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Dawn and Dusk
For as long as thirteen-year-old Azad can remember, the Islamic Republic of Iran, where he lives in the predominantly Kurdish town of Sardasht, has been at war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq, and his country has been a harsh society full of spies, secrets, and "disappearances." Still, most of the time Azad manages to live a normal life, hanging out at the bakery next door, going to school with his friend Hiwa, playing sports, and taking care of his parrot.
Then Azad learns that his town may soon become a target for Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction. Now more than ever, Azad feels torn between his divorced parents and his conflicting desires to remain in his home or escape.
His father is somehow connected to the police and is rooted in the town. His mother may be part of the insurgency, yet is ready to flee. How can Azad make the choice? The story of how one boy’s world was turned upside down in 1987 Iran is a timely and memorable introduction to the conflicts in the Middle East.
Given the current political climate in Iran, now may be an especially good time to read Dawn and Dusk. Dawn and Dusk provides valuable insight into the lives of children in Iran, a country we know little about, and the life of its large Kurdish minority. Today, the US is caught up in a complex, dangerous involvement in regional conflict, which began years ago. Without the back-story, the brief news-bites we see on the nightly news make little sense— Alice
"It’s an important story, and any reader, young or old, wishing to know more about Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Sudan and other troubled spots of the modern world would do well to start with Mead’s many informative works."
-kirkusreviews.com
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Yours is a time of great heroism, dashed hopes, leaps of joy, lasting friendships, explosive frustration, utter hilarity, the shame of betrayal.
This is what I write about — for you!
Peace,
Alice
P.S. Important books for older readers-- Soldier Mom and Dawn and Dusk remain as timely as ever. They are two stories from both sides of the wars in the Middle East. Soldier Mom is about a young American girl, whose mother is called up from the reserves to go to Iraq. Dawn and Dusk is about a Kurdish Irani boy, hit by American / European chemical weapons.
Junebug will be re-printed by Squarefish Books in Spring, 2009. Again good news, but teachers need to push for the other two Junebugs to stay in print as well. It was teachers' comments that achieved the reprint of Starlight Bridge —AM
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 New For Fall
Grades 4 through adult: Reprinted after being sold out for many years: Giants of the Dawnland.
What's New?
What's your Bookprint?
Check out Scholatic's You Are What You Read website.
Crossing the Starlight Bridge, after being out of print, will be re-issued by Aladdin paperbacks (Simon and Schuster) very soon!
Amazon Rank 5 out of 5 stars
"This is a perfect resource to help teach about the Penobscot Nation located in Maine. Due to a new law, LD291, Wabanaki studies need to be taught in every grade in the state of Maine. This is a great book to introduce Wabanakis in grades 2-4. It does not include typical Native American stereotyping. The author obviously did a lot of research before writing this book. " - By Melissa S. Arbour "Happy Reader"
Look for Alice's books on Kindle, iPad and Nook!
Dawn & Dusk, Girl of Kosovo, Isabella's Above-Ground Pool, Junebug, Junebug and the Reverend, Junebug in Trouble, Madame Squidley and Beanie, Soldier Mom, Year of No Rain.
The Haven Foundation for Disabled Artists (founded by Stephen King) has given me a grant to have an assistant help me continue with my work for 2009!
 My adult memoir- Nowish: A Life Out of Time - is now available on Amazon, Alibris, Barnes and Noble, etc. This is the story of my struggle with cancer and a rare neurological illness. (Not for kids). It is my second memoir. My first is Journey to Kosova, which I wrote at the beginning of my illness. More...
IN THE WORKS: I am working on a book about hip hop and welcome comments from kids wherever you are. Let me know what you think about this important dance culture and what you think adult's opinions are! I'd love to hear from you.
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