Good Night, Commander

by Ahmad Akbarpour, Morteza Zahedi (Illustrator), Helen Mixter (Translator), Shadi Eskandani (Translator)

Overview

This extraordinary little book gives us a glimpse into the world of a young boy who has lost his mother and one of his legs in the Iran-Iraq war. We meet the boy in his room, where he recreates the conflict with an imaginary enemy and soldiers, trying to avenge his losses. The boy's father urges him to take off his artificial leg when he is at home, to join his uncles and aunties who have arrived for dinner. But when he does, he finds out that they are all about to go off to meet his new mother.

Back in his room he meets an enemy soldier who is also missing a limb. Identifying with this soldier, the boy offers him his artificial leg. And as he does, his mother smiles down on him from her picture on the wall, acknowledging his hurt and giving him comfort.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780888999894
Publisher:	Groundwood Books
Publication date:	05/01/2010
Edition description:	Translatio
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	510L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 Years

About the Author

One of Iran's foremost writers, Ahmad Akbarpour lives in Shiraz, Iran.

Morteza Zahedi has illustrated more than twenty books and has won many awards. He lives in Tehran, Iran.

Visit Morteza Zahedi's website:
http://mortezahedi.blogspot.com/

Helen Mixter is a translator who lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Shadi Eskandani is a poet and translator who was born in Iran and who lives now in Toronto.

Editorial Reviews

Almost unbearably poignant, this collaboration by an Iranian writer and illustrator examines the horrors that war visits on children. Zahedi’s childlike drawings, done in pencil with occasional spots of color, use a bird’s-eye perspective to observe the room where the narrator lives with his father. The boy has lost his leg in the Iran-Iraq War, and has lost his mother, too; her photo hangs on the wall. He imagines himself as the commander in a war to avenge her death. “We have to be brave because there are so many bombs and tanks, maybe even a land mine. If we aren’t careful, we could die before we even get to say ouch.” Dreaming alone after his father reveals he will soon remarry—another blow—the boy imagines meeting an enemy soldier who’s his own mirror image. Instead of fighting, the boys share their troubles, and the commander calls for a ceasefire. “Congratulations, Commander,” he imagines his mother saying. A bleak tale, gently told, it’s best suited for children who already know something about war. Best of all would be if the world’s commanders read it. Ages 7-up. (May)

Publishers Weekly

A young boy who lost his leg - and his mother - in the Iran-Iraq war confronts an imaginary enemy and has an uplifting revelation.

Today's Parent - Stephanie Simpson McLellan

In its excellent English translation, it can now help western readers understand the suffering of children who live in war zones or have disabilities... "Good Night, Commander" makes peace from even the worst of situations.

papertigers.org - Charlotte Richardson

...an effective springboard for thought and discussion about war’s effects on the innocent.

Booklist - John Peters

A powerful messge in just 24 pages.

CM - Marilynne Black

Gr 3–6—An unusual picture book, originally published in Iran. A boy who calls himself the Commander plays war in an attempt to come to terms with the death of his mother and the loss of his leg during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. The story, told by the child from the safe haven of his bedroom, describes his imaginary battles with an enemy who has also lost a leg and a mother. The Commander talks to his mother's photo and is upset that his father is planning to remarry soon. Pencil illustrations are on tan backgrounds with few additional colors. The perspective is unusual and disquieting; readers view everything from the point of view of a fly on the wall, and objects and people appear flattened against the floor. Faces are highlighted with a circle of deeper tan and the single light bulb wears a circle of white. Readers are perched above the action and can see toy guns, an ambulance, a tank, a helicopter dropping bombs, and toy soldiers scattered around the bedroom. This book might work in a school setting or with adults to prompt a discussion of the impact of war on innocent children.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

In the war between Iran and Iraq, a little boy loses his leg-and also his mother. Once safe, his only way to make sense of the tragedy is to re-create the war in his bedroom with a toy gun and imaginary soldiers. This time however, he is in control; he is the Commander. But when he finally meets his enemy face to face, he finds a young boy, similar to him. Readers learn a universal truth-enemies are never as different as one would imagine. The boy stops fighting and looks tearfully at his mother's photograph, ashamed that he was unable to avenge her death. A reassuring voice whispers, "Congratulations, Commander. I am proud of you." Zahedi's wobbly, childlike sketches reinforce the direct perspective of a child struggling to process horrific events. Educating children about war will never be easy, but a story from a child's voice shows how combat affects everyone. Tanks and fallen soldiers, no matter how innocently rendered, make this more suitable for older readers, but the recognition of the essential humanity of an enemy is a good lesson for all. (introductory note) (Picture book. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews