With its clever title and intriguing cover artwork, this YA novel [3.5 for me!] will attract many readers--and it should because the snappy, often-humWith its clever title and intriguing cover artwork, this YA novel [3.5 for me!] will attract many readers--and it should because the snappy, often-humorous writing holds up all the way through even while exploring an important and rarely discussed topic--undiagnosed endometriosis. The narrator, Delia Bridges, who is an academically successful high school senior bound for a bright future, sees all her dreams crash and burn after one disastrous mistake. For years, Delia suffered debilitating pain before and during her period, and her many appointments with doctors have left her with no answers to her problems. Fortunately for Delia, she has supportive friends and family, but her health issues prevent her from considering any possible romance. While Delia's specific issues are unique to her, many teen readers will draw inspiration from her journey and her determination to speak up and be heard. Perhaps some individuals in the health care professions will also read or hear about this book and realize that they need to listen to their patients, no matter their age. This is a strong debut with high teen appeal, and I'll be eager to read this author's next book. ...more
I really needed to read this biography [4.5 for me!] of the legendary civil rights activist because it seems more and more that our nation is mired inI really needed to read this biography [4.5 for me!] of the legendary civil rights activist because it seems more and more that our nation is mired in hopelessness, despair, and profit, and I wanted to bask in the story of someone who remained dedicated to his cause and continued to cling to the nonviolent way. My expectations were satisfied in this thorough, engaging book, arguably THE book to read about John Lewis. Relying on interviews with Lewis and more than 275 interviews with those who knew him, this well written book covers his formative years as well as his leadership in SNCC and his travels with the Freedom Riders as well as his time as a representative from Georgia in Congress. Biographer David Greenberg includes various tidbits about his daily routines, his food preferences, his attire, and his art collection, all intended to humanize Lewis, as well as lines from some of his speeches. While no one is perfect, Lewis remains as an example of moral leadership and someone who would surely be appalled at what is happening in our country right now. I finished the book filled with respect and in awe of the man even though I still have questions about some parts of his life's journey, including his involvement with the LGBTQIA+ and religious communities, and perhaps more about his childhood and school days. That notion of his about getting into good trouble continues to resonate with me and many others. For those of us who love history and biographies, this was quite a page-turner. ...more
Historical fiction fans know that there are numerous books set during WWII. While it might seem that all the stories about that era that are possible Historical fiction fans know that there are numerous books set during WWII. While it might seem that all the stories about that era that are possible to be told have already been told, that isn't the case. This one, for instance, covers the period right before Adolf Hitler comes into power in Germany in 1932, moving from Berlin to Paris in 1936, and then to New York City in 1944. The protagonists, three women who are strong in different ways, find their lives connected in a surprising coincidence. All three--one a famous writer from Maine on a cultural program to Germany, another a Jew living in Paris and working at the German Library of Burned Books, and the third, fighting against a Senator's determination to censor the books sent overseas to servicemen fighting in the war--believe in the importance of words and books to offer hope during the most troubling of times. Many readers like me will be unaware of the existence of the two libraries, including the American Library of Nazi-Banned Books in Brooklyn, until reading this story, even though they are familiar with the Nazi book burning. While the events described here occurred decades ago, the plot and attempts to restrict access to books couldn't be timelier, given the recent spate of book challenges and political posturing in the United States. The book held my attention all the way through. ...more
It took the author twenty years to write this particular story focusing on a little-known part of Holocaust history--the Nazi Lebensborn program. ThisIt took the author twenty years to write this particular story focusing on a little-known part of Holocaust history--the Nazi Lebensborn program. This effort to insure abundant future generations of Aryans with "pure" bloodlines involved women, some of whom volunteered to become pregnant for the honor it would bring, but it also had a cruel consequence since babies who weren't perfect were often killed. In this particular book, the protagonist, Allina Strauss is taken to Hochland Home after her family and village are destroyed and she is assaulted. She works there as a nurse, eventually tending to the children who are deemed slower or more flawed than the others and initiating a program to help develop the skills they've lost through neglect. (This part of the story is fictionalized.) Allina meets a high-ranking SS officer, Karl, who turns out to be nothing like she expects. His involvement in helping some