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娜美的勇氣手杖

吉志蓮

一枝龍頭木杖,教一個不敢說話的女孩站上講台。

Full book: ~20 min read Children & Young Adult

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Children's Fiction · 2011FictionEnglish

娜美的勇氣手杖

In 60 seconds

娜美怕在班上說話,怕到心臟狂跳、聲音細如蚊。奶奶給她一枝刻著龍頭的「勇氣手杖」,告訴她真正的勇氣一直在她心裡。她帶著手杖舉手答題、忍受同學嘲笑、報名演講比賽,最後在全班面前說出自己最害怕的事,得了第二名。星期一早上,她第一次沒帶手杖,就主動舉手朗讀課本。

Before you start

Why it matters

怕在眾人面前說話的孩子,需要的不是「你要勇敢」四個字,而是一個可以握在手裡的具體東西。這本繪本把抽象的勇氣變成一枝有龍頭手柄的木杖,再誠實地告訴孩子:杖只是提醒,力量來自你自己。它也沒有迴避嘲笑的殘酷——大偉的譏笑讓娜美躲進洗手間哭。適合害怕上台的孩子、想幫孩子開口的父母,以及任何記得自己第一次舉手的人。

Spoilers ahead

The story

  1. 1

    Act 1

    床上的沉默與龍頭手杖

    星期六早上,娜美坐在床上難過。媽媽敲門進來問她怎麼了,她才說出憋了很久的話:「我不敢在班上說話,每次老師叫我,我的心就跳得好快,聲音也變得好小。」當天下午,娜美去探望住在附近的奶奶。奶奶坐在扶手椅上,講了一枝手杖的故事:「這不是一根普通的枴杖,它叫做勇氣手杖。只要你握著它,心裡就會充滿力量。」奶奶年輕時要在全村人面前演講,怕得要命,就是靠這枝杖撐過來的。娜美跟著奶奶走進屋後的儲物室,兩人翻找舊箱子和積塵的架子,最後從一疊棉被後面拉出一枝刻著龍頭手柄的木枴杖。奶奶把它放進娜美手裡:「它現在是你的了。」一枝從棉被後面拉出來的杖,就這樣交到一個連舉手都不敢的女孩手上。

  2. 2

    Act 2

    第一次舉手,第一次嘲笑

    星期一,娜美帶著手杖上學。中文課上,王老師發問,娜美第一次舉手,手杖握在書桌下。她答對了,聲音仍然細小,但王老師微笑說:「很好,娜美,我聽到你的聲音了。」小息時在操場,大偉指著她的手杖嘲笑:「你怎麼帶枴杖來學校?你是老人嗎?」其他孩子跟著竊笑。娜美滿臉通紅,跑進洗手間躲起來哭,甚至想以後永遠不把手杖帶回學校。當晚她回到奶奶家,把大偉的事說出來。奶奶握著她的手:「勇氣不是不害怕,而是害怕的時候仍然向前走。」又告訴她,手杖的力量來自她自己,不是物件本身:「手杖只是一個提醒,真正的勇氣一直在你心裡。」

  3. 3

    Act 3

    兩分鐘的演講

    之後那星期,王老師宣布舉行班級演講比賽,每位學生要在星期五下午在全班面前作兩分鐘演講。娜美報名了,在課室告示板的名單上寫下自己的名字,手卻在發抖。那星期每晚,她在睡房握著勇氣手杖練習,題目是「我最害怕的事」,對著鏡子和毛絨熊演練。媽媽坐在床邊聽,說:「你的聲音一天比一天更堅定了。」星期五下午,學生逐一上台。輪到娜美,她握著手杖走到前面,面對二十五位同學,開口說:「我最害怕的事,是在大家面前說話。但是今天,我站在這裡。」她說得清楚,全班安靜聆聽。演講完畢,全班鼓掌——拍得最響的,正是曾經嘲笑她的大偉。王老師點頭:「娜美,你做得非常好。」結果公布,娜美得到第二名,獲得一張用金字寫上她名字的獎狀。下課後,大偉走近她道歉:「對不起,我之前不應該笑你。你的演講真的很棒。」

