Customer Reviews

Gleam and Glow

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This Book, Gleam and Glow, by Ebe Bunting is an awsome book, the main character who tells the story is a young boy named victor, his father has to go to the underground to fight in a war. Victor, his sister Marina, and there mama have to leave soon to, so they can cross the border before they get attacked!!! One day a man comes with some fish, that he can't carry any more, mama finally agrees to take the fish from him, and Marina has already named them, Gleam, and Glow, but they agree that when they leave in three days, that they cannot take the fish with them. Before the family leaves, they slip the fish into there backyard pond, and hope they will survive. They start there journey to the border, when they get there they will be safe.
Will they see there dad?
Is there dad alive?
Did Gleam And Glow make it?
Did the house survive,
and most important,
did the family make it
READ THIS BOOK TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS, I would recomend it to ANYONE, my teacher read it to us, and I am in 6th grade, and I still thought is was awsome!!!!! READ READ READ!!!!!

I'm in awe. Bunting based her story on the true account of the Malkoc family, who fled the Jezero village during the Bosnian war.

Two little girls are given two gold fish, Gleam and Glow, to care for from a refugee who fled the village days before them. Before they leave to seek safety, the oldest girl places Gleam and Glow in the pond. After many months of war, the family returns to their village. Everything has been destroyed my the bombs...everything except the pond thriving with goldfish.

This story is heartbreaking and inspiring. I'll admit that it brought tears my eyes. The illustrations are not typical of a book depicting war. The illustrations are beautiful, warm, hopeful.

Gleam and Glow is an ecellent book for teachers to use when teaching reading strategies. I used it with seventh graders. Even though it is a young children's book, the content makes it perfect.

This is one of our favorite Eve Bunting stories. She is an incredible writer and touches upon so many different subjects - all of them heartwarming and real. As one reviewer wrote, some of her books are more appropriate for older children (of about 6 - 8 years old, I'd say). Some of the content speaks to hardship and may be difficult for the younger ones to understand. Most of her books (like the story of the Christmas tree in the forest) are a must read for all ages. We have thoroughly enjoyed all of her stories and this is definitely one of our favorites. Many of her stories are so beautifully written that by the end, my voice is shaky as I hold back tears (and my son always wipes them away) - especially this one.

Deftly painted illustrations provide a visual link to the well-chosen words recounting the flight of a family from their home during the Bosnia war in the early 1990s. After passersby warn the family of imminent attack the mother decides that the family must strike out for a refugee camp just beyond the border. Prior to their departure, the son decides that he must set free two goldfish his sister inherited from a passing refugee. The fish are released into a pond near their house so that they can enjoy at least one more day of life. The implication is that the fish will presumably starve for lack of fish flakes or be gobbled up by predators but the change of location is worth trying if it grants them a little more time to enjoy living. The impact of the impending invasion on the lives of the two fish parallel the distressing situation the family faces which in turn creates considerable suspense for young and old readers alike. Could the family cover the distance in time to avoid the violence? How would the father, who left to participate in the resistance, be able to find them now that they were leaving home?

Yes, this book explores serious subject matter but my seven year old and five year old ask me to read it time and again. The content must speak to fears that lurk in the back of their minds but rather than discussing their anxiety about possibly losing a pet or a home or a parent instead they always ask me why there is war.

This book doesn't show any people engaged in violent acts, however, it shows the family's empty house all ablaze. Happily, the next few pages show the mother and children reuniting with the father. Eventually the return to the face the charred remains of their home. In contrast to this dark moment the family are surprised to find the pond teaming with goldfish. Apparently the fish are survivors just like family. I wasn't expecting a Gleam and Glow to tell so moving a story with such a satisfying conclusion.

This book is really good. I would recommend it to all kids. It is about two girls and their mom. Their Dad is in the war. Gleam and Glow is a very good book. The title of the book is for the two fish that Marina names Gleam and Glow. I really enjoiyed this book. ...

My almost-four year old picked this out at the library. The cover looks innocent, showing two goldfish and a dragonfly. I didn't think this was an appropriate book for him - the father goes underground, their home is flooded with people escaping the country, then they themselves must leave their home and spend time in a refugee camp. When they return home, their house has been burned but all that is left are the goldfish. This would be a good teaching book to understand other kids have a very difficult life, but not good for reading before bedtime. Or for younger children.