The Forgiveness Garden

Although very brief, this look at the potential for peace inspired by the original garden in Beirut, Lebanon, is a beautiful and moving story. Two neighboring villages know nothing but strife. When Karune, a young man, throws a stone that injures Sama, things seem poised to continue as usual. Narrator Barbara Rosenblat flawlessly captures the vivid text, regional accents, and shifting emotions of the young couple and the residents of both villages. When Sama decides to create a garden to promote goodwill, only Karune showing REAL bravery, sides with her. It is then that both sides realize they have a great deal in common. In conclusion, Rosenblat skillfully asks the villagers--and listeners--a provocative question, which adds poignancy to the timeless story. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

October 8, 2012
Two fictional warring villages, Vayam and Gamte, sit across a stream from each other. When a Gamte boy named Karune throws a rock and injures a Vayam girl, revenge is expected. But the girl, Sama, forgives her attacker and uses rocks to begin building a garden the two communities can share. Thompson’s (the Little Quack series) allegorical tale, inspired by a real Garden of Forgiveness in Lebanon and an educational movement of the same name, comes to life in Hale’s (The East-West House) stylized collages. The browns, grays, and fiery pinks of the initial pages give way to softer pastels; the final spread shows Sama and Karune in silhouette sitting on the garden wall, surrounded by flowers. The closing sentence, “What do you think they said?” offers a good jumping-off place for discussions about conflict. The distinct people and place names have their origin in ancient Sanskrit; e.g., Sama derives from the word for forgiveness. A concise, potent read that imparts the message that violence need not result in more of the same and that it only takes one person to effect that change. Ages 4–6.