Wednesday's Reflection

I subbed for a 5th grade class today. I used to teach 5th grade, so this was famliiar territory. I had subbed in the same classroom a week ago and got to read aloud part of Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech to the class. Since I had my planning period before reading time, and since I was going to be reading chapter ten and wanted context for the story, I read during my break. Actually, I read all through my break. And I read after school since I had to stay until 3:30. Yesterday, I got to read it again, a few chapters later in the book. I didn't have much time to read during planning, so I stayed after school and read. I stayed 30 minutes later than I had to in order to finish the book. That's the kind of reader I am when the book is right. And this book is right.

Walk Two Moons is two stories interwoven. Actually, more if you count the backstories. Sal is traveling with her grandparents from Ohio to Idaho to see her mother - the mother who recently left her and her father. While on the road, Sal entertains her grandparents with the story of her friend Phoebe, Phoebe's missing mother and the lunatic. I won't tell how any of the stories end, but Sharon Creech knows how to break your heart. In a good way. I sat at the teacher's desk with tears streaming down my face as I read. Thank goodness I waited until after school!

Good writing will do that to you. Especially good children's books - the kind where the characters aren't perfect and everything doesn't wrap up neatly at the end. The characters in Walk Two Moons were looking for resolution, and none found it in the way or place they were expecting. Their true peace came in accepting that.

Jesus was not the Messiah that the Jews were looking for. He did not provide the resolution they were expecting. But he is the Prince of Peace. And our true peace comes in accepting that.