From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 15:18:41 -0600

I remember that the images of darkness didn't seem overwhelming, because they so well countered by Almond's many references to illumination and light. We each read a different text, especially when the text is multilayered. For me one of the embedded layers in Kit's Wilderness has Christian significance. Kit's name - short for Christopher - and Almond's many references to light cause me to be certain of that. I'm especially intrigued to read Nina's observation that becoming a teenager is "very much like this: dying and being born again." Almond is so skillful that this particular layer and the others, as well, aren't immediately evident - and don't need to be to someone who doesn't pick up certain clues. And they aren't necessary for young readers who enjoy reading Kit's Wilderness for the pleasure of its obvious story. In this respect only, the Christian subtext, Kit's Wilderness reminds me of some of Robert Cormier's fiction. - Ginny


Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu Cooperative Children's Book Center www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/ A Library of the School of Education, University of Wisconsin Madison
Received on Fri 16 Feb 2001 03:18:41 PM CST