Truus Matti

This novel, set in New York City, opens and closes in March 1945 with Linus, in his new shoes, distracted enough by a familiar image in a poster to attend the art show it advertises. The narrative then moves to September 1943 where we learn that Linus's older brother, Albie, is off to war in new boots, leaving a cascade of hand-me-down shoes for his younger siblings to grow into. Linus, who promises to mind Albie's comic books while he fulfills his superhero-like soldier role, develops a superhero of his own ("Mr. Superspeed") who serves as a sort of guide until Linus's dawning realization, based on Albie's letters home and losses suffered by neighbors, of the truth about war.

In addition to minding the comic books, Linus takes over Albie's delivery route for his family's market, including managing the elderly Mrs. de Winter's senescent searches for her keys, as well as taking a bi-weekly crate of oranges to an elderly artist, whom Linus dubs "Mr. Orange" because he can't recall Piet Mondrian's name. When he leaves after an inspiring visit with Mr. Orange (who lives in a white apartment he decorates by moving and changing colored squares), Linus "moved slowly because his head felt so heavy with all the things he'd just seen and heard. He didn't want all of his new thoughts to get all tangled up. He wanted to hang on to them so that he could take them out later and explore them from lots of different angles." (p.64) In addition to work at the store, Linus experiences the usual ups and downs of school and friendship, punctuated by the profound anticipation of letters from his brother, read at the table by his father, who edits the content for the younger children.

It is through these letters, his changing relationships, and his brief friendship with Mr. Orange, whose boat he learns crossed Albie's when the artist fled occupied Holland, that Linus grows in his perception of war's brutality and in his ability to transcend despair and envision a peaceful future. And, in the closing section of the book which brackets the opening, set in 1945, we see Linus learn a little more about art, color and imagination from the work and memory of his old friend, Mr. Orange.

Backmatter provides lots of information about life in New York, boogie-woogie (a favorite of Mondrian's), and the artist Mondrian himself. Overall, the writing, historical veracity and translation are excellent. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a bit of art history (a la Konigsburg) or who might benefit from a different take on World War II or who just want to read a satisfying coming-of-age story. This could be paired with Konigsburg's "The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World."… (altro)

This novel, set in New York City, opens and closes in March 1945 with Linus, in his new shoes, distracted enough by a familiar image in a poster to attend the art show it advertises. The narrative then moves to September 1943 where we learn that Linus's older brother, Albie, is off to war in new boots, leaving a cascade of hand-me-down shoes for his younger siblings to grow into. Linus, who promises to mind Albie's comic books while he fulfills his superhero-like soldier role, develops a superhero of his own ("Mr. Superspeed") who serves as a sort of guide until Linus's dawning realization, based on Albie's letters home and losses suffered by neighbors, of the truth about war.

In addition to minding the comic books, Linus takes over Albie's delivery route for his family's market, including managing the elderly Mrs. de Winter's senescent searches for her keys, as well as taking a bi-weekly crate of oranges to an elderly artist, whom Linus dubs "Mr. Orange" because he can't recall Piet Mondrian's name. When he leaves after an inspiring visit with Mr. Orange (who lives in a white apartment he decorates by moving and changing colored squares), Linus "moved slowly because his head felt so heavy with all the things he'd just seen and heard. He didn't want all of his new thoughts to get all tangled up. He wanted to hang on to them so that he could take them out later and explore them from lots of different angles." (p.64) In addition to work at the store, Linus experiences the usual ups and downs of school and friendship, punctuated by the profound anticipation of letters from his brother, read at the table by his father, who edits the content for the younger children.

It is through these letters, his changing relationships, and his brief friendship with Mr. Orange, whose boat he learns crossed Albie's when the artist fled occupied Holland, that Linus grows in his perception of war's brutality and in his ability to transcend despair and envision a peaceful future. And, in the closing section of the book which brackets the opening, set in 1945, we see Linus learn a little more about art, color and imagination from the work and memory of his old friend, Mr. Orange.

Backmatter provides lots of information about life in New York, boogie-woogie (a favorite of Mondrian's), and the artist Mondrian himself. Overall, the writing, historical veracity and translation are excellent. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy a bit of art history (a la Konigsburg) or who might benefit from a different take on World War II or who just want to read a satisfying coming-of-age story. This could be paired with Konigsburg's "The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World."… (altro)