From: Steven Engelfried <sengelfried>
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:33:10 -0700 (PDT)

I second Carol E. Jones praise of the excellent "The Book of Everything." Like so many of the books mentioned this month (Joey Pigza and the Hillary McKay books for example), I had to think for a moment before remembering exactly why this book even fit the topic (and I just finished it a few days ago). Could be just my poor recall of details, but actually I think it's just more confirmation that so many really good writers are creating characters whose special needs aren't the only thing, or even the main thing, we think about when we meet them or remember about them afterwards.

"Carol E. Jones" <CEJones at rrlib.net> wrote: One more thought: a fabulous 2006 juvenile book called "The Book of Everything" by Guus Kuijer. It takes place in the Netherlands not long after WWII and features Thomas, a very unusual boy who notices everything. His life is such that he has good reason to be afraid much of the time until he meets his neighbor (thought to be a witch) who teaches him how to be afraid of nothing. And until he professes his love (with good result) for the beautiful Eliza who has an artificial leather leg. On the last page of the book, Thomas dreams of the angels in heaven inquiring about his health, for they are all hopelessly in love with him. Jesus tells the angels "'none of you would have the slightest chance with Thomas. None of you has a leather leg that creaks when you walk.' That was too much for them. Every single one of them was extraordinarily beautiful, but none had a leather leg. You can't have everything."



Steven Engelfried Multnomah County Library 205 NE Russell Street Portland, OR 97212-3796 503-988-5206 stevene at yahoo.com
                 
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Received on Fri 20 Oct 2006 11:33:10 AM CDT