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Two on the side of hope
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From: Maia <maia>
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 14:06:19 -0500
I am so pleased that Almond's and Wittlinger's <Hard Love> were honor recipients of the Printz award. Both books are on the side of hope, both struggle with tough topics, both show how cross-genderal relationships evolve as children grow to adulthood. They each also have beautifully illustrated protagonists, address anger and its resolution, and include non-traditional approaches to life. And interestingly, both are told primarily from the viewpoint of a young male who is struggling with anger and pain, and whose relationship with a young female catalyzes him into a more loving participation with life.
Did anyone else stop when Almond's Michael calls Joy-to? a
"stupid baby" at the end of chapter two? I confess that I read on slowly, and with a fair amount of trepidation, not knowing yet who Michael would turn out to be. Likewise, Wittlinger's "Gio" is quite often surly, even downright nasty... and incredibly human. Both young men have very valid reasons for their anger, both learn to love better and to take the accompanying risks.
I did find it interesting that was considered a YA book, because Michael and Mina struck me as closer to (a precocious) 10 years of age. I rescanned the text, looking for age clues, but didn't note any. I suppose that Mina's intellectual sophistication might place them closer to 13 (end of middle school here in the US), but with homeschoolers it's always harder to tell. If anyone has used in the classroom or library, I'd be curious to know what ages seem to identify with the book...?
Elsewhere I have praised Ellen Wittlinger for , but I want to say again how much I admire her for accurately illustrating the complex makeup of sexuality, without any attempt to overcategorize. Neither of her protagonists fit clearly into a box, and must wrestle with the implications of feelings that don't remain within the confines of sexual choices chosen. She also paints an honest picture of many parents of g/l/b teens and adults - wanting to support their children, but unable to abandon the wish that they would take the "normal" route. Both of the main character's mothers are fallible, complex women, both loved, both resented; and even the unmet birth mother is dealt with honestly. The story has plenty of hard love, but is an excellent tale of forgiveness, of growth, and of finding a misplaced heart. Three cheers to Ellen for creating such a powerful story.
And three to David Almond for creating such an extraordinary bird-man, something like us, "something like a beast, something like a bird, something like an angel," and such a delicate story, to touch on the heart of pain and fear, and of hope. Thank you each for such splendid stories.
Maia maia at littlefolktales.org
Received on Wed 16 Feb 2000 01:06:19 PM CST
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 14:06:19 -0500
I am so pleased that Almond's and Wittlinger's <Hard Love> were honor recipients of the Printz award. Both books are on the side of hope, both struggle with tough topics, both show how cross-genderal relationships evolve as children grow to adulthood. They each also have beautifully illustrated protagonists, address anger and its resolution, and include non-traditional approaches to life. And interestingly, both are told primarily from the viewpoint of a young male who is struggling with anger and pain, and whose relationship with a young female catalyzes him into a more loving participation with life.
Did anyone else stop when Almond's Michael calls Joy-to? a
"stupid baby" at the end of chapter two? I confess that I read on slowly, and with a fair amount of trepidation, not knowing yet who Michael would turn out to be. Likewise, Wittlinger's "Gio" is quite often surly, even downright nasty... and incredibly human. Both young men have very valid reasons for their anger, both learn to love better and to take the accompanying risks.
I did find it interesting that was considered a YA book, because Michael and Mina struck me as closer to (a precocious) 10 years of age. I rescanned the text, looking for age clues, but didn't note any. I suppose that Mina's intellectual sophistication might place them closer to 13 (end of middle school here in the US), but with homeschoolers it's always harder to tell. If anyone has used in the classroom or library, I'd be curious to know what ages seem to identify with the book...?
Elsewhere I have praised Ellen Wittlinger for , but I want to say again how much I admire her for accurately illustrating the complex makeup of sexuality, without any attempt to overcategorize. Neither of her protagonists fit clearly into a box, and must wrestle with the implications of feelings that don't remain within the confines of sexual choices chosen. She also paints an honest picture of many parents of g/l/b teens and adults - wanting to support their children, but unable to abandon the wish that they would take the "normal" route. Both of the main character's mothers are fallible, complex women, both loved, both resented; and even the unmet birth mother is dealt with honestly. The story has plenty of hard love, but is an excellent tale of forgiveness, of growth, and of finding a misplaced heart. Three cheers to Ellen for creating such a powerful story.
And three to David Almond for creating such an extraordinary bird-man, something like us, "something like a beast, something like a bird, something like an angel," and such a delicate story, to touch on the heart of pain and fear, and of hope. Thank you each for such splendid stories.
Maia maia at littlefolktales.org
Received on Wed 16 Feb 2000 01:06:19 PM CST
