Native American Books

  

Noble-Maillard, Kevin. 2019. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story. Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. Roaring Brook Press. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1626727465

 Synopsis:

Told in lively and powerful verse by debut author Kevin Noble Maillard, Fry Bread is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family, vibrantly illustrated by Pura Belpre Award winner and Caldecott Honoree Juana Martinez-Neal.

Fry bread is food.
It is warm and delicious, piled high on a plate.

Fry bread is time.
It brings families together for meals and new memories.

Fry bread is nation.
It is shared by many, from coast to coast and beyond.

Fry bread is us.
It is a celebration of old and new, traditional and modern, similarity and difference.

My Review:

 I truly loved this book from the story to the illustrations. The story is one that I think many of us can relate to because no matter your culture you have traditions and in Fry Bread you get to learn about a Native American tradition. After reading this story I wanted to learn how to make Fry Bread. The illustrations fit the book perfectly and are accurately appropriate for skin tone, clothing, and the images of the home. I also like that there are children with varying skin tones because this is a book of family and I feel it's trying to stress that we are all family. This book has been added to my son's home library and I recommend it to everyone. It is a great cozy book to read with your family.

Awards/Reviews:

A 2020 Charlotte Huck Recommended Book
A Publishers Weekly Best Picture Book of 2019
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2019
A School Library Journal Best Picture Book of 2019
A Booklist 2019 Editor's Choice
A Shelf Awareness Best Children's Book of 2019
A Goodreads Choice Award 2019 Semifinalist
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of 2019
A National Public Radio (NPR) Best Book of 2019
An NCTE Notable Poetry Book
A 2020 NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
A 2020 ALA Notable Children's Book
A 2020 ILA Notable Book for a Global Society
2020 Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year List
One of NPR's 100 Favorite Books for Young Readers
Nominee, Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award 2022-2022
Nominee, Illinois Monarch Award 2022

Winner of the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
A 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner

“A wonderful and sweet book . . . Lovely stuff.” ―The New York Times Book Review

“With buoyant, heartfelt illustrations that show the diversity in Native America, the book tells the story of a post-colonial food, a shared tradition across the North American continent . . . Through this topic that includes the diversity of so many Native peoples in a single story, Maillard (Mekusukey Seminole) promotes unity and familiarity among nations. Fry bread is much more than food, as this book amply demonstrates.” ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review


“Fry Bread celebrates the thing itself and much, much more . . . Maillard and Martinez-Neal bring depth, detail, and whimsy to this Native American food story, with text and illustrations depicting the diversity of indigenous peoples, the role of continuity between generations, and the adaptation over time of people, place, and tradition.” ―Booklist, starred review

“A powerful meditation” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This warm and charming book shows and affirms Native lives. The informational text and expressive drawings give it broad appeal.” ―School Library Journal, starred review

Connections

-          Learn about Fry Bread and make it.

-          Dig deeper into Native American Tribes and traditions.

-          Read books of similar subject matter from other cultures to discuss how we are all similar. This book made me think of Too Many Tamales.

-          Author Study

-          Illustrator Study

Tingle, Tim. 2019. Stone River Crossing. Lee and Low Books. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1620148235

Synopsis:

Martha Tom knows better than to cross the Bok Chitto River to pick blackberries. The Bok Chitto is the only border between her town in the Choctaw Nation and the slave-owning plantation in Mississippi territory. The slave owners could catch her, too. What was she thinking? But crossing the river brings a surprise friendship with Lil Mo, a boy who is enslaved on the other side. Then Lil Mo discovers that his mother is about to be sold and the rest of his family left behind. But Martha Tom has the answer: cross the Bok Chitto and become free.

Crossing to freedom with his family seems impossible with slave catchers roaming, but then there is a miracle--a magical night where things become unseen and souls walk on water. By morning, Lil Mo discovers he has entered a completely new world of tradition, community, and ... a little magic. But as Lil Mo's family adjusts to their new life, danger waits just around the corner.

 

My Review:

This historical novel was very interesting to read as I have always been interested in Native Americans and learning more about slavery. I had never thought of the two topics together but after reading this book I wanted to know more. The story is a unique tale with magical nights, and the tale of friendship and good people. The book is a wonderful book to teach how friendship can bring us all together no matter our cultures. Lil Mo’s family has to learn about their new world of the Choctaw community and all the differences between the world he came from and the one who saved him. Martha and Lil Mo experience many things together, and is full of humor and adventures that keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s a wonderful read that really makes you want to know more about Native Americans who helped slaves find freedom.

Awards/Reviews:

* "Richly descriptive and leavened with humor, Tingle's complex novel offers valuable insights into rarely told history." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "[Stone River Crossing] is a potent mix of history, folkways, and friendship, often wrapped in a gossamer web of magic realism. Tingle, a member of the Choctaw Nation, draws on the group's own stories to spin a tale that begins slowly but builds and twists, until the tension and intensity will have readers at the edge of their chairs." -- Booklist, starred review

* "As he did in his picture book Crossing Bok Chitto (illustrated by Jeanne Rorex Bridges, 2006), Tingle (Choctaw) captures a rarely explored bond that formed during colonization between enslaved Africans and Native Americans, an alliance of survival under white colonial tyranny. He evokes a 19th-century Southern landscape, presenting it through the lens of Americans whose perspectives are too rarely shared. This vital story will deepen readers' understanding of the nation's complex history." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Tingle's narrative, set in 1808 Mississippi, brings to life a multitude of fascinating characters while illuminating a little-known moment in history when the Choctaw risked their lives and lands to help free slaves. First told by Tingle in a picture book, Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship & Freedom (2006), the story is expanded here. Throughout the tale—told with heart and much humor—runs the refrain "we are all in this together," a fine message for our current divisive times. -- The Horn Book

Connections:

-          In an expansion of his award-winning picture book Crossing Bok Chitto, acclaimed Choctaw storyteller Tim Tingle offers a story that reminds readers that the strongest bridge between cultures is friendship.

-          Learn more about Choctaw Nation

-          Learn more about Native Americans during the slavery, in relation to African Americans, helping slaves escape and more

-          Author study

Bruchac, James, and Joseph. 2012. RABBIT’S SNOW DANCE. Dial Books. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0803732704

Synopsis:

Master storytellers Joseph and James Bruchac present a hip and funny take on an Iroquois folktale about the importance of patience, the seasons and listening to your friends. Pair it with stories about stubborn animals like Karma Wilson’s Bear Wants More and Verna Aardema’s Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears.
 
Rabbit loves the winter. He knows a dance, using an Iroquois drum and song, to make it snow—even in summertime! When the rabbit decides it should snow early, he starts his dance and the snow begins to fall. The other forest animals are not happy and ask him to stop, but Rabbit doesn’t listen. How much snow is too much, and will Rabbit know when to stop?

My Review:

 Rabbit’s Snow Dance was such a fun book to read with a lively story and amazing illustrations. I think this book is a great one to use when discussing folklore and learning lessons from situations around you. The story and illustrations relate to cultural storytelling and the use of animals as characters. The book is a great story that continues sharing the Native American tales, and one to use to teach many lessons to children. Rabbit’s story is a fun story to read together with voices, singing, and making the drum noises throughout the book. I highly recommend this book be added to everyone's home library.

Awards/Reviews:

“The telling is sprightly, and Newman's ink-and-watercolor artwork makes an ideal companion. An appealing addition to folktale shelves.” —Booklist

“This modern retelling maintains [the Bruchacs’] solid reputation for keeping Native American tales fresh.” —School Library Journal

"A welcome departure from the stodgier art-work that can often accompany myths and folk tales."-Publishers Weekly

"A good choice for a preschool read-aloud." -Horn Book Reviews

"The telling is sprightly, and Newman's ink-and-watercolor artwork makes an ideal companion. An appealing addition to folktale shelves." -Booklist

"This modern retelling maintains [the Bruchacs'] solid reputation for keeping Native American tales fresh." -School Library Journal

"The picturesque language makes it a pleasure to read aloud."-BCCB — review feed

Connections:

-          Read other books by this father-son duo such as How Chipmunks Got His Stripes, Raccoon’s Last Race and Turtles’ Race.

-          Great book to use in folklore studies.

-          Learn more about the Iroquois people.

-          Author study of Joseph and James Bruchac

Boulley, Angeline. 2023.. Firekeepers Daughter. Square Fish; reprint edition. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250866035

 

Synopsis:

Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team.

Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug.

Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. But the search for truth is more complicated than Daunis imagined, exposing secrets and old scars. At the same time, she grows concerned with an investigation that seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims.

Now, as the deceptions—and deaths—keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.

My Review:

Boulley does an amazing job with her story that has modern yet classical feel to it. She has done a great job including language and customs that reflect the Native American world. This book is one that I think many can relate to and be drawn into. Daunis’ story I feel is one that many can relate to from the aspects of parents from 2 different cultures, caring for her sick mother, and mourning the death of her brother. All the while falling for a local boy who lies, normal teen life experiences, postponing her college dream and yet wanting to be a part of her Ojibwe tribe. You learn a lot about the tribal world she witnesses daily and how it compels her to take care of her community.

I feel that this book is multiple stories with in one book that keep you enthralled the entire time. I recommend this heart-felt read to everyone, not just young adults.

Awards/Reviews:

A PRINTZ MEDAL WINNER!
A MORRIS AWARD WINNER!
AN AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD YA HONOR BOOK!

A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB YA PICK

An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller

Soon to be adapted at Netflix for TV with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground.

“One of this year's most buzzed-about young adult novels.” —Good Morning America

A TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time Selection
Amazon's Best YA Book of 2021 So Far (June 2021)
A 2021 Kids' Indie Next List Selection
An Entertainment Weekly Most Anticipated Books of 2021 Selection
A PopSugar Best March 2021 YA Book Selection

Connections:

-          Read the next book in the series.

-          Author study.

-          Research more into Native American customs, tribal police, and other elements of the community.

 

 

Hispanic Books

 

  

 

Mora, Pat. (1998). Delicious Hullabaloo/Pachanga Deliciosa. Illustrator: Francisco Mora. Arte Publico Press. ISBN: 978-1558852464.

Synopsis:

Pat Mora's whimsical poem, presented bilingually with a Spanish translation by Alba Nora Martínez, tells of birds, armadillos, and other creatures who join in a kitchen one “orange night” to make merry beneath the desert moon.

My Review:

Delicious Hullabaloo is a cute book with illustrations that match the desert imagery. I love that the book is in English and Spanish and includes Spanish words within the English text. Incorporating the music, fruits, and details of a fiesta helps you feel the Spanish connection. The simple details of the stucco walls as the backgrounds of the pages help tie it all together.  One of my favorite pages is when the lizards are stirring the dish and adding the tomatoes, cilantro, and chiles it reminds me of a time I was being taught to make real “Spanish” rice, beans, and salsa. I was excited like the lizards and loved the illustrations as I felt I also had cilantro everywhere.

 Growing up in a Spanish community I found this book enjoyable because it reminded me of the many parties that the community had. Especially when it comes to dancing, the music, setting up the food, and spending time with family and friends. As the story progresses, and the old lizards share stories of the past it speaks to the truth of any get-together that when the older guests get together you get to hear some amazing stories. This book is very relatable and was a joy to read.

