From: Monica R. Edinger <edinger>
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 05:29:53 -0500

I don't mean to keep on about Despereaux, but yesterday a child made a connection that really highlighted for me the power and depth of that book.

My fourth graders are currently studying forced immigration and have been reading The Kidnapped Prince, Ann Cameron's adaptation of Olaudah Equiano's autobiography. Captured as a child from what is now the country of Benin and, after one extraordinary experience after another, the young adult Olaudah eventually buys his own freedom. Years earlier he is betrayed by his first master, Captain Pascal, whom he viewed as a father. Amazingly to us, one of his first wishes after gaining his freedom is to see Captain Pascal again because he still loves him and has forgiven him.

As my students and I discussed whether we would have been able to forgive Captain Pascal as Olaudah did (we were split and conflicted), one child said, "Just like Despereaux."

Now THAT is a literary connection.

Monica



Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
Received on Fri 13 Feb 2004 04:29:53 AM CST