The Gnome's Eye

By Anna Kerz

In the spring of 1954, when her father announces that the family has a chance to immigrate to Canada, Theresa's life changes forever. She and her family are wartime refugees from Yugoslavia, so it shouldn't be hard to leave Austria. But the weathered barracks of Lager Lichtenstein are the only home she knows, and they are filled with family and friends she doesn't want to leave behind. As she says her good-byes, Theresa's friend Martin gives her two gifts: a package of postcards and a stone he calls the Gnome's Eye, which he says will "protect her from all things evil, living or dead." Theresa is convinced the stone has no power, but she still keeps it close as they travel on the crowded immigrant ship and when they settle into a rooming house on Kensington Avenue in Toronto.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
• Release date: Apr 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781554691968

Anna Kerz

Anna Kerz's first book, The Mealworm Diaries, was shortlisted for many awards, including a Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award. In her spare time, she tells stories to audiences of all ages and teaches students how to tell stories of their own. She lives in Scarborough, Ontario, with her husband, Frank, and their dog, Bailey.

Reviews for The Gnome's Eye

[i.luv.rootbeer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Character I have chosen the main character, Teresa. Teresa is a 12 year old German girl who has red hair, just like her father :). She is a young girl who has just moved to Canada from Germany. She speaks no English, but slowly in school she is learning. The story shows that she is an extremely shy girl and is always afraid, because on the way to Canada she's afraid of being alone in her room and afraid even in her own house alone! There are many new things in Canada that frighten her, that she feels she can't handle, also. She often sees the accomplishments and bravery of others, like her parents when they must find work or when people at school talk in front of the class, but forgets about all the brave things she's doing. In the end with the help of a "gnome's eye", from her best friend in Germany, she conquers all of her fears, like talking in English during class or being in the house alone and learns that courage has always been inside of her.