The Day of the Pelican

by Katherine Paterson

Book Overview

2013 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award

Meli Lleshi is positive that her drawing of her teacher with his pelican nose started it all. The Lleshis are Albanians living in Kosovo, a country trying to fight off Serbian oppressors, and suddenly they are homeless refugees. Old and young alike, they find their courage tested by hunger, illness, the long, arduous journey, and danger on every side. Then, unexpectedly, they are brought to America by a church...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0547406274
• ISBN13: 9780547406275
• Release Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.3" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 10 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 7

Customer Reviews

Fascinating & Hopeful Immigration Story

Katherine Paterson's THE DAY OF THE PELICAN lends a human face to the 1998-1999 unrest in the former Yugoslavia. Meli and her family are Albanians persecuted by the Serbs under the reign of Milosevic and forced to flee for their lives, leaving everything they've known except for one another. Their journey is a perilous one with twists, turns, and hardships that will have young readers holding their breath. Even when the family seems to be starting a new life in a safer place, new challenges arise, and Meli and her brother are forced to draw on their courage and strength to make a new home. As I read this book, I couldn't help being reminded of Karen Hesse's brilliant LETTERS FROM RIFKA - historical fiction about another young girl facing persecution in another time and place. The two books would work well paired together in a classroom, as a study of immigration and the factors that bring families from other lands to America. (ARC)

A gem of a book that introduces younger readers to the recent genocides that followed the breakup of

This masterful tale of one girl's journey from childhood across a war-torn landscape easily stands with Paterson's body of work. Meli and her family are forced to flee their home- first to the mountains, then to a refugee camp in Macedonia, and finally to a small town in Vermont- in order to survive as Kosovo goes up in flames. Though the harsh realities of war are muted in the narrative, there are veiled references to rape, torture, and genocide that will be picked up by older readers. The strength of this story lies in its focus on what these larger world events mean to one girl already struggling to chart her path into adulthood. When Meli leaves Kosovo, she leaves her childhood behind as well. I've lived in the region, and believe that Paterson captured the flavor of terror of the time. Not many books have been written that cover the genocides that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia; this wonderful tale will serve as an excellent entry into the time period for teen readers. Highly recommended!

A Great Read for All Ages

After I ordered this book, I noticed it was listed as being in juvenile fiction so I figured I wouldn't be reading it. Mostly due to the great reviews, I decided to give it a try and I was immediately hooked. This is a book for all ages and it is based on a true story. This is the story of an family on the run from Serbs in Kosovo who were in close pursuit. The family first had to leave their home and family store, then their family farmhouse that they were taking refuge in was burned to the ground. But they were miraculously able to flee together on foot and eventually make it to Macedonia and then emigrate to America. The book is written through the eyes of the family's 13 year old daughter, Melia. Her family had to overcome so much- living in a war zone, then fleeing for their lives from the approaching Serbs and finally making it to a refugee camp in Macedonia. All along the way, through the character of Melia I learned what it must be liked to be hunted for your ethnic background, being driven from your home and country, living in a refugee camp and then making the long journey to a place both hopeful and scary for a new beginning- in this case Vermont. Although this is a book based on the horrific ethnic cleansing by the Serbs, the author writes about one family that makes it out of Kosovo alive. However, it is well understood that a great many did not make it out. The writing in this book is superb- easy to read and gripping. II took me an evening to read it. Not only was it a good read, but I learned a lot about the conflict and atrocities that took place under Slobodan Milosevic who in later years would be tried and convicted as a war criminal. There is also a section of the book, at the back, that gives a very nice history lesson on the events that lead up to Milosevic's reign. I learned a lot about the conflict in Kosovo from this book, but must of all this book is an affirmation of the indomitable will to survive and the amazing grace it takes to begin anew, without hatred. This is one of the best books I've read this year and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Introduces kids to all kinds of important issues

Reading this, I was torn between thoughts like, "children shouldn't have to be exposed to stuff like this" and "omg, children actually had to live this reality." Depicting the horrors of war and an "ethnic cleansing," it felt like reading about the Holocaust. Arson, murder, hatred, at least one veiled reference to rape, theft, prejudice, denial of the dignity of human life...it's all in here. Ultimately, I think the book is a valuable read for ages 10 and up, not in spite of the horrors in its pages but because of them. Some small children play at war in the beginning pages of the book, but later the games have turned gentler, and tag and ball games rule the day. Similarly, this book is a great starting point for discussion or thought about military intervention (the Kosovar teen idolizes Bill Clinton because of the bombs he dropped on Serbian targets...never mind that some landed accidentally on Kosovars), US immigration of refugees, and retaliation vs. forgiveness. In spite of the dark subject matter, the book ends on an upbeat note, and Baba, their solid "rock" of a father, maintains the importance of avoiding hatred, retaliation, and prejudice. Although the main character, Meli, fights against the hatred that keeps seeping into her heart through all of these experiences, I was left with the feeling that she would prevail and that she would move on to a new life here in the US. As an aside, I was also left with a feeling of pride that my country intervened to help the Kosovars, and accepts refugees and helps them start anew. But even if your reaction differs from mine in these political issues, isn't it awesome that a children's book gives kids access to all these issues and can help them develop their own thoughts on these matters? Definitely recommended.

A book for young and old adults

"The Day of the Pelican" is about the impact of ethnic hostilities on an Albanian Muslim family, told from the perspective of 12 year old Meli. Katherine Paterson respects the sensibilities of her target readers, neither sugar-coating the truth nor making it too harsh to absorb. A good choice for the class to read and discuss, children are invited to consider the cyclical, senseless, destructive power of hatred and vengeance, recognizing that in spite of the injustices inflicted on them, each person can choose to move beyond violence. Readers see the painful losses and adjustments that accompany relocation and see that while the United States offers many benefits to refugees, it is far from an easy transition to negotiate. While the objective reality is the same, how each individual experiences it differs as a result of age, expectation, skills and family position. Love for family is clear as is the clearly held value of being people who forgive and seek community. The image of the pelican holds more meaning than the in-class drawing. It is found on the back of Albanian coins and has long been a symbol of the willingness of parents to sacrifice everything for the life of their children. One small negative comment is that the mid-section of the book seemed to drag just a bit but not enough to quash interest. This is a well written book for both "welcomers" and the welcomed that will encourage, challenge and inform youthful readers as well as the adults in their lives.