October 2004
Story Time
Munich youngsters give the lowdown on children's books
THURA’S DIARY
By Thura Al-Windawi
Viking Books, 2004
“I dedicate this diary to the people of Iraq, America and Britain – and to people everywhere who have lost loved ones during the war.” With these words Thura Al-Windawi introduces the diary she kept during the war against Iraq. The reader witnesses how Thura matures from a naive girl to a more serious young woman. Open-minded and understanding, she knows there are only losers in war and wants to outline her sympathy even to the enemies. I saw on the news how Iraq was bombed, how Saddam's statue was brought down in Paradise Square and how Bush finally got his man. But this book opened a new perspective.
Thura's Diary made me more aware of the different aspects there are to a dilemma and helped me apply what I had heard of the war to not only one person but to a whole society.
Viktoria Sauter, age 15
Thura Al-Windawi is a student whose teenage life is ripped from her with the arrival of war and Americans on her doorstep. With few possessions, Thura and her family flee with only love and hope keeping them alive. The war rages on and Thura’s future remains uncertain, not unlike Anne Frank in Amsterdam decades earlier. Thura’s story is just one teenager’s perspective, but her voice of innocence resonates because the possibility of golden opportunities lies before her—she has everything to gain and yet everything to lose.
Katie Osterman, age 15
SAM AND THE GRISWALDS
By Emma Barnes
Bloomsbury, 2004
This is a highly enjoyable tale, combining comedy with real-life and exaggerated situations. The book is about a boy, Sam, whose dad has left home, which makes his mum extremely worried about everything. Sam’s neighbour has two children who are bullies and like to ruin Sam’s life. He has a dreadful time until he meets up with a group of siblings—the Griswalds—and they join together. I would recommend this book to anyone between the ages of 10 and 14.
James Drake, age 13
THE TALE OF
DESPEREAUX
By Kate Dicamillo
Candlewick Press, 2003
The Tale of Despereaux consists of four parts, the first of which is a tale seen through a mouse’s eyes. The second part is told by a rat, the third by a young girl and, in the fourth part, all three meet and finish the adventure together. Personally, I didn’t find the book very thrilling and often struggled to continue, because of a lack of suspense and emotion. It may be more suitable for younger children, and older readers like me would probably prefer to read it to our younger siblings.
Lara Kottsieper, age 12
HOOT
By Carl Hiaasen
Knopf Books, 2002
Hoot did not sound at all interesting when I first read the cover. I thought, “I have never read a good book with owls in it, so it probably isn’t great.” But when I read the first chapter I couldn’t stop. The story is about a company boss who wants to build a pancake house on an owl’s home, and the attempts of two boys—Roy and Mullet Fingers—to stop him. Mullet Fingers is an interesting character, whose mother pretends she loves him, even though she loathes and abuses him.
Hoot is a book you can’t put down, and even at the end you want to find out more about what happened to Mullet Fingers.
Hoot has a bit of everything—animals, adventure and some very interesting people. I loved the way it gradually showed the answers to questions you had in your mind and I also liked how the animals didn’t interfere with the whole plot.
Daniela Kucz, age 12
THE CAT WHO GOT
CARRIED AWAY
By Allan Ahlberg
Candlewick Press, 2003
This is a great story for adventurous early readers. Follow Gus and Gloria Gaskitt as they try to find Horace, their cat, and Randolph, their school’s pet rat, which are among lots of animals that have gone missing. Find out why Mrs. Gaskitt is always in bed eating fried eggs and pineapple and why Mr. Gaskitt spends his time cleaning, ironing and cooking.
The Cat Who Got Carried Away is a good story and includes maps and timetables to help the reader understand the mystery. The cartoon illustrations are bright, funny and colorful and do a great job in telling the story.
Maggie Wilson, age 9
Allan Ahlberg, author of some of my favourite books, like
The Jolly Postman and
Cops and Robbers, has written this third exciting book in his series about the Gaskitt family. In this latest hilarious episode, Horace, the family cat, takes the leading role when he and other animals from the neighbourhood disappear. After a great escape, a chase through town and a battle, the pets are finally rescued. With colourful illustrations and useful maps and timetables, which really bring the story to life,
The Cat who Got Carried Away provides lots of fun. I think it is perfect for early readers.
Elizabeth Manwaring, age 9
A BEAR
CALLED SUNDAY
By Axel Hacke
Bloomsbury, 2004
I liked
A Bear Called Sunday because it was so funny. I also really liked the oil painting drawings. I thought the author’s idea of the boy dreaming that he was a toy child, who is bought by a father bear for his little bear, was very unusual. I would recommend this book to my friends.
James Exner, age 9
There was a boy who had a bear called Sunday. One night, the boy had to sleep without Sunday, because he was still wet from being washed. The boy dreamed he was a puppet in a shop and that he was bought by a bear as a present for a little bear called Sunday. I liked reading this book very much and it has nice pictures. It made me think about taking good care of my teddy bears.
Vanessa McKay, age 7
