A. Bibliography
Engle, Margarita. The Wild Book. New York: Harcourt Children's Books. 2012.
ISBN: 0547581319
B. Plot Summary
In this story of a little girl and her struggle with dyslexia, we meet Fefa, a hardworking and determined little girl. Fefa's mother refuses to believe her child will never read or write. The doctor diagnoses her with word blindness. To help Fefa overcome her word blindness, her mother gives her a blank book. It is intended to be a garden of words where she can place her seeds, words, and watch her them grow as they spring to life. Using what Fefa learned with her blank book, Fefa is able to help save her family.
C. Critical Analysis
I decided to try the e-book version of this book. I downloaded the book through Barnes and Noble's Nook app for iPad. The book was a quick read, but I was saddened not to have any illustrations with the book. I think illustrations would have definitely added to the understanding of this free verse novel.
The language of this book was well thought out in that the reader understands how Fefa struggles with words when Engle spelled out words. In the poem "Reading Out Loud", Engle writes out the word "hope-less-ly", "fu-ri-ous-ly" and "wea-ry" to help the reader see words through Fefa's eyes. As the story continues the reader sees Fefa grow as a reader. Her brother getting shot brings tragedy to the family, but also brings Fefa a teacher that believes in her and is willing to push her to be successful with reading and writing.
In the poem "The Poetry Duel", I found myself having very mixed emotions. I enjoyed reading about Fefa's family and how they sat around and shared poems with each other. When I read, I find myself trying to relate with the story and this poem left me wondering if families nowadays still do this type of storytelling through poems. I know that this doesn't happen in my family nor have I ever known of a time that it did. I have heard stories from older generations that have been passed down over the years, but never have I heard of a "Poetry Duel". This poem also left me thinking that maybe I have missed out on the experience of family poetry and maybe my family poetry just didn't survive to my generation.
In conclusion, I think this book is about more than just a little girl suffering from dyslexia that overcomes her affliction of "word blindness". This book is about a family that pulls together and uses their bond to fight through some tough times and in the end it is their weaker link so to speak that saves them all from the perils of their unstable environment.
D. Review Excerpt
Kirkus Review, issue date: February 1, 2012
A young girl tackles a learning disability and the uncertainty of daily life in early-20th-century Cuba.
Ten years old at the tale’s opening, Josefa “Fefa” de la Caridad Uría Peña lives with her parents and 10 siblings on their farm, Goatzacoalco. Diagnosed with “word blindness” (a misnomer for dyslexia), Fefa struggles at school and in a home rich with words, including the writings of Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío. Discounting a doctor’s opinion that “Fefa will never be able / to read, or write, / or be happy / in school,” her mother gives her a blank diary: “Let the words sprout / like seedlings, / then relax and watch / as your wild diary / grows.” Basing her tale on the life of her maternal grandmother, Engle captures the frustrations, setbacks and triumphs of Fefa’s language development in this often lyrical free-verse novel. Her reading difficulties are heightened when bandits begin roving the countryside, kidnapping local children for ransom: “All I can think of / is learning how / to read / terrifying / ransom notes.” The author gives readers a portrait of a tumultuous period in Cuban history and skillfully integrates island flora, fauna and mythology into Fefa’s first-person tale. This canvas heightens Fefa’s determination to rise above the expectations of her siblings, peers and society.
A beautiful tale of perseverance. (author’s note) (Historical fiction. 10-14)
School Library Journal, issue date: March 2012
This novel in verse is about a girl growing up with dyslexia in early 20th-century Cuba. Family love and the chaos that comes with large families are mixed with historical tidbits about Cuba after its wars for independence from Spain. Engle uses words sparingly and with grace: “…I love the way poetry/turns ordinary words/into winged things/that rise up/and soar!”
In other poems, the protagonist’s voice (based on Engle’s grandmother) speaks of the struggles of learning to read and write with “word blindness,” a term used to describe learning disabilities a century ago. While Fefa’s great sadness over her inability to read is the primary focus, Engle includes rich cultural details and peeks into a time in which bandits roamed the countryside and children were often captured and held for ransom.
Throughout all the drama, poetry is an integral part of daily life, in the play of children and the entertainment of adults, solace to Fefa in her struggle, and even as a means of expression by a kidnapper-poet. The idea of a wild book on which to let her words sprout is one that should speak to those with reading difficulties and to aspiring poets as well. - Wendy Smith-D’Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD
Ten years old at the tale’s opening, Josefa “Fefa” de la Caridad Uría Peña lives with her parents and 10 siblings on their farm, Goatzacoalco. Diagnosed with “word blindness” (a misnomer for dyslexia), Fefa struggles at school and in a home rich with words, including the writings of Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío. Discounting a doctor’s opinion that “Fefa will never be able / to read, or write, / or be happy / in school,” her mother gives her a blank diary: “Let the words sprout / like seedlings, / then relax and watch / as your wild diary / grows.” Basing her tale on the life of her maternal grandmother, Engle captures the frustrations, setbacks and triumphs of Fefa’s language development in this often lyrical free-verse novel. Her reading difficulties are heightened when bandits begin roving the countryside, kidnapping local children for ransom: “All I can think of / is learning how / to read / terrifying / ransom notes.” The author gives readers a portrait of a tumultuous period in Cuban history and skillfully integrates island flora, fauna and mythology into Fefa’s first-person tale. This canvas heightens Fefa’s determination to rise above the expectations of her siblings, peers and society.
A beautiful tale of perseverance. (author’s note) (Historical fiction. 10-14)
School Library Journal, issue date: March 2012
This novel in verse is about a girl growing up with dyslexia in early 20th-century Cuba. Family love and the chaos that comes with large families are mixed with historical tidbits about Cuba after its wars for independence from Spain. Engle uses words sparingly and with grace: “…I love the way poetry/turns ordinary words/into winged things/that rise up/and soar!”
In other poems, the protagonist’s voice (based on Engle’s grandmother) speaks of the struggles of learning to read and write with “word blindness,” a term used to describe learning disabilities a century ago. While Fefa’s great sadness over her inability to read is the primary focus, Engle includes rich cultural details and peeks into a time in which bandits roamed the countryside and children were often captured and held for ransom.
Throughout all the drama, poetry is an integral part of daily life, in the play of children and the entertainment of adults, solace to Fefa in her struggle, and even as a means of expression by a kidnapper-poet. The idea of a wild book on which to let her words sprout is one that should speak to those with reading difficulties and to aspiring poets as well. - Wendy Smith-D’Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD
E. Awards
Kirkus Reviews New & Notable Books for Children (March 2012)
F. Connections
G. Additional Books by Margarita Engle
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| ISBN: 0805092404 |
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| ISBN: 0805089365 |
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| ISBN: 0805090827 |
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