Title: Neeny Coming, Neeny Going
Author: Karen English
Illustrator: Synthia Saint James
ISBN: 0- 8167- 3797-5
Publisher: BridgeWater Paperback
This week my class focused on another award given to authors and illustrators. It's known as the Coretta Scott King Award and I learned it's "presented annually by American Library Association to honor African-American authors and illustrators who create outstanding books." In 1969 it originally was given to just authors but that changed in 1979 when it expanded and a separate award was given to illustrators as well. This award was given in the honor of Mrs. King and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for their life efforts.
The book I chose is "a 1997 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book and winner of the Society of Illustrators 1996 'The Original Art' Award." The illustrations in the book are very different and unique from what I was used to. The pictures weren't drawn with a lot of details but as an overview of what was going on. I must say, I was very impressed that eventually I didn't notice what was "missing" from the pictures because they still matched the text. The pictures were mainly focused on colors and not so much on the peoples faces, expressions or body movements; at times they didn't even have legs or arms and I think in some way it was to show all the similarities among the people.
The story takes place in the 1950s and it's about a girl named Essie who is excited about her cousin, Neeny coming to visit to Daufuskie Island from the mainland. Essie finds out that Neeny has changed and interested in way of life done on the island. The visit doesn't go the exactly the way Essie thought it would have and before you know it Neeny is heading back home. But in the end Essie still feels that Neeny is her "best cousin" and gives her a few gifts for her to always remember the island and of Neeny's past lifestyle.
I enjoyed reading this book because it resembles the idea of a cultures blending. Neeny blended the two cultures of her life, even though she might have preferred the way she lives on the mainland, it doesn't mean she should forget where she came from. If anything, it should make her appreciate what she has compared to how her family lives. That's what everyone in America does. America is known a the 'Melting Pot' because there are people who come from all over with all different cultures and customs. The way we keep our roots with us is by keeping the traditions and customs from our culture of where we came from and blending it with our way of life. The only thing I would have liked, personally, is to see Neeny do something on the island or read of something she kept on the mainland to remind her of her roots before Essie giving her presents. But it did mention, "Neeny say they always remind her of a field of wildflowers."
What I especially liked from the book was the short statement given to the reader in the beginning before the story, describing the book's time period and gives a mini history of what is going on at the time. It's important because the names, places and language shown isn't what we are used to and it helps the reader with a better understanding of the book while reading it.
