Title: Dangerous Journey
Author: Lazlo Hamori
Recommended Age: 10-13, but good for all ages, really!
Today is the Solemnity (alert! extra ice cream!) of the birth of John the Baptist.
As our dear Fr. Marc reminded us today at Mass, the Church just doesn't let us forget about Christmas, all through the year. He pointed out that at the height of Lent, we have the Feast of the Annunciation; at the end of May, when we've Holy-Spirited ourselves up into the high heavens, she brings us back to the humble Visitation; and now, on June 24, “as far from Christmas Day, December 25, as you can get,” she gives us the only other feast of a nativity that she has us celebrate, that of the Prophet of the Old and the New, John the Baptist.
So it's a day for at least one gift, right? I give you one of the very best read-aloud books you will ever encounter. This book will satisfy just about everyone's hunger for adventure, and it has the virtue of also having an unusual setting: Communist occupation in Hungary after World War II.
Every chapter is a cliffhanger. The prose is brisk. The story is crazy wonderful, because it's about the absolutely unthinkable — mere children left to their own devices all alone in a hostile environment.
(And so, lots of potential here to discuss all those things you've been meaning to bring up, like, do you know how to tell which direction you are going in? And could you discern a helpful stranger from a dangerous one, or know when to run? Could you keep warm? I don't know if you can work oxbow lakes into the conversation, but, for your own peace of mind, try!)
The main character is a boy who finds himself on the road and rail to find his father (so, technically, he's not an orphan — the best character from a child's point of view — but might as well be for the duration of the story — extra points to actually have a father!). But there's another boy and a girl too; and there is bread and sausage, which is all I really ask of an adventure.
My fifth-grade teacher read this book aloud to our class after lunch. When she finished (and there are twenty-one chapters, so it must have taken at least a couple of weeks), twenty-five rapt children begged her to start it again. We hadn't moved an inch the entire time she read. And she did; but as I recall, she extracted some amazing feat from us first!
It's one of those problematic gifts, though, because it's out of print and you might have to wait a long time to enjoy it. Try looking for it on Amazon, of course, and Abebooks. A few copies are available on Ebay, I think. Keep your eye out for it at library sales. Snatch up every copy you find, because I promise you, you will love this book. (I found it again in adulthood courtesy of my friend Theresa, who generously sent me a copy based on “there is a boy, and a train, and it's in Hungary.” Which shows you my retention rate of a book read aloud to me twice.)
If you are having trouble finding it, you can console yourselves in the meantime with The Winged Watchman, set in Holland and Number the Stars, set in Denmark. There are, of course, many more books in this genre, and we will have more posts along these lines. But for a read-aloud, Dangerous Journey is at the tippity-top of my list.
Margo says
oh, thrilling! I LOVE this project.
Although I have to say, I read too many of a type of book and had nightmares for a long time when I was a child. Our church library stocked up heavily on refugee children stories and I was terrified. I like your idea of a family read-aloud and then discussing it.
Right now, our family read-aloud is Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott. ahhhh, the sweetness. There is a lost father, too.
Robin says
Along these lines, Snow Treasure is excellent. Set in WWII Norway, children set out to save the country's gold from under the noses of the Nazis. Excellent adventure!
And thank you so much for this library series and the link to the Ambleside booklists. With the state of the libraries (at least mine!) these days, I find myself having to get quite creative! But then I figure with every request I make, I'm helping to keep those books on the shelves.
Lara says
Oh, I wish I could give a bunch of “Thumbs Up” -s to Snow Treasure! I found this book on the Ambleside site last year and I LOVED it, even though I couldn't get DD to read it with me.
Beth says
Just want to add more emphasis to this recommendation: Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan is a wonderful book! Great historical fiction for the WWII era, or for boys, or for girls…all of our kids have found it as absorbing and satisfying as I did when I was a kid.
Catherine says
Just hopped on Amazon to order this and of the 3 cheaper ones available, 2 disappeared when I added them to my cart! I was fortunate enough to get the 3rd one, lol. You have started a run on this book. 🙂 I have a huge library but am always glad to hear of one more good book. Thank you! The children's book that made an impression like this on me is Sun Slower, Sun Faster by Meriol Trevor. My mom's copy became lost and for years I couldn't find it. Fortunately, Bethlehem Books did a reprint. Thanks again for all you do!
Sara says
I will add this our Summer Read-Aloud list. I'm intrigued because of the interesting historical setting and because my grandfather's family were Hungarian. (The Good Master by Kate Seredy is a good read). My oldest (11) will be studying 20th century world history this fall & this will be perfect. We already have The Winged Watchman, Snow Treasure & Number the Stars on the list for the fall as well as Letters from Rifka about a Russian Jewish girl escaping to America.
Janice says
There are several copies of Dangerous Journey for sale on ” target=”_blank”>http://www.abebooks.com for under $10. I just ordered one – looking forward to a good read!
Gail says
Thanks for the suggestion. I've been wondering what we'd read aloud next. Hopefully my library can get a copy from somewhere in the state.
fromlittlehands says
How did you KNOW we needed a book for our cross country drive next week?!?!
_Leila says
Auntie Leila knows.
Robin says
This must be an “eyes in the back of the head” thing. I tried to convince my children that they do, in fact, exist.
Lisa G. says
Don't forget alibris.com, also. They sell dvd's and cd's, too!
Carrie says
May I also add The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier. I don't remember a huge amount of detail but it's about a group of children from Warsaw ( I think…) looking for their parents post 1945. Sorry for the vague-ness but I do believe it has a happy ending of sorts…perhaps to do with the setting up of international summer camps for children. I'm writing this from the UK but I'd be astonished if it's not available with you.
Meredith_in_Aus says
The Silver Sword also goes by the title Escape from Warsaw. It was a great read aloud!
ShellyinAZ says
Thank you for the book suggestion. We are always looking for books to read. Unfortunately, there isn't a reasonably priced copy to be found. Apparently, all the used copies are being scooped up by your readers. 🙂 Now who wants to start a company that can reprint all these books for the next generation??
Josie says
I was thinking the same thing! I'll let you do the honors and I'll be your first customer!:)
Phyllis says
If you follow this link, you can search for the first English edition of Dangerous Journey at your local library:
http://www.worldcat.org/title/dangerous-journey/o…
Here's looking at you, Lucile L Morgan Public Library in Heflin, AL. You clearly have good taste!
newurbantraditionalists says
Argh! I'm going to have to start frantically checking your blog so I can grab your book recommendations before you cause a run that jacks up the prices. Even with a review as stellar as this one, my impulse book budget can't support $20 after shipping. I consider myself somewhat of a junior expert in the old, classic, children't lit department and I've never heard of this so you've got me really excited for the rest of your list!
Elisa says
I can still see used ones starting at $5 (plus shipping) at http://www.hpbmarketplace.com/ and http://www.alibris.com/ also! Good luck with your search!
Melissa Diskin says
This isn't about this book per se, but sort of relates: when do you introduce a child to (for lack of a better phrase) man's inhumanity to man? I realize that outside of my nice sheltered American suburb that that is incredibly patronizing. But I remember seeing Holocaust videos at 9, when my parents were watching documentaries on PBS. I just bawled and bawled, cut to the core. I'm wondering when everyone else read books like “Number the Stars” and learned about the abyss.
Elizabeth says
While I'm not a parent and haven't done this myself, I think reading books is a much gentler approach to this. Any images on TV or a movie can be so intense and assaulting. I still don't like watching the news and much prefer reading a newspaper or website to stay up-to-date. While it's been awhile since I read it, I found “Number the Stars” very appropriate as an introduction to the Holocaust. While the Holocaust is the backdrop, this particular story focuses on people's success in working together to help save the Jewish people in Denmark. And it's all based on true events. I would say 9 and up?
_Leila says
MDiskin,
These books aimed at children (the ones I recommend) have a light touch. This particular one keeps the atrocities way in the background. Yes, intense subject matter, but handled with finesse. But that doesn't mean there won't be nightmares. It seems that kids do get scared no matter what, so I think it's worthwhile introducing them to characters who are competent in the midst of challenges. That said, you know your own kids and judge accordingly. I do agree with Elizabeth, above, that images are worse than words.
I wrote about it a bit here: http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org//2011/07/d…
Melissa Diskin says
Yes, the images are worse at that age. I remember asking my mom “why– why? why???” and not getting answers that satisfied. I think until you're at an age where you can consider that we fight not against mere mortals but against the principalities and powers of darkness, these questions feel like throwing chaff into the wind.
I'd forgotten how “competent in the midst of challenges” can cover a lot of ground, from The Five Little Peppers and The Boxcar Children to Swallows and Amazons and Narnia to the more serious stuff. I think we just need to work up to it (my kids are 7, 5, and almost 4).
And I found a boxed set of the Andrew Lang Color Fairy Books at Goodwill this week for a dollar! I'm hoping my 2nd-grader will be up for bedtime reading soon. 🙂
DeirdreLMLD says
Box set for a dollar!! Lucky you!
Elizabeth says
I love this project! While I haven't read “Dangerous Journey”, I'll recommend “The Railway Children” by E. Nesbit. I first read it as an adult and it is one of my favorites now. I think it would be great for a read-aloud.
Sara says
Ordered from the library! And my 11 year old wants to recommend it for the Middle School book club that she's in!!! We're trying to focus on older books and let the kids run the show.