Skip to content | Skip to institutional links

Common menu bar links

Archived Content

This archived Web page remains online for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. This page will not be altered or updated. Web pages that are archived on the Internet are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats of this page on the Contact Us page.

French Awards

		PRIX LITTÉRAIRE LE DROIT - YOUTH CATEGORY 2004 (ASSOCIATION DES AUTEURES ET AUTEURS DE L'ONTARIO FRANÇAIS ET DE L'OUTAOUAIS QUÉBÉCOIS) PING-PONG CONTRE TÊTE-DE-NAVET ANDRÉE POULIN MONTRÉAL: QUÉBEC AMÉRIQUE, 2003. 144 P. (BILBO JEUNESSE; 125) ISBN 2764402783 AGES 7 AND UP
Ping-Pong contre Tête-de-Navet Source

Adopted children and adoptive parents are often victims of the invasive stares of the endlessly curious, who understand nothing of the ties of the heart. Ping, an 11-year-old girl adopted as a baby in China by her Quebecois parents, knows this only too well. Ève Nantais, a new girl at Ping's school, uses rude remarks about anyone and everyone to draw attention to herself. In response to her classmate's cruel comments, Ping tries at first to deny her difference by altering the look of her hair and eyes. But when the teasing persists, Ping changes her strategy: she confronts her enemy and challenges her to a kite-flying contest. Helping her in the endeavour is Chang, a slightly older girl also of Chinese origin. Chang, too, has suffered from this same morbid curiosity and the repeated insults sparked by difference -- but her wounds are now healed. Following her inspiring example, Ping comes to terms with her situation and takes a new step towards adulthood. The author's use of short, dynamic sentences and direct narrative style is well suited to the novel's targeted age group.

-ST