The President's Cake plot
Across Iraq, it’s the day that schools select students who will have the honor of bringing items to the mandatory local celebration of President Saddam Hussein’s birthday. Nine-year-old Lamia lives in the historic marshes with her feisty grandmother Bibi. For school, Bibi teaches Lamia clever tricks to avoid being chosen for the president’s cake. But when Musa, the authoritative teacher, calls Lamia’s name for the most challenging assignment—the birthday cake—she has no choice but to accept. Refusing could mean jail time or even death.