Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 5-8. Stanley adds to her long list of successful picture biographies this timely book about an Islamic warrior noted for his civility. Beginning with the birth of the boy who comes to be called Saladin, she recounts the first words he (and all Muslim children) hear: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his Prophet." Stanley sets the stage for the panoramic story by studding it with details of time and place. As a boy, Saladin hears the story of how the Christians conquered Jerusalem, leaving dead bodies of all religions in their wake. Vowing to somehow rectify this situation, Saladin first becomes a soldier, uniting his people, then a leader, taking on the Christians. The story of Saladin battling his way back to Jerusalem is complicated and filled with blood and intrigue, and Stanley tells it vigorously. But more interesting is the parallel journey she recounts as Saladin tries to maintain his honor and chivalry in the midst of horrendous fighting. Trying to cover a personal story and history in 48 pages is a challenge. Sometimes details are glossed over. For instance, readers might be left with the impression that relics, such as a fragment of the "true" cross, were legitimate. Events occasionally seem compressed. But the generally strong telling is more than matched by glorious paintings that mirror Islamic artwork of the times. Alive with pattern and brilliant with streaks of illumination, the art is some of Stanley's finest--and that speaks volumes. --Ilene Cooper
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Meeting the high standards set by her previous picture-book biographies, Stanley (Michelangelo; Joan of Arc) here focuses on the 12th-century ruler known as "the Muslim saint-king" who was "praised even by his enemies as `the marvel of his time' " and crystallizes many of the issues still at the root of conflicts today. Stanley begins with a concise overview of the First Crusade, then hypothesizes about the impact of the Franks' murderous conquest of Jerusalem on the young Saladin, a devout Muslim (after listing Jerusalem's importance to the "three great religions," the boy poses a question: "Couldn't everyone just share it?"). The author outlines religious practices, the political history of the Middle East and of Western Europe, and the vexed military campaigns for Jerusalem, once again demonstrating her trademark ability to research and then distill complex topics in terms accessible to middle-graders. She painstakingly builds readers' sense of Saladin's integrity and skilled leadership. For example, when his army was poised for certain victory over the Christians holding Jerusalem, he wrote to a knight proposing generous conditions for their surrender: "I believe that Jerusalem is the House of God, as you also believe. And I will not willingly lay siege to the House of God or put it to the assault." Stanley's precise, detailed artwork pays homage to period architecture. She evokes the colors of Persian miniatures (and medieval stained glass) as her paintings incorporate the complex patterning associated with Islamic art. Portraits of Saladin at home, sitting in front of gorgeously tiled walls with his family, arrayed in sumptuous robes, are particularly effective in conveying the richness of the subject's world. Readers are certain to be intrigued. Ages 8-12. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-7-Attentive readers of this book-those who can wrest their eyes from the illustrations-will learn some history, some geography, and quite a lot about Islam, as well as about the life of Salah al-Din. (One interesting fact is that he was neither an Arab nor a Turk, but a Kurd.) Even more important, however, may be the chance to put oneself in the shoes of "the enemy," an exercise that is as useful today as it would have been in 1099. Anyone who still harbors romantic ideas about the Crusades will be disabused of them here. The harsh glare of history scours secular and religious leaders alike. Even Richard the Lionhearted appears as both a brilliant commander and "an obnoxious bully," and in light of his slaughter of 3000 hostages at Acre, who could disagree? Saladin is not depicted as flawless, and the attitude of Islam toward women is noted. Yet, on the whole, the great and generous Muslim leader is portrayed as being far nobler than any competitor. Each full page of text is a mini-chapter, a self-contained part of the overall narrative, so that readers can pause and linger over the opposing full-page illustration. These pictures, enlivened by saturated, jewel-like blues, reds, and greens, combine Western realism with pattern and composition recalling Turkish miniatures. Countless details of dress, armor, domestic interiors, and landscape evoke the period and setting. The beauty and sophistication of Islamic culture shine through Stanley's glorious pictures. A timely and splendid addition to the author's earlier biographical profiles.-Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
(Intermediate) As she did in earlier biographies such as Peter the Great (rev. 1/87) and Shaka: King of the Zulus (rev. 1/89), Stanley has selected an unusual subject and presented him with clarity and style. This biography of twelfth-century Muslim ruler Saladin documents the skills in government, the humane policies, and the nobility of character that made him ""a model for any age."" Beginning with his early training in Muslim culture, continuing with the details of his rise to power, and describing his success in uniting the Muslim forces against the Crusaders, the book is both concise and thorough. Of particular interest are the conflicts between Saladin and Richard the Lion-Hearted, the romanticized king of England (interestingly, despite their rivalry the two never actually met). The book concludes with Saladin's death, but an insightful postscript sets it in the context of later historical developments, complementing the incisive introductory author's note and the map (a bibliography, a glossary, and an index are also included). The illustrations command attention equally with the text, integrating elements of Islamic art with stylized representations of such natural phenomena as roiling cloud formations to suggest the intensity of emotion underlying the events depicted. The palette is brilliant; the lines are fluid; the compositions enhance the sense of narrative fluency conveyed when the text is read aloud. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Stanley, in her usual style (Michelangelo, 2000, etc.), gives a brief, lavishly illustrated account of this famous Muslim leader who united his people against the Christian Crusaders of the 12th century. Saladin was a Kurd who joined the army of the Turkish Sultan Nur al-Din at the age of 14. Propelled quickly to a powerful position through courage, charisma, and chance, he was a popular leader who was well known even to the Christians for being merciful. The story that Stanley tells is one almost entirely of battles and plays for power (as, one would assume, the records of the time allow us). Though it will appeal to the young reader who already enjoys battle stories, her somewhat dry text may lose more generally interested readers. Each page of text is illustrated with a border and faces a full-page painting. Stanley's richly colorful scenes are decorated with Persian-influenced patterns, making this inviting to page through. (Curiously, everyone in her illustrations has the same relatively pale tone of skin.) A short author's note and postscript frame the story in its historical context. A glossary and bibliography of adult titles conclude the work. Though this will leave readers with some questions (Stanley provides no references for some of the more interesting tidbits that they may be curious about), it brings this hero to light for a young audience, who may only be familiar with this period from the Christian history. (Nonfiction. 9-12)
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