Blended by Sharon M. Draper

Eleven-year=old Isabella feels that she is constantly being pulled in different directions. Her life ping-pongs back and forth, as her parents share custody. She lives part-time with her black father, his girlfriend and her son. Alternate weeks are at the home of her white mother and future stepfather.  Two different homes. Two different families. Every. Other. Week. At dad's house, she is Isabella and practices her music on a grand piano. To mom she is Izzy and prepares for her upcoming recital on an electronic keyboard. Then there are the Exchange Days, the dreaded moments when her two sets of parents meet at the mall and Izzy/Isabella must switch backpacks, lifestyles, and identities. It's confusing.

Listen Up

Additional Sharon M. Draper Books

Darius the Great is Not Okay
​by Adib Khorram read by Michael Levi Harris

Meet Darius Kellner, "Fractional Persian," slightly overweight sophomore, and tea aficionado. His commentary is liberally sprinkled with references to Star Trek and Lord of the Rings. He adores his Persian mother, dotes on his younger sister Laleh, and navigates a complicated father/son relationship. He's nerdy and possess a biting wit referring to classmates as the "Soulless Minions of Orthodoxy," and frequently doubts himself "That's normal. Right?" He is also a young man suffering with clinical depression. Life takes an unexpected turn when the family travels to Iran to visit his Zoroastrian grandfather who is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Darius confronts the reality of his identity as a young man of Persian heritage who has been raised in a decidedly western culture. Is he American or Iranian? Is it possible to be a part of each? ​He discovers that he has a talent for playing soccer/non-American football, a love for his maternal family, and the ability to forgive and be forgiven by a friend. Darius returns to America with increased acceptance of himself, greater appreciation for his family, and a clearer understanding his depression.

Bonus: Listen up

Random Musings

We’ve Got the Whole world in Our Hands by Rafael López

Follow this string as it sails across seas and continents, through day and night, meets creatures large and small, and into the hands of children throughout the world. Rafael López interprets this traditional song with his distinctive artistic flair. Using a mixed media approach that incorporates a collage of found objects and cut paper with traditional watercolor and ink techniques as well as digital skills, he creates vibrant illustrations that capture the heart and soul of a world worth singing about. The spherical motif echoes throughout the pages: sun, moon, snail shell, ball of string, hot air balloon, and ultimately, the planet earth. A celebration of the connections that we all share. Glorious! ​

String Along

Sing Along

Bonus

A bilingual English/Spanish edition is also available.

I've got a signed copy in my hands. Gracias Rafael López

We Rise. We Resist. We Raise Our Voices
Wade Hudson (editor) Cheryl Willis Hudson (editor)

Anthology of poetry, essays, and art reflects and honors the ongoing struggle for Justice, equality, and respect. It simultaneously celebrates the rich cultural heritage of under-represented members of our society, while acknowledging the painful past as well as current unsettling conditions. As the title We Rise. We Resist. We Raise Our Voices suggests, young readers are encouraged to take an active role, making positive and much-needed changes in their world. Rather than sink into despair, this book is a call to action. A reason to believe that change is possible. A sense of hope permeates every page. The striking red cover is instantly attention-catching. The bold color palette, carefully crafted page design, and visually arresting art on every page engages readers. A variety of formats fill these pages with important ideas, deeply held beliefs, and strong emotional connections.

Bonus

Yes. I have an ARC signed by both editors: Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson. Lucky me!

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome

It is 1946. Young Langston's life has been turned upside down.  Gone are quite slow-paced days. Gone are family and friends. His warm rural Alabama hometown has been replaced with Chicago. I pick up my life And take it with me And put it down in Chicago, Detroit Buffalo, Scranton. After his mother dies, Langston's father decides to move north, seeking a better life for his son. Moving into a shabby apartment with wallpaper created from newspaper is a huge adjustment. This Alabama transplant wears overalls and speaks with a distinctive drawl. Instantly he is derisively called "country boy" by the class bully. Others join in taunting the new boy in school. He wonders, can he ever feel at home in this strange place?

Magic of Words

Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: 
The Sanitation Strike of 1968
by Alice Faye Duncan ill R. Gregory Christie

So much was won. So much was lost. Freedom is never free. Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop transports young readers back to the momentous events of 1968 in Tennessee. Informational narration, poetic text, and free verse recount events surrounding the Memphis Sanitation Strike as seen through the eyes of nine-year-old Lorraine Jackson. Her father, a sanitation worker, joined with 1,300 men who organized a labor strike. The workers demanded increased job safety, improved working conditions, and better wages.

