Autumn Street

I’m not sure this is a children’s book. I know I would never have understood “Charles’s interstitial smile” in Lowry’s description of his missing front teeth. I was interested to read the author’s comments in the back describing what of the story was true from her life. And I completely understood her feelings about doing a job that was too hard for her while trying to keep up with her older sister. But other places found it hard to believe her ignorance. Just different journeys. I’m sure I had my own glaring gaps in insight. A very interesting story, but hard to discern the audience. I would recommend it to my friends who enjoy children’s books.

When reading this lovely, poignant tale, I was reminded of why Lois Lowry is one of my favorite authors. She writes with such magical images, and tugs at the heart without punching feelings. She is a soft writer who paints lovely pictures with poignancy and clarity. There is a large element of magic realism in her character development.

Told from the perspective of precocious six year old Elizabeth who is a child of strong feelings and opinions. We learn that her father is sent off to WWII and she, her mother and her older sister move to live on Autumn Street in Pennsylvania (town is not mentioned in the book,) with her maternal grandparents. While living in Pennsylvania, she develops a very special relationship with Tatie, the family show more cook, and with Tatie's grandson Charles.

Elizabeth and Charles bond as childhood friends, filling a special need in each other.
Curious, Elizabeth does not understand why Charles and Tatie have to enter and leave the house through the back door, or why they cannot attend church with her. While Elizabeth vows she will marry Charles one day when she grows to be an adult, slowly she learns the terrible truth of racism and bigotry.

The relationship with Charles' grandmother, the cook and overseer of the house on Autumn Street. is incredibly beautiful. Sadly, on a cold winter day when Elizabeth and Charles use her new sled and venture into the woods at the end of Autumn Street, Elizabeth's protected life is deeply, forever changed. And, it is Charles who suffers the most from incredibly unjust rules, and terrible racial bigotry.

Highly recommended for the very strong, accurate portrayal of the way in which people of color were treated during WWII, and a world that can and should be better, as seen through the eyes of a young girl who cannot accept bigotry and the evils of mistreatment of those who have a different skin color.

It didn't make sense through her six year old eyes. And, today through my 73 year old eyes, it still makes no sense at all regarding hate, and ugly words spewed from people of power who find it easy to belittle with snarly comments that so easily come out of this President's mouth as blatantly embraces one class, but intentionally spews hatred to any group different from him, or against those who fight his cruelty, and try to remind him that it isn't a mansion of gold, or a door opened for the rich, but rather a smile, a hand shake and the willingness to say NO to his bragadaso that can make this world a better place.

As Elizabeth tries to understand by asking "why?," her tenacious spirit of right and wrong do no allow her to understand that sometimes asking the word why does not provide a reasonable answer. I confess I still ask that word, with no simply answer.

This is a re-read from eleven years ago. Lois Lowry is one of my favorite authors. I learned of Lois Lowry through our beloved previous member, Anita Famultse, who, sadly, passed away a few years ago. She is still missed greatly! Every time I come upon a book she mentioned, the image of her is so very clear. She was a wonderful warrior!!!

FIVE STARS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for young and old adults, and people of all ages.
Rest In Peace Anita. Your remain in our hearts show less

Found discarded in a "free books" bin, this was sweet serendipity, as it's by far the best book I've read this year. Lowry made me fall in love with Elizabeth immediately. I adored her innocence and her developing insight, and Lowry's imagery delighted me and sometimes broke my heart. For example, after describing 3 spinsters, one being a woman who was once engaged but never married, she wonders if the other two "were jealous of Philippa and her diamond ring that still, after so many years, sparkled the way wet spiderwebs did in sunshine." Wow. I pondered how apt that comparison is for a while. Definitely made me cry, made me think, and along with Liz, I discovered truths about human nature that I hadn't taken the time to see before. show more The novel felt To Kill A Mockingbirdesque, and even though it was grief-inducing (and I hadn't expected it), this novel touched me the way I yearn for in a book. However, I recommend it only to older teens and adults; I think much of it would be lost on a younger audience. show less

The language is for adults, not middle school kids. No question that Lowry is an amazing author, one of the greats, but this is an adult's memoir, fictitious or otherwise. At no point did this feel like a book for children.

I remember this being a surprisingly sad book, which I read in third or fourth grade.