Running on the Roof of the World

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Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments Oh, and what is environmentally key about Tibet right now? It is the source of fresh water for much of Asia, so expect continued and increased oppression there:

Cover: Rob Biddulph Running on the Roof of the World is the debut middle grade novel from 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. There are also chance encounters that strain credibility and require a HUGE leap of faith by the reader, but that’s basically par for the course in middle-grade books that chart epic journeys such as this. I can forgive the “convenient” plot twists, but I can’t get past these issues of basic geography.This story features the conflict between China and Tibet, specifically Chinese oppression of the Dalai Lama's followers. This is FAR more than I would have guessed, and almost none of them have made Western news headlines. Most of those cases occurred in Qinghai and Sichuan Provinces rather than in Tibet itself, but there are reasons for that that go beyond the scope of this book review. 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. 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. Tash and her friend Sam embark on an adventure that whisks the reader through the harsh terrain of the Himalayas as they make their way to India and the Dalai Lama. This is an adventure that’ll have you falling in love with Yaks. An adventure that you’ll often be reading with your heart in your mouth.

Have you ever thought about accomplishing a long trek over the Himalaya mountains? What to wear, what to eat, how to survive? How about you ask a friend to come as well for company? 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 balances that understanding with a narrative of survival and hope... (Jill Murphy The Book Bag) With the awakening of public interest in Tibet, the Pamirs, "since 1875 ... probably the best explored region in High Asia", [4] went out of the limelight and the description "Roof of the World" has been increasingly applied to Tibet [9] [10] and the Tibetan plateau, and occasionally, especially in French ( "Toit du monde"), even to Mt. Everest, [11] but the traditional use is still alive. [12] Where the world's tallest mountain ranges meet Panorama of the Pamirs, the Original Roof of the World 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. 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.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. Events that initially seemed to stretch believability in Running on the Roof of the World suddenly, upon reflection, seem frighteningly realistic. This is a daily terror that people continue to live with, and it shouldn’t get swept under the carpet. Not just the motivational speech that teachers give to themselves in front of the mirror during the final week of the summer term, but also the words of the Dalai Lama in Jess Butterworth’s uplifting debut novel. The central themes of the story ring true throughout the narrative: that of hope and perseverance. Tash, the main character, is determined to reach the other side of the mountains and complete her journey, even if she doesn’t fully understand what is happening in her village and in her country of Tibet. can these kids PLEASE catch a break. It took me longer to read this than expected because it was just. So. Heavy. I mean, it is a book about suppression of people and like,,, military presence and kids traveling alone across mountains to find safety so I probably should’ve *expected* it to be heavy. But I didn’t. And I was *walloped* by it. I had to keep taking breaks to remind myself that the kids will probably be fine. I’ve read some heavy stuff, but this one really weighed on me. I just wish it had been broken up with some lighthearted moments.

Tash’s dad is involved in an underground movement, a movement fighting for freedom… so when the soldiers come banging on the door, Tash must run. Faraway. For Tash there is only one person who can help, the person whose very name is banned in Tibet. The Dalai Lama. After their parents are taken away by Chinese forces, two children find themselves on a mad dash, with their two yaks, across the mountains to try to save their parents and figure out a mysterious code that needs to be delivered to the rebellion. the folk song and cultural pride. I will always love when families share folk songs and talk about what their heritage means to them. It’s so wholesome.

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PDF / EPUB File Name: Running_on_the_Roof_of_the_World_-_Jess_Butterworth.pdf, Running_on_the_Roof_of_the_World_-_Jess_Butterworth.epub 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. I loved the adventure the characters went on, their strength, their courage. They set their minds on a goal and did everything in their power to achieve it.

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.Tash and her best friend Sam live in rural Tibet (about 12 hours by road to Lhasa), sometime around now (about 50 years after the Dalai Lama fled to India). We’re not given much more information than that. And perhaps that was the seed of my unease with the book. So much of a modern Tibetan’s perspective is shaped by exactly where and when they live. The cover from Rob Biddulph is just stunning. The rich colour combinations of reds, oranges and yellows reflecting the vividness of the narrative inside. Was it because the book wasn’t written by an Asian (let alone a Tibetan) but rather a white author? Partially; I won’t lie. That did give me pause. But I was willing to overlook that fact if the story were well researched or informed by real experiences. It was something else. Those experiences shape my point of view, for sure. And when it comes to China-Tibet relations, that means a lot. I don’t defend China’s actions in Tibet over the last 60 years, but one thing that’s been consistent is their continual erasure of the Dalai Lama within Tibet and Tibetan communities throughout China. So it was a stretch for me to believe that the Dalai Lama continues to be so active a presence for a 12-year-old that this was her first (and most viable) choice. I’ve been fascinated by Tibet for as long as I can remember. Loved finally reading about it! (Seven Years in Tibet has been staring at me from its spot on my shelf for way too long now.)