Tag Archives: Friends

The Secret Sky: A Novel Of Forbidden Love In Afghanistan

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This modern Romeo and Juliet story of sorts, set in Afghanistan, is narrated by three of the main characters. Samiullah, a Pashtun boy, and Fatima, a Hazara girl, are two innocent teenagers who fall in love. Their ethnic groups differ and do not get along because of their historical backgrounds. Their desire to get married disgraces their families and sets a series of horrific events in motion. The third narrator is Samiullah’s cousin Rashid, the villain, who has fallen under the influence of the Taliban. He has seen Samiullah and Fatima together, assumes the worst, and turns them in to the local Taliban. Disturbing depictions of physical, emotional, and sexual violence against men, women, and children; amazing acts of kindness, bravery, and sacrifice; vivid imagery; complex characters; and a suspenseful ending make the book unputdownable. Though fictional, this powerful and hopeful love story paints a realistic picture of the conflicts and culture clashes in Afghanistan today. The author was a foreign news correspondent in Kabul for nearly five years. mjw

Title: The Secret Sky: A Novel of Forbidden Love In Afghanistan Author: Atia Abawi Publisher: Philomel Books, Penguin Young Readers Group Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-399-16078-3 Hardcover pages: 320 Age range: 14 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Afghanistan Author’s ethnicity: Afghani Author’s residence: Jerusalem Awards: 2015 South Asia Book Award – Highly Commended, 2015 Amelia Bloomer List Subjects: Conflict, Culture, Ethnic relations, Family relations, Hazaras, Love, Marriage, Pushtuns, Social justice, Talibans

Code Name Verity

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A British pilot’s plane crashes down in Nazi occupied France. “Kittyhawk” has a chance of survival, but her friend “Verity” is unlikely to survive. Verity is captured by the Gestapo and can either reveal her mission or be gruesomely tortured. Careful attention to historical detail makes Verity and Kittyhawk’s story believable. This riveting tale told in journal entries with literary references and plot twists is about a beautiful friendship forged in a dark time in history. ema

Title: Code Name Verity Author: Elizabeth Wein Publisher:  Disney-Hyperion Copyright: 2012 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1423152194 Hardcover pages: 352 Age range: 14 up Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: England, France, and Scotland  Author’s ethnicity: American; grew up abroad Author’s residence: Scotland Awards:UK Literary Association Award Winner, 2013 Edgar Award Winner, 2013 Printz Honor Book, 2012 Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book, Shortlisted for the 2013 CILIP Carnegie Award, Golden Kite Award Honor Book, Shortlisted for the 2012 Scottish Children’s Book Award Subjects: Adventure, Air Pilots, Espionage, Families, Flying, Female Friendships, Friends, Historical Fiction, Language, Nazis, Planes, Spies, War, Women Air Pilots, World War Two

Twenty-two Cents: Muhammad Yunus And The Village Bank

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Muhammad Yunis grew up in India in the 1940s in a family that cared for and wanted to help others. He witnessed extreme poverty. He studied economics in America, and when he returned to his homeland (which became Bangladesh), as an economics professor, he founded Grameen Bank where people could borrow small amounts of money to start a job, and then pay back the bank without unfairly high interest charges. Over the next years, he was responsible for loaning more than 10 billion U.S. dollars in micro-credit, and empowering the poor, especially women, to break the cycle of poverty. Yunus would become renowned as the Banker to the Poor. Accurate and authentic soft chalk pastels enhance this true story. Back matter includes an Afterword with information on poverty in America, an update on Yunus’s life, and photos of him as a young Boy Scout and as a Nobel Prize laureate in 2006. Author’s Sources are also provided. mjw

Title: Twenty-two Cents: Muhammad Yunus And The Village Bank Author: Paula Yoo Illustrator: Jamel Akib Publisher: Lee & Low Books, New York Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-60060-658-8 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 6-11 Genre: Picture book, Biography Book setting: India and Bangladesh Author’s ethnicity: Korean-American Author’s residence: U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: English and Malaysian Illustrator’s residence: England Awards: 2015 South Asia Book Award, 2015 IRA Notable Books for a Global Society Subjects: Bangladesh, Bankers, Economics, Economists, Generosity, Microcredit, Microfinance, Nobel Peace Prize 2006, Social activists, Social justice

