In this novel which is reminiscent of Rick Riordan's mythology-based novels, Charlie Hernandez discovers some family secrets that lead him to his role in Latin American myths. Charlie's abuela raised him on Latin mythologies from Central and South American, and he has always loved them as stories, but over the course of this novel, Charlie learns that the monsters he loved learning about are true. Charlie has to use the knowledge his abuela gave him of these myths and monsters to save himself and his family. This is a fun book with an action-packed storyline. I enjoyed the Spanish words interspersed within the story as they add to the authenticity of the story and help build Charlie's character. This book is the first in a series. Some of the monster's Charlie faces are a little creepy, so be advised! Approximate Reading Level - Grades 5th-8th
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I enjoyed this book much more than I had anticipated. Mian does a wonderful job developing Omar as a likable and relatable character. Told from Omar's perspective, the reader follows Omar as he works to fit in at his new school and in his new neighborhood. Students will enjoy the humor and fun illustrations throughout the story. Omar has a great sense of humor and a creative imagination which makes the storyline engaging; however, there are some serious themes in the book as well as Omar struggles with prejudice from others due to his family being Muslim. Mian does a fabulous job of including Muslim culture throughout the book to lend some authenticity to the storyline and characters and to teach non-Muslim readers about some basic Muslim beliefs and culture. Overall, I think students will enjoy this book which is the first in a three book series about Omar. Approximate Reading Level - Grades 3rd-5th (I think it would also be suitable for some 6th graders as well) The Parker Inheritance was recommended to me by a former colleague, and I am quite glad she recommended it to me because I always have students ask me for mystery recommendations, and I just rarely read mystery books. The protagonist of the story is a young Black girl named Candice who works with her friend Brandon to solve a mystery involving her grandmother. As Candice works to solve her grandmother's mystery she encounters historical information and racism. The plot line bounces from current times to the 1950s seamlessly as the reader learns what is happening with Candice as well as what happened with her grandmother. Students who like a mystery and historical fiction will love this book. There are some discussions of racism in the book as well as a character who is LGBTQ+. Approximate Reading Level: 4th-6th grade I chose this as one of my books to read because I do not usually enjoy graphic novels; however, many of my students do. I will say, I was pleasantly surprised with Catherine’s War. The fact that the story is based upon Billet’s own experiences in the war as a hidden child in France gave some authenticity to the storyline. The storyline not only follows Cohen’s journey throughout France, but it also parallels her journey as a photographer. Through her inner dialogue, the author gets her thoughts on what is happening to her as well as how she begins to evolve as a photographer with the different techniques and items she photographs. Flauvel’s illustrations are expressive and do not detract from the message of the story. They allow the reader to better understand what Rachel and her fellow characters must have been thinking and feeling along their journey. The book definitely provides a window into the harrowing time in France and allows the reader to get a glimpse of what it would have been like to be a child during this time period. I believe that students will be able to find a mirror, perhaps not in Rachel’s physical journey, but in her emotional journey and her growth as she adapts with each of the situations she faces. In the book, photography seems to be the anchor that allowed Rachel to be able to deal with the turmoil in her life, and I am certain many students will be able to relate to having something that is their calm in the storm as well. The only “issue” I have with this book is simply that it is another representation of Jewish life as is centered around the Holocaust which seems to be the theme for the majority of Jewish books I have encountered. While WWII and the Holocaust are defining moments in this culture, they do not define the culture, and I believe students would benefit in representation of Jewish life from other perspectives as well. As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discusses in her Ted Talk, there is a danger in viewing ethnic groups and cultures from a “single story” and I believe the single story of the reaction or happenings to WWII is often the single story for the Jewish culture. Approximate Reading Level: 4th-7th grade (no war scenes but children are uprooted from their families) Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte is inspired by a true story of a deaf community on Martha’s Vineyards in the 19th century, and through Mary and the other character’s eyes, this community comes to life to the reader. The reader is presented with a community where everyone speaks sign language and being deaf is not seen as a deficit. I do not think I have ever read a book with a deaf protagonist before, and I am glad that I read this one and was presented with such a strong and capable young woman. I believe through Mary, LeZotte creates a strong protagonist which can serve as a mirror for students who may also be dealing with deafness and how it impacts their life. Mary is a positive role model with strength, intellect, and some spunk who both hearing and non-hearing students will be able to connect with. In the story, Mary does not see anything “wrong” with herself and neither do any of the other members in the community; unfortunately, Mary’s sheltered life is disturbed as an outsider comes to the island to study the deaf. Through his treatment and belittling discussions with the townspeople, Mary begins to question her abilities and why others view deaf people as being less smart or incapable of the same tasks as a hearing person. Through her inner-dialogue and her conversations with other characters, LeZotte introduces the idea of deafness not being a hindrance to intellect and ability. Lezotte also weaves threads in the storyline about dealing with family loss, the effects