Never in a Hurry: Essays on People and Places (Texts; 18)
YA-This collection of essays is an excellent addition to any library. Nye is a Palestinian American, married to a Swedish American, and has lived much of her life in San Antonio, TX. The essays are autobiographical reflections of people and places she has encountered throughout her life. She and her parents lived in Jerusalem for a year until the Six-Day War caused them to flee back to the United States; Nye and her husband have returned to her ancestral country on several occasions. The essays are short, quiet reflections on a variety of subjects. The author has the ability to perceive and describe her surroundings so skillfully that readers are drawn into these experiences and are enriched in the process. Such essays as "Favorite Cleaners, San Antonio" help readers step back, slow down, and contemplate the everyday role of the all too familiar in one's life. This collection is guaranteed to make YAs laugh, cry, reflect, or think about life from another point of view. Literature by and about the Arab experience in America is rare; to discover a well-written collection suitable for young adults is a joy.Dottie Kraft, formerly at Fairfax County Public Schools, VACopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.