Lauren Frisone

Oct 10, 2011

HUM 81

Prof. Katz

                                                       Sad days, Glad Days

Contemporary Realistic fiction, is a story with real people that never happened but could happen.  This children's book genre can be categorized as contemporary because it deals with modern day issues that at one time were never discussed in books before this. De Witt Hamilton the Author this book truly captured emotion, helping children that go through similar situations a book to relate to. When a parent puts their emotional baggage on their children's shoulders, forcing them to grow up before their time. This book deals with a depressed mother and her innocent young daughter, this book can help kids cope with depression weather in their life or someone who is suffering from depression can be easily seen through the words of the author. The illustrations of the book were naturally digressed into the story. When the mom has happy days the colors on the book were yellow and orange ( very bright) and the sad, depressed days the colors on the page would turn dark like blue and gray. This taught kids also that colors can relate to peoples moods and emotion. It's a great way for kids to relate and understand feelings described through a spectrum of colors. The moral of this story to me, that even when a child is experiencing hard times in their life, there is always a happy ending to look forward to. When the little girl Amanda Martha, feels abounded by her mothers depression, no one to play with, no one to look up to, or go to for advice.She finds interest in getting a kitten to play with, she had begged her parents for the ally cat she found in her yard, who was wounded. Her parents disapprove of Amanda getting a pet, so instead the little girl nurtures the alley cat back to health by caring for it and feeding it. Once the cat was well, the mother took inconsideration what the little girl was capable of and allowed her to keep it, when she sees the cat bring her daughter the dead mouse out of gratitude for heeling it. No matter how wounded the cat was the love and attention she applied to the cat had heeled it. The moral of the story here is that no matter how wounded or broken something is, with all the love, care and nurturing dedicated to fixing it can manifest into something beautiful. With Never give up hope, the harder you try the more likely you are to succeed.