Book Description

Susanna Shakespeare finds the small town of Stratford-upon-Avon much too quiet and provincial. She yearns to travel to London to see her father's world of players and poets, and to follow a secret dream of her own. Once Susanna arrives in London, nothing is quite as she expected it to be -- least of all her relationship with her famous father. But propelled by her love for Thomas Cole, a Catholic chorister, and her desire to sing, Susanna discovers that it is only with the support of those who love her that she has the strength to succeed.

Screenwriter Peter W. Hassinger creates a Shakespearean tale rife with imagery and beauty that pays homage to the Bard himself.

Reviews (1)

Praise for Mr. Hassinger-
I was not, not by a long shot, bored or confused at any point in this book. Everything came across clear with a high point of interest. Each character, coupled with Mr. Hassinger¡¯s deeper understanding of their minds, was like frosting on the cake. Indeed, though he had only been in the book a scant few pages, I shed a tear for poor Hamnet. Of course, all my friends thought I was batty, but they have yet to indulge in the novel. Even the bard himself brought forth a new image that I might not have imagined for such as himself- the image of a father. Besides this, he wrote everything. Nothing, no emotion nor suspicion, went edited for the uncommon uses, such as older men looking at Susanna, and Will¡¯s (may I call him Will?) parental protection kicking in. It brings a reality to the time period that I¡¯ve never sensed in other books revolving around the same era. ... Read more

Book Description

Slavery still exists in some parts of the world, even in the year 2000. In Sudan, tens of thousands of men, women, and children of the Dinka and Nuba tribes are regularly captured, taken from their homes and families, and forced into hard labor.
Based on a true story and real-life contemporary events, this novel tells how a group of students in Denver, Colorado, learns of the atrocities in Sudan, and how they begin to make a difference--raising money to "redeem" slaves and educating others about this dire situation. Award-winning author Sonia Levitin juxtaposes the safe and secure world of an American classroom with the severe hardship of the Dinka people, making Dream Freedom a book that will raise consciousness around the world.
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Reviews (2)

Dream Freedom
I really liked this book and I would reccomend it to people who like realilistic fiction. This book was about how there is still slavery in Sudan, Africa. It is also about this class in America who raises enough money to buy back some of the slaves. It has a lot of different narrarators, such as the slaves, Marcus, one of the students, the guy who buys back the slaves, and familys who have been ruined because people took away their family. This book by Sonja Leviton was the best book I have read in along time. It is so touching and it makes you notice about other people's struggles.
-H.H

DREAM FREEDOM SHOULD WAKE US ALL UP
DREAM FREEDOM is a wonderful book - devasting, yet inspiring. It tells of the slavery and genocide taking place in Africa's largest country, Sudan, and of the response of a class of elementary school children in America. The class, like teacher Barb Vogel's amazing students in Colorado, on which they are patterned, consider it their moral responsibility to fight Sudan's slavery and tell the world about it. The realistic portrayal of American life is contrasted with the realistic portrayal of life in Sudan. Each chapter brings another perspective, another insight, that makes the tragedy in Sudan more real and personal. In one such chapter the sudden, shocking slave raid on a Dinka village in the midst of a joyous rite of passage celebration is devastating, and will, hopefully, turn the reader into an abolitionist, too. ... Read more

Book Description

Mother mouse doesn't know what to get her children for Christmas, so she asks each of them what they think Santa would like."A dolly," says Molly. "A bat," says Matt. "A ball," says Paul.Now mother mouse knows just what to get for everyone! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Presents for Santa
As to the content of this book, the editorial reviews pretty much say it all.Yes, the story is slight and the rhymes contrived but my kindergartener was so proud that she could read the book ALL BY HERSELF!I would recommend this book highly to any parent whose child is a very beginner reader and wants a book that is not so much of a challenge but, rather, a book that will raise the child's reading confidence.Both my daughter and I also enjoyed the pictures.The book is also a good read aloud book for my 2 year old because it is easy on the parents' ears and is not too wordy for a 2 year old with a short attention span. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Realistic Portrayal
I read this book as part of an Education Class requirment this semester. I started reading this book reluctantly and was going to skim through it to get only the information that I needed for the exam. I found myself engulfed, reading everysingle word and not stopping until I had finished the book. It is a very good portrayal of a young sheltered child that learned a terrible reality about prejudice and racism. In the end, this child showed courage and loyalty far behond her age. Her head held high, she did not deviate from her convictions or responsibility.

