In Shabanu, by Suzanne Fisher, Shabanu must search for her own identity. Shabanu is influenced by her family, especially her completely different older sister Phulan. Phulan is beautiful, more like their mother whom she helps around the house. Shabanu is wild and strong like their father, and helps him with the camels and other yard work. They are both betrothed to marry, when they come of age. For the past few years, Shabanu helps her father with the animals and this year, she must learn to cook food and clean the house. Shabanu has to prepare to be married and learn to live a life of her own. She is betrothed to Murad whom she loved, and will marry when she becomes of childbearing age. Shabanu's older sister, Phulan is betrothed to Hamir, Murad's older brother. Shabanu's family is making preparations for these two upcoming marriages.
             When Shabanu's family arrives at Hamir's land, Shabanu and Phulan find themselves struggling between Hamir's family and a wealthy landowner. Shabanu robs the landowner of his pride, resulting to Phulan's fiancé's murder, which greatly devastates her. She was looking forward to starting her own family with Hamir. Shabanu's family decides that Phulan will marry Murad, Shabanu's fiancé. Her parents also decide that Shabanu will marry the evil landlord's more powerful brother, Rahim-Sahib, who is a wealthy councilman of the district, extremely powerful consisting of many wives. When Rahim-Sahib first saw Shabanu he fell in love with her. Shabanu was displeased at her parents' decision telling her that she must marry Rahim-Sahib, exploited to bring peace to the two families. After Phulan's wedding, Shabanu and her parents go back home where, Shabanu must wait and prepare for her own upcoming ceremony with Rahim-Sahib. Shabanu is dreading the thought of marrying him. When Shabanu states, "I know my fate is sealed" (Sta...