Dawn, by Elie Wiesel is the follow-up to his award winning book Night. First published in French, Dawn is the story of Elisha, a 19-year-old Holocaust survivor turned terrorist. Elisha has become apart of Jewish fight against the Bristish, and has seen death, survived death, and caused death. He struggles with these three things as he has been assigned the job of assain. Elisha was lured into the Movement by a man named Gad while he was living in France. Gad has taught Elisha military skill, and has assigned him the role of God in the Movement, meaning tha the would be taking the life of British officier John Dawson. Elisha has never met John Dawson, but he will be forever be tied to John as his executioner. Struggling with coming to terms with his past, present, and future, Elisha tortures himself and has a hard time excepting this job. Sure, he has killed before, but never has he had to look the person he was set to kill in the eye. With visions of the past, the struggle of playing God, and the past memories of his executed family, Elisha must decide where his loyalities, what his moral conscieous his telling him, and where his heart lies.
Even though this book was very good, it lacked the personal connection that Night offered. Elisha's journey is sad, and in the end he makes a quick decision that the will have to live with for the rest of his life. However, I was shocked at the decision that he did make, and when I finished the book, I couldn't believe how it ended. Honestly, I have to say that I was a little disappointed because I had high hopes for a different outcome.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
International Children's Book #2, A Time of Miracles, by Anne-Laure Bondoux
This Batchelder Award winner was first published in French and is the author's second award winning novel. A Time of Miracles is a very powerful book, but for a children's book may be a little confusing for the American reader. The story often jumps around from place to place around countries close to Russia, as well as in France. However, if the reader sticks with the story and give the book a chance, it has a very compelling story about a young boy Blaise "Koumail" Fortune. Blaise has grown up on the run from an on going war between the Chechnya people and the Georgians after the decline of the Soviet Union in 1989. Traveling with a woman named Gloria, who took him in after she found his mother barely alive, clutching the young baby, she took Blaise with her and has helped him survive. They have lived in compounds, met interesting and troubled people, learned to live on their own means, and become a family of sorts. However, even though Gloria's love for Blaise is genuine, she has not always been honest with him. Can they survive the journey to a "free" France, or will Gloria's secret tear them apart?
Even though this novel has somewhat of a slow start, the characters are likeable, and very easy for a child to connect with. I like how realistic and detailed Bondoux's story is, and how she makes war very real. For a child that has never seen war, or its effects, it is quite an eye opening book. I think a lot of students can connect with the character of Blaise because he has been through a lot of obstacles at a very young age, and unfortunately most of students have also been through life changing events. It is an excellent story about survivial, loyalty, and love.
Even though this novel has somewhat of a slow start, the characters are likeable, and very easy for a child to connect with. I like how realistic and detailed Bondoux's story is, and how she makes war very real. For a child that has never seen war, or its effects, it is quite an eye opening book. I think a lot of students can connect with the character of Blaise because he has been through a lot of obstacles at a very young age, and unfortunately most of students have also been through life changing events. It is an excellent story about survivial, loyalty, and love.
Friday, March 11, 2011
International Literature for Children/ Book #1 Night, Elie Wiesel
I had not read a lot of , or even heard of a lot of books that were published in other countries and translated into English before, but I have to say that looking into these types of books has been eye opening. With so many of the children I teach being from multi-cultural homes, I was kind of disppointed in myself that I had not researched these types of books before now. I found two awards given to books that are published in other countries, the Mildred L. Batchelder Award and the Pura Belpre Award. The Mildred L. Batchelder Award is given to a children's book that is considered the best book that was originally published in another country and is translated into English. This award begin in 1966. The Pura Belpre Award was first given in 1966, and focuses more on the Latino culture. It is given to the book that best illustrates or explains a part of the Latino world.
The first book I came across to read for this section was a novel called Night, by Elie Wiesel. After reading this book, I decided that this would book would be the focus point of my Holocaust Unit for my 8th grade students. Night was orginially published in French in 1958, and has been translated into English by Marion Wiesel. I came across this book when I was researching with my librarian for our Reading Motivation Plan, and both us couldn't be happier that we did. Not only did it give me another amazing Holocaust book that I could use along side of Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, but it had a riveting affect on the way I taught this entire unit to my students. The even more cool thing about this novel, is that it is a memior of Elie's experience in Auschwitz when he was just 15. Walking through his footsteps, seeing the horrors that he saw, and feeling the pain and saddness that he felt was a life changing experience. I had always taught the Holocaust through eyes of other people, but never had I found a book that gave such a descriptive account of what really happened to over a million people in the death camp Auschwitz. I have never been more excited to teach a unit to students, and teach them about persuasive and propaganda techniques, but also a lesson in humanity and empathy. Even though Elie survives Auschwitz, what he loses there makes such a significant impact on the rest of his life, that his story can only do one thing: make an impact the readers.
Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky.
Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever.
Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.
Elie Wiesel, Night.
The first book I came across to read for this section was a novel called Night, by Elie Wiesel. After reading this book, I decided that this would book would be the focus point of my Holocaust Unit for my 8th grade students. Night was orginially published in French in 1958, and has been translated into English by Marion Wiesel. I came across this book when I was researching with my librarian for our Reading Motivation Plan, and both us couldn't be happier that we did. Not only did it give me another amazing Holocaust book that I could use along side of Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, but it had a riveting affect on the way I taught this entire unit to my students. The even more cool thing about this novel, is that it is a memior of Elie's experience in Auschwitz when he was just 15. Walking through his footsteps, seeing the horrors that he saw, and feeling the pain and saddness that he felt was a life changing experience. I had always taught the Holocaust through eyes of other people, but never had I found a book that gave such a descriptive account of what really happened to over a million people in the death camp Auschwitz. I have never been more excited to teach a unit to students, and teach them about persuasive and propaganda techniques, but also a lesson in humanity and empathy. Even though Elie survives Auschwitz, what he loses there makes such a significant impact on the rest of his life, that his story can only do one thing: make an impact the readers.
Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky.
Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever.
Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.
Elie Wiesel, Night.
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