The unforgettable coat
The unforgettable coat (English title: The Unforgotten Coat ) is a children's book of British author Frank Cottrell Boyce . The photographs are from Carl Hunter and Clare Heney. The book was published in 2011 by Walker Books and in March 2012 as a German translation by Salah Naoura by Carlsen Verlag .
It tells the story of two brothers who fled Mongolia with their parents and ended up in Bootle , a small town near Liverpool . The novel was awarded the 2013 German Youth Literature Prize and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. The book covers the topics of friendship, cultural differences and deportation.
content
The action takes place in the small town of Bootle near Liverpool and is told from the perspective of the now grown-up Julie, who is reminded of the story of the brothers Genghis and Nergui by a visit to her old school, which is to be demolished.
Julie is in sixth grade and has two new classmates. Their names are Genghis and Nergui, they are from Mongolia and are new to the UK. The brothers name Julie their “Good Counselor” because they need someone in a foreign country to give them good advice. Julie is fascinated, researches information about Mongolia and from that moment worries about Genghis and Nergui. Genghis tells her stories from Mongolia based on the Polaroids he carries around with him.
But Julie wonders where the brothers live and one day follows them home. She realizes that they have found shelter in a refugee hostel and that they live in constant fear of being deported. Julie's visit is clearly uncomfortable for Genghis and Nergui. The next day, Genghis and Nergui disappear into the school, Julie follows them and the three of them take a trip to the beach. Julie finds out that the Polaroids were not recorded in Mongolia, but all in Bootle. In the evening Julie brings Genghis and Nergui home, whereupon they are disappointed in her and insult her as a traitor.
Julie's class teacher, Ms. Spendlove, announces the next day that Genghis called her that night to tell her they weren't going to come back to school. Genghis, Nergui and their family were illegally in the UK and were deported to Mongolia.
Julie never saw the brothers again after that. Only the coat hung around the school for years, with the photos in the coat pocket. The grown-up Julie takes the coat with the Polaroids. Genghis and Julie get in touch via Facebook. Julie asks Genghis if he would like his coat back, to which he says yes. He also marks them on a photo of himself and Nergui, on which they have a poster with the inscription “Julie, you are our good advisor and friend. Thank you. Greetings from Genghis and Nergui ”.
characters
Julie
Julie is an 11 year old 6th grade student in Bootle, England. When the brothers from Mongolia come to their class and appoint her as their “good advisor”, this arouses their interest in a country like Mongolia that was previously unknown to them. She takes her job of explaining everything to them very seriously and hopes to be invited to their home, since in her mind the whole house is full of silk and jewelry.
Genghis
Genghis is the big brother of Nergui and comes from Mongolia. He feels responsible for his little brother and protects him.
Nergui
Nergui is the little brother of Genghis and believes he is being pursued by a demon.
literature
- The unforgettable coat 2012, by Frank Cottrell Boyce , translated from English by Salah Naoura , Carlsen-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-551-55594-6