Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper
Published by Kokila on October 13, 2020
Key Words: Family, Hope, Disability, Snow, Arab Culture
Summary: Lina wakes up and, to her surprise, she sees that it is snowing outside. Yet she is still determined to go to her grandmother’s house and help her make grape leaves because her grandmother is losing her eyesight. Throughout this journey, she learns ten different ways to hear snow. This story not only alludes to people’s different perceptions of the world but also demonstrates the beauty in being able to see and experience the world in different ways. The story is also representative of diverse disabilities that people face, and how even though they might view the world differently, that does not make them any less meaningful or beautiful ways to see the world.
Lesson in Book: The lesson in the book is that although kids might only be aware of one way to see the world or their interpretation, those around them might view the world or events differently. The book motivates children to have a larger outlook on life and consider that different people perceive things in diverse ways.
Censorship: Not censored or banned
Highlights: The best part of this book was following Lina throughout a typical day in her life, which did not make stereotypical struggles the point of the book, instead exemplifying a very ordinary narrative of a young girl. Additionally, I appreciated Lina’s ability to enjoy and appreciate everyone’s different ways of hearing snow, to encourage kids to be more thoughtful towards others.
Children’s Identity: This book assists with identity growth by demonstrating issues that children may face, such as a grandparent facing health issues, and how to deal with them. It also includes some Arab-American cultural elements that provide children with an introduction to the culture, such as Grape leaf making and the occasional words in Arabic.
Sense of Family: Lina values her family throughout Ten Ways to Hear Snow. Lina is surrounded by her mother and father’s guidance, but also has deep love and appreciation for her Sitti (grandmother). Lina’s appreciation of her family is visible through her commitment to help her Sitti make grape leaves, even in a blizzard, as her Sitti is losing her eyesight, and Lina wants to check on her.
Sense of change: For the most part, the theme of change is revealed by Sitti, who is slowly losing her eyesight. Coming to terms with this and observing the different ways Lina is adapting, for example, continuing to help her grandmother make grape leaves while remaining joyful and playful, plays a significant role in the story. This also connects to the idea of hearing snow in different ways, which reflects an acceptance of the unique perspectives that come with change.
Sense of culture: The sense of culture is strong in this book, as it illustrates the Arab-American identity in a meaningful yet subtle way. To start, it uses Sitti, an Arabic word to describe Grandmother. Another example is making grape leaves, as this is also part of Arabic culture and is a meaningful traditional dish. This book does a great job describing what grape leaves are to someone who is not familiar with them, and it has a page that shows how one would make them. However, it does this in a way that I enjoyed, by mini pictures, not overwhelming to the reader, remaining playful and fun.
