Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind facts for kids
Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind is an exciting novel written by Suzanne Fisher Staples in 1989. It tells the story of a young girl named Shabanu. She lives in the Cholistan Desert and faces many challenges as she grows up. This book is followed by two other novels: Haveli and The House of Djinn. Suzanne Fisher Staples lived in Asia for about twelve years before writing this amazing story.
Contents
The Story of Shabanu
Shabanu lives in the Cholistan Desert in Pakistan. Her family are peaceful camel breeders. They live near the border of India. Shabanu is almost a young woman. Her older sister, Phulan, is ready for marriage. Phulan is set to marry Hamir, who is their cousin.
Shabanu, who is twelve, is also promised to Hamir's brother, Murad. But Shabanu is not interested in marriage yet. She loves taking care of animals. She especially enjoys teaching tricks to her beloved camels. These camels include Mithoo, Xhush Dil, and Guluband. Guluband was a camel her father had recently sold.
A Difficult Turn of Events
Before Phulan's wedding, something unexpected happens. Shabanu and Phulan accidentally meet some strange men in the desert. One of them is an old, powerful landowner named Nazir Mohammad. He was known for causing the death of Shabanu's cousin, Lal Khan, in the past.
Nazir Mohammad sees Phulan while he is hunting quail. He decides that Phulan will be a prize for whoever hunts the most quail. When Shabanu tells her father, he becomes very angry. He goes to tell Nazir that Phulan is already promised to someone. He also tells Nazir that he has no right to claim her.
Tough Choices for Shabanu
Because of his anger, Nazir Mohammad later causes Hamir's death. Hamir was the person Phulan was going to marry. Phulan then has to marry Hamir's brother, Murad, instead. Shabanu is upset by this, but Phulan does not seem to mind.
Then, Shabanu learns she must marry Nazir's brother, Rahim-sahib. He is an older man who is already married. This marriage is meant to protect her family. It would also save her sister's new marriage. Shabanu must decide if she will run away. Or, she can stay and do what her family believes is best. For Shabanu, this feels like a big sacrifice.
Main Characters
- Shabanu – An eleven-year-old girl living in the Cholistan Desert. She is the main character.
- Phulan – Shabanu's older sister. She later marries Murad.
- Mama – Shabanu's mother.
- Dalil Abbasi (Dadi) – Shabanu's father. He is a camel breeder.
- Auntie – Dalil Abbasi's sister-in-law.
- Grandfather - Shabanu's grandfather and Dadi's father.
- Fatima - Sharma's daughter.
- Sharma - A female cousin of Mama and Dadi. She was known for leaving her difficult marriage.
- Hamir - Shabanu's cousin. He was Phulan's husband-to-be but tragically dies because of Nazir Mohammad.
- Murad - Shabanu's cousin. He was supposed to marry Shabanu but marries Phulan instead.
- Nazir-Mohammad - A powerful landowner who causes Hamir's death.
- Rahim-sahib - Nazir's brother. He later asks Shabanu to be his wife.
More Stories in the Series
In 1993, Suzanne Fisher Staples wrote a follow-up to Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind. This book is called Haveli. Haveli shows Shabanu at age 18. It explores her life as a mother. It also covers the ups and downs of her new home, her marriage, and her daughter.
The newest book in the Shabanu series is The House of Djinn. This story follows the life of Mumtaz, who is Shabanu's daughter. It shows her life, challenges, and the choices she makes.
Awards and Recognition
Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind received the Newbery Honor in 1990. This is a special award for children's books.