NNOOO!!!
This book was thoroughly horrible. I hated it. It was extremely boring and according to my standards, it wasn't well written. Even all my friends hated it. It was either too sad for them or was just plain stupid. Personally, I recommend you don't get this book but it's really up to you. *sigh*

A must read !!
Words by Heart is a sad but good story. Lena went to a scripture contest. After the contest, she comes home and finds something disturbing. Lena thinks that this is a warning since her family is the only black family in the neighborhood. Competition and anxiety keep you at the edge of your seat. Nonetheless, tragedy and sadness come to her family.

it has 2 deal wit when white peoplehated black peole
i liked this book because what lena sez is true and cuz i like that they talk about the Bible.

Words by Heart
Overall, I would have to say that I didn't like Words by Heart all that much. But, that's only my opinion. Some people that are total opposites of me may like the book. Everyone is their own person. Personally, if you are just like me, then you will be bored to death just as I was. The life in this book is not like anything that would happen in everyday life. I don't think you should read this book because it will bore you until you can't be bored anymore. This is not one of Ouida's better books. I can tell by reading this book. I would suggest you don't read this book and find a different and more interesting book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It is Yoko's first day at school, so of course her mother wants to sendher off with healthy comfort food for lunch--a delectable package of homemade sushi. "Have a wonderful day at school, my Little Cherry Blossom,"her mother says as Yoko climbs into the bus. And it would have been, had it not been for lunchtime. Timothy brings a peanut butter and honey sandwich. Tulip has Swiss cheese on rye. The Franks brothers have beans and franks. Butwhen Yoko opens her cooler of rice rolls with "the crispiest cucumber, the pinkest shrimp, the greenest seaweed, and the tastiest tuna," one of the Franks brothers announces, "Ick. It's green. It's seaweed." Tulip and Fritzchime in, "Yuck-o-rama."

Rosemary Wells (Voyage to the Bunny Planet), with her expressive, bright-eyed, chubby-cheeked animal kingdom, has once again successfully tapped into the emotional world of children. The embarrassment of bringing an uncool lunch to school! What child hasn't wanted to hide under the cafeteria table when caught with a gooey enchilada or a slice of vegetarian lentil loaf? Fortunately, Yoko's teacher concocts a plan to stop the teasing. Parents who have more ambitious hopes for their children's lunches than Fritos, PB&Js, and Oreos will be relieved to discover that the happy ending does not include Yoko's giving up her comfort meal or, more importantly, her heritage. (Ages 4 and older) --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Sends a great message to children
This is a wonderful story that celebrates the diversity of our nation, and shows that these differences are cause for celebration not ridicule.My daughter enjoyed this book, and followed the childrens feelings of the unusual lunch dish.When she said "ick!" and slowly began to wonder what sushi actually tastes like, it made me smile.She learned the first lesson of the differences in everyone.Rosemary Wells provided the stepping stone for understanding and tolerance.

Nice story
This is the story of how Yoko brought Japanese food to school, and the reactions Yoko gets.Rosemary Wells has done a number of books about the kids at Hilltop school and turned it into a cartoon on PBS.She's also the author of the Max and Ruby 'Bunny' books.

This is a pretty simple little book but it has some good lessons tucked away in the story. First, it's good to try different foods. Second, its okay to be different. Third, the teacher is your friend and wants you to enjoy school.This is not a deep book, but Wells creates another story that small children will enjoy.

not the ending I expected....
Somewhere three quarters of the way into this book, something happens.The book breaks away from the ending that my wife and I expected.Ms. Wells steers clear of the facile 'happy ending' and re-routes the book to new and different territory.In the hands of a lesser author we would have the entire class doing cartwheels for Yoko's sushi.Sorry, that doesn't happen.Instead we get a much different ending.Somehow that makes the book more tender.More realistic.Kudos to the author for the ability to make this true to the meaning of being a kid.

