The Loud Silence of Francine Green
by Karen Cushman© 2006, 240 pages Level 5 (all about levels)Learn More on Amazon
The 1950s are usually portrayed as a time of peace and prosperity. World War II was over, the Baby Boom was in full swing, and the concept of a "teenager" was just gaining popularity. Sure, the political landscape was filled with the Cold War and Edward R. Murrow saying, "Good Night and Good Luck," but compared with what the world had just endured, these were happy days.
Amidst these events, 14-year-old Francine Green is figuring out who she is, who she wants to be, and where she fits into all this. As with most teenagers who are shaping their identities, Francine finds herself questioning her surroundings, circumstances, and authority figures in her life....Why do the nuns at her school squelch good questions? Why do her favorite immigrant storeowners have to move away? Why does her father want to build a bomb shelter?
Francine rarely ever thought about these issues before Sophie Bowman transferred to her Catholic school, preferring to daydream about movie stars like Montgomery Clift. But as she befriends the rebellious new student, Francine begins to see that having an opinion about what's going on around you isn't necessarily a bad thing. Now she just needs to figure out what to do with her newfound ideas and how they can live alongside her father's directive: "Don't get involved."
While the story is set in 1949-50, Francine's quest to figure out her place in her world could just as easily take place in our post-9/11 culture. Growing up in the 80s, I remember similar thoughts and questions after viewing the The Day After, the TV movie about the aftermath of a nuclear war. Though the Cold-War era events in The Loud Silence of Francine Green are an important part of the plot, it's really Francine's relationships and search for self that form the foundation of this novel. Remembering the girl I was in my early teens made it especially easy to relate to Francine and understand her struggle to reconcile her meek and mild side with her braver, better self.
This book is a departure from the positive fare we tend to feature on Family Reads and if you have an especially sensitive or fearful child, you may want to steer clear. Ideally with a story containing this degree of political content, you'd read (or listen) to this book with him or her so you can take breaks to discuss the events. Regardless of your views, Newbery-Award-winning author Karen Cushman has provided the perfect opportunity to step into another era, take a look around, and form your own perspective on these historical happenings.
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