The White Zone
Nouri and his cousin Talib can only vaguely remember a time before tanks rumbled over the streets of their Baghdad neighborhood—when books, not bombs, ruled Mutanabbi Street. War has been the backdrop of their young lives. And now Iraq isn’t just at war with Americans. It’s at war with itself. Sunnis fight Shiites, and the strife is at the boys’ doorsteps. Nouri is Shiite and Talib is half Sunni. To the boys, it seems like only a miracle can mend the rift that is tearing a country and a family apart.
In early 2008, Iraq experienced a miracle. Snow fell in Baghdad for the first time in living memory. As snow covered the dusty streets, the guns in the city grew silent and there was an unofficial ceasefire. During these magical minutes, Sunni and Shiite differences were forgotten. There was no green zone, no red zone. There was only the white zone.
Against this real-life backdrop, Nouri and Talib begin to imagine a world after the war.
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978-1-4677-6793-4
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$22.99 |
Awards
- SSLI Book Award Honor Book
- Notable AwardNotable Award Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
- New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
Reviews
The Horn Book Guide
“Cousins Nouri, a Shiite, and Talib, half Sunni, describe life in Baghdad amid the second Iraq War, during which Iraqis also fought amongst themselves over religious differences. But in winter 2008, snow covered the city for the ‘first time in anyone’s memory,’ sparking an unofficial ceasefire. Though the reader is aware that peace won’t last, this poignant wartime narrative is subtly hopeful.” —The Horn Book Guide
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“Marsden’s knack for getting deeply into a culture and creating realistic, believable characters proves effective once again; this is an accessible and engaging window into a specific time and place that will have current relevance to many young readers and units of study… Descriptions are evocative, and juxtapositions between everyday realities and the violence effectively hint at the senselessness of the conflict.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
VOYA
“Marsden tells a story that resonates highly in today’s society where there are many different types of chaos disrupting lives and homes worldwide.” —VOYA
School Library Journal
“Based on actual events, this novel is a realistic depiction of children caught up in hostilities they cannot fully understand…. Marsden’s detailed descriptions of everyday life make this culture come alive.” —School Library Journal
Booklist
“Marsden’s latest book puts a face on a bitter, centuries-old conflict that continues to rage…. This tense novel will be particularly useful in the classroom.” —Booklist
Kirkus Reviews
“A decently executed exploration of the American presence in Iraq and the tensions between Shiites and Sunnis.” —Kirkus Reviews
Publishers Weekly
“Haunting yet hopeful.” —Publishers Weekly