Childhood is an exciting yet confusing time, and books and media can greatly help during the exploration of adolescence. Gabriele “Gabe” Goldstone’s historical fiction Waltraut dives into the challenges of identity and culture, offering a captivating read for those navigating these experiences.
Waltraut centers on an eleven-year-old girl who longs to fit in at school. Her name, Waltraut, draws unwanted attention, and her classmates struggle to relate to her immigrant family and their complex past. But on weekends, Waltraut finds solace at German school, where her friends understand her. Finding comfort in books, Waltraut imagines how much simpler life would be if she had a name like Nancy. When her family moves to a new neighbourhood, she has the opportunity to explore this idea but soon discovers there’s a cost when pretending to be someone you’re not.
Most interestingly, Waltraut is it is based on Gabe’s youth.
“We’re talking about my childhood. I think that’s so funny sometimes because, like, when you think of historical, you think of way, way back a hundred-plus years ago.”
This gap in representation not only pushed Gabe toward reading but also inspired her to create her works as she got older. She pursued literature, believing books were the key to understanding ourselves.
I looked for my reflection in books, and I couldn’t find it when I was growing up. So that’s why I was reading Nancy Drew; we didn’t have any books about immigrants like my family. Then, when I got older, I studied literature because I always thought books were the key to understanding ourselves. And now I’ve finally been able to because I couldn’t find the books I wanted to read. I had to write my own books.”
However, Gabe’s narrative expands beyond the book’s conflict of being accepted by others. Waltraut is ultimately a story of self-acceptance. Waltraut’s journey leads her to the realization that hiding who she is will not bring true happiness. Instead, she learns to embrace her identity, shedding the shame that once weighed her down.
This is why Gabe is so passionate about representation in literature and media, describing books as mirrors that help young people see themselves reflected and understood. ” You want to figure out your life, and so you turn to books where you can quietly, unobtrusively figure out where the world is at, where your world is at.”
Books are essential in shaping how young people perceive their identities.
“Being able to read other people’s stories that are like your own validates your own stories,” says Gabe. “It makes you become more confident in who you are, And young kids especially are vulnerable. They do want to feel like they fit in, and they can only feel if they fit in if they think that others would understand them.”
Through Waltraut’s story, Gabe hopes to impart a message she learned from Nancy Drew: “To be kind, to be curious, and to be brave.” These qualities are what ultimately help Waltraut navigate her challenges, and they are the guiding principles Gabe wishes to pass on to her readers.
– Ryan Funk, U Multicultural
