reviewed

Based on an event from his childhood, this story shows how Desmond Tutu dealt with prejudice and disrespect, meeting both with forgiveness. The book provides encouragement for students on resolving conflict.

Desmond just got a new bike and he is so excited to show Father Trevor. As he was riding his bike, he approached a gang of boys. They tried to block his path, but Desmond rode right through them. As Desmond rode through, the boys shouted a mean word at him. He went to Father Trevor and said how he wanted to get back at the boys. Father Trevor told Desmond not to, but he did it anyway. After, Desmond felt very guilty for what he had done. One day, Desmond saw the red-headed boy at the neighborhood market and apologized for what he had done. Desmond develops throughout the story. He was so focused on getting the boys back for calling him that mean word, that he did not focus of what was most important, forgiveness. After Desmond forgives the boys for what they had done, he feels free and full of joy. I really like this story because it teaches children about how to treat and forgive others. ( )

When Desmond takes his new bicycle out for a ride through his neighborhood, his pride and joy turn to hurt and anger when a group of boys shout a very mean word at him. He first responds by shouting an insult, but soon discovers that fighting back with mean words doesn’t make him feel any better. With the help of kindly Father Trevor, Desmond comes to understand his conflicted feelings and see that all people deserve compassion, whether or not they say they are sorry.

I think that it's pretty evident through the title that the author of this book is the main character in the story, which can only mean that he experienced this first hand (my assumption). The book tells a story that helps show the importance of knowing the power that words hold, and the art, or "secret" of forgiveness. I would definitely use this book in my classroom! I am such a fan of the message that I actually marked it on my list so that I remember when I get my own classroom. The little boy goes through a tough patch when he's called a very mean word by other kids. He seeks advice from his mentor, a priest, who tells him that he must learn to forgive and forget, and that saying mean things back won't make him feel better. The book really drives home the message of forgiveness. One quote from the book ,"when we hurt someone, it hurts us, too", is ESPECIALLY important in my opinion. The way that the character tells the mean boy he forgives him and then feels braver and stronger and stands taller is SO pure. There really is a sort of weight lifted off of your shoulders when you learn to forgive someone and let go of the past, and I think that there's never a better age to teach that to kids than when they're young and just at the beginning of ALL the forgiving they'll do at some point or another in their lifetime! Great read, for sure, and I LOVED the illustrations! ( )