Review of PARVANA’S JOURNEY

Ellis, Deborah. 2002. PARVANA’S JOURNEY. Toronto, Ontario: Groundwood Books. ISBN 0888995148

PLOT SUMMARY
After burying her father, 13-year old Parvana continues her journey in search of her mother and siblings. In war-torn Afghanistan it isn’t safe to walk around—much less if you are a girl. Parvana wears her hair short and passes as a boy so she can continue her search in the relative safety reserved only for males in this country. Along the way, Parvana is joined by new ‘family members:’ a baby brother, an older brother and a sister. Together, they wander Afghanistan in search of food, water, shelter from bombs and their families. PARVANA’S JOURNEY reveals the wretched situation of the people of Afghanistan during the 1990s and the relentless hope held by its children whom “we force to be braver than they should have to be” (Ellis, 5).

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
PARAVANA’S JOURNEY takes the reader on a trip across Afghanistan with a 13-year old girl. Afghanistan and the Muslim culture, specifically under Taliban domination, is depicted through a variety of literary methods. Ellis uses language, characterization and setting to portray the society and culture of Parvana’s world.

Ellis’ use of language adds flavor to the text through both description and dialog. The characters’ names such as Parvana, Shauzia and Asif allude to a middle-eastern setting. The story is peppered with non-English terms like burqa, toshak and shalwar kameez. While these terms are not defined in the text of the story, context is often all the reader needs to understand the general meaning of unfamiliar words. For some culture-specific terms, Ellis provides a definition in a glossary at the end of the book.

Dialog, both internal and external, is another cultural indicator in PARAVANA’S JOURNEY. The main character, Parvana, acknowledges to herself she has “given up trying to understand why the Taliban hated women” (p.12). The children speak to each other of things such as tanks, bombing planes and empty bellies. They build shelter with plastic sheeting and pick up grains of rice to be eaten raw when there is no other food. While this type of danger and poverty can and does occur in many places around the world, it offers a view of the grim situation in which many Afghan children find themselves.

The characters in Ellis’ novel offer further insight into Afghan society. Parvana and her family are of a progressive, less traditional ilk. Parvana’s father taught her poetry, astronomy, math and English. Her mother is an organizer, helping families work together and teaching children in the camps. She also writes articles for women’s magazines which are forbidden in Afghanistan. Asif, Parvana’s new ‘brother,’ seems to have traditional male attitudes toward females. He frequently berates Parvana calling her stupid and weak. However, he is atypically patient and tender with baby Hassan. Though there are many opportunities for Asif to leave, he chooses to stay with Parvana and Hassan, as he puts it, “Just to annoy [her]” (p.193). This caveat is Asif’s attempt to save face. It shows his internal struggle between the traditional view of female inferiority and the need for family and community.

The setting, too, reveals the cultural background of PARVANA’S JOURNEY. There are descriptions of green valleys, hills and deserts. There are also descriptions of land mine fields, villages reduced to rubble and camps for Internally Displaced Persons. Thus, a picture is painted of a once beautiful country now decimated by the ravages of war.

Ellis’ young adult novel, PARVANA’S JOURNEY, offers a perspective on the lives of children in war torn Afghanistan. With no one to take care of them, Parvana, Asif and Hassan must care for themselves. Thus, readers watch the children attempt to rebuild their lives and become a family under the most adverse of circumstances.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
“In this highly readable sequel to The Breadwinner, it's wartime in Afghanistan, and thirteen-year-old Parvana must disguise herself as a boy as protection against the Taliban. After she sets off to find her mother and siblings, she forms a makeshift family with a baby and a contrary boy with one leg. Ellis deftly integrates engrossing characterizations with the harsh daily realities of war.” (Horn Book)
“A bittersweet ending offers some hope for Parvana and her family, but readers are left with a horrifyingly realistic picture of the effect of war on children. While the reading is not difficult, the grim content cries out for discussion. An unforgettable read.” (School Library Journal)

Reviews obtained from Follett Library Resources and accessed at:
http://www.flr.follett.com/search?SID=c211074453f514ff63ced2a0fe154f24

