Be Prepared Book Review

 

Be Prepared is a wonderful autobiographical comic about the author's experience of being culturally different from other children and the trials of making friends set against the backdrop of going to camp, Orthodox Russian camp.

The book isn't *all* about being Orthodox so I think it escapes the notice of most Orthodox readers. However there is a strong presence of an Orthodox lifestyle as Vera struggles to fit in with other children and hopes to find kids like herself to relate to at camp. This book really excels at being relatable and making an Orthodox reader feel like they, themselves, fit in. 

For the young reader it is wonderful to read a story about growing up and finding your identity, a sort of universal and relevant topic, in a book that blends an everyday normalcy with an Orthodox ethos.

For the grown reader it is a refreshing look at what it is like to grow up as a child in the Orthodox church. Lots of things are confusing, or maybe not understood yet, but some things make a deep connection - for Vera it was seeing how important it was to her mother and her ability to look at the icons and see something relatable in them, see herself in them. As an Orthodox parent myself it is a good reminder that we're playing a long game and not to get wrapped up in making sure our children understand and value every last thing *right now*. We're laying a fertile ground for our children to grow and flourish in their own unique ways.

Relatable. Charming. Endearing.

I hope you pick up a copy of this book!