Paule Brière

Originally published in French as Les indésirables, this "pointed fairy tale" - as the publishers are pleased to style it - is characterized by an overly didactic style that would make a six-year-old seem subtle by comparison. The story of a king and queen who decide to lock up all the "undesirables" in their kingdom, eventually drafting a list that encompasses everyone but themselves, it is clearly meant as a lesson on the dangers of intolerance. The transparently obvious "narrative" makes sure that this lesson is driven home, again and again, as the royals keep adding self-consciously whimsical names to their list. But just in case the reader has failed to grasp this key point, the narrative concludes with the imprisonment of the royals themselves, stating: "That taught them to be intolerant, those Intolerables!"

Now, I have no argument with the idea that tolerance is a desirable quality, and that despotism should be discouraged. Nor do I think that there is anything wrong in broaching such subjects with young readers. Far from it! But youth is not synonymous with stupidity, and I do not think that children need to be bludgeoned with the moral of this, or any other, story. Sadly, that is precisely what Paule Brière does in The Undesirables, which he dedicates to "Custer, Hitler, Pol Pot, Khomeini and Milosevic, and for the true undesirables of today in hope that they may understand."

Seriously, Monsieur Brière? You're seriously dedicating your children's book to Hitler & Co.? (And you seriously think Custer, as bad as he was, should top that list? I guess there weren't any French or Canadian men that occurred to you?) This would be amusing, if it weren't so terribly sad. Even Philippe Béha's intriguing collage art isn't enough to save such an ill-considered project.… (more)