Hardcover, 32 pages
Expected publication: June 9th 2015 by Roaring Brook Press
Source: Raincoast Books
What James Said is an important book for a multitude of reasons. The protagonist has a best friend named James who according to the grapevine told people that she thinks she is perfect. This hurts her feelings because though this protagonist (she isn’t named, more on this later) rightly feels that she is good at art and takes pride in her talent, she knows that there are other things she most certainly is not good at, like math. So she avoids James and his overtures for friendship preferring to freeze him out instead of talking to him about what is troubling her. Still, she cannot avoid him forever and learns in a beautifully understated way the truth behind all the rumours she has been hearing.
This little picturebook has diverse characters that properly reflect what a multicultural classroom looks like. I think books like these that don’t comment on the diversity but presents it in a matter of fact, accepted way do a lot to increase acceptance. The art is sublime and as befitting a book targeted at a young audience, bright and vivid (redundant? eh.). I love how the main character is the only one drawn properly on some pages while everyone else around her are stick figures drawn in water colour. This truly underscores her feelings of isolation and sadness beautifully.
I really also like that moment when the truth comes out and the protagonist realizes that she ought to have just spoken to her best friend about what she heard instead of ignoring him. I like what she does to reconcile with James which is once again understated but all the more profound for it. I found the fact that protagonist isn’t named to be interesting and the use of the first person perspective in a picturebook is odd because I believe generally picturebooks are usually written in third person. However, the use of first person, in this instance, has both pros and cons. One of the cons (the only one really) is that reading this out loud may get a bit confusing to a younger child so the target reader is fixed at an age where a child is able to read and comprehend for herself the story and the message in it. The positive aspect of first person perspective is that the reader will be able to fully immerse herself in the story. Books for teens and older YA readers are generally written in first person precisely to make immersion in the story easier and quicker.
Parents and guardians could potentially use this book to talk to children about friendship, the danger of gossip and rumours and the harm they can cause./ The book can also be used for discussions about the importance of communication. I recommend it!
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