The Wrath And The Dawn

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The brutal Caliph of Khorasan each night kills his new bride before dawn breaks. This changes when Khalid marries Shahrzad. Shahrzad volunteers herself as the caliph’s bride. She wishes to get revenge for her best friend’s death by marrying the King of Kings and giving him the same fate as her friend. Although Shahrzad plans on killing the king, she realizes that Khalid is not the callous monster that she believed he would be. When Shahrzad falls in love with him, she must decide whether to follow her heart or avenge the lives of the caliph’s late wives.  The book’s gorgeous cover and fantastical end pages will entice readers to open the book, while the story will keep them mesmerized. The book also features a map of the book’s setting and a glossary of words readers may be unfamiliar with. The Wrath and The Dawn is a dazzling retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. This romance versus loyalty tale has beautiful imagery, great characterization, and magical elements which will leave readers craving for the next book. ema

Title: The Wrath And The Dawn Author: Renée Ahdieh Publisher: G.P.  Putnam’s Sons, a Penguin Publishing Group Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-399-17161-1 Hardcover pages: 388 Age range: 14 up Genre: Fairytale Reimagining, Fantasy Book setting: Fantasy World Based on the Middle East  Author’s ethnicity: Asian American Author’s residence: United States Awards: A Junior Library Guild Selection, A Summer 2015 Kids’ Indie Next List Top Ten Pick Subjects: Arabian Nights, Arranged Marriages, Fairy Tale Reimaginings/ Retellings, Fantasy, Friendships,  Loyalty, Love, Magical Elements, Marriages, Middle East, Murder, One Thousand and One Nights, Persian, Relationships, Romance

I Have The Right To Be A Child

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Inspired by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, I Have The Right To Be A Child is a picture book that makes young readers ponder about rights of  children. The simplistically beautiful acrylic illustrations perfectly accompany the book’s first person narration. This moving picture book explains the types of rights children around the world should be entitled to. It is important to note that at the end of the book, there is an explanation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This explanation details the specific rights the states who sign the agreement must uphold. There is also a list of states who are party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. There are only three members of the UN who are not party to the Convention. These three countries are Somalia, the United States, and South Sudan. I Have The Right To Be A Child is a perfect book to teach about peace and human rights. It illustrates the type of world we hope to live in and challenges readers to advocate for children’s rights. ema

Title: I Have The Right To Be A Child Author: Alain Serres Illustrator: Aurélia Fronty Publisher: Groundwood Books House of Anansi Press Copyright: 2012 Original Language: French Translator: Helen Minster Original Title: S’ai le droit d’être un enfant Original Publisher: Rue du Monde  Original Copyright: 2009 ISBN: 978-1-55498-149-6 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Non-Fiction Picture Book  Book setting: Around the World Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: Paris Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Awards: IRA Notable Books for a Global Society List, Selected for Children’s Literary Assembly, 2013 Notable Children’s Books, and USBBY Outstanding International Booklist Subjects: Activism, Children’s Rights, Disabilities, Diversity, Education, Families, Friends, Gender, Human Rights, Peace, Race, United Nations, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit

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Balsa is a formidable warrior. After she saves the Second Prince of New Yogo, Chagum, from an attempt on his life, the Second Queen hires Balsa to protect her son. The eleven year old second prince is the guardian of the water spirit, the Moribito. The Moribito is chosen every hundred years to deliver the egg of the water spirit to its home. Although Balsa realises taking the assignment puts herself in danger, Balsa’s heart empathizes with the innocent Chagum, and she vows to protect his life. This thrilling fantasy story based on Japan during the Middle Ages told in third person narrative from multiple viewpoints will captivate readers. Uehashi’s writing demonstrates that characters’  motives, desires, and actions do not always align. Moreover, this book illustrates  how differences in politics, traditions, histories, ethnicities and beliefs can impact people’s thoughts and actions.This English translated edition also features black and white action packed illustrations at the beginning of each part of the book, a glossary of character names, a list of places and terms, and a note from the author. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit is the first book in a ten book fantasy series. There is also a manga series, and a subtitled and dubbed anime series in English based on the book series.      ema