Awards/Reviews:

"Poetic Fiesta. Colorful Southwestern motifs add spice to the starlight feast of reveling lizards and armadillos … The fun, lilting text praises hot food, summer nights and good amigos."—Publishers Weekly

"Lime lizards and purple armadillos sashay to the music and rhyming text in this simple story of a desert dinner party. Presented bilingually with a Spanish translation  … this western frolic is winsomely illustrated  … [S]erve this one up with salsa and mariachi music."—Booklist

Connections:

·         Pat Mora offers a teacher's guide with many great ideas and background information. I really love her idea of making salsa with the kids, and she offers ideas up to 3^rd grade. She also has linked websites to research animals, and the desert.

·         Use this book to open up discussions of family heritage, and what is a “fiesta” they may have within their community.

 

Munoz-Ryan, Pam. (2005). Mice and Beans. Illustrator: Joe Cepeda. Scholastic Paperbacks. ISBN: 978-0439701365

Synopsis:

Rosa Maria lives in a small house with a small yard. But she has a big heart, a big family, and more than anything she loves to cook big meals for them.

"When there's room in the heart, there's room in the house, except for a mouse." That's what her mother always said, so for one week as Rosa Maria meticulously prepares for her youngest grandchild's birthday party, she takes extra care in tidying her kitchen. But strangely, important items -- like her wooden spoon, her big bolsa for grocery shopping, and even her mousetraps -- keep disappearing!

 

My Review:

Mice and Beans is such an adorable book with a story and illustrations to delight you. The vibrant painting with the whimsical touch adds to the story and brings it to life. The story is about preparing for a child's birthday and like most parties you need a cake, food, and games but with a true Spanish theme, the grandmother is preparing enchiladas, rice and beans, and a pinata. I love how she states over and over again “No dinner was complete without rice and beans”. In the beginning, I was thinking okay how do mice fit into this story but as it continues Rosa Maria thinks she is busy and forgets to set mouse traps. Yet, she is setting them and slowly items start to disappear. The story continues with preparations for the party and the mice in the background always doing something. You see at the end they were planning and preparing for their party. In the end, they save Rosa Maria, and, in a way, I would say repaying her by making sure the pinata has candy inside it. The story is a wonderful tribute to the Latinx heritage, and the illustrator made sure to include the correct skin color and details to the characters within the story. It is simply a fun read, and I recommend it to all. (I’ve added it to our home library.)

Awards/Reviews:

Children’s Literature Legacy Award Winner

From Publishers Weekly

Muoz's (Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride) rollicking birthday tale stars one Spanish-speaking grandmother, one very long list of party preparations and a band of enterprising mice. Rosa Maria spends all week getting ready for her seven-year-old granddaughter's birthday party, and each day items for the party keep disappearing. So do the mousetraps she sets each evening to ensure the celebration isn't ruined by uninvited guests. Cepeda's (What a Truly Cool World) full-bleed, sun-splashed paintings show with gleeful candor the missing objects being spirited away by resourceful rodents. Shots from the tops of cupboards or two inches off the floor show the busy creatures sneaking back and forth past Rosa Maria's feet as she cooks and cleans in her big earrings and flashy high heels. But the mice redeem themselves by remembering to fill the pi¤ata with candy when it slips the hostess's mind. The dialogue is rich in Spanish phrases ("­Qu‚ boba soy! Silly me"), descriptions of Mexican food and images of a boisterous extended family "Where there's room in the heart, there's room in the house even for a mouse," Rosa Maria concludes. Cepeda wraps up this festive volume by showing how the well-meaning vandals have put their loot to use by throwing a mouse party of their own. Ages 4-7.

From Booklist

Ages 4-7. It's time for Little Catalina's seventh birthday, and Grandmother Rosa Maria is ready to celebrate. She has room in her heart and her casita for nearly everyone on this happy occasion--everyone except mice. Grandmother sees to the details, from food to fun. But she forgets to fill the empty pinata, and when she discovers that mice have filled it for her, she opens a place in her joyful heart just for them. The story is charming, but what makes it special is the quiet authenticity of the Hispanic characterizations. Cepeda's pictures are as good as the story, with bright, funny scenes depicted from human (looking down) and mouse (looking up) points of view. A delightful birthday or anytime book. Kelly Halls

Connections:

-          Readers could find all the missing items in the last pages with the mice party, could go back and find the mice in the background and see what they are taking.

