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  • Today, "Jump in the puddles" by Laurent Buchheit, winner of one of the Prizes for Unknown Authors, published on September 10, 2021 by Editions du Loir.

Edwige, contributor to the 20 Minutes Books reading group, recommends "Jump in the puddles" by Laurent Buchheit, winner of the Unknown Authors Prize in the white literature section, published on September 10, 2021 by Editions du Loir.

His favorite quote:

An orphanage is a prison filled with innocent people, a barracks where you are made into a child-legionnaire.

The orphan's wounds are invisible.

But whoever does not bleed cannot heal.

Why this book?

  • Because this autobiography won the Unknown Authors Prize

    in the “White Literature” category, which is a guarantee of quality for a novel that was not widely distributed at the time of its release.

    The key word of the jury's opinions is the emotion that shines through the author's story that he was able to convey through his words.

  • Because despite difficult beginnings marked by

    incomprehensible heartbreaks for a child, Laurent, the protagonist of this story was able to build himself and grow.

  • Because the writing is very pleasant, modest, worked without being complicated.

    It resembles the words of a child, but is constructed like the thoughts of an adult, which underlines the authenticity of the words.

  • Because the testimony of this little boy clearly demonstrates

    the dysfunctions of a social system which, in wanting to protect children, subjects them to psychological violence that is difficult to bear.

    But it also gives hope for future improvements…

  • Because although short, this story manages to drag us

    into a whirlwind of increasingly vivid emotions.

    The feelings provoked by this reading are indisputably its greatest strength.

The essentials in 2 minutes

The plot.

After suffering the violence of a father during the first three years of his life, Laurent and his sisters are removed from their parents' custody and placed in an orphanage.

After a stay that was too long for his liking, he will discover love and security in a foster family.

From where it will be torn...

Characters.

The story revolves around Laurent and his feelings.

His mother, his sisters, the social worker and then his host families, all only underline the hardships he is going through.

Places.

Originally from Bitche in Moselle, placement in the orphanage of Metz then in different towns and villages of Moselle.

The time.

The 1970s.

The author.

As a child placed by social services, Laurent Buchheit had long wanted to put words to his ills and his struggle, but it was his participation in René Manzor's workshops and coaching that enabled him to finalize this project.

This book was read with

great difficulty for this little bundle of joy who only wanted to be a child like the others.

Also a lot of hope to see where this life ended up taking him… A child who knew how to make his voice heard!

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