Maniac Magee (1990) by Jerry Spinelli

🏃🏻 Jeffrey Magee had been unfortunately orphaned at about fifteen of age, and has been living with his uptight aunt and uncle ever since. The aunt and uncle had been living separately albeit in the same house. This caused unhappiness in the house, and one day, when Jeffrey has had enough of that, he ran away. By 'ran away', I mean that Jeffrey was literally running, away from home, to nowhere to be exact, as long as it's out of the home he never really felt. Jeffrey is a runner - a terrific runner - and while other people walk to travel from one place to another, Jeffrey just runs. He soon becomes a nomad, running on the streets by day, and by night sleeping in the park or the zoo, or anywhere his legs brings him to.

🏃🏻 One day he came across some boys playing baseball, joined in the game, and successfully played it to the astonishment of everyone. That's the beginning of a legend Jeffrey is shaping his life into - or 'Maniac', as people are beginning to call him. Besides running and playing baseball, Jeffrey has the knack of untying knots - from shoestrings to yo-yo, you just name it. But that are all practical things. What Jeffrey astonished, not only children or teenagers, but adults also, was his indifference to racial distinction at that time. At Two Mills, the town where he lives, people don't just go casually from East End to West End. East Enders are where the blacks live, while the whites live in the West End. However, to Jeffrey, the two Ends are just locality, and the blacks and whites are just skin colors. He interacts and mingles with both residents without feeling any barrier.

🏃🏻 What is it that Jeffrey has been seeking during his runaway? At first it was not clear. He lives in several temporary homes - even a buffalo pen at the zoo - but he always runaways when things go not as he expected. So, what was his expectation? It became clear near the end. It is love and acceptance that would make Jeffrey call a house home. It is that character, and his love of human being that surpasses racial barrier, that makes Jeffrey an exemplary figure for middle-grader readers. It was clever of Spinelli to attract his readers first with some of Jeffrey's 'heroic' acts - at least from middle-grader's point of view: brilliant baseball player, fast runner, courage in facing bullies, and his overall good manner and helping hands. From then on, it is easier to interest them (the readers) to the racial issues. Overall, it's an interesting read, with unusual main character and some funny scenes intermingled with the moral lesson slipped gently and unobtrusively between the lines.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2

Goodnight Mister Tom (1981) by Michelle Magorian

💙 When England was on the brink of Second World War, many children from London were evacuated to the countryside. Tom Oakley, a widower in his sixties, who lived in a farming little village called Little Weirwold, found himself the receiver end of a little spindly and terrified evacuee called William, or Willie. His mother wanted little eight year old Willie to be placed in a house of church person or lives near a church. Tom's was the latter.

💙 Tom soon found sore and bruises all over William's body. That, and the way William flinched, terrified, when Tom took a poker to rake the fire (thinking that Tom would brand him), showed Tom how William had been abused at home, by his over religious and mentally unstable mother. William thought himself full of sin, terrified of doing anything boys used to do, and that made him bullied at school, and was called a sissy. His condition moved Tom deeply; and he, a recluse and cantankerous man ever since his wife and son died, treated William with kindness and affection. The first night of William's sleeping at his own attic bedroom, was undoubtedly the turning point of his brighter future. His "Goodnight, Mister Tom" that night before sleep, was a token of gratefulness and affection - two things William had never felt before.

💙 Soon the two, together with Sammy, Tom's dog, were inseparable. He soon went to school and befriended some children: George, the twins Carrie and Ginnie. But his best friend was another evacuee, a cheerful Jewish boy called Zach. William learned to read and write, but they found out soon that he had a special talent of painting and acting. As William gradually emerged from the timid sickly boy he had been when he first arrived, so was Tom, emerged from his "cocoon". But things were not always bright and happy for William; he would experience dark moments, coloured with violence and death. I have prayed during the second part of the book that Tom would adopt William; that he didn't have to return to his abusive mother.

💙 On the whole, it was a delightful novel, though in some part it became too dark for children, I believe. But other than that, the daily lives of the children, and Tom's affection to William, are all warm and satisfying. It was satisfying indeed when William became happy after all the abuses he had been treated. Above all, this book reminds us that we might never be immune to sorrow or loss, but as long as there's love in us, time would heal our wounds, and make us even stronger.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Island of the Blue Dolphins (1960) by Scott O'Dell

🐋 Scott O'Dell wrote this book based on true story of a Nicoleño Native American girl called Juana Maria, who had lived alone for 18 years on San Nicholas Island, in the 18th century. Our girl in this story is Karana, also a Nicoleño girl, who, at the beginning of the story, lives with her father - the leader of the tribe, her little brother Ramo, and older sister Ulape. They live in a village called Ghalas-at, where the people survive by hunting, fishing, and gathering roots. One day a Russian fur-hunter ship called Aleut arrived at the island to hunt for otters. Karana's father dealt with the Russians to let them hunting for a certain price, but the Russians refused to pay, which angered the Ghalas-at people. On the battle that followed, many were killed, including Karana's father.

🐋 Lacking of surviving men, and fear of the Aleuts' returning, the Ghalas-at people decided to move to a new island, leaving their home behind. When the ship was about to leave, realizing that little Ramo had left behind on the island, Karana jumped from the ship amidst the coming storm (which was too dangerous for the ship to return), and swam back to the island. Now alone on the island, Karana and Ramo lived together under the roof of their house, and from the foods they gathered or hunted. The only threat was from the wild dogs, whom, when the people left, became more ferocious. One day they devoured little Ramo, which left Karana really alone on the island, and must somehow survive from the wild dogs, while waiting for the ship to return. But the ship never returned....

🐋 Every girl of Ghalas-at had been taught from childhood that women should not do men's tasks like making weapons or building canoe. It's interesting to see Karana so afraid at first, that something bad would befallen her for what she's doing. But in the end, her survival drive was much stronger than any patriarchal tradition. It's a silly tradition after all; a weaker girl than Karana would soon have been perished of starving or killed by the wild dogs had she not been able to make weapons or canoe, and hunt, and build shelter. On the other hand, Karana still preserved her feminine qualities, like when she made herself a pretty skirt from cormorant skins and feathers, and then wore it when she's out on the shore, admiring herself. 

🐋 It's interesting to read how Karana gathered abalones, then dried them up under the sun. Or how she re-shaped a canoe, that she wouldn't be able to haul herself, to a smaller one. The arrows and spears that she produced, and used to kill some of the wild dogs to avenge her brother's death. Not mentioning how she built a home with fences made of whale bones. It really reminded me of Robinson Crusoe. I loved how Karana tamed the wild dog's leader, to be her only friend. And especially, Karana's kinship with the other inhabitants of the island - the animals: the otters, the sea lions, the whales, the birds. I realized how lonely she was, how longed she was to meet and have conversation with other human beings; and I admired her resilience and spirit. In short, it's a lovely book for young adults, full of adventures and good lessons of survival and character building.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mister God, This is Anna (1974) by Flynn

🧍🏻‍♀️ Flynn is a pseudonym for Sidney Hopkins, the author of Mister God, This is Anna. It is a spiritual and philosophy novel centered on the character of five-year-old Anna, who has a very intimate relationship with God - or Mister God, as she always calls Him. The story is told from the POV of Flynn, a young man of about nineteen to twenty who lives in London in the end of 1930s. Anna's background was unknown throughout the story. She was found by Flynn one foggy night, as he was wandering near London's Dockland, sat still and alone; apparently having been neglected - and most certainly been badly abused - by her parents or family. Anna never told Flynn about her past, and he never insisted.

🧍🏻‍♀️ Anna instantly clang to Flynn from their first meeting, so Flynn brought her home. His mother used to brought runaway children to their house, so she instantly took care of Anna without question. From then on Anna and Flynn were inseparable. Anna is "as busy as a bee, as inquisitive as a kitten, and as playful as a puppy." and has an uncanny way to analyze new things in out-of-the ordinary view. And, as she has a firm love to God, she somehow always manages to apply either mathematic or scientific formulas into the characteristics of God, or into the way human being perceive God and religion. Flynn's love of mathematic and science help nurturing Anna's obsession of investigation and experiments.

🧍🏻‍♀️ And so, the whole book consists of these observations on philosophy or religion or spirituality, from Anna's point of view.

"...Mister God is different. You see, Flynn, people can only love outside and can only kiss outside, but Mister God can love you right inside, and Mister God can kiss you inside, so it's different. Mister God ain't like us; we are a little bit like Mister God, but not much yet."

"...You see, everybody has got a point of view, but Mister God hasn't. Mister God has only points to view."

🧍🏻‍♀️ During the three years of her stay with Flynn, Anna is able to learn more about God and God's way better, perhaps, than an adult who's been to church every week since childhood. 

"Anna searched for Mister God and her desire was for a better understanding of him. Anna's search for Mister God was serious but gay, earnest but light-hearted, reverent but impudent, and single-minded and multi-tracked."

🧍🏻‍♀️ I loved how the story ends. World War II was looming, and Anna was beginning to distressed over the impeding war. Although her stay with Flynn was short, she had managed to wrought a beautiful friendship with him. Not only that, she had changed many lives too, touched many souls with her beautiful soul and firm devotion to God. Even her Mister God would have been touched deeply by her simple love. In short, this is a beautiful book about finding God through everything you could come across - a pure reminder for our battered souls. Though it feels rather redundant sometimes, just continue on, you'll get gems every now and then.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2

My Side of the Mountain (1959) by Jean Craighead George

🌳 Sam Gribley, a boy of about thirteen or fifteen, ran away from home, and determined to live on Catskill Mountains of upstate New York, the land of Gribley's ancestors. Every boy must have thought of running away and living in the wild; few perhaps made it true, but mostly for one or two days only before they went home. Sam Gribley, though, made it for months! And this book is telling you of his adventures, complete with detailed account of Sam's day to day activities; his way of securing shelter, water, and food, and how his wit guides him to survive even the snowiest days in winter.

🌳 Sam made his house by hollowing-up a huge and sturdy tree. How'd he done it? By learning a lot about living in the wild from books in the library. How to fish, how to burn the inside of a tree to hollow it, and how to make fire (he failed on his first night, but eventually became a pro after learning from a farmer he encountered). He eats fish he caught by his self-made rod, and learns to season it from plants or roots he forages from the forest. Sam also knows how to set traps for small animals like rabbits. But his ingenious idea came to him after watching a falcon flew on the sky. He stole a young Falcon from the nest (the mother certainly couldn't count!), and trained it to hunt food - very clever!

🌳 One of the setbacks of living alone in the wild is loneliness. Well, Sam is never very lonely. He has Frightful's - the falcon - company, but he also befriends a weasel he nicknamed the Baron. Well, it's not really Sam's pet like Frightful, but the three creatures live side by side in harmony. Sam's 'biggest' threat is rather from human being, than the animals or the weather. From campers (during summer) and hunters, to old ladies picking wild strawberries, who told reporters about the wild boy living in the forest. But the one he did make friend with is a man whom he nicknamed Bando, as he first thought him a bandit, but actually a schoolteacher who'd been lost. Funnily enough, this man - Bando - nicknamed Sam as Thoreau; what an appropriate name! I loved their friendship and everything they are doing together.

🌳 On the whole, it is delightful adventure story; informative, funny, refreshing, and insightful. The most hilarious part for me is perhaps when Sam decided to throw a Halloween party for the forest's inhabitants. He collects foods and placed them neatly around the tree. It was thrilled to see the animals' joyful gathering that night. However, at sunrise the morning after, Sam found that the party isn't over! The animals, no doubt ran out of food, ransacked Sam's inventory for the upcoming winter. And they made a whole mess in his tree house. It seems that all party is always the same, whether with human or animal guests - you inevitably found such mess the morning after. Human guests are slightly better because they know when the party is over, but the animals just didn't know when to stop!!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Nancy Drew: The Hidden Staircase (1930) by Carolyn Keene

🕵🏻‍♀️ I remember perfectly when Nancy Drew entered the reading radar of my younger self; it's in between the Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie phases. I also read Hardy Boys, but only a few, it's not as riveting as Nancy Drew (or Alfred Hitchcock's Three Investigators, which came to me at the same phase). The Hidden Staircase was the second in the series, and if I have read it before, I completely forget. So, I have read it as if it's my first Nancy Drew - and I loved it!

🕵🏻‍♀️ Nancy Drew is an only child of the Drews; her mother had died, so she lives with her father, a criminal lawyer. One day, as she's alone in the house, a man called Nathan Gombet confronted her. He demanded to see Mr. Drew and accused him of having swindled the his money (which Nancy's 100% certain as impossible). Nancy threw him away finally, but the visit rather worried Nancy. Then she met two middle-aged sisters who lived in a dilapidated mansion house called Twin Elms. They believe the house was haunted; footsteps were heard at night, things or foods were mysteriously missing, and things like that. So, when her father left for a week on a mission, she decided to stay in the house to investigate, and helped the kind ladies to find peace again at their house.

