Applegate, Katherine. (2007). Home of the brave. New York: Square Fish. ISBN 0-312-53563-5.
For anybody that has never braved a Minnesota winter, imagine that moment of walking out into our crisp, freezing cold air. Kek, a 12-year-old Sudanese boy, experiences that exact moment in Katherine Applegate’s multicultural novel Home of the Brave. A refugee, who has already seen more than any man should ever have to, travels to make a new home in Minnesota with his aunt and cousin. Unsure of whether his mother is still alive, Kek is forced to make a new home for himself amongst strange gadgets, new ideas, and friends both 2-legged and 4-legged. He feels comforted by a beautiful, long-lashed cow because somedays it seems she is the only connection he has with his former existence. The customs and expectations of America are new to Kek, but as he applies his African understandings to his new surroundings he gradually finds a new home.
This novel is very unique in that it is a multicultural novel told in free verse. These poems create the perfect home for the similes and imagery Applegate uses to describe Kek’s understanding of his new world. Comparisons are made between what we understand as part of our American lifestyle and the way that Kek’s Sudanese mind recognizes them. “Pillows like mounds of grass” and “summers [being] like a present with a bow” are examples of similes the author uses to describe the new sensations Kek encounters. So many modern conveniences are new to him, but the imagery used throughout the novel help to explain how these items appear to those who are unfamiliar. Washing machines can “hum and talk” and even busses have “hungry metal mouths beside the driver” that eat your money. The power of the figurative language threaded throughout the free verse poetry is that readers have access to a perspective that is completely different than their own.
The strongest character in the book is that of Kek’s new best friend Ganwar, the cow. Ganwar is one of the few links the refugee has to his old home. In Sudan, his people were cattle herders and understanding the animals was a vital part of your success. Kek truly respects Ganwar and sees in her eyes feelings that no one has ever there discovered before. She provides the first stable element in his new life in America: a job. Through having a stable job and relationships, Kek’s confidence grows and he learns to navigate his new home independently. Kek runs to his cow friend when it seems the world is at its darkest, and she provides comfort for him. Even though Ganwar can’t speak she is the most important character because of all that she offers to the protagonist.
The theme of kindness extends from the characters into the plot. In many novels, America and its people can become the antagonist of the story; this is not the case in Home of the Brave. The majority of the characters show great kindness. From Dave, the man who helps refugees settle into their homes and navigate the legal system, to Lou, Ganwar’s owner and Kek’s employer, readers are introduced to characters who want nothing more than to see the refugee succeed. Kek also meets truly loyal friends like Hannah, who patiently explains the nuances of American living, and Mrs. Hernandez, the ESL teacher, who make it a priority to be kind to the young boy. I most admire this book because it doesn’t take the easy way out and make America out as a bad place but rather one that can offer great kindness to those that come here to create a new home.
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