CONNECTIONS
Other books in this trilogy by Deborah Ellis:
Ellis, Deborah. The BREADWINNER. ISBN 978-0-88899-419-6
Ellis, Deborah. MUD CITY. ISBN 978-0-88899-518-6

Other novels about refugees:
Williams, Mary. BROTHERS IN HOPE: THE STORY OF THE LOST BOYS OF SUDAN. ISBN 978-1-58430-232-2
Lombard, Jenny. DRITA, MY HOMEGIRL. ISBN 978-0-399-24380-6

Review of KOALA LOU

Fox, Mem. 1988. KOALA LOU. Ill. by Pamela Lofts. New York, NY: Voyager Books. ISBN 0152005021

PLOT SUMMARY
KOALA LOU is a story of a young koala who tries to regain her mother’s love by winning a tree climbing contest. Her whole life she has heard, “Koala Lou, I DO love you!” However, as the family grows, Koala Lou’s mother has less and less time to dote on her. In the end, Koala Lou discovers she cannot and does not need to win her mother’s love by climbing the fastest. As “she hugged her for a very long time,” Koala Lou realizes her mother’s love is unconditional.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
This story offers many cultural markers. The species of animals as well as the language make the location of KOALA LOU evident. Australia is home to the emu, platypus, koala and kookaburra. Not surprisingly, it is also the home of the author, Mem Fox. The animals mentioned in the text are not the only indicators of the story’s origin. There are several animals portrayed in the illustrations which are also indigenous to Australia. These include the wombat, bush baby, Tazmanian devil, kangaroo, and parrot.

The language used in this story is primarily standard American English. However, there are a few phrases and terms which allude to the story’s origin. For example, the mother asks Koala Lou, “How’re ya goin’, blossom?” The use of the term ‘goin’” diverges from the typical American phrase, “How’re ya doing?”

The setting provides another clue to the reader as to the origin of the story. Koala Lou intends to participate in the Bush Olympics. Bush is a term often used to refer to the Australian wilderness. This reference to the bush as well as the eucalyptus trees in the illustrations leave little doubt in the reader’s mind of where this story takes place.

This sweet story tells of a child’s insecurities and her mother’s unconditional love. While this theme is universal, the characters, language and setting place the story distinctly in Australia. KOALA LOU gives the reader insight to the flora and fauna which may be found in Australia. Readers are drawn into the story not only through the text, but also through the illustrations as they recognize familiar animals and learn new ones. Rather than minimizing the audience, the specific origin of the story adds to its richness and appeal.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
A starred Horn Book review summarizes the story as “a gentle tale set in the Australian bush. A good choice for story hour, bedtime, or reading aloud.”
“This satisfying reworking of a familiar and ever-important theme is appealingly illustrated--bright colors, soft-edged sculptural forms, precise detail, dozens of expressive animals. Another winning import from one of Australia's favorite authors.” Kirkus Review
Publisher’s Weekly states, “Lofts's colored-pencil drawings portray the Australian flora and fauna beautifully, including a few of the more exotic species.”

Reviews obtained from Follett Library Resources and accessed at:
http://www.flr.follett.com/search?SID=c211074453f514ff63ced2a0fe154f24

CONNECTIONS
Other books for children about Australia:
Lester, Alison. ARE WE THERE YET?: A JOURNEY AROUND AUSTRALIA. ISBN 9781929132737
French, Jackie. DIARY OF A WOMBAT. ISBN 9780618381364
Spilsbury, Louise. WATCHING KANGAROOS IN AUSTRALIA. ISBN 9781403472250

Other books originally published in Australia:
French, Simon. GUESS THE BABY. ISBN 9780618259892
Wild, Margaret. KISS KISS! ISBN 9780689862793
Trinca, Rod. ONE WOLLY WOMBAT. ISBN 9780916291105

Review of THE KILLER'S TEARS

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

Howdy!

I am beginning a course on multicultural children's literature. This topic is especially pertinent as our's is a global society. Future posts will review books from various genres within multicultural children's literature.

"World peace through children's literature." (Poet & Professor, Sylvia Vardell)