By Allen Say http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/allensay/
1995 Houghton Mifflin Company, New York
ISBN 0395615909
Annotation
An adolescent Asian American boy, Sam, wakes up after his elderly grandfather has been taken away to find he looks like a little gray haired old man. Through his day people in his life treat him differently, although he feels the same as he always did.
Personal Reaction
What a lovely book. The oil paintings take the entire opposite page up from corner to corner with Sam's experience. There are so many elements to quantify in this story. This transformation from young boy to old man, specifically after his grandfather is taken away. The way he feels inside verses the way Sam is perceived and looks. On my first read through it was hard for me to determine whether the books message was about ageism, racism, or to physical judgements and how people perceive the way others look. On the dustcover it states clearly that it is about societies ideas of how to treat people because of the way they look. I guess that really sums it up. For older readers this could be a branching out point for this topic, which is sure to head straight for a more detailed analysis.
Oil Paint
Old Age
Fitting in
Bullying
Confidence
Asian American
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