Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye

E-mail this product to a friend

Description:

Set in modern times, Habibi explores Middle Eastern cultural values and struggles, offering a positive glimpse of traditional Palestinian life. Based on Naomi Shihab Nye’s own experiences, the novel is narrated by fourteen-year-old Liyana. Before she entered high school in St. Louis, Missouri, Liyana’s entire family travels to Jerusalem to meet extended family and live in Jerusalem permanently. She develops a close relationship with her grandmother, the teller of old tales, healer of sick children, and the center of the family’s life. The novel introduces the reader to the hardships experienced by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, the importance of point of view, religion, and tradition.

Activities:

The objectives of the unit, using textual support for arguments, are to familiarize students with Middle Eastern culture and geography, and to understand the effect of point of view. The content of the lessons addresses Naomi Shihab Nye’s poetry, peer editing techniques, Islamic beliefs, the influence of the Arabic language on English, characters’ motivations, theme, and conflict. Academic activities include researching, mapping, journaling, oral reporting, composing poetry, paraphrasing, and webbing.

The supplementary materials feature additional resources for teachers and additional reading for students.

Ethical Values: