Skating with the Statue of Liberty

February 1, 2016
Meyer's first book, Black Radishes (2010), was about a family's escape from the Nazis. This sequel may feel like a relief, at first. It would be possible to read the first half of this book and decide that it's a story with no conflict. Or, rather, there's conflict everywhere: poverty, war, and racism; it's just that very little of the conflict happens to Gustave. His family has moved to America from France, and they have very little money. Gustave's struggles are almost mundane. He can't afford the long pants his friends are wearing, and--because of his limited English skills--other students try to trick him into saying rude things to a pretty girl. More often than not, he's pretty happy. He's made new friends and found a job as a delivery boy. The story is a series of small incidents. Some of the best scenes are tiny jokes about Chiquita bananas and candy bars. (Gustave has trouble making sense of the word "butterfingers.") But those moments add up, and readers may gradually start to think of the characters as close friends. The later chapters of the book involve real danger. Gustave and his best friend, a black girl, are caught in the middle of a riot. And by then, the conflict might feel like it's happening to people the readers have always known. A sweet book that readers will find sneaks up on them. (Historical fiction. 9-12)

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February 1, 2016

Gr 4-7-In this follow-up to Black Radishes (Delacorte, 2010), Meyer continues the story of a French Jew named Gustave, now 12, who emigrates with his parents to safety in the United States during World War II. Based on memories from the author's father, the story rings true as Gustave starts school at the Joan of Arc Junior High in New York City. His challenges learning English and navigating American culture make for a difficult start for the protagonist, along with his worries about his best friend, Marcel, whom he left behind in France to an uncertain fate. His friendship with September Rose, an African American girl at his school, makes his life easier in some ways, but he also encounters threats for being friends with someone of a different race. Eventually, he joins a French Boy Scout troop, which bring him pleasure, and he begins to fit in at school as his English improves. Letters from a friend in France, though censored by the Nazis, bring news from home and help Gustave appreciate the freedoms he now enjoys. Meyer brings in some very realistic details to the story, such as Gustave's mother's struggle at the grocery store, where bargaining is not customary as it was in France; the family's first experience with a banana; and Gustave's negative reaction to police officers. Gustave is disappointed to encounter racism and religious intolerance in America, where he finds "liberty and justice for all" is not always the case. September Rose has a teenage brother heavily involved in the Double V Campaign against racial segregation. The interaction between black teens and the New York City police is disturbingly similar to current newspaper headlines. Despite the heavy topics covered, the everyday details of the story guide readers, allowing them to enjoy following Gustave's entry into the United States and his growth toward appreciating all that's ahead for him in his new home. Meyer doesn't try to pretty up Gustave's experience, lending this work a strong note of authenticity. VERDICT Although not a book likely to fly off the shelves, it should still be considered a first purchase for its strong historical content, rich descriptions, and smart subtleties about the links between history and current events.-Kathy Kirchoefer, Henderson County Public Library, NC

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