This book was written in the form of an autobiographical novel, some of it is true and some fiction. The main character Jusef was born in 1950 but throughout the book there are no dates or time periods to follow making it impossible to follow his age or how long events such as his schooling took. This read is a very sad look into the lives of the people of Morrocco. The children have no childhood and go to work as soon as they are physically able to do a job. If a male child like Jusef insisted on attending school, he would be required to leave and make his own way at such a young age. Not having a time frame made it hard yet I am sure he started living on his own even before puberty. For females, they are sold off to a husband and his family making her their property. Females are abused, raped, only their hymen has any worth. That has not changed in the Arabic culture. This book has a great prose yet the story dragged in many parts. The most inspiring aspect of the book are the hopes and wants the male children have for a better life beyond anything else, I ever read or seen. They will live in squalor, be malnourished, doing whatever it takes to survive obtaining themselves a better place in this world. Multiple aspects of the story are left unanswered. The book just comes to an end with no real conclusion. After reading and getting to know the main character you as a reader will be able to construct yourself a proper conclusion. This would be a favorable book for readers who are interested in that culture or wants to know about how that culture lives.
"Thank You NetGalley For Letting Me Give An Honest Review" ( )

Seen through the eyes of Jusef, we are provided with an incredibly insightful view of the challenges of a young boy held captive by language and culture. With a supreme dose of resolve and the mantra of "I will not succumb," Jusef attacks any blockage placed before him. The challenges usually result from provincial attitudes of those closely related to him. Recognizing that music and numbers are not inherently evil in and of themselves, he sets out to master both. In the process, he learns to live in peace with animals, as well as people form different cultures. People can be cruel as death, but that does not deter his desire for knowledge. He is willing to pay any price because he recognizes that ignorance is the real evil that must be overcome.

Labaki weaves complicated inter-familial relationships into Jusef's trek for learning. They add incredible depth to the story and provide necessary insight to help readers understand the gravity of challenges Jusef faces. Occasionally, these individuals can be helpful. Unfortunately, they too often represent roadblocks to stymie Jusef's progress. A surprising twist at the end of the tale encourages readers to reflect on all those inter-related individuals. ( )

This is the story of Jusef, who was born in the Rif mountains (Morocco). Desiring an education, he gave up his way of life and moved to the city, determined to forge a new path in life. During the summers he traveled back home and found creative way to make enough money to survive the next school year.

I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with this book. I do enjoy reading about other cultures, but I'm not sure how much this book really told me. In addition, it was a hard to get a feel for hold old Jusef was throughout the book. Seasons passed quickly, sometimes he went in great detail and at other times he skimmed through his life. Further, the book ends fairly abruptly. It is in desperate need of a few more chapters or at the least, an epilogue. ( )