Robin Hathaway Rafaelidys

Pah-meh (Let's Go!): a Travel Story Told by Alexandra Robin Hathaway Rafaelidys

Here is a unique and wonderful book. PAH-MEH (Let's Go!) tells of the adventures of three Americans traveling in Greece. Loosely based on a trip the author took, in 1998, with her daughter and their neighbor's ten-year-old son, we are guided from the mid-west to Athens, parts of northern Greece, and two Greek islands. While the mother is not Greek, Alexandra, the daughter and narrator is, and she takes us into the homes of her Greek family. We share in the celebration of Greek Easter. We taste the foods and learn of traditions.

Because this story is so real, the author chose to include real dialogue, which means many of the characters speak in Greek. The Greek is written in a simple phonetic method, which Alexandra explains to the readers in her preface. The English translation follows in parenthesis about 90% of the time. (Once and a while you are left to guess!) The book includes a 500 word glossary of Greek words at the end.

The story is exciting and wide ranging. One day we are taken into the tomb of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, another time we are climbing straight up mountains on dirt roads under a hot sun with a broken motor bike. (It gets worse when the sun goes down!)

While the story is full of adventure and new experiences it is also a story of people. In the tradition of books from decades past there is an underlying sense of character.

The book, ostensibly for children, is more of a family story and makes for a great read-aloud. The vocabulary is expansive making it a 5th or 6th grade level story, but read aloud much younger children would enjoy it. Each chapter closes with a pen and pencil drawing done by the narrator.