Cry, Heart, But Never Break

Book Review: Cry, Heart, But Never Break


PLOT SUMMARY

Cry, Heart, But Never Break is about three children who get a visitor named Death. Death has come for their grandmother upstairs, but the children believe that Death can only visit someone at night, so they attempt to keep him awake all night by serving him coffee. Death, who is sympathetic of the children, tells them a story about two brothers, Grief and Sorrow, who meet two sisters, Happiness and Joy, and the two couples fall in love. Death helps the children understand their sadness and encourages them to allow their grief to bring “new life.” Then, he visits the grandmother. Ending on a somber note, the book shows that the children cried, but their hearts never broke.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In Cry, Heart, But Never Break, three children try to keep Death (personified) from going upstairs to visit their grandmother by offering him coffee. Death, who is sensitive to the children, explains in a story-within-a-story how two sisters, Joy and Delight, learned to love two brothers, Grief and Sorrow. The message to the reader is that sometimes we cannot fully appreciate the joys in our lives without the sorrows. “What would life be like if there were no death? … Who would yearn for the day if there were no light?” Death explains to the children that they will be sad, but their hearts will not break if they let sadness help bring new life.

The story is written by a Dutch author, Ringtved, and illustrated by a Dutch illustrator, Pardi. The scenes in the story look like they could be in Denmark, although that is never established in this story. Athough it was translated originally from Dutch, the English translation has strong words that speak the truth of the story without sugar-coating the topic. For example, one of boys tells his brother, “Life is moving on. This is how it must be.” The language is simple, which actually adds to the story.  

In this book, the illustrations tell as much of the story as the words do. The expressions on the children’s face, the mannerisms of Death, and the delicate ways the characters touch each other—both figuratively and literally—are what make this story superb.

The cultural details of the story can be seen through the illustrations, which are done in pencil and watercolor. The countryside, children’s outfits, flowers and hills all reflect Denmark. In addition, the children appear to be Dutch, with fair skin, freckles and light and reddish hair. This story celebrates diversity in the nature of the story (topic of Death is unique), the way it is told (uniquely with Death personified), and the sense of peace that comes from a resolved ending.

This story invites contemplation and reflection because the topic of death is universal, sensitive, and different for each person based on their personal experiences.

This 32-page book can easily be read in one sitting to children, but those under the age of five may have a problem understanding the topic of death. This book opens a door for parents to discuss death, and it accurately shows the heaviness of heart that accompanies someone who is losing a loved one.

REVIEW EXERPTS

The Batchelder Award (2017) 

Kirkus Reviews:

"The removal of any parental buffer in this episode reinforces the salutary suggestion that children are resilient enough to be in death’s presence without fear. [...] Gentle, wistful reading for times of imminent loss."

Publishers Weekly:

"In this empathic picture book, [...] Pardi creates a cozy, lived-in ambiance in her pencil and watercolor art." 

CONNECTIONS: 

A defining feature of this book is its illustrations. An excellent follow-up activity for children who have just heard this story would be to attempt to draw a face that conveyed an emotion using the same materials – watercolor and pencil.

This book could also be used as a follow-up to a novel read by older students. For example, if a class of 8^th graders read a book where a character dies, then Cry, Heart, But Never Break could be read afterwards to discuss the emotions that surround death.