The Milk of Birds | Sylvia Whitman | Sudan
Atheneum Books for Young Readers | 2013 | ISBN: 1442446838
Synopsis
The Milk of Birds is a dual protagonist historical novel set during the Darfur crisis in Sudan. The protagonists are both teenage girls living in two very different worlds. KC is an American teenager who is struggling with the divorce of her parents, problems in school, and problems with living in the shadow of her perfect older brother. Nawra is a refugee living in a camp in Darfur, who is struggling taking care of her grief stricken mother, her unborn child, and the effects of watching their friends and family tortured and raped. The Milk of Birds ties the teenagers together though a series of letters in which the two girls write letters to each other through a letter writing campaign organized through an international humanitarian aid group. Designed to provide teenage girls in the refugee camps a sense of security, friendship and hope when they have lost so much, KC and Nawra develop a deep friendship that inspires and heals both girls in a very different way. Nawra’s proverbial advice to KC gives her strength and confidence in and out of school. In the words of Nawra, “when a tree leans it rests on its sister”.
Rationale for Use in the English Classroom
The Milk of Birds is a perfect fit in an English Classroom. Point of view is often hard to teach, and using a dual protagonist novel, like this, is a great way to help students understand. The struggles that KC faces, even though they pale in comparison to those facing Nawra, are very real to the American teenagers.
The Milk of Birds is filled with universal themes of hope, survival, suffering, and compassion. The characters are well developed, rich and dynamic. The drives the plot and addresses the historical genocide in the Sudan. The writing is well crafted, descriptive and detailed. The plot sequence flows beautifully, and the reader wonders how the two stories will tie together. The novel does not disappoint, bringing the worlds of both girls together seamlessly.
Before/During/After Reading Activities
Before reading, have students watch a YouTube video about the refugee camps in Darfur and have a fishbowl discussion about the video. (YouTube video shot in refugee camps by Mia Farrow)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_jjTJ19WgE&feature=channel
During reading, students will participate in an educational gaming activity. Teacher will tell students that we they are going to play a computer game where they will become a displaced Darfurian who will have to scavenge for water, and negotiate with forces for the survival of camp, much like Nawra did in her camp. Students will work with a partner (1. Because there are not enough computers; and 2. To encourage collaboration, discussion of the issues and problem solving). The game is located at the following web address. http://www.darfurisdying.com/
After Reading
Students will create an “update on Darfur”. Students will read the afterword in the book that suggests there is still a lot of political unrest in Sudan. Students will research the current political climate in Darfur to see if it is still true and write a brief news update on the situation.
Connections to Other Content Areas
The Milk of Birds would fit perfectly in a World History or African History class as a supplemental novel. It is a wonderful fictional portrait of the often untold stories of the women of Sudan.
