Publication: February 11, 2014
Publisher: Knopf
Books for Young Readers
From a former CIA officer
comes the riveting account of a royal Middle Eastern family exiled to the
American suburbs.
When her father is killed in a
coup, 15-year-old Laila flees from the war-torn middle east to a life of
exile and anonymity in the U.S. Gradually she adjusts to a new school, new
friends, and a new culture, but while Laila sees opportunity in her new life,
her mother is focused on the past. She’s conspiring with CIA operatives and
rebel factions to regain the throne their family lost. Laila can’t bear to
stand still as an international crisis takes shape around her, but how can
one girl stop a conflict that spans generations?
J.C. Carleson delivers a
fascinating account of a girl—and a country—on the brink, and a rare glimpse
at the personal side of international politics.
*Bonus Backmatter includes a
note about the author's CIA past, and a commentary by RAND researcher and
president of ARCH International, Dr. Cheryl Benard. Recommendations for
further reading are also included.
|
The
Tyrant’s Daughter is a story that I wasn’t quite expecting. Political
intrigue has never really been my thing. But I kept seeing this book pop up and
I heard a lot of good things about it, so I thought, why not take a look.
I am very glad that I did, because what I discovered was
at least to me a fresh take on YA fiction that gave me the change I needed at
the time. No love triangles, no boy crazed teens, and no magic…
Fifteen year old Laila is attempting to adjust to her life
in the U.S. along with her mother Yasmin, and her seven year old brother
Bastien after her father known as ‘The Dictator’ was murdered in their home
country.
The book is told through Laila’s point of view and it
follows her through her interactions at school and at home. I thought Laila was
a bit naïve about what was going on in her country and what role her father played
in that, but it’s sort of expected of someone who has been sheltered. She may
have had a pampered upbringing, but she is also smart and has a good heart. It
was easy to like her and hope for the best.
Things are really different than where she is from and
what she is used to. It’s a little of a culture shock. She goes from living in a palace with tons of
servants, to living in a small apartment and having to do everything herself. Laila
does her best to adapt and even manages to forge a few friendships during the
process.
Her voice felt real and honest. That’s what I liked about
this story. I have no clue what it is really like to have to live through a war
going on right outside your doorstep and then having to flee to safety so you
won’t be harmed like Laila and her family had to. But the struggles she
encountered, her trying to learn life in America, her worries and fears all
seemed to be genuine and reflected that of a young teenage girl trying to
figure out how she fits into this new world.
This book will make you think about your own life, and how
small some of the issues we face are compared to others in different places
around the world. It was a bit of an eye opening experience.
RATING: 4½ out of 5.
**I received this book on behalf of the Publisher in exchange for
nothing but my honest opinion. Thank you**
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