Elijah of Buxton
By Christopher Paul Curtis
Elijah is a particularly special boy in his town: he is the first person to be born free in the settlement of Buxton, Canada, where escaped slaves and free blacks from America make their home. Although Buxton is a safe-haven of education and equality, Elijah finds himself facing hatred and injustice each time he ventures into the larger world. Full of quaint stories about his childhood and passionate descriptions of the injustices of slavery, this is a wonderful historical novel with a character who is endearing, if a bit naïve about the world around him.
-Ms. McConnel
Showing posts with label Corrota Scott King Award. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Corrota Scott King Award. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Jazmin's Notebook
Jazmin's Notebook
by Nikki Grimes
Jazmin's daddy loved jazz music, which is how she got her name. Jazmin loves music, but more than that, she loves writing: poetry, stories, journals, she simply can't get enough! Even though she has been in a series of foster homes and is now living with her older sister, Jazmin has a bright outlook on life and a strong desire to get out of the projects and really make something of herself one day.This is a wonderful, quick read about a character with a lot of spunk in some pretty awful situations. Jazmin is realistic, the kind of character you may wish you knew in real life. A powerful story.
-Ms. McConnel
by Nikki Grimes
Jazmin's daddy loved jazz music, which is how she got her name. Jazmin loves music, but more than that, she loves writing: poetry, stories, journals, she simply can't get enough! Even though she has been in a series of foster homes and is now living with her older sister, Jazmin has a bright outlook on life and a strong desire to get out of the projects and really make something of herself one day.This is a wonderful, quick read about a character with a lot of spunk in some pretty awful situations. Jazmin is realistic, the kind of character you may wish you knew in real life. A powerful story.
-Ms. McConnel
Day of Tears
Day of Tears
by Julius Lester
Told through monologues, dialogues, and theatrical scenes, this novel tells the story of the largest slave auction in America and the way the lives of the slaves sold at that auction changed forever. It follows Emma, a young girl born into slavery and sold from Georgia to Kentucky, her parents, and the people she encountered after being sold.Although this is a work of fiction, it is based in historical fact: in 1859 Pierce Butler sold off over 400 of his slaves (the largest slave auction in American history) to pay his gambling debts. This novel is a unique, powerful, and emotional look at a tragic slice of American history.
-Ms. McConnel
by Julius Lester
Told through monologues, dialogues, and theatrical scenes, this novel tells the story of the largest slave auction in America and the way the lives of the slaves sold at that auction changed forever. It follows Emma, a young girl born into slavery and sold from Georgia to Kentucky, her parents, and the people she encountered after being sold.Although this is a work of fiction, it is based in historical fact: in 1859 Pierce Butler sold off over 400 of his slaves (the largest slave auction in American history) to pay his gambling debts. This novel is a unique, powerful, and emotional look at a tragic slice of American history.
-Ms. McConnel
Forged by Fire
Forged by Fire
by Sharon M. Draper
"Forged by Fire" talks about how a little kid who was left in the fire alone while his mom went to go and get drugs. A neighbor came to see the little kid and found him behind the couch passed out. Now Aunt Queen a loving aunt who always took care of Gerald must take him in while his mom gets sober. In the middle of the story a tragic death affects Gerald and he must live with his mom and angel Gerald’s little sister and her dad Jordan. Later in the story secrets are revealed about Jordan and he goes to jail for 10 years when he comes back he swears he has changed but Gerald still doesn’t trust him. By the end of the story Gerald finds Jordan going back to his old ways and he and Jordan have one final fight. But forget to cut off the stove and a fire irrupts. While some make it out others are forged by the fire!
-M. Jefferson
Gerald is a very smart and strong minded boy. When he was three years of age, his mother was a drug addict and abused him physically and mentally. Till one day when Gerald's mother was out, Gerald accidentally started a fire. When he went to the hospital, his aunt came in to comfort him. The doctors told her that he was going to have to go to child protective services, but she said no. Although she is in a wheel chair, she took Gerald home and raised him until he was 8, nurturing him into a respectful little boy. On his 9th birthday, the worst thing that could possibly happen does. His mother shows up, saying that jail changed her. She is married and has a wonderful job. While Gerald is looking at his aunt, puzzled, his mom tells him that she wants to take him home. Gerald is upset and hurt that this would all be thrown at him on his birthday. Gerald gets on his bike and leaves. His mother and her new husband, Jordan, get up and tell his aunt that they are going to leave for a little bit, and could she watch Angel, their new baby for them? When they leave, Gerald comes back. He is calm now, and tries to get to know his little sister. They go outside, but suddenly his aunt passes out from a heart attack and dies. Things continue to change for Gerald, and he faces tragedy after tragedy.I like this book a lot because it's sad but it can still happen to anyone, and many people can relate to it.
-M. Colon
by Sharon M. Draper
"Forged by Fire" talks about how a little kid who was left in the fire alone while his mom went to go and get drugs. A neighbor came to see the little kid and found him behind the couch passed out. Now Aunt Queen a loving aunt who always took care of Gerald must take him in while his mom gets sober. In the middle of the story a tragic death affects Gerald and he must live with his mom and angel Gerald’s little sister and her dad Jordan. Later in the story secrets are revealed about Jordan and he goes to jail for 10 years when he comes back he swears he has changed but Gerald still doesn’t trust him. By the end of the story Gerald finds Jordan going back to his old ways and he and Jordan have one final fight. But forget to cut off the stove and a fire irrupts. While some make it out others are forged by the fire!
-M. Jefferson
Gerald is a very smart and strong minded boy. When he was three years of age, his mother was a drug addict and abused him physically and mentally. Till one day when Gerald's mother was out, Gerald accidentally started a fire. When he went to the hospital, his aunt came in to comfort him. The doctors told her that he was going to have to go to child protective services, but she said no. Although she is in a wheel chair, she took Gerald home and raised him until he was 8, nurturing him into a respectful little boy. On his 9th birthday, the worst thing that could possibly happen does. His mother shows up, saying that jail changed her. She is married and has a wonderful job. While Gerald is looking at his aunt, puzzled, his mom tells him that she wants to take him home. Gerald is upset and hurt that this would all be thrown at him on his birthday. Gerald gets on his bike and leaves. His mother and her new husband, Jordan, get up and tell his aunt that they are going to leave for a little bit, and could she watch Angel, their new baby for them? When they leave, Gerald comes back. He is calm now, and tries to get to know his little sister. They go outside, but suddenly his aunt passes out from a heart attack and dies. Things continue to change for Gerald, and he faces tragedy after tragedy.I like this book a lot because it's sad but it can still happen to anyone, and many people can relate to it.
-M. Colon
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