The Map of Good Memories

There are places that remind us of happy moments. Zoe, a little girl who has to flee from her city with her family because of a war, remembers them before she leaves. She uses them to draw a "map of good memories," knowing that they will always be with her.

Winner of the 2017 New York City Big Book Award

In The Map of Good Memories, a young girl takes time to remember her home before her and her family must flee their war-torn city.

Zoe had lived in the city since she was born. She knew every building, every park, every corner of the city. When the war broke out, Zoe, like many others, had to say goodbye to her home and leave without knowing when she might return. Zoe has so many good memories of her city. There was her grandparents' house, which was a shelter full of dreams and games, her old school where she met her friends and loved learning new things, and of course, the downtown park, where she’d spent many Sunday mornings there, playing on the swings, listening to people playing music, and riding her bike.

Just before her and her family leave, Zoe spreads the map of the city on a table and marks all the places where she was truly happy, with the certainty that they will always accompany her.