A YES for the 12/13 yr. read aloud!
What a little treasure hiding in my library shelves! AT 57 pages one might not think there could be too much to it, only it's written by Pearl Buck, so of course she can pack everything she wanted to about the subject into such a tiny book.
I know next to nothing about the Japanese culture, but I felt captivated by the people in this book and their outlook on life.
I think this will be a great book to read aloud to kids of any age. If we don't read it to our Friday kids, I think I'll read it to mine. The messages are timeless and important. Actually, right now when storms and fires are raging, it would be an EXCELLENT book. The messages of faith, healing, and that life is more precious in the face of danger and hardship never go out of style.
Probably my favorite thing about the book is the wise way in which Kino's parents let Jiya heal from his devastation. It seemed so natural and right.
Some favorite quotes:
"We must learn to live with danger," he [the father] now said to Kino.
"Do you mean the ocean and the volcano cannot hurt us if we are not afraid?" Kino asked.
"No," his father replied. "I did not say that. Ocean is there and volcano is there. It is true that on any day ocean may rise into storm and volcano may burst into flame. We must accept this fact, but without fear. We must say, 'Someday I shall die, and does it matter whether it is by ocean or volcano, or whether I grow old and weak?'" (12)
--
-"Where are the gods at such a time?" Kino asked. "Will they not be mindful of us?"
"There are times when the gods leave man to take care of himself," his father replied. "They test us, to see how able we are to save ourselves."
"And if we are not able?" Kino asked.
"We must be able. Fear alone makes man weak. If you are afraid, your hands tremble and your feet falter, and your brain cannot tell hands and feet what to do." (17&
---
-This part comes after the storm...
"How cruel it seems for the sky to be so clear and the ocean so calm!" Kino said.
But his father shook his head. "No, it is wonderful that after the storm the ocean grows calm, and the sky is blue once more. It was not the ocean or the sky that made the evil storm."
"Who made it?"...
"Ah, no one knows who makes the evil storms. We only know that they come. When they come we must live through them as bravely as we can, and after they are gone, we must feel again how wonderful is life. Every day of life is more valuable now than it was before the storm." (26)
---
-"Father, are we not very unfortunate people to live in Japan?"
"Why do you think so?"
"Because the volcano is behind our house and the ocean is in front, and when they work together for evil, to make the earthquake and the big wave, then we are helpless. Always many of us are lost."
"To live in the midst of danger is to know how good life is," his father replied.
"But if we are lost in the danger?"
"To live in the presence of death makes us brave and strong. That is why our people never fear death. We see it too often and we do not fear it. To die a little later or a little sooner does not matter. But to live bravely, to love life, to see how beautiful the trees are and the mountains, yes, and even the sea, to enjoy work because it produces food for life--in these things we Japanese are a fortunate people. We love life because we live in danger. We do not fear death because we understand that life and death are necessary to each other."
"What is death?" Kino asked.
"Death is the great gateway...." (32)
---
There's quite a bit more, but I might end up typing the whole book ;)