🕵🏻‍♀️ Nancy checked every room, every walls, to find hidden doors or entrance where an intruder could have come from outside (as she didn't believe that ghosts are the culprit). It must have been a joke, or else, a crime. But none existed, or so Nancy thought, because I have immediately saw something fishy when the rooms and furniture were described. I was literally screamed at Nancy: there! you must check there! And I was right at the end. I guess I've read too many mysteries that something out of ordinary immediately intrigued me. Anyway, no entrance was found, but a person did enter the house at nights, and stole things. Worse for Nancy, her father was missing too! Are those two facts connected? And what about Nathan Gombet who swore he would get what he thought is his rights?

🕵🏻‍♀️ On the whole, it's unexpectedly a fast-paced mystery/detective/adventure thriller with wonderful plot, and satisfactory ending. I loved how Nancy Drew was portrayed; an independent, resourceful, highly intelligent girl who is generous and kindhearted. I liked how Nancy defended her father against Gombet's accusation. You know right away how she had been brought up with love and respect by a respectable parents. It is nice to know for sure that your father wouldn't do anything bad.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Three Different Genres I've Enjoyed Recently: Mini Reviews

I have successively enjoyed three books from three different genres: one is a young-adult fantasy, the other a Golden Age mystery. The last one is a book from the middlebrow collection of Dean Street Press. I loved them all, and here's why...

Book of a Thousand Days (2007) by Shannon Hale

💙 This story was reimagined from a Grimm's fairy tale (an obscure one, which I doubt you've ever read - I haven't even heard of it). It becomes a sort of fairy tale, set in medieval Mongolia. Young Dashti is an orphaned commoner girl, who's brought up in steppes. After her parents died, she got a job as a lady's maid of Lady Saren, whose father is imprisoning her for seven years in a tower, for refusing to marry a wicked and cruel Lord Khasar. When Dashti agreed to serve her lady in imprisonment - for seven years, no less - I instantly loved her character. Serving here isn't just in the ordinary way, Lady Saren asked Dashti to pretend to be her, whenever Khan Tegus - Lady Saren's betrothed - came secretly to the tower. Thus I learned that Lady Saren isn't just a spoilt or lonely gentry girl, there's something dark and mysterious lurking in her heart. The mystery revealed when they have been out of the tower. Another thing revealed is that the Titor's Garden, the Realm whence they came, had been destroyed by Lord Khasar. Homeless and fearful, Dashti must save and protect her lady. But where could she go? And how could she do that by herself?

💙 All in all, it's a wonderful tale. There's enough of everything for everyone - the romance, the humour, the battle, the exotic background. And the story is told from Dashti's point of view, as a diary. When you read a diary of a pleasant and interesting character, it's bound to be entertaining. Add that with a medieval realm in Mongolian, well... like I said, a wonderful tale, is what you'll get.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Crook o' Lune (1953) by E.C.R. Lorac

🧡 Derived from the idyllic rural village in England, Lunesdale, E.C.R. Lorac presented a mystery set in High Gimmerdale, in the same dale. Chief Inspector Robert Macdonald is on holiday, and aiming to learn more about farming - an occupation of his dream after future retirement. However, when an arson and sheep-stealing cases took place, he couldn't say no when the local constable asked him to co-investigate. The fire was aimed to destroy Gilbert Woolfall's - the current owner of Aikengill - study. But his housekeeper was also found dead because of the fire. Who would have the motive? Was it the vicar, who resented the lose of a stipend; or the shepherd and his bethroted, who were promised by Gilbert Woolfall to stay at Aikengill if the housekeeper handed in her notice? Or was it only a decoy to smoothen a sheep-stealing scheme? 

🧡 I have realized from quite the beginning of the story, that its main attraction wouldn't be the mystery itself, but the vivid description of the beautiful countryside, the farming's hardship, and the people, which Lorac made live with her wonderful penmanship. You'd feel as though you yourself are making a holiday in Lunsdale, and breathing its countryside air. The result is a refreshing novel with an entertaining mystery. For once, I didn't try to guess the whodunnit or howdunnit, but just flowed with the story.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ten Way Street (1941) by Susan Scarlett

🤎 I have enjoyed some of Susan Scarlett's (pseudonym of Noel Streatfeild) novels before, and this one is no different. Number ten of Way Street is the the abode of an actress called Margot Cardew, with her three children. And that's where Beverley Shaw had landed her first job as governess right after finishing the training, provided by the orphanage school, where she had come from. Beverly is a spirited young woman with positive attitude, ready to bring the three unruly children to their better selves. Peter Crewdson, Margot's admirer and friend to the children, saw Beverley as Joan of Arc. You know the drill... a governess to work her way to the children's heart that they're afraid of losing her, again. Then a handsome guy fell in love with her, triggering jealousy, not only from the children, but their temperamental narcistic mother too.

🤎 As were with all Susan Scarlett's, though the premise is predictable, the story was woven skillfully, and the characters are perfectly drawn. The result is a delightful story and a page turner - I knew how it will end, but still, there'd be little surprises along the way - that in the end, I sighed contentedly after "the end". What more would you ask?

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

#CCSpin: Stormy, Misty's Foal (1963) by Marguerite Henry

🐴 First of all, my initial #CCSpin #37 book, that is no. 8 of my list, was The Duchess of Bloombury Street. However, upon checking my Google Playbook - which is one of the sources for my readings nowadays - I found out that, alas, 'this item isn't available in your country'. That was annoying, because I had wanted to read that book, and now, apparently, I can't. Well, until it's available again (will they?) I can't read it! Anyway, as I couldn't get hold of the book, I switched to no. 9: Stormy, Misty's Foal, which proved to be a success! 

🐴 Based on historical real-life story of equine and human characters, Stormy, Misty's Foal is a children novel (third of a series) set in Chincoteague island in Virginia (now made famous by this series). The nearest island is Assateague, which is famous for its wild ponies.

🐴 The Beebes are the owner of Beebe Ranch, the family consisted of Mr. Beebe and his wife, who lived there with Paul and Maureen, their grandchildren. Paul and Maureen, aged around thirteen, own a horse called Misty, which was foaled from wild horses in Assateague (its story was told in the first book).

🐴 Misty was now close to foaling, but what made the family more anxious is the beginning of storm that hit their land with hurricane and floods. It was a prelude of the famous Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962, one of ten most disastrous storms in the US history of 20th century. The Beebes must evacuate from their beloved ranch by helicopter, but they could neither bring Misty with them nor leave her alone in the stable. So, they put her in the kitchen with enough hay for the time being, then left their house.

🐴 Most of the story was about the struggles of the Chincoteaguers in dealing with the disaster. Through these vignettes we are brought to see how humanity triumphed over devastation. Their heroic salvation of their fellow human beings run parallel with their indefatigable efforts to save the animals from perish.

🐴 Reading my review you would think this is a bleak story; but it's not. There are the sense of hope and triumph throughout the story, sprinkled with humour and kindness, that will warm you heart. If you love horses, then this story would doubly entertain you. It's a satisfying feeling when a horse delivers its foal safely onto the world, right? (this is not a spoiler, as the title had hinted it) All in all, this was a wonderful reading for me, I loved every moment of it!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino #1937Club

🖤 Genzaburo Yoshino was graduated from college in the 1920s with a degree in philosophy, but his interest was soon shifted to politics. In 1925, Japan passed the Public Security Preservation Law, forbidding its people to say or write anything critical to the government. Yoshino was arrested and imprisoned for eighteen months after attending political meetings with socialists. After being released, a friend offered him a job of editing ethics textbook series for younger readers, to teach them the importance of free and rich culture to human progress. Yoshino thought such books would bored young readers, so they came up with the idea of writing it as a novel instead. How Do We Live? is the end result.

🖤 The story is about a fifteenth year-old boy called Honda Jun'ichi, but nicknamed Copper. It's an interesting story how Jun'ichi got this nickname. His father died two years before, and his last wish was that Copper would grow into a good human being. So, Copper's uncle begins to guide and advice him. They become very intimate and inseparable.

🖤 One day Copper and his Uncle are on top roof of Ginza, looking down on the busy street of Tokyo. At that moment Copper realized how tiny his existence was, just like a single molecule within the wide world. And that's when his Uncle starts writing a letter-like notes to Copper in a notebook. His topic ranges from science (Coppernicus - that's whom Copper got his nickname from), philosophy, ethics, to culture (Buddhism) and history (Napoleon).

🖤 Through out the story, we are presented alternately with Copper's struggles at school, as well his impressions of human beings; and with the Uncle's long notes on various topics accordingly to what Copper has faced or shared to him about. Inspiring and reflective though they are, I think these lectures could have been too long-winded, if they were addressed to young readers. My favorite part is when Copper befriends a poor boy, whose family own a tofu shop. Well, not so poor as they have few employers, but is considered poor compared to the wealthy families the boy is in school with. I just wondered why the poor family chose this school for the boy in the first place. Anyway, it provides a nice education for Copper. Another one is one of Copper's friends is bullied, and how Copper, when the moment come when he should've stood up for his friend, failed to do so, and it tormented poor Copper. What a huge learning he got from that experience, what with his understanding mother and intelligent uncle! 

🖤 All in all, it's a gem from bygones that I'm very glad to have found, thanks to the 1937 Club! Speaking of 1937, it's refreshing to be able to take a journey to Japan in that era. I would love to seeing newsreel film at the theater, like what Copper and his uncle do for leisure.

A few wonderful quotes:

"A heroic spirit that's not devoted to human progress may be empty and meaningless, but goodness that is lacking in the spirit of heroism is often empty as well."

" When you have made a mistake, to recognize it bravely and to suffer for it is something that in all if heaven and earth, only humans can do."

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read this book for:

The 1937 Club

hosted by Simon @ Stuck in a Book & Karen @ Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings

Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery: A Review

🧡 Jane Victoria Stuart lived all eleven years of her life with her mother, aunt, and grandmother - the Kennedys - in 60th Gay Street, a respectable house in Toronto. But she always feels she doesn't belong there. The only thing she loves within the house is her mother. She hates everything else, especially the strict and prim of her grandmother, who seems to be jealous because her mother loves Jane. About her father, nobody in 60 Gay Street ever mentions; so Jane assumes he's dead.

🧡 Jane attends St. Agatha's, a respectable school chosen by her grandmother, but she doesn't belong there either. She's nervous and awkward, and seems to be useless at anything she does. And the Kennedys would sneer and laughed at her everytime she blunders, which would make her feel more inferior and miserable than usual. At times like that, her only console are the moon and Jody, an orphaned girl her age who shares her spirit.

"Jane had her own particular reasons for liking to look at the moon . . . and the white blossoming cherry-tree over in the yard of 58. The cherry-tree, with the moon hanging over it like a great pearl, was so beautiful that Jane felt a queer lump in her throat when she looked at it."

🧡 One day, a letter came from Jane's father. Her father, whom she thought was dead, is actually alive, and wants her to spend summer with him in Prince Edward Island! With many doubts Jane came, and found out that his father is an amiable man whom she can actually love and loves her back! He even bought them a charming house in Lantern Hill, where Jane feels belong to for the first time in her life.

🧡 A remarkable change came over Jane as soon as she's found freedom, love, and friendship in Lantern Hill - qualities that she never thought she has in her: courage, strength, and many amazing skills. She even finds comfort in cooking and keeping house for Dad. In short, she seems to have been born in Prince Edward Island - which she actually was!

🧡 Only one thing marred her blissfulness. If only her mother could join them in Lantern Hill! But it's impossible because her mother doesn't have enough 'backbone' to stand up to grandmother, and Dad don't love her anymore. Will her life always be divided into two poles: summer in Lantern Hill and spring to winter in Toronto?

🧡 I haven't read L.M. Montgomery's for a long time (the last one is Anne of Green Gables fourteen years ago), and this one is surprisingly a charming book. I loved Lantern Hill, though I always prefer mountains than beach. And I was amazed by Jane's character development. Jane is a genuinely independent creature, and it is only after letting her free to be herself that she will be blossoming into a great person. Love, freedom, and nature are the most powerful combination!

Rating: 4 / 5

**This is my first entry for We ❤ L.M. Montgomery Week, hosted by Hamlette (Rachel) @ Hamlette's Soliloquy.**

 

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The only reason I read Little Women was because high praises have been attributed to it by most of my fellow book-bloggers. My first encounter with Alcott was in Eight Cousins, which left me no impression at all. With Little Women, I had a slight expectation that it might have something more meaningful than Eight Cousins. Plus, I picked it because Alcott had influence in Transcendentalism, which I am tackling this month for Literary Movement Challenge. But after finishing it, well, I still can’t see why people praise it so much. It was really an enjoyable reading, and I think Alcott is a good writer, but that’s all to me. It left my mind as soon as I opened another book, and I even have to google it right now to write this review (I finished reading about a few weeks ago).

Maybe my favorite part of Little Women is the family bonding of the Marches. It is always great to be accepted and loved as we are, and to have a home where we are belonged to. The characters are memorable, but sometimes seem unreal. But unrealistic—angelic in this case—characters, like those of Dickens, are indeed memorable.

From the four sisters, I think Amy is the most natural one, for her age. Beth is too good to be true; she is more like an angel than a little child! Megan and Jo are typical contradiction in books’ characters; they even reminded me of Anne and George in Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five. It seems that girls are mostly divided into two categories. The feminine ones love pretty dresses, play with dolls, like to cook, and always think about getting a husband. While the tomboy ones like to be called with boy’s names, dislike dresses, and do boyish games. Amazingly their names are always similar to boy’s names… Georgina to George, Josephine to Jo. Plus these tomboy girls are usually hot-headed and stubborn. These childish stereotyping is sometimes annoying!

Apart from that, Little Women taught us to place virtues over vanity, which was the theme of Enlightenment literature. In every event of their lives, Mrs. March always reminded her family to keep praying and practicing Christian values. It’s good, but sometimes I think it’s a bit patronizing. I prefer books that don’t tell us to do something straight to the point, but hide ii between the lines. The finding of the hidden moral is often the most valuable point of the reading.

Three and a half stars for Little Women.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I read Puffin Classics paperback

This book is counted for:

7^th book for Literary Movement Reading Challenge:Transcendentalism

4^th book for Back to the Classics 2015: A Classicby a Woman Author

92^nd book for The Classics Club Project

Nobody’s Boy

[conclusion in English is at the bottom of this post]

“Aku seorang anak pungut”. Itulah empat kata ungkapan pembuka kisah ini yang—bagiku—menyimpan makna yang sangat mendalam. Pada usia delapan tahun Remi baru mengetahui bahwa ia bukanlah anak Mrs. Barberin—istri petani miskin—yang selama ini menghujaninya dengan curahan kasih sayang. Mr. Barberin memungut Remi saat masih bayi karena mengharap orang tua aslinya—yang diperkirakan kaya raya dari pakaian si bayi Remi—akan mengambilnya kelak, dan keluarga Baberin akan mendapat uang. Sayang si orang tua asli tak kunjung datang, maka Mr. Barberin menjual Remi kepada seorang musisi jalanan bernama Signor Vitalis, di luar ijin Mrs. Barberin.

Maka dimulailah perjalanan sulit Remi di jalanan kota Paris. Signor Vitalis adalah seorang tua yang berkelana bersama tiga ekor anjing dan seekor monyet. Mereka bepergian antar kota dan desa, dan mengadakan pertunjukan mirip sandiwara keliling untuk memperoleh uang demi makanan dan (kadang-kadang) tempat berteduh. Remi pun mulai belajar bersandiwara, serta bermain musik menggunakan harpanya. Ia juga belajar membaca dan menulis dari Signor Vitalis, yang lama kelamaan menjadi figur seorang ayah baginya. Di saat gerompolan mereka sudah saling menyayangi hingga mirip seperti keluarga—yang sangat didambakan Remi—keadaan pun memburuk.

Setelah itu Remi mengalami jatuh bangun berkali-kali, namun dari pengalaman-pengalaman itu Remi sedikit demi sedikit belajar tentang kehidupan. Bila awalnya ia mendambakan hidup dalam keluarga kaya dengan rumah bagus seperti milik Arthur dan Mrs. Milligan, lambat laun ia menyadari bahwa kasih sayang dan persahabatan adalah ‘home’ yang sesungguhnya ia rindukan.

Beberapa quotes yang aku sukai:

“Aku sayang anak itu, dan dia sayang padaku. Pelajaran hidup yang kuberikan padanya akan baik untuknya, jauh lebih baik dari yang akan dia peroleh bersama Anda. Anda akan memberinya pendidikan, itu benar; Anda akan membentuk pikirannya, tetapi bukan karakternya. Hanya dengan belajar menghadapi kesulitan-kesulitan hidup karakter orang akan terbentuk.” [Signor Vitalis] ~hlm. 134.

“Sapi yang kauberikan padaku sewaktu masih miskin akan jauh lebih berharga bagiku disbanding apa pun yang bisa kauberikan padaku setelah kau kaya, Remi.” [Mrs. Barberin] ~hlm. 135.

Tiga bintang untuk Nobody’s Boy.

Judul: Nobody’s Boy (Sebatang Kara)

Penulis: Hector Malot

Penerjemah: Tanti Lesmana

Penerbit: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Terbit: April 2010

Tebal: 384 hlm

Conclusion:

Nobody's Boy plot is actually quite ordinary, and I think it’d fit better into young adult or pre-teen books. It uses mild language, easy-to understand sentences (at least the one which is presented in the translated version I read), and the story flows without a certain emphasis to the characters. Hector Malot’s message was quite clear, which is about friendship, loyalty and affection. The essence of this story is Remi’s search for love and family, and life lessons he got from wandering along with Signor Vitalis and the gang. Nobody’s Boy became one of all time stories, perhaps, because of the unique figure of Signor Vitalis and his travelling artist group, his mysterious background, as well as the tour and adventures with which we experience together with Remi throughout the story, between France and Italy.

Three stars for Nobody’s Boy!

Eight Cousins

Kesedihan tak dapat kita panggul sendirian. Kadang kala kita membutuhkan orang lain di luar diri kita untuk membantu menyembuhkannya. Itulah pelajaran yang kudapat dari membaca buku Eight Cousins karya Lousia May Alcott ini. Kisah ini ditulis pada akhir abad 19, dan ditujukan bagi para para gadis remaja yang segera akan memasuki masa dewasa. Louisa meletakkan dasar pembentukan moral bagi seorang wanita pada jaman itu lewat kisah ringan dan ceria ini.

Rose baru berusia tiga belas tahun ketika ayahnya, satu-satunya orang tua yang ia miliki di dunia, pergi meninggalkannya dalam kematian. Sebelum meninggal, ayahnya memberikan hak perwalian bagi Rose kepada saudaranya, seorang pria berpembawaan riang, seorang dokter yang suka berlayar. Rose memanggilnya Paman Alec.

Sambil menunggu Paman Alec pulang dari pelayarannya, Rose dititipkan ke Aunt-Hill. Yah...dari namanya, anda mungkin bisa menebak bahwa Aunt-Hill adalah tempat tinggal para bibi. Terdengar membosankan bukan? Satu bibi sudah cukup, tapi bagaimana dengan enam bibi? Dan para Mrs. Campbell ini, para bibi Rose, tinggal di suatu kompleks yang berdekatan satu sama lain.

