Synopsis
Juan has been a thief for many, many years. So many, in fact, that he can't even remember what it's like to be anything else. When he tries to steal Doña Josefa's gold, something strange begins to happen to Juan. His skin becomes tan instead of pale, his body straight instead of bent, and his mouth smiles instead of scowls. Juan also begins to remember things. He remembers eating good, home-cooked food, being among friends, and laughing. When the opportunity arrives for him to take Doña Josefa's gold, another strange thing happens. Juan realizes he can't. Maybe he isn't a thief anymore.- ★★★★★
- ★★★★☆
- ★★★★☆
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- Prior to reading, ask your child: can your actions change your appearance?
- What is the toll of Juan’s actions on his physical appearance?
- We do not know if Juan’s life of thievery results in his loneliness or whether his loneliness led him to thievery, but we know he does not have family, good companionship or a strong community. Do you think he would be the same if he did?
- What happens to Juan as he spends time working in the fields, first for potatoes, then corn, then squash and beans and coffee?
- The generous, hardworking families Juan meets are part of a community, each refusing the gold coin, saving it instead for another who may need it more. They must work hard, yet they seem content. When is Juan finally content, when he has the gold coin in his hand or when he decides to help Dona Josefa?
- Describe Dona Josefa. At the beginning of the story, Dona Josefa says she must be the richest person in the world. Is it the gold coin that makes her rich or the fulfillment she gets from helping others?
- Compare the illustrations of Juan on the first few pages and those on the last page. Do his actions change his appearance? Can you think of an example in your own life when you have witnessed something similar?
Mindful Muslim Review
“Because he did his stealing by night, his skin had become pale and sickly. Because he spent his time either hiding or sneaking about, his body had become shriveled and bent. And because he had neither friend nor relative to make him smile, his face was always twisted into an angry frown.” Juan is a thief who spends his days chasing a gold coin. His appearance is the outward manifestation of his spiritually diseased heart. When he unexpectedly finds himself in the warm company of a generous, hardworking, and kind community, he is humbled and slowly transformed. His journey is a masterful portrayal of the lasting impact good company, honest work, and time spent in appreciation of the beauty of Allah’s ﷻ creation can have on one’s soul, earning this book our Gold Star.
