This fails to capture the joy of the saint so often associated with a love of nature.
This life of the popular saint is illustrated with works of art and features quotes from Pope Francis.
It is difficult to pin down the audience for this biography. Kids will need understandings of brothers as monks (as opposed to relatives), lepers, and stigmata. The sometimes-difficult concepts and sophisticated artwork demand an older audience than the picture-book format it is likely to attract. Elschner writes (in an uncredited translation), “Francis sought poverty as his companion in life.” The text refers to Francis’ famous Canticle of the Sun, but it’s just that: a reference, not a description or the text of it. And Elschner describes a Christmas Eve service Francis held: “He sent an ox and a donkey to a cave. He filled the manger with fresh hay. There lay the child.” Wait. What child? The historical works of art that depict the life of Saint Francis, while beautiful, also may confuse young readers, as Francis’ appearance changes from page to page. In one instance, before the page that talks of his death, he appears in a cloud above a sick child, seemingly dead himself. In another, the chosen illustration depicts not the stigmata that the majority of the text talks about but Francis’ follower Sylvester’s expulsion of evil spirits from a town. Pope Francis’ quotes are mostly relevant to the content on the page and include date and event references.
This fails to capture the joy of the saint so often associated with a love of nature. (Picture book/biography. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-988-8341-44-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: minedition
Review Posted Online: Aug. 20, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2017
Though a bit loose around the edges, a charmer nevertheless.
Tales of a fourth grade ne’er-do-well.
It seems that young Jordan is stuck in a never-ending string of bad luck. Sure, no one’s perfect (except maybe goody-two-shoes William Feranek), but Jordan can’t seem to keep his attention focused on the task at hand. Try as he may, things always go a bit sideways, much to his educators’ chagrin. But Jordan promises himself that fourth grade will be different. As the year unfolds, it does prove to be different, but in a way Jordan couldn’t possibly have predicted. This humorous memoir perfectly captures the square-peg-in-a-round-hole feeling many kids feel and effectively heightens that feeling with comic situations and a splendid villain. Jordan’s teacher, Mrs. Fisher, makes an excellent foil, and the book’s 1970s setting allows for her cruelty to go beyond anything most contemporary readers could expect. Unfortunately, the story begins to run out of steam once Mrs. Fisher exits. Recollections spiral, losing their focus and leading to a more “then this happened” and less cause-and-effect structure. The anecdotes are all amusing and Jordan is an endearing protagonist, but the book comes dangerously close to wearing out its welcome with sheer repetitiveness. Thankfully, it ends on a high note, one pleasant and hopeful enough that readers will overlook some of the shabbier qualities. Jordan is White and Jewish while there is some diversity among his classmates; Mrs. Fisher is White.
Though a bit loose around the edges, a charmer nevertheless. (Memoir. 8-12)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-338-64723-5
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A surface-level salute to sisterhood.
A collection of profiles of sisters who have influenced culture, inspired change, and made history.
Choosing subjects connected by the bond of sisterhood, Lewis offers an overview of the lives of some of the most influential and famous women in history whose lives span continents and centuries. From tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams and the Azmi sisters, Pakistani Canadian field hockey players, to politician Kamala Harris and her civil rights lawyer sister, Maya, readers are introduced to women who have established names for themselves in their respective fields. Alongside towering literary, artistic, and political figures, readers will find the Kardashians and Kate and Pippa Middleton. The author is keen to note the humanity in the women’s interpersonal relationships by sharing instances of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and discord as well as the moments that celebrate the firm bonds of sisterhood. The very brief nature of each profile—consisting of a title page, an attractive full-page portrait, and two scant pages of text offering cursory information—means that the book reads like a series of Wikipedia entries. Indeed, the author drew heavily upon secondary sources such as general news websites for material. Although the profiles are not in-depth enough to serve as material for school reports, the work may inspire appreciation and further interest.
A surface-level salute to sisterhood. (further reading, sources) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-294765-9
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2021
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