The Faithful Friend
AuthorRobert D. San Souci
IllustratorBrian Pinkney
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's picture book, Children's literature
Publication date
1995
Publication placeUnited States
AwardsCaldecott Medal, Coretta Scott King Award (Illustrator only)

Description

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The Faithful Friend by Brian Pinkney, 1996. Clement and Hippolyte, both are close as brothers, handsome, and sharp-witted. Clement fell in love with Pauline, he asked Hippolyte to join him in his dangerous adventure to court her. Pauline is the niece of the mysterious Monsieur Zabocat, a plantation owner who is said to be a wizard. Upon defying his wishes, Pauline goes to her new fiance and his friend on the journey to their home. The farm field and forest they lived by, hide dark forces, with the intention of destroying the couple. One night in the distant, the sound of drums attracted Hippolyte into a dangerous trap which force him to choose between his friend's safety or his own![1][2][3][4][5]

Plot

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On an island in Martinique, in the 19th century, a rich landowner’s wife has died in childbirth. He takes in a French widow who has also just given birth to a baby boy to care for his newborn boy. Two boys grew up on a sugar plantation. One boy was Clement, a brown-skinned boy who's father owned the estate. The other was Hippolyte, Clement's white companion and servant of the house become best friends. One day, Clement falls in love with a picture of a girl from Macouba named Pauline, who is the niece of a man rumored to be a wizard. Hippolyte worries that there may be danger in going to visit her, but his friend won't be talked out of it. Together they travel along the coast road and, as they go, bury a poor beggar they find dead along the road. When at last the boys meet Pauline she's charmed by Clement, they fall in love and want to get married, but her wizard uncle, whom she lives with does not approve. Though she swears to marry her new (some might say instant) love, the uncle vows to stop them at whatever the cost. The three of them run away and the uncle sends zombies after them to kill them. Now Hippolyte must save his friend and incipient bride from zombies, poisoned fruit, nasty water, snakes, and that awful fate of turning to stone. The boys’ friendship is tested and they must pass through many scary encounters, friendship has never been so good.

Folklore

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Achilles and Patroclus

Damon and Pythias

References

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