The Forgiveness Garden by Lauren Thompson and Christy Hale

forgiveness garden

The illustrations by Christy Hale in The Forgiveness Garden are subtly beautiful. They appear to be water color and collage, and they give the effect of ancient art.The story, by Lauren Thompson, centers on two young people, Sama and Karune, who are victims of the historical memory of the elders of both villages. The Gamtes and the Vayams have hated each other for so long that any minor catalyst sets off a volley. This time Sama’s face is scarred by a stone thrown by Karune. Both villages suffer from the incident, both afraid of reprisals from the other side, both plotting revenge.

Sama sees some Gamte children as she is observing her scowling reflection in a  pool of water and is moved by the mix of hatred, fear, and sadness in their faces. Karune, perhaps because he is a boy, takes a bit longer to come around, but he does when he realizes no one in his village is brave enough to accept Sama’s invitation into the forgiveness garden both villages have built without interfacing.

That the children have insight beyond the capabilities of their elders is not a new theme, but its inherent truth–that the young are more likely to embrace redemption–is an important one.

The Forgiveness Garden at 32 pages is published by Feiwel and Friends.

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