We see, sometimes, books about the unhoused. Mostly these books show us how such people are "just like us". We see people down on their luck, for whom this is a temporary situation. What Christopher has done here is presented us with a more stereotypical homeless person, someone who seems to struggle with some mental health issues and who doesn't fit into a "normal" lifestyle. Seeing the "queen" through the narrator's eyes we see a person worthy of dignity and respect as well as empathy. We are encouraged simply to see and care about people rather than making value judgement. While this messaging may not land with very young kids, it is an important one to share with older kids.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
No comments:
Post a Comment