This book was really great. Mitra was a great sympathetic narrator and I really enjoyed learning more about ancient Persian culture. I did give it four stars because at times she became a little obsessed with whether or not certain young men thought she was a boy or a girl (she's really a girl hiding as a boy). Most of all I loved how the Magi were portrayed, each with a distinctive personality and each taking something from the miraculous meeting with the infant-king-to-be. Good read. ( )

I liked this book and thought it was well written -the only problem I had was keeping track of the names-a list of characters and their roles would have helped-if I used it in a class I would provide this first. ( )

Fourteen-year-old Mitra disguised as a boy and her five-year-old brother, Babak, whose dreams foretell the future, are pursued by their father's enemies. They are sold to Melchior, a Magi, who uses Babak's dreams to lead him to a future king of the Jews. The story deals with conflict, power and the things that truly matter in life.

http://coffeeandink.livejournal.com/7... ( )

Book read for Lit Circle discussion

Fourteen-year-old Mitra, of royal Persion lineage, and her five-year-old brother Babak, whose dreams foretell the future, flee for their lives in the company of the magus Melchior and two other Zoroastrian priests, traveling through Persia as they follow star signs leading to a newly-born king in Bethlehem.

The story of "Ramin" (Mitra) and her brother Babak is one of mystery, survival, and a journey to self. The novel takes us on a journey during a time before the birth of Jesus. The battles of Kings for power, the journey of the three wise men, and the future of a new "King" of the Jews, make up the complex journey of Mitra and Babak. It is through this brother and sister that the story propels forward in search of the meaning written in the stars, the Alphabet of Dreams. Babak's prophetic dreams are the source of many lessons and much struggle. As children of a rebellious King, the siblings must find a new way in the world, overcome their loss of the past, and embrace the new people they are becoming. Mitra and Babak's fate is tied to the fate of dreams, of mercy, and of the beginning of a new world.

The author is writing about a brother and sister who have been forced to hide from the king. They steel to survive as their father has been accused of plotting against the King. When Mitra figures out that her brother, Babak, can tell people the truth of their dreams when he sleeps with an object of theirs next to his body she figures out that she can sell his talents to survive on the streets. Oregon Battle of the Book-Use in class to discuss religion or relationships.

Mitra a.k.a. Ramin (her boy name) looks after her little brother Babak ever since their older brother, Surin, left. She discovers that Babak has a talent for dreaming, and she sells his talent so they can survive. They try to find their older brother, but in the meantime are used by the Magus. An interesting but challenging read. I'd recommend it for girls. ( )

Teens in my galley group and at my high school often really want to write about religion. Too often, however, the writing lacks any soul. It has no personality. While Fletcher is not writing a religious book per se, she is writing about religion. Alphabet of Dreams is exceptional in its ability to look at a beloved, sacred story in a secular manner without being disrespectful—a hallmark of distinguished writing and writers. Alphabet of Dreams is a different sort of historical fiction, religious historical fiction maybe? Historical, spiritual fiction? This is the story of the three wise men, told through the eyes of a young dreamer (as reported by his sister/brother). The only thing that troubles me with this book is the disguised girl device, which doesn't really seem necessary (why not really just make him either the brother or the sister?). Zoya, too, does not seem to be consistently portrayed or believable—minor considerations, however, for the overall impact of the book. Mitra and Babak and the wise men travel, not as mythological characters, but as real people. What I like about this book is that it makes this well-known story available to many different believers in a way that is both engaging and respectful. As I read, I stopped to imagine the different points of view that would have existed in, say, the person who did not travel to Bethlehem, but had to deal with the aftermath of Herod. Just what might that person wonder about stars? I admire this ability to provoke fresh thoughts about a very familiar story. Recommended for middle school libraries and up.

Read for book club. Pleasant book for teens, nicely written, interesting info. A story set with the Three Wisemen. Relatively predictable. ( )

Alphabet of Dreams by Susan Fletcher - Mitra and her little brother are refugees hiding from the King. Their crime is that their father plotted against the King. They huddle in caves by night and beg or steal in the city during the day. Mitra is shocked to find that her brother can dream truth for people if he sleeps with an item of theirs against his body. With the help of another beggar, she finds a way to make some money out of the talent. Things seem to be looking up as Mitra and Babak have enough to eat and are able to start some savings but trouble comes when not only do the King's officers come close to finding them but their beggar aide sells Babak to a magi. Mitra sets out to find Babak; she disguises herself as a boy since both her people and the Magi have gender taboos.

There are many adventures, friendship, bad choices, and worry as Mitra and the Magi follow the bright star in the sky. ( )

Alphabet of Dreams by Susan Fletcher - I'm a sucker for well-known stories re-told from a different perspective, Wicked by Gregory Maguire being one of my favorites along with books by Donna Jo Napoli, so Fletcher's novel caught my attention right away. As a former Catholic school girl, I know the New Testament story of the Three Magi pretty well, but Fletcher tells the story from the perspective of a Persian princess reduced to living in caves and stealing food after her family is slaughtered by her father's enemies. Mitra discovers quite by accident that her little brother, Babek, can dream other people's dreams, a skill that brings him to the attention of the Magus Melchior. Mitra and Babek journey to Bethlehem with Melchior and two other Magi to witness the birth of Christ, enduring all sorts of hardships and learning a thing or two about family in the process. I really liked Mitra -- as my grandmother used to day, she has pluck! --and I found Babek's gift fascinating and a little scary. The characters are well-drawn, especially the three Magi and the bodyguard who keeps Mitra and Babek safe. A lovely story all around... ( )