Every Swan, Every Song, Every Sound

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan and Illustrated by Peter Sis.

Why did I read it?

This is another title from my Master's class that I probably wouldn't have read otherwise, but that I really enjoyed. Interestingly, the illustrator is the same guy who authored and illustrated The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain.

What happened?

Neftali is a young boy growing up in Temuco, Chile. Fascinated by the world around him, there was always something interesting to investigate on the way to school, or a fantastic word in a book he was reading. He couldn't help but daydream and imagine new places and adventures. While his mother appreciated his curiosity and fascination, his father did not. In his opinion, the reading, writing, and curiosity kept Neftali small, timid, and would never guarantee the kind of job that would support his family someday.

What did I like or not like?

Unbeknownst to me, this book is based on the childhood experiences of world renowned poet Pablo Neruda (the pen name for Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto). Once I figured that out, the slightly different style of the book began to make sense. There is a blending of the text with poetry, images, and questions, and I think the book did a great job portraying the creative mindset, and seeing how a poet might have gotten to where he was.

A Wall Across Your Mind

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis

Why did I read it?

I read this book for pretty much the same reason that I read The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Basically, its a book that once again had caught my eye, and I finally picked it up as part of my Master's class. Even though I didn't enjoy it as much as Hugo, it was still an interesting find.

What happened?

As you may have noticed, most of the books I've reviewed have been YA fiction. Alternately, this title is more of a non-fiction title. But, the artist (Peter Sis) is writing an autobiography of his own childhood through childlike pictures, so it is something of a story anyways. Through pictures and pretty simple text, Peter tells us about his childhood during the Cold War. He grew up on the Soviet side of the Iron Curtain in Czechoslavokia and was told what to think, what to do, and what to draw. Even though he lived behind the Iron Curtain, Peter's parents allowed him to draw anything he wanted to at home. This freedom kept him interested in what the government wouldn't let him see, think, or do. He couldn't draw enough, his hair could never be long enough (even though they would make him cut it), and he couldn't wait for something else. When things like "blue jeans" and "The Beatles" started to slowly slip through the Iron Curtain, Peter knew what kind of freedom he really wanted.

What did I like or not like?

Even though this isn't a book I would normally read, it was really cool. The pictures are reminiscent of childhood, but have a very muted color pallot which seems to symbolize the kind of childhood he led. The story itself is also interesting and informative. In a very short book, Peter gives us an excellent idea of what growing up behind the Iron Curtain would have been like.