Words in the Dust

Bibliography

Reedy, Trent. Words in the Dust. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2011. Print.

Nilsen, Allen Pace, James Blasingame, Kenneth L. Donelson, and Don L. Nilsen. Literature for Today's Young Adults. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Summary

Zulaikha, thirteen, is growing up in a medium-sized village in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban. She was born with a cleft palate that has left her severely disfigured, a bullied outcast. The Americans offer their assistance, but, her father, the head of the household, is not sure he wants their help. She is not sure she will get the life-altering surgery she needs. She is trapped between hope and despair. At the same time, Zulaikha hides a secret. She is learning to read. When she is given the option to leave her village she has a hard choice to make. Does she leave the family she loves and cares for to obtain a different life or stay at home, get married, and fulfill her duties as a good Muslim woman?

  

“Every triumph from patience springs, the happy herald of better things.” (Meena)

 Analysis

Words in the Dust is a traditional problem novel in that it contains hope, despair, friendships, and wish fulfillment but it also addresses family roles. Zulaikha’s sister, Zeynab is a foil to Zulaikha. While Zulaikha doesn’t think she will ever marry or live a normal life with her disfigurement, Zeynab is a dreamer and optimist speaking often of the children and marriages that they both will have. Zeynab also believes strongly in the old Muslim ways, while Zulaikha believes she wants a different life away from the “twisted” Islam and remaining echoes of the Taliban rule.

            

Reedy presents a believable story that layers in many viewpoints and moves effortlessly from one issue to the next. Unlike many other YA novels, Words in the Dust contains many main characters who are thoroughly explored. We get to see many sides of each character, including their growth throughout the book.

            

Words in the Dust captures the differing viewpoints of generational gender roles for men and women in Afghanistan. Zulaikha is very excited about daring to dream about going to school and learning to read. However, her traditional father still sees women in a subservient role and doesn’t understand why they need to be educated.  For example, he tells Zulaikha’s nineteen-year-old brother that he is “getting too old to listen to women” (Reedy 25). Zulaikha’s father is a sympathetic character in other regards, as he is fine with her keeping a cleft because he sees her for who she is and thinks she is beautiful. He strongly believes he can still pay a bride price for her and find her a husband.

            

Words in the Dust puts a face to a people and allows the reader to experience the day-to-day life in the sometimes harsh and difficult life of rural Afghanistan. This would be a good book to read in a history class to prompt a discussion about the current American drawdown in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition to putting a face on an Afghani girl, it also personifies the role of the American government beyond a military presence; the Americans are helping to rebuild, educate, and provide medical services to citizens of Afghanistan. Reedy captures the rhythm of the day with references to the heat, dust, and call to prayer. He also frequently inserts Arabic words and colloquialisms. There is a glossary and pronunciation guide in the back of the book.

            

The only negative issue with this book is sometimes the “American viewpoint” can come across too forcefully in the attitudes of the American military personnel. These characters came across as a little flat.

Overall, I would recommend this book to a YA reader because of the exposure to day-to-day life in Afghanistan, the window it provides into another life and family structure, and the touch of politics. The reader will be left with something to think about.