Reviews (6)

One of the Best
This is one of the best books for kids during the holidays (or year round for that matter). It's great for adults too, I look forward to reading it every Hanukah.

A good true story read aloud by actor Bill Pullman
The Christmas Menorahs is a compelling story. The Jewish Community Library of Los Angeles selected this book to be included in its public radio production "One People, Many Stories." One People, Many Stories is a 6 CD set of over 30 children's Jewish stories read by Hollywood talent. This particular story was read by actor,Bill Pullman who happens to own a ranch in Montana...the location of this true story of tolerance and sensitivity. You can purchase the CD set (6 CD set $$$) to hear Bill Pullman read The Christmas Menorahs

A small city's courage and decency
I don't generally review children's books but, I bought this for my niece and read it. I was touched by this heartwarming tale. This is a true story of the people of Billings, Montana who stood up against hatred when anti semitic skinheads through rocks through the windows of Jewish homes displaying Hanukkah menorahs. The good people of this city got together and displayed menorahs also. Since there were not enough menorahs avilable, many displayed pictures of menorahs.

This charming account is told from the point of view of a young boy whose window was smashed. Seeing the events unfurl from his eyes and the eyes of his parents truly humanized the account of events. It is written to read like a fictional story even though, for the most part, the events are true. This book is worth reading by the whole family, Jewish and non Jewish alike. All kids, even good readers, are entitled to be read to occasionally and this book should be read by the family together.

An inspiring book of how young and old can fight bigotry
I first saw the documentary of the true story in Billings, Montana on which this book was based. The story comes to life through simple yet powerful words and vivid drawings. When thousands of non-Jewish citizens, including young children, fight bigotry by putting menorahs in their windows, they inspire us that no issue is too big to face head on. Every child over the age of nine should read this book, no matter what the racial or religious make up of his or her community.

The holiday spirit is alive in this book!
I bought this book last holiday season for everyone in my family (from 3 to 70)! It's a powerful true story of diverse families coming together and working together to put an end to hate crimes during Hanukkah in their small town. Families realize their similarities, even though they are Christian and Jewish. To me, this story is a story of the holiday season - and the spirit of human kindness - at its finest. A wonderful book to read during the holiday season! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great book with tons of facts
This book really opened my eyes to how the "nationalist" Americans really treated the Japanese-Americans. This book totally blew my mind and made me angry. I was angry because we were just as bad as those nazi's. All in all i'd recommend this book if you want to learn the truth. ... Read more

Book Description

Jamie is like most girls in the 1950s—she loves Hollywood movie stars andpracticing her yoyo moves. But unlike those other girls, she has something to hide, a secret that ishurting her family. Jamie’s father is a member of the Communist Party, and in 1953, that’s theworst thing you can be. Senator Joseph McCarthy and his committee are throwing Americans injail if they refuse to reveal the names of other Communists, and Jamie’s dad won’t. He’s not a rat. When the truth comes out, and her dad loses his job, Jamie is ashamed to show her face in school.She’s thrown off the school paper with no explanation, and all of a sudden Jamie knows how herfather feels. Is there anything she can do to help her father? And what about herself? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Catch A Tiger By The Toe
Jamie is a well-developed protagonist reflecting her age so well in the way she loves and deplores her family.Levine has created an accurate portrayal of the McCarthy Era giving it an immediacy history books often miss.Readers will know about the tension and tragedy of that period in a personal way.The last chapter gave me goose-bumps and made me teary eyed. ... Read more

Book Description

A harrowing account of a town that surrenders its humaniy. "A frightening and compelling story about prejudice, ignorance and hysteria."--Columbia Missourian
... Read more

Book Description

Beyond the Arrow Mountains,
where winds blow bitter chill,
across the Arrow Ocean
lies a town called Arrowville,
where every pointed person
had a pointed point of view,
and every point in Arrowville
was always just askew.

In Arrowville, the arrows argue all day long, except for an agreeable girl named Barb. When Barb runs away from home, she encounters a family of targets vacationing in Arrowville. The Targets become the target of mistrust, leading to a clamorous climax of chaos and confusion, but in the end Barb and the Targets convince the town that there are certain ideas upon which everyone can agree.

Animator and first-time author Geefwee Boedoe makes his debut with a sly and delicious comedy of errors, featuring lollypops and something even sweeter -- friendship.

Book Description

This novel shows the bonds of friendship under the strain of apartheid as two lifelong friends, Tengo and Frikkie, come of age amidst the tragedy of South Africa. ... Read more

Reviews (91)

La SuNnY's ReViEw!!!!
IT WAS AWESOME LIKE ACUVE CONTACTS! LOL anewayz... This book depicts what life was like for "blacks" during the aparthied. It made me realize how insensitive people were to "blacks". They were treated worse than dirt. I am so lucky to have been born in the 1990's because now we rarely have any racial abuses. Since I live in Tennessee I have seen some racial remarks but I think all our states are making progress. By 2010 we will be a diverse nation and there will be NO discrimination. Tengo was never physically abused, but the words that some people said really hurt his feelings. I find it quite ironic that Tengo,whose black, wants to go to school while Frikkie, whose white, wants to quit school and work on the farm. This book was great because it teaches everyone that there is not a nobody among everybody. I would love to thank Mrs. Erskine for making me read this dramatic book with vivid details!