of Colonialism, racism, ableism, and religion. In the novel, LeZotte acknowledges the racial tensions among the English, black, and Wampanoag residents of the community through Mary’s interactions. The reader is introduced to the problems and Mary questions them, but there is no easy fix. The reader is not left with a cute, storybook ending, but a realistic one. While reading this book, I definitely gained a window into a world I knew very little about. I was able to connect to Mary and envision the frustration and hurt you would feel when being looked upon as “less than” simply because you can’t hear. Through Mary, LeZotte creates a window to time and place in history, I would like to further explore and share with my students. Approximate Reading Level: 5th-7th grades In The Year of the Rat by Grace Lin, Lin tells the story of Pacy who is an elementary aged girl who is trying to figure out where she fits. In Chapter 3, page 16, I was struck by Pacy’s thoughts, “…It was so hard to explain these things. Sometimes, I felt like I was more than one person. At home, everyone called me Pacy, my Chinese name; and at school, everyone called me Grace, my American name.” She goes on to explain that some people consider her to actually be Taiwanese because her parents are from Taiwan, and she was not sure which person she is supposed to be. As someone who has never encountered these feelings myself, it gave me a window into what many of my ESL students and immigrants to other countries must feel often. They feel as if they are straddling two worlds and two cultures and are not quite sure who to be when. I think this would be exceptionally difficult for a young person who is growing up and dealing with all of the hormones and feelings adolescent brings with it. I am certain many of my students will see their personal struggles mirrored in Pacy’s struggle to find herself and will be able to relate to her. Not only has Lin authentically represented the turmoil a young immigrant may feel, she also has included many facets of Chinese culture throughout the short novel. The book is full if Chinese culture, traditions, and legends. The reader learns about the Chinese Zodiac and why the rat is the first animal represented, as well as, traditional food items and what is served a different celebrations. Through Pacy’s parent’s stories, the reader is also given some “first person” accounting of how difficult it is to be “fresh off the boat”. The book includes Lin’s fun black and white illustrations to add more character and whimsy to the story as well. I would definitely share this book and series with my students as it offers a peek into the Chinese culture for those who are unfamiliar and it will lend some insight and comfort to students who are from a culture that is not in the majority. Approximate Reading Level: 3rd-6th grades The Skirt is a short chapter book targeted at elementary students, and it does a good job of introducing the characters and the main conflict they face. The story follows a traditional story arc with the conflict being resolved at the end. Through the story, Soto weaves Mexican culture with the introduction of the folklorico skirt and its meaning to Miata and her mother. Soto also incorporates some Spanish words and phrases throughout the story which lends some authenticity to the text and serves as a great window into the lives of a traditional Mexican-American family. Students who do not understand Spanish can infer the meaning based on the context and will see another language interwoven into their text. As the story progresses, the reader learns the importance of family by seeing how the Ramirez family eats together and how they interact and speak with each other. The Ramirez family is portrayed as a typical American family whose father loves baseball, but also a family with its roots still grounded in Mexican tradition and culture as is shown through their use of Spanish language and their love of tradition such as the folklorico skirt that has been passed down to Miata. Students of all backgrounds will be able to relate to the family and see some of their own traditions and family values reflected in the story. The illustrations in the book are somewhat scant and are in black and white, but they add to the storyline and allow readers to get a picture of Miata and her family. I believe they will help readers who may not be familiar with the Mexican culture, get an idea of what a folklorico skirt looks like so they can better understand the story as whole. The illustrations also help to authenticate the story by adding details such as Mexican American artwork and furnishings in the house. As a whole, I believe Soto and Velasquez are able to capture an interesting story while also sharing some Mexican heritage with their readers. Most readers will be able to relate to the idea of losing something precious to them and working hard to get it back. Approximate Reading Level: 3rd-6th grades My son came home in 5th grade with a copy of Ghost Boys that he had chosen for his reading class. I read the summary on the book jacket and was intrigued, so I decided to read it alongside him, and I loved it. That being said. It is not an "easy" read. The vocabulary and storyline is not difficult and is probably accessible for ages 10 and up, but the content is graphic in areas and the story is weighty. The storyline centers around as twelve-year-old boy, Jerome, who is fatally shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real gun. Jerome's ghost narrates the story as he watches the drama and devastation unfold around his killing. Along the way, Jerome's ghost meets the ghost of Emmett Till and the storyline weaves in the historical context and story involving the real-life killing of Emmett Till. Rhodes constructs a story that includes elements of fiction, history, and current sociological and political issues. The story centers on heavy topics and may be difficult for a child to read on their own. I would recommend reading this book alongside your child and discussing all of the layers within it. My son and I had very interesting and important discussions involving Emmett Till, racism, police brutality, profiling, and social issues in general. If you enjoy this book by Jewell Parker Rhodes, you might consider giving Towers Falling a read as well. Approximate Reading Level - 5th-6th grade (the content would work for higher grades) |
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