One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Genre: Historical Fiction

Grade Level: 6-9

Interest Level: 6-10

Themes: family, estranged parents, new places, Black Panthers, coming of age, new perspectives

Awards: Newberry Honor Winner, National Book Award Finalist, Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, Coretta Scott King Award Finalist

Summer is coming and this is one of my favorite summer reads! Delphine, and her sisters Vonetta and Fern, board a plane from New York to Oakland to spend the summer with their estranged mother, Cecile and it makes for an entertaining trip.

Delphine and her sisters Vonetta and Fern are funny, vulnerable and authentic, as young black girls reaching towards adolescence. I can see the exasperation, rolling eyes, hands on hips and sucking of  teeth in this poignant, historical fiction novel,  as sister’s work at “being sisters” and daughters and adolescents.  Please don’t see this as a stereotype, even though you easily could. It is not that. It is one snapshot of an urban, black girls rite of passage. It is not wrong, or “ratchet”, too grown, or flip. It is young, black girls finding their way, making sense of their circumstance, history and how they are perceived and treated in the world as well as, how they will make peace, and a difference in the world. 

Rita Williams-Garcia’s Newberry honor winner is culturally authentic and engaging! It  is the first book in a series that follows the lives and growing up of the adolescent Delphine and her younger sisters Vonetta and Fern.

In One Crazy Summer we meet Delphine, as she and her sisters are shuffled onto a plane from New York to Oakland to spend time with their absent, and estranged mother Cecile. Very rarely do we have an “absent mother” situation, so this novel presents an interesting twist in the black family dynamic. We are usually faced with an  absent father in the black community. That we get to question and reflect on “roles’ of motherhood and womanhood in the process is a bonus.

What awaits them in Oakland is a different way of life, new people, new experiences and a whole lot of growing up. This book dives below the surface of the Iceberg of Culture. In this story we see the subtle layers underneath the surface of the Iceberg concerning rules of conduct, concepts of food, notions of child rearing, concept of "self" , tone of voice, attitudes towards dependence, attitudes towards elders, problem solving in relation to age and more.   

Delphine, and her sisters,  however, keep it “100”(real, true to self), which means keeping it honest, sassy, curious and fun-loving.  Check your bias here folks, because these smart and vivacious little girls( and their momma) might have you going to your “first thought”, but do them the favor of letting it move to your “responsive” thought.

Instructional Possibilities are many.  An in depth study of the Black Panthers in their vision, work, and the  controversy surrounding them are obvious choices as well as , the relationship between the police and the black community. Less obvious instructional possibilities are the  study of the roles of women, the importance of extended family, the statistics/roles of single fathers, the below the surface cultural realities,  and of course, the historical study of race, class, &  gender during a tumultuous time in our country’s history.

Delphine, Vonetta and Fern are waiting. Don't leave them hanging!

See also:

Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales

Genre: Biographical

Grade Level: Pre-K – 2

Interest Level: Pre-K – 4

Themes: Frida Kahlo, creativity, art, imagination, Mexican culture

Yuyi Morales has created another wonderfully, authentic text for your classroom library. This Pura Belpre’ winner, Viva Frida, is a peek into Morales’ perception of Frida Kahlo’s creative process. The text is minimal, but provocative, and Morales leads the reader on a journey through  the artistic imagination of Frida Kahlo.

The artwork creates the vitality of the book, that imitates the vitality of Kahlos’ life and art. Every page is vibrant and beautiful. The combination of Tim O’Meara’s stop-motion puppet photography,  and Morales’ illustrations bring Kahlo’s passion and creativity to life.  Each page contains cultural elements of Kahlo’s life in Mexico, from the traditional Tehuana clothing and indigenous jewelry Kahlo was known for, to the vibrant Casa Azul where she lived. The illustrations also depict Kahlo’s love of nature,  her pets, and of her fellow artist/husband, Diego Rivera.

