Overview
In a small mountain village, a young girl named Shining is born. As she grows, Shining runs, plays, and smiles like other children, but she does so silently. The villagers fear and shun her, but Shining remains silent and waits for the right moment, and for the right sound, to come—a sound so true, it will win the hearts of her people . . . and win Shining her rightful place as their leader.
Newbery Honor author Julius Lester has created a powerful tale about the importance of remaining true to one's self and finding one's voice. John Clapp's luminous paintings add a breathtaking dimension to Shining, a character as distinct and enchanting as the world she inhabits.
Notes by the author and the illustrator supplement the text.
A young girl who has not uttered a sound since birth is shunned by the people in her village, until they realize how special she is.
Synopsis
This dramatic original tale set in in African village evokes the Ugly Ducking story in this telling of a girl who is rejected by her people, but returns to become their leader.
Publishers Weekly
As he writes in an introductory note, Lester (To Be a Slave) explains that just as a composer creates variations around a musical theme, this story is "a set of variations around the theme of the color black," and that he has aimed to create figures of speech that associate black with "goodness and beauty." In this goal he succeeds; however, his story feels more cryptic than intriguing. In a mountain village, a baby is born who is "black as wisdom." Since "she is so black her skin shines bright like the sun," she is called Shining. But the baby makes no sounds at all and remains silent as she grows older. Fearing that "an evil spirit has taken her voice," Shining's mother carries her into the forest to find "The One." The latter whispers to Shining that she will meet her "on the other side of Silence." Much later, after the village has punished the mute girl, The One anoints Shining as her successor, whereupon the girl utters a "wordless song as soft as blackness." Making striking use of light, shadow and splashes of vivid color, Clapp (The Prince of Butterflies) mixes abstract and realistic styles to capture the tale's mystery and emotion. Some of Clapp's work demonstrates extraordinary proficiency, e.g., a portrait of tiny Shining held by her mother as they make their way through an almost pitch-black forest. But there is little in either the art or the text to welcome a child's imagination. Ages 6-9. (Oct.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
From the Publisher
"This elemental tale has power."—The Horn BookPublishers Weekly
As he writes in an introductory note, Lester (To Be a Slave) explains that just as a composer creates variations around a musical theme, this story is "a set of variations around the theme of the color black," and that he has aimed to create figures of speech that associate black with "goodness and beauty." In this goal he succeeds; however, his story feels more cryptic than intriguing. In a mountain village, a baby is born who is "black as wisdom." Since "she is so black her skin shines bright like the sun," she is called Shining. But the baby makes no sounds at all and remains silent as she grows older. Fearing that "an evil spirit has taken her voice," Shining's mother carries her into the forest to find "The One." The latter whispers to Shining that she will meet her "on the other side of Silence." Much later, after the village has punished the mute girl, The One anoints Shining as her successor, whereupon the girl utters a "wordless song as soft as blackness." Making striking use of light, shadow and splashes of vivid color, Clapp (The Prince of Butterflies) mixes abstract and realistic styles to capture the tale's mystery and emotion. Some of Clapp's work demonstrates extraordinary proficiency, e.g., a portrait of tiny Shining held by her mother as they make their way through an almost pitch-black forest. But there is little in either the art or the text to welcome a child's imagination. Ages 6-9. (Oct.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
"Once upon a time and long, long ago, in a mountain village far away..." begins this strange, mystical tale of a girl called Shining, who can hear but makes no sound. Her troubled mother takes her to The One who guards and tends souls, who tells Shining that she will meet her on "the other side of Silence." When she is twelve, Shining is not allowed to join the other girls of her age in The Parting, when they go away for a year to learn to become women. She falls into a sort of coma. When the girls return, everyone is astounded at the arrival of The One, who calls for her "daughter." Shining comes forth, to be embraced by The One. A wordless song comes from Shining, telling the people "she was there to listen." She is robed in "red like love" and declared The One who will be, as she and The One walk off to the mountains. However odd the story, Clapp's imagination visualizes it naturalistically using graphite, charcoal, chalk and pastels in misty tints with occasional red accents, enveloping the double pages with emotion-stirring imagery. Shining herself seems very real, her face and others sometimes emerging from the mist. Lengthy notes by both the author and the illustrator help somewhat to understand the story. Although the characters are black, the story aims to be universal. 2003, Silver Whistle/Harcourt, Ages 6 to 9.— Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz