Reading Response Journal: Sing to the Dawn

Mavis Tan is usually quiet in class. But she pays attention, and I can usually read her thoughts on her lovely, transparent face. When she knits her eyebrows, I stop and ask her what’s on her mind. Always, she has an incisive observation or a thought-provoking question.

A psychology major, Mavis is interested in finding out how children’s literature can influence a child’s development in terms of cognition, behaviour and moral values acquisition.

When I read her reading response journal, I knew that I had an outstanding essay in my hands. It doesn’t happen all the time these days, and so I’d like to share it with you with pride.

Education, Gender Inequality, and Kinship

by Mavis Tan

members.authorsguild.net

Sing to the Dawn (1975) by Minfong Ho was one of the first literary texts I studied in secondary school. When I picked up this book again for the reading response journal, traces of the notes I had made in pencil still remained.

I tried to recall my first impression of the story, but I could only vaguely remember the plot. I made it a point to erase my pencil markings so that I could start afresh exploring the book.

This book has once again touched me because like the main character, Dawan, I believe continuous effort can help me fulfill my dreams. Being an adult, I can relate to the themes of the story better.

However, the fact that I was born and raised in different social circumstances seems to deny me the ability to totally understand the struggles of Dawan.

In the following sections, I have selected three responses which best represent my emotions and thoughts about this book. In addition, I will be commenting and reflecting upon these responses with regard to the importance of education, the issue of gender inequality, and the power of kinship.

Entry 1: Education - Privilege or Obligation?

… I may have taken my education for granted all these years. It was ‘natural’ to go to school, ‘natural’ to pass examinations and ‘natural’ to pursue higher education. I’ve never had to fight for an opportunity to study. My dad will be happy for me if I got first in class. I won’t have to be scared of doing well. Everything will be great if I do well in my exam. Why is Dawan so scared? What has that society done to young girls who have dreams? It’s absurd.

Primary education is compulsory for every Singaporean child. Unlike children in less developed countries who have no access to schools and books, Singaporean children are truly fortunate.

However, this privilege has turned into an obligation for many Singaporean students. It is sad to hear of students who complain about how much they hate school and homework, for they do not seem to see the true purpose of education.

Unlike Dawan who has a dream to help her village people, to help those who are not educated, and to rid the society of injustice, children today may be simply studying for the sake of satisfying their need to be recognized and acknowledged as worthy individuals of society.

Who is responsible for such a mindset? How can children appreciate and learn the true purpose of being educated? Adults should ponder on the important role we play as parents and teachers, and not take away a child’s right of a joyful and fruitful education.

Entry 2: Is Gender Inequality Fated?

I’m so sad. Dawan is always being given hope, and then things and people take that hope away. She smiles, then gets worried, then gets hopeful again, and is disappointed again. It frustrates me to read how she has to go through this roller coaster of emotions.

Why do brothers have the right to hit sisters? It is unjust. Why is Dawan being denied a dream by so many people who are supposed to be wise and encouraging? Are they really concerned about her? Or have they been brainwashed by the system? Maybe just because she is a girl.

Being part of a society with high gender equality, it is hard for me to imagine how it is like to be unworthy of something because of one’s gender. For a long time, many have tried to justify their biased thoughts and behaviour, but the suffering inequality brings to people is real, not imagined.

Women in many traditional societies have suffered because they are viewed as inferior to men. They are deprived of their rights as human beings, and many have continued to resign to their fate for centuries. But that ‘fate’ was created by human beings. It takes courageous individuals to stand up for justice. Or rather, it takes just one individual who dares to dream.

Entry 3: The Power of Kinship

… I know Kwai and Dawan love each other. In the midst of the struggle between chasing their dreams and reality, their relationship was hurt. Deep in their hearts, they wish each other the best, and only want the best for each other. It takes more than kinship to make selfless sacrifices. It takes courage. Dawan is brave. And so is Kwai. Love and courage have conquered injustice.

A strong and close-knit family acts as a support for us in times of struggle and uncertainty. Although squabbles may be frequent between siblings and spouses, we love and cherish each other deep in our hearts. The end of the book shows that despite the trouble caused by Dawan’s intent to further her education, her family remains close-knit.

Grandmother’s encouragement to Dawan brought tears to my eyes. Perhaps I know how it feels like to have someone assure me that ‘nothing is impossible’. The power of words of wisdom and a seemingly simple encouragement can change the life of a loved one.

I have briefly commented on the aspects of education, gender inequality and kinship in my response, and I will conclude with the following points.

Firstly, we need to cherish the opportunity to be educated and help our young to do the same.

Secondly, gender inequality is a social issue which can be overcome with courage and perseverance.

Thirdly, strong bonds with kin serve as a source of love and support.

To me, these aspects are important in every society because they have tremendous impact on individuals and social life. Through these three aspects, the theme of having the courage to pursue one’s dreams is exemplified.

Finally, I believe that Sing to the Dawn serves as a good book for both children and adults in this modern day. We can benefit a lot from the story and the messages it brings across.