Excellent!
"Waiting for the Rain" is the story of two boys--one black and one white--and the story of their friendship.The author, Sheila Gordon, shows how the boys' lives seperate as each one pursues their dreams and their friendship breaks under the pressure of apartheid.This excellent story is very touching and enjoyable and also a good book to read and discuss with others who have read it.

ok book
Gordon, Sheila; Waiting for the Rain
P 214, Dell Laurel-Leaf, © 1987
Book rating: ●●●●○

Frikkie and Tengo are best friends from childhood. Tengo is a black boy who lives in the farm working for Frikkie's uncle. Frikkie is a white boy who loves the farm and will someday inherit the land. As time goes on, Frikkie and Tengo's friendship breaks apart. Tengo realizes the difference between Frikkie and himself. He then leaves the farm and goes to the city to study and fights against apartheid, while Frikkie joins the army and waits for the day when he returns to the farm. As Tengo commits himself to the cause of change, Frikkie tries to make everything back as it had always been. Will the 2 friends fight and destroy each other or hold on to their friendship and live happily ever after? Read the book Waiting for the Rain to find out!!!

Review for Wating for the rain
The book Waiting for the rain is a story of two friends and how they struggle over a crisis that threatens to destroy their friendship. Tengo is a black boy and Frikkie is the nephew of a white farmer. As time goes on their cultures clash and soon they find themselves fighting over who will get the farm. "I know what's coming. But I won't give the farm up. I'll fight for it with everything I've got." This quote shows the strong determination between them. Can they save their friendship or is this the end for both of them? Sheila Gordon has done an amazing job with describing the lives of these two boys. I rate this book three stars.

Review for Waiting for the Rain
Waiting for the Rain tells the story of two young boys with a strong friendship in the midst of a South African apartheid. Frikkie, a white boy, has dreams to finish school as soon as he can and go to live on his uncle's farm. Tengo, a black boy, has dreams to go to school in Johannesburg and finish his matric. But both dreams are on hold while both boys struggle for their own races. In Waiting for the Rain, emotions touch in a way that nothing can compare. The reader experiences the true meaning of friendship, loyalty, and the different ways of life. ... Read more

Book Description

Callum is a naught, a second-class citizen in a society run by the ruling Crosses. Sephy is a Cross, and daughter of the man slated to become prime minister. In their world, white naughts and black Crosses simply don't mix -- and they certainly don't fall in love. But that's exactly what they've done.

When they were younger, they played together. Now Callum and Sephy meet in secret and make excuses. But excuses no longer cut it when Sephy and her mother are nearly caught in a terrorist bombing planned by the Liberation Militia, with which Callum's family is linked. Callum's father is the prime suspect...and Sephy's father will stop at nothing to see him hanged. The blood hunt that ensues will threaten not only Callum and Sephy's love for each other, but their very lives.

In this shocking thriller, UK sensation Malorie Blackman turns the world inside out. What's white is black, what's black is white, and only one thing is clear: Assumptions can be deadly.

... Read more

Book Description

Oliver Octopus only has five arms, but it doesn't bother him! Young children with any kind of "disability" or "differences" will enjoy reading about Oliver's adventures above the sea, and how, through his determination and positive attitude, he corrects the misconceptions other people have about physical challenges. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A book that belongs in the library of every child.
Oliver is an octopus with beautiful green eyes and a constant smile. Although he doesn't believe himself to be physically challenged, Oliver only has five arms, rather than eight arms like all the other octopuses. Oliver's High Five, a children's picture book, is the story of how he ventured out into the world and how he overcame the rejections he initially faced. Beverly Swerdlow Brown has written several children's books and numerous short stories and articles. Margot J. Ott has two previous picture books to her credit. Oliver tries to find a job, but no one wants him because he is missing three arms. Then a pet shop has a big problem with a leaking fish aquarium. Oliver uses his five arms to plug the leaks, catch the birds, and pet the dogs--all at one time! He shows everyone that being different isn't a measure of his abilities. Ronald M. Andiman, M.D. the Clinical Chief of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center wrote the foreword to the book. He says "This is a children's book that deals gently with a difficult topic. The simplicity of plot and language belie the complexity of issues relating to the physically challenged that are dealt with and hinted at in the small colorful volume. It is a book that will open up discussion, lead to further reflection and build greater understanding. It is a book for adults and children to share. Books like this help to repair the world." A copy of Oliver's High Five belongs in the library of every child, whether physically challenged or not. It's a book that teaches them how to "focus on their abilities, not their disabilities."

Sandra I. Smith Reviewer

An uplifting story with an important, contemporary message.
The plight of Oliver the Octopus and his struggle to become an accepted member of the workforce in the "world above the sea" is conveyed with warmth in this beautifully written, creatively illustrated book. Oliver's perserverance, despite the rejections he receives based upon his appearance rather than his abilities, is a potent testimony to the strength of his own self-image. The ignorance of discrimination is portrayed with honesty in a contemporary setting, which makes the book mandatory reading for all grade school educators and child therapists.

