The school year is off to a fantastic start, and I'm finally getting into a routine in which I can find the time to read for pleasure again. I've also been in the middle of a 1000 page book that I'm reading with my wife, so it's been busy.
Anyway, Shane and his mom shared a book with me called Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco. I've read other picture books by her, but I thought that she usually wrote about her Russian family and their traditions. This one is completely different.
The setting is during the Civil War, and I haven't found out where it takes place yet. The two main characters, Pink and Say, are both soldiers. This is what I've found so interesting in the book so far because they're just boys. It was common for teenage boys to fight in the war at that time, but isn't it a little hard to imagine? I can connect to the story by thinking about my own teenage years. I was carefree, playing sports and hanging with my friends. Upcoming tests were my biggest worry. It's sad to think that boys during that time didn't stay in school to learn and be with friends. Rather, they were involved in something so serious and sad that they couldn't enjoy the time like I did.
Ms. Polacco is still introducing the characters to me, and I'm anxious to see how their friendship develops. Her illustrations look like water-color paints to me, and it fits with the story.
I hope all of my fifth graders and Blair Mill graduates are off to a terrific year! Keep reading!
