Behind the Mountains

Behind the Mountains (2002) by Edwidge Danticat. 160 pages.
ISBN: 0-439-37299-2

Thirteen year old Celiane Esperance received a notebook from her teacher, which she loves. Celiane lives with her mom and brother in the Haitian village Beau Jour. Her father moved to New York five years prior to earn money for the family.

Celiane's journal entries describe her life in the village with her family and friends at school. Her Manman sells dous in the market and her brother, Moy, loves to paint. Weekly, the family exchange audio-tapes between New York and Haiti, to maintain their connection, there are no phones in the village. Celiane, Manman and Moy have been waiting years for visas to join Papa in New York.

Traveling on a tap tap (bus) to visit Tante Rose in Port-au-Prince, Celiane notes the differences in the city - traffic, crowds, shops. After the visit, the tap tap Celiane and her mom are on gets bombed. Celiane is separated from her mom, both are injured and end up back in Port-au-Prince to heal. The elections are about to happen and there's political unrest. They want to return to their serene village and increase their resolve to join Papa. Arriving and living in Brooklyn, New York has its joy and difficulties.

With innocent clarity, Celiane describes life in her village, contrasts in city life, struggles with adjusting in a new country and friction within the family. The story provides a glimpse into political injustices and difficulties in migrating from a country of unrest. Good read for 10 to 13 year olds, also appropriate for high school students.

An interview with the author, Edwidge Danticat.

Educator's - Behind the Mountains Book Discussion Guide

Curriculum Connection: CA History-Social Science

Students describe consequences of conditions that gave rise to tyrannies during certain periods (e.g., Italy, Japan, Haiti, Nigeria, Cambodia).

The Boy Who Ate Stars

The Boy Who Ate Stars (2004) by Kochka and translated from French by Sarah Adams.

ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-0038-2

Lucy is curious about the boy who lives upstairs. She meets Matthew, who is autistic, and lives with his single mom, Marie and nanny, Maougo. Lucy wants to understand and communicate with Matthew.

Marie provides insight into Matthew's mannerisms and idiosynchracies without patronizing to Lucy. Maougo, who is silent because she doesn't speak French, shows her understanding of Matthew through her actions. Matthew has some verbal language, enjoys the weather channel and a compulsion toward peoples' hair.

Lucy lives in an apartment with her parents, in Paris, France. They are visited weekly by the Marottes, who have a pampered little dog, Francois. Lucy also wants to turn Francois into a real dog.

With a desire to communicate with Matthew and expose Francois to different places, Lucy sets out, with her friend Theo, to show them the neighborhood. The girls log their experiences in a common notebook, noting their observations. They note definitions of words, and include their own interpretations as well. Parallels exist in their desire to bring Matthew and Francois out of their sheltered worlds.

A charming, lyrical story that about an out-going girl who wants to help and connect with others. It presents autism in a respectful manner and tells of the complexities of this disability. Autism adds an intersting dimension to the story without overpowering it. Good read for 9 to 12 year olds.

Confetti Girl

Confetti Girl (2009) by Diana Lopez. 198 pages.

ISBN: 978-0-316-02955-1

Americas Award Commended Titles 2010

Lina Flores loves socks, her father and her best friend, Vanessa. Living in Corpus Christi, Texas, she attends sixth grade, plays volleyball and likes science and math. She's trying to make sense of her world since her mother's sudden death. This is made more difficult by her father's escape into his beloved books. Aided by a counselor who encourages her to write a story, Lina grows in her understanding of the world around her.

Lina's father "can't talk without quoting some book or saying some dicho". Dichos entitled each chapter, and more dichos are included, those Lina remembers her mother saying. They hold her mother dear, occasionally showing their grief in the story.

Lina has an sock collection and finds many uses for the single socks. She shares everything with Vanessa, who has issues of her own. Vanessa lives with her divorced mom, who spends her days making cascarones - eggs filled with confetti. Symbolically, the cascarones reflect celebration and fragility.

Both girls develop crushes on boys. Lina is dismayed by Vanessa's constant attention toward her new boyfriend, which at times affects their friendship. Lina sees her boyfriend as special, despite his stuttering and desire to sing in the choir.

This is a charming story filled with Mexican traditions, including Dia de los Muertos and a quincenera and authentically portrays its Latin American characters. Without condensation, the writer addresses serious matters of grief and happiness, struggles with friendships and first boyfriends. Good read, especially for girls, 10 to 12 years old.

Link to the author's website: Diana Lopez

Watch and listen Diana Lopez discuss her this book.

City Boy

City Boy (2009) by Jan Michael. 186 pages.
ISBN: 978-0-547223-10-0

After his mother is buried, Sam's relatives discuss where he should live. The 'Disease' has taken both his parents, leaving him an orphan. His aunt convinces everyone he should live with her in Mandingwe, Malawi. They leave the city and take a rickety bus to the bus.

