The Three Lucys

The Three Lucys

Picture book
Hayan Charara's The Three Lucys packs some pretty complex
concepts--war and death--into a narrative that will engage both child
and parent.
Luli has three cats named Lucy: Lucy the Fat, Lucy the Skinny,
and Lucy Lucy. Although they share the same name they are distinct
individuals. When Luli comes home from school Lucy the Fat flops down
for a belly rub (just like Tobago); Lucy the Skinny makes eye contact;
and Lucy Lucy rubs and meows. They also have different favorite foods.
When Luli and his parents go to visit his aunt and uncle it's
supposed to be just for a weekend. But after a lovely visit when the
family is going home bombs start falling. They return to the aunt and
uncle where they live in the basement while war ranges around them.
As days and weeks go by Luli worries about his beloved Lucys.
"...I want to ask Mama and Baba who will feed them. Who will
keep them safe? Who will pet them and tell them everything will be
okay?..."
Charara based the story on his family's experiences. His little
brother Luli was only six and living in Lebanon during the July War
when 150 soldiers and over 1,000 civilians (including his grandfather)
lost their lives.
Charara believed his Luli was too young to have gone through the
loss and grief of war. "This story is for him and all the children of
the world who, in the midst of all larger conflicts, have lost people,
places, and animals they love."
On a purrrsonal note, the geektastic event I went to with my friend
Emily from work had a lot to do with children and other people who
lost people, places, and animal companions during one of the largest
conflicts in world history. The Bangor Public Library hosted an
exhibit entitled Americans And The Holocaust. There were huge panels
with pictures and information Americans received from the beginning of
Hitler's campaign to the end of the war, attitudes toward what was
going on, and the actions this nation took and failed to take. There
were also stations with video exhibits and period newspapers and well
informed docents who acted as tour guides. A lot of it was
heartbreaking. At one point there was a campaign to allow 10,000 more
Jewish children into this country. While a vast majority of citizens
polled disproved of what Hitler was doing, almost as large a majority
didn't want us to accept the CHILDREN. And then Americans were
determined to follow an isolationist policy about the war until
America was bombed by Japan. And in addition to going to war we
rounded up citizens of Japanese ancestry and put them in internment
camps under inhumane conditions while we never did that to people of
German ancestry. I think what scared me the most was how similar some
attitudes then were to current ones. Charles Lindbergh, a famous
aviator, would have fit right in with the Proud Boys. He didn't want
the United States getting into the war because in his mind it was just
the Jews stirring up trouble. And Hitler and Trump followed similar
logics, just differing on what non Christian religion to scapegoat.
All in all the exhibit was very informative and thought provoking. If
you can't get to Bangor there's an upcoming zoom tied in with the
exhibit. Through A Glass Darkly is about how hard it was for even
prominent Jewish people to find refuge in America. It's January 10 at
5:30 eastern time. Registration is required. www.bangorpubliclibrary.org
And people claim to be the superior species? (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to Bangor Public Library for hosting
this exhibit.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway


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