"Call it Courage" Final

This week, I finished the book "Call it Courage". I have to say, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Because it was written so long ago, there was some terminology that I did not understand and had to look up. Additionally, it could be a tough read for some students because of the type of wording the author uses. Nevertheless, this is one of those old time, just for fun stories that I love!

I loved the images I got as I read. Mafatu, the young boy who was teased for being afraid of the ocean, finally gathered enough courage, or simply got tired of being bullied, that he braved the sea alone with only his dog by his side. Though his plans were simple, a raging storm took over the canoe leaving Mafatu and Uri, his dog, stranded in the ocean for days barely staying afloat on the canoe. Eventually, Mafatu reached land. He bravely explores this strange land, encounters nightmarish events (and people), and learns a lesson about courage.

The ending is a happy one, but this book will have you experiencing things with Mafatu and will place you right there with him in each scene. For students, this book can be mature. It deals with death, cannibalism, and claiming lives of animals, but it does teach a good lesson on overcoming your fears and proving people wrong. Excellent read!