Title: Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit Author: Nahoko Uehashi Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu Publisher: Scholastic Copyright: 2009 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Cathy Hirano Original Title: Seirei no Moribito Original Publisher: Kaisei-sha Original Copyright: 1996 ISBN: 978-0545005432 Paperback pages:  288 Age range: 12 up Genre: Fantasy Book setting: Middle Ages Japan Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: New York Awards: 1997 Sankei Children’s Book Award, 2009 Batchelder Award, 2009 Beacon Award, 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing  Subjects: Displaced indigenous people, Family, Fantasy, Fathers, Fiction, Friends, Japan,  Middle Ages, Monsters, Mothers, Princes, Religious tolerance, Spirits,Traditions, Water Spirits

A Moment Comes

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Set preceding the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan, this story of turmoil and politics is told from the alternating points of view of three very different narrators. Margaret is a privileged British girl, living in India because her father is one of the cartographers finalizing the borders that will divide the country into two separate religious states. She is spoiled and finds India hot, loud, and dangerous, but is enthralled by the culture. Anupreet, a beautiful Sikh girl, once confined to her home to protect her from violent angry men, is employed as a maid for Margaret’s family, where her family believes she will be safe. Eighteen-year-old Tariq, a Muslim, hired as a translator for Margaret’s father, is caught between his forbidden interest in Anupreet and Margaret, who might be able to help with his goal of studying at Oxford. It is a dark and violent time, when no one is safe. Ultimately, 10 to 14 million people in India relocated and over one million died as a result. The time of Partition is underexplored in Western literature, especially in young adult historical fiction. A Glossary defines words used in the book and also mentions places and foods.   An Author’s Note offers even more information and details Bradbury’s connection to India. mjw

Title: A Moment Comes Author: Jennifer Bradbury Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster, New York Copyright: 2013 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4169-7876-3 Hardcover pages: 288 Age range: 12 up Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: Jalandhar, India Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: U.S.  Author has lived in India. Awards: 2014 South Asia Book Award Subjects: Culture, Household employees, India, Muslims, Pakistan, Partition 1947, Punjabi, Radcliffe Line, Sikhs, Tolerance

The Hijab Boutique

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Fifth-grader Farah attends Miss Peabody’s Academy, an exclusive art-centered girls’ school. Her assignment is to talk about her mother for “International Women’s Day” in front of the whole class, but her hijab-wearing, modest, widowed mother is boring, compared to her classmates’ mothers. She worries and even feels guilty until she talks to her mom and discovers a lot about her mom’s past, present, and future. Her mom is planning to open “The Hijab Boutique,” a store selling Muslim headscarves. This first-person perspective of what it is like being of a different religion and culture in the United States educates and fosters understanding about hijab wearing. Black and white pencil drawings give a sense of Farah’s classmates, her home, and hijab fashions in this quick read. mjw

Title: The Hijab Boutique Author: Michelle Khan Illustrator: Eman Salem Publisher: The Islamic Foundation, United Kingdom Copyright: 2011 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-86037-468-8 Paperback pages: 56 Age range: 10-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Los Angeles, U.S. Author’s ethnicity: Indo-Canadian Author’s residence: Toronto Subjects: Hijab, International Women’s Day, Islam, Mothers and daughters, Muslim women, Purdah, School

Anything Is Possible

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When Sheep sees birds flying overhead, she wants to build a flying machine so that she can fly, too. She runs to Wolf to ask for his help, but he is skeptical. Together they build their first design. Its fabric wings rip mid-flight. They try balloons, but the birds pop them. Their final winning idea involves a dragon’s head and tail. And they are off – soaring. The dragon has scared away the birds. The paper cutout, ink, and pencil collage illustrations are intriguing, with architectural drawings, mathematical scribbles, and interesting perspectives. mjw

Title: Anything Is Possible Author: Giulia Belloni Illustrator: Marco Trevisan Publisher: Owlkids Books, Inc.  Toronto Copyright: 2011 Original Language: Italian Translator: William Anselmi Original Title: Tutte e possibile Original Publisher: Kite Edizioni, Padova, Italy Original Copyright: 2011 ISBN: 978-1-926973-91-3 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: Italian Author’s residence: Italy Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian Illustrator’s residence: Italy Subjects: Dreams, Flying machines, Perseverance, Persistence, Sheep, Teamwork, Wolves

