Gleam and Glow book review by Max

Title of the Book: Gleam and Glow 

Author Name: Eve Bunting 

Reviewer's Name: Max 

Publisher: Voyager Books 

Date of Publication: 2001 

Rating: 1-5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story of a family through war will draw your attention like a moth to a flame. Viktor is the main character, a young boy only 8 years old. It tells the tale of his mother, Marina (his 5-year-old sister), and him after their father leaves to fight in a war for the Liberation Army. After many refugees pass through their house, one man leaves his 2 fish with him which Marina names Gleam and Glow. Finally, the family is forced to leave their home and the 2 fish in order to walk to the safer country. Finally, after arriving and staying at the refugee camp, they meet up with their father. Once the fighting stops, they make the long walk home, seeing nothing but rubble and ash. Only when Marina remembers the fish, do they check their pond, only to find the entire pond filled with golden gleaming fish. 

This beautiful picture book uses the simplicity of the characters and of the art in order to paint a larger and clearer picture. The dull colors highlight the situation of bloody and murky war. The way it is unique paintings with unclear details compounds with the narrator, being the 8-year- old, making the whole book seem like a foggy memory. This accentuates the emotions and feelings which were felt by the family. There is a clear theme and message that any person of any age can take away. The fish represent hope, and the war represents the struggles that someone may face. Despite the war, despite all the struggles, the fish managed to find a way. Just like hope would never run out, the fish survived and found a way. Overall, this book was an extremely good read. I would recommend this picture book to children and adults of all ages.