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Happy autumn this week!
A companion book to Pet, both of which were so lovingly reviewed by Max that I had to read them. I shared Pet last week. This time, the time during which Bitter and Aloe meet and fall in love, Bitter's background is harsh foster families where she ends up hiding anywhere she finds whenever she can because of cruelty. Now, as a teen, she has found Eucalyptus, a private school/enclave where, while it took a while with a loving teacher, the enigmatic Miss Virtue, and friends like Alex and Blessing, she finally feels safe. Behind those walls, students feel protected from the hurtful and harmful behavior found in the town outside, Lucille. In her past, she has learned that some creatures she draws come to life, kind of frightening but they soon fade and disappear. At least they have in the past. Although she does not approve of those who are protesting for change, some of those are her friends. She is too scared to go outside the walls. When a friend in the outside groups is injured, Bitter explodes into her art, and spends hours in anger, drawing and pasting things onto the work, including blood, until what is known as an "angel" appears. It is "Vengeance", made possible by Bitter, ready to hunt and kill all monsters. Bitter is now wrapped up in the group she had earlier rejected, frantically realizing that what she has just released is something that needs to be stopped. All the characters are intriguing and complex. I wanted to know about each one because they all appeared to have a demeanor that was important to creating a safe town in which everyone is welcome but without violence. They are young and fighting so hard! The intertwining of straight and queer relationships felt comfortable, a part of the world in which we all live, and in which, sadly, many fight to live. It's an inspiring story to imagine how hard young people are working to help the world, today as well.
These next two stories show beautifully that the feeling that those you have loved who have left will always stay with you. They are both poignant and will be special read-alouds for a child or a class that can help talk about grief.
The best thing I can write is that it made me cry. Emilia's grandpa, moving a bit slow, leaves a walnut on her bedstand, and then he tells his story of another walnut he brought as a boy when his family immigrated. I won't tell it all, but the tree from that nut is in their yard beside a smaller one that Emilia's mother planted. Perhaps you will guess the rest of the story but it's a book you won't want to miss with Felicita Sala's full-page and softly-hued illustrations. (Side note: My own grandfather planted a maple tree for me when I was young. It is far away in Missouri in the little town where I grew up. It is very tall now and I visit it once in a while when I visit my brother.)
Rashmi Sirdeshpande writes in her author's note that Ruchi Mhasane has painted illustrations that are very like what's in her memory of visiting her own grandpa, without any talk between them. This particular grandpa's story is told by the grandson, from painting together and painting with neighborhood children, every painting a work of art and cherished. But when his grandpa dies, he locks everything away and stops painting. One young girl in need herself helps this boy learn that painting again brings the best memories back of the time with his Dadaji. It's a bittersweet story, heartfelt with grandfather love as well as the love of painting. That paintbrush is a big part of the story!
