Review by Belle Nickols

Sonia Nimr writes of the phoenix, or thunderbird, as a mythological creature deeply connected to the history of the Palestinian people. Nimr, born in the West Bank in 1955, developed an interest in writing children’s literature whilst in Israeli prison in the 1970s, following her involvement with the Palestinian liberation movement. She is a scholar of oral history and has written a number of books in Arabic and English for children and young people. 

Like most of Nimr’s stories, Thunderbird centers female characters, with her protagonist being fourteen-year-old orphan, Noor. Noor is isolated and lonely, unpopular with her uncle’s wife and daughter whom she lives with. Ever since her parents’ deaths, things around her have unintentionally set on fire as if by magic, and it all seems linked to the archaeological research her parents were doing on phoenixes just before they died. The manifestation of Noor’s fire-starting powers is directly related to the trauma of her parents’ deaths, which are perceived by those around her as bad behavior. The use of fantasy here means we don’t blame Noor for starting the fires whilst she is given the agency to control her power and use it for good. 

Noor is called to a magical time-travelling quest to save the world, where she allies with djinn and other mystical creatures. The realities of Israeli apartheid present Noor with barriers in the completion of her quest, such as having to lie about her identity to get through an armed checkpoint on her way to Jerusalem. When she does travel back in time, the Jerusalem of the sixteenth century is strikingly different from what she knows. However, Nimr cleverly weaves parallels of despotic foreign rulers and out-of-control armies that cause huge suffering for the local people. 

Noor’s emotional motivations are well-developed, making her a relatable protagonist. The author’s knowledge of local history and folklore makes this world really immersive and believable, and indeed I found the most interesting parts were those set in the past. Thunderbird is the first in a series, so Noor’s quest is far from over, and I look forward to reading M. Lynx Qualey’s English translations of the rest of the series to explore other time periods. 

Nimr’s text could be used in a writing lesson. For example, I would read the scene where Noor time-travels and encourage my pupils to innovate it with their own characters, settings and portals whilst retaining much of the dramatic language and style. Thunderbird could also be relevant as a classroom text when learning about Islam, the geography and history of the Middle East region, and modern political realities.  

Mainstream media in this country has demonised generation after generation of Palestinians so it is essential that novels like this, written by a Palestinian author, are available to help younger readers to practice empathy, particularly right now with the people of Gaza. Stories can help young people navigate and reflect on the horrors they are seeing first-hand or through the news. Conflict has come to characterize the lives of so many young people, and Thunderbird can help us reconnect with our shared humanity at a time of immense suffering. 

Thunderbird
Written by Sonia Nimr, translated by M. Lynx Qualey
2022, University of Texas Press
ISBN: 9781477325810
Reviews: Kirkus

Belle Nickols is a trans primary school teacher, community organiser and poet when she has time.
None of us are free till all are free.

—

GLLI’s 2024 International YA Literature Month has been curated by Dr Emily Corbett. She is a lecturer in children’s and young adult literature at Goldsmiths, University of London, where she leads the MA Children’s Literature: Theoretical Approaches to Children’s and Young Adult Literature programme. Her research focuses on the growth and development of YA from literary, publishing, and cultural perspectives. She is also General Editor of The International Journal of Young Adult Literature and was founding Vice President of the YA Studies Association. Her monograph, In Transition: Young Adult Literature and Transgender Representation (2024), is forthcoming with the University Press of Mississippi in June. You can find her contact details on her institutional website and connect with her on Twitter and Instagram via @DrEmilyCorbett.

Opinions expressed in posts on this site are the individual author’s and are not indicative of the views of Global Literature in Libraries Initiative.