Reading Response Journal: The View from Saturday

Shari Chong must have e-mailed me on January 2, 2009. She wanted to enroll in my Children’s Literature course, but it was full. Not wanting additional students, I tried to brush her off. But she called me, then before I knew it, she was in my office. She was panting, having run all the way from the other side of the campus.

I relented. I wrote a letter to the Registrations Office to allow Shari Chong to enroll in the course AAE283: Introduction to Children’s Literature.

Shari’s a junior Fine Arts student who plans to teach Arts and Literature when she completes her degree as well as her post-graduate diploma in education.

Please go over her reading response journal, then tell me if I’d made a wise decision in letting her join the class.

Where Kindred Spirits Meet

by Shari Chong

nebraska.lib.overdrive.com

"Before you can be anything, you have to be yourself.
That's the hardest thing to find."
-- E.L. Konigsburg

There is liberation in having like-minded friends. In E.L. Konigsburg’s novel, The View From Saturday (1996), we see the advantages of being around people who love and accept us unconditionally. These relationships free us to discover ourselves, explore our potential and in turn, accept others for who they are.

Entry 1: Soul Searching
I just finished the book. I couldn’t put it down! And I can’t wait to reread it! What kindred spirits they are -- Noah, Nadia, Ethan and Julian! What kindred spirits they are -- Mrs. Olinski and Mr. Singh!

Wikipedia (2004) describes a “kindred spirit” as “someone who shares similar thoughts and feelings; someone who is close in temperament and nature to yourself, to whom you have a rare spiritual link that is very special which you can't quite explain.”

I came across the term many years ago when reading L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables (1908). Anne Shirley is my favourite literary heroine. She is feisty, hot-headed, exceptionally insightful and extremely redheaded (just like Nadia)!

It is interesting that we say we “look for” and “hope to find” our kindred spirits. So it is a search, a journey! And how liberating it is to find others who “just know” because it enables you to relax and “just be”.

I see three “kindred” relationships in this novel, the first between the four children, the second between The Souls (the four children) and Mr. Singh, and lastly, between The Souls and Mrs. Olinski.

(Mr. Singh is Julian’s father while Mrs. Olinski is the four children’s teacher and coach in a statewide quiz competition.)

Anne Shirley would have declared Mr. Singh a kindred spirit right off the bat. He is the insightful adult, a child at heart, fanciful and imaginative. He is also the voice of wisdom that brings all the kindred spirits together under one roof in the Sillington House.

Mrs. Olinski’s “kindred” relationship with The Souls is progressive. She is recognized and accepted by the children before she is even aware of it. “The Souls opened the front door for her” (Konigsburg, p. 160) to enter their lives.

Did they choose to love her or did she choose them? The answer is, “Yes!” (Konigsburg, p.160).

Entry 2: Where Souls Meet, There is Freedom
We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. (Williamson, 1992, pp. 190-191)

The last two lines of this quote from Marianne Williamson remind me of something Ethan Potter (one of the four children) said, “Something in Sillington House gave me permission to do things I had never done before. Never thought of doing…The Souls listened and were not embarrassed to hear, and I was not embarrassed to say…” (Konigsburg, 1996, p. 93)

Entry 3: Where Souls Meet, There is Healing
My family loves wholesome movies that inspire and encourage. Many of these movies revolve around the student-teacher relationship. Movies such as To Sir, With Love (Clavell, 1967), The Ron Clark Story (Haines, 2006), and Freedom Writers (LaGravenese, 2007) depict the student-teacher relationship as symbiotic, with both parties learning from each other.

I recently bought Akeelah and the Bee (Atchison, 2006) for my Dad. The movie tells the story of a young girl, Akeelah Anderson, who has the gift of spelling and how she and her teacher make it to the top in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in America. When I watched the movie, I made instant links with Konigsburg’s novel.

Both stories are about extraordinary children whose potential is recognised and nurtured. But most importantly, both stories feature children being able to heal broken hearts through compassion.

In Akeelah (Atchison, 2006), the teacher who helps the girl, Dr. Joshua Larabee, is carrying a deep pain inside of him from the loss of his daughter and wife. Mrs. Olinski is also carrying a deep pain inside of her because of her accident which has rendered her wheelchair-bound.

And just as Akeelah helps Dr. Larabee find hope again by needing and loving him, The Souls help Mrs. Olinski “stand on her own two feet” by giving “her some support” and “a lift” (Konigsburg, 1996, p. 97).

“All the king’s horses and all the king’s men could not have done for Mrs. Eva Marie Olinski what the kindness of four sixth-grade souls had.” (Konigsburg, 1996, p.159).

I’ve journeyed with The Souls for a couple of months now. From the very beginning, I’ve wondered what the title meant, The View From Saturday.

Upon reaching the end of my Reading Response journey, I realize that the “view” is the vantage point from which we see each character’s journey come into perspective.

It is the point where paths converge and four souls come together, regrouped and ready to forge new paths together. Whenever The Souls would meet, they were free to be themselves.

Thus, love and kindness multiplied and overflowed into the soul of their teacher. Indeed, there is liberation in having like-minded friends.

Let me end with this conversation which warms my heart:

“A cup of kindness, Mr. Singh? Is that what I’ve found?”

“Kindness, yes, Mrs. Olinski. [The Souls] found kindness in others and learned how to look for it in themselves… Each of The Souls has had a journey, and so have you, Mrs. Olinski.” (Konigsburg, 1996, pp. 157-158)

Reading Response Journal: The Secret Garden

How do you judge a book with many covers? It’s a very intriguing proposition, indeed. I thought I’d turn in for the night after finishing my quota of papers to mark for the day.

But I gave in to my curiosity whipped up by the terrific title of Denise Chung’s reading response journal, “Judging a Book by its Many Covers.” (Denise is one of my students in Children’s Literature.)

It was well worth the extra hour I stayed awake for the day. I hope you’ll enjoy reading Denise’s paper as much as I have.

Judging a Book by its Many Covers

by Denise Chung

www.coverbrowser.com

To begin, I would like to use a parallel concept from the music world. In the context of popular music, Wikipedia defines a ‘cover’ as a new rendition of a prior recording and commercially released song.

Applying this concept to the literary world, books whose stories have been transposed onto other platforms of expression can be said to have accumulated new ‘covers’. And through my reading response journal, I have learnt to appreciate the transitions and transformations of the classic story, The Secret Garden.

Entry 1: 30th January 2009
The problem about watching a film adaptation of a book before actually reading the book is the difficulty of separating images from the film from the text of the novel. I had watched the film ‘The Secret Garden’ (1993) before reading the book.

And though I had watched the movie many years ago, I liked it so much I wanted to read the book for my reading response journal. So when I finally got to read the book, I was extremely happy that it didn’t disappoint. The reading experience was as magical as the film had been.

It made me search youtube.com for clips of the movie and refresh my visual memory. In my search, I stumbled across some more video snippets of the Broadway musical version ‘The Secret Garden’ as well as many other adaptations of the story into theatre screenplays.

My exposure to the various adaptations of The Secret Garden has increased my respect for the original novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The author has deftly written a classic story with the ability to inspire beyond its time.

As a storyteller of sorts myself, I wish to be able to claim, one day, such an achievement through my creations. It is also heartening to know that a story need not be confined to the limitations of a printed book. (Summerfield, 2006)

Many classic tales have been given a second life, compliments of various film and theatre adaptations. For example, The Secret Garden was written in 1911 and was later adapted into a major motion picture.

Advancements in technology, like the extensive influence of the Internet, have also aided in spreading the contents of the book beyond its physical form, making it available to a wider audience.

Entry 2: 26th February 2009
I was looking for the ‘Charlie & the Chocolate Factory’ picture book for the class presentation when I came across a copy of ‘The Secret Garden’ on the same shelf. They were in the restricted section of the NIE library, which had a copy of all the reading materials recommended on the course reading list.

What surprised me was the design of the book cover! It was so bright and cheery, a vast difference from my own copy of the story. My book had a simple green and white cover, no illustration.

The actual physical cover of the novel has seen much change as well. Over the years, the book has had various reprints and updates to the accompanying illustrations. The story has been repackaged for different groups of readers, targeting both the young and old.

As good as the contents of a book may be, it is hard to deny the appeal of an attractive cover and the instinct to pick up a book based on the physical attractiveness of its cover.

The reinvention of the physical appearance of The Secret Garden has probably been a major factor in attracting new fans to the book. Personally, I was attracted to the simplicity of the book I bought as it gave me an opportunity to create my own ‘cover’ for the book, as described in the journal entry below:

Entry 3: 5th March 2009
I was in book-making class today and the assignment was to learn a new binding technique. The interesting thing is that we had to tear out the covers of grubby paperback novels, and bind them with a new hard cover.

I thought that it would really be a waste to use a brand new cover on a book I didn’t have a relationship with. Fortunately, I had my copy of ‘The Secret Garden’ in my bag. And it made me really happy to be able to use the book as part of my assignment material!

Having read the book over and over again, it was exciting to be able to create a pretty and new hardcover for a story that I have grown so fond of.

My reading response journal has made me aware of how a book could grow from its paperbound form into other media. Versatility of books to adapt to social change has allowed classic stories to survive beyond their times, and this is a good insight to learn.

Even in the story of The Secret Garden, there is a recurring theme of rejuvenation. This is seen in the rebirth of the hidden garden, Colin’s physical recovery, and the restoration of dead or dying relationships.

Mary’s growth from a sullen little girl into a cheerful and inspiring child is another major transformation that develops from the start to the end of the book.

Thus, by giving my copy of The Secret Garden a new and improved cover, it felt as if I was able to take the story into my own hands, transforming it into something of my own creation.

It was a deeply symbolic gesture, signifying my own personal transformation after reading The Secret Garden.