Dimensions
130 x 194 x 16mm
Ages: 8 - 12
In this young tween novel by the acclaimed poet and National Book Award finalist Naomi Shihab Nye, a third-grade boy named Aref says good-bye to everything and everyone he loves, including his wonderful Sidi, and prepares to move from Muscat, Oman, to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Aref, a third-grader who lives in Muscat, Oman, does not want to move. His mother is desperate for him to pack his suitcase-but he refuses. Finally, she calls on his grandfather, his Sidi, for help. Rather than pack, Sidi and Aref travel around Muscat and the rest of Oman, visiting their favorite places and having adventures. They visit the beach and go fishing, camp overnight in the desert, travel to a nature reserve to see the sea turtles, sleep on the roof under the stars, and visit a giant sinkhole. At each stop, Sidi finds a small stone that he later slips into Aref's suitcase-mementos of home. This gorgeous and literary novel shines with emotion and gentle humor and explores themes of moving, the Middle East, family, nature, immigration, and love and is sure to be a standout read-aloud in classrooms.
