July/August 2002

Views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of the AFSC.

Ordinary People in Unusual Times or Unusual People in Ordinary Times: Books for Children (And Adults)

Deborah Ellis, The Breadwinner. Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre, 2000, pb
Linda Sue Park, A Single Shard. New York: Clarion Books, 2001
Linda Sue Park, When My Name Was Keoko. New York: Clarion Books, 2002
Carmen Agra Deedy, The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark. Atlanta: Peachtree, 2000
Mordicai Gerstein, What Charlie Heard. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2002
Sarah Stewart, The Journey. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2001

"These are unusual times. They call for ordinary people to do unusual things, just to get by." It is with this explanation that the digging of human bones for sale is justified in the short novel The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis. Parvana, the main character in the story is a young Afghan girl who must dress in boy's clothing in order to go out and earn much needed money for her family. When she begins to dig up bones, she finds the bombs have made it easy, clearning away much of the earth.

The Breadwinner, published in Canada prior to 9/11, is dedicated to "the children of war." It is a fair, searing and, yet hopeful story about young Parvana, and of women and girls under Taliban rule. Parvana is proud of Afghanistan's history, and takes courage particularly from the story of the legendary Malali, a young girl who in earlier times had opposed British occupation. Though inspired by Malali's example, Parvana is weary of all the fighting. She is sickened by war and ugliness, and finds beauty in small things--flowers, bits of beautiful embroidery, and in the stories of happier times. Parvana fears the Taliban who have dragged her educated father off to prison, and she is stunned when a Talib soldier sheds tears when speaking of his dead wife, and is reminded that even oppressors share positive human emotions.

Like the best of children's books on difficult subjects. this book works because it is simple and not too preachy. Parvana's story and her personality ring true. In many books of historical fiction for children the young characters, all too ordinary in their difficult circumstances, prove exceptional in their strength and perseverance. Caught in war, living in countries with occupying forces, enduring poverty and deprivation, these children rise to a level of quiet heroism, providing young readers with amazing role models. Very often these same characters learn to accept the ambiguities of life. Their occupiers are never entirely bad, the enemy soldiers shed tears and sometimes show kindness, and adult politics are often very complex and nuanced.

Linda Sue Park was honored with the 2001 Newbery Medal (an annual award for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children) for her novel, A Single Shard. Her newest novel, When My Name Was Keoko is another important contribution. A Single Shard is set in twelfth century Korea and tells the story of an orphan namedTree-ear. When My Name Was Keoko is set during a few of the years of Japan's long occupation of Korea. It tells the story of the Kim family in two voices. Kim Sun-hee and her brother Kim Tae-yul take the Japanese names of Keoko and Nobuo when the Emperor of Japan decrees that all Koreans must assume Japanese names. It is only one of the many insane and humiliating ordeals that the Kim family must endure.

Both of these books are too new in my library for me to report how my students will receive them, but I suspect they will like the action in the Keoko book better. A Single Shard is a lovely gem that might best be appreciated by adults. Its description of the craft and art of celadon pottery may require too much prior knowledge for most young readers. At the same time, the emotional growth of the characters is well developed and the writing is beautiful. If read to children within the context of a class or with an adult who can explain things. the book would probably be a winner. An earlier book by Park, The Kite Fighters, has been one of my students' favorites, and clued me in early to the gifts that Ms. Park has to share. Check out her website: www.lindasuepark.com.

King Christian X of Denmark can hardly be called undistinguished, but he was a rather ordinary, though much loved, King. The Yellow Star by Carmen Agra Deedy is a legend, but based, as most legends are, on some very impressive facts. King Christian X did ride alone and unprotected through the streets of Nazi occupied Copenhagen, but he did not wear a yellow star in solidarity with Danish Jews. In fact, the Jews within Denmark were not forced to wear the yellow star despite the rumors that began as early as 1943. But it is true that Denmark was alone in its resistance and rescue of the overwhelming majority of its Jews during WWII. This is what is important, and is likely what feeds the legend of the brave King of Denmark, Written simply, in a picture book format, this book may be a reach for the very young, but with explanation is a thrilling story.

Charles Ives, US composer and insurance executive, was into noise! Mordecai Gerstein has written and illustrated many wonderful books for children, and his newest, What Charlie Heard, is a rollicking yet very sweet biography of Ives. Presented in a picture book format, this story zings off the pages. Since of his ideas about music were new, even revolutionary, Ives's work met with much rejection and confusion at first. He persisted in his efforts to have his music performed, refusing to compromise, and only toward the end of his life, in 1951, did he succeed when Leonard Bernstein conducted his Second Symphony and thus his music was heard throughout the world. Kids love this unusually good biography and they seem to intuit how Charlie felt.

Drawing by David Small, illustrator for The Journey

In a quieter vein, The Journey by Sarah Stewart, beautifully illustrated by David Small, follows a young Amish farm girl named Hannah on her first visit to the big city of Chicago. Readers will be fascinated by the alternating illustrations of bonneted Hannah in the city and views of her at home. This is about an ordinary girl during ordinary times but is included in this review for many reasons. To be an outsider of the dominant culture is never easy, and Hannah's attitude toward this reality is admirable. Her wonderment at the city sights never overwhelms her fondness for home. Her diary entries are written in a poetic voice: "I just don't have the words to equal what I've seen. But I do know this: I felt larger when we came back to the hotel this afternoon--not bigger in my body, of course, but in my heart."

In these days of Bush and Cheney, standardized tests, and standardized minds, books about brave children facing difficult times are crucial. Contemporary children's books are impressive in their quality and scope on a range of relevant subjects. Young people can read good historical fiction set in Asia in the books by, among others Park, Yoko Watkins, Ching Russell, and Allen Say. Many children's books about WWII, the civil rights movement. and the Vietnam War continue to be written, and there are a few books of fiction available about the current Middle East situation--most notably those by Naomi Shihab Nye. Biographies for young people are better than they used to be with What Charlie Heard an excellent example. All that children need now are adults to put these books into their hands.

--Lani Gerson is a children's librarian who writes frequently on educational issues.

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