The significance of the setting, in contemporary times the Cholistan region desert of Pakistan, a part of the Islamic world, cannot be overstated; however, separating the influence of cultural mores from those of Islam is sometimes difficult and perhaps unnecessary. The setting dictates the way of life in many aspects, such as how the families live, how they support themselves, as well as their cultural, traditional, and religious beliefs, involving such matters as marriage customs, roles within the family, prayer, and even language. The desert conditions force the family into a nomadic way of life, a life which dictates simplicity and frugality, obliging eleven-year-old Shabanu to wear the same tunic and skirt for three years. On the occasion of her marriage, she will receive new clothes. What the family lacks in material goods, however, is compensated for by the love and affection they share.

The time span of...