  4. 4

    Act 4

    歸還,與放手

    星期六,娜美探望奶奶,想把勇氣手杖還給她:「奶奶,謝謝你,我現在不需要它了。」奶奶不肯收回:「留著吧,也許有一天,你也會把它傳給需要勇氣的人。」娜美緊緊擁抱奶奶。起初是奶奶把杖交給她,如今奶奶說也許有一天她會把它傳給需要勇氣的人。星期一早上,娜美沒帶手杖上學。她走進課室坐下後,主動自願朗讀課本,不用老師點名。全書在這裡收尾——沒有手杖,沒有儀式,只有一個女孩自己舉起手。奶奶說對了:真正的勇氣一直在她心裡,手杖從頭到尾只是一個提醒。而那枝龍頭木杖留在家裡。

Who's who

Characters

  • 娜美怕在班上說話的女孩,心跳加速、聲音變小。她靠一枝龍頭手杖撐過演講比賽,最後不用手杖也能主動舉手朗讀。
  • 奶奶把勇氣手杖傳給孫女的智者,年輕時靠它撐過全村面前的演講。她說出全書核心:勇氣不是不害怕,而是害怕時仍向前走。
  • 大偉嘲笑娜美帶枴杖上學的同學,讓她躲進洗手間哭。演講比賽上他拍手拍得最響,下課後親自道歉。
  • 王老師中文課老師,娜美第一次舉手時肯定了她,後來舉辦班級演講比賽,給了她上台的舞台。
  • 媽媽第一個聽娜美說出恐懼的人,之後每晚坐在床邊聽她練習,告訴她聲音一天比一天堅定。

What it's really about

Themes

勇氣是害怕時仍向前走

奶奶在娜美被嘲笑、想永遠丟下手杖的那晚說:「勇氣不是不害怕,而是害怕的時候仍然向前走。」這本書從不假裝恐懼會消失——娜美報名演講比賽時手在發抖,上台時聲音曾經細小,答對了題也還是細小。書的誠實在於:勇氣的證據不是不發抖,而是發著抖仍寫下自己的名字、仍走到課室前面。

力量在你心裡,不在物件

手杖看似魔法,奶奶卻在關鍵一晚拆穿:「手杖只是一個提醒,真正的勇氣一直在你心裡。」結尾印證這句話——娜美星期一沒帶手杖,照樣主動朗讀課本。物件可以是拐杖,但不能是拐仗;它陪你走一段,最後要你自己站穩。

嘲笑與和解

大偉在操場的嘲笑把娜美逼進洗手間,是全書最痛的一幕。但故事沒有讓他消失:演講比賽上他拍手拍得最響,下課後道歉:「對不起,我之前不應該笑你。你的演講真的很棒。」書相信孩子會被真誠改變——前提是有人先勇敢地站出來。

把勇氣傳下去

手杖的命運是全書的骨架:奶奶靠它撐過全村演講,傳給娜美,娜美想還,奶奶不肯收——「留著吧,也許有一天,你也會把它傳給需要勇氣的人。」勇氣不是用完即棄的東西,而是一件可以代代相傳的遺物。

Look closer

Symbols

龍頭手杖
刻著龍頭手柄的木枴杖,從棉被後被拉出來,象徵勇氣可以具體到握在手裡。它的旅程——奶奶用過、娜美用過、被歸還又被留下——映照娜美從依賴到自立的全程。
鏡子和毛絨熊
娜美每晚在睡房對著鏡子和毛絨熊練習演講。它們是恐懼的縮小版觀眾:先敢於面對鏡中的自己,才敢面對二十五位同學。
金字獎狀
演講比賽第二名的獎狀,用金字寫上娜美的名字。曾經連說話都不敢的女孩,名字如今被公開地、金光地寫下來——恐懼被榮譽取代。
告示板名單
娜美在課室告示板上寫下自己的名字報名,手卻在發抖。那個簽名的瞬間,比演講本身更是轉捩點:她第一次公開承認自己要站出來。

