Ashley Bryan is a celebrated author (Newbery Medal honoree) and artist but only a handful of people knew of his role as a soldier in World War II. For decades he suffered silently—remembering the horror of a war he experienced on D-Day and beyond, the indignity he experienced as a young black soldier in a segregated army, the kindness of people who supported him in troubled times, and the bright moments that guided him through the darkness. This is a story of courage, resilience, hope, honesty, and resolution.
It was art and writing that sustained him as a 19-year-old soldier. In the foxhole, in the mess hall, on warships—everywhere Ashley was sketching, sketching, sketching. The book is filled with his hand-written letters, the sketches that tell the story of his war years, his paintings after the fact, and his autobiographical journey. Primary source photographs are also used to tell the story of war.
This book is an honor recipient of the prestigious Coretta Scott King Award for 2019. This award is particularly important this year because it honors black authors and illustrators who promote non-violent social change, peace, and brotherhood. The book should be read through these lenses.
It seems like this should be a book that is read and discussed as a class because it is such a worthy and inspiring text. But in reading aloud it would be important for students to be given the opportunity to examine the drawings and paintings that are so essential to experiencing this inspiring story.
Spoiler alert: Close to the beginning of his soldiering, while still in training, Ashley befriended a small group of children, sharing sweets with them and sketching their everyday lives. Bryan ends the book by circling back to this transitory friendship between a soldier and kids. Don’t miss this.
Because Bryan was a soldier there are a few instances in the book where his letters and comments include the salty language of his experience. And there are some references to his doubts about God. Yet these are the honest doubts of a young man experiencing trauma and there were not so many that it was offensive. However, I feel it important to point this out if the book is used in Christian classrooms.
About the Author: Ashley Bryan is a renowned artist, storyteller and writer. In this autobiography he shares his journey of being a black man who served in World War II to his search for peace in the aftermath of the horrors of war as well as the discrimination that was a significant aspect of his war service. He retired as a professor from Dartmouth College to pursue art as his life’s work. For decades he traveled to Kenya to build libraries. In the US and in Kenya countless libraries, children’s rooms, and literary festivals have been named after him. He is the first Black writer ever to both write and illustrate a children’s book. It seems important that students in grades 5-12 should get to know this legendary leader and role model.
Pathways: Social Issues & Culture, Yesterday, Heroes
Reviewed by Krystal Bishop, EdD
Professor of Education
Southern Adventist University
Author: James Emery White
