Megan's Year

September 19, 2011
In this addition to the Tales of the World series, 10-year-old Megan and her family spend the summers crisscrossing Ireland in their caravan. Megan loves never knowing what her family will discover next and meeting other Travelers along the way, though she sometimes feels that her life is "too mixed up." When the winter comes, her family heads back to Dublin, where they live in a cramped "tigin" cottage. At school, Megan is harassed by other students for her family's nomadic lifestyle, but although her brothers want to stay in the city when they grow up, she dreams of being a Traveler for the rest of her life. Peck's (A Nickel, a Trolley, a Treasure House) loose, smudgy paintings convey the joy and freedom of Megan's family's time on the road, as well as their struggles to maintain dignity while impoverished in a city "where there's nothing to do that doesn't cost money." Whelan (The Listeners) offers a thought-provoking account of a treasured yet challenging way of life, and the difficulties inherent in reconciling two very different personal identities. Ages 6â10.

August 1, 2011

The road less traveled makes for a difficult path for an itinerant family.

Ten-year-old Megan and her relatives move their caravan as work demands. Options to feed their boisterous clan turn scarce with the end of summer, and these Irish Travelers sacrifice freedom for the restrictions--but opportunities--Dublin provides. Those outside of their close-knit society (negatively referred to as "buffers," who in turn refer to the Travelers as "tinkers") bully Megan, though she receives compassion from her teacher, Sister Joseph. Conflict builds slightly as the older siblings question whether to embrace or reject their familiar way of life. The text varies in effectiveness; lengthy paragraphs at times plod through this tumultuous year. Striking reflections, however, yield startling insights into their lives: "If we're hungry there's a building where you ride an elevator to an office and they give you money for food." Traditional slang scattered within the narration separates Megan's experience from those in mainstream culture. Peck's lush, rural landscapes prove most effective. Too often, characters' lids cover their eyes, and little is done to paint individual personalities. The brief author's note and glossary hints at the historical strife surrounding this disenfranchised community.

This portrayal of a rarely visited group enjoys mixed success. (Picture book. 7-10)

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January 1, 2012
Cook focuses on a boy in the south of France who dreams of following in his chef father's footsteps. Year is about an Irish girl whose family members are nomadic Travelers. Whelan aptly describes the children's attitudes toward their unusual lives. Both books' illustrations are eye-pleasing and highlight unique aspects of each culture. Glos.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)