Grandmother, Have the Angels Come?
by: Denise Vega
Published by: Little Brown & Company
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Reviewed by Muhammed Hassanali
Grandmother, Have the Angels Come? is about a question and answer dialogue a little girl has with her grandmother. The girl focuses primarily on the grandmother’s physical appearance (rendered as such by the angels) while the grandmother’s responses are more contemplative and spiritual. For example the girl asks, “Grandmother, Grandmother have the angels come and darkened your eyes?” to which the grandmother responds “Yes, my darling granddaughter. They have dimmed my vision so I may see more clearly.” The girl continues with “Will you see me across mountains and faraway places?” and the grandmother replies with “Yes, my darling granddaughter. I will see you over the valleys and deep inside your soul.”
The dialogue like the one quoted above starts with the color of the grandmother’s hair and extends to her eyes, ears, teeth, curved back, bent fingers, slow legs, and curved feet. Aging and death are just beneath the surface throughout the dialogue. The book ends with a message of love and hope – which is the most inspiring part of the entire book.
I like the book’s positive approach to aging and eventually dying. Aging (and by extension dying) is seen as a gift from the angels – something to be treasured rather than dreaded. Each page permeates with the affection the grandmother has for her granddaughter. The vibrant colors and swirls help intensify the emotions.
However, the message on death and dying may be too subtle for very young readers. The inherent “contradictions” between physical perception and spiritual enlightenment may provoke young readers to ask questions. Approaching a profound topic with simplicity – without being simplistic – is likely to please adults, and may confuse very young readers.
Overall, it is a good book that is best suited to be read to young readers rather than having young readers read it themselves.
Armchair Interviews says: A most important read for age-appropriate children (and their parents or grandparents).
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