Great Illustrations, Wonderful Colors, Hopeful Story
This story teaches us all to never give up! Even though we face rejection and disappointments, if we continue towards our goals, we might succeed, like Oliver-the Five Armed Octopus! A wonderfully illustrated and entertaining book for the world and society we live in! ... Read more

Book Description

Segregated Charleston, SC, 1955: There are 62 official Little League programs in South Carolina - all but one of the leagues is composed entirely of white players.The Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars, an all-black team, is formed in hopes of playing in the state's annual Little League Tournament.What should have been a time of enjoyment, however, turns sour when all of the other leagues refuse to play against them and even pull out of the program.As the only remaining Little League team in the state, Cannon Street was named state winner by default, giving the boys a legitimate spot in the Little League Baseball World Series held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.While the Cannon Street team is invited to the game as guests, they are not allowed to participate since they have not officially "played" and won their state's tournament.

"Let Them Play" takes its name from the chant shouted by the spectators who attended the World Series final. ... Read more

Book Description

To Coach Dempsey, the Warriors teams and their Indian mascot symbolize the honor and glory of the Southwind High School athletic tradition. But soccer star Tom Gray sees little more than a denigrating cultural stereotype in the team"s mascot and the stern, war-painted Indian-head profile. As a Mohawk, Tom knows only too well the hardships Native Americans face in their struggle for respect. So when his father"s tragic death forces him and his mother to move to Southwind, Tom must make the decision of a lifetime: betray his family and heritage, or boycott Dempsey"s team and abandon the sport he loves. Exciting play-by-plays pepper this tale, vividly capturing soccer strategy and action in a novel exploring the nature of honor and the courage required to stand up for your beliefs. ... Read more

Book Description

A moving, coming-of-age story of a young white girl who overcomes family prejudice and cultural differences when she befriends a black girl in a small working-class town.

Twelve-year-old Cassie narrates the dramatic events that unfold when Jemmie, an African-American girl, and her family move in next door. Despite their parents' deeply held prejudice against each other's family-exemplified by the fence Cassie's father builds between their two houses-the girls find they share more similarities than differences.Mutual interests in reading and running draw them together, and their wariness of each other disappears.But when their parents find out about the burgeoning friendship, each girl is forbidden to see the other.A family crisis and celebration provide opportunities for the families to reach an understanding.

Author Adrian Fogelin addresses the complex issues of bigotry and tolerance with sensitivity and intelligence.Readers will find her story of how two adolescent girls, through their own example, teach racial tolerance to the adults in a small Florida town powerful and compelling. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Crossing Jordan
Crossing Jordan by Adrian Fogelin is a very good book. Cass is the girl who lives next door to Miss Liz. Miss Liz has died and the new neighbors are colored and Cass's dad is building a fence just because of that reason. Cass finds out that Jemmie, the girl vext door is her age. Cass and Jemmie start to become good friends. One day Cass challenged Jemmie to a race. Cass was the fastest girl in school but Jemmie was just as fast. Secretly everyday after Cass's dad left for work Cass went over to Jemmie's house and they played and talked. One day Cass's dad got hurt and came home from work early. Cass was over at Jemmie's house. Cass's dad forbids Cass to talk to Jemmie and go to her house, Jemmie's mother does as well. Will Cass and Jemmie be friends again to find out read Cross.ing Jordan

Black and White, Together
In many ways Crossing Jordan is one of the best books I have ever read. The plot was great, it really shows how hard it used to be for black Americans. At first the white girl, Cass doesn't know how to act when a black family moves in next door. She doesn't like them at first, since her dad doesn't. After awhile the black girl, Jemmie and Cass became friends and struggle to keep their friedship even though their parents don't like each other. This book is a lot like Burning Up. Both books are about the seperation between blacks and whites, and the struggle the blacks had. I recommened this book for everyone to read.

