There is no greater sorrow on earth than the loss of one's native land. -- Euripides, 431 B.C.E.
ROHAT ALAKOM, book CRITIC, BÎRNEBÛN MAGAZINE (MARCH 2016)
Grania's Tears appears to be a book for children because its pages are filled with nice pictures, but even as a 60-year-old, I read the book with great joy. And then I read it once again. People of all ages will enjoy this story. This is the first time that a work of fiction has addressed the relationship between the Kurdish and Irish peoples. Someday, when the history of diplomatic relations between these two nations is written, the historians should look back on Grania's Tears. For now at least, we have a literary story to inspire our diplomatic efforts. Expressed through both pictures and words, the book's themes of love, sorrow and hope have already brought Kurdistan and Ireland closer together...This book proves that literature has the great power to influence our emotions - even my own - directly, making the reader more joyful and optimistic...
In Kurdish, when someone is both intelligent and good-humored, we say that he or she is "like a jinn." All of the characters in this book, except for the lazy Zamo, are like Kurdish jinn. E.A. Nolan's jinn are very sweet, smart and hard-working. Having spent many years working on this book, the author herself seems like a jinn. She must be a jinn in order to have written such a great book!
Mehmet Tayfun, AUTHOR & HISTORIAN
As a result of decades of oppression by Turkish authorities and the prohibition of education in Kurdish, there are a few Kurdish writers of children's literature. Although Elizabeth Nolan is not a Kurd herself, with Grania’s Tears she has created a unique and beautiful Kurdish story which will help to preserve our culture.
Grania’s Tears touches on several important themes that are virtually absent in the current body of Kurdish children's literature. First, the story addresses the sorrow of emigration, which is very important for families who are living in exile. Second, the story features a strong, independent female character. Role models like this are rare in other Kurdish children's stories. Third, Grania’s Tears describes a loving relationship between two equally powerful leaders -- this sets an excellent example for girls and boys alike.
IHSAN ESPAR, EDUCATOR
I have been working as a language teacher Kurmanji and Kirmanckî (Zazaki) in Stockholm for 20 years. Most of my students are the children of Kurds who moved to Sweden in the 1980s or 1990s from the Turkish part of Kurdistan. The primary problem for Kurdish teachers is the lack of relevant teaching material. We don’t have many good books that can inspire interest in our students’ mother tongue.
Grania’s Tears has many qualities that I think will advance my students' language development. The environment, the characters and the storyline are all well-suited to a child's fantasy world. The story illustrates how differences can be overcome, and how happiness can grow when people from different backgrounds begin to talk to each other. The characters search for love, for intimacy and for meaning in life. This is one of the book’s main themes. In today's highly polarized world, our children need to hear this message.