"Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad"

This book is about a boy named Ali from Baghdad.  He loves calligraphy and describes writing in an eloquent way.  He describes what it is like to write certain words and names.  His hero is Yakut, the most famous calligrapher in the world.  Yakut went to a high tower in the year 1258 when Mongols attacked Baghdad.  Ali wrote all over his room one night in 2003 when there was death and destruction just as Yakut did.  He describes the easy process of writing the word war and the difficult process of writing peace. 

I would have the students write a personal narrative after reading this about something they love doing, yet presents difficulties for them at times.