From: Lindsay <linds_na>
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 10:40:42 -0700 (PDT)

On Fri, 10 Jul 1998, Megan Schliesman wrote:
 

Although I feel sometimes feel lukewarm about Rylant's longer writings
(wondering about child appeal), I think that "The Islander" is absolutely fantastic. Though not at all fantasy. "Metaphor" is a good term, although I think that finally I would disagree with Megan and say that "realistic fiction" is the best descriptor for this story. There is no doubt that in any form or genre Rylant is a stellar writer, and I think that this shows in the simply and precisely told story of the islander. Everything in this story is metaphor/symbolism: the "island" that he lives on, the
"key" that he finds, the birds he heals so that they can "fly away" and leave the island. Everything is exaggerated: his utter isolation (so that he never even met his neighbors for ten years), his grandfather's silence. Yet the symbolism and exaggeration are kept just within the bounds of realistic credibility, and the the language is so straightforward that even the mermaid enters the story completely, no questions asked.

The result of all of this is that the story performs whether or not the reader is cognizant of the metaphor. And therefore this is a story that has a wide range of appeal. There are no "in jokes" -- there are simply different levels of complexity through which to understand the same basic story.

I like the story's length. The book's generous bottom margins. The "old timey" feel to the words that are yet contemporary and timeless. These elements add to the eerieness of this story that acknowledges the mystery in the simple and "realistic" aspects of everyday life, and the universal and unique complexities of growing up.


 

Nina Lindsay, Children's Librarian Melrose Branch, Oakland Public Library 4805 Foothill Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
(510)535V23 linds_na at oak2.ci.oakland.ca.us
Received on Fri 10 Jul 1998 12:40:42 PM CDT