I know virtually nothing about the Arabian Peninsula in the 20th century and even less about the practice of henna decorations so when I picked up this book at the library, I knew I was in for an interesting read .I certainly was not disappointed. What I didn't know was that the book would have a great story as well.
It tells the story of Adela, a young Yemenite Jewess who lives with her parents in an area of yemen controlled by Muslims in the 1920s. They live as 2nd class citizens in the area and although managing to make a simple living, always in fear. Adela, at the start of the story is only 9years old and is especially fearful that she will be taken away and forcefully adopted by a Muslim family. Her mother is very strict and will not let her join in the local ritual custom of decorating her body with henna. This changes when her aunt, uncle and cousins from Aden then a British protectorate move to live with them. Her aunt is a skilled henna artist. The family story is fully of the history and traditions of the time as well as the eventual passage of the family to the new state of Israel.
It is also a love story and a tale of interfamily relationships, hardships and held my interest right through the book.
A most interesting book, well worth reading,
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