Last week, my husband and I visited Marburg, the town where we first met. In 2017, Marburg joined many cities in Germany in a celebration of Martin Luther and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Belief, politics, power all mixed together to shape Europe’s history.
Events were planned all over Germany. The Playmobil company even released a tiny Martin Luther figure. (I’d like to see one for Katharina von Bora, the intrepid nun who later married Martin Luther.) Whatever your views on the Reformation or Martin Luther, it’s interesting that a toy company thought there was a market for Martin Luther Playmobil figures. Toy Noah’s Arks abound in the United States, but I’ve never seen a Mattel Pope action figure or a MatchBox Popemobile.
Living in Germany makes me wonder: if religious faith has such a strong influence in the world, isn’t it a priority to learn more? How will we (and the next generations) be able to talk about such sensitive topics without having the language, frameworks, or empathy to understand one another?
For readers and writers, a novel is an ideal way to develop empathy and practice that mantra of peace-making amidst diversity: “What might ____________ be true of?”
A couple of book recommendations for young readers (ages 9 to 12):
Natalie Lloyd’s middle grade book, A SNICKER OF MAGIC, touches naturally and lightly on faith, as does Gary D. Schmidt’s THE WEDNESDAY WARS.
What books would you recommend for readers who want to see what faith feels like from the inside?
Every month I recommend a book I’ve enjoyed for ages 9 to 12. You can download my free “shopping guides” for your family’s next expedition to the library or bookstore.
