Difficult Topics Done Well

Lowry, Lois. Number The Stars. HMH Books for Young Readers; Reissue edition May 2, 2011 (originally published 1989). ISBN 0547577095

Bauer, Marion Dane. On My Honor. Yearling, 1987. ISBN 0440466334
 
Yes, yes. I know. Anything 5 to 10 years old is typically not going to catch the attention of a tween. I've been told this by seasoned children's librarians, and know that newer, more relevant chapter books should replace outdated ones frequently. 

Unless, of course, the book is so stellar and well-written it should not be ignored. And this is especially true if the topic and content of the book transcend the changing fads of the decade. 

What I absolutely love about both of these titles is the author's ability to truly tell the story from a middle grade point of view. I felt their fear in a way that reminded me of being that age. I could completely understand the decision making process, and even the distractions that masked the "bigger picture" that only an adult could truly grasp. 

And both of these books are excellent introductions for their prospective topics. 

Number The Stars is a title I would recommend to a young reader who is first coming to learn about and grapple with historical genocide and Nazi Germany. It's not overly political, and neither is it gory or overly depressing. The story simply takes the reader and drops them into the shoes of an average middle-grade girl living in Nazi-occupied Denmark. She's simply trying to go about the business of living while noticing changes in her society, worry on her parents' faces, and sensing that secrets abound. 

Soon, her best friend (who is a Jew) comes to live with her and assume the role of her sister. Annemarie understands that something important is at stake, and yet does not grasp the full gravity of the situation until the climax of the story. Ideals of an ultimate sacrifice - giving one's life for another - are demonstrated through minor characters. This does not lessen the impact or realism of the tragedy, but instead realistically tells it in a way a young reader could more easily handle. 

And it was not all dreary. It had beautiful moments, fun moments, and a heartwarming description of the bonds of family that extend beyond blood relation. 

On My Honor is an exploration of traumatic accidental death, as experienced by a middle grade boy. 

This book is heavy, and it doesn't offer clear answers or a happy ending. 

But it can explain to a young reader (or an old one) the cataclysmic wave of emotions and thought processes that one goes through in such a circumstance. 

Shock, fear, regret, anger, and finally acceptance played out across this small volume in about a 24 hour period. There are no gory details. The friend is there and then simply isn't. 

But the emotions are real, and the characters are genuine. A young reader will be left with a lot of questions that will spark an introspective examination of their own feelings and gut reactions. It may even help cultivate empathy. 

These are books that should be read and discussed. If you are a religious person, it will open the doors for deeper conversations about free will, accidents, life, choices, and sacrifice that you could coincide with belief and scripture. 

If you are not religious, the questions of faith (the Jews under Nazi Germany) and the afterlife (a boy asking his father if there is a heaven) will be raised. This will be an excellent opportunity for discussions about tolerance, empathy, and facing the unknown and seeking answers. 

I highly recommend both of these reads!

Olive's Ocean

Henkes, Kevin. Olive's Ocean. Scholastic, 2003. ISBN: 0-439-70194-5

This book has flow. From beginning to end it feels seamless. The short, two to five page chapters are not abrupt or disjointed, and the heart of the story is carried throughout.

I often enjoy the Newberry Honor Books even more than the Newberry Award winners, and this story is no exception.

Olive was a young girl who was shy and often teased in school. She had no friends and spent many hours writing, and dreaming of becoming an author. Olive was tragically killed in an accident while riding her bicycle.

Martha barely knew Olive. Martha barely knows herself. She is simply trying to survive in junior high, with the discovery of her attraction to boys and the propensity for embarrassing situations that make the world feel as if it is about to end. Martha really only thinks about herself...that is, until Olive's mother hands Martha a note that Olive wrote about her, before she died.

This coming-of-age story follows a summer family vacation to the ocean where Martha learns about death, living, boys, and how one can have the best moment of their lives and worst moment all in the same day. It is not overly dramatic, nor does it shy away from difficult themes or topics.

I found myself laughing with, pitying, and growing alongside Martha. Told through the lens of a tween, Henkes reminds all of us what it was like to be 12.

NOTE: For a similar and just-as-marvelous story of growing and grieving, read Perch, Mrs. Sackets, and Crow's Nest by Karen Pavilicin (Alma Little, 2007. ISBN: 9781934617007).