The Paper House

by Lois Peterson

Life is hard for ten-year-old Safiyah in the Kibera slum outside Nairobi. Too poor to go to school, she makes a meager living for herself and her grandmother Cucu by selling things she finds at the garbage dump. After using scavenged paper to fix up the inside of the hut, Safiyah starts a mural on the outside. As word of the paper house spreads, Safiyah begins to take pride in her creation. When Cucu collapses after a fire, Safiyah stays at the hospital to help care for her grandmother. While Safiyah is away, her friend Pendo works on the mural, which upsets Safiyah. But when Pendo attracts media attention to the paper house, Safiyah and her grandmother are given a chance of a better life.

Genres: Childrens

108 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

After writing for adults for more than 20 years, I turned to writing for younger readers in 2007. My first children's book, MEETING MISS 405 was published by Orca Book Publishers in Fall, 2008, and subsequently won top place in the BC Choclate Lily Children's Choice Award.

My subsequent seven books for readers aged six to 14 have been nominated for awards and included on prestigious lists of recommended reading.

My how-to book '101 - and more - Writing Exercises to Get You Started & Keep You Going' is used by writing teachers, students, and writers.

My first nonfiction book SHELTER; HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY will be published by Orca Book Publishers on Oct 12, 2021.

www.loispetersonwriter.ca

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a little obvious that Pendo would forgive Safiyah, and also that Cucu
would get better, but still, it was a good book and I really like Chid. :)

[Gail Neale-Sedgeiwck]

The Paper House by Lois Peterson is a wonderful story about in a small village outside Nairobi. It is an uplifting story of a young girl and is a wonderful example of how, despite cultural differences, life for children everywhere has so many commonalities. A great read for all

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet book about a very real problem--slum life in Kenya, and what extraordinary people are doing to educate and rescue children from that life.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son & I read this. He would have finished it in a day if he had the time. We loved the story.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting. Safiyah lives in the Kibera slum in Nairobi with her Cucu (grandmother) who is very ill. This book gives a glimpse into life of a family that struggles to survive.

[Manpreet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Paper House -Lois Peterson

A ten year old girl named Safiyah lives in the Kibera Slum with her grandma Cucu. They are very poor so safiyah cant go to school but instead she goes to the dump and finds magazines she looks at all the people and inspirations in the magazine. She hopes that the magazines might help her and her grandmother have a better life. Safiyah cuts out pictures from the magazines and puts it on her hut for people to see. Sadly the place they were staying at caught on fire and Safiyah thought her grandma was in there. A couple of people tried to get in and find her grandma but she wasn’t there. Safiyah was very worried, she wandered around to go find her grandma cucu and she found her sleeping outside. After a long journey going on buses and walking miles Cucu and Safiyah found the place they were looking for and they soon found out that Safiyah could go to school with her best friend Pendo and learn how to read. She found someone who offered to pay for her school. She never gave up and now her and her grandma Cucu live a great life and there going back to there old village to help out the rest of the people there.


Overall, I really liked this book because it’s shows that people can go through hard times and still have a happy ending. I would rate this book a 4/5 because i think it has a good meaning and it shows a lot. It’s also telling us not to give up on your dreams.

[Areebah Bhatti · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book but I think that the ending could be a little more interesting.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

not good for any children, sad

[Neha Navin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book! Would’ve loved a sequel. Although, Rasul’s family history was sort of left in the air and Safiyah was just physically unharmed in such a dangerous community.

[Maria Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

1) The setting is Africa. I haven't read too many books about this, so I found this to be fascinating. I loved how Lois Peterson was able to bring to life Safiyah's world.

2) I love stories that involve grandmothers. And I love Cucu! She's all Safiyah has and their relationship is so important.

3) And then there's Blade, the older boy and leader of the local gang of thugs. Cucu warns Safiyah to stay away from him. He's a bully and yet... he's not? It's confusing. I love how Peterson dealt with this complicated relationship.

4) The whole part about school and how Safiyah wants to go but can't was one of the more interesting parts of the plot for me. I think kids in my part of the world can sometimes be unexcited by school. It's good to see a kid who's denied something we take for granted and how her attitude is so different.

5) Loved the angle on art and Safiyah's artistic idea for the mural! Even better was the part where her friend tries to help but mangles it, causing a rift between the girls. I loved watching how their friendship goes through highs and lows.

6) It's a short book at only 108 pages. I wanted it to be longer! (And yet, the length in and of itself isn't bad. The story is complete as is!)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Loved reading Safiyah's story about her struggles with living in poverty. But this is such a hopeful book. Don't let the short length fool you into thinking it's for the younger crowd.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing book has accomplished something that is actually quite difficult to do. Not only is it accurate to slum life in Kibera, Kenya (I spent a month there teaching the children of Kibera), but it is easy enough for young children to read, is wonderfully written and captures their attention and pulls together a fairly realistic happy ending. I will be using this book as a novel study in my grade 3 classroom.

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure kids will be drawn to this, but I can see teachers using it as a read aloud and to start discussions of other cultures and social justice. I like to think that the Kenyan Dream is no different from the American Dream.
It was nice to take a break and read something eligible for neither Newbery or CCBA.

[Rachel Seigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good novel for teaching, but won`t have popular appeal. Perfect for opening discussion on world issues and social justice with young readers.

[Tonks]

I thought this book was sad but wonderful at the same time

[Angela Saflor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is cool...

[Jacquie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of redemption in the slums near Nairobi.

[Philip Wasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just read together with my 11 year old, appreciated the story of a girl in another country that was a reality based "eye opener".

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read, child poverty, lack of education, brief mention of AIDS, gang activity in a Nairobi slum. Unrealistically happy ending.