Jacqueline Woodson's Coming On Home Soon is an intimate, beautifully well written story about a little girl who suffers from separation from her mother during World War II.
Ada Ruth’s mother had to go away to Chicago to work during a time of war, when women were needed to take over the jobs of men who went to fight for their country. Ada Ruth and her Grandmother are left behind to continue on with daily life. They try to keep their routine and try to find strength in one another. As the days go on they both long for Ada Ruth’s mother to return.
I can see why this touching story was a Caldecott Honor Book in 2005. The words are beautifully written and tells a touching story that children can relate to. It is heartfelt and honest.
Nonetheless, the illustrator E. B. Lewis should not go unnoticed. Lewis did a remarkable job capturing the sadness of the story with it’s almost photo-realistic illustrations. The illustrations themselves are gorgeous, but when paired with the words take on such a deeper meaning. One of the saddest parts of the book is where the reader sees the girl and her grandmother at a window staring though it waiting for the postman, hoping for a letter from Ada Ruth’s mother. The text reads, “When the postman goes on by without stopping, Grandma says ‘Hush now. Don’t start crying.’ But her eyes are sad. Like she’s wanting to cry too.” I almost had to grab a tissue myself! This is one of the best examples that show how many readers can relate to this story. Many children’s mothers and fathers have to leave home to keep this country safe or take on a job in another area to keep a roof over their family’s head. They are truly missed by their loved ones. Even though this book is set during World War II, when I read this part of the book I could imagine thousands of little boys and girls who stare out the window hoping that they too will get a letter from their mother or father. They wait and hope that that the letter will state that they are coming on home.
No comments:
Post a Comment