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988 reviews by:
ashylibrarian
5/5 (physical book)
"I birthed a black nation.
From my womb black creation
spilled forth
to be
stolen
shackled
dispersed.
I dispatched black warriors
raged against unjust barriers
to find
the black and strong had fallen
divided
deceived
overcome.
Black oceans separate us
tortured cries
songs
of black greatness
Still echo in my canal.
Hear the reverberation
of a stolen black nation
forever lost
to foreign shores
where thieves do not atone
and Mother Africa cannot be consoled."
One Crazy Summer is a middle-grade novel that follows the story of three sisters, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern as they travel to California to meet their mother, Cecile, who left right after Fern, the youngest, was born.
Upon meeting Cecile, the three sisters are ready to turn around and head back to New York as she is not the mother they were hoping to great. After a few weeks, however, the sisters find a place that invites them in and teaches them new lessons about the world they live, and by the end of their four-week visit, the sisters have experienced more than they ever expected.
"I birthed a black nation.
From my womb black creation
spilled forth
to be
stolen
shackled
dispersed.
I dispatched black warriors
raged against unjust barriers
to find
the black and strong had fallen
divided
deceived
overcome.
Black oceans separate us
tortured cries
songs
of black greatness
Still echo in my canal.
Hear the reverberation
of a stolen black nation
forever lost
to foreign shores
where thieves do not atone
and Mother Africa cannot be consoled."
One Crazy Summer is a middle-grade novel that follows the story of three sisters, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern as they travel to California to meet their mother, Cecile, who left right after Fern, the youngest, was born.
Upon meeting Cecile, the three sisters are ready to turn around and head back to New York as she is not the mother they were hoping to great. After a few weeks, however, the sisters find a place that invites them in and teaches them new lessons about the world they live, and by the end of their four-week visit, the sisters have experienced more than they ever expected.
5/5 (physical book)
Wow.
This books is a beautiful creation. Yuyi Morales tells the story of a mother and baby who immigrate to the United States. The story is raw. It is clear that the beginning is not easy. The illustrations help depict this with dark greys and browns.
Then, though, the mother and baby find a library and things change. They are able to grow and expand their wings with a new way to learn, explore, and discover. The illustrations become brighter and more colorful and a wonderful lesson is taught shown at the end.
Some things take time, but finding the right resources to help along the way make it worth it. By far one of my new favorite children's books reads.
Wow.
This books is a beautiful creation. Yuyi Morales tells the story of a mother and baby who immigrate to the United States. The story is raw. It is clear that the beginning is not easy. The illustrations help depict this with dark greys and browns.
Then, though, the mother and baby find a library and things change. They are able to grow and expand their wings with a new way to learn, explore, and discover. The illustrations become brighter and more colorful and a wonderful lesson is taught shown at the end.
Some things take time, but finding the right resources to help along the way make it worth it. By far one of my new favorite children's books reads.
5/5 (physical book)
This book is a great representation of labor strikes written in a format for young readers to understand. It sparks conversation about how labor workers are treated and what can happen when voices are used.
I also love that it is written in bilingual text.
The illustrations paired with the text make this a necessary read and conversation.
Highly, highly recommend!
This book is a great representation of labor strikes written in a format for young readers to understand. It sparks conversation about how labor workers are treated and what can happen when voices are used.
I also love that it is written in bilingual text.
The illustrations paired with the text make this a necessary read and conversation.
Highly, highly recommend!
2.5/5 (physical book)
This whole serious is cute and talks about a wide variety of topics. Click, Clack, Moo in particular is a representation of labor workers.
I have read this story a few times, but this time around I read it for one of my MSLIS courses and saw this book in a new light. When initially reading this book, I did not immediately relate it to labor workers demanding better working conditions, but after reading it this way, the story has so much more meaning.
This is a nice resource to use for young readers when explaining the topic of fair working conditions.
With all this being said, I think it is important to look at the use of animals as representation as people. This is seen often in children's books, and it is something that should be questioned. Initially, I thought that the use of animals was a nice way to show children familiar characters with a deep topic, but the more I thought about it, the more problematic I found it. I think it was a poor decision to use livestock as the representation of labor workers, especially with a white farmer as the decision maker.
Just food for thought, but I definitely think the topics covered are extremely important to have conversations about!
This whole serious is cute and talks about a wide variety of topics. Click, Clack, Moo in particular is a representation of labor workers.
I have read this story a few times, but this time around I read it for one of my MSLIS courses and saw this book in a new light. When initially reading this book, I did not immediately relate it to labor workers demanding better working conditions, but after reading it this way, the story has so much more meaning.
This is a nice resource to use for young readers when explaining the topic of fair working conditions.
With all this being said, I think it is important to look at the use of animals as representation as people. This is seen often in children's books, and it is something that should be questioned. Initially, I thought that the use of animals was a nice way to show children familiar characters with a deep topic, but the more I thought about it, the more problematic I found it. I think it was a poor decision to use livestock as the representation of labor workers, especially with a white farmer as the decision maker.
Just food for thought, but I definitely think the topics covered are extremely important to have conversations about!
4/5 (audiobook)
This is a fun, classic story that teaches a valuable lesson about learning before acting. The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a classic read that everyone should experience!
This is a fun, classic story that teaches a valuable lesson about learning before acting. The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a classic read that everyone should experience!
5/5 (physical book)
I really, really enjoyed this read. Front Desk follows the story of Mia Tang. Mia's parents are immigrants from China, and they came over to the United States in hopes of better job opportunities. Unfortunatley, those opportunities that were promised before immigrating were no longer an option for many families, including Mia's.
The Tang's decided to take a manager position at a motel in California. The job posting looks promising, but once the Tang's arrived, they found out that this job was going to be anything but enjoyable. This was because of Mr. Yao. Mr. Yao had a horribly negative attitude, looked down upon immigrants, and spewed extremely racist information. The Tang's have to suffer under Mr. Yao's ownership of the motel, but Mia works tirelessly to make things better for her family. She sees how hard her parents work, so Mia takes the situation into her own hands and tries to find a solution to a seemingly never-ending list of troubles.
Font Desk is a beautifully written story about immigration and all the hardships that come along with it. Kelly Yang uses an own-vocies narrative to recount her own childhood, making the narration feel like readers are really there with the characters.
Yang shows resiliance, determination, and empowerment through Mia's character as she works through the many roadbumps life throws at her family.
I am really excited to dive into Yang's next novel and see where the story takes us!
I really, really enjoyed this read. Front Desk follows the story of Mia Tang. Mia's parents are immigrants from China, and they came over to the United States in hopes of better job opportunities. Unfortunatley, those opportunities that were promised before immigrating were no longer an option for many families, including Mia's.
The Tang's decided to take a manager position at a motel in California. The job posting looks promising, but once the Tang's arrived, they found out that this job was going to be anything but enjoyable. This was because of Mr. Yao. Mr. Yao had a horribly negative attitude, looked down upon immigrants, and spewed extremely racist information. The Tang's have to suffer under Mr. Yao's ownership of the motel, but Mia works tirelessly to make things better for her family. She sees how hard her parents work, so Mia takes the situation into her own hands and tries to find a solution to a seemingly never-ending list of troubles.
Font Desk is a beautifully written story about immigration and all the hardships that come along with it. Kelly Yang uses an own-vocies narrative to recount her own childhood, making the narration feel like readers are really there with the characters.
Yang shows resiliance, determination, and empowerment through Mia's character as she works through the many roadbumps life throws at her family.
I am really excited to dive into Yang's next novel and see where the story takes us!
5/5 (physical book)
The story of passion, dedication, and struggle, The Librarian of Basra tells the heroic story of Alia Muhammad Baker and her library.
As war creeps into Iraq, Alia knows she needs go get her books to safety. When authorities refuse to help, she takes matters into her own hands.
With the help of neighbors and store owners, Alia is able to Saveur of her library's amazing collection.
Based on a true story, this is a book that provokes thought about the impacts of war on civilians and should definitely be shared with young readeds.
The story of passion, dedication, and struggle, The Librarian of Basra tells the heroic story of Alia Muhammad Baker and her library.
As war creeps into Iraq, Alia knows she needs go get her books to safety. When authorities refuse to help, she takes matters into her own hands.
With the help of neighbors and store owners, Alia is able to Saveur of her library's amazing collection.
Based on a true story, this is a book that provokes thought about the impacts of war on civilians and should definitely be shared with young readeds.
4/5 (audiobook)
I recently listened to the audiobook of First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung from my local library's Hoopla. First They Killed My Father is a memoir that tells the horrific truths from the lives of those living during the 1975 Cambodian Genocide. Loung details the journey her and her family of seven took to flee Phnom Penh, Cambodia, after the Khmer Rouge, under the ruling of Pol Pot, invaded.
Loung and her siblings were used for labor in camps and trained as child soldiers during this time. Her entire family was slowly starving to death and being sent off to various labor/work camps, but Loung was determined to find a way to overthrow this grisly regime. The memoir details the atrocious traumas and brutalities that the Ung's and many other families faced as they traveled, fleed, and fought for freedom and protection in other countries.
"Harrowing yet hopeful, Loung's powerful story is an unforgettable account of a family shaken and shattered, yet miraculously sustained by courage and love in the face of unspeakable brutality." ~Goodreads
Loung details events that happened to both her, her family, and her friends. First They Killed My Father details a topic that is often covered in history classes (genocide) but in a location that is often overlooked in discussion (Cambodia). It is an extremely difficult topic to talk about, but I believe that the way in which it is written along with a discussion about the representation of war and peace would make First They Killed My Father a solid framework for a book or history club for youth in libraries.
I recently listened to the audiobook of First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung from my local library's Hoopla. First They Killed My Father is a memoir that tells the horrific truths from the lives of those living during the 1975 Cambodian Genocide. Loung details the journey her and her family of seven took to flee Phnom Penh, Cambodia, after the Khmer Rouge, under the ruling of Pol Pot, invaded.
Loung and her siblings were used for labor in camps and trained as child soldiers during this time. Her entire family was slowly starving to death and being sent off to various labor/work camps, but Loung was determined to find a way to overthrow this grisly regime. The memoir details the atrocious traumas and brutalities that the Ung's and many other families faced as they traveled, fleed, and fought for freedom and protection in other countries.
"Harrowing yet hopeful, Loung's powerful story is an unforgettable account of a family shaken and shattered, yet miraculously sustained by courage and love in the face of unspeakable brutality." ~Goodreads
Loung details events that happened to both her, her family, and her friends. First They Killed My Father details a topic that is often covered in history classes (genocide) but in a location that is often overlooked in discussion (Cambodia). It is an extremely difficult topic to talk about, but I believe that the way in which it is written along with a discussion about the representation of war and peace would make First They Killed My Father a solid framework for a book or history club for youth in libraries.