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Publication Date: July 5, 2005 Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks Author: · George E. Stanley Grade: B

As the world marks the first anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II, interest in his life has swelled, and this book by George E. Stanley fictionally details his early days. Titled Pope John Paul II: Young Man of the Church, it is geared for children ages 8-12 and is part of Simon & Schuster's Childhood of World Figures books, a companion series to their Childhood of Famous Americans set. These stories are "faithful in spirit to the values and experiences that influenced the person's development." This book succeeds in doing just that, while being somewhat imaginative with history.

The pronouns can be a mouthful, and that's the biggest initial hurtle to enjoying this work, along with the propensity to give nicknames. Karol is sometimes known as "Lolek", his brother Edmund is often "Mundek", and friend Jerzy Kluger becomes "Jurek". Within the first few chapters, you'll be exposed to names like Feliks Dzerzhínskii (the head of the Soviet Secret Police) and General Semën Budënnyi of the Red Cavalry, and places like Jagiellonian University in Kraków, and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a shrine featuring chapels devoted to Christ's passion and death known as the Way of the Cross.

Starting at the birth of Karol Józef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland on May 20, 1920, the reverent environment in which he is raised is quickly established. In fact, the first sounds he hears are the bells tolling at St. Mary's church across the street from their home. Karol adores his older brother Edmund, and can't wait for him to come home from school to quiz him on what he's learned that day. Karol displays a rather advanced vocabulary for a four-year old, a contrivance that's not entirely believable. His mother's health is fragile and Karol rides with her to see a physician in Kraków. While her back pain is being diagnosed, Karol explores this new world with his cousins, and goes to plays and operas at night. Finally off to school himself, he makes friends and takes a liking and aptitude toward soccer. Returning home one afternoon from school, a neighbor meets him in the courtyard of their apartment building to inform him his mother has died. Karol experiences the first profound loss of his young life.

By age ten, Karol has become an altar boy, and he and his father rise early so they can attend Mass across the street before Karol must be off to school. Edmund has completed his medical degree but, to Karol's chagrin, won't be returning to Wadowice and will instead be assigned to a Children's Hospital in Kraków. Karol enjoys time with his friends after school before he must go home to do his school work. One friend is Boguslaw Banas, who's mother runs a bar and restaurant where Karol and his father frequently have their meals. Before returning home one day, Boguslaw insists that he must show Karol something at his mother's establishment, leading to a harrowing incident:

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     "When Officer Havel thinks he's been drinking too much, he'll give his revolver to Mama before he leaves," Boguslaw said. "Mama will put it inside the cash box, and Officer Havel will come by the next morning to retrieve it before he goes to work." Boguslaw grinned. I overheard Mama tell Papa this morning that Officer Havel was sick today. Boguslaw slowly withdrew his hand from the cash box. He was aiming a revolver at Karol. "Hands up or I'll shoot!" he said.
     Karol swallowed hard. Slowly, he raised his hands. "I don't think this is..."
     Suddenly the gun went off, and Karol felt a rush of air as the bullet flew past his head and shattered the window behind him.
     Boguslaw dropped the revolver, which clattered to the floor, and covered his mouth with both of his hands.
     Karol felt his stomach lurch.
     Just then, Mrs. Banas appeared at the rear door that led to their apartment. "Oh! Oh! she gasped.
     Mrs. Banas spied the revolver on the floor, ran to pick it up, and put it back in the cash box. Then she turned and looked at both Karol and Boguslaw. She let out a heavy sigh. "Karol, you go home, and Boguslaw, you go to your room," she said. "We will not speak of this."

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Karol garners a love of the outdoors through frequent hikes into the Beskidys Mountains surrounding Wadowice. Father Kazimierz Figlewicz comes to Wadowice to teach catechism in the schools. Karol establishes an immediate rapport with him, whom he trusts enough to confess his sins to. Until his eventual transfer, the priest is admired by Karol as a role model. Karol and his father grow closer through their shared loneliness, especially during the holidays. A Jewish friend, Jurek, tries to break Karol out of his melancholy by introducing him to Ginka Beer, and the new friends have an affinity for each other which opens Karol's eyes to the world of girls. Edmund is able to resume visits after transferring to a closer hospital. Unfortunately, he soon contracts scarlet fever while caring for patients and, at the age of twenty-six, dies.

The fourteen year old Karol discovers theater and immerses himself in this escapism. He meets Halina Królikiewicz, a member of an after-school theater group he joins, and the two become instant friends and nearly inseparable. Here the author engages in some prosaic prose to clarify the relationship: "In Poland of that time, though, for two teenagers brought up in a rigid Catholicism, the relationship would remain restrained and pure."

In the years leading up to World War II, Karol gets his first exposure to anti-Semitism which eventually forces some of his Jewish friends, including Ginka, to flee to less hostile environs. His faith deepens, and he seeks spiritual guidance from a priest at the Carmelite High School. Archbishop Sapieha comes to administer the sacrament of confirmation before graduation students, and Karol is chosen to welcome him on behalf of the students. Capturing his attention, the Archbishop asks if Karol plans on entering the seminary. Karol informs His Excellency that he is going to Jagiellonian University to study literature and philosophy. But the thought has been planted in the young man's mind to consider the priesthood.

Karol and his father move to Kraków to begin his studies. He immediately receives another nudge toward the priesthood: "When the Wojtylas first arrived in Kraków, Lieutenant Wojtyla told Karol that, before he died he wanted his son to promise that he would commit himself to God's service as a priest. But Karol could only promise his father that he would pray about the matter day and night."

From here on out the book accelerates the telling of events as Karol enters manhood. In 1939, after the Germans invade Poland, the university is closed and Karol is forced to get a job in a quarry. In February of 1944, he comes home one day from work at the quarry to find his father dead. Soon, the Germans are going house to house to round up all men who could offer resistance to the new regime. Narrowly escaping, he drops out of university classes altogether and decides to study for the priesthood in an "underground" seminary conducted by Archbishop Sapieha at his residence. He is ordained to the priesthood in November of 1946.

A quick biography of his years in the priesthood traverse from his early years as chaplain at St. Florian's Church in Kraków, through his ascension to archbishop of Kraków, to being named cardinal in 1967 by Pope Paul VI. Finally, he is chosen as successor to Pope John Paul I in 1978, the first non-Italian pope in 455 years.

Seven pages are devoted to his Papal years, with only the broadest of overviews given to his twenty-six years as leader of the Catholic Church. The book concludes with a chronology from February 1, 2005, as Pope John Paul II's health deteriorated, to his death on April 2nd, and ending with the April 19th selection of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the 265th pope.

Stanley's efforts prove accessible, and only falter a couple of times as he tries to impart Wojtyla's mystical qualities. It has the overall feeling of being written by someone who's not Catholic, but has read about them. For adults interested in an in-depth exposition on the life of Karol Józef Wojtyla, I'd recommend the fascinating Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II by George Weigel.

167 pages

Contents
Chapter 1. Child of a Free Poland
Chapter 2. The World Outside the Window
Chapter 3. The Wonders of Kraków
Chapter 4. School and the Mysteries of Life
Chapter 5. Saying Good-bye to Mama
Chapter 6. The Perfect Scholar
Chapter 7. Father and Son
Chapter 8. Aren't We All God's Children
Chapter 9. God's Will
Chapter 10. Life Is a Stage
Chapter 11. Graduation Day
Chapter 12. World War II
Chapter 13. The Priesthood Years
Chapter 14. The Papal Years
Chapter 15. The Last Days of Pope John Paul II