Crossing the Fence
Crossing Jordan, by Adrian Fogelin is an exceptional book. It is a book that deals with the barriers that are put into place to separate people who are different from one another. The book is geared toward an audience between the ages of 9-12 years old, but is appropriate and applicable for people of all ages. The issues of prejudices and relationships among those of different races are realistically portrayed to the reader in the book Crossing Jordan in a way that is heart warming and emotional.
Cass Bodine a 12-year-old Caucasian girl lives with her family in a small neighborhood in Tallahassee, Florida. The home next door to theirs has been sold to an African American family. Cass's father immediately decides to place a fence in between their two yards. The African American family has not even moved in yet, and the barrier has already been put into place. "The For Sale sign on the house next door had hardly been up a week when Mama told us she'd heard that a black family had bought the old Faircloth place. Daddy brought his fist down on the table... 'Place is gonna go downhill,' he said" (1).
Cass's father continues to make negative statements about the new African American neighbors whom he has never met. Cass wonders if the things her father is saying are true, but she does not know what to believe. She has been watching the neighbors, and they seem normal to her. When Cass meets one of her neighbors, a friendship blossoms and continues to grow throughout the book. Jemmie Lewis is one of the African American children that lives next door to Cass. Jemmie is 12-years-old, and she has many things in common with Cass. Both girls love to run, and enjoy reading. Both girls also have one parent who feels that African Americans, and Caucasians should not interact with one another.
Nevertheless, the two girls continue to be secret friends. They do not understand the feelings that their parents have because they are able to look past skin color and see the wonderful people that they are. Nana Grace, Jemmie's grandma encourages the girls to continue being friends because she thinks it is wonderful that they do not see the difference in their skin color as a problem
The entire book deals with Cass and Jemmie trying to overcome the negative feelings toward the friendship that they have developed. Eventually, both of their parents realize that they have been spending time together, and make them stop seeing each other. Through a traumatic experience, the families are eventually brought together. It is not easy for the adults to overcome their prejudices, but they begin to realize that they are wrong. It is very significant that the book ends with Cass's family "crossing the fence" and eating dinner with the Lewis family at their home. The barrier is finally broken, but it has not been an easy task.
The book Crossing Jordan is a book that applies directly to many people's lives. I have never experienced the sort of prejudice feelings that the characters of Mr. Bodine and Mrs. Lewis have. I do, however, realize that these feelings are still prevalent today among many people. Crossing Jordan is a great example for all readers that the barriers placed in between groups of different people can be broken. Cass and Jemmie did not have a problem with overcoming the barriers. They were able to recognize that even though their skin color was different, they still had a lot in common. Cass and Jemmie are a good example to people of all ages. Both children and adults need to realize that the racial barriers that people put into place are foolish.
Crossing Jordan is a realistic book. While the author wants to portray to her readers that prejudices and barriers between races are wrong, she also realizes that they may be hard to break down. Jemmie and Cass did not have a problem with the barrier; they just found a way around it. But, for their parents the task was not quite as easy. Breaking down the barriers that separate people can be difficult. Fogelin is not trying to allude to the fact that it will be easy, she is simply saying that it is possible. Crossing Jordan gives the reader hope that while racial prejudices and barriers are hard to overcome, they are not impossible to overcome. The book sends messages of hope and of perseverance, while recognizing that the task is challenging.

A terrific story!
Cass Bodine is having a lousy summer,until new neighbors move in next door.Her father had heard that these new neighbors were African-Americans, and because of his predjudice immediatly puts up a fence.when the new neighbors move in and see that a fence has been put up, they quickly dislike their new neighbors' from their ignorance. As Cass Bodine watches her new neighbors through a knothole in the fence, she is spotted by Jemmie Lewis. Seeing her long legs and build Cass challenges her to a race and the girls quickly become best friends in secret.Brought together by their love of reading the book Jane Eyre and running entertains the girls. But when their families find out, they forbid the girls from seeing eachother. Read Crossing Jordan and find out how an almost fatal accident brings the families together and what great accomplishment Cass and Jemmie make together. Crossing Jordan Is a fantastic book!I highly recommened it!

This book is great!!
A friend recommended this book to me so i got a copy from the libriary. I didn't think it would be that good but it definitely was! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

The Drowning of Stephan Jones
Bette Greene's "The Drowning of Stephan Jones" is a well-researched and well-written book about a timely issue. It is a novel based upon a series of real-life events, the perpetrators and victims of which Greene spoke to before writing. The novel explores the hatred of gays often propagated by those who are supposed to be our "moral leaders". Andy and his friends abuse, belittle, and humiliate Stephan Jones and Frank Montgomery throughout the book, and, ultimately, the wind up killing Stephan. There is a valuable lesson to be learned from this work, which will undoubtedly raise numerous questions in the reader's mind. Apparently, Mrs. Greene is willing to answer her readers' questions though, as she has established a website with the intention of informing her readers about her books and life. You can visit it, and email her from bettegreene.com.

Hatred masked by love? Greene has another winner!
Andy Harris is the ultimate Christian young man. He quotes scripture, attends church religiously, leads Bible study but is that really him. Carla Wayland, his girlfriend, is totally in love with him and doesn't see or ignores his quirks. His ultimate quirk is his hatred of all homosexuals, especially the gay couple - Frank Montgomery and Stephan Jones. What drives him? Does Carla's mother - Judith - the town outcast because she stands up for her beliefs - have anything to do with it? This is a remarkable tale of what hatred does to people - to those who hate and to those who are hated. Greene develops the characters so true to life, you'll feel you are watching a movie. I highly recommend this book.

It could really happen
This is a great story revolving around a very christian and church going young man and his blinded by love girlfriend. Andy is working a hate campaign towards the gentle and friendly gay couple Stephan Jones and Frank Montgomery for no reason other than the fact they are gay and the fact that Andy is using his religion as an excuse to do so. And then when Stephan drowns as a result of a vicious joke, the truth about Andy finally comes out.

A very eye opening book. I did not realize that there are really people in this world that use religion as an excuse to act this way, but there really are.

Sarah`s review
This book will always be one of the best books. The reason I chose this book was because of the muder and lessons. This book is about a boy who commites hate crimes against a gay cuple, and his girlfriend standing up for what she believes in. My favorite character is Clara because even if she loves Andy she wants to go against his believes. My favorite part of the book is in the court room.

