Copyright Date:
2023
Edition Date:
2023
Release Date:
10/03/23
Illustrator:
Amini, Mehrdokht,
Pages:
1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN:
1-7284-5092-6
ISBN 13:
978-1-7284-5092-6
Dewey:
158.2
LCCN:
2022056287
Dimensions:
29 cm.
Language:
English
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews
When words DO hurt.People shout at a young girl: things like, "You are too sensitive" and "You feel way too much." They tell her to "grow a thicker skin." But it's not something that the girl can control, and no one bothers to explain how to toughen up. More words come, and they all slip right through her thin skin. She tries to ignore them, but the words crowd her insides and push against her heart. Yelling at the words doesn't work, either, so the girl takes some time alone to think, eventually realizing she needs to create something new. She writes all the troubling words down, then transforms them into an affirmation-the big feelings are real, and that's OK, since they are her "superpower." This story highlights the importance of taking control of a narrative as well as the healing power of artistic pursuits. Neither the narrative text nor the author's note specifies how or why the protagonist, the author, or potentially readers display their sensitivity, but that seems intentional, as the openness allows for multiple types of people to find themselves represented in the narrative. In Amini's effective mixed-media illustrations, the troubling words literally take over the girl's form and also create a subtle puzzle of rearrangement. The main character appears East Asian in the illustrations.A healing, positive assertion. (author's note, tips) (Picture book. 3-8)
"You feel way too much." / "Will you stop being dramatic?"
This tender picture book follows a girl who is told she is too intense, too sensitive, too much. She's told to grow a thicker skin, but the words of others slip right through. They somersault around inside and press against her heart.
What can she do to stop the hurt?
She needs to take time alone to think and read, rest and create.
Thoughtful text, detailed collage illustrations, and an unexpected word puzzle combine in Sara Levine and Mehrdokht Amini's moving portrayal of a girl who discovers that what others call a weakness can also be a gift.