April 17, 2008
Hot Women in Children's Literature
Kind readers have refrained from pointing out my glaring neglect of this important award. Today you are all rewarded for your patience and forebearance!
I have just finished a page-turning historical novel, The Klipfish Code, (Houghton Mifflin) by Mary Casanova. I read it all yesterday afternoon, trying to finish it before my 6:15 yoga class. Everyone was on their mats when I rushed in. And I had a heck of a time clearing my mind of Mary's compelling story so that I could truly get one with the universe.
Confession: I had no idea Norway was invaded and occupied by the Germans in WWII. (My resident history expert filled me last night in over dinner -- it was a horrendous and brutal occupation). Mary's story features a 10-year-old girl, Marit, and her brother, Lars, sent away to stay with their Aunt Ingebor and Bestefor (grandfather) after their own village is bombed. Marit's parents stay behind to work in the Resistance and the children don't hear from them for months at a time. When Marit's aunt, also her teacher, spurns a courting Nazi officer, she is punished when, later, teachers are rounded up and sent to "re-education" camps. Marit herself struggles with her anger at her cold and seemingly uncaring grandfather, and her desire to do something.
Her chance comes when she happens upon a badly injured Resistance fighter and is asked to fulfill his mission. I don't think I took one breath during that portion of the book. Mary's use of details and action so thoroughly set me in that time and place, that I was shivering right along with Marit as she rowed her little boat to the next village to deliver an all important item.
In addition to being a terrific writer (check out her website for other titles), Mary is a darned good human being. She's warm and generous and has a great sense of humor. I've had the great good luck to cross paths with her twice, both times in Missouri.
So raise your glass of glugg (in honor of her Norwegian relatives!) to the newest Hot Woman of Children's Literature: Mary Casanova.
Posted by kirby at April 17, 2008 08:57 AM