IN OUR MOTHERS'S HOUSE
Polacco, Patricia. IN OUR MOTHERS'S HOUSE. 2009. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 9780399250767
Plot Summary
The narrator, Marmee and Meema's first child, tells the story of her loving family. Two other children Will and Millie are later adopted into Marmee and Meema's non-traditional family. The family lives in a large house nestled in an active neighborhood of friends, except for Mrs. Lockner who disapproves of Marmee and Meema's sexual orientation. The story is not about the disapproval but mainly focuses on the love, laughter, and good times the family shares with each other and their friends.
Critical Analysis
Patricia Polacco portrays her characters Marmee and Meema as strong, independent, educated women who provide a loving home for their three adopted children. Marmee is a paramedic, organizer and a "fixer." Meema is a pediatrician who loves to cook and sew. The children themselves are each from a different background. The narrator has warm dark brown skin with bouncy, curly hair around her head. The narrator states, " They told me how they had walked across dry hot deserts, sailed through turbulent seas, flew over tall mountains and trekked through fierce storms just to bring me home." Illustrations portray Will to be of Asian descent with his black hair, almond shaped eyes and yellow tinted skin. Millie is Caucasian with bright red hair and pink, creamy colored skin. The neighborhood is composed of diversity as will with names like the Mardicians, the Polos, the Yamagakis, the Kiernans,the Goldsteins, and the Abdullas. The issue of hate from one of the neighbors, Mrs. Lockner is dealt with in the statement, "She is full of fear, sweetie. She is afraid of what she does not understand: and she does not understand us." Marmee and Meema never express ill will toward their neighbor. They (Marmee and Meema) are portrayed as friendly and including when it comes to Mrs. Lockner. This is a modern day story set in a middle class neighborhood. Celebration of holidays means a lot of family and cooking. Their Italian grampa fixes gnocchi, a potato dumpling. Marmee and Meema are busy women raising their family. They make Halloween costumes for their children, sing and dance with the children and share cooking with them, always smiling and happy. No matter the make-up of a family each should strive for love, support and growing children up to be ready to take their place in society. As the narrator states, "From the day we entered our mothers's house, they prepared us for the day that we would leave it."
The illustrations are bright, cheerful and full of diverse colors which is also representative of the story. The busy neighborhood party illustrations support the theme of diversity allowing the reader to see a diversity of people enjoying the tastes of each others favorite foods. "The Mardicians brought stuffed grape leaves and ground lamb. The Polos brought spanakopita and Greek salads."
Reviews
"This gem of a book illustrates how love makes a family, even if it's not a traditional one. Is this an idealized vision of how a gay couple can be accepted by their family and community? Absolutely. But the story serves as a model of inclusiveness for children who" have same-sex parents as well as for children who may have questions about a "different" family in their neighborhood. A lovely book that can help youngsters better understand their world." - School Library Journal
"Filled with recollections of family holidays, rituals, and special moments, each memory reveals loving insight. The energetic illustrations in pencil and marker, though perhaps not as well-rendered as in some previous works, teem with family activities and neighborhood festivity." -Booklist
Awards/Connections
ANTONIO'S CARD/LA TARJETA DE ANTONIO written by Rigoberto Gonzalez
http://www.childrensbookpress.org/resources/teachers-guides
CHICKEN SUNDAY written by Patricia Polacco
TWO MRS. GIBSONS written by Toyomi Igus
JALAPENO BAGELS written by Natasha Wings
THE SKULL OF TRUTH written by Bruce Coville
Author's web site: www.patriciapolacco.com
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