Sam moves into a mud hut occupied by his two cousins, a family friend and his aunt. There's no electricity, no computer, no running water, no bed. He also has to share his stuff and sleep on a floor mat. His life has changed drastically and not all of the new relationships develop easily.

Dealing with his grief and wistful of his amai (mom), Sam clings to the blue shoes she gave him. He searches for ways to connect with his amai, finding help from others along the way.

Predictably, Sam adjusts to his life in the country and discovers what comprises a family. Contrasts between city and country life are evident in the story, with the city view of people in the bush being "ignorant", village children envious of Sam's shoes and the limited technology available in the country. This is a simple, straight forward story that deals with serious topics - the death of parents, being an orphan, the devastation of AIDS and the humanity of life. Mingled throughout the text are Chichewa words and phrases, such as Muli bwanje (Hello, how are you?), Ndili bwino, kaia inu (I'm well, if you are well.) Appropriate for 11 to 13 year olds.

The Breadwinner

The Breadwinner (2000) by Deborah Ellis. 170 pages.

ISBN: 0-88899-419-2

In Afghanistan, the Taliban ordered females to stay inside their homes. Women had to leave their jobs, girls couldn't go to school. Parvana had to leave sixth grade.

Parvana lived with her parents and three siblings in a single-room apartment. They were forced to move several times after their homes were bombed. Parvana helped her father walk to the market each day; he had lost part of his leg from a bomb. At the market, Father would read and write letters, as many Afghans were illiterate.

One evening, soldiers burst into their home and arrested Father, for being an academic. Running out of food, the family needs Parvana to disguise herself as a boy and work in the market. The family relies on her for survival.

Parvana meets another girl dressed as a boy who convinces her to dig up bones for more money. They witness horrible punishments imposed on theives. A friend comes to live with the family, secretely starting a magazine with Mother and a school. When her sister Nooria is sent to Mazar to be married, Mother goes with her. Parvana gets word that the Taliban is invading Mazar and is unsure if they are safe.

Throughout the story, we see how peoples' kindness, friendship, and the love of family provides sustenance and hope. Heroines prevail in this story addressing serious issues of oppression, female sexism, war and injustice. In interesting glimpse into Afghan life for 12 to 14 year olds.

Webquest activity for the book.

Glossary of Terms in The Breadwinner
Interview with Deborah Ellis, the author.

The Circuit

The Circuit -stories from the life of a migrant child by Francisco Jimenez. New Mexico: University of New Mexico Press. 134 pages.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8263-1797-1

Franciso's papa announces that the family is going to make a long trip across la frontera to California from their home in Mexico. California held the promise promise of a life away from poverty. Thus begins Francisco's autobiographical stories about migrating with his family between farms for to find the next harvesting job.

From a simple and authentic child's perspective, Franciso describes crossing the border, arriving at different farms to ask for work, living in tents and sheds, and packing and travelling to different farms. He explains the physical effects of the back-breaking and exhausting work.

Attending school for the first time in California, Franciso is not allowed to speak Spanish and doesn't understand any English. Although his efforts to listen and understand gave him headaches, he enjoyed learning. When his family would need to move during the year, he would be disappointed at missing school. Often, he wouldn't be able to begin school until November, when he was not needed in the fields.

The love among the Jimenez family is apparent throughout the stories, as is their never-ending religious faith. Love and faith seem to sustain the family through their many migrations, living conditions, poverty and difficult work.

The book is simple and authentic, written in vignettes that provide a view of the life of a migrant child and his family. It's a nice book for students 9 to 12 years old.

Read an interview with the author.
Click here for an educator's book guide.

Whale Rider

The Whale Rider (1987) by Witi Ihimaera. 150 pages
ISBN: 0-15-205016-7

Fiction, Fantasy, Folktale

Rawiri tells the story of his niece, Kahu,who was named in honor of Kahutia Te Rangi, mystical ancestor who founded the tribe in Whangara, New Zealand. Kahu’s grandfather and tribal leader, was unhappy that a girl was born. Tradition in Maori culture was that leadership was hereditary and was to go to the first born son of the eldest son.

Kahu held a special love and attention for her grandfather, Koro, although he continually dismisses her. A curious child, Kahu listens in on lessons for the boys and asks to go places with her uncle. Kahu’s special talents are overlooked. Rawiri would witness events that gave indication of these talents, silver shapes leaving Kahu as she walks from the shore, and vocalizations from Kahu that sound like the whales. Kahu’s significance in the tribe comes to a climax in an event that brings the village and the whales together.

As Rawiri narrates the story about Kahu from birth to eight years old, learn about him as well. He gives his impressions of life in Whangara and describes his experiences when he leaves for a few years as a young man.

Mingled in between chapters are scenes described in poetic imagery of the ancient whale and the fabled whale rider. Maori phrases are used for emphasis; "Haumi e, hui e, taiki e. Let it be done". This is a splendid and magical story that will appeal to those who like a touch of fantasy and folktale. Appropriate for ages 9 to13.


The Whale Rider was made into a movie in 2003

Kampung Boy

Kampung Boy (2006) written and illustrated by Lat. New York & London: First Second Books. 142 pages ISBN-13: 978-1-59643-121-8 Graphic Novel, Biography, Humor This book is immediately attractive with the hilarious and expressive artwork on every page. The story is told by Mat in first-person. He tells his story from birth to pre-teen. Mat is a Muslim growing up in a kampung, a small village, in Southeast Asia. A mischievous boy, Mat tells of his experiences with his family members, attending school, learning to swim and fish with his friends, and working on the plantation. He gets in trouble for dulang-washing at the back of a tin dredge. He also is part of couple of traditional ceremonies, a wedding and then his own circumcision at age 10. Mat learns that he must do well in school in order to inherit his father’s rubber tree plantation. Encroaching on the area where Mat lives are tin mines and factories, affecting the environment, agriculture and the peoples’ way of life. Mat comes to realize the potential of this impact as he leaves on the bus for boarding school, hoping his kampong will be there when he returns. This is a delightful glimpse into life in a Southeast Asian village and Asian culture. The cartooning is detailed, animated and engaging, showing characters with expressive faces. Appropriate for 10 – 13 year olds.

Information on Perak and Tin Mining:
The State of Perak, Malaysia
TED Case Studies Tin Mining in Malaysia

Sword

Sword, a novel by Da Chen (2008). New York: Laura Geringer Books. 232 pages
ISBN 078-0-06-144759-4
Fantasy, Adventure, Romance

MiuMiu is a girl living in Ancient China. She starts her 15th birthday as she does other days. Girls in the village would look forward to a visit from the matchmaker, but this was not to happen for her. Miu Miu’s mother tells her about her father’s dying wish, how she was pledged to the son of an apprentice and to swear to avenge her father’s death.” MiuMiu’s father was a revered sword-maker who was killed by the emperor. MiuMiu learns of TongTing, who she is to marry, and who is to kill the emperor for her. She convinces her mother that she must be the one to kill the emperor. Mother provides MiuMiu with a special sword, made by her father.

MiuMiu’s encounters obstacles as she travels to Chang’an, the emperor’s village, challenging her wits and kung fu abilities trained by her monk, Master Wan. In the village, a fateful incident brings together MiuMiu and her betrothed. They decide to kill the emperor together.

MiuMiu, a strong-willed girl who defies convention and embarks on a hero’s journey. The text is intermingled with Chinese words and reflections on Chinese ways, adding interest for the reader. The fighting scenes and magical swords provide a mystical appeal, almost like in wuxia pian, martial chivalry films, where women are warriors. Themes of family honor and love prevail. The story will appeal to those who like strong female characters, martial arts and fantastical tales. Appealing to 9 to 13 year olds.

Curriculum Connection: History-Social Science

Grade 6 - 6.6 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of China.

Grade 7 - 7.3 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the civilizations of China in the Middle Ages.

Home of the Brave

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate
(2007) New York: Feiwel and Friends, 249 pages
ISBN: 13 978-0-312-36765-7

Kek, a young refugee from Sudan, arrives alone in Minnesota during the winter, encountering snow, finding it unkind and giving him his first impression that “America is hard work”. Kek has come to live with his aunt and cousin; he has lost his father and brother and is not sure where his mother is. Through the story, Kek holds hope of finding his mother. From the first person point-of-view and in verse, Kek tells his story. Through impressions of Kek’s experiences, the reader learns about the contrasts between Kek’s life in Sudan and in America and his struggles to adapt.

Kek attends school as a sixth grader and is placed in a English as a Second Language class. At home and at school, he encounters challenges with understanding the English language and its meanings. Kek speaks of his new experiences with washing machines, clothing, the television and grocery stores. He gains a new friend and gets a job on farm. He struggles with mean-spirited kids and develops a relationship with his cousin.

This is a relevant story of an immigrant’s struggles in a new country. The story reads and flows simply and beautifully; the characters are poignant and the experiences are meaningful. It gives the reader a feel for the struggles that immigrants encounter as they adjust to being in a new place. This is an important topic for all of us who interact with immigrants from all over the world.

Discussion module for the book.
Educator's guide for the book.
Video book talk by the author.