Name Calling

Kelly L. Green is editor of the Canadian Book Review Annual’s
Children’s Literature edition.

Jennifer called Cindy a name. Cindy, hurt, decides to find Jennifer and
make her apologize. Along the way, she gathers Lulecka, who says she
will call Jennifer back a name; Safia, who says she will grab Jennifer
if she tries to run away; Mike, who says he will stomp on her tongue;
Cynthia, who says she will come along in case they do something silly;
Mouth, who says he will tell the whole school what Jennifer did; and Mr.
John, who tries to stop the whole thing. They can’t find Jennifer, but
they do find Maxine, who is not part of the hip crowd, and to whom no
one talks. Maxine asks Cindy, “If you don’t find Jennifer will you
hate her for the rest of your life?” This stops Cindy dead in her
tracks.

Sadu’s background as a storyteller is readily apparent in this clever
little book. She uses repetition effectively, and builds the story from
character to character in the time-honored tradition of the old woman
who swallowed the fly. The ending, in which Cindy and Jennifer find
resolution for their hurtful dispute, is emotionally satisfying. I did
find myself wondering, however, whatever happened to Maxine. And I could
have lived without the explication of the washroom (the place where
Jennifer called Cindy the name) as “the place where everybody came to
do their business.” Even the youngest child knows this already, I
think, and it adds nothing to the story. Nevertheless, this well-told
story, with its simple but attractive black-and-white illustrations, is
recommended.