Essays on literary works - 2024

A Review of Anna Gavalda's “35 Kilograms of Hope”

Anna Gavalda is a renowned French author who has won numerous awards for her novels. She’s often considered an "adult author," as most of her books are aimed at a mature audience. However, in 2002, she penned a coming-of-age story for young readers, "35 Kilograms of Hope."

This book delves into a crucial phase in the life of its 13-year-old protagonist, Grégoire Dubosc. We learn that Grégoire's life is greatly complicated by his hatred of school. He struggles with his studies, repeating a grade twice and eventually being expelled.

Grégoire himself admits, "Everything they teach at school is like Chinese to me. It goes in one ear and out the other." Psychologists and doctors attribute his difficulties to a concentration problem, while his favorite teacher simply says, "The boy's got a head like a sieve." But she quickly adds, "He's got golden hands and a huge heart."

Unfortunately, no one at Grégoire's school seems to realize this. Every day is a torment for him. Of course, his parents know about his talent for invention and his love of manual work, but that doesn't stop them from constantly berating him for his poor grades. Grégoire confides, "When they yell, I mentally plug my ears and try to think only about what I'm making at the moment... Then comes the torture of homework. If Mom helps me, it always ends with her crying. If it's Dad, I cry."

Grégoire is deeply troubled by these arguments until his grandfather explains that his parents' outbursts are more about their own problems than about him. Grandpa Léon is the most important person in Grégoire's life — his mentor, friend, and support. I believe it's thanks to his grandfather that Grégoire is able to endure the trials he faces, including bullying at school, expulsion, his parents' arguments, and the monotony of municipal school.

A real escape for the boy is spending time alone with his grandfather in his "little corner": "Grandpa Léon's corner is my whole life. My refuge and my Ali Baba's cave."

However, Grandpa Léon isn't always on his grandson's side. When he learns that Grégoire has failed his sixth grade again, he's disappointed and angry. It's then that he says the most important words to Grégoire: "Be happy, damn it! Do something to be happy!"

But don't think Grégoire hates all schools. Well, at least he did until a certain point — he just wanted to get through three more years and then focus on his hobbies. However, when it comes time to choose a school, he realizes he wants to attend the technical lycée Granshan. That's where he can do what he loves most: work with his hands. But will they accept him at Granshan, where academic performance is so important?

Despite his doubts, Grégoire decides to write a letter to the headmaster. What if? Emphasizing his situation, Grégoire ironically says that all he has is "35 kilograms of hope."

And then, miraculously, the headmaster of Granshan agrees to accept him if he passes an exam. But this news no longer brings Grégoire any joy — he learns that his beloved grandfather is in the hospital and is dying. This news devastates him, and he falls into a state of apathy. In this state, he goes to the exam, fully prepared to fail.

Suddenly, a revelation strikes him: Grégoire hears Grandpa Léon's voice, as if dictating the correct answers to him. He passes the exam, and after that, he decides to do everything he can to help his grandfather. If Léon helped him, then he can help his grandfather too.

For his grandfather's recovery, Grégoire does the almost impossible — he climbs to the very top of a rope that he thought he would never conquer. But faith and "35 kilograms of hope" (and that's a lot, you'll agree) can work wonders. Not only does it become much easier for him at school — even though he's a poor student, he's respected by his shop teacher and classmates. Grégoire even manages to perform a real miracle: thanks to his constant prayers, Grandpa Léon survives and even comes to visit him at Granshan!

You might say that the ending is too good to be true. But I believe that love, hope, and determination can work real miracles. And so can devotion and loyalty: to a loved one, to a calling, and to oneself.

I really enjoyed Gavalda's book. It helps you believe in miracles, in goodness, and in light. It helps you never give up and never lose hope. It helps you know what you want and to go for it. And then your "35 kilograms of hope" will not be a useless burden, but the necessary equipment that leads to your dreams.