A banned book in Horry County Schools, Horry County, SC
I have problems with the stereotyping of Christians and gays in this book but I do not think it should have been banned from our county's media centers. It was as of June 12, 2002.

Even evangelical and fundamentalist Christians could have learned something from this book: walk the talk!!! You can't love homosexuals and call them names and inflict violence upon them. ... Read more

Book Description

Why can't a white kid sit with the black kids in the cafeteria?

What happens when a biracial girl from Trinidad falls for a guy from a very different culture?

How does a teen deal with being the only Palestinian boy or the only Japanese girl in a small American town?

Face Relations offers eleven original works by celebrated authors Joseph Bruchac, Marina Budhos, M. E. Kerr, Kyoko Mori, Jess Mowry, Naomi Shihab Nye, René Saldaña Jr., Marilyn Singer, Rita Williams-Garcia, Sherri Winston, and Ellen Wittlinger that explore the possibilities of embracing diversity in a world still rife with bigotry and racism. As editor Marilyn Singer writes in her introduction:

"...the characters in these stories tear down the barriers that separate us." Their stories may be troubled, funny, sad, or fierce, but all are full of hope.

11 stories about seeing beyond color

> "Phat Acceptance" by Jess Mowry

> "Skins" by Joseph Bruchac

> "Snow" by Sherri Winston

> "The Heartbeat of the Soul of the World" by René Saldaña Jr.

> "Hum" by Naomi Shihab Nye

> "Epiphany" by Ellen Wittlinger

> "Black and White" by Kyoko Mori

> "Hearing Flower" by M. E. Kerr

> "Gold" by Marina Budhos

> "Mr. Ruben" by Rita Williams-Garcia

> "Negress" by Marilyn Singer

Reviews (2)

Richie's Picks: FACE RELATIONS
"It seems to me as though I've been upon this stage before
And juggled away the night for the same old crowd"
--Al Stewart, "One Stage Before"

"Then Brandon wondered how he should react. The other students were watching him, too. He felt as if he was up on a stage and no one had told him what part to play. This massive black boy was invading his space on the very first day of high school, dammit! It felt like his cool was a house of cards and this woolly black mammoth was shaking the floor. Brandon had gone to a private school from kindergarten through junior high, so he didn't know anyone here. He had no posse to take his back and validate his coolness permit. He remembered something his father had said about making career decisions. Nobody would dis him for dissing this dude, but they'd probably dis him for not. And they'd have him under a microscope for all this freakin' period. Observer, hell! he told himself; he was the one who was being observed, scanned, filed and categorized, labeled and tagged for the next four years by how he treated this huge black kid within the next forty minutes!"
--from "Phat Acceptance" by Jess Mowry

Last November 18th my wife's middle school participated in Teaching Tolerance's "Mix It Up At Lunch Day." While students in other, tougher places--where they truly fear for their personal safety at school--might scoff at our earnest and enthusiastic efforts to have students get to know kids in some of the "other" groups on campus, we certainly have testimony from students who are intimidated and discouraged by the barriers they perceive between groups.

" 'Well, I'm sorry, DeMaris, but you cannot eat at our table!'
" 'Why?'
" 'Because it makes everybody uncomfortable. Can't you tell that?'
" 'Yes. But I still don't know why. We were best friends for six years. How come all of a sudden you can't even sit at a lunch table with me?' Just saying it out loud made the sadness bunch up at the back of my throat, making my voice sound thick."
--from "Epiphany" by Ellen Wittlinger

But I expect that a number of those students will ease up on their cynicism after experiencing FACE RELATIONS, a stellar collection of short stories about the "relations" part of race relations. Written by some great YA authors who are, themselves, from a multiplicity of family backgrounds, and utilizing the wisdom of their own firsthand experiences within the changing American social structure, their fictional tales probe the subtleties and complexities that arise amid the interactions of variously hued adolescent characters in today's world.

"Sometimes I'm right and I can be wrong
My own beliefs are in my song
The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then
Makes no difference what group I'm in"
--Sly & the Family Stone, "Everyday People"

"When you go to a high school in a town so small that you have to look twice to see it when you're passing through, everyone knows who you are...That's especially true in school, where you've been with the same kids ever since you were in preschool together. As a result, they remember the time when you were five and you got yelled at by the teacher and expelled for a week because you bit a certain girl in the butt so hard that you left tooth marks."
--from "Skins" by Joseph Bruchac

Yes, the collection contains a wealth of humor, alongside the tension, and the questions posed by the stories. You can add Jess Mowry's hysterically funny leadoff piece, "Phat Acceptance" to my all-time Best of the Best short stories list. Not only a crackup with its Goths, Geeks, and Surferdudes, it also teases us with an intriguing little slice of history, as does Ms. Singer's own provocative piece, "Negress."

