VVMBookBlog

This third book is the conclusion to the Sharon Draper trilogy beginning with The Battle of Jericho and November Blues.  While I didn’t read the first two books, I still liked this story about a group of students who have survived a lot together and now just need to get through their senior year and get on with the rest of their lives.

Much of the story is told from the perspective of Arielle who, along with her mother, must deal with an abusive stepfather, and Kofi, who must be the adult to his irresponsible parents while dealing with a growing addiction to prescription drugs given to him for an injury to his arm.  Added to seeing how they all deal with major issues in their lives is the mystery of who is committing thefts of money and electronic devices, and who keeps pulling the fire alarm in the middle of winter!  Lots of action leading up to a dramatic ending!

Fire from the Rock

(Originally posted by Ms. Moeller)

Fire from the Rock is a historical fiction novel that weaves a fantastic story and supplies information about the fight to desegregate American schools. This is the story of the Little Rock Nine. The main character, Sylvia Patterson, is a typical high school student concerned with friends, boys, and music. She is also a strong willed girl who needs to make difficult choices. Although this book is fiction, the incidents are based on reality. Sylvia is chosen to be one of the few black students to go to the all white Central High School. Her choice is not an easy one as many white people in the community are against desegregation.

Written in poetry form using few words, Kek tells a compelling story about escaping from Sudan in Africa after his father and brother were killed, leaving his mother behind, and coming to live in Minneapolis.  He comes to live with his aunt and cousin, arriving in winter to experience cold and snow for the first time.  Riding to his new home with Dave from the resettlement center, he asks to stop when he sees a cow inside a fence along the road.  That  cow is his one connection to his old life.

The story goes on to tell how he adjusts to live in America, going to school in his ESL classes, meeting new friends, and finding a way to care for Gol, the cow.  But all the while he worries about his mother back in Sudan.  Everyone says he probably won’t see her again.  He just can’t accept that.  What do you think will happen?

Read this Maud Hart Lovelace reading list entry for a new way to think about students who come to our country–and our school–directly from another country.

First Crossings: Stories about Teen Immigrants
edited by Donal R. Gallo

Short story books are wonderful because one can read the stories they choose. First Crossings has a wonderful introduction which explains the collection. Each story is unique in its perspective. One story is about getting in trouble at school and the problems with translation. A story talks about football and the prejudices of some people. A Minnesota author, Marie G. Lee, also has a story in this collection. These stories talk about the difficulties of being a teen in a new country.

RD is 15, Latino, and looking forward to an easy school year as he will be repeating 8th grade–not by choice!  His home life is not easy–his mother is in prison for dealing crack and he never knew his dad.  He lives with his grandmother and her boyfriend, Earl.  But then his grandmother hits the road with a new trucker friend, leaving RD with Earl who is suffering the effects of Agent Orange exposure from the Vietnam War.  One day soon after school starts, RD comes home and finds Earl dead in the bathroom.  Now RD is alone  and needs to figure out how to do many things, starting with what to do with Earl.  Next comes challenges to survive hunger and other basic needs, and mostly to do it all without anyone finding out he is there all by himself.  If the authorities find out, his next home will be a foster home!

I really liked reading about RD.  I liked the first person narrative that let us into his head to see how he thought about things and figured out solutions to his problems.  I think our students will like this book because of how RD and his friends talk to each other and relate as friends…or sometimes NOT as friends.