Loujain watches as her Baba puts on his wings every morning to fly across lands filled with wonder that are out of her reach. She knows that in life, Loujain watches as her Baba puts on his wings every morning to fly across lands filled with wonder that are out of her reach. She knows that in life, in her community, girls are not granted the liberty of flight but in her greatest dreams, Loujain finds her way to the field of sunflowers that beckon her throughout the day.
The author's note explains that this story was written about a real-life Loujain, the sister of the author, who was imprisoned for her stance on women's rights in Saudi Arabia; specifically seeking to grant women the right to drive. I do not think it is far-fetched to appreciate the magic that Al-Hathloul sought to conjure in writing a story about a sister whom she admired, through the character of a little girl who sought to glide through life without the constraints imposed on her by invisible beings. Very, unfortunately, for the adult people in this story, those imposing constraints & rules are not reinforced by the invisible, so too were they no longer for the real Loujain who put her own freedom on the line in hopes that all others might feel seen themselves.
I found this story absolutely beautiful. The illustrations themselves are phenomenal & enthralling; every stroke is an absolute masterpiece. Placed as a backdrop to the text, this story presented itself as being a tale for the ages. I can very much appreciate that Al-Hathloul sought to write from what is familiar to her; her community, & the situation surrounding her sister. However, this story can easily be read to children from across the globe. The desire to fly is a well-known fantasy amongst children therefore reading about a child whose community has wings that they can use to fly would strike a chord in the hearts of many of the children who root for Loujain to have what the constraints of our current reality do not permit.
To fly in hopes of seeing the wonder of life; to fly for freedom & peace of mind; to fly across & through the splendour of the earth, I think beautifully encapsulated everything that was important in this story. It is always important to ensure that children grow to know that they can never dream a dream 'too' big, that all their desires of finding their patch of sunflowers are valid & to give them hope of being able to succeed in their goals.
Though this story takes place in a community which might differ from your own, it encourages dialogue of seeking the familiar & sustains discussions around multiculturalism as a whole, rather than ostracizing people for their differences. Therefore, I would encourage this book to be read, I would encourage the situation behind the story to be researched & for the entirety of the labour behind this book to be used as a reflection when gazing at our own society. Though many of us have heard of Icarus, we might also now hold dear the story of Loujain & her success across the expanse which is the sky.
Thank you to NetGalley, Astra Publishing House & Lina Al-Hathloul for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!...more
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