 Teenage Veda, who studies classical Indian dance Bharatanatyam, is injured in a car accident and her leg has to be amputated below the knee. She is devastated, but an American doctor understands her love of dance and designs a special prosthetic limb for her. Veda starts dancing all over again. She meets Govinda, a student teacher, who shows her a new way to bring joy to her dancing and who becomes her love interest. This enthralling story of Veda’s journey and of familial relationships in modern India is told in verse that captures the fascination of India. mjw |
| Title: A Time To Dance Author: Padma Venkatraman Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Book, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group Copyright: 2014 Original language: English ISBN: 978-0-399-25710-0 Hardcover pages: 320 Age range: 12 up Genre: Novel in Verse/Poetry Book setting: India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: United States Awards: 2015 South Asia Book Award – Honor, Grades 6 and up Subjects: Amputees, Dance, India, Novels in verse, People with disabilities, Southern Asia |
A Time To Dance
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Ten-year-old Yannick leaves Paris to stay with his aunt and uncle at their inn in Provence. He is excited to go because Provence is where Cezanne, “the greatest painter in the world,” painted his picture. He works in the inn, setting tables, clearing tables, filling carafes of water, and cutting bread. Uncle Bruno teaches him to cook and make chocolate mousse and creme brulee. When a famous painter visits the inn and Yannick accidentally throws the drawing the painter scribbled on the paper tablecloth into the fireplace, he follows him back to his chateau to ask for another drawing. Yannick thinks the artist is Cezanne, but the artist signs another name, Picasso. Soft watercolor illustrations decorate the charming description of the culture of 1960s Provence. mjw
When young Razia learns that there will be a new school for girls in her Afghan village, she is determined to attend. Her baba gi (grandfather) supports her, but her father and brothers refuse to give her permission. The school’s founder assures them that Razia will be safe and that allowing her to go to school will be for the good of the family, the village, and the country. The book is a fictionalized account of the building of the Zabuli Education Center, a school for girls in the Afghan village of Deh’Subz. The story is enhanced by photo, fabric, and drawing collage. Illustrations capture the beauty and harsh realities of the small village. Background information on the lack of girls’ education worldwide; a brief biography of Razia Jan, the school’s founder; a glossary; and classroom activities accompany this powerful book. mjw
Anna, the youngest child in her large Jamaican family, wants to fetch water and carry it on her head like her brothers and sisters do. But, she cannot even balance an empty coffee can on her head. Anna is determined and she finally does succeed when the cows in Mister Johnson’s field frighten her and she runs home with her full coffee can on her head. She doesn’t spill a drop. The Jamaican landscape, a Jamaican flag, dasheen leaves, and Anna’s family are presented in interesting, bold acrylic paintings in tropical colors. mjw
In this striking, thoughtful first-person narration, a Mexican boy tells of his journey to the United States with his family as they face many dangers. The uncertainty all illegal immigrants face arouses empathy for the real risks surrounding relevant political issues, namely, migrant journeys taken in hopes of finding work and a better life. This bilingual, codex-style book literally unfolds as the story progresses and offers a straightforward Spanish translation on the reverse side of the English version. Brilliant illustrations in charcoal blacks and greys on amate, bark paper, are reminiscent of pre-Hispanic codices. cc
On Hal’s tenth birthday, he receives a dog that he calls Fleck from Easy Pets. He knows they will be friends for life. But no one tells him that Easy Pets is a rent-a-pet agency and that Fleck has to be returned. Hal and his friend Pippa run away to his grandparents with a pack of escapee dogs from Easy Pets. On their cross country adventures, they meet up with a circus, a detective, greedy adults, and wonderful friends. This light, fun story about Hal and his dog, loyalty, and determination has a happy ending. All of the dogs find the right owners to belong to. mjw
In 1943, when his older brother joins the army, 12 year-old Linus Muller, takes over the delivery job in his family’s grocery store in Manhattan. He befriends an eccentric customer, Mr Orange, who always orders a crate of oranges and is based on the Dutch painter, Piet Mondrian. They discuss the war, music, art, comic books and superheroes, and imagination. This is a first-rate historical novel about the artist and Linus Muller’s changing perception of the war. An afterword offers facts about Mondrian’s work and years in New York City. Further Resources for reading, watching on the Internet, and viewing Mondrian’s art in museums are also included. mjw
Toda is forced to flee her village as war escalates in her unnamed country. When her father, a pastry chef, leaves to defend his country, she is sent to live with her mother across the border. Her journey is frightening and fascinating and filled with struggles, misunderstandings, and hope. Fear never overwhelms innocent and frank Toda as she tries to make sense of the war-torn world around her. The author uses Toda’s off-beat sense of humor to point out the absurdity of war. Gentle line drawings offer comic relief and further insight into what this young refugee goes through. mjw
Parisian eight-year-old Ronnie, short for Myron, visits his grandparents and rowdy older cousins in England, while his parents move apartments. It is his first vacation away from his mama. There is a competition to see who can shower the least, a wild bike ride without helmets, the family tradition of jumping off the ten-foot diving board, and the shame of having his bathing suit slip off in the pool. This touching, funny story of Ronnie’s growth from timid mama’s boy to confidence and independence is written in journal format with energetic, expressive watercolor images. mjw
Eleven-year-old outspoken and likeable Billie Templar lives in a military town called Merchant Stanton. Her dad is serving with the army in Afghanistan and Billie desperately wants him home so they can defend their four-year record of winning the three-legged race at the school carnival. She plans to ask the Queen to give him permission to return home, but getting to see the Queen is tougher than she thinks. With the help of sweet, crazy friends and old age pensioners, she stages a military tattoo to get the Queen to visit during the Jubilee celebrations. The story is heart-wrenching, hilarious, and has a feel-good surprise ending.mjw
Alternating chapters are narrated by eleven-year-old William and his fourteen-year-old sister Melissa. Due to financial problems, their holiday in Queenstown is cancelled and the siblings are roped into staying with their bickering, hippie grandparents to help fix up their old bach (holiday house) in Sounds. William and Melissa are taken out of their comfort zone and must survive without cell-phones and electricity, but their hard work is rewarded with one thousand dollars apiece. When an accident occurs, Melissa and Will’s ability to work together is put to the test and they finally realize what it means to be a family. cc
Hamda feels left out. She wants to make necklaces, go shopping, and bake cakes like her older sisters do. She has also made up her mind that she wants to wear the veil. She chooses four different scarves and unsuccessfully tries four different ways to wear them. She finally finds her own special way to prove she’s a big girl. Told in five short chapters and illustrated with bold, colorful patterns, this entertaining story focuses on the Muslim experience of wearing the veil mjw
