A Timely Tale
Written: Feb 23 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Relays a powerful message.
Cons: Might be frightening to younger children.
The Bottom Line: This book might inspire your child, or maybe you.
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| lapook76's Full Review: Jane Langton - The Fragile Flag |
It is not an era of repose. We have used up all our inherited freedom. If we would save our lives, we must fight for them.*
-Henry Thoreau
Georgie Hall, a fourth grader from Concord, Massachusetts, is scared. The President of the United States is planning to launch a "Peace Missile," a giant, orbiting nuclear weapon that will be set into space and pointed at any country that might be bold enough to challenge the United States. Many, many people oppose the plan, but the President insists that America must be strong, even if that means the possibility of obliterating another country in the name of defense.
Does any of this sound familiar?
The Fragile Flag was written by Jane Langton in 1984. The story is especially poignant today, however, given our country's current situation.
After Georgie's parent go to Washington DC with a group of adults from Concord to protest the President's Peace Missile, they are ignored by the White House and come home feeling useless and helpless.
Meanwhile, the President has launched a new campaign. He appeals to children around the country, one from each state, to write an essay about "What our flag means to our country." To the President, the flag means strength. His armed forces, the arsenal of nuclear weapons, squadrons of fighter planes... The winners of the contest will be invited to come to Washington to read their letters to the President. As an added bonus, they will get to hold the new American flag; it is flashy and sparkled, and emblazoned with God Bless America in shimmering sequins.
Georgie also has a flag. She found it in the attic of her house. It is very old and threadbare, with ragged edges and holes. However, her flag is powerful. It puts visions into the minds of the people who hold it. When Georgie holds it, she sees a new world, post Peace Missile. It is an apocalyptic world, charred and covered with ashes, devoid of life.
Inspired by her vision, Georgie decides she must act. She has written her own letter to the President, about what her flag means to her. She plans to deliver it to the President in person.
She decides that the only way that the President will listen to her is if she walks to Washington, all the way from Massachusetts. After making sure to pack everything she needs in her backpack, she sets out with her letter, her flag, and her older stepcousins, Eleanor and Eddie. They are joined by Georgie's bossy but efficient friend Frieda, and their friend Robert Toby.
An interesting twist is that Robert Toby is the grandson of the president. Georgie can't believe that he would stand up to his powerful grandfather, but she is grateful that Robert wants to join them. But why does he always disappear later on whenever the press takes their pictures?
As the children set out to walk the 450 miles to Washington, they are joined by more children. First children from their own school, who had heard about the march and were eager to join, and then by children from all over the country. They are even joined by Carrington, a toddler being pushed in a stroller. The march becomes a crusade. The entire time, Georgie wonders, what will we do when we get there? What if the president just refuses to see us ?
Langton tells the story gracefully, without melodrama. One can feel the children's emotions as they march doggedly toward their goal: worry, fear, elation, exhaustion, hope. She makes her points without preaching: that anyone can make a difference, not matter how small or insignificant that person may seem. That peace will lead to more peace. That teamwork is needed to meet a goal. That material goods pale in importance next to the things, and the people, that truly matter.
Although there is no violence in this book, what is implied might be very scary to young children. I know, as a third grade teacher, that war is definitely on the minds of children right now. Although the message of this book is one of hope, younger children might not be able to grasp that meaning, and will need to discuss this book with an adult. I would recommend this book for children over ten years old.
Jane Langton, as I mentioned in my earlier review of The Fledgling is my favorite children's book author. There are four other books in this series: The Diamond in the Window, The Swing in the Summerhouse, The Astonishing Stereoscope, and The Time Bike. I would very strongly recommend this series to any child (or adult!) who enjoys fantasy. The Fragile Flag has the least fantasy of these books, (only the visions inspired by the flag), but given its message and its suspense, it makes for a very gripping read.
Other important information:
264 pages
Published by Harper Trophy (recently re-released with a new cover)
ISBN 0-06-440311-4
* This quote is found before the first chapter of the book.
Recommended:
Yes
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lapook76
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Location: Arlington, MA
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