Under+the+Persimmon+Tree

Teaching //Under the Persimmon Tree// by [|Suzanne Fisher Staples]
Book Synopsis (from fantasticfiction.co.uk): Najmah, a young Afghan girl whose name means "star," suddenly finds herself alone when her father and older brother are conscripted by the Taliban and her mother and newborn brother are killed in an air raid. An American woman, Elaine, whose Islamic name is Nusrat, is also on her own. She waits out the war in Peshawar, Pakistan, teaching refugee children under the persimmon tree in her garden while her Afghan doctor husband runs a clinic in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan.

This is the most important challenge in teaching this text because many of your students already come to your classroom with information about the Middle East based upon the current war in Iraq and Afganistan. Many if not all of your students will be familiar with terms used in the book, such as Taliban. Unfortunately, the information that your students have may not be accurate or may be laced with stereotypes. Most likely, your students may be unclear as to the true meaning of terms they hear in the media which may cause confusion.
 * CHALLENGE 1: Connecting to Afghan/Pakistani Cultures**

Following are some suggestions for how to address this issue: [|United States' involvement in the Middle East from WWII to the 70's] DVD's (summary available) [|United States and the Middle East:1914 - 9/11] [|Human Rights Page]: The United States and Saddam: A Friendship Gone Sour Article: [|A Changing Turkey: A Challenge to Europe and the United States] Article: [|The Iranian Disease] [|Islam in the Middle East: A Living Tradition//]by G.P. Makris //[|Introduction to Islam]// by M. Cherif Bassiouini [|Islamic History in Arabia and the Middle East]
 * //Invite a guest speaker into your classroom//
 * //Study [|Orientalism]:// Implement activities that encourage your students to discuss their knowledge of the [|Middle East] and Middle Eastern Cultures using writing prompts, art/imagery, media, music. Discuss where this knowledge is acquired and possible connections to Oriental ideas. You may want to implement excerpts from [|Edward Said's] book, //[|Orientalism]//. Introducing [|Orientalist artwork] is a great way to open discussion about representation through imagery, especially when compared/contrasted with modern imagery
 * //Study history:// It is important to study the [|history of the Middle East] as well as of the history of the United States' interest in the Middle East. Following are some resources:
 * //Attend/participate in culturally relevant activities//
 * //Study and discuss the Islamic Religion:// [|Islam] has a major influence on the cultures of the Middle East and will be important to study. Following are some resources:

It is important with any text that you teach to discuss the possible messages being sent in regards and implied meanings that may be evoke within the readership. //Under the Persimmon Tree// follows Najmah, a young Afghan girl as well as Nusrat, an American woman living in Pakistan. Throughout the novel, Nusrat is seen in a helping role while Najmah, strong-willed as she is, is vulnerable, starving and in need of help. It is important to discuss this fact rather than allow your students to create a one-sided mentality of Third-World counties and of the United States' intentions in world relations.
 * CHALLENGE 2: The American Hero Syndrome**

Following are some suggestions for addressing this issue: [|Orientalist Arwork] [|Political Cartoons] *NOTE: Some images may not be appropriate for high school
 * Discuss strengths and weaknesses//:// This can be done both with the characters and with the countries as described through each characters' personal experience. It may be interesting to address this through the use of the the imagery of "shoes" and "stars" as they evolve throughout the text. There are several mentions to shoes in the Nujmah chapters, (i.e. barefoot, sandals that are too big from Akhtar, shoes handed out by aid workers, pp 168, 179, 180...) and stars in Nusrat's chapters. Also, Nujmah's name means star and Nusrat's name means help. This could serve as the foundation for an interesting unit.
 * Examine Najmah's refusal to return with Nusrat to America: What is "safety" and why does Nusrat think that America embodies safety? What is Nusrat's personal experience with America? What is Nujmah's personal experience with Afghanistan? How do their views change throughout the book? Compare/Contrast
 * Challenge images of the Middle East//:// Research the evolution of images representing the Middle East and the message being sent through them
 * Discuss pop culture: Research how American pop culture portrays the Middle East, especially Afghanistan and Pakistan
 * Access Afghani and Pakistani Resources for view of America: Discuss with a guest speaker or through literary sources or media the views of America.
 * Research the motive behind America's interest in the Middle East: Why, historically is America involved in the Middle East? Offer historical information and diverse perspectives in order to apply critical thinking skills to the issues (See links above under "Study History").

Additional Resources
http://www.suzannefisherstaples.com/bk_persimmon.asp Answers questions about //Under the Persimmon Tree//

http://www.bookpage.com/0508bp/children/under_the_persimmon_tree.html Information about the creation Under the Persimmon Tree/interview with Staples

Michelle Ringle-Barrett