Red Pencil

A red pencil and legal pad are given to Amira by Miss Sabine. The red pencil not only becomes the eponymous title of the novel, but also becomes representative of Amira herself. Old Anwar says the color of the pencil, red, suits Amira, for it is bold, and so is Amira. Amira’s pencil is red, unlike the other pencils given out by Miss Sabine, which are all yellow. Amira’s pencil becomes her most prized possession, for she uses it to draw, and uses it while Old Anwar teaches her to read and write.

The pencil also changes Amira’s destiny. Prior to the pencil, Amira dreamt of learning to read and write, but these dreams were dashed by the Janjaweed attack. She becomes sad, quiet, and believes life will never get any better until the pencil comes into her life. With the red...