The Honey Jar: An Armenian's Escape to Freedom

Based on a true story, only some members of a family escape the Armenian genocide and one of them, just a boy during the flight, must return to find a sister who was left behind.

"Fantastic reading, well covered, and beautifully presented."--Varoujan Der Simonian, President, Board of Trustees, Armenian Museum of Fresno

A 2024 Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year

n 1920, eight-year-old Bedros fled Armenia with his young sisters, grandmother, and uncle to escape the Turkish soldiers invading their town. But in the confusion, Bedros lost sight of the adults and was left alone to protect his siblings. Hungry, cold, and overwhelmed with responsibility, Bedros failed to remember his promise to his mother...

Told in verse, suspenseful and heart-rending, The Honey Jar depicts a journey from desperation to freedom, anchored in Bedros' promise to return to his native land and to find the one he left behind. His story will touch the hearts of families everywhere, especially those who have experienced the longing for a new life.

More accolades:

"My grandfather's letting go of his sister is a pain still felt by many of us today. I often imagine the interchange and the feelings he experienced; the pain of loss and the hope in finding. I carry these feelings of great sadness and joy, as my father has before me. They are treasured possessions that we will always have, like a gold cross and a honey jar."--Kalem Kazarian, the grandson of Peter Kazarian

"I had the honor to read an ARC for this, and oh-my-God! Such a heartrending story of family love, loss, and an unbreakable will to carry on against all odds. I can't wait till THE HONEY JAR hits the shelves!"--Astrid Kamalyan, author of Babo: A Tale of Armeninan Rug-Washing Day

"YOUR BOOK IS AMAZING! Thank you for publishing my nation's tragedy and raising awareness. I read it yesterday with one breath. Very touching and poetic."--Tamar Tufenkdjian, Board of Regents of Prelacy Armenian Schools

"To truly understand history, events must be tied to the individual stories of those involved. All too often this standard is not met, leading to misinterpretation and misrepresentation. Joan Schoettler's, The Honey Jar, reaches this high standard. Her concise, stark, and captivating writing style, renders this story unforgettable. Genocide's generational effects can never ever be forgotten. This book should be recommended reading for all ages."--Andrew G Kumpuris M.D., F.A.C.C., Chairman, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement

"What Schoettler has penned for young readers within these pages is nothing short of breathtaking. Her storytelling prowess is laced with love, hope, and resilience of the human spirit. As grandchild of a genocide survivor, I held on tight to every word and moment feeling both the courage and intensity of my own grandparents' journey to freedom. Achingly beautiful and a must read for all Armenian children."--Armen Bacon, author of Griefland: An Intimate Portrait of Love, Loss, and Unlikely Friendship and My Name is Armen

"...you did a great job of touching the reader's emotions and raising awareness of important historical events in an age-appropriate way. It's a wonderful story, and knowing that it is based on real experiences makes the book even more poignant."--Jerry Burger: Author of The Shadows of 1915, an Armenian novel

"In spare but moving blank verse, author Joan Schoettler weaves in danger--the rat-a-tat of gunfire, bullets raining down--with homey thoughts of baba ganoush, honey dipped from a precious jar, and sisters sleeping like grape leaves, rolled and nestled together. These details set a particular scene, but readers anywhere, in any time, will understand dry throats, skin coated in dust, torn feet bandaged in rags, and a feeling of helpless terror."--Angelica Shirley Carpenter, Curator Emerita, Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children's Literature, California State University, Fresno

Joan Schoettler's writing demonstrates a global view as her stories traverse the world. Her focus of interest is inspired by true people, intriguing actual events, and the lived experiences of people from diverse backgrounds. The Honey Jar: An Armenian's Escape to Freedom, her first middle-grade novel, received the California Book Award, Juvenile, Gold Medal Book 2024. Joan's other picture books include Ruth Asawa: A Sculpting Life, A Home for George, and Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth. Joan earned a master of arts degree in reading and language from Fresno Pacific University. She taught children's literature and storytelling at California State University, Fresno. Joan lives with her husband in California where they raised three sons. Her grandchildren continue to inspire her writing. Visit her at joanschoettler.com.