The book Shabanu, written by Suzanne Fisher Staples, was published in the year 1989. This fictional book takes place in the deserts of Cholistan, which is located on the boarder of Pakistan. The main character in this book is a young girl, at the age of 11 when the book begins, named Shabanu. She has a 13 year old sister named Phulan, who is coming of age to be married. Phulan is betrothed to her cousin Hamir; Shabanu is betrothed to his brother Murad.
             Shabanu is a very vibrant young girl who loves to spend her days out by the toba, the watering hole, with her beloved camels. Usually girls are expected to stay in the house with their mother and learn how to cook and clean and all the other things that wives are responsible to know. Although, because of the fact that in Shabanu's family there are no boys to do the chores Shabanu must do them. She really does not mind, in fact she loves having the freedom to get dirty and be with the camels. She is not looking forward to getting married, because when she does all her freedom will be lost.
             One morning on her way out to the toba to watch after the herd of camels Shabanu saw a flock of vultures, which meant that either something was dead or near dealth. When she got closer to the toba she began to hear the sound of a camel in pain. Shabanu started to run. When she got to the toba she saw, with great dismay, a dying pregnant camel who was in the middle of giving birth. Shabanu labored for what seemed like hours upon hours to free the calf from it's dying mother. She was successful; the baby was saved. None of the other mothers would feed or except the baby so Shabanu was forced to raise it. Her father named the calf Mithoo and gave it to Shabanu to have.
             The rest of the season was spent getting ready for Phulan's wedding. Then the time finally came go to their relatives house where the wedding ceremony would take place. Upon arriving at Hamir's family's land
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