Letters to a Prisoner

September 17, 2017 in Raising Readers

Letters to a Prisoner by Jacques Goldstyn

Description

Told entirely through illustrations, Letters to a Prisoner is a wordless story about the power of hope and the written word. Inspired by Amnesty International’s letter-writing campaigns to help free people who have been jailed for expressing their opinion, the book tells the story of a man who is arrested during a peaceful protest. In solitary confinement, he begins to despair—until a bird delivers a letter of support written by somebody outside the prison. Every day more missives arrive until the prisoner escapes his fate on wings made of letters.

Simple illustrations convey plenty of rich symbolism to provoke thought and discussion. A letter from the author provides more information about Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign.

My Review

This is the story of a man unjustly accused and falsely imprisoned under harsh conditions. It may sound too harsh to be a children’s picture book, but as a wordless book, it’s up to the reader to create the story. As a wordless picture book, it is beautifully told and very easy to understand.

It speaks volumes for those who are sent to prison under pretenses, and in this day and age, we need stories out like this more than ever. “Letters to a Prisoner” beautifully highlights the importance of Amnesty International’s letter-writing campaign and shows us how one small gesture can bring about enormous change.

This is a poignant and beautiful story of the power of people and never giving up hope, even when it may seem like all hope is lost.

With all of the events surrounding the right to protest, this is a perfect book to highlight the dangers of living in a place where the government does not allow its citizens to exercise their rights. If you are looking for a book to tie in current political events in a child-friendly format, this is it.

Recommended: All Ages