Karlsson Si Manusia Atap [Astrid Lindgren]

Astrid Lindgren (1955)
Gramedia
Cetakan 1, Januari 2007
Novel Anak-anak
979-22-2583-8
BukaBuku - IDR15,300

Teman baru Lillebror yang bernama Karlsson ini sungguh menyebalkan dan gemar membual. Orangnya gemuk pendek dan ia memliki baling-baling di punggungnya yang memungkinkan Karlsson untuk terbang kesana-kemari.

Menurutku, teman Lillebror ini pandai sekali mengambil kesempatan dalam kesempitan. Akibatnya, Lillebror dimarahi Ayah dan Ibu, dan diejek kakak-kakaknya. Belum lagi uang tabungan Lillebror habis untuk main Ibu-Anak dengan Karlsson. Waktu itu Karlsson merasa demam meskipun ia terlihat baik-baik saja. Lillebror harus berpura-pura menjadi ibu Karlsson dan merawatnya hingga sembuh. Obat demamnya dibuat dari campuran bermacam-macam kembang gula dan cokelat yang dibeli Lillebror dari uang tabungan. Sebagai anak yang baik dan juga teman yang baik, Lillebror sendiri sepertinya tidak keberatan memiliki teman aneh seperti Karlsson. Malahan, ia bangga dan senang sekali memilki teman yang seperti bapak-bapak ini.

Ada beberapa kisah Karlsson dan Lillebror di dalam buku ini dan hampir semuanya membuatku sebal karena Karlsson licik dan berulang kali menipu Lillebror dengan kepandaiannya bersilat lidah. Padahal Lillebror adalah anak yang baik dan tidak tegaan, apalagi kepada teman sendiri. Yang baik dari Karlsson mungin hanya dua hal saja: pertama, Lillebror senang sekali padanya, dan kedua, Karlsson pernah memberi pelajaran kepada seorang teman Lillebror yang gemar mencemooh.

Kira-kira [Cynthia Kadohata]

Cynthia Kadohata (2004)
Aladdin
Paperback, December 2006
Children Fiction
0-689-85640-7
Periplus PIM - IDR75,000

Kira-kira in Japanese means “glittering”, or “shining”. The story is about the relationship between two Japanese sisters who grew up in rural America in early 1950s. Katie adores her elder sister Lynn very much, her world is built around Lynn’s. It’s just natural because she was younger and Lynn is always the genius and the one who knows what to do. Vice versa, Lynn is protective and loving to Katie. Her lively personality is the colours to Katie’s childhood.

Katie recalls the many memories she had back in Iowa, when her parents didn’t forever working around the clock, when Lynn was always there to teach her how to see the sky, about the stars, about everything especially the world as a place that shines, a place that glitters with magic on its many detail. Although Katie believes that she owes Lynn for how she is now, Katie herself has a very expressive way of capturing something. I was laughing hard so many times reading about her thoughts.

Life is tougher when their family moved to Georgia, where the people are often harsh to them because they have different skin colour. The story shifts from a happier setting to a gloomy one as the family constantly face turbulence. Through Katie’s narration, we get to see how the family’s condition and mood started to change. They didn’t necessarily fall apart, for they still keep the closeness within them. It’s just that their condition is getting worse. Mr and Mrs Takeshima work long hours, they no longer have time to chat and have fun. When Lynn reaches her teen age, she becomes seriously ill and Katie has to resume her sister’s place being the keeper. Despite her feeling of being abandoned and Lynn’s failing health, Katie never changes the way she looks up to her elder sister.

I almost feel sorry for Katie because she is forced to grow up and be a big girl in this way, with grief, especially because she lose her attachment with Lynn during her sick days. There was one time when both of them claimed they hated each other. It was heartbreaking because we know they didn’t mean that.

This book is a treasure, a kind that I don’t mind buying one or two copies extra for the sake of sharing. It teaches us about friendship and loyalty, about endless love and self-respect. The story may be a little sad, but it has something hopeful in it. It lets us laugh and smile genuinely as we see Katie grows. With Katie, we appreciate small things that matter in life, about something kira-kira we have now and that waits for us in the future.

Kira-kira is a debut novel for children from Cynthia Kadohata. This novel won the Newberry Medal in 2005. Her next children novel, “Weedflower”, is now available on bookstores.

Which Witch? [Eva Ibbotson]

Penulis/Author: Eva Ibbotson (1979)
Penerbit/Publisher: Macmillan
Cetakan/Edition: 10th, 2001
Kategori/Category: Children Fiction
ISBN: 0-330-39800-8

Beli di/Purchased at: Kinokuniya PS
Harga/Price: Rp89,000

There’s only one conclusion for baby who never drops tears, who snaps at old ladies and who can cause a chimney to blow against the wind; it will grow up to be a great witch or wizard. Arriman the Awful was born George Cankers. His parents loved him enough to let him grow up as proper wizard. He is the greatest wizard with the blackest of magic, and he is a handsome one.

Arriman’s personality reminds me of Howl, a good looking black wizard, very persuasive, dominant yet vulnerable inside. Arriman likes to spend time with the ghost of Sir Montpelier, the owner of the castle who died 400 years ago and who had killed his 7 wives, only to get frustrated in the end because it makes no sound and Arriman’s magic isn’t strong enough to bring dead people to life.

Even a wizard longs for a peaceful ending. Arriman agreed to marry so he could have heir and meet the prophecy told by a Gypsy woman. “Which Witch?” is competition to find witch with the darkest power. Most of the them were black enough to cast powerful spell, but nothing like “The Symphony of the Death performed by a Cast of Thousands” from the glamorous enchantress Madame Olympia. She scored 9 out of 10! Arriman was horrified thinking of a cold-hearted witch like her as a wife. Can he get away?

This is the vital point only powerful writer can offer a twist that ruins readers’ speculations without mercy. I give Ms Ibbotson thumbs up for taking me on such an unexpected ride! Ghost and monster stories are never as fun as this. Very cheeky! Yes, there is a way out, and it takes almost everyone kindness, hard work and loyalty to make that happen. Even black magic needs some whiteness to it, or shall I say, even black magic can’t refuse white purposes.

Happy 100th post!
Long live reading habit!