Excellent way to show cultural differences
Yoko is an Asian American who faces prejudice and teasing because of the food she takes to school for lunch.After the other children in the class continue to pick on Yoko about her meal, Ms. Fox, the teacher, writes invitations for International food day on the following Monday.While allother dishes are eaten, no one touches Yoko's sushi, except for Timothy,after which Yoko and Timothy become friends. Rosemary Wells shows thecultural differences among all of the children by depicting them as variousanimals.When the children begin eating their lunch they are shownindividually with their food.Yoko eats her sushi and implications ofcultural bias and segregation begins. One child makes a comment relevantto Yoko's meal and the others buy into the comment and allow separation tooccur among them.As this shows, children enter school with limitedcultural experience and Yoko focuses on the differences in cultures thatare typically seen today in America.Food is one of many linkages that aperson has to their perspective culture and it is used in this book as abasis for judgement.Food that the body needs for nourishment allows thechildren to draw boundaries between themselves and others.Ms. Fox, theteacher views the situation and realizes that she has to make a move;hence, International food day.International food day was a creative wayto get the other children to appreciate other cultures, but fails for Yokountil Timothy comes along.This strategy shows even the greatest ideasstill may not because most are not willing to move out of their individualbubble to try something new and different.Timothy's appetite causes himto try something new; he relinquishes his old ideas and enjoys eatingsushi. One child embarks upon a cultural experience and even more importantthey each gain a friend. Yoko does not have a"happy ever after"ending but shows how we each can individually tear down the bias andsegregation that we inflict upon others. I enjoyed reading Yoko and viewingthe depiction of different cultures as animals.While this book expressesracial ideas, I believe that it is a mirror of today's society.Most, asindividuals, choose to stay within limited culture surroundings, but it isonly the individual who can decide to make a change.As with Timothy wemust overcome and be willing to step over the lines of"traditions" to truly gain knowledge of others and ourselves.

Rosemary Wells has done it again!
This book is a wonderful addition to the Rosemary Wells collection.What child hasn't felt different or excluded like Yoko is?Most of us can relate to bringing the wrong lunch to school and paying the socialconsequences.Yoko's teacher comes up with an inventive way to try tointegrate Yoko's sushi into an international food day, but it fails. However, a curious friend tries Yoko's sushi and likes it, proving thatjust one friend can make all the difference.This book is a great steppingstone to talk to kids about respecting each other's cultural differences. And who can resist Wells's sweet illustrations?Look for old favoritefriends Benjamin and Tulip!!! ... Read more

Book Description

"'Do you know how you light a fire with two sticks' asked Lana. 'No, how' asked Amy. She had heard that Aboriginal people could light a fire this way. 'Make sure one of the sticks is a match.'" Amy and Lana both have a lot to learn from each other in this funny and surprising tale of two young Australian girls from very different backgrounds.As they overcome racial and cultural barriers to come fast friends they also discover a sinister plot - which may put into jeopardy everything and everyone they hold dear. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A thief is robbing a sacred Aboriginal site
Set in the outback desert of Australia, Red Sand, Blue Sky by Cathy Applegate is an engaging and entertaining novel for young readers about a chance meeting and friendship between two young girls, lonely Amy Wilson from Melbourne and Lana, an Aboriginal girl. Together, the girls discover that a thief is robbing a sacred Aboriginal site, and they must gather the courage to perform a rescue mission, with a life at stake. Red Sand, Blue Sky is highly recommended reading and would make an excellent addition to school and community library collections. ... Read more

Book Description

HOT ICE

Taboo to the touch

A fire in the cold

That was us

Welcome to a stage, where a soaring painting takes shape before your eyes, a big-booty poet stands at the mike, and there’s a seat right in front, just for you.

This is a place where wise old ladies live and boys act like horses.

This is a vision of love that was crushed and brought back to life.

And this is my story. I’m Orphea Proud. Welcome to the show.

