Bondoux, Anne-Laure. 2006. THE KILLER'S TEARS. New York, NY: Delacourte Press. ISBN 0385732937
PLOT SUMMARY
Paolo Poloverdo was not born on the day he came out of his mother's womb. Rather, he was born the day Angel Allegria entered his life. Paolo’s home, the southernmost tip of Chile, provided only the barest of essentials for its inhabitants. Ironically, it was Angel Allegria, a thief and a murderer, who brought wholeness to Paolo's life. However, it was not only Paolo who benefited from the relationship. Through his relationship with Paolo, Angel's life became whole and developed meaning. To Angel, running from the law had been a game. But now, being taken to jail meant abandoning Paolo--the one thing he could not bear to do. No one, not even Paolo and Angel, could fully understand their relationship. In the end, the journey taken through this inexplicable relationship enabled Paolo to bury Angel's sins and finally express love toward a family of his own.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
THE KILLER’S TEARS is more a commentary on the death penalty and on isolated, rural communities rather than Chilean society. Author Anne-Laure Bondoux paints a picture of a cruel outlaw—Angel Allegria—who is wanted for murder. Initially, it is difficult to feel much sympathy for him. However, by the end of the story, there is little doubt of Angel’s change of heart and worthiness of a second chance. The sense of isolation is complete through Bondoux’s vivid description of the Poloverdo farm. This homestead lacks electricity, running water and a nearby market--amenities most urban areas have. This physical isolation from the rest of society permeates the lives and emotional state of the Poloverdos. While it is this isolation which leaves Paolo impassive when his parents are murdered in their own home, this same isolation gives Angel a second chance at life.
The only Spanish language present in the English translation are names. These names are full of meaning. The main character, Paolo Poloverdo, is a boy who lives on a rocky coastal farm. His name, Poloverdo means strong, fertile foundation. Angel Allegria is a thief and murderer. His name means happy angel. Another character, Luis Secunda, is a young man who is trying to find his destiny. His surname, Secunda, means support or second. While these names may seem ironic, their meanings are borne out in the characterizations. For example, Paolo is the fertile foundation for Angel's salvation and ability to love. Similarly, Angel serves as Paolo's salvation. For it was through Angel's commitment to caring for Paolo that the boy learned to trust and love others. Finally, Luis acts as a support for both Paolo and Angel. While his initial support is in the form of teaching Paolo to write and read, for a time he supports the men financially.
The characters in THE KILLER'S TEARS could be from many places around the globe. Paolo lives on an isolated farm, living off the land. Angel is raised in a brutal inner-city environment where violence is a common solution to problems. Luis is a well-to-do son of a wine merchant who seeks to run away from his family's expectations. Finally, Ricardo Murga is a soon-to-be retired lumberjack and carpenter. This varied set of characters serves to universalize the emotions and messages relayed in the story by speaking to different types of readers.
The setting, too, is universal. Paolo's homestead; the isolated, windy farm, has a small but sturdy one-room house. Water is scarce and goats milk is less so. Nothing--not food, drink nor firewood--is abundant. The dingy bustling port town of Punta Arenas has mud streets and a market. The bank building has a water fountain, sweets and a carpet so soft Paolo “wanted to remove his shoes to feel the softness under his feet” (p. 53). Finally, the quiet and peaceful forest adds to the readers’ sense of the different types of environments which can be found within the country of Chile. Most readers will have experienced one of these settings either personally or vicariously. This diversity enhances the readers' ability to generalize and connect with the story.
Bondoux’s young adult novel, THE KILLER’S TEARS, offers a window into the lives of physically isolated and socially disconnected characters. She takes the reader on a journey with the characters—a journey which reconnects them with others and with themselves.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
A starred Horn Book review said, “In commanding, starkly poetic language, Bondoux shows how the two [Paolo and Angel] become emotionally dependent on each other and persuades readers that the murderer and his "son" belong together.”
Publisher’s Weekly notes, “if not for the mention of surveillance cameras in the town's bank, this tale could be set almost anytime.”
School Library Journal comments, “while the book's haunting, melancholy air will keep readers turning pages, the complex yet remote telling gives it the feel of South-American literature….”
