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If I Ever Get Out of Here
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From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 10:37:09 -0600
I think the way this novel navigates complicated feelings and the complicated reality of race and friendship is so nuanced and wonderful. George's interest in Lewis starts out in part because of he knows Lewis is an "Indian," and George has heard stories from his dad about growing up in part on a reservation where his parents (George's grandparents) taught.As a reader, I remember feeling uncomfortable at first by George's "Indian" interest. Later, Lewis consciously uses stereotypes about Indians and spirituality to explain to George that he cannot invite him over to his house since his mother can't come in contact with white people because of her spiritual work. This is easier to him at that point than facing the awful reality of George seeing how very poor they are, and knowing how it would make his mother feel for white people to see them living in such poverty. George buys in earnestly and wholeheartedly to the spirituality ruse.
When Lewis discovers George's grandparents were teachers on a reservation, it gives him pause as he thinks about the trauma of the boarding school experience and wonders if George's grandparents were part of something so painful for so many. And when it comes out eventually that Lewis was lying to George about the reason why he couldn't invite him over, the fact that he has lied to someone who has become such a good friend is as traumatic in its way as George and his father seeing the condition of their home. Their experiential and cultural differences create barriers that Lewis and George have to learn to navigate, and they don't always get it right, but it also creates opportunities, and the friendship that develops is one that is deep and genuine.
Megan
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 10:37:09 -0600
I think the way this novel navigates complicated feelings and the complicated reality of race and friendship is so nuanced and wonderful. George's interest in Lewis starts out in part because of he knows Lewis is an "Indian," and George has heard stories from his dad about growing up in part on a reservation where his parents (George's grandparents) taught.As a reader, I remember feeling uncomfortable at first by George's "Indian" interest. Later, Lewis consciously uses stereotypes about Indians and spirituality to explain to George that he cannot invite him over to his house since his mother can't come in contact with white people because of her spiritual work. This is easier to him at that point than facing the awful reality of George seeing how very poor they are, and knowing how it would make his mother feel for white people to see them living in such poverty. George buys in earnestly and wholeheartedly to the spirituality ruse.
When Lewis discovers George's grandparents were teachers on a reservation, it gives him pause as he thinks about the trauma of the boarding school experience and wonders if George's grandparents were part of something so painful for so many. And when it comes out eventually that Lewis was lying to George about the reason why he couldn't invite him over, the fact that he has lied to someone who has become such a good friend is as traumatic in its way as George and his father seeing the condition of their home. Their experiential and cultural differences create barriers that Lewis and George have to learn to navigate, and they don't always get it right, but it also creates opportunities, and the friendship that develops is one that is deep and genuine.
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/
My regular hours are T-F, 8-4:30.
---
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Received on Tue 25 Feb 2014 10:37:29 AM CST
