At the age of 15, Faten is forced  to leave her happy life in her mountain village as she travels to the city of Beirut where she begins work as a maid to help her family make ends meet. For two years Faten works tirelessly, barely able to find a spare moment for herself. This strong-willed, determined young woman longs for more in life and she begins to pursue her dream of attending university to become a nurse with the help of her handsome, blonde neighbor, Marwan. Marwan graciously arranges the exams Faten will need to get into university and a romance begins to unfold. Unfortunately, Faten is spotted on an outing with Marwan, word travels to her boss, and Faten is fired from her job. Upon returning home to her village, Faten is chastised. She must earn her father’s understanding and forgiveness so she can return to Beirut where she can continue independently in her journey for a better, more fulfilling purpose in life. This third-person narrative highlights the ambitious, hopeful spirit of a young woman living in the late 1980s in a war-torn Lebanese society. cc |
| Title: The Servant Author: Fatima Sharafeddine Illustrator: Colin Jack Publisher: Groundwood Books/ House of Anansi Press Copyright: 2013 Original Language: Arabic Translator: Fatima Sharafeddine Original Title: Faten Original Publisher: Kalimat Original Copyright: 2010 ISBN: 978-1-55498-307-0 Hardcover pages: 144 Age range: 13 up Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: Lebanon Author’s ethnicity: Lebanese Author’s residence: United States Subjects: Household workers, Lebanon, Maids, Self-realization, War |
The Servant
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