As Orphea, who discovers her sexuality as a lesbian, shares her story, powerful questions of family, prejudice, and identity are explored. ... Read more

Book Description

Reenie and her mama love to go fishing down by the river. But the peace of their idyllic fishing spot is often marred by the appearance of Peter Troop and his daddy. Peter is up-jumpy and loud, scaring the fish away. And the Troops harbor some resentment toward them, too. Peter and his daddy are fishing for food; Reenie and Mama fish for fun. The Troops are white; Reenie and Mama are black. And in the Jim Crow South, it is this last difference that is most significant. One day, when the Troops' fishing reel breaks, Reenie overcomes their mutual fear and mistrust to help Peter-an act that holds the promise of friendship and understanding. This is a moving story about two children crossing boundaries of race, class, and gender, and about small acts that make a big difference. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color with black-and-white photos. "Covers not only the story of Robinson's prowess and his problems as the first black man to play in the major leagues, but also the story of the rise and fall of black baseball and some of its star players and managers. Nicely geared by vocabulary, sentence length, and print size to the primary grades audience."--Bulletin, Center for Children's Books. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

2003 Notable Book, Association of Jewish Libraries!
This title was declared a 2003 Notable Book by the Association of Jewish Libraries! Almost 200 children's books of Judaic content were reviewed during the year to find the best of the bunch. Find out more at www.jewishlibraries.org.

A Gripping Story for Adults and Children
This gripping story is the account of the Hofman family recently moved from Israel to Los Angeles. Their seventeen year old son Adam was in high school and fourteen year old daughter Netta in middle school. Adam quickly found friends and began enjoying the new school while Netta did not really feel at home. The family was panic stricken when Adam failed to come home one night. The story from there on is a description of the search for the missing Adam. Because of the bitter feeling between people in Israel and those in Palestine, the Hofmans were sure that Adam was the victim of Palestinian Terrorists. Netta took some risks in her effort to find out her brother's fate and who was responsible. In the process she learned to value people as individuals rather than as part of a group. This timely well-written story of a family in grief is especially important now in the present world situation. The book is directed to ages 12 and up but is also excellent for adults because it helps them see the struggle through the eyes of a young person experiencing the emotional impact of the crisis situation in Israel. ... Read more

Book Description

Escaping from his violent stepfather, twelve-year-old Sipho heads for Johannesburg, where he has heard that gangs of children live on the streets. Surviving hunger and bitter-cold winter nights is hard'but learning when to trust in the ‘new' South Africa proves even more difficult.

No Turning Back appeared on the short list of both the Guardian and Smarties book prizes on the United Kingdom.

... Read more

Reviews (10)

A++
Beverley Naidoo is an award winning author. Her book No Turning Back is exceptional. The story takes place in South Africa in the early 1990s, where a young black African boy of twelve years named Sipho makes a decision to leave home to avoid further abuse from his violent stepfather. Sipho makes his way to the streets of Johannesburg. Survival on the streets is sometimes just as hard and cruel as life with his stepfather. Learning who you can trust, hunger and cold nights are a few of the problems Sipho faces.
The author in my opinion touches base on many issues including homeless street children, drugs, racism and a country on the verge of change. The book shows many examples on how the South African's rose to support Nelson Mandela and his views of restructuring a troubled nation. The books realism gives readers a chance to become familiar with life in South Africa. Sipho struggles are those of everyday people in this region of the world. I would recommend this book as one not to pass over. You can follow Sipho from being alone, threw new friendships and his hopes for a better tomorrow.

A+
Beverley Naidoo is an award winning author. Her book No Turning Back is exceptional. The story takes place in South Africa in the early 1990s, where a young black African boy of twelve years named Sipho makes a decision to leave home to avoid further abuse from his violent stepfather. Sipho makes his way to the streets of Johannesburg. Survival on the streets is sometimes just as hard and cruel as life with his stepfather. Learning who you can trust, hunger and cold nights are a few of the problems Sipho faces.
The author in my opinion touches base on many issues including homeless street children, drugs, racism and a country on the verge of change. The book shows many examples on how the South African's rose to support Nelson Mandela and his views of restructuring a troubled nation. The books realism gives readers a chance to become familiar with life in South Africa. Sipho struggles are those of everyday people in this region of the world. I would recommend this book as one not to pass over. You can follow Sipho from being alone, threw new friendships and his hopes for a better tomorrow.

