Overview

This is the story of a young Rwandan refugee now living in the UK. Christophe is having trouble getting used to his new school, new language and new life. Life has been very lonely for him. Most of all he misses his grandfather who they had to leave behind. His teacher persuades Christophe to share his story with his classmates - so he tells them of the terrifying day the soldiers came to his house and killed his baby brother. The spoken story fills the air and his classmates are spellbound. But when his teacher asks him to write it down and read it out in assembly, Christophe is horrified. You lose the fire from a story once you write it down! But with the help of his new friends, his family and the memory of his beloved grandfather, Christophe finds a way to break through the barriers - and share his story with everyone.

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9781845075217

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Reviews

This well-written account is aided by Karin Littlewood's black and white drawings in showing young readers the two contrasting worlds: Christophe's homeland and life in a British primary school. School Librarian This is an honourable book, which aims to give a voice to one of the many displaced children who find themselves in classrooms across the UK. I had not heard of the author before, although her publisher, Frances Lincoln, has a fine reputation for its multi-cultural list. I learnt from Nicki Cornwell's website that she has a background in work with both troubled children in institutions and asylum seekers. This experience informs a sensitive book which, in addition to tackling a delicate subject, has the added responsibility of making it accessible to primary school readers. Books for Keeps Christophe's Story's relates the difficulties a boy encounters in trying to describe the awful occurrences which led to his being in England, in an English school, and far from his previous home. Christophe's grandfather had impressed upon him the importance of telling stories, so when faced with the task of writing a story he is in a quandary. His days pass with some teasing and bullying, coping with all things new -- including the language -- and finally friendships through the bond of football. Then, only then, he tells the class of his family, his baby brother killed, the bullet that scarred his body, fleeing from home, and leaving Rwanda. He summons the wherewithal for his story to be written and read in assembly too. Boys into Books 5-11 Riveting Reads

Eight-year-old Christophe and his family have fled to England from war-torn Rwanda. In his new school, he is reluctant to learn to read because his grandfather believed that stories should be told and not written, in order that the listeners can form their own pictures. He learns, but reads only factual material. It is extremely painful to remember the past, but he's finally able to tell his own experiences of war, fear, death and loss. His teacher records the story, and Christophe agrees to let her transcribe it, because he understands that it is important that it reach a wider audience. By having Christophe speak with chilling simplicity directly to his classmates - and to the reader - Cornwell is able to convey the horror without the distance of an outside voice. It's a powerful indictment of the savagery of war and its effect on those caught in its path. But there's also a catharsis in the telling and a glimmer of hope for the future. Sugar-coating the truth about the world's evils is not in the best interests of children, but at what age should they be made aware of these truths? Parents and teachers may need to make that decision here. (Fiction. 10-12) (Kirkus Reviews)

Author Information

Nicki Cornwell has previously worked as a social worker, a teacher and a university lecturer. She now divides her time as an author and French language interpreter. She lives in Walthamstow, London. To visit Nicki Cornwell's website click here Karin Littlewood studied Graphic Design at the University of Northumbria, followed by an MA in illustration at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has worked in editorial, packaging, design and advertising, as well as publishing. Her work has been nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal three times.

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