Camila the "Chameleon"

Kevin Henkes was, and always will be one of my favorite authors. I'm pretty sure I read his books daily when I was little. The simple, everyday problems facing children were always depicted in his stories, and I was able to connect with the characters fairly easily. Chrysanthemum in particular, was one of my favorite mice.

My name isn't exactly the most common here in the United States. My mom named me after a Colombian guerilla warrior priest I had never heard of, but the story made me somewhat proud of my name. When I started school, though, the name began to irritate me. Nobody could get it right. Kids would make fun of me and call me other names. A favorite was "Chameleon." Since I was only five when it started, it was a huge problem and I probably blew it out of proportion.

 

...and became more and more shy as a result.

 

 

One day, however, my second grade teacher noticed and called everyone over. She was everyone's favorite teacher. That day, Ms. Kovalchick showed us that she had a "different" name, too (though I forget her first name). The kids seemed to have a revelation, and began to apologize. Until I moved after third grade, my name was no longer a problem in school.

 

 

It doesn't bother me  anymore, because the entire issue was just silly. Kids are kids. The fact that adults couldn't pronounce my name either eventually began to amuse me. Usually one of the first things you learn is "sounding it out." So why was it so difficult? Most substitutes still can't get my name right. I think I've been called "Camelia" or "Carmen" more than my real name. All in all, every single one of Kevin Henkes' mouse books address "problems" I've faced as a kid, but Chrysanthemum will always be one of the best ones (next to Chester's Way).