Reviews obtained from Follett Library Resources and accessed at:
http://www.flr.follett.com/search?SID=c211074453f514ff63ced2a0fe154f24
CONNECTIONS
Other books for young adults about the death penalty:
Streissguth, Thomas. The death penalty: debating capital punishment. ISBN 978-0-7660-1688-0
Other Batchelder Award and Honor novels are:
Mourlevat, Jean-Claude. PULL OF THE OCEAN. ISBN 978-0-385-73348-9
De Mari, Silvana. THE LAST DRAGON. ISBN 978-0-7868-3636-9Holub, Josef. AN INNOCENT SOLDIER. ISBN 978-0-439-62771-9
PLOT SUMMARY
Paolo Poloverdo was not born on the day he came out of his mother's womb. Rather, he was born the day Angel Allegria entered his life. Paolo’s home, the southernmost tip of Chile, provided only the barest of essentials for its inhabitants. Ironically, it was Angel Allegria, a thief and a murderer, who brought wholeness to Paolo's life. However, it was not only Paolo who benefited from the relationship. Through his relationship with Paolo, Angel's life became whole and developed meaning. To Angel, running from the law had been a game. But now, being taken to jail meant abandoning Paolo--the one thing he could not bear to do. No one, not even Paolo and Angel, could fully understand their relationship. In the end, the journey taken through this inexplicable relationship enabled Paolo to bury Angel's sins and finally express love toward a family of his own.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
THE KILLER’S TEARS is more a commentary on the death penalty and on isolated, rural communities rather than Chilean society. Author Anne-Laure Bondoux paints a picture of a cruel outlaw—Angel Allegria—who is wanted for murder. Initially, it is difficult to feel much sympathy for him. However, by the end of the story, there is little doubt of Angel’s change of heart and worthiness of a second chance. The sense of isolation is complete through Bondoux’s vivid description of the Poloverdo farm. This homestead lacks electricity, running water and a nearby market--amenities most urban areas have. This physical isolation from the rest of society permeates the lives and emotional state of the Poloverdos. While it is this isolation which leaves Paolo impassive when his parents are murdered in their own home, this same isolation gives Angel a second chance at life.
The only Spanish language present in the English translation are names. These names are full of meaning. The main character, Paolo Poloverdo, is a boy who lives on a rocky coastal farm. His name, Poloverdo means strong, fertile foundation. Angel Allegria is a thief and murderer. His name means happy angel. Another character, Luis Secunda, is a young man who is trying to find his destiny. His surname, Secunda, means support or second. While these names may seem ironic, their meanings are borne out in the characterizations. For example, Paolo is the fertile foundation for Angel's salvation and ability to love. Similarly, Angel serves as Paolo's salvation. For it was through Angel's commitment to caring for Paolo that the boy learned to trust and love others. Finally, Luis acts as a support for both Paolo and Angel. While his initial support is in the form of teaching Paolo to write and read, for a time he supports the men financially.
The characters in THE KILLER'S TEARS could be from many places around the globe. Paolo lives on an isolated farm, living off the land. Angel is raised in a brutal inner-city environment where violence is a common solution to problems. Luis is a well-to-do son of a wine merchant who seeks to run away from his family's expectations. Finally, Ricardo Murga is a soon-to-be retired lumberjack and carpenter. This varied set of characters serves to universalize the emotions and messages relayed in the story by speaking to different types of readers.
The setting, too, is universal. Paolo's homestead; the isolated, windy farm, has a small but sturdy one-room house. Water is scarce and goats milk is less so. Nothing--not food, drink nor firewood--is abundant. The dingy bustling port town of Punta Arenas has mud streets and a market. The bank building has a water fountain, sweets and a carpet so soft Paolo “wanted to remove his shoes to feel the softness under his feet” (p. 53). Finally, the quiet and peaceful forest adds to the readers’ sense of the different types of environments which can be found within the country of Chile. Most readers will have experienced one of these settings either personally or vicariously. This diversity enhances the readers' ability to generalize and connect with the story.
Bondoux’s young adult novel, THE KILLER’S TEARS, offers a window into the lives of physically isolated and socially disconnected characters. She takes the reader on a journey with the characters—a journey which reconnects them with others and with themselves.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
A starred Horn Book review said, “In commanding, starkly poetic language, Bondoux shows how the two [Paolo and Angel] become emotionally dependent on each other and persuades readers that the murderer and his "son" belong together.”
Publisher’s Weekly notes, “if not for the mention of surveillance cameras in the town's bank, this tale could be set almost anytime.”
School Library Journal comments, “while the book's haunting, melancholy air will keep readers turning pages, the complex yet remote telling gives it the feel of South-American literature….”
Reviews obtained from Follett Library Resources and accessed at:
http://www.flr.follett.com/search?SID=c211074453f514ff63ced2a0fe154f24
CONNECTIONS
Other books for young adults about the death penalty:
Streissguth, Thomas. The death penalty: debating capital punishment. ISBN 978-0-7660-1688-0
Other Batchelder Award and Honor novels are:
Mourlevat, Jean-Claude. PULL OF THE OCEAN. ISBN 978-0-385-73348-9
De Mari, Silvana. THE LAST DRAGON. ISBN 978-0-7868-3636-9Holub, Josef. AN INNOCENT SOLDIER. ISBN 978-0-439-62771-9
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