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Call it Courage

Bibliography:
Sperry, A.(1968).Call it Courage. New York: Simon & Schuster.
 
Book Summary
This is a legend about a boy, Mafatu, who loses his mother in a terrible hurricane, his fear of the sea due to this experience and his subsequent journey to conquer this fear. After the dreadful experience Mafatu has avoided the sea at all costs. The villagers refer to him as a coward. When the mocking becomes too much to bear, he decides to go to sea and face his fear. He overcomes a storm that wrecks his boat and outruns man eaters. The skills he learned during his time in the village come in handy and he is able to make a new canoe. He escapes the pursuit of the man eaters and comes back home victorious, ready to live up to his name which means courage. His father, the village chief, welcome him back and he is overjoyed that his son will finally take his rightful place among the leaders in the village.

My Impression
Mafatu is a dynamic character who undergoes a dramatic change from genuine fear to real courage by the end of the story. His journey is full of adventure and creativity. Mafatu has several narrow escapes from potentially deadly situations. These elements ignite the reader’s imagination and make the story more interesting. The element of suspense grabs the reader’s attention and keeps him/her waiting to see whether Mafatu will make it. The language is descriptive making the events in the story vivid.”The shock of cold water brought Mafatu half back to consciousness” (p.33). The black and white illustration aid the reader in understanding the story.The vocabulary is simple, yet apt, conjuring up vivid pictures of Mafatu’s journey. This story would greatly appeal to children and adults alike. Mafatu’s timeless tale of courage and determination is a story that adults would enjoy retelling to children. It can be added to or adapted to fit many situations.

Reviews

School Library Journal: 
Gr 5-9--An excellent Spanish translation of the 1941 Newbery Award-winning title. Having lost his mother in a storm at sea when he was a young boy, Mafatu must conquer the fear that has paralyzed him ever since and assume his role as the son of the chief. Overcoming his panic, he sets sail for foreign lands and has many life-threatening adventures that include surviving a hurricane and escaping from cannibals. He comes back to his tribe full of confidence and pride in his experiences. The exciting, simply told narrative is rich in descriptive detail and fine characterization. An appealing coming-of-age story that has stood the test of time.--Judith Rodriguez, NYPL 

Use in a Library Setting
Ask children to investigate the people and places mentioned in the story to find out if they exist such as “the people of Hikueru”.

References/citations.


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