Summary: The stories of saints are always inspiring and the story of Martin de Porres is no different. As a child born from a nobleman father and a slave mother, Martin is handed over by his mother to the Dominican priests in Lima, Peru. After a number of years, young Martin could no longer be raised by either of his parents. Begrudgingly the priests accept Martin but only as a slave. Because of his mixed heritage, many look down upon Martin but Martin pays no attention to his position. Instead he willingly and gleefully gives of himself to his assigned duties. Amazingly, Martin finds that he has the ability to heal those who are sick, but because of his status the only ones who know of his healing abilities are his fellow downtrodden. When the priests finally become aware of his gifts, they realize that Martin is someone with a strong grace from God. From here, Martin is invited into the priestly order and continued to perform many miracles and helped to heal those in need.
Reference: Schmidt, G. D. (2012). Martin de Porres: The rose in the desert. New York, NY. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Impressions: Having already known a little about San Martin de Porres, I was eager to read Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert. With the beautiful illustrations of David Diaz, Gary D. Schmidt tells a simple and wonderful biography of San Martin for children of all ages. Schimdt's vocabulary is simple and written in a poetic style, almost as an ode to such a tale of spirituality. After having read the dark-toned story of Smoky Night, I was amazed at how David Diaz exquisitely employed soft, earth tone colors in Rose of the Desert, which helped the biography attain a calm, comforting, and soothing feeling. Even though it is written as a child's book, an an adult I still enjoyed the book and found myself ordering a copy of my own.
Professional review:
Starred Review* Born illegitimate in the crowded, dirty barrio of Lima, Peru, this son of a freed African slave was almost not baptized. The priest could see no future for a boy of mixed blood other than sweeping streets. But when Martin was eight, his wealthy father returned from Ecuador and eventually apprenticed him to a cirujano a barber/surgeon. As Martin learned to cut hair and set bones, he found his gift as a healer. After joining a monastery, he was only given menial tasks; but the prior soon learned what the people of Lima were also discovering: Martin had amazing gifts. He cured the poor then the rich; he fed people and befriended the animals. Later, stories about Martin became ever more fantastical: he could bilocate; angels surrounded him; his citrus trees had bounty all year long. When he died in 1639, he was beloved, and in 1962, he was canonized as the first black saint in the Americas. Although the relationship between Martin and his father may be complicated for some readers, children will respond to the story of a poor, mixed-race boy who transcends his circumstances and triumphs. Schmidt's telling, touching in its simplicity, is well matched with Diaz' exceptional artwork, which is bold and referential in equal parts. In glowing colors, the pictures echo the text's thoughtful and exhilarating questions: Who is this strange boy? Is it possible? Could it be? Grades 2-4
Cooper, Ilene (2012). [Review of Martin de Porras: The rose in the desert]. Booklist, Jun. 1, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 19). Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:3574/index.php/jbookdetail/jqbookdetail?page=1&pos=0&isbn=9780547612188.
Library use: Even though this is a children's book, this book can be used in both an elementary school and a high school religion classes. Students are taught the saints and often have to do assignments on individual saints. With Rose of the Desert as the example, students can do their presentations in story book format. A quick summary, illustrations, and even binding to create a unique children's book for various saints would make a fun assignment.
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