This amazing, touching, and profound debut novel held me mesmerized through its entirety. I don't know much about the former Soviet Republic of GeorgiThis amazing, touching, and profound debut novel held me mesmerized through its entirety. I don't know much about the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, but after reading this book I certainly want to learn more. I don't think I want to visit the area, though, despite its beauty because of some of the challenges faced by its citizens and its infrastructure. The narrator, Saba, returns to Georgia several years after he, his father Irakli, and older brother Sandro fled the violence in the region. The plan was for their father to work hard and save enough money to bring their mother, Eka, to London where they are living. But there's never money to spare, and Eka never comes. When first Irakli and then Sandro travel to their homeland to tie up loose ends but then disappear, Saba goes in search of answers, following the breadcrumbs his brother has left him in places with which he will be familiar. Along the way, Saba encounters friends, enemies, betrayal, sacrifice, and a broken system ill-equipped to deal with anything out of the ordinary. The poor handling of the escaped zoo animals by authorities is one example that highlights what a mess the place has become and how challenging it will be to find his relatives. The taxi driver Saba meets at the airport--Nodar--almost steals the entire story with his huge personality and complicated emotions and appetites, not to mention his own past and motivations for helping Saba. The book's title comes from the classic fairy tale Saba's mother read to him and his brother, and there are many references to fairy tales as well as voices from the past that haunt Saba. While there are tender moments and descriptions of magnificent vistas, there are also passages that are stark and even shocking, revealing as they do the heartlessness of war and conflict over land, territory, and borders. My heart almost stopped beating as I read the last few pages of this skillfully told tale. ...more
Having read and enjoyed the author's previous book set in rural Oregon, I was eager to devour this follow-up featuring several of the characters introHaving read and enjoyed the author's previous book set in rural Oregon, I was eager to devour this follow-up featuring several of the characters introduced earlier. If Missing Clarissa focuses on a missing girl or a disappearance, this mystery novel twists that idea around with a plot featuring Lola Brosillard, a missing girl who turns up back home five years after she went away. Lola's family is delighted to have her home. Her mother throws a welcome home party and relishes in her daughter's more obedient, passive behavior while her brother Luke, who is often stoned, seems content to have his sister back. But one family member, Mattie, is skeptical about Lola and sure the girl who claims to be her sister is an impostor. Blair and Cam, the best friend detectives from the first book, seem to have switched roles in this outing as Mattie comes to them for help. Blair is hoping for a book contract that will appeal to true-crime buffs, but Cam, still suffering from PTSD as the result of the trauma she experienced during the search for Clarissa, is hesitant to do anything that might endanger her or her loved ones. As Blair starts falling for someone who might not be the best choice for her, Cam worries about her future with Sophia, who is away at college and preoccupied with her studies and extracurricular activities there. The resolution of the mystery surrounding Lola comes rather swiftly at the end as the suspense builds quickly. I'm not sure if the author plans to continue to feature books with Cam and Blair, but reading these two books one after the other made me care about these two well-developed and relatable characters. ...more
Unfortunately, this romance didn't live up to all its hype. I don't regret the time I spent reading it, and I was excited about its premise, which seeUnfortunately, this romance didn't live up to all its hype. I don't regret the time I spent reading it, and I was excited about its premise, which seemed so original and different from the usual fare. But I was never sure about why the protagonist, Daphne Bell, trusted the notes she was receiving about her romantic relationships and how long they would last or even where they were coming from. Perhaps I'm more cynical than most readers, but I needed more background about this and how she eventually chooses to move forward than was provided. I also questioned whether knowing the amount of time the relationship would last somehow doomed each one and if her knowledge about their expiration dates affected how they would play out or if all this was somehow predestined. And then the plot twist when the other secret about Daphne's health just complicated everything further. The timelines and order of her romantic liaisons were rather confusing as well. Still, many readers will root for her to have her happy ending, whatever it may be while perhaps being reminded about the importance of seizing the day and living each one to the fullest rather than focusing on how everything can fall apart and how we're all dying all the time. I can see why this one is so popular, but it was hard for me to buy a lot of it. ...more
