Running on the Roof of the World

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Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed. (1911): "PAMIRS, a mountainous region of central Asia...the Bam-i-Dunya ('The Roof of the World')". [4] 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 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. 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: 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:

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. 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. Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments

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This is an amazing book. My favourite part was when the tribe leader showed his supportive and caring side. I would rate this book 5/5. 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. Sir Thomas Edward Gordon, The Roof of the World: being a narrative of a journey over the high plateau of Tibet to the Russian frontier and the Oxus sources on Pamir, Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas, 1876 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?

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. 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. PT: RATW: Tibet*, children’s books (???), ice/mountains/COLD, human journeys, cultural heritage stories 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.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.

Also, in light of the recent – and incredibly disturbing –“disappearance” of Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing, it’s clear that the Chinese government is not above brute abductions when it feels cornered. If one of the most well-known A-list celebrities in the country can vanish without a trace, then why not a few rural Tibetans? 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. Note to Parents: The inciting incident comes when a Buddhist sets himself on fire, known as self-immolation. Students in 8th grade and beyond may have already been exposed to this form of protest, as it was used by Buddhist monks to protest the war in Vietnam, as well, and may be mentioned in the 8th grade Vietnam War curriculum. If your student has not studied this in school, however, or been exposed to it in any other way, this is an excellent teaching moment, and probably warrants a dual-read -- mom or dad on the couch with your kiddo -- to explain and explore while or immediately after reading. I hope there will be a sequel to come because Running on the Roof of the World was possibly one of the best books I have ever read. 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 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?

A trek can be interesting and fun; for Tash and Sam it’s a matter of life and death. They’re on the run from soldiers, but can they make the right decisions on the way? a b Holdich, Thomas Hungerford (1911). "Pamirs". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol.20 (11thed.). Cambridge University Press. p.655. the Dalai Lama. Happy presence. Good vibes. A figure to worship in times of distress. But also just a fallible person. Just an all around fascinating character that seems pretty well represented here. 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. Tash lives in Tibet with her parents. From the opening chapter Butterworth highlights Tash’s life – full of rules dictated by an inflexible army. Soldiers to be scared of, soldiers to watch out for.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. 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. 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. This is a solid middle grade story about a young Tibetan girl and her best friend trekking into India in search of the Dalai Lama. Along the way, they deal with soldiers and resistance members and not knowing who to trust.