Young girl Naima is a talented artist in her village, but she wishes she could earn money to help her family in Bangladesh. Girls and boys are not allowed to do the same things where she lives. Her neighbor, a young boy, drives a rickshaw and she gets an idea… problems soon ensue and solutions come from surprising sources. It's a charming family tale that provides a peek into a different culture going through changes.~Sara
Naima is a talented painter of traditional alpana patterns, which Bangladeshi women and girls paint on their houses for special celebrations. But Naima is not satisfied just painting alpana. She wants to help earn money for her family, like her best friend, Saleem, does for his family. When Naima's rash effort to help puts her family deeper in debt, she draws on her resourceful nature and her talents to bravely save the day. Includes a glossary of Bangla words and an author's note about a changing Bangladesh and microfinance.
We use this book in our school for our Middle Schoolers!
Lightning literature books
I chose this to learn more about Bangladesh!