Christie’s signature style is used to excellent effect. Lorraine’s head is proportionally large, suggesting her pivotal role as storyteller. Images of picket lines are monochromatic with raised placards displaying no text. This puts the focus on the marchers and allows readers to envision their own protest slogans. Back matter is an exceptionally rich resource. Included are a three-page annotated timeline, a description of the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, a list of sources, and source notes.

Bonus Resources

Introduce students to the power of Dr. King’s words with this excerpt from his speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” delivered at the Masonic Temple in Memphis on April 3, 1968.

Experience the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. or visit it virtually to learn more about the legacy of this leader.

Note: one of my treasures is this ​R. Gregory Christie signed print. It is on display in my personal library.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: August 28, 2018 Publisher: Calkins Creek Books  ISBN:978-1629797182

What Do You Do With a Voice Like That?
The Story of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan
by Chris Barton ill Ekua Holmes

Full disclosure: The first time that I heard Barbara Jordan speak, I was mesmerized. I had tuned into the impeachment hearings, and listened as a powerful voice spoke with measured authoritative language. I wanted to learn more about the woman behind that voice. Well-known and respected Texas author Chris Barton whose Whoosh, Dazzle Ships, and The Day-Glow Brothers are some of his outstanding nonfiction titles has penned a picture book biography that is worthy of this Texas legend and her legacy.

View

I had the opportunity to hear Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator Ekua Holmes (Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement). She displayed some of the original art that she created for this picture book. ​Ms. Holmes shared that her granddaughter served as the model for young Barbara Jordan. Note: she's the young girl in pink standing in front of a tree. It took a few tries before she captured the essence of a confident young Barbara Jordan. The image of Barbara, returning to her home years later is particularly poignant. The artist used a family home as the model in these images. It is fitting that these sources serve as inspiration for her work.

Listen!

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

​​What would happen if you intentionally leave a group of kids alone in a classroom? This story framework, a group in a confined space for a specific period of time, is generally reserved for adult literature. Think: a sequestered jury, a therapy group, passengers on a plane/train etc. The most notable equivalent application for teens is The Breakfast Club. But a group of students deliberately put together in a classroom without an adult present is something I don’t offhand recall in another work of juvenile fiction. It’s a bold construct that really works. It works so well that I became a virtual member of the group, as the dynamic slowly, often painfully, evolves. I could relate to each student. It was easy to picture myself as an unseen participant in the room. ​​Concepts of immigration, incarceration, racial disparity, and economic inequality are woven into the narrative. While these are important issues, it’s the relationship among the six kids that is imprinted on my mind and heart. Each voice is distinct and offers a unique perspective.

Kudos for the cover design. It captures the essence of creating harbors for kids.

Sing Along

Bonus: Twitter post from Jacqueline Woodson

Dear Rachel Maddow by Adrienne Kisner

Life is not fair. It certainly hasn’t been that way for Brynn. Her home life gives new meaning to the term dysfunctional. Older brother Nick, brilliant and caring, died due to a drug overdose. Dad abandoned the family. Mom remarried. Together her stepfather and mom have carved out a strange existence which has no room for Brynn, other than tormenting her whenever they fear that she might expose the shame of their situation. Her love life has hit an all-time low following the break-up with girlfriend Sarah. "Loss isn’t motivating. It’s debilitating." Then there’s school. Once a promising high school scholar, Brynn’s current academic status has resulted in dismissal from the school newspaper staff and reassignment to the Applied program, which meets in the basement of the high school and provides additional support for struggling students. "Do you get lost effects from lost causes?"

Grandad Mandela
by Zindzi Mandela , Zazi Mandela, and Ziwelene Mandela
​ill Sean Qualls

Eight-year-old Zazi and six-year-old Ziwelene discover an old photograph. Their grandmother Zindzi Mandela,  the youngest child born to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and President Nelson Mandela, recognizes the photo immediately. It is a picture of her father. Through a series of questions, the great grandchildren learn about their heritage, their great grandfather's legacy, and the struggle to dismantle apartheid and win the freedom for all peoples in South Africa. The deprivation, pain, and imprisonment Mandela endured are explained. However, Grandmother lovingly frames the story in a positive light, pointing out the strength and dignity of her father and his firm resolve to remain true to his principles.  ​"I want to see you strong, ​you must hold your head up high."

Grandmother continues, relating Mandela's release from prison and his subsequent South African presidency, as well as his tireless efforts to champion equality and justice for all. The children are encouraged to honor him by volunteering and working to create a better world. Ambassador Zindzi Mandela, with her grandchildren Zazi and Ziwelene have written a personal and powerful tribute to Mandela's life and legacy.   Grandad Mandela is an exquisite volume and a treasure for children throughout the world.

Additional Resources

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson​

A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagar