The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney: Review

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” (Alchemist). There’s no better quote to describe this story.

A fictional tale about a Sudanese girl called Amira, who has been forced to seek refuge in the Displaced People’s Camp in Kalma after her village was attacked by the Janjaweed(devils on horseback). Even when her life fell apart, she was sure of something, her desire to learn. But things take a new turn when she receives a strange gift. Can this gift help amir fulfill her dreams?

My thoughts on the book :
One among the many books that sprung as a result of the genre of verse novel gaining recognition. It is easy to fall in love with this book and the protagonist for multiple reasons. Yet, as an active reader, I couldn’t ignore the mild neo-orientalist stench arising from this book(in very minute quantities).

PS: This review was first published on theclosinggap, an Instagram page dedicated to book and movie