Out standing
The book No Turning Back is a great shortlist book. This book is a great book to read on the fly. The book leaves you wanting more. The easy reading leave of this book lets you cruise through the pages very easily. The book keeps you guessing till the last minute.
The book is a boy named Sipho. Sipho is a young boy who runs away from his abusive stepfather to the life of the malunde (the street children of South Africa). The story takes place in apartheid S. Africa, right before the election of Nelson Mandela to Office. Sipho has to learn how to survive on the streets of Johannesburg, in a little outskirt called Hillsborough. Sipho gets lucky to make friends early on and find a clan to be able to help him in the way of the streets. Along the way Sipho meets a local shop owner in Hillsborough that gives him a job and a place to stay for a while. Sipho after commotion in the shop owner's house, Sipho runs away to a boy's shelter. The book has a cliffhanger ending that unless you read you will never find out what it is.

Children of the Apartheid
Thousands of blacks are forced on the streets because of the Apartheid, many of which are children. In the irresistible and unpredictable book "No Turning Back", a 12 year old black boy named Sipho runs to the streets of Johannesburg, with nothing but the clothes on his back. Sipho ran away from his family because his Stepfather abused him too much. When Sipho reaches the town of Johannesburg, he meets other boys living on the streets. The black boys living on the streets help each other to survive the cruel nights, the empty stomachs,and even the racist white police.

Sipho and his friends learn to survive the streets of Johannesburg, but can they continually find a cart to push for money, spare change from the rich white people, or enough food to survive the next day? I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read an exciting and unpredictable book that you can't put down. The author Beverly Naidoo does a phenomenal job depicting the character traits and feelings of black people living on the street during the Apartheid. This book is both educational and enjoyable for almost any age, no joke!

Brilliant, brilliant book. Must-read.
We had to read this book for English, and I loved it. It shows the racism and hardships black children suffered under apartied. I felt like I could really connect with Sipho, he seemed so real. Ms. Naidoo, you are BRILLIANT.
I would reccommend NTB to anyone, it's truly a great book. ... Read more

Book Description

Jolie has a lot to be scared about since the new Freedom School teacher, Annie, came to town. Bricks thrown through windows in the dead of night, notes filled with hate, and now a fire has burnt down the church where Annie was supposed to start teaching tomorrow! Without the church, how can she possibly teach Jolie and the other townspeople about black poets and artists, historians and inventors? Unless the people themselves fight back.

In this triumphant story based on the 1964 Mississippi Freedom School Summer Project, Amy Littlesugar and Floyd Cooper come together to celebrate the strength of a people, and the bravery of one young girl who didn't let being scared get in her way. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Beautiful Book
The eye-catching illustrations and the beautiful use of language makes this book a 'must have' for every classroom in America.

This story is about a young girl named Jolie who lived during the Civil Rights Era. Her town's battle to educate their children is a touching story that emphasizes the value of education.

For teachers, this book presents a social studies lesson about why education was so important to Jolie's town and how the experience connects to the educational opportunities students have today.

This book is a very valuable resource for all grades. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Originally published in 1973, Black Is Brown Is Tan was the firstchildren's book to feature an interracial family. In this 21st-century version,with new, sunlight-drenched watercolors, Mom is still "a tasty tan and coffeepumpkin pie / with dark brown eyes and almond ears," and Daddy is "light withpinks and tiny tans / dark hair growing on my arms / that darken in the summersun / brown eyes / big yellow ears." The happy, normal family goes about theirday, drinking milk, barbecuing, spending time with grandmas and aunts anduncles, and reading stories. Throughout, they celebrate "all the colors of therace":

black is brown is tan
is girl is boy
is nose is
face
is all
the
colors
of the race

Reviews (7)

Only wish I had found it sooner!
I was 17 before I read this book, when a 4yo in the preschool I volunteered at handed it to me.I fell in love with this book immediately!It is so beautifully written.As a bi-racial child, I had seldom seen images of bi-racial families growing up, much less one so like my family (my father is white, my mother is black)!Even at 17 it felt good to have such a beautiful story reflect my own heritage in such a positive light. I am now 22 and have finally bought myself a copy for my own bookshelf. I can't wait to share this with my own children someday.

Absolutely delightful...
This is book is such a delightful treat to read. It's amazing to believe that this book was written decades ago during a time when race relations between blacks and whites were over all less than pleasant.It is just wonderful to read this book.

