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Cuckoo's Nest
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From: Matthew Reames <MATTHEWR>
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 96 15:00 CDT
I was musing about our book during these final days of discussion. Someone mentioned the lack of parents in the book. I thought about the lack of men. I was reminded of _Little Women_ in that regard even Kit's male friend is married and not a positive character. The difference between _The Cukoo's Nest_ and other books without main adult male characters is that the explanations are much more real. They may not be pleasant like Mia's father being missing, but the reality hits home.
I liked the "strung outness" of her "family". Families don't come in tidy bundles of two parents and two children, like in books. Mia's family encompassing missing natural parents, step family, an aunt, and others seemed more real. _Anne of Green Gables_ didn't have any natural parents, but she had two adults and a brother and sister who she could "relate to."
Mia has a very strong personality. She doesn't invite the reader to pick her up, hold her, and comfort her. I liked the consistency in character and personality even when she moved from Beruit to Tennessee.
As someone who grew up overseas and moved "back to the U.S.A.", I could relate to her feeling at odds with her world and yet at peace within herself. I haven't found many children's books about bi-cultural children. Suzanne Freeman talked about all of the effects of culture shock by breaking it down into small glimpses and parts of Mia's life. She didn't dismiss it or overdramatize it. It was simply part of Mia's "home" coming. It was so refreshing to hear another child talk about two cultures, always comparing, contrasting, complaining, never satisfied with either.
Would boys like _The Cuckoo's Child_? Not much as girls, I would say. Mia doesn't have any brothers, doesn't have an uncle. She doesn't play football or make a fort... but any girl who is brave enough to climb a water tower would command some attention from a boy. If he kept reading and read about her climbing palm trees, I think he would realize she was not a sweet, cuddly child, to be protected but a character he could respect.
Matthew Reames
Masters candidate in librarianship
University-Wisconsin Madison
Received on Fri 11 Oct 1996 03:00:00 PM CDT
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 96 15:00 CDT
I was musing about our book during these final days of discussion. Someone mentioned the lack of parents in the book. I thought about the lack of men. I was reminded of _Little Women_ in that regard even Kit's male friend is married and not a positive character. The difference between _The Cukoo's Nest_ and other books without main adult male characters is that the explanations are much more real. They may not be pleasant like Mia's father being missing, but the reality hits home.
I liked the "strung outness" of her "family". Families don't come in tidy bundles of two parents and two children, like in books. Mia's family encompassing missing natural parents, step family, an aunt, and others seemed more real. _Anne of Green Gables_ didn't have any natural parents, but she had two adults and a brother and sister who she could "relate to."
Mia has a very strong personality. She doesn't invite the reader to pick her up, hold her, and comfort her. I liked the consistency in character and personality even when she moved from Beruit to Tennessee.
As someone who grew up overseas and moved "back to the U.S.A.", I could relate to her feeling at odds with her world and yet at peace within herself. I haven't found many children's books about bi-cultural children. Suzanne Freeman talked about all of the effects of culture shock by breaking it down into small glimpses and parts of Mia's life. She didn't dismiss it or overdramatize it. It was simply part of Mia's "home" coming. It was so refreshing to hear another child talk about two cultures, always comparing, contrasting, complaining, never satisfied with either.
Would boys like _The Cuckoo's Child_? Not much as girls, I would say. Mia doesn't have any brothers, doesn't have an uncle. She doesn't play football or make a fort... but any girl who is brave enough to climb a water tower would command some attention from a boy. If he kept reading and read about her climbing palm trees, I think he would realize she was not a sweet, cuddly child, to be protected but a character he could respect.
Matthew Reames
Masters candidate in librarianship
University-Wisconsin Madison
Received on Fri 11 Oct 1996 03:00:00 PM CDT
