Walking to School

This was a great book that touches on a very heavy and historic topic and makes it easy for all children/young adults to understand. The main character is a little girl who doesn't like what is happening between the Catholics and Protestants. The author does a a great job in conveying the feelings of confusion and sadness that she feels because of this situation.

This children’s book covered a surprisingly serious topic and I enjoyed reading it for three reasons. The first reason I liked this book is because of the true multicultural nature of the book. It was set in Ireland, and the characters not only look like they are Irish with red hair and pale skin, but the text is also written in typical Irish speak. Some examples of this are, “mum, “telly,” “wee lad,” and “aye.” The appropriate language gave this book authenticity in its Northern Ireland setting, and it would serve as a good tool to portray Irish culture in a classroom setting. The second reason I liked this book is because of the realistic illustrations. Some of the illustrations looked as if they were photographs, show more specifically depictions of the characters, which made them very interesting to see. Finally, I liked this book because of the serious and authentic plot. It is about Protestants and Catholics fighting in Northern Ireland, and how the main character, Allison, can’t even walk to her school without getting harassed. While walking to school, she loses a button off of her blazer, and a little girl from the opposition picks up her button and returns it to her. This surprised Allison and helped her to see that she could make friends with Protestants, as they are just like her. The main idea of this story is that there is always hope for a new generation to end longstanding conflicts because we are all the same, no matter our religion or race. Another main idea could be that friendship can be found in unlikely places. show less

I liked this book because it shows that sometimes children are wiser than adults. The adults in the story were so focused on their stereotypical hatred for one another that they missed out on basic humanity. The two girls exchanging an act of friendship represented a turning point not only for the story, but also for the harsh division between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. I'm glad the girls were able to respond warmly to each other instead of following the adult lead. Another thing that I found captivating about the book was the illustrations. They are very emotional and enhance the story line. This is a good read for children of all ages.

“Walking to School,” is a book that reflects the real life events of some issues Northern Ireland had between Catholics and Protestants in the past. The story starts off with a girl named Allison, who is scared to go to her new school because she would have to pass “Protestant” territory. On her way to school the Protestants are lined up, yelling mean things to the children and their parents on their way to school. But one day Allison’s jacket gets pulled on and a button came out. When Allison sees a Protestant girl go after her button, she assumes the worst and thinks that the girl will take her button as a souvenir from a Catholic. But instead, the little girl reaches out to Allison and gives her back her button. The girl show more also explains to Allison that she hates the fighting that’s going on, and that her mother forced her to come. Allison gets to school safety and realizes that the girl was just like her, they both hated the fighting and Allison thought about how they could have both been friends if their parents would have let them. I think this is a sweet book that not only shows a true depiction on how Catholics and Protestants acted towards each other in Ireland some time ago, but also how we should not judge one another so easily. This is also a good book to relate back to today’s society and how hatred between each other based on differences should not exist, but still exist now. This is a good lesson to teach students about how we should instead try to understand each other’s differences and try to get along instead of discriminating against one another. show less

Walking to School is about the conflict between the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland.The story follows a Catholic girl who is harassed by Protestant mobs as she walks to school. After she is harassed the first day, she does not want to go back to school because she will have to face the mobs again. She reluctantly goes to school and is escorted by her mother and uncle who is involved in the beating of a Protestant. The girl has a positive interaction with a Protestant girl in the crowd after the Protestant girl returns the Catholic girl's lost button. I like this book because Eve Bunting used the perspective of the child to show how the conflict really did not make much sense. The girl believes that there really is not show more anything different between she and the Protestant girl and if given the chance, they would probably be friends. I really liked the illustrations in the book as well. show less

This was a great book based on real events surrounding the conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. I loved how it showed the wrong on both sides, but there are two children who see the senselessness of it. GREAT book. Also a great way to talk about other prejudices than just black/white. The reading levels don't really correspond to lessons I feel I could tie in with. I feel the topic is more around 6th or 7th grade material, if doing a world religion study and talking about tensions between Catholics and Protestants.
Reading Level: 2.9 Interest Level: K-3

If I could give this 10 stars, I would. I feel that my 5-star ratings of other books were a waste. This is the best picture book I have read in a long time. I'm speechless.

I'm going to use this for my Anne Frank unit, even though it is about intolerance between Catholics & Protestants. Half of my own students are probably Catholic, and the other half Protestants, so this context is so much easier for them to imagine themselves in than the idea of Jewish persecution, or even racial issues.

I can't even tell you how awesome this book is--read it!