Eclipse

I am watching blowing snow steadily accumulate on the sidewalk, street, and cars outside my window, hoping with child-like glee for "early dismissal" from work (not going to happen). With the exception of Eclipse, by Andrea Cheng, the children's books I took home yesterday are languishing on a chair in my living room waiting to be read. I pulled this title off the cart for several reasons; the author lives in Cincinnati, the main character is a young boy who bonds with a children's librarian, and one of the boys interests is the Underground Railroad that went through Cincinnati during the Civil War.

Peti is an eight year old Hungarian immigrant living with his family in the Ohio during 1952. Told in first person with an eight year old voice, Eclipse is a snapshot of Peti's life and that of immigrant families coming to America. The story opens with Peti's Aunt Olga, Uncle Jozsef, and cousin Gabor arriving to stay in their small apartment. Peti's vision of a happily family visit is for naught. Instead of the new friend he hoped for, cousin Gabor is manipulative and cruel. Uncle Jozsef has difficulty finding a job and Aunt Olga panders to Gabor without seeing his true nature. Peti takes solace in his trips to the library and forms a friendship with one of the librarians, Mrs. Malone, who takes him to see Rankin House, part of the Underground Railroad.

The time and place of this novel highlights Peti's naiveté, making it more believable. Children may have trouble understanding some of the references to Hungary and the trouble Peti's grandfather has coming to America, but these elements do not detract from the story. Historical elements regarding the underground railroad and the difficult plight of many immigrants in the 1950's are, because of Peti's age, simply told. Eclipse would be a nice classroom read aloud and as historical fiction, be a starting point for discussion.

Tags: Eclipse, Andrea Cheng, Juvenile fiction, Historical fiction - juvenile