Gus Preston's Reviews > The Red Pencil

Written in prose from the perspective of 12 year old Amira, "The Red Pencil" is about a girl whose whole life seems to be predetermined for her from birth. According to her parents she will get married and start a family, but this doesn't seem like enough for the brave, creative, and driven Amira. She wants a different life for herself, craving education and literacy, a thirst for knowledge atypical of girls in her town in South Darfur. The book depicts her struggle between wanting to obtain an education and upholding the traditional values that seem so important to her mother. A story covering themes from family, to tradition, to education, as well as life in the time of war, this book is an important read for young readers who may not have been exposed to how individuals lives are affected by these things around the world. Not to mention, Shane W. Evans' illustrations add a layer of complexity and bring the reader into the creative mind of Amira. I will say that despite being a lovely story, I found the ending to be a little disappointing, especially for a book geared toward a younger audience. It seemed like there was more of Amira's story to be told, and the end left too much to the imagination for my taste.