Chestnuts for the Brave

Ann Moynes Smith is a high-school English teacher in Toronto.

The year is 1962 and 12-year-old Ella and her extended family are
emigrating from their country village in Italy to the Canadian city of
Halifax. The focus is on Ella—her struggles to learn English and to
achieve the independence enjoyed by her new Canadian friends. At the
same time, she must remain obedient and dutiful to the ways of her
protective Italian family. The conflicts encountered by Ella’s parents
and male cousin as they adapt to their new country are realistically and
sympathetically portrayed.

Six months in the new life of the Marafiotti family are covered in 12
flowing, easy-to-read chapters. Ella’s character is particularly well
developed, and the personalities of her parents and 12-year-old cousin,
Tomi, are presented vividly as well. These characters are notable for
how they handle new or unfamiliar situations: the language barrier when
the parents don’t understand a neighbor’s accusations (in English)
that their son has stolen from him; Ella’s confusion at her own
embarrassment when one of her new Canadian friends meets her mother
(“Was it because Mama and Marion came from such different worlds that
they might find each other odd?”).

The story is realistic and believable, and will appeal to 10- to
12-year-olds who have lived the immigrant experience. The interspersion
of Italian words, easily understandable within context, flavors the text
nicely. The family’s mixed emotions at leaving Italy are shown clearly
in the cover illustration.

Highly recommended for school and public libraries, particularly in
areas frequented by children who are immigrants to Canada.