The Old Country [Paperback]

Mordicai Gerstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2006 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

From the winner of the 2004 Caldecott Medal comes a memorable new work, a novel of singular insight and imagination that transports readers to the Old Country, where "all the fairy tales come from, where there was magic -- and there was war." There, Gisella stares a moment too long into the eyes of a fox, and she and the fox exchange shapes. Gisella's quest to get her girl-body back takes her on a journey across a war-ravaged country that has lost its shape. She encounters magic, bloodshed, and questions of power and justice -- until finally, looking into the eyes of the fox once more, she faces a strange and startling choice about her own nature. Part adventure story and part fable; exciting, beautifully told, rich in humor and wisdom, The Old Country is the work of an artist and storyteller at the height of his powers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6–Framed as an elderly immigrant's story, this overly ambitious tale transpires in a war-torn Balkanesque country in which various factions fight for possession of the land while everyone wishes to oust the Crags. When her brother is conscripted and goes off to war, young Gisella is left to hunt for and kill a chicken-stealing fox that has terrorized her family. However, a trial is held among the forest animals and the fox is exonerated for her "crimes." In spite of her lifelong warnings, Gisella looks too long into its eyes and she and the fox trade shapes. War separates the humans from the now fox-girl and her animal companions, but they arereunited in prison. A shape-shifting woodland sprite and an enigmatic "owl person" appear to explain the human ravages on the magical world at a "crossroads," where animals can communicate with humans. Through them, Gerstein explores whether evil is inherent in the world, the costs of war, and the existence of magic. Elements of fantasy and traditional literature are threaded through the realistic and semi-historical horrors of war. This pastiche of theme and genre, tone and voice confuses readers' expectations and ultimately dilutes the story's power. Humor follows horror. Buffoonish royalty is overthrown by covetous generals, Gisella's blinded brother recovers his sight via some gruesome magic and leads the fight for a Crag homeland, and the baffling outcome of the fox/girl body swap may put off readers as well. This is a challenging burgoo of a novel and a rambling character-ridden tale that may have a difficult time finding and holding an audience.–Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. In this fairy tale-like allegorical novel, Caldecott medalist Gerstein beckons readers to consider human versus animal natures, issues he first explored in his historical novel Victor (1998). Framed as a New World immigrant's autobiography, as recited to her skeptical but enthralled great-granddaughter, the narrative tells of a girl named Gisella who is tricked into swapping bodies with a wily fox. In her alien but exhilarating new form, she must travel through the war-ravaged Old Country (where "all fairy tales come from") to reclaim her original body and to rescue family members imprisoned by a ruthless, xenophobic emperor for being "Crags" (a beleaguered ethnic group). Though unassuming in length and brimming with references to familiar stories, including Alice in Wonderland, Gisella's adventure comes layered with troubling symbolism and a kind of muffled moodiness that constantly shadows her childlike hope for "the warm glow of a happy ending." Suggest this to older readers, as well as college-level children's literature students, perhaps alongside an examination of Maurice Sendak's Brundibar (2003), which is similar in theme and tone. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159643192X
• ISBN-13: 978-1596431928
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,407,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful story..., August 1, 2005

By 

MG - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Old Country (Hardcover)

In the same vein as many of the original Hans Christian Anderson Tales, The Old Country provides an unexpected and often harsh view of a fairy tale existence. The story is not fanciful in a light hearted sense but offers the challenge of perceiving the paradigm of another existence. I loved the ending of the book, and thought that it offers, overall, a valuable message about our own assumptions of good and evil. It isn't necessarily suitable for the 3rd-6th grade mentioned on the Booklist Review, but would be a wonderful novella for children in middle school.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read-aloud book for all ages, August 11, 2005

By 

KidsReads (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Old Country (Hardcover)

Mordicai Gerstein, winner of the 2004 Caldecott Medal for THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS, has tapped into his childhood as well as his fruitful imagination to bring to life a fable told to him by Gisella, his great-grandmother.

Gisella lived in the old country on a small farm with her brother Tavido, Mother, Grandfather, Great-Aunt Tanteh, and many animals. Gisella's family had a dozen chickens, each named for a different month. Flame, a wily fox, stole April and May. Armed with a crossbow Gisella entered the forest to kill the fox. She encountered an owl-person who insisted there must be a trial to determine whether or not Flame was really guilty. It was a most unusual trial, with a jury composed only of birds and a white spider as judge. Flame was found innocent. Gisella stared too long into Flame's eyes, and as Great Aunt Tanteh had warned, Gisella and Flame switched bodies.

Thus begins a most unusual and magical tale. All the animals in this book can speak and understand humans. There is a war going on between the black army and the purple army. So much destruction is occurring that the magical, invisible world is rapidly disappearing. Even the ordinary, everyday world is in shambles. Gisella's family is being held captive in the Crystal Palace and are threatened with death. The emperor is trying to find out Great-Aunt Tanteh's secret: how she gets December to lay golden eggs. Gisella the fox and her animal friends create a bold and risky plan to try to save the family. Magic intertwines with reality often in this book, which has a surprise ending.

Mordicai Gerstein writes from the animals' point of view --- as he imagines it. This is in stark contrast to how humans think, he often suggests. A young child will be enchanted by the fairy tale quality of the book, while older children will enjoy the many twists and turns of the story. Adults will appreciate the timeless truths; for example, that war is always a battle for power and that, when confronted with a major decision, it is often difficult to know which path to choose. THE OLD COUNTRY is an excellent read-aloud book for all ages.

--- Reviewed by Carole Turner

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Old Country is a scary place, December 6, 2005

By 

microjoe - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Old Country (Hardcover)

A long time agon in the old country, a young girl named Gisell goes into the scary woods by herself one night, determined to kill the sneaky fox that has stolen 2 of her families 12 chickens from their henhouse. She takes a crossbow and arrows to do the job. But she is drawn into a magical but frightening society of animals that can speak, including the fox. They demand that Gisell prove that the fox is guilty in a court. But the Court judge is a spider. Gisell learns that there is a war in this magic world, and it is drawing her own world into it very fast. Her parents are kidnapped by one side of the combatants and she must join with the fox if she hopes to see them again. The story does not draw easy answers and plain teo sided good and evil, but rather shows there are good and bad on both sides of every conflict. This fairy tale world is mean and scary, and this may be a bit dark for kids below 4th or 5th grade, depending on the reader.