is one I really enjoyed with my daughter and am very glad I picked it up myself. (She loved it too!)
December 19, 2016
A sort of silly story with a folk tale ending. I didn't care much for many of the characters, although it was interesting to read about the sand sea and the time of Saladin. Ms. Temple didn't care much for him- he's more Disney villain than anything else here, and everything is resolved mighty fast.
May 13, 2008
Can you say stupid? Then you can summarize this book. It sucks, plain and simple. A stupid love story about a nomadic desert-dwelling girl in love with her own cousin. I read it for school, because otherwise I don't read sucky books!
July 6, 2009
The Beduin's Gazelle is a fantastic book! If you like love stories, or romantic books, you will love this one! Along with romance, it also has action and adventure :) I definately recommend this book!
January 14, 2015
It was a good book, but the romantic side of it didn't seem to flow well in my opinion. The fact that she was about to marry a different person who was an enemy and then he let her go to his enemy is just ridiculous, but other then that I liked the general idea
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2015
An exciting look into the world of Islam of 1302 as seen through the eyes of two Bedouin cousins. Betrothed to each other from a very early age, they must fight to secure their place in life as a married couple destined to lead the fierce and highly respected Beni Khalid tribe.
April 4, 2018
It came across as overall pretty weird. I was expecting a sweet, exciting, kid-friendly romance but that's not really what it was. Wouldn't necessarily recommend it. Especially for kids. Had some interesting characters though.
June 30, 2007
Another Indian teen fiction book that I read and liked alot when I was younger.
October 23, 2008
Excellent!
December 24, 2008
I thought this book was okay and didn't really grab my attention that much.
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June 19, 2023I just read this one for fun. entertaining for a younger children.
December 9, 2010
Good story. Ending fell a little short.
January 21, 2011
Well written but very brief! I wish the story had been developed a bit more...it had great potential!
November 11, 2011
this book SUCKED
December 2, 2012
A favorite when I was younger!
January 17, 2013
I flew through this. As with The Ramsey Scallop, I kept thinking how earnest and worthy it was - the sort of book home-schoolers
would be reading. Still, I enjoyed it.
would be reading. Still, I enjoyed it.
January 12, 2015
I want to review this book soon.
February 19, 2021
Beloved book from childhood
January 31, 2019
This is a great book! Looks into Desert Tribes lives and their customs!
February 25, 2019
It was OKAY.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews