![]() Julius Lester’s The Girl Who Saved Yesterday, published by the wonderful Marissa Moss at Creston Books, is a powerful story with strong mythical qualities, full of beautiful metaphors holding deeper truths. A young girl is found abandoned at the foot of a large mountain near a small village. She is convinced her parents live at the top and every day begins a journey to return there. But the villagers are afraid her persistence will anger the spirits, and believing that they are doing the right thing, they take the young girl into a large forest and abandon her. She is adopted by the ancient trees that populate the forest, and they name her Silence. Years pass, and some of the trees start getting sick--they tell Silence that she needs to save Yesterday. None of them can tell her what that means, but it does require her to return to the village where she used to live. Silence’s return to her old village prompts an unusual light storm from the mountain where she was found years ago, an occurrence the villagers live in fear of. Following the trails of light, Silence discovers a field of bright stones at the top of the mountain, representations of their ancestors who have been forgotten by the villagers. These stones are central to saving the trees and helping the villagers remember. But will Silence be able to break through the ignorance and betrayals? You'll have to read it to find out. ![]() Julius Lester is a fantastic author whose writing carries strong mythical qualities, full of beautiful metaphors containing deeper truths. His descriptive similes pack surprisingly emotional punches despite the dream-like quality of his words - “Before anyone could ask, Sun began sliding from the sky like disappointment that would never be redeemed.” This story is absolutely haunting and memorable in the best of ways. Carl Angel does a magnificent job of bringing this legend-inspiring story to life. From the very beginning, Silence’s adoptive family of trees captures the reader’s attention and doesn’t let it go. While the trees do have humanoid characteristics, they are clearly enigmas with facial features reminiscent of wooden tribal masks seen in a wide variety of cultures. His work with color to provide impact and emphasize light and darkness is truly remarkable, and many of his illustrations have a slightly blurred soft-focus effect that adds to the mythical quality of Silence’s journey to save Yesterday. The Girl Who Saved Yesterday is a wonderful book that will leave you contemplative for a long time after you finish reading, and Julius Lester and Carl Angel were the perfect team to set this masterpiece to paper. And now for a quickie disclaimer before a short video review, followed by a super helpful interview with Carl himself. Carl is a beautiful longtime friend who I'm honored to be in the book Honoring Our Ancestors with and whom I've been fortunate enough to have lots of creative adventures with over the past couple of decades. I hope you'll love Carl and this book as much as I do. Just two other books illustrated by Carl. And here we have a wonderful interview with the fabulous Carl Angel himself! Take a look at what he has to say about his beautiful work on The Girl Who Saved Yesterday. Next, we'll be looking at another lovely mythic tale by Pauline Ts'o, published by an independent publishing house, Wisdom Tales.
41 Comments
Kay
7/13/2016 03:26:48 am
I grew up reading myths and folk tales and this introduction makes me want to keep reading them.
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 01:14:37 pm
That's great, Kay. Keep reading them!
Reply
7/25/2016 03:40:03 pm
Myths and folk tales are rich in symbolism and it's provides a great prism through which one can view culture. Julius Lester's has a real grasp on that. I hope you do get to read the book.
Reply
7/13/2016 02:57:51 pm
Seems like an excellent book to get kiddos talking. For example, talking about the world and how they see it, as well as how they understand what Carl meant when he described various situations or aspects of the world.
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 01:36:00 pm
The Girl Who Saved Yesterday is sure to spark the imagination and prompt some great observations from a child's point of view. Good point, Tim!
Reply
7/25/2016 03:43:53 pm
Hopefully what Julius and I put together has enough for the kids (and adults) to get talking! There's a lot of great stuff out there, but Julius' voice is original.
Reply
7/25/2016 03:48:41 pm
Hopefully what Julius and I put together will get the kids (and adults) talking..! There's lots of great stuff out there but Julius' voice is original, and hasn't been heard in a long time.
Reply
Shirin
7/19/2016 05:00:17 am
How beautiful! I love stories that make you think, with layers upon layers of meaning. Thank you for sharing.
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 01:39:34 pm
Shirin, layers upon layers is the hallmark of a fantastic story and The Girl Who Saved Yesterday has that in spades. Glad you enjoyed it.
Reply
darlene koppel
7/19/2016 05:36:15 am
Love the concept of the story.
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 01:41:46 pm
It's quite beautiful, isn't it? Thanks for sharing, Darlene!
Reply
7/25/2016 03:52:02 pm
Darlene, it's a great idea and it couldn't be more relevant today.
Reply
Rebecca
7/19/2016 06:01:08 am
When thinking of a new book diverse project, I believe one should look deeply at their community. What cultures are under represented? When learning about these cultures do you feel inspired by any particular aspect? My creative inspiration comes from learning, learning and stepping outside my personal experiences into the lives of others. Looking at the world around me through a new lens. Seeing what it may be like through another's eyes. Then trying to represent this new view through story.
Reply
Rebecca
7/19/2016 07:05:09 am
When I first looked at the cover of The Girl Who Saved Yesterday, I was intrigued by its imagery. Each component depicted so much thought. Each line movement brought me deeper into the story. This first illustration called me to open the book so I could discover its secrets. Once opened, not only did Julius Lester's lyrical story wrap around me, but Carl Angel took his sketching pencil and drew fluid illustrations that reached beyond the books pages. These illustrations spilled off the page like his wonderful trees and carried me away to this mythical world. If I must choose a favorite illustration I would choose the one of Silence looking to the Mountian. In so many ways this illustration shows hope. The way it draws the eye upward, the little details that give the sense of moving forward, and how the village is there but is not what is important in Silence's journey. Thank you for sharing The Girl Who Saved Yesterday!
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 01:52:10 pm
Carl Angel's fabulous illustrations definitely draw you in right from the cover and his vision in his artwork is truly astounding. I can see The Girl Who Saved Yesterday had a powerful impact on you--that's what a wonderful story should do. Thank you so much for sharing, Rebecca!
Reply
7/26/2016 08:21:18 am
Hi Rebecca,
Reply
Annemarie Guertin
7/19/2016 07:18:46 am
Folktales/Legends etc are my passion. So much so they inspired me to create my own. I am constantly on the hunt for picture books with stories just like The Girl Who Saved Yesterday to use at home and in my classroom. This sounds like a beautiful book with a deep message that I wish I could have in my hands right now. The illustrations are breathtaking. I would love the opportunity to share this story with my students and staff!
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 01:58:56 pm
Annemarie, inspiration is a beautiful thing, and this is definitely a book that should be shared with everyone. Folktales and legends are a great way to teach important lessons to children, but also tend to resonate with adults too, so that's wonderful that you create your own as well! Any classroom would definitely benefit from The Girl Who Saved Yesterday, so absolutely share it!
Reply
7/19/2016 07:30:22 am
The color palette used throughout is gorgeous and sets the mood of this story. My favorite illustration is of the girl, Silence, being cradled in the limbs of the tree. I really enjoy this story because trees hold a very special place in my heart and I often include trees in stories that I write. Thank you so much for introducing this wonderful story!!
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 02:03:20 pm
Kathleen, Carl certainly has a way with color that just uplifts the story. The trees are special characters for sure. I'm always happy to share a fabulous book like The Girl Who Saved Yesterday, so I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Reply
7/19/2016 08:11:55 am
Carl, your illustrations for this book are so vibrant and lively. My favorite though is Silence carrying the scythe up the hill. You captured her determination and purpose but with your use of a touch of warm colors filtered in with the cool colors, you keep it righteous as opposed to it being a warning of something bad about to happen. Seems like from the pages of the book you shared, you kept this balance throughout the story. I can't wait to read it to see if I am right. Beautiful work.
Reply
MIra
7/22/2016 02:19:16 pm
Thank you Tracy, Carl has such a wonderful awareness of the powerful emotions certain colors can provoke and how that can change with hue, and that knowledge is reflected in his remarkable illustrations. Get your hands on a copy of this book as soon as you can! There is absolutely nothing about The Girl Who Saved Yesterday that you will regret.
Reply
7/19/2016 08:21:47 am
This looks like an exciting book for its text and visually exciting artwork. I need to look at it and read about it's message.
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 02:30:53 pm
This book is absolutely fabulous, Paul. Read it as soon as you can!
Reply
Stella Lopez
7/20/2016 12:12:09 am
Such a lovely book. Beautiful compositons. And the the well- thought out artwork where many of the objects in the scenes appeared to imply something was fascinating.
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 02:33:30 pm
This is definitely a case where the illustrations tell a poignant story of their own, Stella, even without Julius Lester's beautiful text. Thanks for sharing!
Reply
7/20/2016 10:42:54 am
I just love that title page with its harsh light and dark contrast and those vibrant colors. Yet it still is mystic and full of spirituality.
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 02:35:58 pm
I agree Linda, Carl Angel is truly a master of his craft, with his use of light, color, and contrast. Just beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Reply
Tracey Brown
7/20/2016 06:51:48 pm
I love the diversity of picture books on the market, but one of my greatest remembrances of reading picture books with my own children is when we found books where we would lose ourselves in the beautiful, lyrical language. Thank you for creating and publishing this kind of book!
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 02:40:19 pm
Absolutely, thank you for sharing Tracy! There are definitely more diverse picture books available now, but we can always use more--especially ones like The Girl Who Saved Yesterday. Beautiful art and beautiful language in such a lovely combination. I'm glad Carl Angel and Julius Lester's work brought back fond remembrances for you!
Reply
Natinder Ferrer Manak
7/21/2016 01:05:02 am
The artworks throughout are unbelievably beautiful, warming and caressing. With each emotional feeling echoed through the rush of colored strokes. Like nature the pictures grow and move beyond. And the aged wise hues of the ancestral trees are captured with solid and tender gestures.
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 02:55:29 pm
Carl does some pretty amazing things with the illustrations, doesn't he? Thanks for sharing, Natinder!
Reply
7/21/2016 07:24:13 am
Thanks for your review, Mira! I had seen one other review posted, and thought it was a MG novel. I haven't seen the book myself yet, so my response is based on your post. The cover is arresting, with tree limbs and human limbs outstretched in powerful light, but I loved the second inside spread you revealed. The tree's branches forming a nest for the MC's lullaby song and the monkey looking away with its hand on its head aroused emotions, even without the accompanying words. The action may belong to the trees and MC, but the monkey's one hand on the branch while looking toward the page turn captured a moment of longing to hang onto the past and yet looking forward into the unknown. Beautiful. Looking forward to reading this one!
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 02:59:39 pm
Thank you for sharing, Wendy. Carl's fantastic illustrations are very powerful and engaging, you're right. I'm looking forward to re-reading this myself!
Reply
Nancy Kotkin
7/21/2016 09:21:08 am
I love the color scheme and the tilted perspective in the image of the girl walking away from us. The fact that we see her from behind as she walks forward creates a powerful message.
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 03:03:27 pm
Thank you, Nancy. Carl's art really reflects his talent with color and perspective throughout The Girl Who Saved Yesterday.
Reply
7/21/2016 07:31:04 pm
I love the illustration of the tree carrying the girl and all the care you put into creating the characters of the trees, how they have that African mask feel to them.
Reply
Mira
7/22/2016 03:09:54 pm
Carl's illustrations are so wonderfully detailed, that is for certain. Diversity is a beautiful thing, especially when it results in a story like The Girl Who Saved Yesterday! Thank you for sharing, Ria.
Reply
7/24/2016 09:55:48 am
The Girl Who Saved Yesterday has such rich and compelling images... it is like a dream. The cover image is my favorite... so much power and energy in the image. Thank you for sharing!
Reply
7/26/2016 07:33:46 am
Thank you for your kind words for the cover image, Laura!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
We are so excited to be mixing things up at CBA, beginning with some delicious additions to the Blogfish. Meet our awesome bloggers!!
Here's our lineup: 1st Mondays begin with awesome Aussie debut author and former student Amanda Lieber who will be focusing on Aussie kidlit. 2nd Mondays will feature super smart Melissa Stoller whose career is taking off with several new books. 3rd Mondays will feature STEM, STEAM & SEL obsessed author Kourtney LaFavre sharing delightfully dorky, quirky, and fun info. 4th Mondays will be a mystery for right now. And 5th Mondays we'll be taking a break Archives
September 2023
|