Book Review of The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus

                                                                 

1.       Bibliography

Bryant, Jen. 2014.The Right Word:  Roget and His Thesaurus. Ill. by Melissa Sweet. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.  ISBN  0802853854

2.       Plot Summary

The Right Word:  Roget and His Thesaurus tells the fascinating story of Peter Mark Roget and the creation of one of the world’s most valuable resources in 1852—his Thesaurus, which we learn, is Greek for “treasure house.”  Roget was born in London, England in the year of 1779 and had one sister, Annette.  His father died of tuberculosis when he was very young, and he moved often as a child.  He prolifically wrote lists as a child, often in Latin and English, and amazingly wrote his first draft of his masterpiece, his Thesaurus, when he was merely 26 years old.  Peter became a medical doctor at the young age of 19, but he worked as a tutor until he was old enough to garner respect as a practicing medical doctor.  He, all the while, continued to create his lists.  Roget married and had two children, and these adoring children encouraged their father to publish his Thesaurus—and, thankfully, he did so.  He wanted his book to be accessible to all readers, not just the elite of the time:  “Long ago Peter had discovered the power of words.  Now he believed that everyone should have this power—everyone should be able to find the right word whenever they needed it.”  Interestingly, readers learn that Roget also invented the slide rule and the portable chess set!  Roget remained loyal to his path as a thinker and innovator, all the while exuding a quiet confidence and humility.

              Ages 5-12

3.       Critical Analysis

Bryant and Sweet’s acclaimed work on Roget and his Thesaurus allow readers to observe and understand a life lived in quiet brilliance.  The inclusion of both a “Sources” and a “Selected Bibliography” section lend credibility to the work, as does the extensive “List of Principal Events” of Roget’s life, with notable world events included.  Bryant’s storytelling skillfully weaves the cloth of Roget’s life in a manner that contextualizes his life stages and accomplishments.  The “Author’s Note” and “Illustrator’s Note” both contribute authenticity to the approach of the work, and the passion for the project is evident in each creators’ approach and command of the subject.  As Sweet declares in her illustrator’s note, “[t]he proverbial thunderclap sounded at the start of my research when I held Roget’s original 1805 word book in my hands.”  These bookmakers—Bryant and Sweet—are bona fide  talents, as they have previously demonstrated in A River of Words:  The Story of William Carlos Williams (2008).  Moreover, the chronological style of this whimsical yet realistic biography lends a workability to the organizational structure.  A “For Further Reading” section is included for curious students who want to learn more.

Bryant and Sweet’s collective design and style of this work are synergistically more together than they could ever be alone.  Bryant’s precise, confident writing style matched with the combination of painterly and unconventional, innovative collage techniques invites young readers in to explore the new world of Roget and how he lived, what happened to him, and what he accomplished in this world.  Sweet’s inclusion of numerous complex lists throughout the work, interspersed with vibrant images and hues, serves to anchor the reader to the specific brilliance and talent possessed by Roget which destined him to create his Thesaurus.  Bryant’s dedication to telling the story of this “fascinating life” is evident on every page (Author’s Note).  Readers will assuredly find this biography of Roget to be a welcome addition to their bookshelves and the story within an unforgettable experience of mind and heart.

4.       Review Excerpt(s)

            2015 Caldecott Honor Book

            2015 Sibert Medal Winner

            From Booklist:  "In brilliant pages teeming with enthusiasm for language and learning, Bryant and Sweet (A Splash of Red, 2013) joyfully celebrate curiosity, the love of knowledge, and the power of words."

From Kirkus Reviews:  “In a word:  marvelous!”

5.       Connections

For an English/creative writing connection lesson, students could also read A River of Words:  The Story of William Carlos Williams (2008), also written by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet (ISBN  0802853021) and discuss the similarities and differences regarding the storytelling and illustrating styles utilized in both works.

An additional English/creative writing connection could be an experiential lesson on how to use Roget’s thematic as well as his alphabetical Thesaurus and having students use the Thesaurus to write an essay or a story with a predetermined amount of “new to them” words, circled or highlighted and defined, depending on age and grade level.