North of Dawn continues Nuruddin Farah's focus on the Somalian diaspora. Mugdi and Gacalo, long settled in Oslo, Norway, are devastated when their son's conversion to radical Islam leads him to their home country of Somalia and his death in a suicide bombing. This horrific loss is also the beginning of the transformation of their lives: their son had extracted a promise that they would care for his wife and her two children if something were to happen to him. As the novel opens, in 2009, Mugdi is at the airport meeting Waliya, 12-year-old Naciim and 14-year-old Saafi.
The characters in North of Dawn are patient and generous; Mugdi and Gacalo's material and emotional support are endless. But they're also fearful: Waliya clings to strict Islamic tradition, refusing to work or leave her apartment. However, "Grandma and Grandpa" soon convince the children of their good intentions, and their relationship is warm and hopeful. Mugdi, a translator and former ambassador, schools Naciim, while slowly gaining the trust of Saafi, who arrived terrified of men. Even Waliya responds to their kindness, although she is also drawn to radical Islam and the influence of an old friend.
Real-life episodes of right-wing violence and Somalian conflicts bring a sense of immediacy to the story. Farah's (Hiding in Plain Sight) simple diction and straightforward narrative enhance this novel of the personal consequences of social upheaval. --Cheryl Krocker McKeon, manager, Book Passage, San Francisco