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| From School Library Journal K-Gr 2—A little girl is moving into a new apartment and is happy to have her own room. As she settles in, she begins to wonder about the people living all around her—above, below, next door—and what their lives and daily activities are like in comparison to her own. Although they are very close in proximity, they are in a sense quite far away, unless or until she gets to know them. In a moment of existentialist contemplation, she even wonders: What if there is nothing and no one at all beyond the walls of her room? Fortunately, she is soon bridging the gap between herself and her neighbors as she ventures out and meets her first potential friend. Saturated black-and-white watercolor illustrations are broken up with small touches of red to identify the main character's placement in the vignettes. As she ventures outside of her apartment, brighter colors subtly begin to emerge signifying an awakening to the wonders of the expanded world beyond her own home. As she takes the first steps away from home and toward her new school, she then begins to wonder what her new classmates will be like. VERDICT This is a quiet, contemplative story that explores the many facets of urban life as well as the ways we think about the lives around us in relation to ourselves. A philosophical beauty, recommended for most collections.—Jessica Marie, Salem P.L., OR What the jury said: “How is real respect cultivated? This stunning, thoughtful, and necessary book considers how it often takes a child’s reflections to show us. Neighbors shows the tensions, moments of compassion, hesitation, and sincere curiosity about the Other that come with having neighbors. The pandemic has made the use of a building as a metaphor for the world, and an appropriate one to bridge the gulf of ideas of differences between people who live in close physical proximity. The book uses black ink in a novel way, to conjure thoughtfulness rather than darkness, as its gradations allow for the light to come through. The artfulness of the book involves the use of symmetry, symbols, and fantastical elements that are produced in the child’s imagination. These overturn the extreme realism of the city setting and remind the reader that utopian thinking is always possible.” |
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