Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. Juvenile fiction (ages 9-12). Newberry Honor winner 2008.
Summary: Elijah, the first free-born child in Buxton, a settlement of freed slaves in Canada, is learning things about life and trying to find a way to make the lessons stick.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Comments: I loved this book. As a teacher, I instantly began planning how this book could be used in the classroom. It would be a great part of a slavery unit, and an awesome read aloud (provided the teacher could pull off the dialect). But I think kids will pick it up and read it on their own and still love it. It's an amazing blend of story telling and history, dealing with slavery without being depressing.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Splendid Suns
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (author of The Kite Runner)
Summary: Set in Afghanistan over the course of three decades, Mariam and Laila, the wives of a man named Rasheed, struggle to find their place in an ever changing and volatile country.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Comments: While the story is so well-written and intriguing it's hard to put down, this book is in no way a "quick read." The book clap calls the book "heart-wrenching," and I couldn't think of a better word to describe it. We have heard so many things about the oppression of Afghan women, especially after the Taliban took over, yet I haven't ever completely identified with what it must have been like for them. The story is a beautiful blend of love, hate, domination and friendship and I would recommend reading it, as long as you are prepared for some heartache. I came away feeling so grateful to live in this country and to enjoy basic things like being able to walk down the street with my children that we normally might take for granted.
Summary: Set in Afghanistan over the course of three decades, Mariam and Laila, the wives of a man named Rasheed, struggle to find their place in an ever changing and volatile country.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Comments: While the story is so well-written and intriguing it's hard to put down, this book is in no way a "quick read." The book clap calls the book "heart-wrenching," and I couldn't think of a better word to describe it. We have heard so many things about the oppression of Afghan women, especially after the Taliban took over, yet I haven't ever completely identified with what it must have been like for them. The story is a beautiful blend of love, hate, domination and friendship and I would recommend reading it, as long as you are prepared for some heartache. I came away feeling so grateful to live in this country and to enjoy basic things like being able to walk down the street with my children that we normally might take for granted.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Feathers
Feathers by Jaqueline Woodson. Juvenile fiction (middle grades). Newberry Honor book this year. Eleven-year-old Frannie discovers how hope is like feathers (like the Emily Dickensen poem says) when a new boy, nicknamed Jesus Boy for his white skin and long hair, shows up in her class.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Review: Jaqueline Woodson has been recognized for her thought-provoking novels aimed at middle grades. In my opinion, there are not enough good books whose main characters are black. Woodson does a great job of writing about a way of life that is very foreign to me, yet creating characters who I connect with and care about. I was particularly impressed with the way she dealt with religion and hope, and the way Frannie experiences each. It was very refreshing and I think it would be a great classroom book, providing many opportunities for discussion. I enjoyed it, as I have other books she has written and believe that the novel deserved being mentioned as a Newberry Honor book this year.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Review: Jaqueline Woodson has been recognized for her thought-provoking novels aimed at middle grades. In my opinion, there are not enough good books whose main characters are black. Woodson does a great job of writing about a way of life that is very foreign to me, yet creating characters who I connect with and care about. I was particularly impressed with the way she dealt with religion and hope, and the way Frannie experiences each. It was very refreshing and I think it would be a great classroom book, providing many opportunities for discussion. I enjoyed it, as I have other books she has written and believe that the novel deserved being mentioned as a Newberry Honor book this year.
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