BOOKS WE LOVE!

SUGGESTED READING BEYOND THE BOOK CLUB

CHAINS

As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom.

Our Review: I really thought this book was good becase it had action and adventure also some drama. I recommend this book for grades six and up because of mild violence.

I give this book Chains By: Laurie Halse Anderson FIVE STARS. Reviewed by Noni

Copper Sun

Amari's life was once perfect. Engaged to the handsomest man in her tribe, adored by her family, and living in a beautiful village, she could not have imagined everything could be taken away from her in an instant. But when slave traders invade her village and brutally murder her entire family, Amari finds herself dragged away to a slave ship headed to the Carolinas, where she is bought by a plantation owner and given to his son as a birthday present.

Survival seems all that Amari can hope for. But then an act of unimaginable cruelty provides her with an opportunity to escape, and with an indentured servant named Polly she flees to Fort Mose, Florida, in search of sanctuary at the Spanish colony. Can the illusive dream of freedom sustain Amari and Polly on their arduous journey, fraught with hardship and danger?

Our Review:

Underground

In 1839, visitors from miles around come to Kentucky to tour Mammoth Cave. But sixteen-year-old Charlotte, the maid at Mammoth Cave Hotel, doesn't understand its appeal. As a slave, she is already trapped, and she doesn't see the point in risking being trapped underground as well. Still, she's curious when Stephen Bishop, another slave who is the cave's expert guide and chief explorer, makes some big discoveries underground, and she's interested in Stephen himself, with his quick mind and kind ways. Then Charlotte makes a discovery of her own: runaway slaves sometimes come to the hotel seeking refuge. As she helps them, she wonders if she should run away. Stephen, on the other hand, feels that he belongs with the cave and that he is free enough when he is underground. When an opportunity presents itself, Charlotte must decide whether she should stay with Stephen or risk everything for her own chance at freedom.

In this compelling novel, two young people explore what sorts of freedom they can find, even as slaves.

Our Review: The book was very good. I liked it a lot. This story takes place in the year 1839 in the state of Kentucy. It was about a real slave named Stephen Bishop who thought that he would never be sold and was perfectly safe as a slave because he was the leading tour guide for the cave he was employed at. The main character actually tells the story is Charlotte who also was a real slave. Charlotte is a the new and only maid at the hotel that stephen works at. They become friends and in time Charlotte convinces Stephen to help runaway slaves who take refuge in the cave. In the end Charlotte must make a choice to stay a slave or take a chance to become free.

I give this the book Underground By: Jean Ferris FIVE STARS. Reviewed By Noni

The Education of Mary: A Little Miss of Color 1832

Prudence Crandall, a Quaker educator in Connecticut, closed her Canterbury Female Seminary and reopened it as a school for young black women. This novel revolves around the formation of that school and the storm of controversy it created in town. Many historical forces come into play here: the abolitionist movement, endemic prejudice against free blacks, and the brutality of the early factory system. However, the major focus is a behind-the-scenes look at the girls in the school, as related by 13-year-old Mary Harris. She believes that her sister Sarah and her friends, also students there, act out of some romantic notion of becoming martyrs for the causes of freedom and justice. As the white townsmen try everything to close down the institution, Mary becomes quietly and courageously involved in helping with the local Underground Railroad movement. Mary, Sarah, and a few of the other girls are interesting, fairly well-developed characters. Prudence Crandall is less well understood. Was she a courageous advocate of equality or a pawn in the hands of abolitionists who used her to their advantage? Was she a strong, independent woman or was she dependent on the support of her family, especially her father? It's never made clear. In the end, she marries an opportunistic man with questionable motives and appears to have traded her dreams in order to have a husband. While there are numerous exciting moments in the story, overall the plot moves slowly.

Our Review:

The Girl Who Spun Gold

The warm Caribbean climes are home to Quashiba, a young spinner woman who becomes wife to the ruler of the land, Big King, having been chosen for her supposed ability to spin gold. When Big King expects her to actually produce rooms full of golden cloth, help arrives in the form of Lit'mahn, a troll-like creature with a wooden leg and a long tail. Lit'mahn extends the familiar "guess my name" challenge and, in keeping with other versions of the story, winds up on the losing end.

Our Review: A wonderful picture book for children of all ages. Virginia Hamilton retells the story of Rumpelstiltskin using West Indian dialect. Leo and Diane Dillon's images are fantastic and deserve framing. This story is fun, timesless and is a great way to spend some family time together. Five Stars. Reviewed by: JSB

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears : A West African Tale

In this astonishingly beautiful and imaginatively illustrated picture book, Mosquito tells Iguana a tall tale that sets off a chain reaction that ends in jungle disaster. Iguana is so upset at being told such nonsense that he plugs his ears. So, of course, when Python says good morning, Iguana doesn't hear and ignores him altogether. Python suspects Iguana is plotting mischief against him, so he hides in a rabbit hole - which terrifies Rabbit. And so this amusing African legend goes, until finally the chain of mishaps reaches Mother Owl, who reacts by refusing to hoot and wake in the sun.

Eventually all is resolved, and jungle life returns to normal. But although Mosquito learns her lesson and gives up telling tall tales, she adopts a worse habit.

Leo and Diane Dillon's striking full-color illustrations complement and enlarge upon the tale, perfectly capturing the expansive African imagination. Caldecott Award 1976

Our Review: This is one of our family's favorite books. Verna Aardema uses African proverbs to tell this story and many others such as: Whose in Rabbit's House and Bringing the Rain to Kapiti. Her books are rich with meaning and are funny stories that your children will love. Reviewed by: JSB.