From: Annette Goldsmith <agoldsmith.fsu_at_gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:30:56 -0500

I’m so glad you loved A Faraway Island, Renee! I chaired the committee that chose it and have been looking forward to this conversation. I too thought Stephie’s relationship with Aunt Mдrta and Uncle Evert echoed that of Anne’s with Marilla and Matthew. One of the things our committee particularly enjoyed about the book – and there was a lot to enjoy! -- was the focus on the small details of everyday life, good and bad, for an evacuee in a strange country. Mere communication is at first a hardship. And as a reader you really feel for 12-year-old Stephie when she is obliged to wear the horrible black old-lady bathing suit, while her younger sister, Nellie, who lives with a more welcoming family, is given a nice bright suit.

Our committee was just as anxious as you that the rest of the books be published. The publisher does indeed intend to publish at least the next book, but I agree that it’s an excellent idea to let them know you want to see them publish the whole quartet. Sales figures talk. Batchelder books generally get a sales bump when the award is announced but can even go out of print when interest wanes. So everyone, if you really like the Batchelder winner and honor books, BUY them! Buy them for your collections and to give as gifts. Please.

Annette

Annette Goldsmith, PhD

Guest Faculty

University of Washington Information School

Seattle, WA

Chair, 2010 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Committee

Member, USBBY Outstanding International Books Committee


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From: Renee McGrath
 Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 10:21 AM To: CCBC-Net Subject:
 A Faraway Island

I just offered a workshop yesterday for my children's librarians on promoting International Books for Children. Doris Gebel did a fabulous job and I think many of them were inspired and realized the value of these books in promoting peace and understanding across cultures. Thank you Doris!

As part of the workshop, I had them read an international book. Many of us read A Faraway Island and LOVED it. I don't usually do this b/c I hardly ever get the connections but it is a bit like Number the Stars meets Anne of Green Gables. Not in the literal sense, but certainly in the feeling it gave me when the two refugee sisters arrive on the Island and the older girl Stephie gets placed with a stern woman who doesn't seem to care about her very much. This reminded me of Anne's arrival to her new home and her adoptive mother Marilla's disappointment because she is a girl and not a boy like they wanted.

This is a WWII refugee story at its finest. It brings the horrors of war and being a refugee child to life while also giving us a wonderful story about the complicated relationship between two sisters.

Now, I implore all of you to beg Random House to publish the other 3 books in the quartet. I want to read more about the sisters and the islanders. PLEASE PUBLISH THEM!!!

Renee McGrath Youth Services Manager Nassau Library System 900 Jerusalem Avenue Uniondale, NY 11553 516-292-8920

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Received on Tue 02 Feb 2010 11:30:56 AM CST