-          You could use this story to talk about our own cultures, and if there are things such as pinatas that are a must.

-          Write the story from the Mice's point of view.

-          Read other books by Pat Munoz

Soto, Gary. 1993. Too Many Tamales. Illustrator: Ed Martinez. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN: 978-0399221460

Synopsis:

This modern classic celebrates the tradition of tamales and family bonding at Christmas.

Christmas Eve started so perfectly for Maria. Snow had fallen and the streets glittered. Maria's favorite cousins were coming over and she got to help make the tamales for Christmas dinner. It was almost too good to be true when her mother left the kitchen for a moment and Maria got to try on her beautiful diamond ring . . .

This is the story of a treasure thought to be lost in a batch of tamales; of a desperate and funny attempt by Maria and her cousins to eat their way out of trouble; and the warm way a family pulls together to make it a perfect Christmas after all.

My Review:

 I love this book from the story to the illustrations it is now one of my favorite Christmas books. The accuracy of coming together to make tamales at Christmas time, and how you as a child want to be like the adults but are also excited to see your cousins is depicted in this story so well. I truly feel this book should be in all classrooms and children's libraries because it allows Latinx children to feel seen. It is a great way to share what other cultures may do differently at holiday times yet see the similarities as well. I loved how this book reminded me of the days when I was a child excited to play with my cousins and all the aunts cooking and chit-chatting in the other room. I loved the memories this book brought even those of trying to fix a situation so our parents wouldn’t find out. This illustrator did an amazing job capturing the characters, and small things within the pictures from the masa flour bag to the children's facial expressions full of emotions. Again, I loved this book and I know you will too.

Awards/Reviews:

From Publishers Weekly

Snow is falling, preparations for a family feast are underway and the air is thick with excitement. Maria is making tamales, kneading the masa and feeling grown-up. All she wants is a chance to wear her mother's diamond ring, which sparkles temptingly on the kitchen counter. When her mother steps away, Maria seizes her opportunity and dons the ring, then carries on with her work. Only later, when the tamales are cooled and a circle of cousins gathered, does Maria remember the diamond. She and the cousins search every tamale--with their teeth. Of course the ring turns out to be safely on Mom's finger. Soto, noted for such fiction as Baseball in April , confers some pleasing touches--a tear on Maria's finger resembles a diamond; he allows the celebrants a Hispanic identity without making it the main focus of the text--but overall the plot is too sentimental (and owes a major debt to an I Love Lucy episode). Martinez's sensuous oil paintings in deep earth tones conjure up a sense of family unity and the warmth of holidays. The children's expressions are deftly rendered--especially when they are faced with a second batch of tamales. Ages 4-8.

Connections:

-          Learning about other cultures during holidays.

-          Making predictions as you read about the ring.

-          Make tamales.

-          Share a time you tried to fix something before getting caught.

 

Garcia McCall, Guadalupe. 2013. Under the Mesquite. Lee & Low Books. ISBN: 978-1600604294.

Synopsis:

As the oldest of eight siblings, Lupita is used to taking the lead-and staying busy behind the scenes to help keep everyone together. But when she discovers Mami has been diagnosed with cancer, Lupita is terrified by the possibility of losing her mother, the anchor of her close-knit Mexican American family. Suddenly Lupita must face a whole new set of challenges, with new roles to play, and no one is handing her the script.

