Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who post their favorites. I'm working to catch up with those books from the awards list that I haven't read. Because of all of you sharing so many you loved, I actually had read quite a few. Some of my favorites did receive some honors and some did not. Nevertheless, I still love each one.
Five of the seven books I'm sharing today are based on true stories!
Two things: The Cybils' Awards will be announced on Valentine's Day.
Remember that NF10for10 hosted by Cathy Mere and Mandy Robek will happen next Sunday, February 10th! It's the seventh year! Here's the link about HOW if you're interested!
My second #MustReadin2019 book read!
Front Desk tells the story of a young Chinese immigrant, fifth-grader Mia Tang. She inspires as she shows the persistence in doing great work and the courage to make things right for everyone. For a young girl, no matter the conflicts with her mother, it's clear that her parents' values have been passed on to her. She cares about them very much. It won the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature!
Mia and her parents thought they had a dream job when they were hired to manage the Calivista Motel. They had been in America a couple of years and spent some of that time living in a car! Now they live in a small room behind the front office. Hired by the rich and cruel Mr. Yao, the family works hours cleaning rooms, fixing problems, and managing the front desk. Mr. Yao continues to take more money from the profits and his son, Jason, seems as mean as his father and bullies Mia at school. Sadly, they have ended up in the same class and are stereotyped because they're the only Chinese kids there. Luckily Mia does meet one friend, Lupe, and both support each other to, as Lupe explains, get off the bad roller coaster (of poverty) and onto the good one. Lupe also explains that being successful in America means having a living room without a bed in it. These girls understand very well the truth of things and want their lives to be different. I also loved the small bits of Chinese culture that were included in the story, like the excitement when something comes up in a lucky number. We do less of that here in the U.S., but I still am superstitious about the number 13, per a grandfather's beliefs.
This is Kelly Yang's debut book. When I read her note at the end, I was sad to see that not only was the story a tough one to read about new immigrants here, but much is autobiographical. Mia certainly doesn't give up and as she also supports her new friends, "the weeklies" (those who stay at the motel as their home), she learns just how strong she can be when challenged. She might be scared or sad inside, but she does not quit! There are good and bad people in the story set in the 1990s that include persons of color and those living in poverty. Mia faces extortion, fraud, and racism and tries hard to realize one impossible dream. I can't tell what happens, yet the way Yang shows Mia's learning as she learns to write powerful letters and tell powerful stories is so special and enlightening to see. I imagine other students will love that, too, perhaps especially those who are English language learners. Yang adds alarming information on Chinese immigration to America in an author’s note along with her own personal experiences. It's a terrific book.
Sy Montgomery tells the story of Inky from birth to "escape", one based on a real Inky that includes much about octopus lives, how they begin no bigger than a grain of rice, but are sent out into the world to survive by themselves! Those suckers help them feel and taste and are strong enough to pull a clam apart! Inky's story parallels other octopuses in the world of aquariums. They can squeeze into or through amazingly tiny spaces. More is included in an end note with a page of other fascinating facts about octopuses. Amy Schimler-Safford's pages are filled with details, of the ocean creatures Inky encounters and eats or hides from along with the later adventure in an aquarium. I enjoyed it very much, know it would be a great pairing with the recent book by Irene Latham, Love, Agnes.
Thank you to whoever shared this so I could read it, too. Told by Deborah Mills with Alfredo Alva, whose story it really is, a real-life border crossing with his father at age eight. It's told in Spanish and English, the things you've heard: the father can no longer feed his family and decides to take his oldest to try to get to America. He is betrayed by the Coyote who takes all the money, but does manage to get across and connect with a friend who takes him to the official embassy. Unlike those today, he was fortunate because this was when President Reagan gave amnesty to illegal immigrants, a real path to citizenship. The sadness of what they left, the hardships walking so far, fearful of scorpions and other creatures, and the eventual reunion is there. There is added information at the back and a wonderful photo of the entire Alva family. Everyone needs to read this story, and it will be wonderful for those who've had such experiences to hear and see it. Claudia Navarro shows all shades of this emotional journey in the dark and light colors of her illustrations.