The Honey Jar by Joan Schoettler

Inspired by Kalem Kazarian’s family story of fleeing Armenia, Joan Schoettler presents her debut middle grade novel. In 1920, eight-year-old Bedros fled Armenia with his young sisters, grandmother, and uncle to escape the Turkish soldiers invading their town. But in the confusion, Bedros lost sight of the adults and was left alone to protect his siblings. Told in verse, suspenseful and heart-rending, The Honey Jar: An Armenian’s Escape to Freedom depicts a journey from desperation to freedom, anchored in Bedros’ promise to return to his native land and to find the one he left behind. His story will touch the hearts of families everywhere.

“What Schoettler has penned for young readers within these pages is nothing short of breathtaking. Her storytelling prowess is laced with love, hope, and resilience of the human spirit. As grandchild of a genocide survivor, I held on tight to every word and moment  ~ feeling both the courage and intensity of my own grandparents’ journey to freedom. Achingly beautiful and a must read for all Armenian children.” — Armen Bacon, Griefland: An Intimate Portrait of Lovoe, Loss and Unlikely Friendship and My Name is Armen

“In spare but moving blank verse, author Joan Schoettler weaves in danger—the rat-a-tat of gunfire, bullets raining down—with homey thoughts of baba ganoush, honey dipped from a precious jar, and sisters sleeping like grape leaves, rolled and nestled together. These details set a particular scene, but readers anywhere, in any time, will understand dry throats, skin coated in dust, torn feet bandaged in rags, and a feeling of helpless terror. The word “genocide” was coined in 1944 to describe this intentional attempt to destroy the Armenian people. But Schoettler connects her story to the present day by dedicating her wonderful middle-grade novel “To refugees everywhere.”” — Angelica Shirley Carpenter, Curator Emerita, Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature

“Fantastic reading, well-covered, and beautifully presented.”— Varoujan Der Simonian, President Board of Trustees, Armenian Museum of Fresno

“To truly understand history, events must be tied to the individual stories of those involved. All to often this standard is not met, leading to misinterpretation and misrepresentation. Joan Schoettler‘s, The Honey Jar, reaches this high standard. Her concise, stark, and captivating writing style, renders this story unforgettable. Genocide’s generational effects can never never be forgotten. This book should be recommended reading for all ages.” — Andrew G Kumpuris (M.D., F.A.C.C), Chairman, Arkansas Center for Health Improvements

 Joan Schoettler earned a Masters in Art in Reading and Language from Fresno Pacific University. She taught children’s literature, storytelling, and reading/lanugage arts at the University of California, Fresno. She began working on The Honey Jar at the time of  the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in 2015. Her picture books include Ruth Asawa: A Sculpting Life,  A Home for George, and Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth, which received the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. When not spending time with her family, she enjoys gathering with friends, gardening, and traveling. She lives with her husband in California where they have raised three sons. Connect with her here.

You can now purchase the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Abril Books.