Guardian Unlimited Books | Review | Snap happy
Jan Mark is impressed by the luminous simplicity of Geraldine McCaughrean's Smile!:
... ...There is material here for a long, discursive novel, perhaps a philosophical examination of the chasm between western and aboriginal cultures, or a sentimental portrayal of the chasm bridged by common humanity. In fact it is tiny, maybe 15,000 words, so simply written that a seven-year-old could read it, nudged into understanding by Ian McCaughrean's black and white renderings of the 10 photographs. Adults might consider these redundant since the writing is so luminously graphic, but this is a children's book, no crossover nonsense here. Adults chancing upon it should feel grateful that Geraldine McCaughrean believes young readers deserve work of this depth and quality.
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