My Sweet Orange Tree
Description
<b> 'Tender, joyful' <i>Guardian</i></b>
<b> 'One of the most memorable characters in all children's literature'<i> The School Librarian</i>
</b>Meet Zeze, Brazil's naughtiest and most loveable boy, his talent for mischief matched only by his kindness. When he grows up he wants to be 'a poet with a bow-tie' - and to stop making his parents angry with all his mistakes.
For now, he entertains himself playing pranks on the residents of his poor Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood, and when he has troubles he tells them to the talking orange tree in his back garden. That is, until he meets a real friends, and his life begins to change...
<i>My Sweet Orange Tree</i> is a worldwide classic of children's literature, whose cheeky, resilient hero has won the hearts of millions of young readers.
<b>Part of the new Pushkin Children's Classics series of thrilling, magical and inspiring stories from around the world, which young readers will return to time and again.
</b><b>Translated by Alison Entrekin.</b>
Jose Mauro de Vasconcelos (1920-84) was a Brazilian writer who worked as a sparring partner for boxers, as a labourer on a banana farm, and a fisherman before he started writing at the age of 22. He is most famous for his autobiographical novel <i>My Sweet Orange Tree</i>, which tells the story of his own childhood in Rio de Janeiro.
Alison Entrekin is an acclaimed translator from Portuguese, whose translations include <i>Budapest</i> by Chico Buarque, which was shortlisted for the <i>Independent</i> Foreign Fiction Prize.
Reviews / Votes
Tender, joyful... It will suit thoughtful readers of 10-plus down to the ground * Guardian * The Little Prince, Heidi, Pippi Longstocking and Tom Sawyer captivate all ages both within and beyond their native lands... In 1968, one such literary character was born in Brazil... New readers, young and old, will delight in the beautifully bittersweet tale... A near-perfect child's-eye view of life, one that has the power to both warm and break hearts, whatever the age of the reader * The National * A combination of irrepressible humour and profound insights from an intelligent and enquiring young mind make Zeze one of the most memorable characters in all children's literature. Highly recommended * The School Librarian * This is a story full of sorrowful tenderness. Little Zeze is so likeable and he will stay with me for ever -- Cao Wenxuan, winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Prize Full of zest and vigour * Books for Keeps * Not only surprising, but also rich, rewarding and moving... Ultimately a story about coming to terms with how difficult life can be, its humour and compassion will ensure charming, resilient Zeze and his enormous imagination find a place in your heart * Playing by the Book (blog) * A novel that will make you laugh and make you cry - a powerful piece of prose that will stay with you long after you have finished the last page * Outside in World * Equal portions of joy and sorrow are stirred into this emotional and entertaining read for a story that will surely keep readers smiling and perhaps wiping away a tear or two * South China Morning Post * Evokes a childhood in warmer climes... Written with immense tenderness, My Sweet Orange Tree eschews simple nostalgia for a deeper, unsentimental portrait of a childhood... so sad it would be a hard-hearted reader who doesn't shed a tear... will appeal to adult readers as much as, perhaps even more than - any older child * Irish Times * A marvellous story which skilfully depicts the life of a poverty-stricken family in Brazil in the mid-twentieth century... a real literary gem * The School Librarian * I have no doubt that whoever reads this book will be warmed and deeply touched by the disarming innocence of Zeze. This is a superb read! -- Gerbrand Bakker Reading this novel you will cry in secret and laugh in secret just like Zeze, the boy who looks for love and troubles on every page of this wonderful book -- Andrey Kurkov One of those books that define an era... Nowhere are joy and sorrow more skilfully interwoven than in these pages * Luiz Antonio Aguiar * I've always thought of Zeze as a younger Holden Caulfield, and like The Catcher in the Rye this is a book that once read is never forgotten -- Burhan Soenmez [My Sweet Orange Tree] manages to convey an emotional, heart wrenching story in under 200 pages * Of Beauty and Nothingness (blog) * The author achieves a fine balance between conveying Zeze's distress at his circumstances and his imaginative coping strategies. The harshness of the boy's life is clear yet the telling never feels heavy. A story of survival and a search for love as seen through the eyes of an insightful, lonely child * Never Imitate (blog) * There is something so loveable about the main character Zeze - naughty and yet kind-hearted and imaginative... There are many moments of great humour, beauty and tenderness too * K.M. Lockwood (blog) * I can absolutely see why this book is so beloved. Zeze is such a charming character, and there are some truly powerful moments. I'm glad to have had the chance to read this book, and warmly recommend it to you * David's Book World (blog) * A book that can move this reader to laugh, cry and laugh again... A uniquely uplifting story * SJ2B House of Books (blog) *More details
Persons
Alison Entrekin is an acclaimed translator from Portuguese, whose translations include Budapest by Chico Buarque, which was shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize.