Hamilton, Masha. The Camel Bookmobile.
Yes,
there really is such a thing as a camel bookmobile, and the image of
unwieldy beasts laden with book-filled boxes provided inspiration for
novelist Hamilton (The Distance Between Us, 2004) to compose a lush
celebration of the productive—and destructive—power of the written word.
Languishing in a dead-end job in a Brooklyn library, Fiona Sweeney, 36,
feels time is passing her by. So when the opportunity arises to travel to
Africa to manage an unorthodox mobile library, Fi jumps at the chance to
influence a culture of nomadic people whose existence is dependent upon more
basic human requirements, such as water, food, and shelter. With everything
from Seuss to Shakespeare, Fi’s regular deliveries of books elate the
village women and children but intimidate tribal elders, who fear change and
anticipate the loss of their ancient ways. When the bookmobile’s one
intractable rule is broken, the village turns on the emotionally and
physically scarred teenager whose act of rebellion jeopardizes everything Fi
has worked for. With a heartfelt appreciation for the potential of
literature to transcend cultural divides, Hamilton has created a poignant,
ennobling, and buoyant tale of risks and rewards, surrender and sacrifice.
YA: The combination of adventure and altruism should appeal to socially-conscious teens. CH.