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Men of Salt This is a non fiction story of ones journey from Taoudenni, Mali, to Timbuktu, Mali. By Michael Benanav

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 * Setting- My book starts off in Taoudenni, Mali. Michael is traveling across the Sarhara Desert, with a group of salt miners. The Sarhara Desert is one of the largest and most unforgiving treches of land in the world. In this book Michael and the caravaners have to travel a thousand miles, 18 hours a day; through sand storms, and over 100 degree weather at times. **
 * "When my plane landed just ouside of Taoudenni, Mali, I could taste the dry heat in my mouth. I could tell this journey wasnt going to be an easy one." pg. 34 **
 * "Taoudenni is situated on utterly lifeless desert flats; not a single leaf, or even thorn, grows from the parched, dusty dirt, which was so sharp it bit into the soles of my bare feet." pg. 57 **
 * "It felt like someone was throwing gravel and sandpaper onto my face, the storm was so severe." pg.182 **
 * Characterization- Michael Benanav is the author and main charcter of //Men of Salt.// He grew up in grew up in Conneticut, US and always had a thing for taking pictures. He was a very outgoing person and traveled whenever he could. It wasnt until his journey across the saraha where he started to write. //Men of Salt// was his first published book, and contues to write more. **
 * In this book the lead caravaner, if you would call it that, was Walid Abdul Bakker. He seemed to me a very timid man, but knew exactly what he was doing. He knew where the route was by heart, without roads, and without a map. He had a pregnet wife, and a 9 yearold son. **
 * Abdi was a one of the miners, he liked to talk a lot. He had an 11 yearold sister which he took care of. His parents had dies about 7 years earlier. Abdi offered his sister as a bride to Michael. pg. 132 **
 * Plot- **


 * Theme- The theme of my book seems like it would be the great journey, although it is, the theme that you dont see is the great mystery. The mystery of the sarah desert and all of her challenges. When crossing the desert you never know what is going to happen wether theres a huge sandstorm, or the desert heat causes heatstroke. Its a suspensful journey, that has great mystery in understanding it. **
 * Figurative Language- "The sand dunes along our route looked as if they were tsunami waves headed straight for us." pg. 98 **
 * Salt, also called white gold because it was worth its weight in gold. The slbbs of salt were heavy and even resembled giant gold bricks." pg. **** 7 **
 * "Taoudenni is situated on utterly lifeless desert flats; not a single leaf, or even thorn, grows from the parched, dusty dirt, which was so sharp it bit into the soles of my bare feet." pg. 57 **