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Re: A Faraway Island
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From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:25:08 -0600
I'll echo yet again that the central relationship in "Faraway Island" was reminiscent of the relationships in Anne of Green Gables. But more than mere observation, I think this gives insight into a potential audience for the book--not just children who are fascinated by WWII and holocaust novels, but also those who are attracted to "orphan" stories and the triumph over odds. And even though this is the first of a series, there is, in its resolution, definite triumph as Stephie realizes she has a solid place in this the heart of the woman who has taken her in, and as that woman defends Stephie as "her" child against cruel, anti-Semitic bullying.
One dimension of the book I found particularly affecting was the issue of religion. Both families want these two sisters to embrace Jesus and Christianity. The story is most focused on Stephie's perspective and, as the older of the two children, she understandably has a harder time with this but feels powerless after a point to resist, at least on the surface. At the same time--and this is the trickier bit--I think the author does such a good job of showing that the foster families are not being intentionally heartless in expecting and even demanding the girls show devotion to this different religion. The adults are misguided, yes, but they are clearly good people who THINK they are doing what's best for these children, without any understanding of the internal conflict they might be creating. (It's part of what makes the ending feel all the more triumphant.)
Megan
-- Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Tue 02 Feb 2010 11:25:08 AM CST
Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:25:08 -0600
I'll echo yet again that the central relationship in "Faraway Island" was reminiscent of the relationships in Anne of Green Gables. But more than mere observation, I think this gives insight into a potential audience for the book--not just children who are fascinated by WWII and holocaust novels, but also those who are attracted to "orphan" stories and the triumph over odds. And even though this is the first of a series, there is, in its resolution, definite triumph as Stephie realizes she has a solid place in this the heart of the woman who has taken her in, and as that woman defends Stephie as "her" child against cruel, anti-Semitic bullying.
One dimension of the book I found particularly affecting was the issue of religion. Both families want these two sisters to embrace Jesus and Christianity. The story is most focused on Stephie's perspective and, as the older of the two children, she understandably has a harder time with this but feels powerless after a point to resist, at least on the surface. At the same time--and this is the trickier bit--I think the author does such a good job of showing that the foster families are not being intentionally heartless in expecting and even demanding the girls show devotion to this different religion. The adults are misguided, yes, but they are clearly good people who THINK they are doing what's best for these children, without any understanding of the internal conflict they might be creating. (It's part of what makes the ending feel all the more triumphant.)
Megan
-- Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Tue 02 Feb 2010 11:25:08 AM CST
