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Hamilton: Sweet Whisper Brother Rush
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From: Eliza T. Dresang <edresang>
Date: Wed, 02 Oct 2002 10:19:11 -0400
Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush is my favorite work by Virginia Hamilton. It incorporates many of the outstanding qualities of her work:
* a well-told, memorable, coming-of-age story that appeals to young adult readers,
* specific and interesting elements relating to African American culture ( fro example, the ghost of Brother Rush and the means of revisiting the past),
* expert execution of dialect (with different characters speaking in ways consistent with their character)
* sensitive portrayal of gender issues in relation to two generations of females -- a strong young woman who must care for herself and her brother; a mother who must make tough decisions to provide care for her children
* non-linear plot and metaphorical writing (writing to the intelligence of her young audience long before many writers discovered that young readers could enjoy the same complexity and richness of literary structure that many adult readers do) (one of my favorite double entenres is the title)
* the blend of realism and fantasy This book stands out for me as an example of why when people ask me who my favorite author for young people is, I always say Virginia Hamilton. The diversity of her work and her expert writing in many genres underlies this, but the stellar nature of this particular work somewhat summarizes for me all that she did for youth.
I often think of a classic piece of literature as one that stands the test of time and that is infinitely discussable. Sweet Whispers has stood the test of two decades of time and it is, indeed, infinitely discussable.
It is one of the first pieces of literature for youth that I saw discussed in a journal of literary criticism that does not typically feature books for youth. It provoked one of the best papers I've had from a student -- comparing this book to Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon and Beloved.
And, as I often ask graduate students to read this as part of young adult literature or multicultural literature classes, I find the discussions reveal new aspects and perspectives of the book each time.
One point of controversy that inevitably arises in class discussions is the role of the mother, M'Vey. Some students do not like the fact that she seemed to abandon her children and think she, therefore, does not provide a good 'role model' for young readers. Others declare that M'vey is a to negative an image of an African-American mother.
I find this provides a wonderful learning point to help students focus on several qualities of fine literature and to help them, through discussion, refocus their questions.
Their questions evolve to "Does Virginia Hamilton provide adequate justification for M'Vey's actions? Do they seem authentic and appropriate to the situation in which she is placed? and, for those who insist on a
'role model,' what does caring for one's children mean, can it be interpreted in various ways? A close reading of the book, with attention to the matters that the ghost of Borther Rush, M'Vey's brother, reveals from the past, makes clear the motivation for M'Vey's painful decisions. Students will come to this through their own discussion, given time to ponder. That is a beauty of the book -- it calls for pondering.
Something that amuses me is the inclusion of this book on genre lists of ghost stories. I guess it it, but it is such an unusual ghost!
I was on the Newbery Committee when Sweet Whispers was chosen a Newbery Honor book. It remains a book to be honored along side its marvelously talented author. This is one of the rich gifts she left to all of us.
Eliza
_________________________________________________________ Eliza T. Dresang, Professor School of Information Studies/ Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida 32306!00 e-mail: edresang at mailer.fsu.edu Phone: 850 644 5877 (w) FAX: 850 644 9763 (w)
Received on Wed 02 Oct 2002 09:19:11 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 02 Oct 2002 10:19:11 -0400
Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush is my favorite work by Virginia Hamilton. It incorporates many of the outstanding qualities of her work:
* a well-told, memorable, coming-of-age story that appeals to young adult readers,
* specific and interesting elements relating to African American culture ( fro example, the ghost of Brother Rush and the means of revisiting the past),
* expert execution of dialect (with different characters speaking in ways consistent with their character)
* sensitive portrayal of gender issues in relation to two generations of females -- a strong young woman who must care for herself and her brother; a mother who must make tough decisions to provide care for her children
* non-linear plot and metaphorical writing (writing to the intelligence of her young audience long before many writers discovered that young readers could enjoy the same complexity and richness of literary structure that many adult readers do) (one of my favorite double entenres is the title)
* the blend of realism and fantasy This book stands out for me as an example of why when people ask me who my favorite author for young people is, I always say Virginia Hamilton. The diversity of her work and her expert writing in many genres underlies this, but the stellar nature of this particular work somewhat summarizes for me all that she did for youth.
I often think of a classic piece of literature as one that stands the test of time and that is infinitely discussable. Sweet Whispers has stood the test of two decades of time and it is, indeed, infinitely discussable.
It is one of the first pieces of literature for youth that I saw discussed in a journal of literary criticism that does not typically feature books for youth. It provoked one of the best papers I've had from a student -- comparing this book to Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon and Beloved.
And, as I often ask graduate students to read this as part of young adult literature or multicultural literature classes, I find the discussions reveal new aspects and perspectives of the book each time.
One point of controversy that inevitably arises in class discussions is the role of the mother, M'Vey. Some students do not like the fact that she seemed to abandon her children and think she, therefore, does not provide a good 'role model' for young readers. Others declare that M'vey is a to negative an image of an African-American mother.
I find this provides a wonderful learning point to help students focus on several qualities of fine literature and to help them, through discussion, refocus their questions.
Their questions evolve to "Does Virginia Hamilton provide adequate justification for M'Vey's actions? Do they seem authentic and appropriate to the situation in which she is placed? and, for those who insist on a
'role model,' what does caring for one's children mean, can it be interpreted in various ways? A close reading of the book, with attention to the matters that the ghost of Borther Rush, M'Vey's brother, reveals from the past, makes clear the motivation for M'Vey's painful decisions. Students will come to this through their own discussion, given time to ponder. That is a beauty of the book -- it calls for pondering.
Something that amuses me is the inclusion of this book on genre lists of ghost stories. I guess it it, but it is such an unusual ghost!
I was on the Newbery Committee when Sweet Whispers was chosen a Newbery Honor book. It remains a book to be honored along side its marvelously talented author. This is one of the rich gifts she left to all of us.
Eliza
_________________________________________________________ Eliza T. Dresang, Professor School of Information Studies/ Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida 32306!00 e-mail: edresang at mailer.fsu.edu Phone: 850 644 5877 (w) FAX: 850 644 9763 (w)
Received on Wed 02 Oct 2002 09:19:11 AM CDT
