Status
Call number
Publication
DDC/MDS
823 |
Description
"Set against the backdrop of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in 1941, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard's brilliant novel weaves myth and legend together with the suffering and tragedies of the Filipino people." "When nine-year-old Yvonne flees with her family into the jungle to join the resistance effort, she witnesses death and destruction on an almost unimaginable scale. In the face of terror and despair, she finds comfort in the stories her people have passed down over generations. In particular, the legends of Bongkatolan, the Woman Warrior, and the merciful rainbow goddess offer her strength and hope. Yvonne becomes determined to preserve these ancient legends and to give voice to the epic she herself is living. Under the cloud of war, it is a goal almost too great to contemplate. But it will define Yvonne and her people with a strength and a clarity more powerful than any weapon."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved… (more)
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User reviews
The novel relates the ways in which the narrator relies upon these old tales of her people's past to retain her sanity and her hope for the future through sadness, horror and death. This is a beautifully told tale.
This lively young girl is witness to a number of horrific events. She sees her mother’s health slipping away and lives through the fear of having her father fall into the hands of the Japanese. She is enriched by the Philippine folktales that are passed on to her through the family cook.
When The Rainbow Goddess Wept deals with the psychological damage that war wreaks through the events that happen within this small family. Yvonne refuses to give up hope and learns how to cope with the uncertainties that come their way. With this young girl, the author has created a sensitive and intelligent recorder, one who sees what is happening and, even though she doesn’t always understand, is able to paint a vivid picture of endurance and survival. This is an excellent story that highlights how war can bring out both the best and worst in people