The book “Stolen Names” is about the loneliness of a child who waits for the others to leave with the bell from school, who believes that pants flying across the locker room are his, who sees school as a new term of punishment. A child who is never called by name.
Because it was stolen from him at school. They call him a crush because he listens attentively to his teacher; they call him a coward because he doesn't give up.
They say it's his problem that he lives in his own world, that he sees the world differently from others. Written and illustrated by Spanish artist Tassies, winner of the Grand Prize at the Biennale of Illustrators in Bratislava and the National Illustration Award established by the SM Foundation, this small picture book appeals to young and adult readers not to hide in the convenience of indifference. But most importantly, it gives hope that things will change. Because there is sure to be at least one person who can recover a stolen name.
Reader's review
Paduya
I thought this weird picture book was meant to provide an answer. At least a faint hint. For me, all this is in the past (deeply buried past), but this topic is still important to me. Because at one time I was almost in the shoes of a schoolboy with a stolen name. And these lines about school-prison (“Every year brings a new sentence”) are very familiar to me. Unfortunately.
But the book did not give an answer. It seems that there is no answer to it. Or yes, but everyone has their own. One thing I'm sure of is that this book should be in every school library. In a few copies. For those who are being bullied. For those who poison. And those who passively watch someone being tortured.
I don't think that this book will hit any strings in those kids who bully other students. There's little hope for that. Unless their hearts are completely stale yet. In order for such a student to come to his senses, you need something stronger than a thin book. For example, a teacher with a capital letter who will work with the class and talk to them about such complex topics.
An “observer” schoolboy, after reading this book, can recognize the main character as his classmate. It is possible that next time he won't be his intercessor — too little time has passed to take such a step — to get out of his comfort zone and do something important and brave. Maybe the “observer” will decide on something else — he will offer friendship to his classmate. Friendship and your loyal shoulder. This means a lot to a school outcast. And it will definitely give him more strength.
As for the victim... I don't know how this book can help. A dark, gloomy reflection of his own life is what he'll find on these pages. A lump in his throat is what he'll feel after he closes Stolen Names.
There is no answer in it.
There's a problem.
There is an unresolved issue...
http://www.livelib.ru/book/1000483662
Reader's review
Mikhail Yasnov
I would pay special attention to this book.
I honestly am not a big supporter of picture books, books in which text takes up minimal space and is often seen as a pendant, an “explanation” of what is happening “on screen”.
In Tassies' book, a lapidary text pulls the blanket over it. Everything the book talks about is very serious. It is no coincidence that this tiny book has been provided with much more extensive explanations from publishers. This is right. The potential reader of this book is a small child, not only a primary school student, but also a preschooler, and the book invites him to think ahead of time about what awaits him in a couple of years. And not only joy and discovery await. Violence awaits, mockery awaits, indifferent awaits — and childish and teenage indifference can be much more painful and cruel than an adult.
The author of the book, Spanish artist Tassies, built the visual series rather harshly and unfriendly: I can imagine that “dark” illustrations will immediately displease a certain part of parents who are used to a bright and cheerful beginning in children's illustration. Still, take a closer look at these identical students with fruits instead of heads (nerds!) , take a closer look and read the atmosphere of today's ordinary school, where even boys dress like prisoners' striped uniforms. Your child will be absorbed in this atmosphere willy-nilly. Even if you enroll him in a good school, it will implicit the same problems and attitudes that Tassies writes about and portrays.
A normal child should learn to resist. And a book”Stolen names” contributes to this, once again emphasizing the intrinsic value of human life, regardless of the darkest circumstances of fate. As her nameless character says at the end of the book, “Thanks for reminding me of that. What is your name?”
http://www.labirint.ru/books/280580/
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