Morning Girl

Morning Girl (1992)by Michael Dorris. 74 pages.
ISBN 1-56282-661-1

In alternating chapters, two young siblings tell their story from the first person point of view. Morning Girl and Star Boy live their parents, in a hut on an island. Each child provides their different perspectives of life. Morning Girl loves the morning and Star Boy prefers the night; "for him night is day, sleep is awake".

Quite lyrical in her descriptions, Morning Girl describes her relationship with her brother - "It's as though time is split between us, and we only pass by each other as the sun rises or sets". The siblings seem typical in their regard for each other and at times are surprised at their mutual affection.

Morning Girl reflects on peoples names, considering them to be "stange and special gifts", reflecting on their relevance. Each character has an interesting name: their mother, She Wins the Race; father, Speaks to Birds; uncle Sharp Tooth; and neighbor -I Swam Too Far. This could be a good lead in to a discussion about names.

The book provides glimpses of daily island life prior to the arrival of Columbus. Ending with Columbus's arrival on the shore being met by Morning Girl leaves the reader to ponder that time in life prior to the arrival of Europeans and the impending affects after. A sweet, simple story appropriate for 9 to 12 year olds.

Curriculum Connection: History-Social Science
Grade 5
5.1 Students describe the major pre-Columbian settlements, including the cliff dwellers and pueblo people of the desert Southwest, the American Indians of the Pacific Northwest, the nomadic nations of the Great Plains, and the woodland peoples east of the Mississippi River.
5.2 Students trace the routes of early explorers and describe the early explorations of the Americas.

Book Guide for Educators from the Maine Association of School Libraries

Michael Dorris Biography

Cool Salsa

Cool Salsa Bilingual Poems on Growing Up Latino in the United States (1994). Edited by Lori M. Carlson.
ISBN: 0-8050-3135-9

Compilation of poems written in Spanish and English by Latin American writers, including Sandra Cisneros, Gary Soto and Pat Mora. Various topics - school, homeland, hardtimes, parties, families and memories - are addressed. The poems are emotional and visual, rhythmic and lyrical; evoking an array of emotions. Many poems can be a good starting point to inspire tweens to write about their own experiences.

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.