of the Jewish children and families escape is part of his efforts to atone for his blind involvement in the Nazi Party when he was younger. While Allina and Karl might be considered ordinary or little cogs in the big picture, their actions are, indeed, heroic, and demonstrate that it is possible to stand up for one's beliefs and act against the wrongs that are in the world, even though those actions may come with a heavy price. Readers will be deeply invested in this story, told from the points of view of Allina and then of Karl as well as being bookended by another character's thoughts. The characters are complex, the setting unique, and the descriptions of people, places, and events carefully detailed. This is one of those books that will stay with readers for some time, prompting reflection about choices, sacrifice, and the power of love in the midst of impossible circumstances. I thoroughly enjoyed it, appreciating the author's attempt to bring to light this horrible practice of eugenics. I've read a couple of books about this topic so this one is unique in its focus. ...more
What a clever way to handle tough topics! In this graphic novel with a variety of sizes of panels and different colored text for different speakers, mWhat a clever way to handle tough topics! In this graphic novel with a variety of sizes of panels and different colored text for different speakers, middle grader Lonnie is struggling to accept his parents' divorce and having two different homes as well as issues of identity, being different from classmates whose parents live together, and how to deal with conflict. These are hard topics, often shunned by parents and their offspring, and after his father picks him up after school each day, Lonnie buckles up for the ride and broaches some of those issues. Many readers will be familiar with the experience of being trapped in the car with a parent and how that affords them the chance to talk things out or simply remain silent and ignore any issues that might be troubling them. Kudos for Lonnie for holding his father accountable for his words and actions, including careless, dismissive remarks about a classmate's two moms and about therapy and mental health. The facial expressions of the characters speak volumes, and this book could serve as a starting place for other families such as Lonnie's as they have those challenging conversations. This is a fast but important read, easily enjoyed by its intended young audience but the adults in their lives as well. I loved how Lonnie's mother reprimanded her son and daughter, Nicole, for calling each other stupid, instead insisting that they are "young, gifted, and Black" (p. 10), and how they pick up on her assessment. While the conversations with Mom driving her children to their destinations aren't as deep as those Lonnie has with his father, they're still important as well. ...more
Although the premise behind this middle-grade story [3.5 for me!] is rather far-fetched, I still loved most of it, partly because it takes part in a lAlthough the premise behind this middle-grade story [3.5 for me!] is rather far-fetched, I still loved most of it, partly because it takes part in a library and partly because I liked the characters. Essie, who becomes known as "the library girl," has lived in the Huffington Public Library for all of her eleven years of life, apparently abandoned on a bookshelf by someone. Four kind-hearted librarians (Doris, Taisha, Lucinda, and Jeanne-Marie) can't resist taking care of her when no one shows up. They keep her hidden, protected, and loved. But as she grows older, they decide it's time to allow her to explore the world outside the library first-hand rather than from books. While checking out a department store, she meets a boy who looks just like her, and the truth behind her birth and family is slowly revealed. All four librarians are wonderfully depicted and take their roles as mothers quite seriously. Despite the tough topics the book addresses and the mistakes that many characters, including Essie, make, there are many humorous moments and individuals who step in when help is needed, particularly when Essie and the four librarians, come into conflict with newly-hired Ms, Matterhorn, who has to be one of the most meddling characters ever written and described as "a woman so disagreeable that cats leapt into open manholes when they saw her coming" (p. 66). And oh, how this book provides a roadmap for dealing with life's challenges: "If people were like books in the library, if everyone was their own story, then what had her mothers taught her? That all stories were good stories as long as they were true to the teller. And that you should never try to pretend that the things that had happened in the past hadn't or that the way people believed or thought or felt hadn't happened. Because what good was a story if it was censored and untrue? Stories were for sharing the infinite ways there were to be human" (p. 237). ...more