Author Laurie Frankel often writes about families and relationships, making it clear that both are complicated and that no two are alike. In this lateAuthor Laurie Frankel often writes about families and relationships, making it clear that both are complicated and that no two are alike. In this latest book, her focus is adoption, and she attempts to challenge the usual narratives associated with adoption. The result is a refreshing book [3.5 for me] that will prompt plenty of discussion, agreement, and disagreement as readers ponder what it means to be a family. The protagonist, India Allwood, loves to act, and even though she can't sing, she has her sights on a career on Broadway after attending drama school. A pregnancy at 16 prompts her to have the baby and then choose its adoptive parent. Later, near the end of college, she becomes pregnant again and makes a similar choice. Flash forward a few years, and India is famous, the star of a wildly popular show, and the adoptive mother of twins. Her career is flourishing, but she lands in trouble for speaking negatively about how adoption is depicted in an upcoming film in which she stars. As her past meets her present, she must decide what really matters and perhaps mend a few hearts along the way. While I liked the premise behind this story, I was often troubled by India's emotional carelessness and pontificating. It's easy to make certain decisions when living a life of relative wealth and privilege, and in a world struggling with overpopulation, it could be argued that having a child or two only contributes to the problems. And then there are her precocious, too precious children. Sometimes their thoughts and words seemed too worldly and knowing to be believable. And the ending? Doing what she decides to do takes courage, but it also requires money and fame. These characters can afford to hope on a plane and fly cross country or up the Oregon Coast overnight, How many of us can? Still, despite the qualms expressed above, I enjoyed the time I spent with India and her "family family." I'm always pleased to find books that celebrate found or created families. ...more
This one is a 3,5 for me. This picture book's clever title, its richly detailed illustrations, and its focus on one Lower East Side building's 100+ yeThis one is a 3,5 for me. This picture book's clever title, its richly detailed illustrations, and its focus on one Lower East Side building's 100+ year history. provides readers a glimpse into that particular New York City neighborhood through the eyes of five youngsters who lived on different floors during different time periods. While their countries of origin, languages, and cultures may be quite different [Russia, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and China], they share many of the same concerns, hopes and dreams. Beginning in 1910 when Jenny Epstein and her family cross the ocean to live above her uncle's pickled store and concluding with the daily lives of Wei Yei and his family, the book packs in quite a lot of experiences, including how each family brought rich flavors and their own influences to their new neighborhood as well as how the youngsters communicate with the relatives they left back home. It's interesting to note how the neighborhood changes over time and pay attention to snippets of current events or preoccupations as highlighted by the front pages of newspapers placed in the bottom corner of the pages. Arguably, this is a romanticized version of the immigration experience, and while it has value, it should not be read as the definitive story of coming to the United States. While it's somewhat questionable that there would be so many connections from one generation to the next [for instance, one child has her neighbor for a teacher], this particular tale and journey may prompt introspection about what all of us have in common as well as possibly inspiring young readers to interview their own family members about their journeys, stories, and what mattered most to them. The illustrations, created with gouache and Photoshop, are striking and quite detailed, necessitating more than a quick glance. It will fit well in a collection of immigration or family history stories. ...more
