The Wall

The Wall by Eve Bunting, ill. by Ronald Himler

            Picture Book—Controversial Book

            Grades 1-4

            Rating: 4 Stars

            Summary: A boy and his father visit the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. They have come to find the name of the boy’s grandfather, who he never had a chance to meet.

            The Wall is an emotionally touching story as the boy and his father visit the Vietnam War Memorial. I felt compassion for the young boy because he never got to meet his grandfather. I know that death and loss is difficult to cope with, but I thought that Bunting addressed this issue in a particularly gentle way. The father and son stand at the wall just reflecting the life that once was. Having experienced loss in my life, I can relate to the father and know that feeling of longing just to see that person again. However, I think this experience was more difficult for the son because he never knew his grandfather and witnesses firsthand this relationship that he longs for as he watches another grandfather walk by with his grandchild. As other people come and go at the memorial, the story reminds us of how life is a treasure that is here today and gone tomorrow. However, as each person leaves behind a memory or artifact, this reminded me of the legacy that we leave behind for our family and friends that remain. The father is able to reflect on his father’s life and I think this message comes full circle in that although the grandson has never met his grandfather, he metaphorically comes to meet him for the first time at the memorial.

            In all honesty, I cannot really understand why this book would be controversial. The Vietnam War was a difficult time in our country’s history, but it’s a part of who we are as Americans and we cannot change that. I don’t see why we would want to change that. Therefore, I would not hesitate to use this book with my students. I think it is a great way to honor all those who have fallen for our country and how they valiantly laid down their lives. As the boy and his father reflect on the grandfather’s life, they are proud of him, and I would want my students to look back and feel the same way. Tunnell and Jacobs warn that teachers must be “willing to defend” their book choices in the classroom (p. 206). If a parent came to me with a concern about their child reading this book, I would try to explain that the Vietnam War is a part of our history and our children should know about the men that went and fought for our country, despite the controversy that surrounded this war at the time. Our focus needs to be on their sacrifice and not on the bitterness and opposition of the people during the war. 

Whitewash

Whitewash by Ntozake Shange

            Picture Book—Controversial

            Grades PreK-4

            Rating: 5 Stars

            Summary: This true story is about a young African-American girl named Helene-Angel who is attacked one day by a Caucasian gang when she is walking home with her older brother Mauricio. The gang spray-paints Helene-Angel’s face white, and she is traumatized by this encounter.

            Whitewash was an eye-opening book for me because it brings up a topic that most people shy away from—racial conflict. I realized as I was reading that I cannot relate to the experiences of Helene-Angel and her brother, Mauricio. They were innocently walking home from school, minding their own business, and were both brutally attacked by a gang of Caucasian guys. I have no experience whatsoever in what that must have felt like for them. Growing up in a white middle class family, I don’t know anything beyond what was the norm in the area where I grew up. As I walked down the street or in the halls of my high school, I simply blended in. However, Helene-Angel and Mauricio are racial minorities and face discrimination for no reason other than the color of their skin. This situation just made me cringe as I was reading because I don’t know what that feels like, but it is reality for so many people. In many ways, Helene-Angel’s experience makes me ashamed to be the same ethnicity as the guys that spray-painted her face. I was overjoyed at the end of the story to see that Helene-Angel had the support of her family and friends of diverse cultures and that she rose above what they did to become a stronger girl.

            A couple of years ago, I would probably have said that I wouldn’t have this book in my classroom because I had a fear of dealing with parents who were upset or angry about literature that challenges social norms. Now, I can’t imagine having a classroom library without books like Whitewash, which challenges what society feels about issues surrounding race. As Tunnell and Jacobs point out, “Avoiding the harsh and often unsavory realities of life does not make them go away” (p. 206). I feel like this statement speaks strongly about the mission and responsibility we have as teachers to inform our students and not to ignore the issues of this world that children will undoubtedly face some day. Literature can be used to teach students to stand up for what is right. We will be doing a disservice to our students if we try to mask these issues and “protect” them, and Whitewash is a great example of a story that models how to be better than the racial discrimination that is all around us.