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.

Reading Response Journal: The Little Prince

Who’s the most important entity in the author-text-reader triangle? The reader, according to the reader response theory. (Rosenblatt, 1938) It is the anonymous reader who makes a text come alive. Obviously, authors and texts will not survive without readers.

And so one of the requirements in my Children’s Literature class is that the students read a novel over an 8-week period while diligently keeping a weekly journal.

This is the assignment prompt:

1. Choose a children’s novel from the short list of literary selections.
2. Read 50 pages, more or less, every week. Write your personal response in your journal. You must have a weekly entry.
3. Choose your three best entries from Weeks 1 – 8. Synthesize them in one essay.

A reading journey is personal and unique to an individual. No two persons will respond in the same way to a literary selection. Feel free to respond to what grabs your attention, provokes your thoughts, or touches your heart . Then write down your observations, your thoughts, your feelings, and most of all, your insights.

This semester, it has been a joy to teach 24 senior and junior students from various disciplines of Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Let me share with you some of their reading response journals.

Right now, I’d like to focus the spotlight on Samuel Chew’s piece. He read The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.

The Maturing Reflections of a Young Adult

by Samuel Chew

onpilgrimage.vox.com

This journey began the day I started to read The Little Prince. The book is about a pilot, who realizes that life’s events are too difficult to understand, succumbs to mysteries, and eventually learns what is important in life.

As a reader, I noted down my weekly reflections and responses in my diary, and at the end of eight weeks, I stepped back to appreciate the entries in my diary. It caught me by surprise that I am not quite the same person before and after the book-reading experience.

From a naïve, bitter, self-centred person, I grew to be more mature, proactive and appreciative towards my loved ones. Hence, this Reading Response Journal will illustrate the maturing reflections of a young adult

Entry 1: The Anatomy of Grown-Ups (Chapters 3 to 7)

Grown-ups are distrusting; they must see things for themselves before they believe a word children say.

They are so superficial. It’s like telling my parents “I’ve got a job that I really like, it allows me to hone my talents and pursue my interest, however it does not pay so well.” They will say “stop dreaming, it cannot earn you a living.

But if you were to tell them,”Hey Dad, I’ve got a job that pays me higher than average.” They will tell you, “Excellent!” Why are grown-ups like that?

I used to dread growing up. As a child, I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted. I could make silly comments and funny faces. The protection from my parents made me feel like a king. Yet, I hated adults since they are so inhumane and harsh in their language. I was bitter and could not tolerate adults who assert their authority over others.

Entry 2: The Life of an Accountant (Chapters 12 to 15)
There is a Businessman/Accountant in the story who has kept counting money all his life and claims he is a “serious man”, not wanting to be disturbed.

Will I be like him? Will I be only interested in working and counting money every day? To an extent that I don’t get enough exercise or time to even take strolls?

I have a rather outgoing personality and I enjoy sports. Soccer, running or whatsoever never fails to lift up my moods and make me feel happy during and after engaging in it. It is the adrenaline rush that I get from sports that keeps me going. Also, it is a form of therapy for me as it helps me de-stress during difficult times.

Being a final-year Accountancy student, I’d like to be able to balance my time to work hard and play hard when I join the working world in a few months’ time. Reviewing my entries, I realize that I am beginning to be more long-sighted about life and positive about myself.

I want to excel in my job without compromising time spent on sports and recreation. Perhaps, in the past, the over-protection from my parents had caused me to become a lazy person and not strive for improvement in the things I do.

The Accountant in the book chose to isolate himself from the outside world and that is one thing I do not want to happen to me. The past is gone and I cannot reverse it, but the future is in my hands. I want to be a good Accountant, able to balance my time well between work and play, amongst other things.

Entry 3: The Truth about Friendship (Chapter 22 to 24)
The fox explains the truth about friendship, “It’s the time you spend on your rose that makes your rose so important”, and yet people often forget this truth.

I agree with it because I believe it is the time you spend with your family/friends that builds up your relationships with them. A relationship cannot be fostered or strengthened without time spent together. The more time spent with a friend in whatever activities, the closer the bond and the stronger the bond. That way, the bond holds strongly together and nothing can break it apart.

I don’t believe I wrote this. After weeks of posting questions, I finally have an entry that contains a solution! I cannot describe my feeling when I re-read this entry. It is like “woo, I don’t sound like a kid anymore!”

I have a couple of good buddies I used to hang out with for 10 years or so, but we recently drifted apart because we went separate ways in our pursuit of education. I do not remember what sparked us off as friends in the beginning but I know we had many great times together.

This entry made me realize the importance of friendship. A friendship can be easily found, but it is not easy to maintain. A real friendship must go through the test of time. I have decided to treasure the friends and family members I currently have around me. They are God’s blessings to me, and only God knows when He is going to take them away and back into His arms.

In summary, my book-reading experience has been an extremely eventful one. When I started off with the book, I was naïve about life and felt bitter towards grown-ups. As I read on, I became more reflective about life and even set out targets for myself; wanting to balance work and personal time.

Eventually, I understood some difficulties about life and friendship and I have learnt to treasure my loved ones. Friends and family play indispensable roles in my life, and I will never sacrifice them for anything.

It has been a soul-searching and philosophical journey for me. I enjoyed the book, I enjoyed the journey, I enjoyed the provocation of thoughts, the mixture of my inner feelings, and the maturing reflections about myself. I wish this journey would never end.

Granny and Suchen Christine Lim

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia. -- 17 February 2009. It was already 5:30 p.m. and yet there was another presentation. I wanted to protest, I wanted to excuse myself, I wanted to sneak into my room, just one floor below the Executive Lounge.

But good manners prevailed over childishness.

“Please wake me up if I snore,” I told my table mate.

Suchen Christine Lim posing graciously with me.

The last speaker on the first day of the seminar was a slender lady with a gentle voice. She was a reserved speaker compared to the flamboyant, expressive, and gregarious Janet Evans of UK.

A Singaporean, she is Suchen Christine Lim. She began by reading a poem of hers from her book, The Lies That Build a Marriage.

The poem’s about a child who doesn’t speak a word of English on her first day in school. The child is bewildered, scared, and lost. Then a teacher reads stories from picture books to the class.
The child is assured by the illustrations and the sound of the words. She doesn’t understand the words but the illustrations open the world of imagination to her. After two years, the child becomes fluent in English.

Suchen Christine Lim closed the book she was reading, then said, “That child was me. My advice to teachers? Keep reading aloud to your pupils even if they don’t seem to understand. One day, they will.”

Suchen said she was number 44 out of 45 pupils when she was in Grades 1 and 2. Then she shot up to number 3 in third grade! Stephen D. Krashen, an American reading advocate, would love to meet Suchen and document her early reading experiences.

However, although Suchen had become an achiever, all was not well. Suchen was soon reading on her own, fluently and critically. She said she was agitated that her Chinese family, culture, and identity were not in the books she read.

The solution? She wrote books about her own people.

She read to us a simple book entitled, Granny, and illustrated by Roy Foo. She wrote it in 1990 for the Ministry of Education of Singapore. It was almost aborted because it was deemed inappropriate for children.

Thank heavens, there’s a tenacious and steadfast child in the slender and soft-spoken Suchen. Surreptitiously, she asked her colleagues to read Granny and to read it to real children.

Her colleagues told her they cried after reading the story. And the children cried after listening to the story. They all cried and they all loved Granny.

Thanks to their honest and courageous tears, the book has lived and has been re-issued this year for official use of the Ministry of Education of Singapore!

What is Granny all about? It’s about a Chinese grandmother and granddaughter in Singapore. They don’t have names, just granny and child.

The book shows the everyday relationship between them. Like every curious child, she asks many ‘why’ and ‘what if’ questions. One day, death snatches Granny away from this curious and adorable child. The book ends with the little girl lying in bed, caressing the quilt her granny had made for her.

Roy Foo’s simple illustration matches Suchen’s simple story. And yet the illustration deepens the impact of the text and honors the elderly as well as the culture of Chinese families in Singapore.

Taken together, Suchen’s text and Roy’s illustration tell a powerful story which score’s a bull’s eye because it goes straight to the readers’ heart. Its simplicity is its strength. There’s no sentimentalism, no mawkish tears. All it offers is innocent grief, quiet acceptance, and loving remembrance.

As I write this article, I cry quiet tears for a child I never met and never will. His name is Julian Carlo Miguel “Amiel” Alcantara, a 10-year old pupil at the Ateneo Grade School in Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines.

The present tense in the previous sentence isn’t a grammatical mistake. I am deliberately choosing the present tense.

Amiel’s young life was snuffed out by a van gone berserk in his school’s parking lot last Tuesday, February 24.

Death isn’t an inappropriate subject matter for children’s picture storybooks.

Someday, I wish Amiel’s family, classmates, and friends would be able to read Jenny Angel and Granny. I wish they’d be comforted and healed.