The Garden of Inside-Outside

I read this book to our 'Llais' (Welsh for 'voice' as in 'pupil voice') group today, of a mixed-age range of pupils 6-10 years. They were intrigued by the title first of all and I couldn't help but pass the book around because the beautiful cover and thick pages are incredibly tactile. The children quickly cottoned onto the inside/outside theme and loved the contrast between the calm, peaceful 'inside' pages, shown in many colours and the 'outside' pages, where the impact of war is represented chillingly in red and black. The children also said they enjoyed the almost comic-book layout of many of the pages, particularly as they were able to see some close-ups of characters' faces to better understand what they were feeling. There was a lot to unpack in the messages conveyed by this book, and on an individual level, it could mean many different things to different readers. One little boy said he thought the cat was a good symbol because cats are friendly animals but they can also go wherever they like. The book has been on display in our year 6 classroom this term, particularly as they have been studying the second world war within the theme of 'conflict'. A rich text highlighting the impact of a brutal period in history upon an individual. Very interesting, beautifully told and well presented - it is a unique experience to read.

In this graphic novel, Chiara Mezzalama beautifully tells the story of her childhood in the 1980s living in a walled palace and garden in Tehran whilst her father worked as the Italian ambassador. Inside the walls of their garden, Chiara and her brother play in a garden where pomegranate trees and wild flowers grow, butterflies and lizards flit freely. Outside, a vicious war is raging. The words and illustrations expertly interweave to show two very different lives inside and outside of the garden. In the midst of this, an unlikely friendship is born. This book is a stunning glimpse into history and the fact it is told by an author with an authentic experience makes it even more powerful. A unique and emotive book that will keep you thinking!

'The Garden of Inside-Outside' is not just a insight into a tempestuous moment into our history, it is also a transitional sliding glass door into that moment in our lives when the world becomes richer, yet more complicated, darker yet more conscious and greater if not a little more fearful. This is a rare gem of a book indeed. There is no telling here but a compelling invitation.

This book was gifted to my daughter for her birthday and she cannot get enough of it! This is her first graphic novel, and she's already added more to her Christmas list. Definitely recommend if you're after something a little different and more insightful for your child.