This moving picture book relates in just a few pages the overwhelming effect of war on a six year old. Suzy is told her dad is going to something called a war in someplace called Viet Nam. She cannot comprehend the kind of jungle he’s in nor how long he will be away. She marks the passage of time with seasonal references. She relishes the postcards he sends, but when they stop coming, she becomes concerned, especially as she watches the news and sees the realities of the place he is in and realizes it’s nothing like she had imagined. In an abrupt turn, her father returns but she realizes he has changed. But just as things have changed, so have they remained the same. The story ends just as it had begun with Suzy and her father sharing a favorite poem. The childlike cartoon illustrations capture the mood and tone of the story impeccably. The wordless spreads offer insight into Suzy’s greatest fears and are just a perfect touch. Suzanne Collins’ foray into picture books, based on her own childhood, is a winner. Children who find themselves today in similar circumstances will find comfort and support in this poignant remembrance. It is a must-purchase for any library. this is an excellent book, especially if a child is actually living, or has lived the same situation as Suzy, with her father deployed to Viet Nam for a year when she was just 6. The illustrations do a great job of showing us what went on in Suzy's dreams and are whimsical so as to balance the seriousness of the subject matter. It's quite a poignant book, masterfully drawing the tear by tying the end back to the beginning, when Suzy tells how her father likes to read her Ogden Nash poems, one in particular about courage, but the significance has changed dramatically by the year inbetween.
What do You think about Un Año En La Selva (2013)?
Very interesting autobiographical picture book.
—HARSHIL