The text has many instructional possibilities. Teaching verbs works with the spare text, that is both in English and Spanish, “Soy/I am…busca/I search…Veo/I see”.  In addition, a study of the creative process as Morales interprets it, might be covered with the students as a critical discussion and an art lesson.  A lesson also awaits in  the extended metaphor of imagination and  creativity, as freedom. The images and text suggest that Kahlo was freed from her frail and broken body through her art. This is represented in both the pictures and the strong verbs throughout the text.  Art was her freedom, as it is for many students.  For older students, Morales includes a brief author’s note to explain her connection to Frida Kahlo's life and work. This works well for the Common Core’s informational text requirements.

Viva Frida is a beautiful book. Go out and get it!

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick - Young Reader's Edition

Genre: Memoir

Grade Level: 4-7

Interest Level: 4-8

Themes: education, freedom for children,girls/women, human rights,  standing up for what you believe, courage, perseverance, gratitude

Culture(s): Pakastani, children/youth, girls/women

“To those children all over the world who have no access to education, to those teachers who bravely continue teaching, and to anyone who has fought for their basic human rights and education.”

                                                                          Malala Yousafzai

Malala’s story of courage, steadfastness and survival has touched the hearts of millions, so I was delighted on a recent bookstore trip with my 10 year old when she picked this up and then proceeded to devour it (without waiting for our nightly bedtime reading as I had hoped). Mind you, this is a 10 year old that I usually have to cajole into finding AND reading a book, so it was significant that she discovered this on her own. She remembered that  Malala had won a prize, said that she was very pretty and she wanted to find out more about her. 

This young readers edition of Malala’s courage and triumph has important instructional possibility for middle grade readers. The Common Core’s focus on informational text makes it a great choice. It includes a map of Pakistan, Swat and surrounding areas, as well as color photos of Malala, her family, and Pakistan. The photos would work well for pre-reading/during reading discussion or quick write. The book is divided  into five parts, and includes a time line of important events. All of these elements would work well with a study of informational text features, and/or in dividing reading and instruction according to the lesson focus or themes.

When I asked my daughter what she liked about Malala’s story, she said “It’s about every girl just wanting to be a regular girl…you know, go to school, watch Twilight or her other favorite shows, and hang out with her family/friends. Some girls can’t do that because of the Taliban. That’s not right, and Malala is trying to fix it.” 

Validate, Affirm, Build and Bridge with I am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World.

See also:

     

  

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan

Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: PK-3

Interest Level: PK - 4

Themes: Muslim Life, Colors, Family, traditions, Muslim religious practices

An adorable Somali girl was sitting in her 1st grade class, in a Minnesota elementary school. She was a bit fidgety, and distracted. She wasn't interested in joining the story circle with the other children, despite the urgings of her teacher and the paraprofessional working with her. She sat at a desk and began to color, while the other students waited for the teacher to begin her read aloud. As the teacher began to read, the little girl continued to color, seemingly uninterested in what was going on at the front of the room. The teacher read one page, then the next. Suddenly, the little girl in the back of the room looked up and shouted, "That book is about ME!" She put down her crayons, and walked to the front of the room. She wriggled herself in between two students right in front of the teacher, and listened to the rest of the story with rapt attention. She had heard what mattered to her heart....Validated and Affirmed.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns is beautiful and authentic. It is not text heavy, and the illustrations are exquisite, making it a wonderful choice for early readers. This journey through daily colors, peeking into the life of a young Muslim girl, will be intriguing and enjoyable for young and older readers alike. 

There is great instructional possibility about world religions and culture. Students will be able to ask questions and make observations about similarities and differences in family traditions, beliefs and practices.  In addition, it provides an excellent opportunity for Muslim students to be the "experts" as they help to explain/discuss important Islamic terms like "hijab" or "Eid", as they come to life with Mehrdokht Amini's gorgeous, colorful pictures.

This book is a beautiful, responsive read! Go get it!