Presentation :
In this novel, Elisabeth Brami, drawing on her experience as a clinical psychologist and her talent as a seasoned children's author, denounces the dangers of learning to read too early, without mincing words and deliberately placing herself on the child's side.
Victor's voice, the narrator, sounds genuine and is full of freshness. He shares with us his rebellion, his tenderness, his incomprehension, and his humor.
Written in a vigorous and invigorating style, this novel full of common sense manages to entertain while making you think.
Key features:
At a time when parents worry very early about their children's performance and want to make them skip steps at all costs, Elisabeth Brami argues for the child's right to progress at their own pace and to learn at their own time.
This novel will appeal to children, good readers or not, who will easily identify with Victor, torn between his desire to please and his thirst for freedom.
It will also interest and challenge parents, teachers and educators.
The story:
For a writing competition, Victor, a fourth-grade student, decides to tell the story of what happened the summer he turned five, that terrible summer when his life exploded!
That year, his parents sent him to spend several weeks with his maternal grandmother, MamiLune, which didn't thrill him at all. However, the stay turned out to be pleasant: there was a garden where he could build a hut, a small pool, a swing, and his grandmother liked to watch silly TV shows and make jam.
But alas, MamiLune turns into MamiNulle: she decides to teach her grandson to read in secret.
Under the guise of surprising his parents, this authoritarian grandmother imposes a demanding work schedule on him, with grueling daily study sessions. Certainly, Victor enjoys discovering the magic of reading, plays with letters and words, and is rewarded when he makes good progress. But it's no longer a vacation…
Furthermore, he's worried because there seem to be problems between his parents. When he talks to them on the phone, they sound tense and are rarely together. What's going on? And how will they react to the surprise? His mother told him that she skipped first grade because his mother taught her to read early, and as a result, she lost all her friends and missed out on school. There's no way that's going to happen to Victor!
When his parents arrive and discover the truth, Victor's mother flies into a rage. Victor, who was nonetheless very proud of himself, decides to unlearn how to read… and discovers that it's impossible!
Once you know how to read, you know it for life…
And to top it all off, her parents announce that they are going to separate.
Yet, despite the trials and tribulations of this rotten summer, Victor will continue on his merry way. And, thanks to his story, he will even win the writing competition!
