The Three Lucys
Author Hayan Charara Illustrated by Sara Kahn ISBN 9781643796024 Binding Trade Paper Publisher Lee & Low Books Publication Date April 05, 2022 Size 267 x 213 mmLuli likes to sit in the shade of an olive tree with his beloved cats: Lucy the Fat, Lucy the Skinny, and Lucy Lucy. But when Luli and his parents go to the city to see his aunt and uncle one weekend, the cats must stay behind at home.
After a fun visit with family, Luli is looking forward to going home and seeing the Lucys. But then Luli's hometown comes under attack and the family must seek refuge at his aunt and uncle's house. Luli doesn't understand what is happening and worries about his pets. Who will keep the three Lucys safe? And when will he and his family be able to return home?
Recipient of Lee & Low's New Voices Honor award, The Three Lucys is inspired by real events of the July War in Lebanon. This tender story of loss, rebuilding, and healing is a tribute to the sustaining love of family, and to the power of the human spirit to hope for a peaceful future.
Hayan Charara made his picture book debut with The Three Lucys, which is based on his family's experiences in Lebanon. He is also the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts literature fellowship, author of four poetry collections, and editor of Inclined to Speak: an Anthology of Contemporary Arab American Poetry, which garnered glowing reviews. Born in Detroit, Michigan, to immigrant parents, Charara currently lives with his family and a cat in Houston, Texas.
Sara Kahn is known for her emotive, transparent watercolor paintings, which have received numerous awards from painting and illustration competitions. Having lived in Iran during war and revolution, Kahn was moved by this story's tender portrayal of love and care for pets, family, and homeland. She lives in San Francisco, California, with her husband and their cats.
JUV / People & Places / Middle East
JUV / Animals / Pets
JUV / Historical / Military & Wars
Key Selling Points
— Now available as a paperback edition.
— Presents a touching story focused on a young boy's love of his pets and taps into children's universal love of animals.
— Shows a young boy dealing with death for the first time and how he learns to cope with the loss of one of his beloved cats.
— Set in a part of the world mostly known for conflict and war, the story focuses on the universal power of familial love and care for pets to help with healing.
— Portrays with sensitivity the effect war has on innocent lives and shows how families and communities come together to rebuild.
— An afterword provides the author's personal inspiration for the story and pertinent historical details of the events that form the basis of the story; the July War, as the conflict is known in Lebanon (also called the 2006 Israel?Hezbollah War), was a 34—day military conflict in Lebanon and northern Israel. The war was short, but devastating.
— Emotive watercolor paintings capture the subject matter with quiet grace and dignity.
Keynote
After a young Lebanese boy loses one of his beloved cats when his village comes under attack, he must learn to cope with loss and hope for a peaceful future.
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Related Backlist
978—155728—867—7 Inclined to Speak: an Anthology of Contemporary Arab American Poetry $24.95
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978—089239—240—7 On My Block: Stories and Paintings by Fifteen Artists $8.95
"A young Lebanese boy experiences loss after a war in a story based on the 2006 Hezbollah—Israeli conflict. . . . Lebanese—American Charara deftly maneuvers through a child's view of war. Buildings and lives are lost; Luli knows war is unspeakably powerful, but the mountain and sea are still there. They anchor his peace. Iranian—American Kahn's watercolor palette changes from warm oranges to cool blues and grays, depending on the mood. But even in the middle of conflict and while surveying the aftermath, the glowing warmth of love consistently surrounds the family. An author's note adds context to what the Lebanese call the July War. Sadness is turned to hope and tragedy is turned to strength in this sensitive treatment."
—— Kirkus Reviews
"Charara creates a tale based on his Lebanese family's experiences during the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. Without shying away from the terror the family felt and the destruction they witnessed, the author has crafted a war story writ small for young readers. . . . The complicated emotions of the family are highlighted in the sweeping watercolor illustrations, which add depth while avoiding scary imagery. On a particularly powerful spread, Luli and his family are driving home when the bombing starts, and the peaceful moonlit night changes to a scene where only the family's faces are shown, bathed in orange light as they stare out of the car in fear. VERDICT This book provides appropriate context for difficult topics, making it a good choice to spark discussion in libraries."
—— School Library Journal
"A Lebanese boy named Luli gives a frank, child's—eye view of the toll that war inflicts on families and communities in Charara's empathic picture book debut . . .Working in soft swathes of watercolor, Kahn confidently bridges the emotional transition from tender family meals under a setting sun to frightening moments hiding in gray basements. . . . A somber, though not hopeless, entry point for discussions of loss and the consequences of war." —— Publisher's Weekly "Luminous . . .poignant."
—— Booklist
"This is such a well—written and beautiful book! It's based on true events that took place in the summer of 2006 when a war broke out on the border between Lebanon and Israel. Be warned: this book is a bit sad and it's tough to read at times, but it's real life. By the end of the book I think little readers will be filled with a renewed sense of hope. This is a good quality book with themes of: war, history, loss, rebuilding, hope, healing, family and the power of the human spirit."
—— Here Wee Read
"A quiet and hopeful exploration of conflict, grief, and healing."
—— The Horn Book
"This… story of loss, rebuilding, and healing is a tribute to the sustaining love of family, and to the power of the human spirit to hope for a peaceful future. Unique and compelling, entertaining and inspiring, The Three Lucys is unreservedly and The Three Lucys | Spring 2022 | Lee & Low Books | Page 3 of 4 enthusiastically recommended for family, elementary school, and community library picture book collections."
—— Midwest Book Review