Nathalie Abi-Ezzi,
A Girl Made of Dust
Doubleday Canada, 2009

Rating: A*

Nathalie Abi-Ezzi was born in Lebanon and left at age 11 with her family when Israel invaded the country. In this her first novel, she tells of life in civil war torn Lebanon during the 1980s through the eyes of 8 year old Ruba. Living on the outskirts of Beirut, Ruba’s family, like the country, has descended into chaos. Her father is in a deep depression and unable to leave the house after witnessing the horrific event which gives the book its title. Her mother struggles to maintain both the family and her husband’s business but they are on the brink of poverty. Her older brother, once close to Ruba, is now filled with anger and associates with older boys involved in the armed conflict. Ruba’s grandmother lives with the family but she too is filled with fears and superstition. Having no knowledge of the truth, Ruba is convinced the family’s trouble began with a curse put on her father by an older village woman whom Ruba believes to be a witch. She decides to help her father free himself from the curse. Ruba gradually learns some of the truths and secrets her family has kept from her. As the civil war intensifies and Israel invades, bombardments, shelling, and horrific acts of racial violence further complicate their lives.

Told in first person, we see only Ruba’s interpretation of the hostilities and her family strife. While this gives a clear impression of her life, at times events become confusing for both Ruba and the reader. Abi-Ezzi portrays a beautiful, exotic country with a very different culture from what many experience in Canada . The dichotomy between that beauty and the ugliness of war is a strength in this story. Although told by a young protagonist, some scenes are horrific, as can happen in war, and so this book should be reserved for an older audience. With Ruba’s detailed first person voice, the pace of the story may require a persistent reader.

Thematic Links: Children and War; Arab-Israeli Conflict; Middle East Culture

Linda Irvine
Vol. 15, number 1
October 2009

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.