STREET OF STORYTELLERS By Doug Wilhelm

TITLE: STREET OF STORYTELLERS
PUB: ROOTSTOCK PUBLISHING
PUB DATE: 10th September 2019


SYNOPSIS:
Luke is an American kid, in a place he doesn't understand.

In this multicultural thriller, a teenager who's passionate about rock and reggae music angrily blames his parents' divorce on his dad's obsession with finishing a book about a lost ancient civilization in a dangerous part of Asia. But Luke's father has him over Christmas vacation, and desperately wants his son to understand -- so he brings Luke to Peshawar, an age-old crossroads city in Pakistan's Northwest Frontier. To punish his dad, Luke refuses to visit the ruins or learn anything about the project ... and instead he is drawn into the strange, intriguing Old City, where a violent new extremism is on the rise. Luke is dazzled by the beautiful Danisha -- but if they're ever seen together, she could be killed. He's recruited by a group of jihadis -- but he also bonds with Yusuf, an Afghan refugee who knows what could happen. Then there are the musicians Luke befriends, and a mysterious Sufi teacher who opens his eyes. Set in 1984 at a pivotal time and place in history, Street of Storytellers is about three families across two cultures. It's about an ancient true story the world has almost forgotten. And it's about learning to think for yourself -- even if that puts your life at risk.

This is Doug Wilhelm's 17th book. His acclaimed novel The Revealers has been the focus of reading-and-discussion projects in over 1,000 American schools.


REVIEW:
“Street of Storytellers” by Doug Wilhelm is an amazing story set in 1984 and tells the story about a young man and his journey towards self-discovery, the different relationships he is navigating through with his own father and new friends, and his eye opening experiences with different cultures, religion and beliefs.

During his winter break, Luke travels with his father to Peshawar in Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier. Luke’s father is obsessed about writing and completing his book about a lost ancient civilization. While there, he befriends Danisha whom he develops an infatuation and Yusuf, an Afghan refugee.
As Luke navigates Peshawar through his eyes, you are also taken as a reader through his experiences - the amazing markets, the smells of the fruits and food in the stalls, and the music they are experiencing. Wilhelm writes with rich and vivid historical fiction story with some thrilling elements surrounding the pivoting point in our history leading to 9/11.

Though the book is a short and quick read, the message is deep and gives a perspective on our world when extremists try to silence the voices of people that want change for the oppressed, and maintain the freedom we take for granted.

This is an amazing story that I highly recommend. An amazing coming-of-age novel that is gripping and intense. It is unique unlike any other book I have read before. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to have been changed because of this book.


AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:

Wilhelm is the author of 16 books for young readers, including The Revealers, a novel about bullying that has been the focus of reading-and-discussion projects in over 1,000 U.S. middle schools. His newest book is Treasure Town, Doug’s first for younger readers. Doug’s realistic novels for grades 6-8 include True Shoes, the Revealers sequel on cyberbullying, and his newest, The Prince of Denial, which portrays the impacts on teenagers of addiction within families. Doug began writing for young people with the legendary Choose Your Own Adventure series, and he’s been doing it ever since. Wilhelm often visits schools to talk about The Revealers and his other books. Kids tend to notice pretty quickly that he is six feet ten inches tall!