50 pages • 1 hour read
Michele MarineauRoad to Chlifa
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1992A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Introduction
Teacher Introduction
Road to Chlifa
- Genre: Fiction; young adult realistic
- Originally Published: 1992; English translation 1995
- Reading Level/Interest: Grades 7-12
- Structure/Length: 3 sections; approximately 142 pages; approximately 4 hours on audio
- Protagonist/Central Conflict: The story follows Karim, a teenager from Beirut, Lebanon, navigating the challenges of loss and migration amid the Lebanese Civil War. After facing tragedy in Beirut, Karim embarks on a perilous journey to Chlifa with his acquaintance Maha and Maha’s baby brother. The central conflict revolves around Karim’s struggle with his past, the hardships of the journey, and his quest for a new beginning in Canada.
- Potential Sensitivity Issues: War and violence; death and loss, including the deaths of teens and children; physical assault; migration and cultural displacement; sexual harassment and violence; rape
Michèle Marineau, Author
- Bio: Born in 1955; Canadian author and translator known for her work in children’s literature and young adult fiction; often explores themes of adolescence, cultural identity, and the complexities of family and social relationships, reflecting her deep interest in psychology and human behavior
- Other Works: Cassiopée: L’été Polonais (1988); La Route de Chlifa (original French version of Road to Chlifa; 1992)
- Awards: Governor General’s Literary Award for French-language children’s literature (1993)
CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:
