The Green Bicycle

by Haifaa Al Mansour Narrated by Ariana Delawari

Overview

In the vein of Year of the Dog and The Higher Power of Lucky, this*Middle Eastern coming-of-age story is told with warmth, spirit, and a mischievous sense of humor

Spunky eleven-year-old Wadjda lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with her parents. She desperately wants a bicycle so that she can race her friend Abdullah, even though it is considered improper for girls to ride bikes. Wadjda earns money for her dream bike by selling homemade bracelets and mixtapes of banned music to her classmates. But after she's caught, she's forced to turn over a new leaf (sort of), or risk expulsion from school. Still, Wadjda keeps scheming, and with the bicycle so closely in her sights, she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Set against the shifting social attitudes of the Middle East, The Green Bicycle*explores gender roles, conformity, and the importance of family, all with wit and irresistible heart.

Editorial Reviews

OCTOBER 2015 - AudioFile

Al Mansour based this audiobook on her inspiring film, WADJDA. Sadly, the story loses something in its transformation into print and audio. Without the imagery of the movie, the author’s meticulous attention to detail as she describes the culture of Saudi Arabia is hindered by clunky writing and an uninspired delivery. Ariana Delawari does an acceptable job of giving voice to Wadjda and the other characters. But her monotone delivery of the narrative does not engage. Listeners who stick with the story will admire Wadjda’s spunk and tenacity. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2015 - AudioFile

Al Mansour based this audiobook on her inspiring film, WADJDA. Sadly, the story loses something in its transformation into print and audio. Without the imagery of the movie, the author’s meticulous attention to detail as she describes the culture of Saudi Arabia is hindered by clunky writing and an uninspired delivery. Ariana Delawari does an acceptable job of giving voice to Wadjda and the other characters. But her monotone delivery of the narrative does not engage. Listeners who stick with the story will admire Wadjda’s spunk and tenacity. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172020766
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	09/22/2015
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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