Genre 4: Informational Text - The Wall
Posted by Tamra S , Wednesday, July 14, 2010 1:19 PM
Bibliographic Data
Sis, Peter. 2007. The Wall - Growing up Behind the Iron Curtain. New York: Frances Foster Books.
Summary and Analysis
In this part autobiographical, part historic informational text, Peter Sis transports the reader into his life growing up in Prague, Czechoslovakia during the Russian occupancy and Cold War. Along the bottom of the pages, Sis enlightens the reader about his development in drawing as well as other things Sis became involved with during his childhood and adolescence. The rest of the story is told in Sis' drawings, most of which are black and white with color used strategically to make points, such as the red flags to represent Communism, and the use of bright and lively colors to reflect Western ideas and culture, which were not condoned in his Communist society. Along with the detailed drawings, Sis provides commentary on what the images represent, as well as dates of events and what activities were considered "compulsory," such as taking Russian language classes, joining the Young Pioneers, political indoctrination, and displaying red flags on state holidays. Other activities, such as practicing religion, displaying Western flags, art besides Socialist Realism, and Western radio were discouraged, prohibited, or banned.
Interspersed throughout the text are double-page spreads with entries from Sis' own journals from his youth. They reveal a child's view of the world and the happenings of the time. They also expose Sis' thoughts and desire to rebel against an oppressive and restrictive life under Russian Communism. In one entry from June 1977, Sis pondered the question, "Can we hope things are ever going to get better?" Fortunately, they did. Sis concludes his book with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Cold War, and a snapshot of the events that unfolded after the fall of the Communist system, such as various countries gaining their freedom.
Sis offers an honest and insightful perspective on life inside the grip of Russian Communism in Czechoslovakia following World War II. The reader gets his child and adult views of the events during the course of his growing up in it. For an outsider with limited knowledge of this time period, it is informative and humbling to realize the freedoms of growing up in the United States during some of the later events depicted in the text. To read this provides the uninformed outsider an insider's point of view and the realization of the significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall. This book is more properly suited for grades 4 and up, due to the historic context that may be lost on younger audiences.
Awards and Reviews
*2008: Robert F. Sibert Medal and Caldecott Honor Book
*Starred review in Publishers Weekly: Born out of a question posed to Sis (Play, Mozart, Play!)by his children (Are you a settler, Dad?), the author pairs his remarkable artistry with journal entries, historical context and period photography to create a powerful account of his childhood in Cold War-era Prague. ©Reed Business Information.
*Starred review in Booklist: . . . a powerful combination of graphic novel and picture book.
Connections
*This title is complementary to a study of world history and could easily be incorporated in the middle or high school History classroom as a first-hand account of historic events.
*For upper elementary grade students, the book can be read aloud, followed by a discussion of the illustrations, and how Sis uses color to make points and why he depicts the Soviets as pig-like in suits. Notice with the students how they are inserted in illustrations as spying on people.
*Discuss with students how even in light of outside oppression, Sis' thoughts and dreams could not be controlled.
*Use this title as an introduction to research on this time period for students studying world history.
References:
Amazon.com Editorial Reviews. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0374347018/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
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