Where in the World

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

Zolfe, hearing her parents’ whispered travel plans, tries to decide
which of her treasures to take with her. Will it be her favourite book,
The Dream Jar, her drawing pad and coloured pencils, or, perhaps, her
pretty red dress. Her fish, Emil, given to her by her grandmother and
named for her grandfather, will be left in her friend Maiy’s care. But
then masked men, armed with guns, burst into the house and order Zolfe
and her family to leave. Only Emil goes with her.

Zolfe watches as her father and older brother are taken to a wooded
area. An “ear-splitting shot” is heard. Zolfe, along with other
women and children, are herded to … where? She sees her school go up
in flames and witnesses the principal hunted down and killed. Horrified,
Zolfe recognizes some of her captors: the grocer, the pharmacist and,
impossibly, Maiy’s dad.

Zolfe’s mother tells her to leave Emil at the side of the road. At
that moment, Maiy, who has slipped out of her home, appears and takes
Emil. Zolfe and Maiy gaze at one another, and turn away. Zolfe, her mind
in turmoil from these surreal events, then takes refuge in her favourite
book.

Where in the World is powerful and disturbing. With no clue as to the
“where” or “when,” we realize that situations like this can (and
do) happen anywhere, anytime. Friends and neighbours can quickly become
enemies.

Janice Nadeau’s impressive illustrations (for which she received the
Governor General’s Award in 2004 when they appeared in the original
French version of the book, Nul Poisson ou Aller) accurately reflect the
book’s sombre tone. The dull greys and vague, faceless characters seem
threatening and sinister. In sharp contrast are the colourful pages from
The Dream Jar interspersed throughout and the occasional splashes of
colour denoting hope.

The picture book format of Where in the World is deceiving. This is
definitely not appropriate for young readers. However, teachers (and
parents) of junior- and intermediate-grade students would find it useful
to promote understanding and empathy for those who have been forced to
flee their homes under similar circumstances. Recommended.