Santa Claus in Baghdad and Other Stories about Teens in the Arab World

What is it like to be a young person in the Arab world today? This lively collection of eight short stories about Arab teenagers living in Iraq, Tunisia, Egypt, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and a Palestinian refugee camp engagingly depicts young people's experiences growing up in the Middle East. The characters, drawn from urban and rural settings and from different classes as well as a mix of countries, confront situations involving friends, family, teachers, and society at large. Along with some specifically Middle Eastern issues, such as strife in Iraq, the hardships of life in a Palestinian refugee camp, and honor crimes, the young people deal with more familiar concerns such as loyalty to friends, overcoming personal insecurities, dreams of a future career, and coping with divorcing parents. Coming of age in a complicated world, they meet life with courage, determination, and, not least of all, humor. With accompanying notes that provide contextual information, Santa Claus in Baghdad brings a fresh perspective to youth literature about the Arab world.

Author: Elsa Marston
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Published: 05/13/2008
Pages: 216
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.56lbs
Size: 8.26h x 6.00w x 0.48d
ISBN: 9780253220042
Award: Independent Publisher Book Awards - Silver Medal Winner

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Review - Children 06/01/2008 pg. 603
Voice of Youth Advocates 08/01/2008 - Recommended - Hard To Beat
Kirkus Best Young-Adult Books 12/01/2008 pg. 14
School Library Journal 01/01/2009 pg. 112
Multicultural Review 12/01/2008 pg. 87
Foreword 06/16/2008

About the Author

Elsa Marston is the author of many works of fiction and nonfiction, mostly for young adults. Her books include Women in the Middle East: Tradition and Change, The Cliffs of Cairo, and Muhammad of Mecca, Prophet of Islam. She lives in Bloomington, Indiana.