The Vision
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Cover Story
The cover of this issue is a design incorporating illustrations from four books illustrated by the subject of our Authorgraph, Ian Beck. The top left illustration is from Five Little Ducks (Orchard), the top right from Poppy and Pip's Picnic (to be published Autumn '97 by HarperCollins), the bottom left from The Owl and the Pussy-cat (Transworld) and the bottom right from Home Before Dark (to be published September '97 by Scholastic). Ian Beck's Picture Book (Hippo) is reviewed in this issue.
Beck talks to BfK's interviewer, Julia Eccleshare, also in this issue. His distinctive decorative style with its sensitive pen line and cross hatching has a nostalgic but sometimes also a surreal quality - he describes it as 'a look that is floating, strong and wistful all at the same time'.
Thanks to Orchard, HarperCollins, Transworld and Scholastic for their help in producing this composite cover.
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The Vision
Pete Johnson has a strong and loyal following partly because of his novels' engagement with teenagers' lives so it is interesting to see him tackling the theme of being and becoming a Christian. The lodger at Tara's home is a new teacher at her school, an evangelical Christian who becomes a leader in the fight to try to keep the school open when it is threatened with closure. When Tara has a vision, most people scoff but Paul is sensitive and attentive to her. Is Tara attracted to Christianity or to Paul? Tara is convinced that her prayers will result in the school being saved. When this does not happen and Paul has already left for another job, Tara feels cheated at first both by him and by her faith. The plot is not altogether convincing but readers may well find themselves challenged to think about religion in new ways.