2018 School Spending Survey Report
The Red Pencil
illus. by Shane W. Evans. 336p. Little, Brown. Sept. 2014. Tr $17. ISBN 9780316247801; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780316247818.
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Gr 5–7—Set during the early years of the Darfur conflict, this stunning collaboration between Coretta Scott King Award winners Pinkney and Evans tells a moving story of the scarring effects of war but also brings a message of hope and inspiration. Twelve-year-old Amira wishes to attend school, but her mother, "born into a flock of women/locked in a hut of tradition," does not support the girl's aspirations and expects her to only marry and bear children. In contrast, Amira's father praises her talents and gifts her with a special "turning-twelve twig" that she uses to sketch her dreams in the goz (sand). These dreams are brutally shattered when the Janjaweed militants invade and cut a swath of terror through her village. After enduring a heartbreaking loss, Amira and her family must rally their strength in order to make the treacherous journey to the Kalma refugee camp. There, the girl is given a red pencil; this simple gift reveals a world of endless possibilities and imbues the tween with a strong sense of agency. Amira's thoughts and drawings are vividly brought to life through Pinkney's lyrical verse and Evans's lucid line illustrations, which infuse the narrative with emotional intensity. An engaging author note provides background on the political situation in Sudan and explains the powerful motivations for telling this story. An essential purchase that pairs well with Sylvia Whitman's The Milk of Birds (S. & S., 2013).—Lalitha Nataraj, Escondido Public Library, CAThe first part of this vivid verse novel, set from September 2003 to March 2004, celebrates twelve-year-old Amira's life on her family farm in Darfur, Sudan. After a violent attack by the Sudanese militia, Amira and her family become refugees. Pinkney uses onomatopoeia, rhythm, and prismatic imagery to describe Amira's feelings. Evans's spare illustrations provide valuable visual context and a much-needed sense of buoyancy. Glos.
The first part of this vivid novel, set from September 2003 to March 2004, celebrates twelve-year-old Amira's life on her family farm in Darfur, Sudan. Her first-person prose poems and lively childlike sketches focus on her Muma and Dando and little sister Leila; her friend Halima who leaves the village to attend school; her favorite sheep Nali; and the other elements that make up her world: wheat and tomatoes, sparrows and the wind storm called the haboob. But whispers of the Janjaweed (Sudanese militia) infect even this happy childhood, and in a violent attack, everything changes. Dando is dead, Nali is dead, and Amira and her family become refugees, traveling by night to a displaced persons camp. Life there is marked by deprivation, and Amira's voice becomes choked off by the violence she witnessed. But when an aid worker gives Amira a red pencil and a tablet of paper, Amira's drawings find a way to lead her out of sorrow and back to life. Pinkney's verse uses onomatopoeia, rhythm, and prismatic imagery to describe Amira's feelings. Evans's illustrations keep on the spare side but provide valuable visual context and a much-needed sense of buoyancy. Throughout, text and drawings make Amira's experiences seem real to young readers without overwhelming them, allowing them to share in her hardship and eventual renewal. Back matter includes an author's note, glossary, and pronunciation guide. anita l. burkam
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