A must have book!!
Being a proud parent of a child who was born in my heart it is important that my daughter know that families come about in all different ways and that beauty is not just skin deep but also comes from the inside. This book celebrates how beautiful our families are and is done so in a very poetic way! Cheers to both the author and illistrator! I can't wait to purchase more copies of this book for my daughter's future elementary school!

30 Years Later
I first read this book when the librarian at my elementary school in Worthington, Ohio had the insight to order it!I was the first student to check it out.I was in Fifth Grade at the time.I have to say that at the time, I had a friend that was black (like coffee in the pot) and I am white (with pinks and brown freckles).She lived with an all white family as a foster child.My family had real issues that the two of us were friends.Reading this book helped make things easier for me.16 years ago, I bought this book for my bi-racial daughter, Samantha.She loved it.Now, all three of my children and many of our neighbors' children have borrowed it, read it, and live it.I can't think of any better way to breach the subject of race and to explain our differences and most importantly, our similarities.Black is Brown is Tan...for 30 years this book has helped me and my family!

A Joyous Celebration of Family.....
"blackis brownis tan/is girlis boy/is noseis face/is all the colors/of the race // is darkis light/singing songs/in singing night/kiss big womanhug big man/blackis brownis tan // this is the way it is for usthis is the way we are"Originally published in 1973, Arnold Adoff's joyous, lyrical, story-poem is as fresh and relevant today, as is was almost thirty years ago.Meet this wonderful extended family, from Momma, a "brown sugar gown/a tasty tan and coffee pumpkin pie/with dark brown eyesand almond ears", and Dad, not white like milk or snow, but "with pinks and tiny tans...brown eyesbig yellow ears", and their kids, the color of both races, to golden haired aunts, tan colored uncles, granny white and grandma black "kissing both your cheeks and hugging back..."Mr Adoff's simple, rhythmic text is filled with love and pride as it celebrates his interracial family, and is complemented by award winning illustrator, Emily McCully's warm and cheerful artwork.Together word and art paints an engaging portrait of a strong, happy, loving family.Perfect for youngsters from 3 to 93, Black Is Brown Is Tan is a timeless classic, best read aloud and shared, that honors all families and the things that make them special. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Tulsa Burning is an excellent read
Tulsa Burning is the story of a young boy, Nobe,who grows up on a farm and does not have a very good home life. His father is a drunk and is always off spending the little money his family has and then comes home to abuse him and his mother. This is the start of the over all theme of this book which is dealing with hate taking over peoples lives. Nobe's father eventually dies and his mother is forced to leave the farm and move in with the town sheriff and his dying wife. Nobe does not want to live with the sherrif and when he refuses to go the sherrif shoots his dog, escallating the hate with in Nobe. This story is also about the true event of Tulsu Oklahoma breaking out in a race riot and the eventual burning of the African-American portion of Tulsa. This just re-inforces the hate theme that is going on throughout the book. This story takes place after the slaves were free but before equal rights and Nobe has a friend that is African-American and living in Tulsa when the riots break out. Nobe hears that his friend has been hurt and rushes to Tulsa to try and save his friend. This is the climax of the story and from here Nobe begings to come to the realization of what hate can do to a persons life when it consumes it. Over all an excellent read and I would highly reccommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

If a bus could talk, it would tell the story of a young African-American girl named Rosa who had to walk miles to her one-room schoolhouse in Alabama while white children rode to their school in a bus. It would tell how the adult Rosa rode to and from work on a segregated city bus and couldn't sit in the same row as a white person. It would tell of the fateful day when Rosa refused to give up her seat to a white man and how that act of courage inspired others around the world to stand up for freedom.

