wildvirgogirl's Full Review: Louis Sachar - The Boy Who Lost His Face
Some of America's finest literary efforts, (such as Louis Sachar's 'The Boy Who Lost His Face)', are among the 100 most challenged books compiled by the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom as part of Banned Books Week, September 23-30. Celebrate your intellectual freedom by reading one of these challenged literary works! ~ frazzledspice
Several epinions' writers have read and reviewed some of these challenged books, many of which received Pulitzer, Nebula, and Newbery Awards. Tonight's writers in the Banned Books Week Write-Off are:
You can access each of their critiques by visiting my profile page when you have finished reading this review. I have placed links to their profiles for your surfing ease. Go check out which book they chose to critique! All reviews will be posted Saturday, September 30. Be a fish in the river of knowledge! READ.
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Meet David Ballinger, Our Hero...
A baseball nut with a healthy respect for authority figures, our hero is perched atop a lofty pedestal, symbolically placed there by his younger brother. David is a shy pre-teen with a penchant for Science, the teacher's pet. He's the one boy in his class who has never been in a fist fight, nor does he relish such thoughts.
Meet David Ballinger, our hero.
Here is a young man who finds pleasure in 'making moon eyes' at a red-headed girl in his class. Greeting her formally each morn, he says, Hello, Miss Williams, blushing as she subsequently swoons in his presence...
Hello, Mr. Ballinger.
Our gentle hero. An awkward soul with low self-esteem, who has perfected 'the art of wearing a mask', attempts to gain popularity among his peers (Roger, Randy, and Scott). He tailors this practice for one very simple reason: he seeks their approval. Initially.
Typical teen angst, right? Yes and no.
The reader notes David's restlessness among his peers from the first page of this story. The aforementioned boys con him into being privy to an elaborate prank, when they propose the theft of a carved, wooden, walking cane belonging to Mrs. Felicia Bayfield (aka Old Lady Buttfield). An elderly woman, Mrs. Bayfield lives alone in a dilapidated house near their school, but is often found drinking lemonade on her front porch, lounging in a rocking chair.
Upon their arrival at her home, David quickly realizes he has to go along with his friends' somewhat sinister plan in order 'to be popular'. But, he also must push aside the nagging thoughts racing through his skull that what they are about to do is terribly wrong.
Our hero finds himself in the perplexing position of being pinned by peer pressure.
[NOTE: Because this is quite an enjoyable read, geared for anyone with a 7th grade education, I'm not about to give away hints concerning the events surrounding the boys' treatment of Mrs. Bayfield. I will say the author's depiction of the scene is amusing in a soft-chuckle sort of way.]
When all is said and done, the boys race off leaving David behind. He is the lone prankster, the one with his middle finger pointed in the air, bemused, standing over the startled victim. Mrs. Bayfield reacts immediately by placing (what the boys deem as) 'a curse' on David. Still immobilized by fear, she hollers at David, 'Your Doppelgänger will regurgitate on your soul!'
Henceforth, the similarities between what the boys did to Mrs. Bayfield and what coincidentally happens to David are rather unbelievable, but this is Juvenile Fiction, so keep that in mind and live a little. :)
The coincidences (due to 'the curse') are treated in a carefree and humorous fashion rather than in an eerie light as one might presuppose. These events basically stem from embarrassing situations that most teens (and adults, for that matter) would find utterly mortifying -- leaving one's fly unzipped upon leaving the locker room, accidentally making a fool of oneself in front of the class, &c. In the Japanese culture, this is known as 'losing one's face' therefore the title is quite apt: The Boy Who Lost His Face*.
Author Louis Sachar's reference to the topic of witchcraft is more than likely the antecedent which led to this book's placement on the infamous Banned Books list. There is also minimal cursing within the story, but it is not even close to what one hears during a PG-13 film these days!
Summary
Throughout the first half of this book, David internally criticizes himself ad nauseum because he believes popularity among his peers will lead to his attainment of 'happiness' in school. His efforts in this arena backfire. Go figure. It is through such agonizing that one learns. Thankfully, David grasps the true meaning of friendship and owns up to his responsibilities before there is a surprising revelation in the latter chapters.
Final Musings
This book begs the reader to consider basic yet crucial questions about life: 1.What exactly is 'happiness'? 2.Why do we seek the label 'popular' when the status will (more than likely) compromise one's ability to remain civil and show compassion toward our elders and peers?
It's something to consider... and Sachar has presented these topics within the framework of an enchanting story. Luckily, they are presented in such a fashion that they can be mulled over by pre-teens and adults during a time when such lessons are desperately needed in our 'culture'.
~ wvg ~
* Book Cover Image: http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0679886222.01.LZZZZZZZ.gif
DAVID IS ONLY trying to be cool when he helps some of the popular kids steal Old Lady Bayfield's cane. But when the plan backfires, he's the one the "...More at HotBookSale
DAVID IS ONLY trying to be cool when he helps some of the popular kids steal Old Lady Bayfield's cane. But when the plan backfires, he's the one the "...More at HotBookSale
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