Picture Book: The Quiet Place

Title: The Quiet Place
Author: Sarah Stewart
Publication: 2012

This book is about Isabel, and her experience moving to a new country, America. She uses letters with dates at the top to help develop the setting and time frame of the book. The first letter reads, "April 5, 1957," therefore letting the reader know that the book was set back in history. She uses the months on the letters to help the reader understand how much time has passed between each page. I believe this tactic is extremely helpful, as I explain later, in helping readers understand that adjustment to change doesn't happen overnight, but instead across a span of months and years.

This story could relate to a lot of children whose families have moved from different countries abroad. Here in America, they are forced to learn English, not their native language, and experience different and new customs and culture. This book would be great to read to my students, especially those who may have trouble adjusting to a new school, hometown, or even just a new classroom and teacher. I believe it would help them better understand that everyone has problems adjusting to new things and that is takes time. As Isabel writes,

"I am still too shy to make friends...So many new things are in my life, not just new words but new people and new places...It isn't the same" (Stewart). 

While Isabel is very apprehensive about moving towards the beginning of the book, nearing the end, the reader can tell how much the main character has grown and adjusted to life in America. This helps students remember that it takes time to adjust to new changes, but one cannot expect it to happen overnight. As Isabel makes friends, learns the new language, and blends her heritage and culture of the old with the new, she becomes happy in her new home. As Stewart writes,

"Mother made tamales and salsa and guacamole and beans with rice and chocolate cake. Chavo played his guitar and Father showed the other parent some dance steps. I taught my guests our birthday song...No one wanted to go home. I hope you can feel my happiness. There is no word big enough" (Stewart).  

I believe this passage accurately portrays the change Isabel as a character experienced in the book and her life. She went from being s not-so-sure of herself immigrant to a confident and happy American. Through her letters to her aunt, one can tell that she has been able to blend her native culture with that of her new home and meet new people that accept her for who she is. I think this is a perfect moral to the story that many children can learn from. Whether you are the one moving to a new country or you are the one befriending an outsider, he or she can learn to accept each other and adjust to change.