Spoilers

Ending explained

結尾的力道在於「沒有」。星期一早上,娜美沒帶手杖上學,坐下後主動自願朗讀課本,不用老師點名。這是全書唯一一次她不需要任何東西——不需要手杖握在書桌下,不需要老師叫她的名字。一種讀法:手杖完成了任務,像學步車一樣被放下,證明奶奶說的「真正的勇氣一直在你心裡」是真的。另一種讀法更微妙:娜美把杖留在家裡而非還給奶奶,因為奶奶說也許有一天她會把它傳給需要勇氣的人——勇氣的終點不是自足,而是成為下一個人的提醒。對一個繪本來說,這個結尾拒絕了「從此以後她再也不怕了」的童話式收場,只給了一個安靜的、普通的星期一早晨。而普通,正是勇氣最終的樣子。

For class or book club

Discussion questions

  1. 1.手杖是「拐杖」還是「提醒」?奶奶說力量來自娜美自己,但娜美確實是握著杖才第一次舉手——過渡性物件在克服恐懼中扮演什麼角色?
  2. 2.大偉的嘲笑和道歉:繪本該不該呈現同儕的殘酷?書中讓加害者拍手拍得最響、親自道歉,這樣的和解是否太容易?
  3. 3.娜美得的不是第一名而是第二名——這個安排如何避免「努力必有完美回報」的說教,又仍然讓孩子感到足夠?

Worth remembering

Best lines

“「我不敢在班上說話,每次老師叫我,我的心就跳得好快,聲音也變得好小。」”
— 娜美
“「勇氣不是不害怕,而是害怕的時候仍然向前走。」”
— 奶奶
“「手杖只是一個提醒,真正的勇氣一直在你心裡。」”
— 奶奶
“「我最害怕的事,是在大家面前說話。但是今天,我站在這裡。」”
— 娜美

A fair critique

Where it falls short

故事的轉折相當直線:手杖、練習、比賽、成功,中間的挫折只有大偉的嘲笑一場,且當晚就被奶奶的一句話化解。大偉的道歉來得很快,嘲笑的傷害——躲進洗手間哭、想永遠丟下手杖——被一場比賽和一句對不起抹平,現實中的孩子未必這麼幸運。手杖的「魔法」與「只是提醒」之間也有一點張力:如果力量全在自己,為何非帶它上學不可?但對繪本讀者來說,這種簡潔或許正是優點。

In one sentence

勇氣不是不害怕,而是害怕的時候仍然向前走——手杖只是提醒,真正的力量一直在你心裡。

Is it for you?

Who should read it

怕在班上舉手、怕上台說話的孩子,以及不知道怎麼幫他們開口的父母和老師。也適合任何記得自己第一次在眾人面前發抖的人。

4 questions

Quick quiz: how well do you know 娜美的勇氣手杖?

Question 1

1奶奶說勇氣是什麼?

Question 2

2娜美在演講比賽中得到第幾名?

Question 3

3娜美演講的題目是什麼?

Question 4

4故事結尾的星期一早上,娜美做了什麼?

0 of 4 answered

FAQ

What is 娜美的勇氣手杖 about?

"Nami's Courage Staff" tells the story of Nami, a timid girl who finds a magical staff that seemingly gives her courage. She learns to overcome her fears with its help, only to later realize that true bravery comes from within herself, not from any external object. It's a tale about self-discovery and inner strength.

Is 娜美的勇氣手杖 worth reading?

Yes, it is a highly recommended children's book, especially for young readers struggling with shyness or fear. It delivers a powerful and gentle message about self-confidence and finding courage from within, making it both inspiring and relatable for its target audience.

How does 娜美的勇氣手杖 end?

Spoiler: The book ends with Nami realizing that the courage she thought came from the staff was actually her own all along. She learns to trust her inner strength and faces challenges confidently without needing the physical staff, becoming a truly self-reliant and brave girl.

Who should read 娜美的勇氣手杖?

This book is ideal for young children, particularly those aged 4-8, who might be shy, fearful, or struggling with self-confidence. It's also a great read for parents and educators looking for stories that promote emotional growth and resilience in children.

How long does it take to read 娜美的勇氣手杖?

As a children's picture book or early chapter book, "Nami's Courage Staff" can typically be read in about 15-30 minutes, depending on the reader's age and pace.

Who wrote 娜美的勇氣手杖?

娜美的勇氣手杖 was written by 吉志蓮.

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