Taming Papa - by Mylène Goupil (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Mâelie doesn't know how to relate to her father, a political prisoner in another country whom she has never met, when he is released and immigrates to join her family in Montreal. "Where I come from, you have to say the same things as everyone else or keep quiet," Mâelie's mother tells her. "And your father isn't someone who knows how to keep quiet. Nor is he someone who likes saying the same things as everyone else. So he had some problems." However, ever since he came into Mâelie's life, keeping quiet is the only thing her father has done. Partly because Sami doesn't speak the same language as his daughter, and partly because he doesn't know how to live as a free man anymore. Mâelie has to tame him, like the kitten that she just found, and like Mr. Xavier and his partner seem to be doing with Mei-Li, the little girl they just adopted. Things that are worthwhile aren't always easy."--

Book Synopsis

Mélie doesn't know how to relate to her father, a political prisoner in another country whom she has never met, when he is released and immigrates to join her family in Montreal.

"Where I come from, you have to say the same things as everyone else or keep quiet," Mélie's mother tells her. "And your father is not someone who knows how to keep quiet. Or say the same thing as everyone else. So that got him in trouble."

However, ever since he came into Mélie's life, keeping quiet is the only thing her father has done. Partly because Sami doesn't speak the same language as his daughter, and partly because he doesn't know how to live as a free man anymore. Mélie has to tame him, like the kitten that she just found, and like Mr. Xavier and his partner seem to be doing with Mei-Li, the little girl they recently adopted. Things that are worthwhile aren't always easy.

Key Text Features

chapters;dialogue

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.6

Describe how a narrator's or speaker's point of view influences how events are described.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3

Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.4

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone

Review Quotes

"A poignant story of trauma, healing, and familial love." -- Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

"A quick and gentle read that lightly touches on family challenges." -- Booklist

"A satisfying and ultimately triumphant reminder that families come in all configurations." -- CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"A stunning novel." -- Globe and Mail

"A thoughtful, realistic story ... Beautifully written." -- Winnipeg Free Press

"This book helps young readers to accept that there are all different kinds of families." -- Children's Literature Comprehensive Database

"This compact novel excels in its portrayal of a young girl's complicated feelings toward her father, as best portrayed in a series of moving vignettes that expertly shows, rather than tells, the reader what trauma does to a family system." -- Horn Book