Sammy Westfall set her story, “More or Less” (the featured story from our January/February 2014 issue) in the Philippines, where her family lives part of the time. It’s fascinating to get a glimpse of another culture and learn some words in Tagalog, the language of the Philippines, but Sammy’s story is a timeless one that could have been set anywhere in the world. It’s a story about two families of vastly different means. By the end, we have to ask ourselves, which family is rich, and which is poor? Lina’s family has barely enough money to live. And then her dad loses his job! How will they feed six children and two adults with no money coming in? Lina’s parents have a loving relationship. Her dad wants to get another job right away, but her mom says no, she will get a job this time so the dad can get some rest. Lina’s mom finds a job cooking and cleaning for a wealthy family. She asks Lina to come along to help. Lina is awestruck by the beautiful mansion the Barkers live in. She envies their wealth. As the day goes along, though, she sees that, in spite of their wealth, the Barkers are not happy. Mrs. Barker has raised her daughter, Claudia, alone. Claudia spends all her time in her room, talking on her cell phone. When she does talk to her mom, she is disrespectful. At dinner, Mrs. Barker and Claudia watch TV instead of talking to each other. By the end of the day, Lina feels sorry for the Barkers. Back at home, Lina sees everything differently. Her family’s house may be simple, and they may not always have enough to eat, but now she couldn’t care less. Dinner is a happy time, with the whole family joyfully talking and laughing together. Lina knows she has everything she’ll ever need. One of the powers of great literature is that it can show us truths about life and help us to be better people. Someone may tell us, “Don’t envy other people,” or “Money can’t buy happiness.” Sammy doesn’t tell us, she shows us. We get caught up in the story of Lina and her family. Before we know it, we see the world differently too.
Realistic Storytelling
I don’t know about you, but I like the characters in the stories I read to seem like real people. Realistic characters have strengths and weaknesses, they talk in everyday language, they joke with their friends. A story can have an interesting plot, gripping suspense, life lessons, but if the characters don’t seem like real people, the story is less effective. “Heights,” by Jaida Johnson, age 12, in the November/December 2013 issue of Stone Soup, paints a portrait of two friends who seem very real. Addie and Conner have been best friends for a long time. That’s clear from the easy way they have of bantering with each other. Addie teases Conner mercilessly about his fear of heights. Then she reveals a softer side when she sees how scared Conner really is. “Don’t worry, we only have ten rungs left,” she says. Conner’s sense of humor comes across in his thoughts, such as this one: “My mom would be so proud. Oh, wait—I snuck out of the house past curfew, climbed up an old water tower, and was now praying it didn’t fall down. I don’t think she’d be too proud. Win some, lose some.” Just when we think Addie is so brave, nothing can ruffle her feathers, the tables are turned. Suddenly Conner is teasing Addie about her fear of drowning. “Hey, Adds, wanna go to the pool tomorrow?” Now that we know these two so well, we know that Addie’s final words, “Oh, shut up,” aren’t meant to be mean. It’s just the way real friends talk to each other, friends who are comfortable with one another and whose friendship runs deep. Isn’t it amazing how Jaida was able to bring Addie and Conner to life for us in just over two pages? Because we believe the story, we also learn a lot, about friendship, adventure, and overcoming fears.
History Comes Alive
Many Stone Soup readers tell us that historical fiction is their favorite genre. We think we know why. Realistic characters, whose feelings and concerns are similar to our own, can bring the events of history to life better than a dry textbook. A perfect example of historical fiction is “Curtis Freedom,” the featured story from our September/October 2013 issue. The setting is a cotton plantation in the South. The time is the mid-1800s. Curtis is a fictional slave boy who lives during this real time in American history. In the story, Curtis meets the famous abolitionist, Harriet Tubman, a real person. Like many real slaves of the time, Curtis escapes from the plantation with the help of Harriet Tubman and her Underground Railroad. He stays in safe houses along the way and eventually makes his way to Canada and freedom, just like many real slaves did at the time. Thirteen-year-old author Anna Haverly shows us this time in history through Curtis’s eyes, and we experience it with him. It’s unbearable to work in the hot sun and be yelled at by a master who calls you “boy” because he doesn’t even care to learn your name. It’s tragic to be separated from your parents when you’re sold into slavery. It’s terrifying to run away from a cruel master and fear being caught and sent back. And finally, what joy to find your father again in a new land! Did we just learn a lot about history? What a great way to learn, through a relatable character and a story that sweeps us away to another time and place.
