From: Jennifer Crawford <bookbirdie3>
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2000 12:11:27 -0800 (PST)

My favorite book this year hasn't been mentioned yet. It's "Rebel: A Tibetan Odyssey" by Cheryl Aylward Whitesel. Set around 1900, it's the story of a Tibetan farm boy who is sent off to a monastery after upsetting his town by having forbidden contact with a foreigner. There is of course a "spiritual journey" aspect to a story like this, and the book gives a peek into Buddhist philosophy, something one rarely (if ever) sees in children's literature in the U.S.. The
"wisdom journey" is handled with a light touch appropriate for middle grade/young adult readers.
    But the spiritual side of the story is in the background; the plot is quite exciting, with the protagonist running into kindness, wisdom, jealousy and even cruelty at the monastery. The plot also revolves around a real world 8th century prophecy that Tibetans would eventually be scattered across the earth. It's a good story, but informative, too. I thought the author juggled a lot of elements well.

I wonder if anyone else has happened onto this rather unusual book?

Jennifer Crawford


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Received on Mon 11 Dec 2000 02:11:27 PM CST