In a simply told sequel to Bird Boy (1999), young Chang, born mute, finds a way to help his family after flood-borne wreckage damages their houseboat. Chang can communicate with his father’s trained fishing cormorants well enough, but is shy around people, expressing himself best with his beloved flute. Younger readers will easily understand how much he’s willing to give up when, after his mother’s precious wok is swept away in a spring flood, he offers his flute to an unscrupulous merchant for a replacement. Fortunately, his friend Bo Won, a blind storyteller, has a better idea, persuading Chang to overcome his reluctance to play in public. Chang’s impromptu concert earns him enough for not only a fine new wok, but something delectable to cook in it too. Lin, a Taiwanese artist, brings the traditional setting into sharper focus with large, carefully detailed black-and-white scenes; Hill puts her sensitive musician into situations that allow him to display courage and quick thinking, as well as a willingness to make sacrifices for the greater good. (Fiction. 9-11)
Pub Date: Oct. 25, 2002
ISBN: 0-374-31238-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2002
Nothing very special happens in Hahn’s beguiling slice-of-life novel, set in Baltimore at a time when gaslight illuminated the streets and commuters traveled by trolley. Eight-year-old Anna outgrows her old coat, dares to go down a steep hill on roller-skates, tricks her mother into giving her a birthday party, and plays tag with her friends. What makes the book stand up and shout are not the ordinary events Hahn delineates, but her powerful depiction of the childhood emotions that accompany the inevitable process of growing up. Anna is a great girl, earnest and well-meaning, full of grit, determination, and heart. The book, which is episodic, is divided into four sections—one for every season—and every chapter chronicles a brief incident in vivid, simple prose, ably highlighted by deGroat’s straightforward black-and-white illustrations of the era. Life was different in 1913, but the core issues that children face—whether to cheat to save face, or to accept a dare that’s too hard—are timeless, and young readers should find Anna’s experiences meaningful. (Fiction. 6-8)
Pub Date: April 19, 1999
ISBN: 0-395-86975-7
Page Count: 133
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
David’s mother is coming to David’s class to tell them about her job. David is happy, but also concerned; will she embarrass him by telling silly jokes, calling him “Pumpkin,” or showing baby pictures? As they make their way to school, David grows more and more worried; his mother teases him, offering little reassurance. For no apparent reason, David realizes his fears are groundless, and that he’s just plain proud of his mother. This sweet story with a heartfelt theme has moments that are amusing and recognizable; Johnson’s paintings of the neighborhood occasionally lack energy, but convey the affection between mother and son and the sentiments of the story. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-7614-5041-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1999
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