跨越藩籬的友誼,就在花園的兩邊萌芽
1981年的夏天,Chiara一家人隨著身為外使的父親移居伊朗,在伊朗的住所,是一座高級的宅邸,華麗宅邸內部與外面的街道,是由一座高牆隔離出兩個世界,高牆內除了建築外,還有一座生意盎然的花園。而牆外,則是充斥著全副武裝且不友善的軍人。
有天,一個男孩攀越過高牆,Chiara則和這個男孩Massoud成為好朋友,Massoud則需為這段友情,保守牆內與牆外兩邊的秘密。
以圖像小說呈現這段預期之外的友情,以強烈的色彩呈現牆內與牆外的差異與氣氛,兩個來自不同世界的孩子,是如何發展出友誼?而這當中,對雙方而言又會遇到什麼阻撓呢?
Inspired by the childhood of the author, whose father was appointed Italian ambassador to Tehran in 1980, this picture book is a beautiful evocation of a country struck by war, where friendship arises despite the rising walls. In the summer of 1981, Chiara and her family join their father in Iran. At their beautiful palace, there is an inside and an outside, separated by a wall. Inside, there is a wild garden where princes and princesses used to walk. Outside, in the black city, there are soldiers with heavy boots, big beards and bombs. One day, a boy from outside climbs the wall into the garden. The garden no longer feels inpenetrable but Chiara has made a friend, Massoud, who will keep the secret of the inside-outside.
The story of an unexpected friendship of two children, on either side of war and peace.
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