“I will win, I will definitely win!”
For my mother and sister who died from illness due to flies
I'm definitely going to win the 'Fly Catching Contest'!
But, if it's to get rid of bad flies, is it okay to use tricks?

William followed his father to live in an unfamiliar country, Canada.
I thought everything would be fine when I met my uncle in Canada, but my uncle got sick and I got kicked out of the boarding house where I lived with my father.
At that time, a fly-catching contest was held in Hamilton, the city where William lived, to catch flies that cause harmful diseases.
William is determined to get first place and get revenge on Paris for killing his mother and sister, and also buy a house to live in with his father and uncle.
However, William's classmate, Fred, uses every trick in his power to win the competition.
William wants to win against Fred, who looks down on him and his father as poor Irishmen.
He joined forces with his friends to catch flies fairly, but gradually became obsessed with using tricks to beat Fred.
On the final day of the competition, William takes the flies he caught illegally to the competition venue, but ends up sharing the flies with his friends and younger siblings who have worked hard for him, and takes second place, which is more valuable than first place.
The 39th book in the Bookkong Children's Book series, "The Fly-Catching Contest," is set in 1910 in Canada and around the world, and is the story of William, a boy who tries his best to be happy in any situation.
The film warmly portrays William's struggles with shame and conflict due to poverty, guilt over his mother and sister getting sick because they didn't catch flies, and the constant struggle between wanting to win the competition at all costs and wanting to compete fairly, all while moving forward little by little.

A small gift for me, but for my friend… … ?
A book that fosters understanding of people whose lives are different from ours.

William is a boy who has a difficult life with his father.
In order to avoid being kicked out of the boarding house, he endures the persecution of the boarding house owner, and even when he is unjustly beaten by the principal, he holds on strong.
I want to eat an orange, but I don't want to be embarrassed in front of my annoying friend, so I secretly chew on an orange peel that was thrown in the trash.
Although it is a story that could easily become melodramatic if done wrong, the author calmly unfolds William's story through detailed psychological descriptions.
When William receives a gift from a rich friend, he wonders, "When will I be able to give back what my friend has given me?" This makes us think about our own lives and the lives of others.
As I read the story, I naturally come to feel how even a small favor to me can have such weight to others.


Even if you can't be first, live more honestly than anyone else
A story that gives courage and hope to everyone

William, who works hard and does not give up even in difficult situations.
But this story is not just a simple one that shows that success can be achieved through hard work even in difficult situations.
William can win with just one trick, and he doesn't give in to temptation even when he desperately needs the prize money.
Unlike the old tales, there is no fairy coming to William for keeping his conscience and giving him a wonderful gift, nor is there a miraculous victory. However, when William receives second place, the whole hall is filled with the heartfelt applause of his friends and family who have worked hard with him.
Fred won the competition by using all kinds of tricks, but it was William who participated in the competition honestly until the end that moved people's hearts.

In these days when people say things like, "All you have to do is win" and "It's useless if you don't get first place," I hope that this story, which may not be as exciting as it sounds, but is full of hope and courage, will be a comfort to children living in this harsh world.