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Genna’s mother probably never told her to be careful what she wished and she probably never told Genna that she was beautiful, or smart or a wonderful daughter. Mom was too busy struggling with a son and a daughter she already lost to the streets, trying to make ends meet on her single income and getting through life’s daily demands. No, life was not easy for Genna and her family in Brooklyn. We know that Gemma is intelligent, tall, responsible, friendless and losing hope. She’s a young girl who doesn’t know her gifts or her options. She really leads a sheltered life and is unaware of much in the world around her, except for the world that exists in her garden.
She’s crushin’ on Judah and when they finally get together, her world expands. There is much tension brought in her home because of the decisions of her older siblings and how they affect the dynamics of the household.
Genna comes of age in this story, but not before she makes one fateful wish that takes her to the past. She transcends time and space to land in Civil War era Brooklyn. Her relationships lead her to uncover the depths of racial relations in New York City, what freedom really means, her true beauty and her real love.
This historical novel is a well written tale, penned by Zetta Elliott, author of Bird and numerous works of published poetry, one act plays and other works. She is a scholar and researcher who is well versed in Brooklyn’s diverse history. Even with these accomplishments, Elliott has had to go the route of self publishing in order to get this book to market. Don’t let that stop you from purchasing it! Adding this book to any young adult collection will be a wise investment. The historical evidence of the Draft Riots, and conditions for Irish and African Americans is sound. Messages in the book are clear but not overpowering. The suspense created by the story remains with me even now as I wonder how Judah found Genna and if he will indeed find her again.
Gopal’s family lives in rural India where they are tied to the land. One bad crop, one illness, just one accident will secure those ties and deepen their debt. The ties are so tight, that Gopal’s father decides to move the family to Mumbai where they can be helped by relatives and Baba (dad) can find work. The family faces several tenuous situations in their travel to find Gopal’s Uncle Jama and in most of these situations, we’re able to see the goodness of people in India. Given the terror that is about to strike Gopal, it’s important that the author remind us that there are people who choose to do good or to do bad in India as there are everywhere.
Gopal is a very smart young but in his cleverness, he gets snatched up and taken to be a child laborer, spending his days gluing beads to photo frames all day long. Gopal soon realizes that he’s had something most of the boys he’s working with have not: he’s known his family and he is confident in who he is. In his upbringing, many lessons were taught through strorytelling and this helps him develop many critical thinking skills that keep him mentally one step ahead in most situations.
Boys without names is a story with a very authenticl feel to it and it gives us insights into the very real work of child slavery. It is not a painful read, but suspense builds as Sheth skillfully uses Gopal’s voice to explore possibilities and plan for the future, something the boys had previously refused to do. Sheth conveys how adults can manipulate and control children and successfully describes the horrendous conditions the children live in. Nonetheless, the story remains hopeful as through Gopal’s eyes, we begin to see how things work, how relationships form and how things might change.
The author wrote this book after being approached by HarperCollins and she based many of the characters and situations on experiences she had while traveling in India. This book is quite a change from her previous book, Blue Jasmine but both books are full of the language, rhythms, values, foods and relationships of Indian culture.
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(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
Maddie haunted me and I’ve been talking about the book all day long. I’ve recommended it to a couple of young ladies. I’ve recommended it to parents to give to their young boys who will be struggling with issues I’ve recommended to librarians in KY who are looking for hard to find books with a positive Black male protaganist and I recommended it to teachers who are always on the lookout for good books that appeal to both boys and girls and I’m recommending it to you!
Saving Maddie is going to suffer from having such a wonderfully luscious chick cover. It’s a book for both boys and girls who need to be reminded of their basic goodness and of the importance of staying true to the goodness of their own voice. It seems to work from the premise that we’re all good people whom sometimes make bad choices.
