Half a Man

November 24, 2014
Master storyteller Morpurgo imagines the ordeal of one of WWII’s grievously burned soldiers, narrated in a remarkably authentic voice by the man’s grandson, Michael. Michael’s mother tells him never to stare at Grandpa when he visits (“He had three half-fingers on one hand and no fingers at all on the other. His top lip had almost completely disappeared, and one of his ears was little more than a hole in his head”). Yet, somehow, avoiding looking at Grandpa means only half-seeing him, and seeing him as “half a man.” As Michael grows older, he begins visiting Grandpa on the island where he lives. Grandpa shares the horrors of the attack that left him scarred and the decades of misery that followed. Still more affectingly, he thanks Michael for looking at him—for really seeing him. O’Callaghan’s prints, however, choose not to look. The characters are seen from far off, their features absent or indistinct, while the quiet landscape expresses the story’s sadness. Morpurgo is at his best when dealing with ordinary people wrestling with huge emotions, and this story may bring tears to unsuspecting readers. Ages 10–up.

Starred review from January 1, 2015

Gr 3 Up-Morpurgo has penned an extraordinary little book of pain and triumph. It is a fictionalized tale but is based on the heroic work of Dr. McIndoe, a pioneering plastic surgeon who treated severely burned soldiers during World War II. The narrator is Michael, a young boy whose grandfather is severely disfigured from burns sustained during the war. His grandfather lives a solitary and misanthropic life and only visits family during the holidays. These are tense and frightening times for the young boy, due in no small part to his mother exhorting him to never stare at his grandfather's face, and it is always a relief when he leaves. When Michael begins spending summers with him on his remote island home, the two gradually form a loving and enduring bond. Michael now looks directly at his grandfather's face, and this simple gesture is a balm to a soldier who had considered himself "half a man." The text is lovingly illustrated by O'Callaghan in ink with a screen-printing technique that captures the story and the emotions brilliantly. The scenes where the grandfather describes his harrowing ordeal are made that much more potent with her haunting images. This title will resonate with a variety of readers, including children who are interested in World War II, fans of R.J. Palacio's Wonder (Random, 2012), and is an outstanding choice for reluctant readers. With our returning wounded warriors of today, this is a timely and superb addition to all collections and not to be missed.-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 15, 2014
A grandson's loving homage to his war-scarred grandfather.Michael has been told to never stare at his grandfather when he comes for rare visits. During World War II, Grandpa served on a British merchant vessel that was torpedoed and engulfed in flames, leaving his face a grotesque mask. When Michael turns 12, he starts spending summers with Grandpa, fishing off the Isles of Scilly. It is only when Michael is older, a high school graduate, that the grandfather recounts what happened in all its horrific detail. Facially disfigured, missing fingers and turning to drink, he was abandoned by his wife, who took their daughter, the narrator's mother, with her. "No one wants a monster for a husband. No one wants half a man...." At his death, he leaves a note for his grandson asking that the family gather together to scatter his ashes in the sea. They do, and gannets, a sign of good luck, fly overhead. Morpurgo writes with great sensitivity and grace, dedicating the book to a World War II burn victim who underwent experimental reconstructive surgery. The ink-and-screen-printed illustrations in blues and oranges vividly contrast the violence of the recalled violence with the calm serenity of water. Veterans are still returning from war with scars and trauma; this short story may help families heal. A sorrowful yet ultimately redeeming tale. (Fiction. 12-16)

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February 15, 2015
Grades 4-7 Nightmares, unspoken questions, and unnatural silence: these are the things Michael, as a young boy, remembers about his grandfather. Michael is warned not to stare at his grandfather's forbidden face and hands, which were disfigured in a fire during the war. But Michael cannot help himself, for he is curious to see that face and learn the story behind it. Over summers spent together in Sicily, Morpurgo (War Horse, 2007) traces Michael's relationship with his grandfather from the time he is a young boy to the time he is grown. An adult Michael narrates in calm reflection, though his grandfather's story, once it is fully revealed, is marked by harsh events and sadness. This story is simply told but emotionally dense, dealing in fear, anger, healing, and love. O'Callaghan's saturated pen-and-ink illustrations reflect the magnitude of Morpurgo's storytelling, creating full-page vistas and adding movement to the narrative through smaller action panels. Well suited for the more serious or contemplative reader, this is rich with positive insights into ways goodness can surpass one's flaws.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)