"Everyone is changed
Everyone is still the same
They can't get out of the game"
--Todd Rundgren, "Black and White"

"It gets worse. The girls are on me, something bad. 'You think you something special, huh? Little brown girl with straight hair showin' up the brother, huh? Who you think you are?'
" 'Just let me go,' I beg, pressing my books to my chest. I angle through them, but it is all pinches and shoves; my scalp burns needles from where they pull my hair. 'Runnin' to your mama?' they taunt. Please, I think, let me go. Let me disappear into my down jacket and be no different. I tie up my hair in a bun, but in math class a girl pokes it with a pencil and starts hissing, 'Chinky girl now?' "
--from "Gold" by Marina Budhos

The book is prefaced with a letter from the Outreach Director of the Southern Poverty Law Center (the folks responsible for Teaching Tolerance and "Mix It Up At Lunch Day"), which nudges us with, "What unwritten rules limit our ability to enjoy new experiences, explore new cultures, and to make new friends? Once you identify those rules, break them."

FACE RELATIONS provides ammunition for readers to do exactly that, stocked as it is with new perspectives galore, as its variety of teen characters reevaluate their relationships with peers and reconsider their feelings about who they, themselves, are and where they've come from. A fine sense of realistic optimism weaves through the collection, leaving us feeling hopeful at the end of each story.

"My eyes burn into him. For a moment, his dark pupils become video screens and Emmaline and her pain flash across the bridge of his nose. The time I spent working on that story, interviewing Emmaline and all the others, carrying their pain around in my notebook, gave me a companion. They talked about feeling scared and unsafe. I feel scared and unsafe all the time.
"All the time."
--from "Snow" by Sherri Winston

Thoroughly entertaining, and consistently thought-provoking, FACE RELATIONS will serve superbly as both a component within a middle school short story unit, and as a prelude for catalyzing change for the better among diverse middle school students.

A great anthology on an important subject.
"The kids were a typical Santa Cruz mix -- meaning that most of them were white -- from surfers in tank-tops, hoodies and shorts, to hip-hops in big-jeans and backward-turned caps. A pair of gothics, boy and girl, had so many piercings that Brandon winced, even though he was wearing an earring himself. There were also a couple of obvious jocks."

I assume Jess Mowry is describing a typical 9th grade World History class in Santa Cruz, California in this early paragraph of his peppery and hilarious story, "Phat Acceptance", which opens this great anthology dealing with modern-day race relations. Another clue is when Mowry teases us with a mention of a youth gang from the early 1960s who were known as the "Tola Rats" for their stomping ground of Capitola, Ca, a little seaside town bordering Santa Cruz. Mowry goes on to illustrate this mix:

"...one of the jocks could have been on TV as a model for all-American boys. There was also a skinhead in boots and suspenders who could have passed for an albino ape, though the only "statement" he seemed to make was that some Caucasians had lame-looking skulls and should have kept something on top of them. ....The other students included three Asians, two slender girls who were Vietnamese... and a pair of rolly Mexican boys in tattered white T-shirts and faded big-jeans. ....The black race hadn't been represented, until this ebony mountain of blubber had lumbered casually into the room."

So begins Brandon Williams' -- age 14, blond, blue-eyed, and a sidewalk surfer -- first day of high school, and we might also assume his introduction into the real world of race relations, being that he's gone to a private school from kindergarten through 8th grade.

I love Mowry's style of seemingly writing about one thing while actually writing about another ("Phat Acceptance"), and even though pedigreed Kirkus Reviews didn't seem to think this story was funny, or even important enough to mention -- citing, instead, Rita Williams-Garcia's offering, "Mr. Ruben", as "the only really funny story in the collection" -- I would recommend this book for Mowry's story alone, and I'm not surprised that Simon & Schuster chose it to open this well-compiled and thought-provoking anthology.

While I agree that "Mr. Ruben" is indeed quite amusing, I think it's significant that Ms. Marilyn Singer's poignant (and also quite funny) contribution, "Negress", wasn't mentioned either. I've read enough Kirkus Reviews, especially those dealing with "minority" and social issues, to know that when they ignore something it's often just the thing I do want to read; and much more importantly, often just the thing young people want to read. As a middle-school librarian, I'm much more concerned with this than what conservative reviewers may think kids "should" read.

The eleven stories in "Face Relations" are by no means all funny, though every one is hopeful without being saccharine or preachy. I highly recommend Marina Budhos' Caribbean story "Gold". Sherri Winston's devastating, yet happily-ending, "Snow" -- about a black principal "cleaning up" a troubled and predominantly black school by favoring lighter-skinned and non-Haitian students, rouses one to anger and is not to be missed -- which is probably why Kirkus didn't mention it either.

"Then my junior year, I challenged King. Told him too many non-African-American students were treated like second-class citizens. We were right here, in this office. He yanked me from my seat and told me to get out and go cool off. ...'Your Haitian story, Noelle, concerns me'."

All in all, I think "Face Relations" will be a welcome and, more importantly, much-read addition to any school library or a young person's collection. ... Read more

Book Description

Unabridged, multi-voiced recording.A little too smart, a little too fat, Bobby Goodspeed has always been a go along to get along kind of guy. But when his friend Addie decides to tackle the student council elections, Bobby finds himself changing in ways he never could have imagined in this tender, touching, utterly hilarious novel of life as a middle school misfit. ... Read more

Book Description

After witnessing the USS Arizona sink in Pearl Harbor -- with his father aboard -- fifteen-year-old Adam Pelko, along with his mother and young sister, moves from Hawaii to California. Without his dad, facing a new school and new surroundings is hard enough, but then Adam's best friend, Davi Mori, writes from Hawaii asking for help in finding his father. Davi and his family are Japanese American, and his father has been arrested and is imprisoned somewhere in the United States.

