Under the Same Stars by Suzanne Fisher Staples
Walker Books, 2007.
(Age 14+) In this powerful and superbly written sequel to Daughter
of the Wind, set in Pakistan, Suzanne Fisher Staples writes openly
about the Muslim culture and women's roles in a society bound strictly
to traditional expectations.
Shabanu is the youngest, and the favourite, of four wives of Rahim, an
older man of power and prestige. His other wives are jealous of
Shabanu's position in the household and she must be ever watchful of
her young daughter and herself. She spends time in Rahim's town
house which provides some escape from the cruelty of the other wives
but it is here that she encounters the love of a young man already
betrothed. Also, her dear friend Zabo has been promised in
marriage to Rahim's simple but only son, Ahmed. Tragedy occurs as
the two girls become entangled in these binding family ties.
Recalling themes in Romeo and Juliet, this modern tragedy is an
absorbing and emotive read, showing how powerless an individual can be
when up against the demands of a strict society.
Staples worked for many years in Pakistan as an international
correspondent: she brings to this story a wonderful sense of place and
time. The rural landscape provides a haven for Shabuna as she
battles the complexities of city life; it offers true family support,
safety and cultural wisdom though at the expense of a modern education
for her daughter.
This novel extends our understanding of a complex society and reveals
how the fight for individual freedom can be dangerous even in modern
times. Under the Same Stars is endorsed by Amnesty
International.
Julie Wells