Half a Man [Jul 07, 2016] Morpurgo, Michael and O'Callaghan, Gemma - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1406367133 ISBN 13: 9781406367133

Publisher: Walker Books

Synopsis

Half a Man

About this title

About the Author:

Michael Morpurgo was 2003-2005 Children's Laureate, has written over 100 books and is the winner of many awards, including the Whitbread Children's Book Award, the Smarties Book Prize, the Blue Peter Award and the Red House Children's Book Award. His books are translated and read around the world and his hugely popular novel War Horse is now both a critically acclaimed stage play and a highly successful film. Michael and his wife, Clare, live in Devon. Visit Michael's website at www.michaelmorpurgo.com. Gemma O'Callaghan is an illustrator and printmaker. While studying for her Masters degree at Anglia Ruskin University she discovered her love for screen printing, which has continued into her professional work. Gemma lives and works in Nottingham; this is her first book for children. www.gemma-ocallaghan.co.uk

From School Library Journal:

Gr 3 Up—Morpurgo has penned an extraordinary little book of pain and triumph. It is a fictionalized tale but is based on the heroic work of Dr. McIndoe, a pioneering plastic surgeon who treated severely burned soldiers during World War II. The narrator is Michael, a young boy whose grandfather is severely disfigured from burns sustained during the war. His grandfather lives a solitary and misanthropic life and only visits family during the holidays. These are tense and frightening times for the young boy, due in no small part to his mother exhorting him to never stare at his grandfather's face, and it is always a relief when he leaves. When Michael begins spending summers with him on his remote island home, the two gradually form a loving and enduring bond. Michael now looks directly at his grandfather's face, and this simple gesture is a balm to a soldier who had considered himself "half a man." The text is lovingly illustrated by O'Callaghan in ink with a screen-printing technique that captures the story and the emotions brilliantly. The scenes where the grandfather describes his harrowing ordeal are made that much more potent with her haunting images. This title will resonate with a variety of readers, including children who are interested in World War II, fans of R.J. Palacio's Wonder (Random, 2012), and is an outstanding choice for reluctant readers. With our returning wounded warriors of today, this is a timely and superb addition to all collections and not to be missed.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI

About this edition

• Publisher: Walker Books
• ISBN 10: 1406367133
• ISBN 13: 9781406367133
• Binding: Paperback