February 15, 2024

A young girl overhears some adults gossiping, and is upset to learn that her neighbour's dog has died. She is reminded of the heartache she experienced when her cat passed away, so she decides to draw a picture and give it as a gift to the neighbour, Pavel. She is surprised when she suddenly hears barking coming from the apartment. As it turns out, the girl misunderstood - the story is set in Montréal, and the French-Canadian phrase son chien est mort (lit. his dog is dead) is an idiom meaning a person has a lot of problems. Pavel is touched by the gift, and tells her that she is the dog's new owner. He is escorted away by two men; he is being deported.

It's a bittersweet story, showing the kindness of children and the difficulties faced by immigrants. The girl is delighted that the dog she thought was dead is still alive, and is now part of her family. As she is so young, she doesn't totally understand the situation - there are scattered clues which the reader must piece together, which I think makes the story more impactful. It's an enjoyable read that makes one consider the human element of the issue raised.

Language-wise, it's fairly straightforward: both vocabulary and grammar are relatively simple, so it makes for a good read for learners.

Recommended for both the touching story and its language-learning value.

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