The Lunch Thief: A Story of Hunger, Homelessness and Friendship

by Anne C. Bromley, Robert Casilla (Illustrator)

Overview

*Skipping Stones Honor Award*

Rafael is hungry—because someone stole his lunch.

The Lunch Thief can be used for curriculum centered on nonviolence and peacemaking.

Discussions might include:

• How to turn an enemy into a friend
• Nonviolent communication skills  • Looks can be deceiving
• Wildfires and ecology
• Disaster relief
• Hunger in our own country
• Homelessness
• Food Insecurity
• Kindness/Bullying

 

His mom had packed his lunch bag with two burritos, a bag of corn chips, some carrots, and an apple. Once a week she tucks in a slice of her special lemon pound cake. Rafael saw Kevin, a new kid in his class, sneak his lunch bag from underneath his desk and tuck it in his backpack. But how can he do something about the theft without picking a fight? Inspired by his mother's advice to “Use your mouth before your fists,” Rafael bides his time, but other kids' lunches are disappearing,too. On an errand with his mom, Rafael sees Kevin carrying a bundle of laundry into a motel room, and his mom tells him Kevin's family might be one of the families who lost their homes in the recent wildfires. Rafael rethinks his anger. The next day, instead of accusing Kevin, Rafael invites him to share his lunch, letting Kevin know he's been caught, but offering friendship as well as lunch.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780884488378
Publisher:	Tilbury House Publishers
Publication date:	05/26/2020
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	438,453
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Anne C. Bromley lives in Encinitas, California, with her husband Rod. She is a business-writing instructor and consultant who teaches seminars throughout southern California. She has also taught creative-writing workshops for children and for adults. Anne has published two books of poetry with Carnegie Mellon University Press. She has both Master of Fine Arts and Master of Education degrees. Anne enjoys hiking in the high desert of Joshua Tree National Park, strolling along Swami's Beach at sunset, and observing the wildlife of her beach-town neighborhood—feral cats, raccoons,opossums, an occasional coyote, and surfers. Inspired by her experiences as a substitute teacher in northern San Diego County, The Lunch Thief is her first children's book.

Robert Casilla, born in Jersey City, New Jersey, to parents from Puerto Rico, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He works from his home studio in New Fairfield, Connecticut, where he lives with his wife and two children. Robert has illustrated many multicultural children's books such as The Little Painter of Sabana Grande, Jalapeño Bagels, The Legend of Mexicatl, and Con Mi Hermano/With My Brother. He has also illustrated a number of biographies, including ones about Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, Jesse Owens, and Simón Bolívar.

Interviews

An Interview with Author Anne C. BromleyWhy did you write about the San Diego fires? Fire is to San Diego County as snow is to Maine: a fact of life. It is said that when Cabrillo landed at Point Loma in 1598, he saw smoke rising from the distant eastern foothills. He'd arrived during the fire season (roughly August through early November). Some fire seasons are worse than others, and the firestorms of 2003 and 2007 are, so far, the most extreme on record. Everyone is affected, whether one sees flames leaping across a freeway or one breathes air so toxic, one must wear a surgical mask. So fire is in the back of our minds, and it seemed appropriate to use the fire and its impact on Kevin's life as a way to "explain" his odd behavior and to lead Rafael to a better understanding.What is your connectionto the fires? I lived within ten minutes of the fire line (I live on the coast). The smoke filled my lungs. I did not see flames, but I had an evacuation pack ready at the front door. The Reverse 911 call was always possible. I had friends in the East County who were evacuated and one whose trailer burned.What do you like about this manuscript? Rafael has a strong narrative voice that drives the story forward at a fast clip. Repetition (several days of stolen lunches) draws the reader into the action. Symbols (the lemon cake; the quarter) and a contemporary situation (the wildfires forcing people to be relocated) add depth to the story. The story is structured so that Rafael can resolve the conflict in a manner that is satisfying and shows character growth: he has turned an enemy into a potential friend, and he comes to realize that appearances and behavior can be deceiving.What is the significance of Kevin offering Rafael a quarter in the last line? Kevin is happy to have lunch, BUT he will not accept charity. He's too proud for that.What else can you tell us about the book that would be helpful? I believe that young readers will gain a great deal from this book. In addition to offering a good story and characters they can relate to, the book presentsissues for them to ponder and discuss: the perils of easy judgment; the effects of circumstances on behavior; how to turn someone who seems like an enemy into a potential friend through empathy and understanding.

Editorial Reviews

"Hunger is hidden. Most of us don't see it, don't hear about it, don't think about it because it's such a shameful thing for those experiencing it. But hunger is growing in America, and its worst victims are the children who must go without food every day, or who are fed empty, sweet calories instead of a nutritious meal because those calories are cheaper than good food. The Lunch Thief brings us a gentle reminder of what hunger can drive even children to do—and of the kindness and mercy that must be our response."

Naomi Schalit

"The boy in The Lunch Thief has a real problem. He is homeless and lunchless where others have plenty. This is a story of sharing and caring and Anne C. Bromley and illustrator Robert Casilla handle it with understanding and sympathy."

Eve Bunting

"Faced with a challenging situation when his lunch was stolen, Rafael listens to his instincts and follows his mother’s valuable advice that ‘fighting is for cowards’ and ‘use your mouth before your fists.’ The Lunch Thief, by Anne C. Bromley, is a moving and thoughtful real-life story of how Rafael chose not to respond impulsively, but took the time to think through his actions in order to resolve the problem in a nonjudgmental way. It’s a heartwarming book that helps children see the other side of every story."

Thom Ronk

Gr 2–4—Rafael, a slightly pudgy boy whose favorite activities are pitching baseball and eating, catches Kevin, a new classmate, stealing lunches from him and his friends. Refraining from picking a fight ("Mama says fighting is for cowards"), Rafael is nonetheless annoyed by Kevin's actions and decides to find out more about this furtive, troubled boy. He learns from Kevin that his family lost their house in a recent southern California wildfire and then catches a glimpse of him carrying his laundry to a cheap motel. Thinking the situation through (and considering that his baseball coach has suggested he lose some weight), Rafael decides to offer Kevin not only his extra daily burrito, but also the weekly slice of his mother's famous lemon pound cake, thus defusing a potentially explosive situation. Full-color illustrations realistically portray the cast of characters and the boys' multicultural school. With a few well-placed remarks by Rafael's hardworking mother and no preachy overtones, this entirely credible story of how a thoughtful boy elects to "light one candle" in response to the larger problem of homelessness and hunger would make an excellent touchstone for class discussion.—Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT

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