Journey From Peppermint Street

It was magical when I read it, and magical when I re-read and re-read it, and now it's magical for my own children. This is a story with actual characters -- not caricatures, not lesson-teachers -- and all the wonderful (and scary) confusion of childhood. There's a boy, a journey, a dog, interesting and odd people to encounter along the way, silliness, a terrifying storm, new friendship and real connection with a kindred soul from a different generation, and several, well, miracles. Lovely writing, complex ideas: it's wonderful for adults and children. Why this isn't in print is beyond me.

At his best, Mr. DeJong writes books for children that are read and enjoyed by children, but can also sing to adults. In this book, young Siebren's world is small and lonely. He lives in a tiny seacoast village with his parents and younger brother. Then he goes with his grandfather to visit his old great-aunt. He finds a stray dog to care for, meets an aunt and uncle he never heard of before, and slowly his world becomes a little wider. What's remarkable is the way Mr. DeJong uses simple incidents to illustrate the fearfully powerful emotions of children as they try to make sense of the adult world they glimpse. His grandfather is gruff and no nonsense; his aunt loving and warm; and his uncle, a deaf-mute, a little frightening at first. Siebren begins to understand that adults aren't perfect, but can be surprisingly comforting and companionable when he opens up to admit some of his deepest fears. This book, along with many others by Mr. DeJong, is a more than adequate tonic for anyone feeling a little too sadly cynical and jaded.