Listen to the Wind

Name of Book: Listen to the Wind

Authors: Greg Mortenson & Susan L.  Roth

Illustrator: Susan Roth

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Audience: 1^st -5^th grade

Summary: This is the story of an American male nurse who while climbing in the mountains of Pakistan becomes ill and in need of help.  He comes upon a village in the mountains and is nursed back to health by the village.  In the process he develops a strong love for the community and a desire to pay them back for their love and care for him.

Literary elements at work in the story: (genre, setting, characterization, plot, theme, point of view, style)  The book is told as a story through the eyes of the children of the village.  The theme of the book is that we should let nothing stand in the way of helping others, especially those who have helped us.  Greg not only has to secure the materials needed to build the school, they have to be carried up the mountains on the backs of men, and he has to build a bridge to get the materials to the village.  Susan Roth has used collages of multiple materials to develop the illustrations and they offer the audience a wide range interpretation of setting and culture

Perspective on gender, race, culture, economic, ability:  The story of love crosses steep cultural differences between the American and Pakistani people.  The village is obviously economically poor as witnessed by the fact that their school is held outside, yet rich in the values of love and responsibility.

Scripture:  The story of the good Samaritan in Luke 10.29-37

Theology:  Love of neighbor means helping our enemy as well as our friend.

Faith-talk questions:

1. How hard would you be willing to work to help someone who had helped you?  What if they hadn’t helped you?
2. Do you think it is hard to really love someone who is different than you are?  Why or why not?

Review prepared by Jim Collins,  MACE, Entering cohort Fall 2007.