THE PEACOCK

In 1947 Toronto, a young Jewish girl attempts to oust a peacock who’s invaded her garden.

Barbara’s father leaves for Europe to help bring Jewish refugees to Canada; because only those with jobs are allowed to enter the country, the clothing company where he works is looking to hire as many Jewish tailors as possible. Barbara’s older brothers are at camp, so she and her mother are on their own. Barbara’s family hews closely to traditional gender roles—even Barbara believes her father is the true head of the household—and her mother is terrified by the peacock. So spunky Barbara, who fearlessly challenges classmates who spout anti-immigration messages during a discussion about Jewish refugees, decides to solve the peacock problem herself. A quick, lighthearted read laced with humor and broken up with black-and-white artwork, this story weaves in references to historical events, such as the Exodus 1947, a ship filled with Jewish refugees that was turned away from Palestine by the British. In an author’s note, MacLeod explains that she drew inspiration from her grandfather’s postwar experiences; adults may want to offer additional context or use the story as a jumping-off point to explore the historical period. Barbara’s a winsome protagonist sure to endear herself to readers. Characters present white.

A gentle entry point into a complex history.