Mom Goes to War

by Irene Martin, Monica Carretero (Illustrator), Jon Brokenbrow (Translator)

Overview

Winner at the 2013 International Latino Book Awards

An unspeakable illness: Cancer.
A mother who wants to explain to her children what is happening, and how their lives will change over the coming months...
A queen who begins a lengthy war with many battles, together with an army of allies who will fight unconditionally by her side.

Mom Goes to War is a tale that takes children and adults on a fascinating, adventure-filled journey through the human body. It is a story full of positive energy, which will help parents, doctors and educators teach young readers values such as courage, solidarity and hope.

Mom Goes to War is a story told from the author’s heart, full of tenderness, love and humor, which will help shine a ray of hope into many people’s lives.

Guided Reading Level: S, Lexile Level: 880L

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788415503200
Publisher:	Cuento de Luz
Publication date:	04/01/2013
Series:	Light Series
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	AD880L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 9 Years

About the Author

The award-winning author Irene Aparici was born with a notebook in one hand and a pencil in the other. She has lived in Spain and in Ecuador. As a professional, she has worked mainly in the financial sector, but has also worked as a professor at a university, a rural estates administrator, a mediator in extrajudicial conflicts, and an international cooperator. In 2011, Irene was diagnosed with breast cancer, to which she lost her battle in 2014.

The award-winning author and illustrator Mónica Carretero was born in Madrid but now lives in Segovia. She is self-taught and her colourful and vivid illustrations have received international recognition and she is now a very succesful illustrator of children's picture books.

Editorial Reviews

"...the picturesque illustrations, compelling conceptualization, and poignant story of a mother’s struggle to survive will both inform and stimulate children." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

11/01/2013
K-Gr 4—A homespun tale resounding with contemporary issues, mainly that of a mother facing cancer and the subsequent prospect of explaining her illness to her beloved sons. The story assumes the form of an allegorical fairy tale in which the woman's body becomes the battleground where a personal war against the illness is waged: her red and white blood cells portrayed as soldiers, her ganglions as watchtowers, and cancerous cells as rebels attacking a host of other cells personified in whimsical illustrations. Although these folksy drawings are top-notch and the premise of using allegory to explain the workings of cancer is quite effective, the narrative retains a personal tone and scope that seems a bit one-dimensional as it lacks lively language, imagery, or literary device. This story may appeal to boys more than to girls, especially as it is riddled with superficially bellicose verbiage of warfare. Though lackluster in literary technique, the picturesque illustrations, compelling conceptualization, and poignant story of a mother's struggle to survive will both inform and stimulate children.—Kathryn Diman, Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME

School Library Journal

Great intentions yield few rewards in this well-meaning, plodding explanation of breast cancer for kids. A king and a queen call their sons in for a consultation. The queen reports that there is a rebellion underway, but it's not in the kingdom. The rebellion is of breast-cancer cells, and the battlefield her body. Using martial terminology, the queen is able to answer her sons' questions and calm their fears, walking them through the entire process of this "war." Unlike similar books for a younger crowd, this title eschews avoiding frightening topics and uses an unusual approach to make the discussion about fighting cancer both straightforward and appealing. Sadly, troubles abound. Martín loads the book down with excess text, overloading readers from the start. The conceit--royal family, war terminology of many eras--lends itself to mixed metaphors. Most worrisome, at no point do the words "radiation" or "chemotherapy" appear. Instead faux treatments with names like "Scalpozap" and "Extermamide" muddy the issue. Silly, simplistic art adds little to the narrative, sometimes making things worse by displaying frighteningly huge syringes and pills. A good idea drowns in unnecessary excess. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews