Elisabeth Steinkeller’s book “Paper Piano” has the format of a sketchbook. It belongs to Maia, a 16 year old student. She has two younger half-sisters: Ruth, the strenuous sandwich child, and Heidi, who is gifted at the piano. Her mother is a single parent and works full time. Actually there was Sieglinde, the grandmother’s neighbor. She helped the family and taught Heidi to play the piano on her old grand piano, the “zebra”. With her unexpected death, an important support falls. Heidi is making a paper piano because there is neither space for a piano nor money for lessons. When Maia sees this, she decides to take another shift in her part-time job, she works in a smoothie bar. She goes through puberty with her best friends, one of them is Klara, who is actually called Engelbert Krahvogel and was born as a boy. The youngsters stick together at lows and highs. Therefore, Maia’s story is encouraging.
This book deserves any price, especially a Christian one.
This book was proposed by a jury for the Catholic Children’s and Young People’s Book Prize, perhaps also because Anna Gusella illustrated it cryptically. But the German Bishops’ Conference, which ultimately awards the prize, rejected the jury’s selection. The reason was that there was no Christian way of life in “Papierklavier”. Now one wonders: what is Christian? The book does not speak of faith, but it conveys charity. The main characters look after each other in an exemplary manner.
The book deserves any price, especially a Christian one.
In Catholic religious instruction we learn a lot about humanity, what it believes in, what values it has. Different perspectives are presented to us and we learn to question. The Old Testament says that men are not allowed to sleep with men. In the New Testament, Jesus proclaims charity and surrounds himself with people who have been cast out from society because of the Old Testament. We have been taught not to be afraid to be ourselves because God loves us. But when German bishops decide not to nominate a book like “Papierklavier”, which is sparkling with charity and encourages the development of an independent personality, for the children’s and youth book award, one feels abandoned by the institution of the church. Josephina Neumaier, (16)
Elisabeth Steinkellner: paper piano. With illustrations by Anna Gusella. Beltz & Gelberg 2020. 140 pages, 14.95 euros.