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School Library Journal Reviews
February 1, 2015
Dance of the Banished
review by Lisa Nowlain
REVIEWS; Grades 9 and Up; Vol. 61 No. 2
SKRYPUCH, Marsha Forchuk. Dance of the Banished. 234p. Pajama Pr. Feb.
2015. pap. $15.95. ISBN 9781927485651.
Gr 8 Up--Skrypuch continues to tell the stories of young refugees--as in
The Hunger (2002), Nobody's Child (2003, both Dundrun), and Daughter
of War (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2008)--in her latest historical novel.
Set between 1913 and 1917, it features two Alevi Kurd teenagers in
Anatolia as World War I breaks out and Turkey begins the Armenian
Genocide. Ali emigrates before the war begins and gives his
girlfriend, Zeynep, a journal to write in for when they meet again.
While in Canada, he is locked up in an internment camp because of his
nationality, though he does not identify as Turkish. Meanwhile, Zeynep
is witness to the genocide of her neighbors and is called to help. The
author sheds light on an often overlooked piece of history.
Unfortunately, she leans too heavily on clunky literary mechanisms:
the diary format preys on the integrity of the story and some
characters seem forced (though they bring up interesting historical
contexts, such as the Cree teenager who attempts to free Ali). The
characters are unyieldingly virtuous, and their rhetorical questions
at times are wearing--there is no variance in writing style between the
diary authors. However, the setting is fascinating, the research is
thorough, and the story is made all the more interesting due to
current events in the region. The author's note is full of source
notes and historical details, though it lacks a bibliography. In a
world that continues to be violent, readers may find solace in the
novel's joyful ending. VERDICTDance of the Banished is absolutely
school assignment worthy, and a good book for teens who enjoy
historical fiction.--Lisa Nowlain, Darien Library, CT
February 1, 2015
Dance of the Banished
review by Lisa Nowlain
REVIEWS; Grades 9 and Up; Vol. 61 No. 2
SKRYPUCH, Marsha Forchuk. Dance of the Banished. 234p. Pajama Pr. Feb.
2015. pap. $15.95. ISBN 9781927485651.
Gr 8 Up--Skrypuch continues to tell the stories of young refugees--as in
The Hunger (2002), Nobody's Child (2003, both Dundrun), and Daughter
of War (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2008)--in her latest historical novel.
Set between 1913 and 1917, it features two Alevi Kurd teenagers in
Anatolia as World War I breaks out and Turkey begins the Armenian
Genocide. Ali emigrates before the war begins and gives his
girlfriend, Zeynep, a journal to write in for when they meet again.
While in Canada, he is locked up in an internment camp because of his
nationality, though he does not identify as Turkish. Meanwhile, Zeynep
is witness to the genocide of her neighbors and is called to help. The
author sheds light on an often overlooked piece of history.
Unfortunately, she leans too heavily on clunky literary mechanisms:
the diary format preys on the integrity of the story and some
characters seem forced (though they bring up interesting historical
contexts, such as the Cree teenager who attempts to free Ali). The
characters are unyieldingly virtuous, and their rhetorical questions
at times are wearing--there is no variance in writing style between the
diary authors. However, the setting is fascinating, the research is
thorough, and the story is made all the more interesting due to
current events in the region. The author's note is full of source
notes and historical details, though it lacks a bibliography. In a
world that continues to be violent, readers may find solace in the
novel's joyful ending. VERDICTDance of the Banished is absolutely
school assignment worthy, and a good book for teens who enjoy
historical fiction.--Lisa Nowlain, Darien Library, CT