This cleverly written revisionist version of Mark Twain's classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is brilliant and a must-read, whether you've readThis cleverly written revisionist version of Mark Twain's classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is brilliant and a must-read, whether you've read the original book or not. In it, the author brings to life Jim, Huck's enslaved company on his raft journey on the Mississippi River. James is fully fleshed out here with a wife and daughter and under the threat of being sold elsewhere and being separated from his loved ones. He decides to run away until he can come up with a plan to keep his family together just as Huck runs off for reasons of his own. So much happens to James--and to Huck, who is present for part of Jim's journey but not all of it--along the way as they hide on an island and then float away, catching fish and eating berries to survive. Readers familiar with the Black dialect in the original book will find it here again, but turned on its head as the Black characters here are quite articulate, able to express themselves perfectly in the King's English but switching to dialect around whites. They only speak correctly around each other. Jim loves to read and has often secretly perused the volumes in Judge Thatcher's library. He also wants to write his story and the story of his people, and his simple request for a pencil leads to tragedy. While there are a few elements of the story that are humorous, those are overshadowed by the constant threats to his very survival Jim faces as he ends up running for his life due to various circumstances beyond his control. But always, always, always, he keeps his family in mind and his goal of somehow freeing them. At one point he ends up as part of a minstrel show with the bizarre necessity of pretending to be a white man wearing Black face, the absurdity of which does not escape him. The only aspect of the book that left me disappointed was the revelation of the true nature of his relationship with Huck, something that I won't remark on for fear of spoiling it for others. This is one of the books from 2024 that should be on everyone's reading list. It's gripping, intense, and filled with graphic scenes of violence that show just how poorly enslaved individuals were treated in the years right before the Civil War. ...more
This debut mystery novel is a 3.5 for me. I liked it much more than the second book in the series and was intrigued by several of the characters and tThis debut mystery novel is a 3.5 for me. I liked it much more than the second book in the series and was intrigued by several of the characters and the rural Alaska setting. The imaginary small town where most of the action takes place is fascinating; the very idea of all the residents living in one high-rise and needing to move through tunnels to get from one place to another made me feel a bit claustrophobic. The unique idea of so many of the town's residents having secrets and the town's protectiveness over women who have been abused added to my interest in reading it and following Cara Kennedy, the emotionally wounded detective, as she comes to town in search of answers about the disappearance and death of her husband and son, as she comes to respect the town's residents. The fact that the story shifts among three characters--Cara, Amy, the teenage daughter of a Chinese restaurant, and Lonnie, who has a pet moose named Denny--adds perspective, intensity, and layering to the story. I particularly enjoyed the way that Lonnie thinks and expresses herself, captured perfectly here with a stream of related words or phrases that make sense and reveal truths. She was my favorite character. ...more
Quite different from My Lovely Wife but just as addictive, this book [3.5 for me, and such a guilty pleasure!] might prevent many families from going Quite different from My Lovely Wife but just as addictive, this book [3.5 for me, and such a guilty pleasure!] might prevent many families from going on nostalgic road trips. Narrated by Beth, the story follows the three Morgan siblings--Beth, Eddie, and Portia--as they and Beth and Eddie's spouses embark on a cross-country trip in order to fulfill the requirements of their grandfather's will and inherit a substantial amount of money. The trip will trace the same route they traveled with their grandfather when they were much younger, and it is intended to culminate in his ashes being sprinkled in the desert. Along the way, they'll revisit the same tourist attractions they explored on the original one. From the opening pages, readers know that this is no ordinary road trip and that the travelers have secrets, so many secrets, and that blood may not be thicker than water. To say much more would ruin all the surprises and twists that are embedded in the plot, but it's probably sufficient to note that the book will make it hard for readers to trust anyone. On the surface, the characters might seem normal to the average onlooker, but there is much more to each of them than meets the eye. This is oh, so dark, and oh, so satisfying, if you like this sort of suspense--and who doesn't? Yes, there are some plot points that are rather confusing or might be questioned, but readers will probably forgive those as they race to the book's conclusion. There are no heroes or heroines here except maybe the author for planning this road trip and inviting all of us along. ...more