In the midst of juggling life as a high school student, testing her wings as an actress, and dealing with friends who don't always understand, Lupita desperately wants to support Mami in whatever way she can. While her father stays with Mami at an out-of-town clinic, Lupita takes charge of her siblings. As Lupita struggles to keep the family afloat, she escapes the chaos of home by writing in the shade of a mesquite tree. Overwhelmed by change and loss, she takes refuge in the healing power of words.

Told with honest emotion in evocative free verse, Lupita's journey is both heart-wrenching and hopeful. Under the Mesquite is an empowering story about the testing of family bonds, the strength of a young woman navigating pain and hardship with surprising resilience, and the kind of love that cannot be uprooted.

 

My Review:

 Well, where to begin with this book- after a classmate recommended this book I had to get it right away, and I am glad I did. Even though I cried within the first chapter I am glad I went ahead and read this book. I read some of the book and listened to some of it on audibles. This book is a very emotional read and even if you are not a poetry fan like me I think you will really enjoy this book. There are so many intertwining elements in this story that you will find something to relate to. For me the beginning got me right away as my mother passed away this last year and reading about how she snuck into her mothers’ closet for the purse just got me. The way she talked about each item inside spoke to me as I still have my mother's purse as she left it. The way she describes the look her mother gets when the dad is mentioned or sneaks up behind her is another pull at my heartstrings as it reminds me of my parents. So, as you see just from the beginning this book is full of so much emotion. As you journey through with Lupita on this journey of surviving growing up and finding yourself, to having to deal and cope with hardships at a young age, but to continue and to still dream is what you experience as you read this book. To add to the already stressful situation of growing up and dealing with loss you also see and feel what it is like for Lupita as a Mexican American. To see how she finds herself within her large family and finds the strength to take care of her family while her mother is fighting to survive is all very heart-wrenching. I truly recommend this book to all and if you can also listen to the author read it herself, I think it pulls at you even more.

Awards/Reviews:

Pura Belpré Author Award Winner - American Library Association (ALA)

2012 William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist

2013 Tomas Rivera Children’s Book Award

 

* "A promising, deeply felt debut." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Like the mesquite tree of the title, Lupita is sturdy and able to survive harsh climates with great potential for recovering from stress. . . The close-knit family relationships, especially Mami and Lupita's, are vividly portrayed, as is the healing comfort Lupita finds in words, whether written in her notebooks or performed onstage." -- Booklist

"Powerful and tremendously honest. . . The titular mesquite tree serves as both a literal reference to the tree that grows among her mother's rose bushes and a metaphor for the tree's renowned adaptability and ability to reach out to find sustenance. This is ultimately a coming-of-age story of a girl who manages to build on her strengths as she copes with emotional hardship, and McCall's is a fresh new voice in Latino/a writing." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This book will appeal to many teens for different reasons, whether they have dealt with the loss of a loved one, aspire to write and act, are growing up Mexican American, or seeking their own identity amid a large family. Bravo to McCall for a beautiful first effort." -- School Library Journal

 

Connections:

-          Learn more about the author.

-          Read other books by the author. (I know I will be)

-          Guadalupe McCall and Lee and Low offer a teacher's guide with many ideas and information. 

The Parker Inheritance

 Johnson, Varian. (2018). The Parker Inheritance. Arthur A. Levine Books. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978- 

   0545946179

Synopsis:

When Candice finds a letter in an old attic in Lambert, South Carolina, she isn't sure she should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, who left the town in shame. But the letter describes a young woman. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding its writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle. So with the help of Brandon, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert's history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter's promise before the answers slip into the past yet again?

My Review:

   I was very excited about this book because I love mysteries, and this one sounded very intriguing. What intrigued me more was the tie-in of family history and digging into the past. I love learning about my family history and find that as Candice and her friend Brandon try to solve the puzzles, they dig into family history and town history. Throughout the story, you can make connections with the real-world realities of racism. As I read the story, I thought of so many ways that the students could dig into the storyline as well as ask their grandparents or great-grandparents what life was like with segregation, and during the 1950’s. The story includes so many elements that we may not think about because of our own race or simply the fact that we didn’t grow up in the ’50. The issue of using the word “colored” instead of African American, or when they are harassed, they don’t say anything even when asked if they are okay. There is so much that can be discussed throughout this story, and I think it is a great book for all.   

Awards/Reviews:

A Coretta Scott King Author Honor winner

A Boston Globe / Horn Book Honor winner

Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year

Bookpage Best Books of the Year

Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of the Year

NPR Best Books of the Year

New York Public Library Top Ten Books of the Year

Chicago Public Library Best Books of the Year

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year

Boston Globe Best Books of the Year

Parents Magazine Best Books of the Year"

Connections:

-          Scholastic offers lesson plan ideas for all subjects and has a lot of information that can be used.

-          This book could lead to conversations about racism.

-          You could use this book to lead students into researching their family history and interviewing older members of their family.

-          Read the story behind the book on Varian Johnsons site.

-          Read Varian Johnson’s other books. 

Piecing Me Together

 

Watson, Renee. (2017). Piecing Me Together. Bloomsbury USA Children ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-

   1681191058

Synopsis:

Acclaimed author Renee Watson offers a powerful story about a girl striving for success in a world that too often seems like it's trying to break her.

Jade believes she must get out of her poor neighborhood if she's ever going to succeed. Her mother tells her to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way. And Jade has: every day she rides the bus away from her friends and to the private school where she feels like an outsider, but where she has plenty of opportunities. But some opportunities she doesn't really welcome, like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for "at-risk" girls. Just because her mentor is black and graduated from the same high school doesn't mean she understands where Jade is coming from. She's tired of being singled out as someone who needs help, someone people want to fix. Jade wants to speak, to create, to express her joys and sorrows, her pain and her hope. Maybe there are some things she could show other women about understanding the world and finding ways to be real, to make a difference.

My Review:

 This is a great book to open discussion about fears, pushing ourselves, race and so much more. I think this book is well written and a great example of what it would be like to be African American at a largely white private school. Jade is considered right away as “at risk”, why just because of her race, or because she is from a rough side of town? I think that Jade is relatable in multiple ways and not just for other African Americans. I think the big question of “Will she ever feel whole?”, is something that we are all looking for in life. I enjoyed this book as it is one you learn what it is like for an African American girl in our time but also makes you think about relatable aspects of your life.

Awards/Reviews:

Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner
New York Times bestseller
"Timely and timeless." --Jacqueline Woodson
"Important and deeply moving." --John Green

NPR’s Best Books of 2017
A 2017 New York Public Library Best Teen Book of the Year
Chicago Public Library’s Best Books of 2017
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2017
Kirkus Reviews’ Best Teen Books of 2017

"A nuanced story about girls navigating the landmines of others’ good intentions, Piecing Me Together will make readers wrestle with every assumption they have about race, economic class, and so-called at-risk kids. An honest look at how girls stitch together their talents to find their voice and power. Renee Watson is a top-rate storyteller about what impacts young women today." - Meg Medina, award-winning author of BURN BABY BURN

"Jade’s narrative voice offers compelling reflections on the complexities of race and gender, class and privilege, and fear and courage, while conveying the conflicted emotions of an ambitious, loyal girl. Teeming with compassion and insight, Watson’s story trumpets the power of artistic expression to re-envision and change the world." - starred review, Publishers Weekly

"Through Jade's insightful and fresh narration, Watson presents a powerful story that challenges stereotypes about girls with 'coal skin and hula-hoop hips' who must contend with the realities of racial profiling and police brutality. . . . A timely, nuanced, and unforgettable story about the power of art, community, and friendship." - Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

Connections:

-          Other books to read

o   The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

o   Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan

o   Calling My Name by Lara Tamani

-          Bloomsbury discussion guide which offers podcasts, TED talks, and much more to reflect on.

-          Check out Renee Watson’s other books and website.