Para bibi ini masing-masing mencoba membuat Rose yang berkabung menjadi lebih ceria. Segala cara mereka lakukan. Mendatangkan seorang gadis kecil untuk menemaninya salah satunya, sayang Ariadne Bliss ternyata gadis kecil yang menyebalkan. Lemari boneka dan hal-hal yang harusnya bisa menghibur anak perempuan telah dicoba oleh Bibi Plenty dan Bibi Peace, namun Rose tetap berdiam diri dengan wajah pucat dan tubuh kurus berpenyakitan. Para bibi sudah hampir putus asa....

Para bibi yang hampir putus asa itu menyiapkan sebuah manuver terakhir bagi keponakan malang mereka. Kejutan itu hadir suatu sore dengan cara yang heboh. Tujuh anak laki-laki berbaris di ruang duduk, semuanya berambut kuning dan berpakaian ala Skotlandia. Itulah "Klan". Tak butuh waktu lama bagi Rose untuk mengetahui bahwa mereka adalah sepupu-sepupunya, dan bahwa mereka anak-anak laki-laki yang sangat ribut! Padahal...ssttt...selama ini Rose sangat membenci anak laki-laki dengan semua kelakuan dan kegiatannya.

Tapi "Klan" bukanlah anak laki-laki sembarangan, mereka semua hadir dengan keunikan masing-masing sehingga ujung bibir Rose sudah mulai membentuk senyuman dalam pertemuan pertama ke delapan sepupu ini. Bagaimana tidak, kalau Archie si kepala klan yang tertua dan selalu bersikap terhormat, Charlie "The Prince" yang flamboyan, Mac si kutu buku, Steve "Dandy" yang pesolek, Will & Geordie si bandel, dan si kecil Jamie, semua berkolaborasi untuk menyenangkan nona kecil kita?

Namun kebahagiaan sesungguhnya mendatangi Rose dalam sosok Paman Alec. Ia orang yang ramah, baik hati, penuh perhatian pada "gadis kecil"nya. Paman Alec dulu mencintai ibu Rose, namun ternyata ibu Rose memilih saudaranya. Untungnya Alec tak mendendam, dan kini ia mencurahkan waktu dan pikirannya untuk sebuah proyek besar. Proyek itu adalah mengambil alih pengurusan Rose dari para bibi ke tangannya sendiri, dan membuat Rose menjadi lebih sehat, ceria dan normal. Proyek itu berlangsung selama setahun.

Selama setahun itu Rose perlahan tumbuh menjadi gadis yang ceria dan sehat, berwawasan luas serta dipersiapkan menjadi seorang wanita yang "baik", meski tetap keceriaan remajanya tetap muncul. Paman Alec memberikan contoh yang baik bagi remaja putri. Alih-alih mengenakan gaun berat berkorset plus high heels, Paman Alec memilihkan pakaian yang nyaman dan sederhana bagi Rose, yang justru menampilkan kecantikan seorang gadis remaja. Kegiatan-kegiatan di luar rumah membuat Rose sehat dan segar. Sementara pelajaran-pelajaran keilmuan dari Paman Alec serta ketrampilan mengurus rumah tangga dari para bibi, mempersiapkan Rose menjadi ibu rumah tangga yang tetap berwawasan.

Banyak petualangan seru dan asyik dijalani Rose bersama Paman Alec dan tujuh sepupunya. Namun di sela kegembiraan itu, Rose juga sempat melakukan "pengorbanan". Ia mengorbankan saat-saat indah liburan di pulau demi Phebe, gadis pelayan yatim piatu yang ia angkat menjadi saudaranya. Ia juga meluangkan waktu untuk menemani Mac saat anak laki-laki itu menderita sakit mata. Dan saat ada pertengkaran di antara sepupunya, Rose-lah yang mendamaikan mereka.

Akhirnya, setelah masa setahun itu selesai, Rose harus memutuskan di mana dan bersama siapa ia akan tinggal setelah itu. Siapa yang paling dicintainya dan paling membahagiakan hidupnya?

Eight Cousins ini jelas buku yang membawa kegembiraan bagi pembacanya, tapi di dalamnya juga tersisip pelajaran moral yang baik bagi remaja pada umumnya, dan remaja putri khususnya. Persahabatan, pengorbanan, kepercayaan, dan baaanyaaak keceriaan akan anda temukan di sini. Tiga bintang untuk kedelapan sepupu ini!

Judul: Eight Cousins
Penulis: Louisa May Alcott
Penerbit: Orange Books (Mizan group)
Terbit: Februari 2011
Tebal: 375 hlm

The Yearling

Yearling, menurut Wikipedia adalah hewan atau kuda muda yang baru meninggalkan masa kecil menuju masa dewasa. Masa muda, ingatkah anda akan masa-masa yang pernah atau sedang anda lewati itu? Masa-masa yang indah sekaligus membingungkan, karena pada masa-masa itu kita merasa seperti berada di puncak dunia. Lalu, baru saja kita merasa demikian, kitapun lalu dihempaskan pada kenyataan yang sesungguhnya. Hidup ternyata memang indah, namun tak pernah mudah. Kalau pengertian itu sudah kita dapatkan, berarti kita telah memasuki kedewasaan. Itulah yang ingin diungkapkan Marjorie Kinnan Rowlings dalam bukunya yang sangat indah ini: The Yearling.

Jody Baxter adalah seorang bocah lelaki yang sedang menanjaki usia remaja. Ia hidup di pertanian bersama Penny Baxter, ayahnya yang kurus ceking dan Ma Baxter yang gemuk. Keluarga Baxter hidup di pondok di dataran tinggi yang dikenal sebagai Pulau Baxter, yang sama sekali bukan pulau, melainkan lahan pertanian yang luas. Hidup bagi Jody sedang di puncak keindahan. Sebagai putra seorang penggarap ladang, ia mulai diajari bekerja meladang dan beternak. Namun karena usianya yang masih muda, tak berat tanggung jawab yang ia pikul sehingga ia pun merasa bebas untuk bermain dan bermanja di sela-sela pelajaran bertani dan berburu yang diberikan oleh Pa-nya, Penny Baxter.

Penny Baxter sendiri adalah sosok lelaki kurus kecil dengan mental sebesar beruang dan memiliki karakter kuat serta memegang teguh prinsipnya. Penny mengingatkanku pada papaku sendiri. Ia juga kurus meski lumayan tinggi. Namun, sama seperti Penny, Papa juga orang yang sangat kuat memegang prinsipnya akan kebenaran, kejujuran dan keadilan, sehingga kehidupan justru sering mengecewakannya. Di mata orang lain, terutama tetangga mereka: keluarga Forrester, bahkan juga di mata istrinya, Penny adalah pria yang (terlalu) lemah lembut dan tak berguna. Penny memiliki prinsip ia takkan membunuh hewan bila tak amat sangat membutuhkan atau bila hewan itu tak mengganggu keluarganya. Meski tahu bahwa daging atau kulit beruang mahal harganya bila dijual dan kesempatan untuk menembak sekawanan beruang terbuka lebar, ia hanya akan menembak secukupnya untuk makanan keluarganya untuk waktu tertentu. Penny percaya bahwa alam memiliki keseimbangannya sendiri, bahwa lebih baik membiarkan rusa tetap hidup, dan bahwa kalau ia harus mati, biarlah ia menjadi santapan hewan besar lainnya. Keluarga Baxter hanya mengambil apa yang mereka butuhkan untuk menyambung hidup, agar dengan demikian terjadi keseimbangan alam yang akhirnya juga akan mereka nikmati secara timbal balik.

Karakter Penny inilah yang teramat sangat dikagumi Jody, anak tunggal keluarga Baxter. Hal itu pula yang menyebabkan Jody sangat cocok dan dekat dengan ayahnya, tapi tak mampu memahami ibunya yang setelah berkali-kali kehilangan bayi, berubah menjadi manusia getir dan sinis. Jody pun makin sering berbagi waktu bersama ayahnya dalam perburuan beruang atau rusa yang mengasyikkan, juga berbagi ketertarikan pada alam dan hewan. Ayahnya juga yang mampu memahami rasa kesepian dalam diri Jody, kebutuhannya untuk memiliki seorang teman, yang akhirnya terkompensasi pada kehadiran seekor anak rusa yang bulunya berbintik cantik. Meski Ma Baxter tak menyetujui keinginan Jody memelihara anak rusa itu, namun ayahnya membela Jody. Maka kini bertambahlah satu anggota termuda keluarga Baxter: si anak rusa yang kemudian diberi nama Flag (karena ekornya yang selalu mengibas-ngibas seperti bendera kecil...).

Jody sangat menyayangi Flag. Ia yang selalu kelaparan dan bernafsu makan besar, malah bersedia mengorbankan susu jatahnya dan sebagian makan malamnya untuk diberikan kepada Flag, karena ibunya keberatan kalau harus memberi makan satu mulut lagi. Semakin besar Flag, semakin tak terpisahkanlah kedua anak muda itu: Jody dan Flag.

Sampai di sini anda mungkin heran. Bagaimana cerita yang terlihat amat sederhana itu bisa menjadi rangkaian kisah sepanjang 501 halaman? Ah...kekuatan utama buku ini memang bukan pada inti ceritanya, namun justru pada detailnya. Membaca The Yearling ini membuat kita merasa seakan pindah ke dunia lain, di abad yang lalu. Begitu anda membuka halaman pertama, anda akan langsung merasa tersihir oleh rangkaian kata-kata yang disemat menjadi untaian kalimat-kalimat indah yang mampu menggambarkan keindahan alam dan suasananya yang mempesona. Yang paling memukauku adalah adegan bangau menari yang secara tak sengaja disaksikan Penny dan Jody di suatu senja ketika pulang memancing. Penggambaran bias merah jambu matahari yang sedang tenggelam dan susana yang kurasakan hampir-hampir magis ketika para bangau memainkan bunyi-bunyian musik dan menari dalam sebuah lingkaran, ahh...seolah begitu nyata dan seakan aku dapat mendengar musik itu sendiri dan menyaksikan pertunjukan itu secara langsung.

Kalaupun ada alur yang agak dinamis dan menegangkan di buku ini, itu terjadi pada setiap perburuan. Perburuan ala Penny bukan perburuan liar yang hanya asal menghabisi saja. Penny memiliki insting yang sangat bagus dan pengetahuan tentang karakter hewan. Meski ia sendirian, ia dapat berhasil mendapatkan buruan karena insting dan kecerdikannya itu, dan dibantu juga oleh anjing pemburunya yang setia: Julia dan Rip. Hanya Slewfoot Tua, seekor beruang pincang yang amat cerdas yang nyaris mengalahkan Penny dan mungkin satu-satunya yang pernah membuat Penny begitu marah hingga hampir tak mampu berpikir jernih. Anda akan tak habis pikir, bagaimana si ceking Penny bisa memiliki keberanian begitu besar. Saat keluarga Forrester yang bermoral rendah dan sering bikin onar mengeroyok seorang pemuda, Penny pun berani melindungi si pemuda. Ia memang menjadi babak belur dan nampak konyol di depan istrinya, namun sesungguhnya sikapnya itu sungguh mulia: menolong siapapun yang diperlakukan dengan tak adil.

Sementara itu, dalam perjalanannya menjadi pria dewasa, Jody telah menyaksikan dan belajar tentang banyak hal. Tentang bagaimana masa lalu dapat mengubah seseorang, bagaimana seorang wanita dapat membuat dua orang pria rela bertarung hidup dan mati, bagaimana alam memberi seorang anak kemampuan intuisi yang tajam, namun di sisi lain mengambil daripadanya tubuh yang sehat dan menggantikannya dengan kecacatan. Namun mungkin pelajaran yang paling berharga yang ia dapat dari ayahnya, selain berburu dan bertani, adalah pelajaran tentang menjadi dewasa dan menghadapi kenyataan hidup, seperti yang diungkapkan oleh Penny:

"Semua orang ingin agar hidupnya indah dan mudah. Hidup memang indah, Nak, sangat indah, namun tidak mudah. Hidup akan menjatuhkan seseorang dan begitu orang itu bangkit, dia akan dijatuhkan lagi."

"Aku ingin agar hidupmu mudah. Lebih mudah daripada yang kualami. Hati seorang ayah sakit saat melihat anak-anaknya menghadapi dunia. Tahu bahwa mereka akan terluka, sama sepertinya... Lalu apa yang harus ia lakukan? Apa yang harus ia lakukan ketika jatuh? Tentu saja ia harus menerima hal itu dan melanjutkan hidup."

Nasihat yang sungguh indah dan mengena, yang lagi-lagi mengingatkanku pada surat Papa untukku saat aku berulang tahun ke 17. Hal yang sama seperti yang diajarkan Penny pada Jody. Bahwa hidup tak selalu mudah, meski toh di sana-sini kita akan boleh melihat beberapa keindahan. Ada saat-saat Penny dan Jody terluka atau kesakitan saat menghadapi hewan buruan, namun ada saatnya juga mereka menikmati pertunjukan bangau menari atau anak beruang main ayunan saat berburu. Sama halnya dengan hidup kita. Namun pada akhirnya, kita semua toh harus tetap menerima semuanya, dan melanjutkan hidup...

