Smoky Night 烟雾缭绕的晚上 1995年凯迪克金奖 9780152018849

　　A noted author (Fly Away Home, 1991) brings all her empathyand creative skill to another timely topic: an inner-city riot.Standing well back from their window, Daniel and his mama watchlooters steal TVs and break into Kim's market. When it quiets downthe two fall asleep, only to be roused: their building is burning,so they escape, through ravaged streets, to a shelter. ThoughBunting offers no reasons for the violence, she succinctlydescribes the mob's psychology. Mama explains, ``...people getangry. They want to smash and destroy. They don't care anymorewhat's right...After a while it's like a game,'' while Danielobserves, ``They look angry. But they look happy, too.'' The storyis rounded out with a touch of reconciliation: Mama has'tpatronized Kim's market (``...it's better if we buy from our ownpeople'') but, after Daniel's cat and Mrs. Kims' make friends atthe shelter, the people realize that they, too, could be friendly.Diaz's art--rough-edged acrylic paintings mounted on collages ofpaper, burnt matches, and materials that might be found blowing ona California street--is extraordinarily powerful. Defined in heavyblack, the expressionistically rendered faces are intense withsmoky shades and dark, neon-lit color. An outstandingly handsomebook that represents its subject realistically while underplayingthe worst of its horrors; an excellent vehicle for discussion.(Picture book. 4+) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates,LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcoveredition.