Call Me Aram

Having read the first book, Aram's Choice, I was eager to find out what happened next. Now this group of Armenian orphan boys are living in Canada, where well-meaning community members try to help them but sometimes miss the mark--as when they assign the boys new English names. These are small books, but they pack a lot of punch, showing us what it would be like to lose your entire family and then have your life turned upside down again by traveling halfway around the world to a new land. (I do recommend that you read the two books together.) Once again, Skrypuch has given us a glimpse of a piece of history most of us are unaware of. By putting a face on orphan refugees in this historical setting, the author reminds us that the headlines we see in the news these days about refugees in war-torn countries are all too real.

Call me Aram is a children's book, but more than that, it is a wonderful look into a part of Canadian history that has not gotten much attention in the past. Although I am Canadian, I actually knew very little about the Georgetown Boys. The Georgetown Boys were a group of orphans who were brought into to Canada, from the US in the 1920's after they managed to escape a Genocide in 1915. This true story takes a brave look at how difficult it was for these boys to adapt to a different culture - to learn new things and also to forget the old things - those things that must certainly have made a lasting impression on them. This book is not huge, but the storyline is extremely well done, the details are rich and the author has a way of telling the story that will keep older and newer readers engaged. I also must comment on the beautiful drawings in this book - vivid colors, great attention to detail which adds immensely to an already rich book. This is a great read for readers of all age.