All four of the covers have some element of humanity. 3 of them show people or human intestines, the last one shows a boat and pier. These depictions of humanity show that within the book the theme of humanity will be prevalent. These covers also vary because they all show differing levels of the previously mentioned humanity. It ranges from a photo of a person, a blurry image of a child, the etchings of a human body, and least of all, the product of humanity. These differences show that there are varying amounts of humanity and of human nature within the book.
These two book covers bring a lot to mind when I initially looked at them. First and foremost the cover on the left brings the word "children" into my head. This is due to the figure in the picture looking like it is a young child as well as the fact that it looks as if the figure is in motion or playing. The cover on the right brings the word "crude" to mind. The cover depicts organs entrapped inside barbwire. The sketches are rough with mostly straight lines and little precision, it is almost dehumanizing the organs and the people that the organs come from.
The yellow cover would have led me to believe that this book was about children. The picture along with the title would have led me to think that the book would include a family who was at risk of losing a daughter or a loved one and about that families struggle to keep the child with them. After reading the book it is obvious to me that the cover is supposed to represent Kathy's childhood at Hailsham. The other cover would lead me to think that the plot was darker, possibly about organ and human trafficking. This thought is due to the barbwire surrounding the organs. It makes it seem as if the organs have been trapped or captured and are being detained in some way. Now that I've read the book I realize that the image is portraying the idea that their organs are not theirs to use freely. That they are trapped in this ideal created by society.
In the first picture it is easy to say that the girl pictured is Kathy. It is meant to show her as a child, playing and moving. The POV appears to be that of a guardian, one of her instructors who would watch over her and make sure that her development is moving in the right direction. The other picture would be from the perspective of a doctor or a carer who is assisting with a donation. This photo could easily be an internal image of the donor's body. Who's body it is is left to the interpretation of the reader. It could be the audience member's body or any of the character's body.
The yellow cover presents the ideal of care and friendship. This is shown through the bright, happy colors and the softness of any possibly rough edges. The people who would make this are people who have families or who have a child in their life that they care about. The gray cover shows desperation, fear, pain. This is through the hard edges and the barbwire and the sloppily written words. People who would make that would be people who have felt fear and entrapped. People who are scared and feel threatened and who have been in tough situations before.
Overall I believe that the yellow cover is a better representation of the book and what the book is trying to say. The story line of NLMG is constantly promoting hope of a better tomorrow and of a better future and that is better shown throw the soft colors and edges in the Yellow cover. The Gray cover promotes hostility and danger. That is not the central theme behind NLMG which is why I believe that the yellow cover is a better representation of the book and its messages.