What is Adam to do? Can he risk traveling to Manzanar, a Japanese internment camp, and asking questions? At a time when the nation is threatened and all foreigners are viewed with suspicion, who can Adam trust?

In this riveting follow-up to his acclaimed book A Boy at War, Harry Mazer explores questions of friendship and loyalty against the backdrop of World War II, a time when boys had to grow up fast. ... Read more

Book Description

When the Ficketts decide to adopt Edgar Allan, they are sure they are doing a good thing--or so Reverend and Mrs. Fickett think. They don't see the small boy as a ticking time bomb. But he is--because he is black, they are white, and their neighbors are determined to stop them. 12-year-old Michael Fickett is a witness to the town's racism...and his life is changed forever.

"Edgar Allan...is a work of art." --The New York Times

"Told with thoughtful simplicity...Perceptive and convincingly drawn." --The Saturday Review ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Blandly-narrated and poorly-organized.
This book's potentially sensitive plot is lost in 12-year-old Michael's recounting of the events surrounding toddler Edgar Allan, who's about as real as a cardboard cutout kid. Don't let the title mislead you. The book is not about Edgar Allan; the 1st sentence is, "This is a story about my father, and about God." As Michael's father is a minister, you'd think that Christian values and beliefs would play a bigger part than vague references like "something to do with church work." But the church takes a backseat to Michael's poor narration and the book's uneven pace.
There are very few lines of real dialouge, and what dialouge there is comes tucked between Michael's endless descriptions of his family. There is even less believable character development. Also, absolutely nothing in the book is shown; rather, everything is told to the reader in Michael's very bland narration. If you are looking for a children's book that effectively deals with prejudice and race relations, try Under the Blood-Red Sun, Number the Stars, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, Sounder, or just about any book besides Edgar Allan.

Edgar Allen
Edgar Allen was a wonderful novel.It truly explained how African-Americans were treated no matter how old or young they are.Each and every moment kept me on the edge of my seat.The actions of the townspeople were unbelievable and sickening.Burning a cross on the father's front laen, staring at Edgar Allen like he was some sort of creature.This book was a real page turner!

The central characters, Michael and Edgar Allen, were very believable.Michael was like an ordinary teen just trying to get through life as it is.Edgar Allen was like a little toddler, without a care in the world.I remember seeing others make fun of someone close to me, like the townspeople and Edgar Allen.Sometimes, like Michael, I was too scared to say anything.

Edgar Allen was so realistic, I almost felt I was there at some points.I can't believe the was people treated African-Americans.If I were you, I definitely wouldn't miss this amazing book.Edgar Allen is a definite two thumbs-up page turner!

This is a good book ...so read it
Edgar Allan is a good book.It's a touching story about a young african american boy trying to have a good family.I liked this book. It made me think twice about how african americns were treated back then. I thought that the book was something that I would have my little brother read when he gets older.
This book showed me many things about life in general. I could not imagine having people treat each other that way ,and it makes you think another way beforeyou disrespect some one that you know and love. If I were you then I would read this good book.!!

ok book
Edgar Allan is an ok book. I do recommand it to anyone who is having problem accepting a family member. It is a story about a family who is having a problem keeping a loved one. They
adopt a black boy but the town is mad at them and one of his sisters is mad at him for being black. I learned from this book tonever judge some one by what they look like before getting to know them.

Edgar Allan
I thought that Edgar Allan was a good book. It tells about how he was treated by his adopted family and how his older sister M.N. treated him because he was colored she was the only one that didn't like him out the whole family. He was adopted by a white family and lives in a community with only white people who don't like E.A. they didn't want their kids around E.A. because he was a colored little boy they would tell the reverned to don't bring E.A. to church ifhe did he would know longer be the reverned. I think this book relates to alot of peoples lives for the people who get adopted because they don't like their skin color so they don't like them they would say mean things to them. I really liked the book because it tells how some people live and what they have to go through because of their skin color. ... Read more

Book Description

OUTSIDERS

Widowed just two days after her unwilling marriage to a man twice her age, Marnie finds herself an outsider in the remote seaside village of Torcurra. Spurned by the townsfolk who suspect her involvement in her husband's death, she has only two friends: the local priest and the madman known as Raver, even more of an outcast than Marnie herself.

