Gr 5—7—Mary Mae has always accepted the conservative, religious teachings of her family, including a very literal interpretation of the Bible. However, the arrival of her granny and a new teacher cause the 10-year-old to question everything she has ever known. When Miss Sizemore starts to teach the class about fossils, Mary Mae begins asking questions of the adults in her life, and her mother decides it would be better for Mary Mae to be homeschooled. At no point in the story does the child ever question the existence of God; she only sees God doing things in a different way. While her mother chooses to see science as an enemy to her beliefs, Mary Mae sees it as an extension of God's work. Miss Sizemore opens her up to a new world, where inquisitiveness is not only valued, but is key. Here the relationship with Granny is also crucial to the story; she is always there to listen to Mary Mae and does not discourage her. This simple act of support gives the child the confidence she needs to not give up her quest for knowledge. This is a great story with valuable lessons. Told in an Appalachian dialect, it not only depicts real feelings about religion, but also shows the people behind them as good. It is both a lovely coming-of-age story and a lesson in respect between religion and science.—Kerry Roeder, The Brearley School, New York City
Mary Mae loves church; she also loves science. After her teacher leads the class in a fossil-hunting expedition, Mary Mae's mama intercedes and pulls her out of school. The fundamentalist Christian characters are somewhat stereotyped as poor and uneducated; nevertheless, Mary Mae's success creating a truce between faith and fossils shows plenty of spirit.
Be the first reader to comment.
Comment Policy:
Comment should not be empty !!!