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Welcome to my strand of the worldwide web! Don't worry--it's not sticky. You can make your way around it easily to learn something about me and what I write for young people. And maybe I'll meet you, one of these days!
Although I grew up in Massachusetts and have lived in Indiana for years, much of my writing is about the Middle East--where I've also spent quite a bit of time. I hope that if you're a teacher, you'll find my books, stories, and articles helpful for class discussion. To help get the talk flowing, I've included some "let's talk about" questions for each book. Of course you can read the books and stories on your own, too. (Many adults find them an enjoyable introduction to the Middle East, past and present.)
Currently I'm working on a biography of a historic Muslim hero--Abd el-Kader, who led resistance to the French conquest of Algeria in the 19th century and later saved the lives of many Christians during riots in Damascus. Fascinating story! This is part of an educational project centered in Elkader, Iowa, a town that was actually named in his honor back in 1848. Sometimes books get a second life. SANTA CLAUS IN BAGHDAD AND OTHER STORIES ABOUT TEENS IN THE ARAB WORLD is an expanded second edition of FIGS AND FATE, including three additional stories and notes on each story. The "Santa Claus in Baghdad" story has also been made into a film, by Raouf Zaki of RA Visions, an independent filmmaker in the Boston area. He somehow managed not only to find a large and terrific cast (including my granddaughter Savannah, one of the school girls in the story), but to create colorful, authentic-looking "Baghdad" scenes in Boston, with some backgrounds shot in Cairo. The Lebanese musician Marcel Khalife, one of the best-known composers and performers in Arab music today, gave permission for his music to be used in the film. "Santa Claus in Baghdad" premiered at the prestigious Rhode Island International Film Festival in August, 2008. (I was thrilled to see the way my story was brought to life!) It won several other distinctions at various film festivals across the country in 2008 and 2009. It's now available on DVD, including educational material such as a discussion guide for classroom use and a "behind the scenes" view of what goes on at a studio shoot. In fact, it's a great film for middle school to college. Please see the film's website--www.santaclausinbaghdad.com, also a link from this website--for information about prices. |