The story? Maddie and Joshua are childhood friends and both are preachers kids. They are extreme examples of what happens to PKs: either living in their father’s shadows or living on the wild side. As childhood friends, they remember the basic goodness they know in each other and when Maddie returns to town after having been gone for some time, everyone else sees the new, wild, physically mature Maddie. Joshua loved her, now he’s in love with her. But, he’s the goody two shoes preacher kid. Where could this relations possibly go? Don’t assume you know what’s going to happen with this one! This is a contemporary coming of age story, one where we really feel the ‘children’ working through their issues and evolving into adults. Johnson masterfully develops his characters as they maintain their own voices, falter at times and search for possibilities. Encouraging adults show up along the way, providing guidance and developing the story.
The ending left me wanting more! I wanted to call Varian Johnson and ask what happened, but I calmly repeated “It’s only a book; It’s only a book.” I liked these characters and I wanted the best for them.
Did Joshua save Mattie? Himself? Or maybe Maddie did the saving because she’s the one who told Joshua he needed to know what he believed in his own heart.
I like that this book gives our children something besides violent issues to consider. Rather, it takes them into deep-seated issues that shape who we are and how we treat one another and it’s done so in a book that is appropriate for the classroom.
Genna’s mother probably never told her to be careful what she wished and she probably never told Genna that she was beautiful, or smart or a wonderful daughter. Mom was too busy struggling with a son and a daughter she already lost to the streets, trying to make ends meet on her single income and getting through life’s daily demands. No, life was not easy for Genna and her family in Brooklyn. We know that Gemma is intelligent, tall, responsible, friendless and losing hope. She’s a young girl who doesn’t know her gifts or her options. She really leads a sheltered life and is unaware of much in the world around her, except for the world that exists in her garden.
She’s crushin’ on Judah and when they finally get together, her world expands. There is much tension brought in her home because of the decisions of her older siblings and how they affect the dynamics of the household.
Genna comes of age in this story, but not before she makes one fateful wish that takes her to the past. She transcends time and space to land in Civil War era Brooklyn. Her relationships lead her to uncover the depths of racial relations in New York City, what freedom really means, her true beauty and her real love.
This historical novel is a well written tale, penned by Zetta Elliott, author of Bird and numerous works of published poetry, one act plays and other works. She is a scholar and researcher who is well versed in Brooklyn’s diverse history. Even with these accomplishments, Elliott has had to go the route of self publishing in order to get this book to market. Don’t let that stop you from purchasing it! Adding this book to any young adult collection will be a wise investment. The historical evidence of the Draft Riots, and conditions for Irish and African Americans is sound. Messages in the book are clear but not overpowering. The suspense created by the story remains with me even now as I wonder how Judah found Genna and if he will indeed find her again.
When you say something out of place about your friend’s mom, you get hit so hard, that you see a sky full of stars. And when you keep behaving out of place with your friend, sometimes the sky just goes dark.
Barry and Alby have been friends since elementary school. You would think that they know each other so well, that they would know when they are going beyond what their friend will accept. Alby has lost some money to a loan shark at school. Barry lost his dad a few years ago and daily, he watches his mom work way past being exhausted to provide for their home. Alby’s dad had indirectly taught his son to be a hustler, just like him. Barry’s dad was the kind of dad anyone would want. He taught his son how to box; repaired cars with him; talked with him and without knowing it, taught him how to be a man of integrity.
Barry and Alby both need money. Alby finds a boxing match in which he can enter Barry and they can both win money. Barry knows about these kinds of matches and how dangerous they can be, and he knows how his mom feels about him boxing. He tries to follow his dad’s voice. Alby? Our boy Alby just digs a deeper and deeper hole for himself!
Obviously, this is a guy book. It doesn’t feel quite right to say it’s a ‘nice’ book! But, that’s just what it is: A smooth, comfortable slice of two boys coming of age as they test the limits of their relationship with each other and with their parents. I especially liked how the dads came through for their sons. While they are both completely different in their parenting skills, they show that however you parent, you need to support and raise your boys.
