Archive for Multicultural

Book Review: Endangered

September 27, 2012 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Mackin Picks, Multicultural, Novels, Realistic · Tagged , , , , , ,

Endangered by Eliot Schrefer. Coming out Oct. 1, 2012. 9780545165761. Grades 9-12. (ARC copy)

Sophie is spending another summer with her mother in the Congo at her bonobo sanctuary when she rescues Otto, a baby bonobo, from a poacher on the street. The two become inseparable, and when a chaotic revolution breaks out in the capital, Sophie decides to stay with Otto rather than flee to safety to the United States. After a brutal attack on the sanctuary, Sophie’s left on her own with Otto and the other bonobos desperately trying to survive in a nation ravaged by violence.

I picked this book up based on Maggie Stiefvater’s review, expecting a good read. I did not expect a powerful, emotionally packed journey, but that’s what this book delivered. I instantly connected with Sophie and Otto and their inseparable bond. Their relationship is tender and humorous and believable. It’s clear that Schrefer did his research about bonobos (he even traveled to Kinshasa to visit a bonobo sanctuary in 2011). I also loved Sophie’s interaction with the adult bonobos when she was trapped in the sanctuary. It was fascinating to see how she changed the group dynamic and hierarchy.

Schrefer also does a great job of describing the horrors of the revolution and how the people struggled to survive. That’s what makes this book so powerful. It introduces you to a world so unlike our own here in the United States. I think we take a lot of things for granted, and reading a book like this reminds us how good we have it, and how much worse life could be. I agree with Maggie Stiefvater’s opinion in her review: “It’s one of those books that makes you look at your own culture a little differently; makes your world a little stretchier.”

This book will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

**Also today is the last day to enter our Back to School Contest!  If you haven’t entered already, check it out!!**

Lindsey L.

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February is Black History Month

February 9, 2012 · Filed under Fiction, Grade Levels, High School, Historical, History, Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), Multicultural, Nonfiction, Novel in Verse, Novels, Picture Books, Poetry, Primary (K-2), Reviews, Social Studies · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, / I am the dream and hope of the slave. / I rise. / I rise. / I rise.” ~ Maya Angelou, Still I Rise.

Whenever I think about Black History Month, I always think of this amazing quote from Angelou. She eloquently states that she has learned from her ancestors’ history and lives her life with their hopes and dreams (as well as her own) at the forefront. It’s a very inspirational quote that we can all learn from. Keeping Still I Rise in mind, each of the titles that I have chosen has an impressive message that people of all colors and creeds can appreciate. If you are looking for similar titles, check out my ALA Mock Youth Media Awards post (specifically the Coretta Scott King Award picks), as well as Lindsey’s Historical Fiction for Elementary School post.

Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neir. Illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson. 2011.

Twelve-year-old Coltrane is always getting in trouble at school, and his mother cannot take it anymore. She decides to drive him to Philadelphia to meet his father for the first time. In Philly, Cole is in for many surprises! He learns that his father is part of a group of black urban cowboys who save horses from slaughterhouses. They use the horses to teach the neighborhood kids how to be responsible for the care of another life. The kids groom and feed the horses as well as help with the upkeep of the stables. In exchange, they get to ride the horses as payment. I really enjoyed the fact that this story is based upon an actual group of urban black horsemen in North Philadelphia. A wonderful and inspirational story for children and adults, it will have you cheering and crying at the end!


Never Forgotten by Patricia C. McKissack. Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. 2011.

An African folktale mixed with historical fiction tells the story of an 18th century West African boy, Musafa, raised by his blacksmith father and the Mother Elements (Earth, Fire, Water and Wind). One day Musafa disappears and is captured by the slave traders. The Mother Elements try to save him, but to no avail. Luckily, the wind is able to bring Musafa’s father news that he is still alive and working as a blacksmith. McKissack’s Coretta Scott King honor book will haunt you in many ways, and the free-verse will beat across the page at you like a drum. An amazing story with beautiful acrylic and watercolor illustrations. A must for any library collection!


