Anne Laurel Carter,
The Shepherd’s Granddaughter
Groundwood Books, 2008

Rating: E*

Amani was born to be a shepherd. She refuses to go to school and only wants to follow her grandfather and learn to tend sheep. When Amani is finally granted the right to become the next shepherd, she spends all of her time on Seedo’s peak with her grandfather and the sheep, until the Israeli’s begin to build a settlement … on her land.  Amani slowly loses more and more as the Israeli’s occupy Palestinian land.
It is fascinating to experience the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through the eyes of a child. Amani’s innocence, and inability to understand why is mixed with her fear and impotent rage at the situation.  The Shepherd’s Granddaughter makes the heart feel for a situation the brain has taken for granted exists. The characters are well developed and the plot progresses to enlighten the readers about the struggles, thoughts and fears of the average Palestinian. Highly recommended for everyone.

Thematic Links:  Palestine; Palestinian-Israeli Conflict; Shepherds; Sheep Farming

Corinne Mathews
Vol.14, number 3
February 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.