Mister Orange by Truus Matti

What is as uniquely amazing as a book that simultaneously explores art, music, immigration, patriotism, staying true to one’s roots, superheros, and the American World War II experience? Truus Matti’s Mister Orange won the 2014 Batchelder Award for best children’s book originally published in a language other than English, and considers how much of what we fight for is tied to our dreams for a better future.

When his older brother Albie leaves to fight in the war, Linus consoles himself with the thought that Mr. Superspeed, Albie’s comic-book creation, will keep his brother safe from the bullets of the front line. There’s not much time to worry, though, since Albie’s departure means many new duties. In order to help keep his family’s grocery store running, Linus takes up the role of delivery boy, charged with shuttling packages from his father’s shop window to the customer’s hands. The most interesting delivery order is made by Mister Orange, an older gentleman who buys a whole crate of oranges every two weeks, loves to play the newest boogie-woogie music, and always smells of paint. Linus grows to enjoy his twice-monthly trip to Mr. Orange’s unique apartment, where the walls are decorated with vibrant, changeable patterns, and where the elderly artist always has time to answer even the most unusual of Linus’s questions.  The war’s reality cannot be ignored however, and one day Linus discovers something about Albie’s circumstances that make him question the importance of curiosity and imagination as well as the benefit of keeping his childhood hero, Mr. Superspeed. It is up to Mr. Orange to help Linus find the value of his dreams for the future, and to encourage him to share those dreams with others.

          It would be interesting to know the inspiration behind Matti’s story, particularly considering the choice of language. Although first written in Dutch, the story is set in 1943 New York City, without much mention of ethnic background. Overall, Mister Orange provides an upbeat, well-worded and unique portrayal of both the American World War II experience, and of the imagined life and character of the lesser-known artist Piet Mondria