'My dad reads me poems by a man named Ogden Nash. My favorite is about a dragon named Custard. Even though he always feels afraid, he is really the bravest of all. And that's what makes him special.' - page 2.
A touching but also sincere picture book from the author of the acclaimed 'Hunger Games' series.
Suzanne Collins tells of the time in her childhood when her father went to war in Vietnam for a whole year. Suzy - as she was called then - describes her feelings - and how people around her react to her situation - in a way only an innocent first-grader can. She is curious and confused, and not naive enough to believe that her dad isn't in any real danger and will be back soon; safe and sound and just like he used to be before he left. Other emotions she feels are anxiety and impatience. However, those sad postcards (Dad looking out for her so much that he'll keep referring to her cat Rascal - a link to home life) and the horrifying news on the TV won't stop Suzy from trying to be imaginative and positive. Her dad is in a jungle, so she imagines he's with some fun animals. All should be okay in the end, right?
Suzy misses her dad very much, and the closer the time when he is meant to be back comes, the more worried and less hopeful she gets. She is really scared. For, as the TV clearly shows, not all soldiers make it back from Vietnam alive.
'Year of the Jungle' tackles themes which still have relevance to this day, and probably will keep being relevant in the future of humankind. Going to war is a terrible, frightening thing, but what of the children and the rest of the families who'll be left behind? When a loved one has gone away with no guarantee of ever coming back, the worst is not knowing what's happened to that loved one. How exactly does a child of a soldier view war and the army? The child - heck, all of the family - will only think about and dwell on his/her parent, hoping and waiting for them to return from war.
But even if the parent does come back, will they be the same as they were before they left? War affects people internally as much as externally, if not more so. For after war, nothing will ever be the same again.
Suzy was lucky that her dad was away only for one year. He lived to see his wife and children again. A lot of other children - of the past and present - are not so fortunate.
Suzanne Collins clearly shows that she knows and understands what war and devastating conflicts do to people in her 'Hunger Games' trilogy of books. Reading about her childhood in a picture book got me thinking more deeply about her views and experiences as a writer. I've yet to read her earlier work, the 'Gregor The Overlander' series, but now I can't wait to. I want to see more of her observations of war and of the beauty and sadness of humanity; plus her magic touch at creating realistic emotions, harrowing atmospheres, and endearing characters.
So that's my review of 'Year of the Jungle': sweet, simple-yet-sad, and relevant to both children and adults. Even if the childlike water-painted artwork does remind me of Lauren Child's 'Charlie and Lola', and of that Flora TV ad where two thoughtful kids go to their parents' bedroom only to find them having sex ('Flora Wrestlers' - go check it out if you haven't yet. WTF-ness - for daytime telly!)
Righty then, I'll just leave it there. Along with my favourite line of the picture book:
'How long is a year? A year is long.' - page 30.
Final Score: 4/5
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