The title refers to an event that lasts five pages in the novel, and has thematically nothing to do with it at all. The book flap doesn't describe the book accurately -at all-, which led to my massive confusion upon reading this, and I had other emotions as well. This book, since I had no clue what it was really going to be about, made me feel really weird and was an unpleasant read. At first, the novel is about an intense friendship with arguably some subtext. Such subtext is strengthened when a new girl succeeds in stealing away one of the friends. It genuinely comes across as a love triangle. I hate love triangles. A heterosexual love triangle popped up a few pages later and I was furious to be dealing with two. The main character's father is imprisoned throughout the whole novel, and events around it are foreshadowed that never come to fruition. I was aggravated. I hated everyone in this book and couldn't wait for it to be over. My skin was crawling afterward. I can't figure out why. The book was rich in description and the characters were incredibly realistic. I related to the characters on different accounts, and their circumstances were so real and vivid. So my feelings are definitely mixed. I don't think I was the ideal audience for the book, and it's evident as well since I can't really describe what the book was about, but I can mention events in the book. ( )

We had a wonderful discussion about this stunning novel in our YARLI (Young Adult Readers of Lopez Island) Book Club, learning so much about Saudi Arabian culture and activism. Deracine writes vividly of her characters' emotions yet sparingly interprets the politics, leaving it up to readers to make their own decisions. Though many of the sometimes conflicting rules and laws are chilling, hope reveals itself in the people lobbying for and making change. I particularly appreciated the author's praise of the desert's beauty and it's inspiration to her as the desert is often feared or overlooked as a place of hope and wonder. I look forward to more of Deracine's writing. Highly recommended for teens and adults. ( )

Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Good
Level: 9-12
Recommended

Sixteen-year-old Leena has lived her entire life under the restrictive laws of the Saudi Arabian government. Leena’s father is in jail for speaking out against the government, which makes her life even more complicated. Because women are not permitted to go out unless accompanied by a man, Leena has to disguise herself as a boy just so that she and her mother can go out in public to do household tasks. Leena and her best friend Mishail, who has the added burden of being the daughter of a minister, find small ways to rebel like taking photos of each other wearing modern clothing without their abayas. Leena and Mishail will soon be finished with school and they, along with their classmates, are figuring out what comes next. For many, it will be marriage, for a few it may be university, and those brave enough may try to find a way out of Saudi Arabia for good.

The author of Driving by Starlight grew up in Saudi Arabia, and that definitely comes through in the specificity of her writing. It was very interesting to get this window into a country that I didn’t know much about and even better to see it through the eyes of a teen girl. For a teen (or adult) interested in learning about the culture and conflicts of Saudi Arabia, this would be a great starting point. The story is told from the first person point of view of Leena, an intelligent and opinionated young woman living in a culture that values neither of those traits in women. She is complicated, sometimes impulsive, and not always likable, which is true of teen girls of all cultures. The plot is a little all over the place, and because the reader only gets Leena’s perspective, there are times when it is difficult to fully understand what it going on. Overall, the unique point of view and window into Saudi Arabian culture make this novel a worthy addition to larger collections. ( )