Bowe's novel asks big questions about family
Wren Jo Byrd, a fourth grader, wonders about a lot of things in Julie Bowe’s novel for elementary readers, “Big & Little Questions.” When Wren asks questions, her mom (a librarian) often tells her to look up the answer for herself.
Some of Wren’s most puzzling and worrisome questions have answers that can’t be found in the dictionary or encyclopedia, though. When her parents break the news that they are divorcing, it’s just the start of summer vacation. So, instead of spending a relaxing summer with her friends, she is sent away to stay with her grandparents. Now that school has started, Dad has moved to a cabin on a nearby lake, and Wren stays during the week with her mom and on weekends with her dad.
Who started the divorce? Was it her mom or her dad? And why didn’t Wren have a say in this? She is the one who now has to live in two houses, with two sets of pajamas, two toothbrushes, two beds. Unfortunately, her cat, Shakespeare, remains one cat, so she has to leave him behind at her mother’s house when she stays with her dad.
To add to Wren’s sense that things are changing (and not necessarily for the better), a new girl named Marianna arrives at school, and Wren’s best friend Amber suddenly wants to be Marianna’s best friend instead. Marianna is matter-of-fact about coming from a divorced family. Wren is dying to know how Marianna feels about her parents’ divorce, but feels uncomfortable about asking her. Does Marianna wish her parents had stayed married? Is her mom really an artist? Does she really live in that big mansion, or in the tiny guest house behind it?
Julie Bowe captures the thoughts and feelings of 10-year-old Wren as she tries to make sense of her new family life and new developments at school. As the story unfolds, Wren learns that both parents do love her, she can ask them for what she needs and she can find friendship with both old friends and new. Check out Bowe’s book at Carlsbad Public Library.
Fall children’s programs begin this week at Carlsbad Public Library!
- Teens in grades 6-12 are welcome to attend the first Teen Advisory Group monthly meeting in the story room at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 6. This is a great group for teens who like volunteering.
- Preschool story time meets in the story room on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 10 a.m., for parents and children ages 3-5. Stories, crafts, hands-on learning and social time are included.
- Toddler Time meets in the story room at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6; this group is for parents and children ages 3 and under. Music, creative movement, educational toys and social time are included.