The Wall (Not Pink Floyd's)

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís is a biographical picture book written in 2007 about the mid-Europe's lifestyle at the beginning of the Cold War (okay, maybe it is related to Pink Floyd's writings!) and moves through time effortlessly. The book is about a little boy whose home is in Prague, and he loves art. "At first he drew shapes. Then he drew people" (Sís, 2007). This book walks us through time in different countries as we visually see history being retold. The Wall is culturally diverse, and teaches readers what happened in that side of the world throughout the eyes of a boy that most people can relate to.

Our text describes The Wall as a memoir, but I feel that this book is just as much about history as it is the boy in the story, so I have included both sets of guidelines. On page 24 of our text book, nonfiction books are to have "clarity, accuracy, and stimulating writing" and the illustrations "clarifies and extends facts and concepts" and "artful designs". The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain definitely meets all of these standards. Also, for biographies, text must have "authentic, vivid representation" and illustrations must be "authentic images of life segments". While I am uncertain of Sís' life, I cannot conclude that these have been met. On page 306, figure 10.1 provides more insight as to what we should be finding in nonfiction books:

Accuracy

• Facts are current and complete. When appropriate there is a balance of fact and theory, with differing viewpoints represented.
• The scope is appropriate to both the intended audience and the subject.
• The author's expertise and resources are apparent.

Organization

• Ideas are clearly developed, presented in a logical sequence, and in an understandable and appropriate fashion.
• The author indicates interrelationships between facts and between facts and theories

Design

• The format of the book is attractive and reader-friendly, with appropriate illustrations that are strategically placed.
• Illustrations illuminate the facts and concepts

Style

• The writing is interesting, revealing the author's enthusiasm about the subject
• The terminology is appropriate. The writer uses rich language that stimulates a reader's curiosity

Absolutely all of these requirements are met through The Wall. This book is engaging, informative, non-biased, and recaps that what happened throughout history in Mid-Europe. "Through text and brilliant illustrations, Sís presents a moving portrait of one boy's struggle for freedom as well as his artistic freedom of expression, which represent the Czech nation itself"  (Galda, Cullinan & Sipe, 2011). The literary devices also enhance the book's attractiveness. The setting and plot are vivid, accurate, and unbiased. This message is allowing children to understand that while these things were happening over the years, so many positive things happened as well. "But out of the dark came a glimmer of hope. The Beach Boys arrived. America to the rescue! [June 17, 1969. The Prague concert takes place in Lucerna Hall]" (Sís, 2007). The style is factual, providing only true information to readers. The theme, I believe, overall, is positivity can overcome any battle. The illustrations are accurate yet appealing to children, drawing in their close attention.

With this book, I could ask my students in the 4th, 5th, or 6th grade to draw what they think it was like under Communist rule in the early 20th century. What would their lives have been like? I could also ask them to perhaps relate the boy in the story to our lives now, because America has been at war for over ten years, so a lot of children have never lived in a peaceful America. Even though our streets are not being threatened by Communist or other dictatorship rule, families all across the nation are still being affected by the war. We could also inspire the students to do something for the troops, like accumulate enough items in the class to perhaps send a care package. All of these ideas could be done once my class reads The Wall.

My reader response questions would be:

1. We read that the author was under complete control of the Soviets. Have you, someone you know, or someone you read about that has experienced life like this? How did these experiences influence your outlook on life?
2. "The author states that some of his friends and family who live in what is now the Czech Republic are not happy with the image of their country as detailed in The Wall. Are there any events in the history of the United States that you would not want others in the world to know about" (Free Library of Philadelphia, 2012)?
3. Since this book talks so much about government control, is there anything you feel that the government is too in control of in America? Why or why not?
4. The Wall used a lot of the color red when portraying life under Soviet rule. "What color(s) and objects do you associate with your day to day life in the United States" (Free Library of Philadelphia, 2012)?

Personally I chose this book because I feel that it was an accurate yet fun way to attract readers' attention. Having previously studied Europe's history in the early to late 20th century, I hoped that The Wall was actually about this topic when I read it in a list in our text. As I researched it, I was immediately drawn and went to the library that day. I had to read it. Since this is on a sensitive subject, albeit important, I would confer with my fellow educators and administrators before reading this aloud to my students, but I would hope that they would find it appropriate, as the author remains nonjudgmental and unbiased.

References

           Free Library of Philadelphia. (2012, November 08). Discussion Questions For The Wall by Peter Sis. Retrieved from http://libwww.freelibrary.org/onebook/obop10/Discussion_questions_for_The_Wall.pdf 

           Galda, L., Cullinan, B. E., & Sipe, L. R. (2011). Literature and the Child. (7th ed., pp. 206-228). Belmont: Wadsworth Pub Co. 

            Sís, P. (2007). The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain. (1st ed.). China: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR).