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"Bembe's Heart" is a heartwarming tale that will make you sad and happy in one fell swoop.
The story is a celebration of survival, love,
and motherhood.
Bembe was the only child on both sides of
Corazon Mountain born without a heart.
Miraculously, he not only lived, but despite
his young age, he worked as hard as two grown men.
The village shaman proclaimed that Bembe
will live only until the night he becomes a man.
Unless a miracle happens...
What kind of miracle you may ask.
Only mothers know the answer...
Bembe lived with his mother in a tiny hut on the outskirts of a village on the east side of Corazon Mountain. Sadly, his father died he was born and never saw the man Bembe would become. When Bembe turned ten, he began working and worked as hard as two grown men. Bembe never complained about the long hours, the hot sun, or the pains accompanying the strenuous labor. Bembe helped his mother, helped the other villagers, and assisted visitors.
Bembe never tired due to his uniqueness; he was a child born without a heart. He was an enigma, a miracle. When someone is born "special," many cultures believe they are sent from God and possess "powers." History has shown people bringing the sick to the "special one," believing this divine person will heal their family member of whatever ails them. This was the case for Bembe. Legend states one touch upon Bembe's "hollow" chest and any sickness was cured.
One night, after a shaman's visit, Bembe changed heart, body, and soul. Bembe's Heart by Marin Darmonkow proved the power of a mother's love and their forever devotion to a child. I must commend Marin Darmonkow on the background images. The drawings complemented the storyline and gave life to the touching words.
Parents, educators, and librarians, I recommend including this book in your library. It's a heartwarming tale that will make you sad and happy in one fell swoop. After reading the cultural book, consider doing more research on Corazón. I learned much in my studies, and the images of it were breathtaking.
At the time of this review, I didn't have a point of reference for a recommended reading age. I would feel comfortable sharing Bembe's Heart with children five years and older. They are old enough to sympathize with the events and also old enough to understand it's a work of fiction.
Reviewed by
I've been constructing reviews for over a decade and don't plan on stopping anytime soon. Most of the reviews will be featured on my blog (Kam's Place), Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, and X (formerly Twitter.) Don't forget to tip your waitress! :D
Synopsis
The story is a celebration of survival, love,
and motherhood.
Bembe was the only child on both sides of
Corazon Mountain born without a heart.
Miraculously, he not only lived, but despite
his young age, he worked as hard as two grown men.
The village shaman proclaimed that Bembe
will live only until the night he becomes a man.
Unless a miracle happens...
What kind of miracle you may ask.
Only mothers know the answer...
About the author
Marin is proud to be a self-published author. He writes the books, illustrates the stories, designs the titles, and publishes the volumes. He even creates new fonts for his publications to make them one-of-a-kind. He started his small publishing house FONTREAL (children’s picture books) in 2016. view profile
Published on May 11, 2024
Published by
0-1000 words
Worked with a Reedsy professional 🏆
Genre: Children's
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