Akhirnya terima kasih pada Gramedia yang telah menghadirkan sebuah kisah klasik yang memukau( menjadi pemenang Pulitzer Price tahun 1939), dengan penerjemahan yang indah ini di ranah perbukuan kita. Kita telah boleh mereguk keindahannya, sekaligus memetik pelajaran berharga dari buku ini.

Judul: The Yearling
Pengarang: Marjorie Kinnan Rowling
Alih bahasa: Rosemary Kesauly
Penerbit: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Cetakan: Maret 2011
Tebal: 501 hlm

The Secret Garden

Entah mengapa aku selalu suka membaca buku anak-anak. Bukan buku dongeng macam Cinderella atau Sleeping Beauty yang bagus untuk imajinasi, tapi ternyata juga membawa anak berpikir bahwa hidup itu (terlalu) mudah. Aku lebih suka membaca kisah anak klasik, seperti The Secret Garden yang ditulis oleh Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Secret garden, taman rahasia. Hmmm…belum-belum imajinasiku sudah terbawa pada suasana segar, indah, dan nyaman ketika mendengar ‘taman’. Apalagi ada kata ‘rahasia’ juga. Bukankah misteri selalu menjadi salah satu kelemahan manusia? Maka, meski ada begitu banyak buku lain yang menggodaku, The Secret Garden akhirnya menang! Buku inilah yang akhirnya kubeli, meski mamaku yang belanja buku bersamaku mengernyit ketika melihat cover-nya yang memang kekanak-kanakan…

Namun…semuanya terbayar sudah. Karena membaca The Secret Garden benar-benar memberikan pengalaman membaca yang sesungguhnya. Untaian kata dan kalimat yang enak dibaca, rasa nyaman ketika imajinasi terbawa pada suasana taman dan kebun yang asri, juga alur cerita yang senantiasa terjaga dengan apik.

The Secret Garden bercerita tentang seorang anak perempuan bernama Mary yang terbiasa dimanja dan dipuja semenjak kecil, sehingga tumbuh menjadi gadis cilik yang masam, sinis, egois, dan manja. Hingga pada suatu hari ia tiba-tiba menjadi yatim piatu akibat sebuah wabah kolera yang merenggut seluruh keluarganya tanpa terkecuali. Ia pun dibawa kepada salah seorang kerabatnya yang memiliki rumah amat besar, yang berkamar kira-kira seratus, padahal hanya ditinggali beberapa orang saja.

Pamannya yang kaya itu dulu memiliki istri yang manis, ceria dan amat cinta pada tanaman. Sang istri pernah memiliki sebuah taman mawar yang asri di belakang rumah mereka. Setiap hari almarhum istrinya itu akan duduk di taman mawar dan merawat setiap bunga dan tumbuhan dengan penuh cinta. Hingga akhirnya ia meninggal dunia gara-gara melahirkan putra mereka.

Sejak saat itu sang suami yang amat berduka, menutup diri sekaligus menutup taman itu selama-lamanya, dan mengacuhkan putra mereka yang masih bayi, karena menganggap si bayi itulah yang menyebabkan istrinya meninggal.

Pada suatu hari, Mary yang tak punya teman dan kesepian berjalan-jalan di kebun nan luas dan berkenalan dengan seorang tukang kebun yang sedang bekerja. Dari beliaulah Mary mendengar bahwa ada sebuah taman rahasia yang telah tertutup selama 10 tahun dan kuncinya tersembunyi entah dimana. Sebuah misteri…itulah yang menggerakkan hati Mary untuk berusaha membuka dan menemukan jawabannya: Di manakah letak taman rahasia itu? Apa yang ada di dalamnya?

Aku ingat, dirikupun terbawa ketegangan ketika Mary akhirnya menemukan letak taman itu dan kuncinya yang dipendam di dalam tanah, serta akan segera membuka pintunya. Apa yang ada di balik pintu itu yah?.... Bagaimana rupa taman rahasia itu, yang sudah 10 tahun tak pernah dirawat? Ketegangan yang terasa manis, bukan penuh ketakutan seperti ketika membaca kisah horror, atau yang membuat jantung berdetak lebih cepat seperti ketika membaca buku Agatha Christie.

Taman itu ternyata cukup indah meski tak terawat. Mungkin justru karena keliarannya lah yang membuatknya semakin eksotis. Memang aku tak melihatnya sendiri, namun Frances benar-benar mampu menggambarkan semua sulur-sulur mawar yang bertautan satu sama lain, tak tertata namun justru tampak natural. Dan ajaibnya, taman itu mampu membawa perubahan pada diri Mary. Ia menjadi lebih bahagia, dan itu turut mengubah sifatnya yang sinis, egois dan manja. Sedikit demi sedikit Mary tumbuh menjadi anak yang bahagia dan normal.

Semangat Mary menular pada Colin, saudara sepupunya, atau bocah laki-laki yang tak dicintai oleh ayahnya, yang adalah paman Mary. Begitu menemukan taman rahasia itu, Colin pun memiliki semangat hidup yang sebelum ini benar-benar padam.

Apa yang menyebabkan semua perubahan itu? Benarkah itu karena ‘sihir’ seperti yang dipikirkan Colin? Tentu bukan sihir ala nenek sihir atau ilmu hitam. Sihir itu adalah mukjijat yang datang dari Sang Pencipta. Bukankah justru dari alamlah kita bisa mengenalNya? Mengagumi hasil karyaNya? Maka di alam jugalah kita paling dapat merasakan kehadiranNya. Itulah ‘sihir’ yang mengubah dua anak yang tidak bahagia dan judes menjadi sosok anak-anak yang penuh kasih.

Itulah yang juga membuatku suka pada buku ini. Ditambah pula dengan banyak deskripsi Frances tentang keindahan alam. Seekor burung Robin misalnya, yang begitu bersahabat dengan manusia, dan hewan-hewan lucu lainnya yang menjadi kawan Dickon, seorang anak pecinta alam.

Buku ini memang bagus untuk anak-anak. Karena di sana mereka akan belajar mencintai alam, juga memahami arti kasih pada keluarga dan sesama. Dan tentu saja, pada akhirnya mencintai Sang Pencipta yang setiap detik menyediakan ‘sihir’ mukjijatnya di dunia ini.

Judul : The Secret Garden
Pengarang: Frances Hodgson Burnett
Penerbit: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Tebal: 320 hlm
Harga: Rp 35.000

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Ulasan buku ini kupersembahkan dalam rangka Hari Anak Nasional tahun ini yang jatuh tepat pada hari ini: 23 Juli 2010. Mari kita sediakan bacaan-bacaan yang bermutu bagi pertumbuhan anak-anak Indonesia, generasi penerus kita!