Realistic and Contemporary Realistic Fiction

                                             

          

                                                         THE ROAD TO PARIS

                                                             Author: Nikki Grimes

“What’s the matter with Malcolm and me? Did we do something wrong? Is that why no one wants us?” (Pg. 16)

These poignant questions asked by Paris gives voice to similar questions that many children must have asked who have been abandonment or put in the foster care system by the adults in their lives. Paris and her brother Malcolm are placed in foster care because their alcoholic mother refuses to take

care of them. Life is miserable at the Boone house, their foster care home, especially for Paris. She is locked in the closet, punished and beaten for things that she did not do. It becomes so unbearable that Malcolm and Paris decide to run away and go their grandmother’s place. The grandmother wants no part in raising her grandchildren and calls Child Services. This time, however, the siblings are separated and placed in different homes. Paris is placed with the Lincoln family. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln have two boys of their own, and they are foster parents to a teenage girl. Paris enters their home with a great deal of anxiety, preparing herself for the worst. But within a few weeks, she starts to realize that the Lincoln’s are not like her mom or the Boones. She begins to blossom in the Lincoln household. She forges new bonds both at home and at school, and for the first time, she feels she has reached a place which she can call home, where she can set her roots. As it happens in books and in life, when everything is going fine something does happen that changes the equation, and as readers, we are waiting for the other shoe to drop. That is precisely what happens. Her mother is married, and she wants Paris and Malcolm to live with her. The decision is tough for Paris; on the one hand is the love and security that the Lincoln family provides and on the other hand is her love for her brother and her constant wish to be with him. She finally decides to give her mom a second chance.

This book by Nikki Grimes captures both the ugly and the humane side of the foster care system. As a parent, my heart cringed as I read about the atrocities that Paris had to go through at Boones’ house. I shared Paris’ anger at her grandmother for separating her from her brother. I wanted to comfort her as she begins her journey to her new foster home without the support of her brother. This book does manage to capture the fear, the uncertainty that children experience who have been abandoned by their parents. This book also showcases how children put in these difficult circumstances stop being kids and are required to act and make decisions like adults. Characters portrayed in this book are relatable, and the themes of family, relationships, and acceptance are explored through them. I was personally impressed with Malcolm. The way he protects his sister and always putting his sisters’ well-being above his surely won my heart. I would have loved to know more about his experiences and the journey that he had taken. However, Paris as the protagonist is captivating and inspiring. I was impressed by the way she analyzed her thoughts to come to her decision of going back to her mother. Her growing determination and self-confidence at the end of the book lead me to believe that she is ready to face anything that life throws at her.

                                              

                                               

                                                               Thunder Boy Jr.

                                                            Author: Sherman Alexie

                                                            Illustrator: Yuyi Morales

In this book we are introduced to a young Native American boy named Thunder Boy Smith Jr.; and yes! That is his name. A name that his father gave him and a name that he absolutely hates. He would have loved to have a name like Sam, which is normal and boring just like the names of his mother and sister. But unfortunately for him, he is named after his father,  who is called Thunder Boy Smith Sr. People's nickname for his father is “Big Thunder” (which sounds majestic), and they nicknamed the boy “small thunder,” which according to him makes him sound “like a burp or a fart.” What he really wants is a name that he can identify with, that celebrates his achievement. He comes up with names like ‘Mud in Ears,’ ‘Touch the Clouds,’ ‘Full of Wonder’, based on his likes and capabilities. He vents out his frustrations privately but never in the presence of his dad. He does not want to hurt his feelings. When he has all but given up on the hope of getting a new name, his father surprises him by suggesting that the time has come for him to have a name of his own. The boy is named “Lightning,” a name that the boy approves of. The book ends with the boy thinking that with ‘Thunder’ and ‘Lightening’ as their names, the father-son duo will create fantastic weather and their love for each other will be as bright and loud as their names.

 The name of a person is his identity, which makes him identifiable and recognizable in a sea of people. So it is understandable that the boy balks at the idea of sharing the same name with his father. Sherman Alexie, the author of this book, was also named after his father and he resented it just like the boy in the book. The conflict between the boy's love for his dad and his desire to have an identity of his own is beautifully captured in the book. I think this internal struggle will resonate with many young readers who may not be required adopt their parent's name like the boy, but may be expected to do things in life that are in complete contrast to their wishes. This book in simple words encourages everyone to find their own unique identity. The simple language and the subtle humor in the book will undoubtedly attract young readers to this book.

The illustrations of Yuyi Morales are captivating. Through her illustrations she not only brings to life the character of the boy but also the members of his family. Morales is known for her bold-colored illustrations. This book does have a pop of bright colors in some of the pages and the

lightening bolt at the end of the book is very dramatic. The illustrations are however a bit of  a departure from her usual style. The illustrations, in her own words, are made from the remains of an old run-down house. A digital palette was created using pieces of wood and clay that were collected from this house. She then used the colors and texture of the materials that she had collected to digitally paint and bring to life the world of Thunder Boy. Sherman Alexie’s text and Yuyi Morales’s beautiful illustrations are combined together to create a charming picturebook that celebrates the special relationship between the father and the son.