Running on the Roof of the World

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Running on the Roof of the World

Running on the Roof of the World

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One thing I noticed Jess does really well is sets a clear scene of what it is like to trek across the Himalayas; the deep snow, the freezing winds, even the soldiers hidden away to try and catch out those that are trying to escape. The power and importance of friendship is also show really effectively through Tash's relationship with Sam, complete with both ups and downs. When Running on the Roof of the World arrived in my mailbox, I didn't waste any time. I dove right in. It was just as good as I was hoping for. The Roof of the World or Top of the World is a metaphoric epithet or phrase used to describe the high region in the world, also known as High Asia. The term usually refers to the mountainous interior of Asia, including the Pamirs, the Himalayas, the Tibetan Plateau, the Hindu Kush, the Tian Shan, and the Altai Mountains. Books that open a window onto these events and people have never been more vital. And this book, despite its flaws, does an admirable job of opening that window a bit more. With her parents taken away by the soldiers, Tash and her friend Sam must try to make the dangerous journey over the Himalayas and escape to India, where they can ask the Dalai Lama for help...

The British explorer John Wood, writing in 1838, described Bam-i-Duniah (Roof of the World) as a "native expression" (presumably Wakhi), [1] and it was generally used for the Pamirs in Victorian times: In 1876, another British traveler, Sir Thomas Edward Gordon, employed it as the title of a book [2] and wrote in Chapter IX: The characters are Tibetan, but their names are abbreviated to Tash and Sam. Which...it just made me slightly uncomfortable that their names were abbreviated to something that seemed Western. You know? Running on the Roof of the World is one of those stories that gives its young readers an honest understanding of some of the awful things that go on in the world, but balance that understanding with a narrative of survival and hope so that the reading of it isn't a depressing or distressing experience. This is an important thing. It's how we build empathy in our young people and it's how they will, one day, be able to make the world a better place. You might think it utopian of me to say that, but I don't think it is. The stories that resonate with us when we are young shape us in important ways and carry us through life.

About Jess Butterworth

Summary: A wonderful middle grade story of survival and hope set in the Himalayan landscape in Tibet and India. And also a careful but honest description of the Chinese occupation and the issues surrounding it. Despite the serious subject matter at hand, Jess Butterworth writes with a great sense of adventure from the point of view of Tash. She is optimistic in her outlook and even though adult responsibilities fall to her, Tash is a real child at heart with a whimsical and naive quality that endears her to the reader. She is a character of hope and the reader gets the sense throughout, whether right or wrong, that everything will be alright in the end for Tash and Sam. This thrilling adventure story is about kindness, hope, friendship and the power of one person to make a difference. All of which seem to me to be pretty good messages to send to the many young people who will undoubtedly be reading this book.

The chapters are short and punchy. The opening of each is decorated with a wonderful mandala styled illustration, it’s like gathering a collection of glorious rewards as you continue with Tash and Sam on their journey.Reminded me A Long Walk to Water and The White Rose (about a Jewish teen Nazi resister, Sophie Scholl), two stories about kids becoming more aware and active in politics. Or Tree Girl, or Forgotten Fire (YA, about the Armenian genocide) but to be truthful, I liked all of them more than this book.

a thrilling fable about hope, and the importance of holding onto what matters, no matter what. With its derring-do charm, and vivid sense of place, this follows in the tradition of classic adventure stories, and comes thoroughly recommended for fans of Eva Ibbotson, Lauren St John and Katherine Rundell. (Joanne Owen Love Reading 4 Kids) This amazing book keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to read more. The chapters are captivating and short, keeping you stimulated. Running on the Roof of the World is set in the Himalayas, in a small country called Tibet. It’s about a girl called Tash, who runs away to find the Dalai Lama, hoping he can help her with her problem. She has some friends to help her along the way: Sam and two yaks. On the way they bump into some strangers and we are not sure if they are there to help or to hinder their journey. Will they make it to find the Dalai Lama?

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The attitude and outlook of the Tibetan people is reflected in many of the characters in the book and it’s refreshing to read. Even though these characters endure hardship and persecution, there is always hope and a lot of love. Despite there being a clear “villain” in the shape of Chinese soldiers, there is rarely if ever a feeling of ill-will towards them from Tash or her neighbours. A big part of Tash realising that there's far more going on in the world than she knows is because a man in her village sets himself on fire in protest. And it's brought up several times in the course of the story. But an explanation as to WHY someone might do something like that and an emphasis that it's not something that should be encouraged as a form of protest doesn't come until right at the end of the book. And given that it's a middle grade book, I wanted that stuff to come a liiiiiittle bit sooner. Survival stories are some of my all-time favorite middle grade books. This is a great addition to my survivor collection that contains other titles like Snow Dogs by Terry Lynn Johnson and Hatchet by Greg Paulsen. I’ll fully admit that my own experiences might present me with certain biases in this case. I lived in China for several years, have immediate and extended Chinese family, and have traveled throughout Tibet. Book Genre: Adventure, Childrens, Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

I was somewhat hesitant going in to this book, simply because stories about child refugees having to flee their homes are by their nature, sad and distressing, and given what's going on in the world at the moment, I can get a bit hand-shy of books that are too real in that regard. Thankfully, Butterworth manages the story of Tash and Sam with great control so that while the dangers and sadness are apparent at every step, they aren't so prominent as to overwhelm the reader. In fact, Running on the Roof of the World is a remarkably accessible book for young readers who are interested in real life events and what's going on outside their own bubble, written in a tone that is both moving and dignified. This is a fictional story based on a very real issue – that of the ongoing situation for all inhabitants of Tibet. In this story, we see the imagined impact that it has on children. The set-up and introduction of Tash, her family, their village, and the Chinese authorities are done in a way that I spent the first half of the book assuming it was set in the years immediately following the Dalai Lama’s escape – i.e., the 1960s. So it was a bit of a surprise when one of the characters mentions that his flight was 50 years prior. a b Holdich, Thomas Hungerford (1911). "Pamirs". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol.20 (11thed.). Cambridge University Press. p.655. The issues between Tibet and China are known but often aren't the forefront of news reports and stories so I think putting a topic like this into accessible children's literature is so important because it allows them to see what is happening through the eyes of someone a similar age to themselves. It can open lots of doors, not just in literacy but in things like PSHE and history as well to further expand their knowledge of these issues.this is exactly what I’m looking for with RAtW books. It covers a human story over geographic terrain in the context of some great conflict. THIS is the formula I’ve been seeking. Despite my complaints, though, the book did make me reevaluate some ideas I thought were settled in my mind. It made me question what I thought I knew. It made me research and read up on current events that escaped my notice. It opened my eyes, and that’s the true beauty of all good literature. Some of the situations that our two young travellers find themselves in along the way would have challenged even the bear-wearing Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant. At every stage of the journey Tash is using her inner strength, determined to save her parents. As much as I love China and continue to travel there for both business and pleasure, it’s not a utopia. Far from it. A note on the cover design and artwork inside the book. Absolutely stunning and some of the best work I’ve seen this year. Well done to all at Hachette for the effort.



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