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Summary
Summary
Based on a true story from Archbishop Desmond Tutu's childhood in South Africa, Desmond and the Very Mean Word reveals the power of words and the secret of forgiveness.
Features an audio read-along read by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. When Desmond takes his new bicycle out for a ride through his neighborhood, his pride and joy turn to hurt and anger when a group of boys shout a very mean word at him. He first responds by shouting an insult, but soon discovers that fighting back with mean words doesn't make him feel any better. With the help of kindly Father Trevor, Desmond comes to understand his conflicted feelings and see that all people deserve compassion, whether or not they say they are sorry. Brought to vivid life in A. G. Ford's energetic illustrations, this heartfelt, relatable story conveys timeless wisdom about how to handle bullying and angry feelings, while seeing the good in everyone.
Author Notes
Desmond Tutu was born October 7, 1931 in Klerksdorp, Transvaal, South Africa. He attended Johannesburg Bantu High School. After leaving school he trained first as a teacher at Pretoria Bantu Normal College and graduated in 1954 from the University of South Africa.
After three years as a high school teacher he began to study theology, and was ordained as a priest in 1960. From 1962 to 1966 Tutu devoted his time to further theological study in England at King's College, eventually earning a Master's of Theology. From 1967 to 1972 he taught theology in South Africa before returning to England for three years as the assistant director of a theological institute in London. In 1975 he was appointed Dean of St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg, the first black to hold that position. From 1976 to 1978 he was Bishop of Lesotho, and in 1978 became the first black General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches.
Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize on October 15, 1984 for his role in the opposition to apartheid in South Africa. He was then elected Archbishop of Cape Town in April of 1986, the highest position in the South African Anglican Church. Tutu is also an honorary doctor of various universities in the USA, Britain and Germany.
He is the author of the best seller, The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, with the Dalai Lama XIV and Douglas Carlton Abrams.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (6)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-Archbishop Tutu describes the power of words and the secret of forgiveness in a story from his South African childhood during apartheid. One day Desmond rides his bike past a gang of boys, one of whom calls him "a very mean word." The pain of the word stays with him for days, following him around "like a shadow in the hot sun." A few days later, Desmond retaliates with a mean word of his own, but it leaves a "bitter taste in his mouth." Father Trevor recommends forgiveness, but the child is not ready to forgive someone who has not apologized. A week later, he sees his tormentor being harassed and is surprised to feel sorry for him. That moment sets the stage for Desmond's act of forgiveness, and he finally experiences the "magic" about which Father Trevor spoke. Ford's richly colored paintings capture life in the South African township. Light is a strong element, from the blazing sun to deep shades of night and sadness. The story avoids a preachy tone by staying true to Desmond's emotions and his struggle to reach a moral high ground. The book is both a lesson and a slice of life, giving insight into the person Archbishop Tutu became as an adult. The preface explains apartheid in child-friendly language, and the afterword tells more about the real Father Trevor. Some children might feel frustrated that the "very mean words" are never specified, but the real point of the story is the personal power one derives from letting go of revenge.-Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
When a group of white boys hurl racial epithets at young Desmond, he turns to his mentor, Father Trevor. But the priest's advice-forgiveness instead of retribution-isn't what Desmond wants to hear. "Let me tell you a secret, Desmond," Father Trevor advises him. "When you forgive someone, you free yourself from what they have said or done. It's like magic." This morality tale from Archbishop Tutu and Abrams, who previously collaborated on God's Dream, does indeed end with forgiveness and a quiet reconciliation between Desmond and one of his tormentors. However, no historical context is provided within the framework of the story (a brief intro alludes to apartheid); without more clues as to what life was like in a society that institutionalized racism, readers may be puzzled why Father Trevor doesn't assert his moral authority on behalf of Desmond. Yes, forgiveness is important, but what about justice? Ford's oil illustrations do a fine job of capturing the dusty days of township life, as well as Desmond's dark nights of the soul. Ages 6-10. Agent: Lynn Franklin, Lynn Franklin Associates. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Archbishop Tutu uses a childhood incident to reveal the importance of learning to forgive others who behave with hatred while also paying tribute to his mentor, a young white priest who became an anti-apartheid activist. While staying away from politics, this realistic story of name-calling provides appropriate insights into children's feelings; Ford's oil paintings zoom in on the boys' emotional expressions. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Archbishop Tutu, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, remembers a life-changing and life-affirming moment from his childhood in racist South Africa. The boy Desmond is out for a ride on his brand-new bicycle when a white boy shouts a terrible word at him. That word is never specified, but it is one that he cannot forget. Very upset, he visits his mentor, Father Trevor, who gently instructs him on the power of forgiveness; it's something done from one's heart and does not require an admission of regret from the speaker. At first, Desmond cannot embrace this concept and shouts his own mean word back. Later, though, he sees the white boy being bullied. When the two boys encounter each other in town, the white boy shares candy with Desmond. Tutu, writing with Abrams in the third person, effectively shares his message with young readers, presenting it in humanitarian terms, not as a religious precept. Ford's full-page oil paintings are expressive, portraying anger and finally, triumph as Desmond metaphorically "embrace[s] the whole world in his outstretched arms." A thought-provoking lesson for young readers on the destructiveness of bullying and racism. (letter to readers from Tutu, author's note) (Picture book/memoir. 4-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
An actual event from the Nobel Peace Prize winner's childhood forms the heart of a story about the difficulties and rewards of forgiveness. Young Desmond proudly rides his new bike through the streets of the township when he encounters a group of aggressive boys who taunt him with a very mean word. Desmond struggles with his own feelings of anger and retribution, but, after wise counsel from trusted mentor Father Trevor, finds his way to forgive. Writing again with Abrams (God's Dream, 2008), Tutu offers a clear telling that feels much like a children's homily, the earnest tone and clean language (the offending word is never mentioned) reflecting his own wholesome spirit. Ford's dynamic paintings, with well-defined outlines and dramatic light, match the clarity of the narrative. The images fill the large-trim spreads, capturing the immediacy of the conflict and the tranquility of the resolution. An author's note offers more information about the event, and the mentor, that inspired the story.--Barthelmess, Thom Copyright 2010 Booklist
New York Review of Books Review
Whether you're trying out a balance bike, trading in a tricycle for training wheels or mounting a two-wheeler for the first time, learning to ride is hard work. This gentle book is the sweet inviting outstretched hand that makes it look easy enough to try. And try again. Addressing the reader directly with "Want to learn to ride a bicycle?" Raschka supplies guidance and comfort for the inevitable wipeouts. Playful spot illustrations depict a doting father giving his daughter a guiding hand as he reminds her to pump and runs after her. There she goes! BEN RIDES ON Written and illustrated by Matt Davies. 32 pp. Neal Porter/Roaring Brook. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 7) Davies, a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, gets things going right away in his first children's book. Here's the rousing opener: "Now that he had the bicycle of his dreams, Ben Lukin loved going to school." The ride ahead is a thrill - it's the schoolyard destination that proves problematic. "Adrian Underbite, perhaps the world's largest third grader, didn't seem to like Ben very much." He wants Ben's bike. He takes Ben's bike. And though Ben is tempted to take revenge, he chooses another path. Full of warmth, humor and a welcome lesson about bullies, Davies's debut cries out for a follow-up. HOW TO BICYCLE TO THE MOON TO PLANT SUNFLOWERS A Simple but Brilliant Plan in 24 Easy Steps. Written and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein. 40 pp. Roaring Brook. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) Gerstein, who won a Caldecott Medal for "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers," has cooked up another winning story about far-flung dreams and their realization. According to the young narrator, the moon looks like a sad clown face that needs cheering up. The obvious way to do this, the boy decides, is to bicycle on up and plant sunflowers on its surface. His father may have qualms, and his mother her fears, but the boy never doubts the feasibility of his plan. Delivered beginner graphic-novel style with a madcap mix of the technically true and the overtly outlandish, this book, with its 24 steps, shows just how he does it. MONSIEUR ALBERT RIDES TO GLORY By Peter Smith. Illustrated by Bob Graham. 32 pp. Allen & Unwin. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 5 to 7) This Australian import tells the perfectly silly story of 60-year-old Albert ("I'm fit for my age and I've got a good bike"), who decides to enter the Tour de France, to the surprise of his compatriots. "'You're mad, Monsieur Albert, you haven't a chance!' / cries a gendarme (that's just a policeman in France)" There's also his arrogant rival, Francois: "He's champion of France and a millionaire; / he trains on frogs' legs and vin ordinaire." And a gesture to winners past: "It's true that the best man did not win the race, and in bicycle races that's sometimes the case." But it's all in good fun, and with magnifique illustrations from Graham. DESMOND AND THE VERY MEAN WORD A Story of Forgiveness. By Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams. Illustrated by A. G. Ford. 32 pp. Candlewick. $15.99. (Picture book; ages 6 to 10) What is it about bikes that brings out the bullies? In this heart-rending story based on an episode from Archbishop Desmond Tutu's childhood in South Africa, young Desmond's excitement about his new bicycle is quelled when a group of white children shout "a very mean word" at the black child. The episode haunts and infuriates him. "No matter how fast he pedaled to school, Desmond couldn't leave the mean word behind." With the help of his mentor, Father Trevor, Desmond learns to let go of anger, cultivate compassion and finally, forgive his tormentor. "At last Desmond knew what it felt like to be free." PAMELA PAUL ONLINE A slide show of this week's illustrated books at nytimes.com/books.