WOW! This picture book blew me away, pushing against colonialism as it does. I was familiar with the Kohinoor Diamond and knew that it was part of theWOW! This picture book blew me away, pushing against colonialism as it does. I was familiar with the Kohinoor Diamond and knew that it was part of the crown jewels that now belong to the British empire and make their way into the public eye upon occasion. While I'm certainly aware of how jewels and other goods are part of the bounties of war, I'd never really thought much about how this diamond and the other treasures came to London. Accompanied by exquisite, intricately detailed collage illustrations, created by hand and digitally with cut paper and other materials for texture and dimension, the book traces the history of this massive gem, discovered in India, then set in a throne, and becoming an object of desire that inspired greed, violence, and war, passing from one hand to another until the British took it for its queen. While several of the scenes depicting the diamond's owners require some reading between the lines, any unanswered questions or uncertainties are addressed in the back matter, which includes a more extensive detailing of the many hands that claimed this rare prize. Near the end of the book two young brown-skinned youngsters appear, hurt and angry as they gaze at the diamond, now part of a crown in a museum. The book's intensity builds as the author wonders why this diamond still manages to shine despite all that it's been through and then offers reasons. Empowering, eye-opening, passionate, this picture book poses questions about what should happen to treasures such as this one that have been stolen and also offers tips for decolonization. All of the artwork in this book speaks to me, and the endpapers are just as attractive as the rest of the book, which covers territory not frequently addressed in children's books. ...more
I'm not sure if this is the start of a middle-grade series based on the heading of Creatures & Teachers, but if not, it should be. I'm sure that I wonI'm not sure if this is the start of a middle-grade series based on the heading of Creatures & Teachers, but if not, it should be. I'm sure that I won't be the only one who would happily read books featuring those elements. Blending snarky adolescent humor and relationships with downright scary passages featuring spiders--I'm not giving this away since this should be obvious from the book cover--the story opens with four students arriving at Dread Wood Academy for detention. They aren't friends; in fact, they barely know each other. But over the course of a very intense Saturday, they come to know each other very well, learning why they are serving detention, but also, some of their secrets. When Mr. Canton, the teacher in charge of detention, disappears right in front of their eyes, they realize that this is no ordinary detention, and their lives--and the fate of the rest of the community--depend on trusting each other. There's hardly a slow page in this book as something new happens all the time, and the four detainees are in a race for their lives almost constantly. Even though readers don't learn as much as they might have wished about the four students, they learn enough to find them interesting, complex, and worthy. Plus, there's a hopeful message worth taking in about forgiveness and the importance of owning up to one's mistakes....more
Inspiring and timely given the ubiquity of various types of protective masks, including the N95, worn during the recent pandemic, this picture book biInspiring and timely given the ubiquity of various types of protective masks, including the N95, worn during the recent pandemic, this picture book biography celebrates the life of the Malaysian doctor who invented the prototype for the masks used in hospitals today. Wu Lien-teh grew up in Malaysia, won a prestigious scholarship to the University of Cambridge, and eventually pursued his medical career in China. There, back in 1910, more than a century ago, he faced a unique health care challenge and came up with the idea for the mask to combat the pneumonic plague that was sickening and killing many individuals. After he persuaded many folks to don the masks, the plague ended in four months, perhaps a note worth considering for those in this country who continue to refuse to wear masks. The author has included details about this innovation as well as the push-back he received for his masks as well as the discrimination and prejudice he faced during his career. There's a timeline, plus photographs, and additional information in the back matter. Interestingly, the story is told by Wu Lien-teh's great-granddaughter. This hidden figure sorely needed to be recognized, and teachers will be delighted to add this accessible, well-written, and informative text to their collection. The digital illustrations are clean and crisp, and taken along with the book's clever title, large white strip of gauze and flapping physician's coat, they pay appropriate trip to this clever, resilient man who seems to have been something of a superman or a "masked hero," as the title would have it. Such a small thing that would have such an impact on lives! I'm grateful to the author, illustrator, and publisher for highlighting this part of history and this man. ...more
Sixteen-year-old Iris has plans, big plans, for her future. She's working hard at a local drug store where she's been promoted to assistant manager beSixteen-year-old Iris has plans, big plans, for her future. She's working hard at a local drug store where she's been promoted to assistant manager because of how responsible she is, and she's saving her money for college. When she realizes that she's pregnant, she knows that she's not ready to be a mother and that giving birth to a child would alter her future in countless ways. With the help of her mother, her boyfriend, Lorenzo, who is 18, she decides to drive cross country from her Paris, Texas, home to Oregon where her grandmother lives and where she can have an abortion legally. That's not an option in Texas where she lives because she is about six weeks pregnant. Along the way, Ivy and Lorenzo have many adventures, visit local towns with the names of other, more famous places such as Lima and Rome, see some amazing and not so amazing sights, fall further in love, and meet some amazing women. While the folks Iris encounters during stopovers are either family friends or relatives, each one has stories about their own abortions or some of the historical restrictions on women's reproductive health and behavior. While I appreciated these women's stories and willingness to share their secrets as they provided aid to Iris, I also found it rather unlikely that so many of these women would have had relevant stories to relate. The fact that Iris and Lorenzo have never had sex and that she seems to be vilified by almost every resident of Paris once her pregnancy [and later, her abortion] is revealed add drama and tension to the story, but also seem almost too predictable and disingenuous. Surely, there are individuals in Texas who would have been willing to help Iris and are pro-choice. The constant refrain of the word "choice" makes the story almost veer into heavy didacticism. Despite these quibbles and the unkind aspersions seemingly cast on all Texans as well as the message that it's necessary to leave rather than stay and promote change from within a community, this is an important book, one well worth reading, discussing, and reflecting upon. To say that it's timely is an understatement, given the recent Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade and the response of many states to that ruling. ...more
This book is a 4.5 for me, and it's certainly worth reading. Every time I think that I've had my fill of stories about the Holocaust, along comes anotThis book is a 4.5 for me, and it's certainly worth reading. Every time I think that I've had my fill of stories about the Holocaust, along comes another book that reminds me that this is not so, that as epic and historical as that particular period before, during, and after WWII, was, and that no matter how many books about the Holocaust I read, ultimately, this was a time when the personal stories and personal experiences of survivors and the offspring of those who did not survive were what mattered. This particular story, based on research by the author, her mother, and others who helped along the way, describes her efforts to figure out the mystery behind a postcard her family receives in Paris in 2003 that has the names of her maternal great-grandparents and two of their children. The journey is fascinating, filled with twists, turns, detours, and plentiful description of the war years as various places became unsafe for Jews. While the author's method of storytelling takes some getting used to since she includes letters, conversations, as well as straight narrative, it's worth the effort as her attention to detail enables readers to feel as though they know Anne [the author] and her mother Lelia but also the Rabinovitches, their ancestors, Ephraim, Emma, Noemie, and Jacques. It's hard not to wonder about what might have been as well as certain coincidences that are threaded throughout the story and the emotional toll of such an investigation. Other reviewers have used the word "intimate" to describe this book, and I would agree. This is history at its most intimate, filled with the very real realization that what happened to those that came before us affects us even decades later. It's also a story about relationships, missed chances, and the sometimes-tenuous bond between a mother and a daughter. This one kept me riveted, and I emerged from my reading with questions of my own about my own family. ...more
Although the main character, eighteen-year-old Ruby Newhouse, might not seem very modern in today's world, but for Chicago in 1928, she certainly is. Although the main character, eighteen-year-old Ruby Newhouse, might not seem very modern in today's world, but for Chicago in 1928, she certainly is. Ruby's ability to read minds has made her increasingly aware of the injustices around her, and she's been taking action to rid the city of the worst men who have been harming women in terrible ways. The grateful women in the community have no idea of her identity, but they credit an angel vigilante. Who knows how long Ruby would have continued her efforts, but she meets a man with the ability to shift shapes, taking on the forms of those around him, as he works as a janitor in a morgue, and hoping that the morgue supervisor will give him access to his research so that he can understand exactly what he is. This man, whose real name is Peter Buchanan, is carrying a lot of baggage from his formative years, and has kept his identity and secret hidden from everyone, never allowing anyone to get close. But when he meets Ruby, who pretends to be a lightheaded flapper interested in drink and dance, lightning strikes, and both are drawn to each other while fearful about what that closeness will do to their secrets. Since Buchanan, using another's identity, becomes involved in finding out who is responsible for all these mysterious deaths due to poison, Ruby realizes that it will only be a matter of time before he figures out whom she really is. This fast-paced, stylish mystery with a strong female protagonist kept me engaged all the way to the end as Ruby tries to dismantle the corruption that exists at the top of the city's power structure. The descriptions of how she reads minds, needing to be careful not to stay inside a mind for too long when someone is close to death, are fascinating as are some of the descriptions of the Chicago social scene during that era. Readers in search of a book with a female character who can stand on her own two feet and who takes justice into her own hands at great risk to herself will find this one satisfactory reading even while also weighing her actions and considering whether the end justifies the means. ...more
Other friends have told me that this historical fiction wasn't as strong as the author's previous books, notably Salt to the Sea and Between Shades ofOther friends have told me that this historical fiction wasn't as strong as the author's previous books, notably Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray, but I'd have to disagree. In its own respect, it's just as compelling and certainly raised my own awareness of what happened back in 1989 in Romania. It also goes to show just how skilled some leaders are at fooling their own fellow citizens and world leaders as happened with Nicolae Ceausescu and how quickly reprisal would arrive once the nation's population revolted. The story focuses on seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu, a writer and a dreamer, whose entire life has been spent living under the thumb of Ceausescu's draconian restrictions. Food is rationed and in short supply, and living conditions are crowded and poorly heated. But worst of all, adolescents like Cristian have little hope that anything will ever change, especially since they aren't free to speak their minds or know much of anything about the outside world. The fact that the country is rife with informers makes it hard to know whom to trust and necessary to watch what is said. The secret police enlist Cristian's help in spying on an American diplomat and his family, something he agrees to reluctantly in order to protect his family and for medicine for his ailing grandfather. But as the days pass and he realizes that someone close to him must also be informing the authorities about his own actions, possibly even Liliana, the girl on whom he has a crush, Cristian becomes even more disconcerted. The author captures effectively the fear and mistrust that permeated Romania at that time and the relief and joy of a massive protest that leads to change. It's easy to see how things could have turned out far differently, and readers will be drawn into the story because of the protagonist's youthful innocence and the references to mistakes he's made--as though he's looking back on his own actions with regret. As the author notes in the back matter, this story doesn't offer easy answers or tie up everything that happened neatly, but it should certainly prompt curious readers to want to learn more about this particular place and time and how it was possible for the country to put its trust in one man who turned out to have his own self-interest in mind rather than what was good for Romania. Books like this remind me just how little I know about certain world events. There's always more to the story than the headlines and short news stories. This one is well worth reading simply because it prompts readers to wonder how far they might go to save themselves and others and what the price of doing so might be. ...more
Told from multiple perspectives, this engaging novel about Deaf culture is truly a revelation and a reminder that there are many different forms of--aTold from multiple perspectives, this engaging novel about Deaf culture is truly a revelation and a reminder that there are many different forms of--and reasons for--revolution. Those who support inclusion might feel differently after reading this story, which raises questions about empowerment, the use of implants, and who should get to make choices when it comes to someone's body or disability. Each chapter heading consists of the sign or letter for the narrator, and there are various tidbits of Deal history, myth-busters, American Sign Language, and exercises (all parts of one character's curriculum), woven in between the main narrative. For readers less familiar with Deaf culture, all of this is a revelation, providing food for thought and raising awareness about the prejudices faced by those in this particular community. The characters are likeable and relatable because of their imperfections, and readers will quickly become caught up in their lives as they search for acceptance and understanding. I'd be hard pressed to choose one with which I most identified since all of them are fully developed. There's February Waters, the headmistress at River Valley School for the Deaf, who is keeping secrets from her wife while mourning various losses and loving her students so very much. Charlie Serrano arrives at the school having acted out at previous schools, feeling troubled by her cochlear implant, and completely lost when it comes to communicating with her peers. Austin Workman is the descendant of several generations of Deaf relatives, but the birth of his sister, who is born hearing, causes problems as his Deal mother and hearing father need to make a decision about her that troubles Austin deeply. Even Eliot Quinn, Austin's roommate, who makes only brief appearances in the book, has a horror story about what happened to him when his mother and her new religious friends tried to "cure" his deafness. While the book's conclusion seems a bit over the top and the students' actions rather pointless, it's hard to say what other options they could have taken. But True Biz: This book will challenge many of your assumptions about being Deaf or being disabled. It is definitely not be missed. ...more
Set in Budapest in mid- to late-October and early November of 1956, a few years after the end of WWII, this book blends historical fiction and fantasySet in Budapest in mid- to late-October and early November of 1956, a few years after the end of WWII, this book blends historical fiction and fantasy in an interesting way, and earns a 3.5 from me. The beginning of this story of the Hungarian Revolution and the importance of the Duna River left me a bit confused and frustrated since it seemed to jump around a bit, leaving me disoriented. The protagonist, Csilla Tisza, is just days away from fleeing the city with her aunt, who lost several family members during the Holocaust. Under the Russian regime, Budapest is a bleak, gray city where everyone fears everyone else and there are reprisals for speaking out against the government. Csilla's own parents were killed by the secret police but have now been exonerated for their alleged crimes. As time for her departure grows nearer, Csilla is compelled to discover the whereabouts of a friend of Tamas, someone she doesn't even know. What she learns prompts her to become involved in a student-led rebellion against the present government and leads her to become closer to Tamas and to Azriel, an angel of death who has come to the city as he usually does when there is a possibility of violence and death. The descriptions of the protests as citizens fill the city's streets in hope that they can prompt change and then the violent movement against them are especially powerful, and readers will hope against hope that the movement will succeed, particularly since Csilla is able to use her job at the local newspaper to pen stories about what's actually happening and rally support. When things don't go as the rebels hope, Csilla creates a golem. Although I became increasingly sure of how everything would end, the last half of the book found me reading its pages with my breath held, filled with anxiety for Csilla and her compatriots. Despite the book's possible flaws and my own ignorance of this particular time and movement, there was much to admire about parts of the storytelling and the central focus, which seemed to encourage reflection about how it's possible to love places and individuals, even those in our own family, that are less than perfect and whether it's possible to forgive words or deeds that almost seem unforgiveable. Reading this book, set decades ago and featuring a protagonist will to give everything she has to save her country, just might spark some modern revolutionary to work for change in his/her/their country today. ...more
WOW! This graphic novel--3.5 for me simply because the stories needed a bit more historical context so that I could understand the lay of the land at WOW! This graphic novel--3.5 for me simply because the stories needed a bit more historical context so that I could understand the lay of the land at that time--made me realize just how little I know about South Africa. To be honest, much of my knowledge centers around Nelson Mandela, Bishop Tutu, and apartheid, and I had no idea about these instances of rebellion on the part of members of the working class. The author has sifted through piles of century-old case records housed in the Supreme Court of Appeals basement archive in Bloemfontein, South Africa, and relied on that research in order to tell how regular individuals fought for their rights in various ways and the legal rulings that resulted from those efforts. This book focuses on the period between 1910 and 1948, covering six different pivotal movements, including the registration process required of South African Indians, the municipal tram workers strike in Johannesburg, the Transvaal Night Pass Ordinance, and the inhuman conditions of workers in the mines near Johannesburg and efforts to equalize pay. All but the one of the chapters or stories examines legal decisions that would have far-reaching effects, and all six chapters use stunning graphic illustrations to tell those stories. At the end of each chapter, a brief discussion of the events and the research that led to the material used in the stories is provided, alongside archival records, letters, personal accounts, and photographs. Additionally, readers can compare some of the illustrators' sketches to the photographs of the events and individuals. Although I didn't always understand everything that was covered here because little about South African is part of the social studies and history curriculum in the United States, I finished the book humbled by the efforts to right wrongs on the part of ordinary men and women who somehow found the courage to stand up for what was right and try to foster change. As others have remarked, if ALL parts of history were told in a graphic novel format, perhaps even the most complex aspects of the law, politics, and various movements would be much more accessible. That said, such a format runs the risk of making those events seem simpler than they might have been. Still, I was deeply engaged throughout my reading and appreciated the six different examples of visual storytelling. ...more
Set in India during 1857 and 1858, this historical fiction follows the adventures of Meera, a twelve-year-old girl who dreads but reluctantly accepts Set in India during 1857 and 1858, this historical fiction follows the adventures of Meera, a twelve-year-old girl who dreads but reluctantly accepts her arranged marriage to a boy from a nearby village. But when he is killed in a riot, Meera's father and the boy's family expect her to burn herself on his funeral pyre out of respect and because that is traditional in their Hindu sect. Meera flees with assistance from an unexpected ally, and ends up being befriended by others sympathetic to her plight. She ends up working as a servant for one of the officials of the British East India Company and enlisted by the rebels who are protesting and fighting against British rule. As so many have had to do in the past and even today, Meera must choose between this safe and relatively comfortable life she now has but little free will or independence and striking against what's wrong and charting her own destiny. The author excels in providing snippets about how racist and clueless the Memsahib or mistress of the house often is, believing herself to be sympathetic to her servants and yet portraying them as animals in her paintings. Readers won't want to miss the helpful notes in the backmatter so that they don't think sati or self-immolation was typical of South Asian brides whose husbands died or other cultural details. I did find it a bit troublesome, though, that much of what happens to Meera and her friend Bhavani is part of the author's imagination since she notes that they are "children, and girls--who would not have been employed at this point in history..."(p. 303) and thus their ability to work as servants and earn money in order to plan for their future and independence would be impeded and impossible. Still, despite those concerns, the raised awareness of Meera and how she defies her destiny are inspiring. ...more
Because conditions in their homeland make it impossible to eke out a living, Flor and her father travel to a more promising country that promises a beBecause conditions in their homeland make it impossible to eke out a living, Flor and her father travel to a more promising country that promises a better life for all. Flor has imagined this new place as filled with riches and opportunities for all, based on the television programs she has watched. And while in some ways, thing are better, she and her father quickly realize that there are challenges and inequities. Her father works long hours in the hot sun, unable to complain because of fears that he'll lose his job and be deported. And while Flor struggles at first with the language and fitting in, she thrives in school, seeing education as a way forward and upward. But because she is undocumented, there are opportunities that are closed to her as well. This story and its illustrations will speak to many youngsters like Flor as well as those who don't understand the immigration process and the limits placed on the freedom of those who come here. Perhaps it will make some readers more empathetic to their situation and prompt them to rally for changes. I appreciated how Flor still loves her new home country even while recognizing the need for changes and the necessity for her and others to speak up. ...more
This picture book is a 3.5 for me. The stylized hand-drawn and then digitally-collaged illustrations in this picture book will certain be recognizableThis picture book is a 3.5 for me. The stylized hand-drawn and then digitally-collaged illustrations in this picture book will certain be recognizable to fans of the illustrator. They serve as excellent complements to a fascinating story about a Nahua (Aztec) woman who kept her culture and language alive by staying true to herself and serving as a model for many artists interested in portraying the true heart and face of Mexico and not the Europeans who had settled there. The text and images show Luz as a young girl learning various crafts and how to use herbs before moving to Mexico City during the Mexican Revolution. Although she dreams of becoming a teacher, she faces many challenges and much prejudice before finally having her ambitions realized as she helped another instructor teach Nahuatal to interested students. This culturally-rich picture book offers an introduction to this hidden figure, one that is sure to stir curiosity in the hearts of young readers as it did for me. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me, offering a good introduction into the significance of the phrase, "Black Lives Matter." Using direct address through commentThis one is a 3.5 for me, offering a good introduction into the significance of the phrase, "Black Lives Matter." Using direct address through comments such as "little one" (unpaged), "little love" (unpaged), and "darling" (unpaged), the author could be speaking to young family members gathered at her knee, on a stoop or around the kitchen table. The poetic text uses action verbs such as dance, whisper, sob, drive, and gentle but firm reminders that this is a saying and a movement intended to demand respect. The lines increase in intensity almost in the way the Black Lives Movement itself has grown over time, concluding with an acknowledgment that these young Black lives do matter and that they have a bright future, indicated in the last illustration showing a youngster, presumably a boy in a tie and graduation cap and gown. The striking illustrations have been created using watercolor pencil and collage. Each image is in the shadows or turned sideways so that readers cannot determine the person's identity, making it seem that each one represents several others and several experiences throughout the ages, hard times and easier times, sorrow and jubilation. This large picture book would be perfect to share with those who don't understand the phrase in its title or explaining it to curious youngsters at home or in a classroom. ...more