Little Rock Girl 1957; How a Photograph Changed the Fight for Integration by Shelley Marie Tougas. 2011.

A worthwhile and honest approach to the events surrounding the Little Rock Nine’s attempt to integrate Central High. There are 64 pages of clearly addressed history, which is appropriate for its target audience (5th-8th graders). The book concentrates not only on the events of the three years of attempted integration, but on other things such as what happened with the photographer, the students, and many of those who opposed their chance at education (such as Hazel Bryan, who will forever be known as the lewd girl following Eckford). Little Rock Girl is an excellent resource for those looking for more information on this aspect of the Civil Rights movement.

Belle, The Last Mule at Gee’s Bend: A Civil Rights Story by Calvin Alexander and Bettye Stroud. Illustrated by John Holyfield. 2011.

This story centers around the people of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, and the part they played in the struggle for civil rights for all citizens. This community, or “Benders” as they are called, were motivated by a visit from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to take the ferry to Camden to register to vote. Upon their arrival at the river, they are stopped by the white sheriff who has shut the ferry down. So the Benders pack up their wagons and hitch up their mules, Belle included, and make the trip to register to vote. As you can imagine, it was not a peaceful resolution. In April 1968, Gee’s Bend is saddened to hear of  the assassination of Dr. King, but some of that grief is eased when they find out it was Dr. King’s wish to have mules pull the wagon with his coffin. Belle and Ada, the mules of Gee’s Bend, became part of history in tribute to the late civil rights leader. The story is framed around a young boy named Alex, who hears the whole story from Belle’s owner. Young readers will relate to Alex as he realizes that the people he’s learned about were not just characters in a book; they were real people. A fantastic nonfiction picture book that belongs on every library and classroom shelf.


*More new Black History reads:
Best Shot in the West: The Adventures of Nat Love by Fred McKissack. 2012.
Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson. 2011.
Jefferson’s Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. 2011.
To the Mountaintop!: My Journey through the Civil Rights Movement by Charlayne Hunter-Gault. 2012.
White Water by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein. Illustrated by Shadra Strickland. 2011.

Kristin J.

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ALA Mock Youth Media Awards – Kristin’s Picks

January 12, 2012 · Filed under Biography, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novel, High School, Historical, History, Horror, Humor, Intermediate (3-5), Language Arts, Magic, Middle School (6-8), Multicultural, Nonfiction, Novel in Verse, Novels, Paranormal, Picture Books, Primary (K-2), Realistic, Romance, Social Studies, Sports · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

If you are anything like us, you are eagerly anticipating the ALA Youth Media Awards on January 23rd. It’s like the Oscars for librarians, and the Collection Development department at Mackin has definitely been buzzing about their favorite books of the year! I chose to highlight the Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production, Coretta Scott King Book Awards, and—my favorite—the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. Be sure to tune in next week when Mindy and Lindsey highlight their predictions for the Caldecott, Newbery, and many more! Also, feel free to share with us what you think of our choices as well as what your favorites are!

Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production

Beauty Queens written and narrated by Libba Bray. 2011.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if a plane full of Beauty Queens crashed onto an (almost) deserted island? You’re in luck! Prepare yourself for a clever tale of girl power and sarcastic spoofs on pop culture. As I said in a previous post, I really enjoyed how Libba Bray used theatricality by changing accents and pitch with such ease between characters. Listeners will definitely forget there is only one narrator. My favorite character of all (because of how she was portrayed) was Taylor Rene Krystal Hawkins (yes, that’s all one name). Bray gives this gun-carrying homecoming queen a fantastic drawl that will leave you in stitches! Don’t miss this one, you won’t regret it!

