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Sometimes we may believe our actions are limited during the constant "staying at home" during this pandemic, but reading this new book by Naomi Shihab Nye shows actions that can happen every time we do go out, and sometimes when we're in. Writing poems is an added experience if you wish to write about your experiences and at the end, Naomi offers lots of ideas and advice for doing that, too!
In five different sections termed "routes", Naomi reflects on, yes, trash, that seen or picked up during her sojourns outside, and those trips take her, and us readers, all over the world. A poem by Kamilah Aisha Moon prefaces Nye's introduction writing about taking out the trash and a 'thank you "to those doing this grueling, necessary work." Nye offers memories and advice, sadness when she spies bags thrown into rose bushes, tiny words with admonitions hurled at us. In "Trash Talk" from Route 1: Sweepings, "Let's just throw it away./We can get a new one." And in Route 3: Odds & Ends, a poem titled "Mysteries of Humankind" begins with "One rotten white sock/at Alma's front gate–/we need to talk to Alma." There are poems and poems and poems, for laughing and crying, but especially for considering one's life and what is being "Cast Away'! I loved every bit and won't forget to take care of what is in my own trash!
Two memoirs, both lovely in very different ways.
In simple illustrated panels that become more sophisticated as Sylvie Kantorovitz shows her own growing up years, readers see one thread, the early, then later challenges of pleasing her mother who is not often happy with anything. The mother wants Sylvie only to be the best at everything, to make choices that would gain a rich husband, to stop wanting to do art, which will never earn much of anything. Sylvie was born in Morocco in the sixties and as a young child moved to France and lived on the property of an all-boys' school where her father was principal. Her mother seemed angry and sad all the time, perhaps because her husband was really "only" a principal, not a rich man at all. With three siblings, Sylvie shows the love she has for them and as she grows up, her thoughts about art, friendships, a bit of romance, and the hard time at school in math and physics she was made to take.
I imagine readers will connect with Sylvie's continuing mixed-up thoughts as she tries hard to figure out what to do with her life. I loved that she shows herself in art slightly more detailed and sophisticated as she grows up! I read only an advanced copy of this story so did not see the color added in the final book.
Thanks to Walker Books US, a division of Candlewick Press for the copy!