Red

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A little girl says to Tommy, “You’re blushing…” She points at him and winks at Paul, the biggest bully. The classmates laugh, jeer, and whisper. “Leave me alone!” Tommy sighs. The teasing on the school playground spirals. The bully’s “tongue is as sharp as a knife” and his “fist is as hard as a brick.” The teacher finds out what is going on, but no one dares to speak. Luckily, the little girl is finally brave enough to raise her hand and halt the vicious game. When the bully confronts her later, the other children rally to her side. They have become wiser. Everyone is sometimes shy and bullying is not funny. Pencil, charcoal, ink, aquarelle, acrylic, and collage cartoon illustrations produce an aggressive back and red effect in this subtle, yet powerful book written from the viewpoint of a spectator. mjw

Title: Red Author: Jan De Kinder Illustrator: Jan De Kinder Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, Michigan.  U.S. Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Dutch Translator: Laura Watkinson Original Title: Rood, of Waarom Pesten Niet Grappig Is (Red, Or Why Bullying Is Not Funny) Original Publisher: Uitgeverij De Eenhoorn bvba, Belgium Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5446-9 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Born in Dendermonde, Belgium Author’s residence: Belgium Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Dendermonde. Belgium Illustrator’s residence: Belgium Awards: Nominated for the Child and Youth Jury 2014-2015 (Belgium_ Subjects: Blushing, Bullying, Conduct of life, Difference, Peer pressure, Prejudice, School

Walking Home

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Thirteen-year-old Muchoki and his seven-year-old sister Jata lived, attended school, and played in their bustling Kenyan village until political violence broke out in 2007. Their father was killed, their village was destroyed, and they were forced to move into an overcrowded refugee camp with their ailing mother. When their mother died, they set off on what seemed like an impossible journey over 150 kilometers of Kenyan wilderness and slums to find their grandparents they had never met. It was a dangerous journey for the loveable and brave siblings. Tribal fighting, wild animals, and finding food and shelter were some of the obstacles they faced. The interesting overview of the cultural, political, and geographical landscape of Kenya in this story is filled with determination, charity, and faith. The author walked the same route himself from Mara, up the Rift Valley, down to Nairobi, through Kibera, along the Mombasa highway, to the mountains of Kikima. The author’s website www.ericwalterswalkinghome.com brings Jata and Muchoki’s trek alive. There are symbols throughout the book indicating when readers might want to access the site’s special features, such as pictures, maps, videos, songs, and readings. Proceeds from the book go to the Creation of Hope, an organization that helps provide for orphans in Kenya. mjw

Title: Walking Home Author: Eric Walters Publisher: Doubleday Canada Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0385-68157-5 Paperback pages: 304 Age range: 10 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Kenya Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Ontario, Canada Awards: 2013 Children’s Africana Book Award Subjects: Brothers and sisters, Kenya, Nairobi, Orphans, Political violence, Refugees, Survival

Little Lamb, Have You Any Wool?

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A rosy-cheeked little boy asks a lamb if he can use its wool to knit himself a sweater, a handsome hat, a long scarf, mittens, socks, and a coat to keep him from shivering in the winter. But then, he worries if the lamb will be cold, shorn of his wool and not protected from the cold. So the boy knits another set of clothes for the lamb. Together, in their warm woolly clothes, they enjoy a now-cozy wintertime. The abstract illustrations done in an unusual color palette of greens and earthy tones, with lots of curly lines, convey the warm message of friendship. This is a non-rhyming adaptation of the classic Baa Baa Black Sheep nursery rhyme. mjw

Title: Little Lamb, Have You Any Wool? Author: Isabel Minhos Martins Illustrator: Yara Kono Publisher: Owlkids Books, Inc.  Toronto, Canada Copyright: 2011 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Maureen de Sousa Original Title: Ovejita, dame lana Original Publisher: Kalandraka Ediciones Andalucia Original Copyright: 2010 ISBN: 978-1-926973-14-2 Hardcover pages: 28 Age range: 3-6 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: Portuguese Author’s residence: Lisbon, Portugal Illustrator’s ethnicity: Brazilian  Illustrator’s residence: Lisbon, Portugal Subjects: Cooperation, KIndness, Knitting, Lambs, Sheep, Winter, Wool