Liesl & Po written by Lauren Oliver, narrated by Jim Dale. 2011.
Children and adults will love this fairy-tale-esque story that centers around three characters. First we have Liesl, a lonely girl who is mourning the death of her father while she is trapped in an attic. Her loneliness is eased when a ghost named Po shows up with his pet, Bundle. Then there is Will, a boy that runs errands for his boss, the Alchemist. How will these three character’s lives collide? You will have to read (or listen) to find out. Once again, Jim Dale does an amazing job of narrating, and he pulls it off as if he is reading a dark bedtime story to the listener. Watch for Dale’s terrific old-lady sneezes and adorable animal noises! They are quite the treat! Lovers of Roald Dahl will especially enjoy this savvy cracked fairy-tale.

Goliath written by Scott Westerfeld, narrated by Alan Cumming. 2011.
Fans of the Leviathan series will enjoy this third and epic final chapter. Alex and Deryn are still aboard Leviathan struggling with their problems. Alex’s parents are dead, he’s the heir to Austria’s throne, and he’s struggling to make sense of things. Deryn has a huge crush on Alex, and she’s a girl disguised as a boy (if found out, she would be guilty of treason and kicked off Leviathan). If Alex and Deryn don’t have enough troubles already, they reach a new level when a new passenger comes aboard—Mr. Nikola Tesla.  Alan Cumming is a remarkable talent and has done a wonderful job narrating the whole Leviathan series. He is quite proficient at alternating between Alek’s German accent and Deryn’s Scottish brogue. Listeners will especially enjoy the Transylvanian sing-song voice for Mr. Nikola Tesla. Cumming provides a witty reminder that the adventures in the Leviathan series are extraordinary, and that the listener should just hang on for the ride!

*Honorable Mentions*:
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. 2011.
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater. 2011.

Coretta Scott King Book Awards

Underground by Shane W. Evans
Shane Evans presents a powerful look at the Underground Railroad – The road to freedom. With its few words, “The darkness. / The escape. / We are quiet. / The fear . . . / We run. / We crawl”, this picture book relies more on commanding images to acquaint young readers with the risks that families took to escape slavery. It also captures the pride they experienced upon first reaching freedom. You will be entranced by the author’s night-time collages as they highlight the fearful eyes of the fugitives and the bright stars above on every page. A brief author’s note provides more information about the Underground Railroad, which parents and teachers can use to teach about the history of slavery.

A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. 2011.
This impressive retelling of the 1938 boxing rematch between America’s Joe Louis and Germany’s Max Schmeling will leave readers wanting more picture books from the talented team of de la Peña and Nelson. Kids will appreciate the directness of de la Peña’s free-verse as well as the insistence of Nelson’s paintings. A Nation’s Hope is the sort of book that will have readers wanting more information about historical events and figures. This interest can lead to discussions about racism, tolerance, and good sportsmanship. An amazing story you do not want to miss!

These Hands by Margaret H. Mason, illustrated by Floyd Cooper. 2011.
You will not want to miss this moving picture book that combines the poignant story of a grandfather’s relationship with his grandson, and an unknown piece of the civil rights movement. Mason explains in an author’s note that during the 1950′s and 1960′s, African American workers at bakery factories were allowed to do all sorts of maintenance type work—but they were not allowed to work as bread dough mixers or handlers. This was “because the bosses said/white people would not want to eat bread/touched by these hands.” It is so sad to think that these events actually happened, but they did. This inspirational story will be enjoyed by readers, along with the touching photo-quality illustrations.

*Honorable Mentions*:
Bird in a Box by Andrea Pinkney, illustrated by Sean Qualls. 2011.
Heart and Soul : The Story of America and African Americans, written and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. 2011.

Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol. 2011.
I have mentioned this title in a previous post, but I just had to include it in this category. I really enjoyed this tale of an angst-ridden, curvy teenage girl who desperately tries to abandon her Russian heritage in order to become accepted at school. Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, she falls down a well. This is where she meets a ghost named Emily. Will Emily be the answer to all of her problems? Don’t miss this amazing graphic novel, which has hints of Coraline, Persepolis, and American Born Chinese.

Chime by Franny Billingsley. 2011.
This is one title that has been buzzed about ever since it was published (so of course I had to include it). After the death of her stepmother, Briony develops a repulsion for herself, a strong need to protect her mentally disabled sister, and a fear of the secret she knows she can never reveal. What is Briony’s secret? She’s a witch in a Victorian-era society that believes witches are guilty of all wrongs, and therefore should be hanged. When she meets a boy named Eldric, she learns that she’s not the only one keeping secrets. The haunting and unforgettable tone that Billingsley weaves into lyrical prose is amazing. Paranormal fans will love this wonderfully written tale of growth, loss, and romance.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. 2011.
Tracey already mentioned this one in a previous post, but I had to include it!

*Honorable Mentions*:
Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt. 2011.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. 2011.
A Monster Calls: Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Jim Kay. 2011.

Blogger:  Kristin J.

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New Multicultural Picture Books

September 29, 2011 · Filed under Fiction, Multicultural, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Social Studies · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Growing up in a semi-rural city in central Wisconsin, the extent of my multicultural education didn’t extend far beyond selling skull lollipops for the Day of the Dead celebration in my Spanish class.  Likewise, my reading tended to center around my environment.  Now there is so much more to offer children to introduce them to different cultures, different people, and different environments.  Multicultural picture books are a great way to expose children to a different way of life.  Whether it’s through a story of pen pals from across the world, a girl trying to help on her African farm while another girl eagerly awaits the traveling library in Colombia, or a comparison of homes across both time and the world, children learn that there are many different ways to live.

Same, Same but Different by Jenny Sue Koestecki-Shaw
Two boys communicate across the world and compare their worlds through pictures. Elliot draws his life living in a big city with his parents, sister and dog, while Kailash draws pictures of his life in India with his very large family and all their animals. They find out that they do many of the same things, only a little differently. Elliot rides a bus to school, and so does Kailash although the buses differ. Elliot has an alphabet and so does Kailash, only different. Through these pictures, the boys learn that even though they live in different worlds, they aren’t so different from each other after all. A great look into comparing cultures.

ChirChir is Singing by Kelly Cunnane. Illustrated by Jude Daly.
In lyrical prose, Cunnane tells the story of Chirchir, who wants to help her family work on their farm in Africa. Chirchir tries to help different members of the family complete their tasks, but each time she tries, she ends up causing them more work. But she keeps singing and soon finds her perfect place–taking care of the baby and singing him to sleep. Children will learn how their lives differ from children in Kenya with this beautiful story.

Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown. Illustrated by John Parra.
When her teacher moves away, Ana is left with one book that she reads over and over again. There isn’t much opportunity to get more in rural Colombia until the biblioburro arrives with his trusty burros, Alfa and Beto. He gives Ana more books to read and encourages her to create her own using her imagination. When he returns weeks later, Ana returns his books and adds one of her stories to his collection. She goes to bed excited that children from the other villages will read her story. This is a great story to show children the importance of books and to inspire them to create their own stories.

If You Lived Here:  Houses of the World by Giles Laroche.
Immerse yourself in different house structures around the world and throughout history with this multicultural gem. Laroche’s unique “paper relief” style includes collage and drawing to give his illustrations added depth. Children will love to look at all the different styles of homes people live in. Some will be hard to believe, like the modern cave dwellings in Spain or the floating houses in the Netherlands. Great for social studies units on human geography.

Bibliography:

ChirChir is Singing by Kelly Cunnane. Illustrated by Jude Daly. 2011.

If You Lived Here:  Houses of the World by Giles Laroche. 2011.

Same, Same but Different by Jenny Sue Koestecki-Shaw. 2011.

Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown. Illustrated by John Parra. 2011.

Lindsey L.

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