Simone by Viet Thanh Nguyen, illustrated by Minnie Phan

Simone by Viet Thanh Nguyen, illustrated by Minnie Phan. Minerva, 2024. 9781662651199

Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5

Format: Hardcover picture book

What did you like about the book? Simone is abruptly awakened by her mom and told that they have to evacuate their house immediately. There is a wildfire in the hills above their neighborhood. She can choose “what’s important” to take with her, but she has to choose fast. Books, toys, art supplies – Simone fills a small backpack. She and her Má get in the car, and Simone observes the chaos around her: the burning hills, the other cars filled with people fleeing the fire, and the prisoners who have been tapped to become firefighters going towards the fire. Simone finds out that Má had to flee once before, when rains threatened to flood her village in Vîet Nam. Má also had to leave quickly, and she had to choose among her precious possessions which to take. Like her mother, Simone also chose her art supplies as the most precious.

It is striking to hear a child narrating the frightening experience of a natural disaster, and to hear about the parallel in her mother’s life at the same time. When Simone and Má arrive at the shelter, there are lots of other kids, and Simone uses her love of drawing to get kids creating – drawing their homes, pets and families. She takes the lead in rallying them to be “firefighters” in a different sense. An author’s note explains the inspiration of activist Fred Hampton: “You don’t fight fire with fire. You fight fire with water.” Ethereal colored pencil and graphite artwork in graphic panels and full page spreads condenses a lot of story into the picture book format. I think kids will be enthralled with the real life drama, and how a child has a part to play in keeping hope. And it was satisfying that the family and home remained intact for both her mother in Vîet Nam and Simone in California.

Anything you didn’t like about it? No

To whom would you recommend this book? Perfect for readers who like realistic stories, especially about disasters, for ages 5-9. Great for classroom use as well. Although hand-lettered, the text should be easily parsed by a new reader.

Who should buy this book? Elementary school and public libraries

Where would you shelve it? Picture books

Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Stephanie Tournas, Robbins Library, Arlington, MA

Date of review: April 29, 2024