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Loading... Pink and Sayby Patricia Polacco
None. Another wonderful story by Patricia Polacco with a strong theme of friendship and devotion.  JudesThree | Apr 28, 2013 |  Patricia Polacco has explored her own childhood experiences in picture-books like The Trees of the Dancing Goats, Thank You, Mr. Falker and Mrs. Mack; she has related the tale of her daughter's childhood friend, and her battle with cancer, in The Lemonade Club; and retold the story of her Aunt Monique's childhood days in Nazi-occupied France, in The Butterfly. Her mother's life, and Polacco's loving relationship with her, feature prominently in Betty Doll, while the Christmas experiences of a great uncle can be found in An Orange for Frankie. In short, Polacco is an author who regularly mines her own history, and that of her family, to create poignant stories, and picture-books that linger in the reader's mind. Pink and Say is no exception, being a retelling of a family story passed down through multiple generations - the story of Polacco's great-great-grandfather, Sheldon Russell Curtis, who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, was gravely injured, and left for dead in a muddy, blood-soaked field, and was then saved by Pinkus Aylee, former slave and fellow Union (child) soldier. Pinkus (Pink) and Sheldon (Say) became good friends, while on the run from marauders, and hiding out with Pink's mother, Moe Moe Bay, but war has few happy endings, and when they sought to return to their units, they found themselves captured, taken to the notorious Andersonville prison-camp, and separated forever... A sobering and realistic look at a terrible time in our nation's past - Say is fifteen years old, and a deserter; Pink is determined to return to the fighting, but is instead executed, after being captured - Pink and Say is also a moving tribute to a friendship that took root in unpropitious soil, that flourished across racial and geographic lines, and that - despite being all too brief, in life - endured in the memory of one family. Polacco's family. This oral tradition has finally been recorded, in this moving picture-book, and we are all the richer for it. Highly recommended to anyone looking for titles that will give children the "feeling" of those times. (  ) AbigailAdams26 | Apr 15, 2013 | This is the story of two Union soldiers who find each other, injured, on a battlefield in Georgia. Say is white and Pink is black. Pink carries Say to the home of Pink’s mother to recover from his injuries. Pink and his mother’s selfless gifts shine throughout the story. Pink’s mother dies at the hands of marauders, then, when Pink and say are captured, Pink is hanged. This is not a picture book for early childhood. This story gives early elementary students a close view of the war, inequality, and life during the late 1800s. It opens the door to discussions of racial inequality, but also reasons why Say never learned to read. It is heart rending and beautifully told through the voice of a descendant of Say. Everything Polacco writes is excellent, and this is an outstanding example of her gift. Though this is a second hand story, it is one handed down through Polocco's family, making it an excellent example of literary/narrative non-fiction. (  ) Glenajo | Mar 9, 2013 | Characters: Sheldon Russell Curtis aka Say; Pinkus Aylee, Pink; Moe Moe Bay Setting: 1860’s, Georgia Civil War battlefields Theme: friendship, courage, love, family Genre: Historical Fiction Golden Quote:"Boy, when you owned, you ain't got no name of your own." Summary: the story of two young soldiers during the Civil War. Sheldon Russell Curtis aka Say is badly wounded and left for dead in a field in Georgia. Pinkus Aylee, Pink, finds Say and carries him home where he is nursed back to health by Pink’s mom, Moe Moe Bay. Audience: 4th grade and up Curriculum ties: K-3rd-reading and social studies; 5th grade-U. S. History; 8th grade history-Slavery, U.S. Civil War.; Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books 1995 West Virginia Children’s Book Award (1997) A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (1995) Jefferson Cup (1995) Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (1996-1997.3|Intermediate, 1996-1997) Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature (1994) Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Nominee (1997) Personal Response: This is a fantastic story for a variety of reasons. The pictures and words in this book work together to tell a story that is captivating, heartfelt, tragic, and sincere. This is a story of an unlikely friendship, the terrible toll of war, and what Pink calls “the sickness”. Most of this story is told in “Sheldon’s words”. It works for elementary students, but can also be used in middle and high school where students can explore the text, theme, and illustrations at a much deeper level. msgudgeon2 | Mar 9, 2013 | I think that Pinkus' (Pink) and Sheldon's (Say) friendship was unique. Pink could have left say but he didn't, he took him home to be cared for by his mother. Pink knew that staying at his home was risky because the marauders were out to get them and anyone else they could find. They risked their lives and Moe Moe Bay's (Pink's mother) by being there. If Pink and Say would have stayed together I believe that Pink would have taught him how to read. Say thought well be Pink because he thought he was brave. Moe Moe Bay explained to say that they were both brave and being afraid didn't stop you from being brave. ( ) starkss | Dec 11, 2012 |
Hands and gestures have always been important in Polacco's work. Here they are at the center of a picture book based on a true incident in the author's own family history. It's a story of interracial friendship during the Civil War between two 15-year-old Union soldiers. Say, who is white and poor, tells how he is rescued by Pinkus (Pink), who carries the wounded Say back to the Georgia home where Pink's black family were slaves. In a kind of idyllic interlude, Pink and his mother nurse Say back to health, and Pink teaches his friend to read; but before they can leave, marauders kill Pink's mother and drag the boys to Andersonville prison. Pink is hanged, but Say survives to tell the story and pass it on across generations. The figure of Pink's mother borders on the sentimental, but the boys' relationship is beautifully drawn. Throughout the story there are heartbreaking images of people torn from a loving embrace. Pictures on the title and copyright pages show the parallel partings as each boy leaves his family to go to war. At the end, when the friends are wrenched apart in prison, the widening space between their outstretched hands expresses all the sorrow of the war. Then, in a powerful double-page spread, they are able to clasp hands for a moment, and their union is like a rope. Say once shook Lincoln's hand, just as Say held Pink's hand, and Say tells his children, who tell theirs, that they have touched the hand that touched the hand . . .  Gr 4 UpSay, 15, had never seen a black person up close until Pink, also a young Union soldier, saves his life. During his brief stay in Pink's home, the wounded boy comes to understand his friend's unconquerable vision of freedom. A memorable family reminiscence with evocative paintings. (Oct. 1994)
 No descriptions found. Say Curtis describes his meeting with Pinkus Aylee, a black soldier, during the Civil War, and their capture by Southern troops. |
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