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A Wish After Midnight
edicampbell, February 28, 2010
Genna’s mother probably never told her to be careful what she wished and she probably never told Genna that she was beautiful, or smart or a wonderful daughter. Mom was too busy struggling with a son and a daughter she already lost to the streets, trying to make ends meet on her single income and getting through life’s daily demands. No, life was not easy for Genna and her family in Brooklyn. We know that Gemma is intelligent, tall, responsible, friendless and losing hope. She’s a young girl who doesn’t know her gifts or her options. She really leads a sheltered life and is unaware of much in the world around her, except for the world that exists in her garden.She’s crushin’ on Judah and when they finally get together, her world expands. There is much tension brought in her home because of the decisions of her older siblings and how they affect the dynamics of the household.
Genna comes of age in this story, but not before she makes one fateful wish that takes her to the past. She transcends time and space to land in Civil War era Brooklyn. Her relationships lead her to uncover the depths of racial relations in New York City, what freedom really means, her true beauty and her real love.
This historical novel is a well written tale, penned by Zetta Elliott, author of Bird and numerous works of published poetry, one act plays and other works. She is a scholar and researcher who is well versed in Brooklyn’s diverse history. Even with these accomplishments, Elliott has had to go the route of self publishing in order to get this book to market. Don’t let that stop you from purchasing it! Adding this book to any young adult collection will be a wise investment. The historical evidence of the Draft Riots, and conditions for Irish and African Americans is sound. Messages in the book are clear but not overpowering. The suspense created by the story remains with me even now as I wonder how Judah found Genna and if he will indeed find her again.
Boys Without Names by Kashmira Sheth
edicampbell, February 14, 2010
Gopal’s family lives in rural India where they are tied to the land. One bad crop, one illness, just one accident will secure those ties and deepen their debt. The ties are so tight, that Gopal’s father decides to move the family to Mumbai where they can be helped by relatives and Baba (dad) can find work. The family faces several tenuous situations in their travel to find Gopal’s Uncle Jama and in most of these situations, we’re able to see the goodness of people in India. Given the terror that is about to strike Gopal, it’s important that the author remind us that there are people who choose to do good or to do bad in India as there are everywhere.Gopal is a very smart young but in his cleverness, he gets snatched up and taken to be a child laborer, spending his days gluing beads to photo frames all day long. Gopal soon realizes that he’s had something most of the boys he’s working with have not: he’s known his family and he is confident in who he is. In his upbringing, many lessons were taught through strorytelling and this helps him develop many critical thinking skills that keep him mentally one step ahead in most situations.
Boys without names is a story with a very authenticl feel to it and it gives us insights into the very real work of child slavery. It is not a painful read, but suspense builds as Sheth skillfully uses Gopal’s voice to explore possibilities and plan for the future, something the boys had previously refused to do. Sheth conveys how adults can manipulate and control children and successfully describes the horrendous conditions the children live in. Nonetheless, the story remains hopeful as through Gopal’s eyes, we begin to see how things work, how relationships form and how things might change.
The author wrote this book after being approached by HarperCollins and she based many of the characters and situations on experiences she had while traveling in India. This book is quite a change from her previous book, Blue Jasmine but both books are full of the language, rhythms, values, foods and relationships of Indian culture.
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
Saving Maddie by Varian Johnson
edicampbell, February 14, 2010
Maddie haunted me and I’ve been talking about the book all day long. I’ve recommended it to a couple of young ladies. I’ve recommended it to parents to give to their young boys who will be struggling with issues I’ve recommended to librarians in KY who are looking for hard to find books with a positive Black male protaganist and I recommended it to teachers who are always on the lookout for good books that appeal to both boys and girls and I’m recommending it to you!Saving Maddie is going to suffer from having such a wonderfully luscious chick cover. It’s a book for both boys and girls who need to be reminded of their basic goodness and of the importance of staying true to the goodness of their own voice. It seems to work from the premise that we’re all good people whom sometimes make bad choices.
