Tuesday 4 August 2009

Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen



This story was somewhat reminiscent of the Alanna series, what with the cross dressing to fulfill a dream. I'm not all that well versed in Arabian culture, but from what I know of it this story seemed to be a valid representation. Buran is one of seven daughters, and of course in a patriarchal society this is not the best of luck as your daughters can't work or (in this case) even go out into public. She was her father's favourite and as there were no sons, her father taught her to read and write and play chess, basically educated her, and spent time with her in place of the son he never had. When Buran's father gets sick he realizes that his family will be in trouble if anything happens to him, and as a result he allows Buran to go out into the world, as a man, to try to better their family's fortune. She's a clever and courageous heroine. She comes up against several obstacles and approaches them with her strength of will and sharp wit.

The story was set up well and the characters were discussed in sufficient detail, or enough so that a reader of the target age wouldn't be left wondering anything. It was well written.


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