|
Loading... The wall : growing up behind the Iron Curtain (edition 2007)by Peter Sís
Work detailsThe Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís
1   bell7 | May 27, 2013 |  Illustrated account of one young boy's life behind the Iron Curtain. Artwork has limited color, but used to great effect overall. I am not sure who this book was written for, as the subject matter and it's presentation provide only subtle background and context to a rather complicated subject. Adults will enjoy it. Kids will enjoy watching adults enjoy it. nhalsan | Apr 28, 2013 | Peter Sis tells about his childhood and adolescence growing up in communist Czechoslovakia. It was interesting to read, but I'm not sure I enjoyed his small drawings and somewhat scattered way of telling his story. It was a little difficult to follow, and I was glad for the foreword and afterword. (  ) JessieP73 | Apr 6, 2013 | Sis uses color, or a lack thereof, masterfully in this graphics heavy memoir of his life in Prague behind the Iron Curtain. Text along the bottom could work for a picture book read-aloud with the more explicatory notes above left for the independent reader. The journal entries provide specific information on Sis's life and how it was shaped by his environment. Having been to Prague this was an eye-opening look at its past that I couldn't stop reading. The only thing is, I'm afraid most kids will look at this and see a broccoli book - something that's good for you but not particularly fun. (  ) JenJ. | Mar 31, 2013 | A picture book memoir about growing up in Czechoslovakia behind the iron curtain. He said it was written so his children would know what it was like. The drawings were very detailed and there were pages from his journals. On the journal pages the borders had pictures and drawings. I found the book interesting. ( ) i.should.b.reading | Mar 29, 2013 |
 CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices 2008) Renowned author and illustrator Peter Sís’ brilliant autobiographical exploration of the creative spirit offers his trademark blend of intricate visual images and narrative. Sís was born in Communist-controlled Brno, Czechoslovakia, in 1949 and displayed artistic interests from very early on. His talents were indulged and encouraged within his home. At the same time, creativity and freedom of thought were being repressed in his school and throughout his homeland as the Iron Curtain rose and the Cold War escalated. Sís beautifully outlines the tension between socio-political repression and creativity through journal excerpts, actual drawings from his developing years as an artist, and hauntingly complex images outlining the historical context of turbulent times in Eastern Europe. Each image underscores how he questioned the world around him as a developing child and adolescent, especially as news of Western popular culture filtered through the curtain. Creative expression and opportunity exploded for the author in the spring of 1968, only to be crushed quickly by the totalitarian strong arm. Sís was able to hold on to his dreams, however, fueled by his indomitable spirit and the force of his own imagination. CCBC Category: Historical People, Places, and Events. 2007, Frances Foster Books / Farrar Straus and Giroux, 48 pages, $18.00. Age 9 and older.
References to this work on external resources.
|
 Google Books — Loading...
Popular coversRatingAverage: (4.13)
Is this you?Become a LibraryThing Author. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1
Wikipedia in English (1)
3
This book is an excellent example of the way in which a story can be powerfully told in graphic form. The Introduction and Afterword serve as the text that grounds the story in history - both the general history of the Cold War, and Peter's personal history as he eventually leaves his home country behind. The images make up the bulk of the story, giving a bird's eye view as we very quickly go through twenty or so years of Peter's life and in how small the elements of the illustrations are. Most of the illustrations are black and white, except for the red of Communist flags and the colors of Peter's art. Clips from his journals serve both to move the story along through time and to give readers a fuller view of what's going on in Peter's life, including such things as the music that influenced him and photographs from his childhood. This is a really excellent, rich story that I highly recommend. (