The story? Maddie and Joshua are childhood friends and both are preachers kids. They are extreme examples of what happens to PKs: either living in their father’s shadows or living on the wild side. As childhood friends, they remember the basic goodness they know in each other and when Maddie returns to town after having been gone for some time, everyone else sees the new, wild, physically mature Maddie. Joshua loved her, now he’s in love with her. But, he’s the goody two shoes preacher kid. Where could this relations possibly go? Don’t assume you know what’s going to happen with this one! This is a contemporary coming of age story, one where we really feel the ‘children’ working through their issues and evolving into adults. Johnson masterfully develops his characters as they maintain their own voices, falter at times and search for possibilities. Encouraging adults show up along the way, providing guidance and developing the story.
The ending left me wanting more! I wanted to call Varian Johnson and ask what happened, but I calmly repeated “It’s only a book; It’s only a book.” I liked these characters and I wanted the best for them.
Did Joshua save Mattie? Himself? Or maybe Maddie did the saving because she’s the one who told Joshua he needed to know what he believed in his own heart.
I like that this book gives our children something besides violent issues to consider. Rather, it takes them into deep-seated issues that shape who we are and how we treat one another and it’s done so in a book that is appropriate for the classroom.
A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliot
edicampbell, February 14, 2010
Genna’s mother probably never told her to be careful what she wished and she probably never told Genna that she was beautiful, or smart or a wonderful daughter. Mom was too busy struggling with a son and a daughter she already lost to the streets, trying to make ends meet on her single income and getting through life’s daily demands. No, life was not easy for Genna and her family in Brooklyn. We know that Gemma is intelligent, tall, responsible, friendless and losing hope. She’s a young girl who doesn’t know her gifts or her options. She really leads a sheltered life and is unaware of much in the world around her, except for the world that exists in her garden.She’s crushin’ on Judah and when they finally get together, her world expands. There is much tension brought in her home because of the decisions of her older siblings and how they affect the dynamics of the household.
Genna comes of age in this story, but not before she makes one fateful wish that takes her to the past. She transcends time and space to land in Civil War era Brooklyn. Her relationships lead her to uncover the depths of racial relations in New York City, what freedom really means, her true beauty and her real love.
This historical novel is a well written tale, penned by Zetta Elliott, author of Bird and numerous works of published poetry, one act plays and other works. She is a scholar and researcher who is well versed in Brooklyn’s diverse history. Even with these accomplishments, Elliott has had to go the route of self publishing in order to get this book to market. Don’t let that stop you from purchasing it! Adding this book to any young adult collection will be a wise investment. The historical evidence of the Draft Riots, and conditions for Irish and African Americans is sound. Messages in the book are clear but not overpowering. The suspense created by the story remains with me even now as I wonder how Judah found Genna and if he will indeed find her again.
The Whole Sky Full of Stars by Rene Jr Saldana
edicampbell, September 20, 2009
When you say something out of place about your friend’s mom, you get hit so hard, that you see a sky full of stars. And when you keep behaving out of place with your friend, sometimes the sky just goes dark.Barry and Alby have been friends since elementary school. You would think that they know each other so well, that they would know when they are going beyond what their friend will accept. Alby has lost some money to a loan shark at school. Barry lost his dad a few years ago and daily, he watches his mom work way past being exhausted to provide for their home. Alby’s dad had indirectly taught his son to be a hustler, just like him. Barry’s dad was the kind of dad anyone would want. He taught his son how to box; repaired cars with him; talked with him and without knowing it, taught him how to be a man of integrity.
Barry and Alby both need money. Alby finds a boxing match in which he can enter Barry and they can both win money. Barry knows about these kinds of matches and how dangerous they can be, and he knows how his mom feels about him boxing. He tries to follow his dad’s voice. Alby? Our boy Alby just digs a deeper and deeper hole for himself!
Obviously, this is a guy book. It doesn’t feel quite right to say it’s a ‘nice’ book! But, that’s just what it is: A smooth, comfortable slice of two boys coming of age as they test the limits of their relationship with each other and with their parents. I especially liked how the dads came through for their sons. While they are both completely different in their parenting skills, they show that however you parent, you need to support and raise your boys.
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