The premise behind this thriller--a character with resignation syndrome who commits murder while sleepwalking--is fascinating on its own merit. There The premise behind this thriller--a character with resignation syndrome who commits murder while sleepwalking--is fascinating on its own merit. There are multiple voices that tell the story, which adds to its intrigue, and the notebooks kept by Anna O, the woman who slept for four years, are quite interesting and insightful. But sometimes the shift from one character to another seemed rather jarring, leaving readers scrambling to tie together some loose ends or sort out relationships. However, much as I enjoyed many parts of this book, I wanted more exploration of whether someone can be held responsible for a crime committed while they were sleeping, which didn't really come through at all. The very realization that so much of our lives is spend sleeping, during which we have no idea what we are doing or what is happening is chilling in many ways. I'm sure I won't be the only person tempted to turn a video camera on to film myself. Despite all the gushing praise this book received, I was disappointed by the ending, which I saw coming from miles away. The author had to resort to far too much explaining by one particular character at that point, and I suppose I just couldn't buy how everything was resolved. I also felt rather annoyed that certain characters were introduced and then never returned to again, leaving me wondering about their importance. I know many other readers will disagree. This one is worth a read, but be prepared to have some of your expectations shattered....more
It was hard for me to put this book down or see the story conclude so invested was I in the world created by its author. Fox spirits that can take on It was hard for me to put this book down or see the story conclude so invested was I in the world created by its author. Fox spirits that can take on human form and enchant them because of their own attractiveness populate this book in intriguing ways. Although most of the story focuses on one fox, Snow, who is determined to go to any lengths to avenge her fox cub daughter's death, there are two other fox spirits who play important parts in the story. As Snow follows various clues leading to the man responsible for this terrible loss, her path eventually intersects with Bao, a private investigator who has been hired to uncover the identity and reasons for the death of a woman who seems to have been lured into the cold without proper attire. The elegant storytelling and interesting plot as well as this glimpse into the myths that surround foxes in Chinese culture is almost as mesmerizing as the fox spirits who come to life on its pages. The fox characters are complex, just as quick to anger and violence as to love and comfort. Readers will be fascinated at how the author ties together all the various narrative pieces. Anyone in search of a read that is out of the ordinary will find it here. The book's cover is lovely too. ...more
This may well be the best work yet from both of these creative individuals. Weatherford has many biographies under her belt, and each one seems to be This may well be the best work yet from both of these creative individuals. Weatherford has many biographies under her belt, and each one seems to be written in a slightly different style that fits the subject. In her latest biography, she crafts lyrical lines, partly her own and partly his, interwoven with snippets of spirituals, to immerse readers in the life and times of Paul Robeson, who seems to have been a jack of all trades and master of many, maybe all, of them. Since his story is divided into four acts--Youth, Artist, Activist, and Erased--readers are able to easily chart Robeson's rise and fall as well as the influences that made the man. Earning the distinction of Phi Beta Kappa and All-American football player at Rutgers, Robeson had many talents, among them singing and acting, but traveling and living abroad opened his eyes even further to the economic and social injustices that existed in the United States. When he returned home, he chose to speak out about what was unfair even though doing so inflamed many individuals and eventually cost him his career and popularity. Still, he never looked back or regretted speaking truth to power. Clearly, Robeson was a man ahead of his time. While it's disappointing that he has been neglected by other children's biographers in the past, this particular book makes up for that with its moving portrayal of someone who was larger than life and who used his fame to speak out against injustices in order to foster change and open hearts and minds. Weatherford sums this giant of a man on page 40 with a list of all the labels that might have been hung on him, "Unparalleled" (p. 40) perhaps being the most accurate. Back matter includes a Timeline, Source Notes, Bibliography, and Copyright Acknowledgements, all attesting to the thorough research of the author. The illustrations, rendered in oil, are masterful, moving, and unforgettable, capturing Robeson at various points in this life. From the movie reel projector on the copyright page that seems to shine light on the facing page in honor of how the biography itself shines a light on the man himself and his truths to the final double-page spread of an elderly Robeson, past his prime but clearly still a force to be reckoned with, looking back on all that his eyes have seen. He's dressed in a blue robe and pajamas and holding a coffee cup, and his brown house slippers point to the word "Unparalleled" in the poem "Rockin' Chair." In between those two images, readers are treated to paintings of Robeson at various stages of his life, during stage performances, speaking out, and even in a double-page spread, playing checkers with his father, the man who influenced him so heavily. This is not a biography to be approached casually. The text and artwork prompt reflection and earn Robeson the honor and respect that he deserved. Perhaps some future or current social activists will draw strength from his example and continue the good fight. Add this book to a collection of civil rights figures and those who used their voice for good. ...more
Artwork that emulates splashes of light, rays of sunshine creeping through the darkness, and blossoming hope fills the pages of this quietly moving stArtwork that emulates splashes of light, rays of sunshine creeping through the darkness, and blossoming hope fills the pages of this quietly moving story of friendship and generosity. Readers will want to pay attention to the symbolism in the images; for instance, on the title page, a multicolored boat that seems to resemble a rose on a slender stem carrying many passengers. Or the bristling green vines and thorns at Amir's feet when he arrives contrasted with the same leaves, now covered with red blossoms as he clutches Lubna's gift to his chest. Even the opening double-page spread with an extreme close-up of Lubna's face is a bookend to the closing double-page spread focusing on Amir's face show how much the two youngsters have in common. Each page is saturated with intense colors and unspoken emotions. It isn't clear where Lubna and her father came from or even why, but it is clear that they are refugees living in a "World of Tents," a phrase that describes her new temporary home perfectly. They have very little, but Lubna cherishes a shiny gray pebble that she found when they first arrived. It's her treasure, best friend, and secret keeper, and even when Amir arrives and their friendship flourishes, Lubna still considers Pebble to be her very best friend. That's what makes her sacrifice so significant when she and her father learn that they are leaving the camp. It's not that Lubna no longer needs Pebble, but she realizes that someone else needs a friend even more than she does. This picture book movingly puts faces on the refugees fleeing their homelands for various reasons, possibly evoking empathy and understanding in young readers. And the truth of the matter is that many families such as Lubna's would have to wait much longer, maybe even years and years, before being able to leave the camps. Pair this one with Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Williams, covering similar territory. ...more
Add this important picture book to a collection about Japanese incarceration camps along with other titles such as So Far from the Sea and Takei's graAdd this important picture book to a collection about Japanese incarceration camps along with other titles such as So Far from the Sea and Takei's graphic memoir for older readers, They Called Us Enemy, which is equally as good as this one. Intended for a younger audience, this book's focus is on young George's experiences in those camps--first at the Santa Anita racetracks, next at Camp Rohwer, Arkansas, and finally at Tule Lake, California. Because the perspective is that of a young child, it is all the more relatable for its intended audience. The narrative leans heavily on the roles his parents played in making camp life endurable and as pleasant as possible under the circumstances. His mother was always trying to spruce up their living spaces, making curtains, braiding rugs, and taking care of the children when they became ill while his father, who spoke English and Japanese fluently, took on a leadership role in the camp communities. Somehow, they found ways to laugh and look forward to being free once again. George even describes befriending a small black dog, Blackie, at one of the camps, and having to leave him behind when the family was finally released. Although Takei puts a positive spin on some of the events described here and the story ends on a hopeful note, he also is quick to point out how the family lost its freedom, its business, and its savings. The back matter is worth a read too since it elaborates on what happened to Japanese Americans during WWII and shares Takei's stirring words given during the 1981 hearings on the imprisonment of Japanese Americans. Created with watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and digital media, the illustrations are soft in tone, effectively depicting life before the incarceration, the train trips to the camps, the camp settings themselves, and the many individuals who took similar journeys. During this time of polarization in our country and a tendency of some folks to demonize certain groups, Takei's story is exceptionally moving, a cautionary tale for today. ...more
All elementary classrooms and homes need this picture book [3.5 for me!]. With its warm, emotion-filled digital illustrations featuring girls of diffeAll elementary classrooms and homes need this picture book [3.5 for me!]. With its warm, emotion-filled digital illustrations featuring girls of different sizes, shapes, and colors, but mostly with brown or black skin, the book celebrates the beauty of being different and content with whom one is. Each line of the book is filled with encouragement, positive affirmations, and the necessity to dream and ignore those who might throw shade on someone or express doubt that they can succeed. For every negative message about color, loudness, family upbringing or ambitions that readers or the various young girls in the book might hear, the text offers a rejoinder. And then it even trumps those comments by suggesting that the internalize these positive messages so that they also start to believe them. Books such as this one can make a huge difference in how young girls, the daughters of strong women, may feel about themselves. There are no insecurities found within the pages of this book!...more
As this book, the ninth in the series, opens, things are a mess in Quebec. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté de Québec is increasingly isolAs this book, the ninth in the series, opens, things are a mess in Quebec. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté de Québec is increasingly isolated, having watched as his department was dismantled, replaced by incompetent individuals who are loyal to his nemesis. His rift with Jean-Guy Beauvoir has widened as his former lieutenant falls further under the influence of his addiction and his assurance that Gamache betrayed him. While it looks like the end of the road for Gamache, he still has some tricks up his sleeves and some allies who are helping him figure out who's behind all this trickery. Gamache is also busy trying to solve the murder on the last of the Canadian quintuplets, one of whom was first a client and then a friend of Mryna, psychologist and bookshop owner in Three Pines. This particular title ties together several loose ends from the previous books and is a fast read. With intense focus on technology and loyalty as well as misplaced trust, the book makes readers question what they might do for power, money, and influence as well as how precious is the loyalty of true friends. The last 50 pages kept me turning the pages as fast as I could to see what was going to happen because things definitely did not look good for Gamache or Three Pines. As always, her characters have depth and remain fascinating even after so many books. ...more
Although Zain usually eagerly looks forward to Ramadan, his favorite holiday, this year he worries that celebrating it won't be the same. Not only hasAlthough Zain usually eagerly looks forward to Ramadan, his favorite holiday, this year he worries that celebrating it won't be the same. Not only has his family been preoccupied since their move, but there is no mosque nearby and he isn't attending Islamic school, which means that Ramadan goes almost unnoticed there. Not to be deterred by these challenges, Zain crafts his own mosque from discarded cardboard boxes and follows all the traditions associated with Ramadan, including fasting, donating toys and clothing, and even making treat bags with Ahmed, another Muslim boy who has seen him riding around in the neighborhood. The notion of a young boy finding a way to carry on family and cultural traditions is encouraging and shows just how motivated Zain is. Back matter includes information about how Ramadan is celebrated around the world, sketches of what Zain needed to celebrate it his way and in his new neighborhood, and directions for how to make Ramadan treat bags to give to others. The colorful digital artwork features smiling characters and settings. While the story gives a glimpse into Muslim traditions for the uninitiated, it also serves to reassure those youngsters who are familiar with this religion and holiday since they can see themselves and their own experiences in these pages....more
**spoiler alert** The remote Alaska setting in this book, the second in a series, is quite interesting since even daily lives and travel from one plac**spoiler alert** The remote Alaska setting in this book, the second in a series, is quite interesting since even daily lives and travel from one place to another can be challenging. The main character, Detective Cara Kennedy, is a strong female protagonist whose feelings are fragile, so fragile that she's on a leave from her job. Still, she is driven to figure out what happened to her husband and son. Her sleuthing work leads her on some surprising and dangerous paths. While parts of this one were different enough to keep me reading, there were parts of the book that seemed to need more development, and the unlikely plot left me shaking my head in disbelief. Yes, parts of it were believable, but some of the violence and outcome had me shaking my head. Fans of the first book may enjoy this one, but I ended up feeling disappointed, especially by the last third. But goodness! How convenient to solve a woman's dilemma of loving two different men by killing one off!...more
Respectful, you-are-there text combined with dramatic images, including the one on the opening page of this picture book, keep readers on the edge of Respectful, you-are-there text combined with dramatic images, including the one on the opening page of this picture book, keep readers on the edge of their seats as they meet one of the individuals who resisted the Nazis during the Holocaust. Judith Geller used false papers and a wooden duck that concealed other false papers that allowed other Jews to survive or gave them time to flee. She helped save the lives of 200 individuals, risking her own life as she rode her bicycle through the Paris streets. The text has a breathtaking element since Judith used a pseudonym as she went about her labors, and her resistance efforts were in addition to her job in Nazi factories and finding food for her family members who were in hiding. As the author reminds readers, time is running out to collect stories from those who survived the Holocaust, making this unique, inspiring story all the more precious. Created with watercolor, gouache, and pencil, the handsome artwork consists of a balance of dark, somber shades balanced with bright pinks, giving the pages an intensity, representing the Nazis, and warmth, representing individuals such as Judith who dared to take action. Despite her efforts, thirty-two members of her family died during that time. The Author's Note and Artist's Note provide additional interesting information and personal connections. This is a wonderfully relatable addition to the Holocaust canon. ...more
There are so many parts of history that never make it into history curriculum. While many youngsters will have studied the Westward Expansion and ManiThere are so many parts of history that never make it into history curriculum. While many youngsters will have studied the Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny, they most likely no little or nothing about the Exodusters or those Black men, women, and children that went westward ho in search of better lives. If they have read about the Great Migration to the North, they are also probably unfamiliar with this movement, which could be considered the first Great Migration. Just as there were Black cowboys, there were also Black pioneers, who are at the heart of this story. The novel in verse format for this historical novel, set from May to November 1879, works well as it follows one Black family as they move from Natchez, Mississippi to North Platte, Nebraska, during the Homestead Act. Thomas, the family patriarch, sees this as his family's only path to real freedom through land ownership amid wide spaces. While he's clearly a dreamer, sometimes he doesn't think things through carefully enough, making him impulsive and quick to anger. He decides to join a group of Black families heading West by wagon train. The journey is described by three different women: Lettie, 11, who has never thought of moving from a place that seems like home to her; her mother, Sylvia, who knows full well the perils such a journey has in store; and Philomena, a novice teacher heading West who joins them at the halfway point. Not surprisingly, the family and some of the other travelers face many challenges and dangers, including the weather. Each of the narrators has different types of strengths that help them survive. Well-researched and compelling, this book is important because it tells the stories of some of the Black men and women who made their way West. So invested was I in the fate of these individuals that I almost flew through the pages. The affection Lettie has for that little abandoned dog, Sutter, and the blossoming romance between two characters added more layers to this moving, inspiring story of perseverance and determination. Whenever I read stories set in the past or I imagine being part of a wagon train, nowhere near a restaurant or grocery store, I'm pretty sure that I would have struggled on such a journey. Kudos to Lesa Cline-Ransome for tackling this topic. ...more
Curious about why that itsy-bitsy spider from the nursery rhyme decided to go up that waterspout? This picture book provides some possible answers as Curious about why that itsy-bitsy spider from the nursery rhyme decided to go up that waterspout? This picture book provides some possible answers as well as describing Itsy's journey and the aftermath. The dedication makes it clear that there is something admirable about those who, like Itsy, keep on keeping on even when they deal with life challenges. Pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations complement the familiar story, bringing that small spider's perilous journey to life, from start to finish. It's hard to resist smiling at Itsy's appearance too, with tiny shoes, gloves, a hat, and a jaunty green umbrella. The fact that Itsy needs to find a new home after a disaster makes the story quite relatable for many young readers. ...more
Loading...
