03/06/2026
Marina Abrams
BOOK REVIEW: A MESSAGE HIDDEN IN THREAD
Children’s books can open doors to distant worlds, and Marina Abrams’ A MESSAGE HIDDEN IN THREAD does exactly that. This charming tale—her second book about a boy named Barzu, his family, friends, and the folkways surrounding their Central Asian village—invites readers into a world rich with tradition, warmth, and wonder.
Like the best children’s literature, the story speaks to adults as well, who will appreciate the ethnographic details woven into the text. The narrative includes an embedded tale, echoing the layered storytelling of the Arabian Nights. Along the way, readers are introduced to a vivid lexicon of Central Asian textile motifs expressing hopes for prosperity, fertility, health, and protection.
The book itself is a visual delight, with color saturated illustrations printed on high quality paper. The images evoke the sunny hues of Central Asia and beloved cultural motifs.
A MESSAGE HIDDEN IN THREAD is in fact two books. One, a playful story of children’s summer pastimes and the other, a visual guide of Silk Road symbols, with a glossary and bibliography. Supplemental pages of proverbs and riddles make the book a resource for all with an interest in Central Asia.
reviewed by Laurel Victoria Gray