In this book a bus does talk, and on her way to school a girl named Marcie learns why Rosa Parks is the mother of the Civil Rights movement. At the end of Marcie's magical ride, she meets Rosa Parks herself at a birthday party with several distinguished guests. Wait until she tells her class about this! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Moving Story About Civil Rights Movement
What would you do if a bus with eyes, nose, red hair, and a yellow cap pulled up to your bus stop? When the door opens and a voice calls out, "Step on up, young lady," Marcie does just that. It will be the ride of her life, for she hears the courageous story of Rosa Parks straight from Rosa's bus itself. This story spans a spectrum of detail in 32 pages: from Rosa McCauley's childhood in Pine Level, Alabama, to her marriage to Raymond Parks, to that fateful bus ride on December 1, 1955, to her continued struggle for equality after the boycott. The artistic style of Faith Ringgold leaps from the page in dramatic acrylic color on canvas. The suggested reading age for this book is 5 - 9. Yet it is not a quick read. Text is detailed enough to make some younger listeners restless. Vocabulary is challenging enough to daunt some older beginner readers. But don't let that deter you from sharing If a Bus Could Talk with your children. No doubt they take their integrated schools, pools, movies, and restaurants for granted. If anything, this story will get THEM to talk!

A good informitive book!
If a bus could talk is about a little girl named Marcie who steps onto a bus that can talk. The bus tells her that she is ridng on the Rosa Parks bus. Then the bus tells her about Rosa Park's life and about Martin Luther King and the bus boycott. I learned alot about Rosa Park's life from reading this book, and I would recommend If a Bus Could Talk to any child who doesn't know much about the civil rights movement. ... Read more

Book Description

Marcus and Eddie are best friends. They’re also stars on the basketball court,where they’re known as Black and White. Race has never been an issue: Marcus is black, Eddieis white, but it doesn’t matter. Until they start to pull stickups for extra pocket cash and the gunthey’re using goes off. Now Marcus is going to jail and Eddie is going to college, even thoughEddie is the one who fired the gun. Told in their two voices, Black and White is the gripping storyof two good boys who make a bad mistake. It’s also a heart-breaking look at the realities of theurban criminal justice system. Written with passion and uncanny authenticity, this is PaulVolponi’s debut young adult novel. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Song of the Buffalo Boy
Song of the Buffalo Boy is a wonderful book about some of the effects of the war in Vietnam. It was written by Sherry Garland. It is 282 pages, but has a double-spaced format, which makes it fly by. It tells the story of a fifteen year old farm girl in a town near Da Nang, Vietnam. She is very tall, with large hands and curly black hair. This is because she is Amerasian. During the Vietnam war, many Vietnamese women slept with soldiers for money. Loi remembers being with a tall blonde man and her mother when she was young. He seemed kind, and gentle. She has a picture of herself, her mother and this soldier. She is certain that this is her father, although whenever she brings up the subject her mother won't tell her anything. Her dream is to go to America and find her father. She has no idea about the Amerasian Homecoming project, which was set up in Vietnam for children of the wars. It was a real program that gave over 80,000 Amerasian children the opportunity to go to America.. The other dream she has is to ,marry a young Buffalo herder by the name of Khai. They love each other, but his family thinks it will be dishonorable for him to marry a Con-Lai. A Con-Lai means a half breed in Vietnamese. This book takes place in 1989, but it seems like a long time before that because her lifestyle is so simple. The author did a really great job at describing things and giving the characters distinct, passionate personalities. It isn't a predictable book at all. The books takes many twists and turns, ending in one final curve in the story. I thought this book gave a really wonderful insight into the lives of farming Vietnamese in this time period, and is probably fairly the same today. She did a lot of research for this book, and it was one of the most phenomenal books that I have ever read.

Song of the Buffalo boy
Song of the Buffalo Boy is a wonderful book about some of the effects of the war in Vietnam. It was written by Sherry Garland. It is 282 pages, but has a double-spaced format, which makes it fly by. It tells the story of a fifteen year old farm girl in a town near Da Nang, Vietnam. She is very tall, with large hands and curly black hair. This is because she is Amerasian. During the Vietnam war, many Vietnamese women slept with soldiers for money. Loi remembers being with a tall blonde man and her mother when she was young. He seemed kind, and gentle. She has a picture of herself, her mother and this soldier. She is certain that this is her father, although whenever she brings up the subject her mother won't tell her anything. Her dream is to go to America and find her father. She has no idea about the Amerasian Homecoming project, which was set up in Vietnam for children of the wars. It was a real program that gave over 80,000 Amerasian children the opportunity to go to America.. The other dream she has is to ,marry a young Buffalo herder by the name of Khai. They love each other, but his family thinks it will be dishonorable for him to marry a Con-Lai. A Con-Lai means a half breed in Vietnamese. This book takes place in 1989, but it seems like a long time before that because her lifestyle is so simple. The author did a really great job at describing things and giving the characters distinct, passionate personalities. It isn't a predictable book at all. The books takes many twists and turns, ending in one final curve in the story. I thought this book gave a really wonderful insight into the lives of farming Vietnamese in this time period, and is probably fairly the same today. She did a lot of research for this book, and it was one of the most phenomenal books that I have ever read.

Excelle
Title of the Book: Song of the Buffalo Boy
Author: Sherry Garland
Publishers: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Year Published: 1992

Author: Sherry Garland was born in Rio Grande Valley, Texas she was born on July 24th. She attended The University of Texas at Arlington; she received a bachelor's degree in French. She majored in linguistics and in English. She has written twenty-five books, both for children and adult. Most of her books are about Vietnam.

Thesis: Some people live in places where they have to very concern about their cultures and traditions, which it keeps them from going beyond and do something good for their selves. The main idea of the book is to believe in yourself, no matter how hard it takes to get what you want never give up. Courage is what everyone needs to get something that would be called "prohibited", unless you fight for it which good rewards come after.

Summary and Analysis:
Vietnamese people hated Americans because they were the ones, who had destroyed and poisoned their town, and since Loi was half American she was not welcomed. The only person who would talk to Loi except her family was Khai, a young l boy that Loi loved. Her uncle wanted to marry her to an officer but Loi did not wanted to marry him but she didn't wanted to go against her uncle's words. Loi and Khai decided to run away but they got separated because of Khai's brother. Loi goes to the city by herself hoping that Khai will come after her, but after a few weeks she realizes that Khai would never come. As she explores the dangerous city she gets an opportunity to go to America and find her father but she gives up that opportunity when she sees that her love one has come to get her. Loi finds out the truth about her American father and she lost interest in knowing him. She decides to go back to her town and marry Khai.
Vietnamese people had so much hate on Americans that they would never mix their blood and who ever had part of American blood it was a disgrace to their culture. During the war in Vietnam American soldiers would get a girls pregnant but had to kill the baby if she wanted to stay with her family. In this book, Loi's mother was thrown out of her house and her family did not helped her when she was having the baby in the street. People were still recovering from the war, they lost everything they had some were well know but after the war they had to struggle in order to survive and they would blame Americans.

Song of the Buffalo Boy
Have you ever wondered how it was for children that had American fathers but lived in Vietnam? Well this story Son of the Buffalo Boy is just about that. The main character Loi was trying to look for her "father" who now lives in America. First she was arranged to marry a person who she didn't like so she faked her death and ran away with the person she loved, Khai. However, when they were getting on the bus Khai didn't make it so Loi had to go to the new town all alone. When she got there, she had no money so she had to practical beg for food and steal money. She also meets her "brother" Joe who was an orphan. He took her to the place were she could register to go to America. He then took her to live with him in Amerisian Park. Two weeks later when she was walking down the street, she saw one of Khai's carvings and she he was there so she left a message with the storeowner. To know if she meets back up with Khai or goes to America you have to read it first.

The Decision Between a Vietnamese and an American
A girl born in Vietnam has fallen in love with a buffalo herder who has seen the mayhem in the war. The girl, Loi lives on the streets. The buffalo herder Khai is whom she has fallen in love with instead of an officer. Those thoughts have been trailing the minds if Loi should leave her family to have a better life in America. ... Read more

Book Description

Gabriel King is afraid of everything: spiders, the rope swing over the lake, andmost of all, going to fifth grade. Frita Wilson, his best friend, decides Gabriel needs someliberating from his fears, so they make a list and plan to tackle each one. But one of the reasonsFrita is so determined to help Gabe is that she needs his help too. Hollowell, Georgia in 1976 isn’texactly the most integrated place, and Frita’s the only black student in school in a town with anactive Ku Klux Klan.

Printz honor winner K. L. Going (Fat Kid Rules theWorld) reaches out to a younger audience in this poignant story of unlikely friends and thesummer they learn that facing down your fears is easier with someone by your side. ... Read more