Before we get to today’s spotlight I have a question I just have to ask…

Do you want to build a snowman?

Haha!  If you’re like me, you not only don’t particularly want to build a snowman, you’re also so sick of the snow that you’re ready to go into a full fangirl squee at the first sight of spring.  So, I declare this day our first sighting, and wish you a happy First of March!

And now, Homesick: My Own Story, by Jean Fritz!  This one’s a definite blast from the past, and a re-read for me.  At first I thought surely it was too dated for modern kids, but in fact I found much of it timeless, and even perhaps more relevant today.  Why does it feel dated?  Well, imho, the cover doesn’t help:

At least, the one I generally see.  And for another thing, I found it amusing that I had to explain to my kids–when they noticed that while foreigners from America weren’t welcome in China at the time, foreigners from Russia were–that it was because the two countries saw themselves as sisters in Communism.  It was interesting to realize that today’s generation might intellectually be aware of that history, but has to be reminded of its significance.  In that way, I suppose this book provides a nice window into our not-so-distant global history.  But, other aspects I think would hit home in a more personal way.

Young Jean feels separated intellectually and emotionally from her parents.  They know what it’s like to live in China as American adults.  She knows what it’s like to have been born there, and to feel that she never belongs anywhere.  Moreover, she knows what it’s like to long for a home she’s never seen.  This isolation fuels her wish for a sister, and I think is very relatable to the middle school generation of today.  First off, because their family structure is often quite different from that which their parents may have had.  Smaller families, and mingled families after divorce, can leave kids wondering if their parents ‘get’ them or know what their lives are like.  There’s also been technological changes that can bring kids and parents together, but also separate them.  I could be wrong, but I strongly suspect that middle schoolers of today could readily identify with the feeling Jean had that her parents were not wired in such a way as to understand her experiences.

Additionally, Jean struggles with the duality of both loving the Chinese people and China as a country, while also knowing that to many of the Chinese people around her, she represents the ‘foreign devils’ that are mucking up their country.  This duality of spirit, or being torn between two ways of thinking, is something else which middle schoolers and adults alike struggle with.  We are all so often torn between two ways of thinking.  Watching Jean grow through her experiences and come to understand her love for China even as she embraces new opportunities in the US can help readers make sense of their own struggles.

Lastly, the book’s subtle wit and humor are priceless, and will probably be especially appreciated by adults.  At the end of the day Homesick: My Own Story is a tale of one child’s highly unusual yet very sympathetic coming of age.  That she manages it despite sorrow and big bumps in the road is in itself encouraging.

So, that’s my take on it!  Let’s see what Apricot-kitty thought of it:

“There was too much water.  Just like there’s too much snowman on this page.  However, the many parts that were focused too much on large and small bodies of water and rivers were at least improved by the sweet little ‘junk’ boats, which I rather liked.  All in all, not a bad book.”

Sorry, you’ll have to excuse her.  Someone’s grumpy when it snows.  For my post on Mommy Authors of late last week, in which I liken finding a (very small) gold mine in our basement to writing, check here.  For more Marvelous Middle Grade Monday reviews, spotlights, interviews and giveaways, go to Shannon Messenger’s blog.  And happy reading!

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