![]() *And by the way, I’m excited to welcome back the Best of the Library Haul feature, now that school is out and we once again have time for regular library visits. Definitely books worth keeping an eye out for when cruising garage sales or second-hand bookshops. It is unfortunate that Raskin’s picture books are out of print and that most of them are unavailable in our public library system (though they are kept in the archives of the Osborne Collection for Children’s Literature). “Would you like to look younger or older, sweeter or smarter, like a scholar or a movie star?” Ellen Raskin was a childrens author whose complex, playful novels are enormously rewarding for adults as well as kids. Which is the point at which I point out to Harriet what racism and stereotypes are, and why I’m not comfortable with that page, so all is not lost, and we move on to chestnut mares.Īt the end of the story, it all becomes clear, and Iris has a wide variety of frames to choose from on her visit to the opticians. These visual tricks constitute most of the book, and does include a racist image of an Native American stereotype. Raskin was also an accomplished graphic artist. She received the 1979 Newbery Medal for her 1978 book, The Westing Game. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and grew up during the Great Depression. Who didn’t always have glasses, her poor eyesight having previously gotten her into a whole lot of trouble and causing misunderstandings.įor example, what she’d assumed to be a chestnut mare in the parlour (but of course!)… Ellen Raskin was a writer, illustrator, and designer. It is possibly true that we like Spectacles because it features a little girl called Iris. And this week we enjoyed reading Spectacles. (She designed the first edition jacket for A Wrinkle in Time.) Her picture books are very visual, kind of psychedelic, whimsical and as tricky as The Westing Game. ![]() Turns out that Raskin was a notable book designer and illustrator, in addition to being a writer. So it was a lovely surprise to discover her books in the picture book section once I started perusing the library with Harriet. Angela wants to create a legacy she can be proud of-and by the end of the novel, she has completed medical school, married Deere on her own terms, and given birth to a daughter named Alice.JBest Book of the Library Haul: Spectacles by Ellen RaskinĮllen Raskin’s The Westing Game was on my foundational texts, one of the few books from my YA days that I still keep on my shelves. Angela is just one of many characters who finds that the partnerships and friendships she makes in playing the Westing game embolden her to reconsider what her life has the potential to look like. Ultimately, Angela is able to summon the courage to break off her engagement, return to school, and declare her intention to live life on her own terms. Angela has engineered the bombings in various attempts to disfigure herself-she wants those around her to see past her beauty and appreciate the person she is, but she feels that this is impossible without drastic measures. Angela is eventually revealed to be the bomber behind the three sets of fireworks that go off in Sunset Towers-these impact the businesses of the Theodorakis and Hoo families and literally blow apart Angela’s own bridal shower, leaving Angela’s face and hands are severely burned. When the Westing game begins and Angela is paired with Sydelle Pulaski-an eccentric, attention-seeking older woman who is, in many ways, as invisible as Angela is visible-Angela begins feeling in control of her fate for the first time in her life. ![]() Having been told all her life that her angelic beauty is her only asset, Angela’s self-confidence is in tatters at the start of the novel. Engaged at the start of the novel to the medical intern Denton Deere, Angela is conflicted about her upcoming nuptials-yet she’s uncertain that there’s any other path possible for her. She’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. Angela is the beautiful 19-year-old daughter of Jake and Grace Wexler and the sister of Turtle Wexler.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |