Jennifer's Reviews > Yasmin's Hammer

"Yasmin's Hammer" is an intriguing tale of a young girl, Yasmin, whose family moved from the country (after their farm was flooded out) to Dhaka, the capital of Bangledesh. Every member of the family has to work very hard in order to make ends meet. Each morning that Yasmin and her sister Mita go to work crushing bricks with hammers, Yasmin dreams of being able to go to school. With great determination, the family figures out a way that allows Yasmin and Mita to go to school. The colorful pictures will give American children a better idea of what it's like to live in another country like Bangledesh. The inspiring story encourages primary and intermediate students to value the free education that they receive in the USA. And for those struggling readers, Yasmin is a wonderful example of not giving up when things are difficult. "Yasmin's Hammer" won the 2010-2011 APALA Award.