Review by Booklist Review
Sunset brings the joy of listening to Neeka Baba's beautiful music as he deftly plays the rabab, a traditional lute-like instrument with 35 strings. Roohi is nervous about playing the instrument at her school's Eid celebration concert, so her grandfather advises her to feel the music rooted in the mountains and stories of their northern Pakistan homeland. Despite diligent practice, her confidence falters when Neeka Baba falls ill. At the concert, Roohi freezes. As Mama begins clapping from the audience, with Neeka Baba by her side, Roohi remembers she can play like herself; now confident, Roohi's music conjures up the rich tapestry of her homeland and its traditions. Poetic refrains thread through the text, echoing the folk tales in the music and repeating rhythmic phrases like "twist, tweak, turn." Rich colors, undulating shapes, and patterned strokes evoke Pakistani folk tradition in music and story. The authentic, beguiling celebration of Pakistani culture and tradition concludes with details about this intriguing instrument, with photos of musicians and a QR link to music samples, along with an overview of Pakistan's geography, holidays, and language.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A Pashtun girl hopes to honor her ancestors with a school performance. Roohi dreams of mastering the rabab, a traditional musical instrument, in time for the upcoming Eid concert. Her grandfather Neka Baba, a talented rabab player, offers guidance: "You mustfeel the rhythm,feel the beat of your people." But when Neka Baba falls ill, Roohi is left to continue her lessons on her own. The pressure of letting everyone down begins to get to Roohi. "I can't play like him," she tells her mother. "Not even close." After her mother urges her to find her own voice, Roohi bravely steps out ono the stage, strumming her rabab and "finally [finding] her own rhythm!" Mirza relies on saturated greens, turquoises, and blues, depicting a richly hued landscape. Patterns on the characters' clothes have an eye-catching energy, and scenes are pervaded with warmth, bringing to life Roohi's village and giving her moments with her family a cozy, intimate feel. The rhythmic prose captures Roohi's pride in her culture as well as her uncertainty, all culminating in a triumphant climax. Backmatter offers more information on the rabab (including a labeled diagram) as well as on the Pashtun people of northwest Pakistan, on Eid, and on the kamees partug Roohi wears. A moving exploration of the delicate balance between preserving tradition and acknowledging individual efforts.(Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