Marnie makes a remarkable discovers about Raver, whom she renames Raven, and the two forge a deep bond that begins to heal her own bruised heart. But the suspicious villagers see Raven's transformation as evidence of witchcraft, and suddenly Marnie finds herself facing an ordeal that threatens not only her future with Raven, but her very life. ... Read more

Reviews (67)

The Raging Quiet by Sherryl Jordan
Sherryl Jordan, author of The Raging Quiet, tells the intriguing story of a young woman named Marnie and the village 'madman' named Raver. Marnie becomes a widow only two days after her unwilling marriage to Isake Isherwood, son of a wealthy landowner. The setting of the story takes place in the New England village of Torcurra during the time of the witch trials. After her husband's accident, Marnie befriends Raver and she renames him Raven. She develops a form of sign language to communicate with her new friend, who is deaf, much to the surprise of Father Brannan, the priest of Torcurra. Father Brannan tries to defend and protect Marnie after the villagers witness her silent communication with Raven and subsequently accuse her of practicing witchcraft. The author weaves a story of servitude, ignorance, tragedy, horror, faith, and love in this book. The Raging Quiet proves to be an 'I could not put it down until I finished' book for students in middle school and higher grades. This story integrates the studies of geography, history, and social relationships that both teachers and parents could use for children.

A book that will stay with you for a long time...
"The Raging Quiet" by Sheryll Jordan, was one of the most excellent books I've ever read. Strong characters, a great story line, a good setting - they all add up to a wonderful story that can be read again and again.

Marnie is forced to marry a lord, in order to help her peasant family, and she leaves her home for the fishing village of Torcurra. She is not happy living with her drunken husband, who claims that the "cursed", broken down cottage where they live is very valuable. But then, suddenly, he dies in an accident, and Marnie is left to fend for herself.

Seeking friendship in a kind priest, she meets a "mad" boy, who cries and raves, thus called Raver. Soon she learns that "Raven" is not mad, only deaf! Marnie begins teaching him hand signs, and forms a bond with him, but then the villagers brand her a witch, and test her with the iron bar.

This book was wonderful, and I'd recommend it for ages 12 and up. I'd also recommend "Breaking Rank", by Randall, which is another story of prejudice.

is it quiet or is it jus me?
This book is about a sixteen year old named Marnee, who is forced to marry Isake the lord where her father works after her father fell ill and no longer could work, in return her parents would be looked after. Her and Isake move to a local town by the ocean, where she gets more then what she bargained for. Isake dies in a roofing accident and she is blamed for his death. She is accused of witchcraft when she meets revan the local madman and teaches his sign language, the towns people think she is teaching him spells, she is lead through a trial and only time will tell what the judgement is.
this book is good and i definitely recommend it!

A wonderful, touching work
I loved this book very much. It is one of my favorites. It is beautiful, and lovely, and shows the value of acceptance and love in a society. I recommend it for all people in all age groups.

I can hear clearly now
The Civil Rights Movement, and the American Disability Act are results of a historical trend of discrimination. However, with the civil rights movement and others like it, there was a triumph and an overcoming of strife. Just like in The Raging Quiet written by Sherryl Jordan. This book accurately explores the power of young love, the determination and tolerance of a young woman, while also describing the perseverance of a young man. At the same time you laugh with the characters and weep with them as if you were a close friend. This book can make you question yourself and how you treat people of different backgrounds. Raven, who is deaf, shows Marnie how to love, and Marnie in return gives him words with which to express himself.
Jordan makes sure to address the fragility of Marnie compared with the roughness of a late husband. She makes the character of Marnie feel so strongly about her actions and herself that there is no reason why no young woman cannot relate to her. Seeing how many young girls and teenagers feel strongly about many things. In the end Marnie's faith in herself and her love for Raven are rewarded. While Raven is constantly rewarded with the gift of silent speech. Looking at the trials and tribulations of the two in this love story there is something horrifying about not being able to express oneself and at the same time being beaten for that disability. Which is why I feel for Raven.
Another detail that enjoyed about this book is that Raven and Marnie didn't develop their relationship that would be considered cliché, as in boy meets girl, boy likes girl, so boy and girl go far away to happy land. It all started with one helping the other out of their own good will, rather than two characters forced together, a reader can see a delicate merging of the two. All in all this is a good book and the reason why I can hear clearly now. ... Read more

Book Description

Born into slavery in Virginia in the late 1700s, Dred Scott had little to look forward to in life. But he was fortunate in two ways: His first owner was fairly kind to him, and he grew up with his owner's children, forming friendships that he would come to depend on years later. For on April 6, 1846, Dred Scott and his wife, Harriett -- their ownership having changed hands several times during adulthood -- took the dangerous and courageous step to sue for their freedom, entering into legal battles that would last for eleven years. During this time Dred Scott would need all the help and support he could get -- from folks in the community all the way back to the people with whom he had been raised.

With a foreword by Dred Scott's great-grandson, Shelia P. Moses' stunning story chronicles Dred Scott's experiences as a slave, as a plaintiff in one of the most important legal cases in American history, and -- at last -- as a free man. Dred Scott's story is one of tremendous courage and fierce determination. His is a life that should be known by -- and should inspire -- all Americans. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Interesting...
This is a great book if you hate reading dry history.It's the type of fictional narrative that will make someone like me actually read the REAL history on the case to get a more in-depth understanding. I thought the author did a great job of telling the story of a black man who after working continuously as a slave did not realize he spent much of his life in free territory.The numerous trials of free/not-free make for interesting reading and show just how tedious and nerve-racking freedom was. ... Read more