A deeply philosophical novel that uses Sufism to examine the nature of humanity and the universe.
A man in search of answers about life and the universe is visited by an otherworldly being in this novel influenced by Sufism.
Jem, a philosophy teacher, has spent his whole life on a quest for answers. Studying different schools of philosophy and religious teachings, he was always dissatisfied with the so-called answers they offered. Late one night, there’s a knock on the door. Alph, an advanced being with no body, has come to complete his training by studying a human on Earth. The two, along with Jem’s wife, enter into a discourse on the essence of what it means to be human and discuss the great mysteries of the universe. Hulusi uses his novel as a vehicle to explore his own interpretations of Sufism, which mixes traditional concepts with scientific theories. He focuses on teaching his understanding of Sufism rather than constructing a full narrative; the novel has little plot besides the ten visits Alph pays to Jem, who serves as a surrogate for the reader as he embarks on a philosophical journey. As he is challenged by Alph to ponder complex, difficult ideas, so is the reader. At the heart of the novel is the notion that one must escape the earthly body and mind in order to connect to, and be a part of, the universal cosmic consciousness. Controversially, Hulusi posits that there is no one God, but a Universal Intellect that, in essence, we all are a part of. Through the lens of Sufism, concepts such as death and creation, heaven and hell are explored. The author expounds on the idea that one must be open to new knowledge and challenge accepted beliefs. In the end, Alph leaves Jem with more questions than answers. Hulusi’s prose is filled with complex terms and ideas and sometimes reads like a textbook. But his knowledge and understanding of Sufism is thorough and unique.
A deeply philosophical novel that uses Sufism to examine the nature of humanity and the universe.Pub Date: April 25, 2012
ISBN: 978-0615617756
Page Count: 178
Publisher: Universal Mysteries
Review Posted Online: July 6, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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In more ways than one, a tale about young creatures testing their wings; a moving, entertaining winner.
A fifth-grade New Orleans girl discovers a mysterious chrysalis containing an unexpected creature in this middle-grade novel.
Jacquelyn Marie Johnson, called Jackie, is a 10-year-old African-American girl, the second oldest and the only girl of six siblings. She’s responsible, smart, and enjoys being in charge; she likes “paper dolls and long division and imagining things she had never seen.” Normally, Jackie has no trouble obeying her strict but loving parents. But when her potted snapdragon acquires a peculiar egg or maybe a chrysalis (she dubs it a chrysalegg), Jackie’s strong desire to protect it runs up against her mother’s rule against plants in the house. Jackie doesn’t exactly mean to lie, but she tells her mother she needs to keep the snapdragon in her room for a science project and gets permission. Jackie draws the chrysalegg daily, waiting for something to happen as it gets larger. When the amazing creature inside breaks free, Jackie is more determined than ever to protect it, but this leads her further into secrets and lies. The results when her parents find out are painful, and resolving the problem will take courage, honesty, and trust. Dumas (Jaden Toussaint, the Greatest: Episode 5, 2017, etc.) presents a very likable character in Jackie. At 10, she’s young enough to enjoy playing with paper dolls but has a maturity that even older kids can lack. She’s resourceful, as when she wants to measure a red spot on the chrysalegg; lacking calipers, she fashions one from her hairpin. Jackie’s inward struggle about what to obey—her dearest wishes or the parents she loves—is one many readers will understand. The book complicates this question by making Jackie’s parents, especially her mother, strict (as one might expect to keep order in a large family) but undeniably loving and protective as well—it’s not just a question of outwitting clueless adults. Jackie’s feelings about the creature (tender and responsible but also more than a little obsessive) are similarly shaded rather than black-and-white. The ending suggests that an intriguing sequel is to come.
In more ways than one, a tale about young creatures testing their wings; a moving, entertaining winner.Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943169-32-0
Page Count: 212
Publisher: Plum Street Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A YA novel that treats its subject and its readers with respect while delivering an engaging story.
In the ninth book in the Bluford young-adult series, a young Latino man walks away from violence—but at great personal cost.
In a large Southern California city, 16-year-old Martin Luna hangs out on the fringes of gang life. He’s disaffected, fatherless and increasingly drawn into the orbit of the older, rougher Frankie. When a stray bullet kills Martin’s adored 8-year-old brother, Huero, Martin seems to be heading into a life of crime. But Martin’s mother, determined not to lose another son, moves him to another neighborhood—the fictional town of Bluford, where he attends the racially diverse Bluford High. At his new school, the still-grieving Martin quickly makes enemies and gets into trouble. But he also makes friends with a kind English teacher and catches the eye of Vicky, a smart, pretty and outgoing Bluford student. Martin’s first-person narration supplies much of the book’s power. His dialogue is plain, but realistic and believable, and the authors wisely avoid the temptation to lard his speech with dated and potentially embarrassing slang. The author draws a vivid and affecting picture of Martin’s pain and confusion, bringing a tight-lipped teenager to life. In fact, Martin’s character is so well drawn that when he realizes the truth about his friend Frankie, readers won’t feel as if they are watching an after-school special, but as though they are observing the natural progression of Martin’s personal growth. This short novel appears to be aimed at urban teens who don’t often see their neighborhoods portrayed in young-adult fiction, but its sophisticated characters and affecting story will likely have much wider appeal.
A YA novel that treats its subject and its readers with respect while delivering an engaging story.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2004
ISBN: 978-1591940173
Page Count: 152
Publisher: Townsend Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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