Kosovo war audiobook may challenge children

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Admit it. That face on the TV screen scared you.

You're used to seeing hair-raising things in the movies or on television. Heck, you're the bravest person in your class. But seeing footage of the kid half a world away -- the one caught up in war, hurt, homeless -- that scared you plenty.

Because he was about your age.

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to be that kid? Listen to the new audiobook "The Day of the Pelican" by Katherine Paterson and let 11-year-old Meli Lleshi, who lived in Kosovo, tell you.

While she was sure the teacher never made the connection, and while it really wasn't her fault, Meli Lleshi would always blame herself for what happened that day. Daydreaming about how her teacher's nose made him look like a pelican, Meli doodled a picture. Her best friend Zana saw it and tried to hold her laughter, but the teacher caught them and made them stay after school.

Because Meli stayed, her brother, Mehmet, got impatient. Because he was impatient, he ran home without waiting. And because Mehmet was alone and Albanian, the soldiers snatched him.

Though Mehmet eventually came home, the soldiers had taken so much: they took Mehmet's boyhood and Meli's sense of safety. Baba said the war made it too dangerous to stay in Kosovo, so the Lleshis packed a few cherished things and fled to the country where their car -- and most of their belongings -- was stolen. Not long afterward, Serbian soldiers seized the rest of their things and chased the Lleshis off to a refugee camp with only the garments on their backs.

Still, they were grateful for what they had. While the clothing they received wasn't stylish, it covered their bodies. The tent wasn't a house, but it was dry. Food was adequate, and water was available.

But Meli, forced to grow up quickly, longed to have her old life back. She missed Zana and books and school. Would she ever see home again?

While I liked this brutal story of wartime and family, and while it made assimilation seem like the brave undertaking that it is, I had two issues with it. I thought "The Day of the Pelican" was somewhat wordy. I often had a hard time keeping focused. Kids will like the story, but will they follow along any better?

And maybe it doesn't matter, but the age group for this audiobook is way too young to remember war in Kosovo. Definitely, the last few tracks of the last CD -- which includes a basic history of the country, war and politics -- will help fill in the gaps. I know I needed it as a reminder.

"The Day of the Pelican" won't be for everybody, so match the reader with the audiobook carefully in this case. If your child is age 10 or older and is up for a challenge, let her try it. If she's a fan of fluff, though, getting her to like this audiobook may be a battle.

Terri Schlichenmeyer's children's book reviews appear weekly in the View.