Claire Huchet Bishop (1899–1993)

"If we take these children, we can never betray them, no matter what the Nazis do."

During the German occupation of France, twenty French children were brought to a refuge in the mountains. One day a young man came to their school with a request: Could they take in, and hide, ten Jewish refugee children?

Sister Gabriel spoke up. "The Nazis are looking for those children. If we take them we must never let on they are here. Do you understand?"

Of course the children understood--but how would they show more hide them if the Nazis came? show less

During the German occupation of France in World War II, twenty children are being cared for in rural France by a Catholic nun. One day a man comes and asks Sister Gabriel to take in ten Jewish children. Understanding the considerable personal risks this will involve, Sister Gabriel and the children agree to do this. It means, for one thing, that each child will have less to eat since the ten Jewish children do not have ration cards. One day, sister Gabriel leaves the children alone while she show more walks into the village to get more supplies. While she is gone, Nazi soldiers arrive. The children were alert enough to spot their approach, giving the Jewish children enough time to hide. Will the Nazis discover the children’s deception?

This story highlights the children’s agency. Without an adult protector, the children use their wits and their courage to protect their Jewish friends. The children demonstrate moral awareness throughout the story through repeatedly working out interpersonal conflicts in an unselfish way. This book was first published in 1952, less than ten years after the time in which it was set. I can’t help wondering how 21st century children would respond to the challenges faced by the children in the book. We are so far removed now from the privations of World War II and its aftermath. show less

All Alone by Claire Huchet Bishop is about a ten-year-old boy named Marcel who’s sent to the French Alps to take care of his family’s cows for the summer. His village believes in keeping to yourself, but when Marcel faces a tough decision, he has to choose between following that rule or doing what he feels is right. Even though the book is meant for younger readers, I thought the message was powerful and still relatable. It really makes you think about how sometimes doing the right thing show more means going against what you’ve been taught. Marcel’s story shows that growing up isn’t just about age,it’s about learning to make your own choices. show less

I guess there is controversy over this title because of the depictions of the Asian characters as all looking alike. There is a problem with the idea of a major plot point being that all the Chinese brothers look alike (considering it's a racist presumption that all Asians look alike, or whatever). Also, if I'm correct in assuming it's based off "The Seven Chinese Brothers," in that folk tale (the variations I've read, anyway) all the brothers look different. So to have changed the story so show more they all look alike is odd. And probably racist.

But anyway, I gather the story is one that a lot of people read as kids, so it's somewhat of a classic. But I hadn't read it and therefore don't have any particular emotional attachment to it. It's got a lot of the violent folklore/fairy tale tropes that make modern readers uncomfortable (i.e. being burned at the stake and other modes of execution attempted). I liked the idea of trying to swallow the ocean in order to catch fish. But other than that, I remain pretty firmly unimpressed. I didn't think it's logical that a judge would allow the various brothers to go home each time a method of execution failed. Also why would they try to suffocate someone with whipped cream? (I've never given any thought to this method of execution but it seems relatively uncommon!) show less