Bibliographic
Data
Bondoux, Anne-Laure,
Y. Maudet, and Kenny Holcomb. 2010. A
Time of Miracles. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 9780385907774
Brief
Plot Summary
Koumail’s story
begins at 7 years old in Caucasus during the nineties. It is a time of war and
for him and his guardian, Gloria, it is a time of poverty. They are refugees
making their way to France, but the connection between Gloria and Koumail is
not what he thought all of these years.
Critical
Analysis
Anne-Laure Bondoux is
native to France making this title international literature.
Although Koumail’s
culture and background is ambiguous we do know that he speaks Russian. Gloria,
his strong female protector, tells him that he is a French boy rescued from a
train wreck as a baby. He lives a transient lifestyle exposing him and readers
alike to an amalgam of cultures, Muslims, Gypsies, Africans, and many others. Often
times his friends do not speak the same language as him. We also learn about
his culture of a being refugee, though each refugee’s story is different there
are parallels of loss and suffering. After all common ground is why he ends up
with Prudence Wilson, a fellow refugee.
Gloria and Koumail
have great depths of character. They are certainly not portrayed as offensive
stereotypes. The many cultures encountered in this book are also respectfully
portrayed with great humanity and depth. When Koumail initially encounters the
gypsy children it was during a fistfight, but Hoop Earring becomes a good
friend who teaches him about survival. Only when the characters refer to
Koumail’s ultimate destination, France, do people address it as if they know
very little about it, which is exactly the point. France is safe place far from
the war.
A unique theme of
this story is the lesson that bonds do not have anything to do with knowing
names, knowing what someone looks like, or even knowing the truth. This controversial
theme will surely encourage debate and thought from readers. Koumail’s own name
is in question. He refers to many people by a distinctive characteristic (Hoop
Earring) yet is very close to them. He doesn’t know what Gloria’s brothers look
like, but they are important figures in his life as he recites stories of them
throughout his lifetime. Fatima does not ever see what Koumali looks like since
her eyes are closed, but their goodbye was heartbreaking. Finally, knowing the truth
does not matter. Koumail’s past is a mystery because it is a lie, but it is one
told out of protection. Gloria and Koumail comfort one another with the line,
“There’s nothing wrong with making up stories to make life more bearable”
(p.75)
Awards/Best
Books
Mildred
L. Batchelder Award, 2011 Winner United States
Choices,
2011 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Kirkus
Book Review Stars, October 15, 2010
Notable
Children's Books, 2011 ALSC American Library Association
Publishers
Weekly Book Review Stars, November 8, 2010
School
Library Journal Book Review Stars, January 2011 Cahners
YALSA Best Fiction
for Young Adults, 2012 American Library Association
Review Excerpt(s)
“Bondoux creates
indelible scenes of resilient children who, like Koumail, find strength in
painful memories.” -Gillian Engberg (Booklist, Dec. 15, 2010 (Vol. 107, No. 8))
“It is a painful and
complicated journey, but the real theme of the power of love and devotion is
woven into every page.” -Sharon Kelly (Children's Literature)
“A beautifully
cadenced tribute to maternal love and the power of stories amid contemporary
political chaos.” -Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, October 15, 2010 (Vol. 78, No. 20))
Connections
Bondoux’s Official
Website (must translate for English)
Along with reading
this book conduct a geography lesson of the region. Have students select news
articles of the regions and summarize them.
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