Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein

November 27, 2017
Fadhil’s childhood in Iraq forms the basis of this dramatic fictionalized account of life during Operation Desert Storm, the 43-day war that followed Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1991, which conveys both the horrors and banality of war. Eleven-year-old Ali loves reading Superman comics, playing soccer, and watching American television, from which he has learned English. He hates Saddam Hussein and anguishes that “soon, America—the land that I love—is going to try to kill me.” Ali’s narrative voice captures the tension of a boy who is young enough to cry when his mother burns a comic book to cook their rice and old enough to comprehend the absurdity of Americans dubbing the nightly bombing “the video game war.” Ali’s experiences include being forced to watch a public execution, fearing his father has been killed, and being irritated that he can’t play outside. Roy (Jars of Hope) and Fadhil, an interpreter during Hussein’s trial, offer a window into what Ali calls “the true Iraq” and a disturbing but accessible portrait of a civilian child’s perspective on war. Ages 10–12. Agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Trident Media Group.

December 1, 2017

Gr 5-7-An adaptation of Fadhil's true story of life in Iraq during the Gulf War. Eleven-year-old Ali lives in Basra with his father, mother, two brothers, and sister. Ali thinks he was born with a "silver spoon" as his parents' employment (his father is a dentist and his mother is a math professor) affords them certain luxuries including a home in a nice neighborhood, access to American television, video games, and Superman comic books. Things begin to change in 1991 when the U.S. invades Iraq at the start of the Gulf War. Ali's father leaves to provide medical care to soldiers, and the family is left to worry about his safety. Bombings destroy bridges and buildings, and they go without power and with very little food. The book follows Ali through this scary and uncertain time. This blending of biography, historical fiction, and realistic fiction paints a vivid portrait of daily family life in Iraq and the trials many faced. The writing is straightforward and accessible. VERDICT This book could be used to facilitate discussion of history, culture, politics, or geography with young readers. A good choice for most middle grade shelves.-Tiffany Davis, Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
Ali's hometown of Basra, Iraq, is near the border with Kuwait, which makes it a dangerous place to live in 1991, during Operation Desert Storm.Eleven-year-old Ali Fadhil is a fan of American television and Superman comic books. He loves English class and playing football (soccer) with his friends. His Christian, Kurdish family's affluent lifestyle is interrupted when a coalition of countries initiates military action to stop Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. Because of the war, Ali's father is away, bombs fall daily, and Ali sleeps in "the safe room" with his mother and siblings. The food supply is cut off, so the family depends on government rations once their own stores run out. When his older brother, Shirzad, is appointed head of the family in his father's absence and his mother begins burning his precious comic collection for heat, Ali has nearly all he can handle. Based on co-author Fadhil's own childhood, the novel reads somewhat like a journal, detailing scenes in the neighborhood and changes to daily life, but as is often the case with real life, it lacks a solid climax and resolution. While Ali's voice and emotional life lack the vitality that would draw readers in to the story, the snapshot of his society at war is strong, and there are very few children's books in English with Kurdish protagonists.A well-researched piece of historical fiction, just a bit flat as a novel. (Historical fiction. 8-13)

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