![]() I had high hopes for this book based on the acclaim it has received and the reviews I read; but unfortunately, I just did not love it. Apple is a memoir, so it is difficult for me to state that I did not enjoy the book, since it is someone's life experiences, but the writing style did not engage me. The memoir is written in verse which I normally enjoy, but this verse was not fluid and felt stilted to me. I simply never connected with the author's voice or his depiction of his life. That being said, I am very pleased this memoir was written and has received so much acclaim because it is important to hear from Native American perspectives since they are not highly represented in literature. Hearing a first person account is a bonus. This memoir recounts Gansworth's experiences being raised on a reservation and includes the history of some of his family members as well. I did enjoy seeing the photographs included within the memoir. This memoir has some high points, but it just did not engage me as highly as I had hoped. It might, however, be a great fit for you. Approximate Reading Level - 7th grade+
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![]() 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 ![]() 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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