A Time of Miracles

Citation:

Bondoux, Anne-Laure. 2010. A Time of Miracles. Trans. Y. Maudet. New York: Delacorte.

ISBN: 978-0385739221

Summary:

Blaise Fortune, or Koumaïl as some call him, believes he is a French citizen rescued as a baby from a horrific train accident in the Republic of Georgia. Gloria, the Georgian woman who saved him, becomes his guardian and as the Soviet Union falls, the two become refugees across much of Europe in order to reach France and regain their freedom. Koumaïl relies on Gloria’s determination and her ability to tell imaginative stories of a time when war and oppression were not a part of their lives. Their journey takes over five years and as they edge closer to France, Koumaïl begins to discover his own strength and eventually embarks on a new journey; one that involves uncovering his true identity.

Critical Analysis:

Anne-Laure Bondoux presents a truly touching account of a young boy maturing in a time of chaos and war. While the idea of being a refugee might be foreign to any American child or young adult reading the story, the descriptions are so honest and true; it is not hard to imagine and relate to the horrors Blaise/Koumaïl experiences. The fictional first person account is true to the setting and time and readers feel an authentic connection not only to the historical aspect, but also on a personal level as Blaise/Koumaïl matures and faces the highs and lows of growing up as a refugee.

The numerous cultures encountered and borders crossed by Koumaïl as he flees the Caucuses not only highlight the many affected by the war, but also give many of those forgotten a description. For example, the city of Sukhumi is referenced when Gloria and Koumaïl seek shelter at a bar in Sukhumi, the Matachine. Koumaïl describes being dragged down the “demolished streets, where there are mangy dogs and people pulling carts”. Gloria explains that “Sukhumi was a nice town before the war, a seaside resort where people came on vacation to soak up the sun and enjoy the beaches” (p. 70).

The varying religions of the area are another cultural topic the book wisely addresses. One example is when Koumaïl meets Fatima, a Muslim girl and instantly falls in love. He wants Fatima to come with him to France, but Fatima refuses stating “France is not a Muslim country; It’s a Christian country” (p.78).  She must go to Saudi Arabia where she is accepted. Evidence of cultural and religious intolerance is presented throughout the novel and the reader can relate to Koumaïl’s confusion and torment as he desperately searches for meaning and reasoning behind such conflict. A Time of Miracles provides young readers with a fictional, first person account of war and the debilitating effect it has on those who are innocently born to certain culture and country.

Review Excerpt(s):

“Koumail’s first-person voice shifts uneasily between a young person's naivete and an adult's acquired wisdom.” ~ Booklist, December 2010

“A beautifully cadenced tribute to maternal love and the power of stories amid contemporary political chaos.” ~ Kirkus Reviews (starred review), October 2010

Connections:

Mead, Alice. 2001. Girl of Kosovo. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0374326203

Abirached, Zeina. 2012 A Game for Swallows: To Die, to Leave, to Return. Trans. Edward Gauvin. Minneapolis: Graphic Universe. ISBN 978-1575059419

Classroom Activity- Enlarge a map of Russia, similar to the one located at the beginning of the novel. Place map on a bulletin board and use markers and thumb tacks to follow Koumaïl’s journey as students read.