Sounder
by William H. Armstrong
Age: 12+
Interests: American history, racism, poverty, violence, dogs, family
Other books about racism and American history: Amos Fortune, Free Man, One Crazy Summer, Smoky Night; The Watsons go to Birmingham — 1963
Sounder
24 Sep 2016 Leave a comment
in Books, books 12+ Tags: American history, dogs, family, father, poverty, racial tension, violence
Maniac Magee
20 Sep 2016 Leave a comment
in Books, movies 9+ Tags: city life, homelessness, misfits, orphans, racial tension, running away from home, sports, violence
Maniac Magee
by Jerry Spinelli
Age: 9+
Interests: family, city life, orphans, misfits, homelessness, racial tension
Also by this author: Wringer, Milkweed, Stargirl, Loser, Eggs
Other books about racism in America: One Crazy Summer, The Watsons Go to Birmingham — 1963, Smoky Night, Amos Fortune, Free man More
Amos Fortune, Free Man
05 Mar 2015 Leave a comment
in Books, books 9+ Tags: American history, biography, history, racial tension, religion, slavery
Amos Fortune, Free Man
Elizabeth Yates
illustrated by Nora S. Unwin
Age: 9 +
Interests: history, American history, biography, slavery, racism, religion
Holes (2003)
05 Mar 2013 2 Comments
in Movies, movies 9+ Tags: cowboys, crime, curse, desert, family, family history, friendship, jail, mystery, racial tension, treasure, violence
released: 2003
rated: PG for violence, mild language and some thematic elements
length: 117 min.
age: 10+
scary factor: suspenseful scenes with rattlesnake, deadly lizards – nothing a 10 yr old couldn’t handle
violence: two boys fight; one boy whacks a provoking guard in the head with his shovel, knocking him out; in flashback a man is shot (in extreme wide shot – no closeups); Kate then shoots the sheriff in revenge; guards in work camp have guns, but only a lizard is actually shot
language: authentic but rather mild, for teenage boys: damn, hell, crap, Oh, my God… that kind of thing. (According to imdb.com there is one “jackass” but I didn’t even notice it.)
other: flashbacks depict scenes of racial hatred (burning down the school) and vague threat of sexual violence (drunken sheriff tries to force Kate to kiss him)
interests: mystery, desert, prison work camps, bad luck, family history, curses, cowboys, crime and punishment, buried treasure
next: read the book if you haven’t! Holes by Louis Sachar
Caddie Woodlawn
06 Feb 2013 Leave a comment
in Books, books 6+, books 8+ Tags: adventure, American history, country life, family, farming, First Nations, history, pioneer life, racial tension, siblings, strong girls
NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER – 1936
by Carol Ryrie Brink
MacMillan: 1935
275 pages, 24 chapters
Age: 6+ (read to); 8+ (independent reading)
Interests: history, American history, farm life, pioneers, siblings, growing up
Also by this author: sequel Magical Melons (aka Caddie Woodlawn’s Family)
Next: picture books – They Were Strong and Good, Abraham Lincoln, Ox-Cart Man; chapter books – Sarah Plain and Tall, Little House on the Prairie series, Anne of Green Gables
Smoky Night
05 Feb 2012 Leave a comment
in Books, books 6+ Tags: cats, city life, community, crime, racial tension, racism, single parent, violence
CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER – 1995
Eve Bunting, text
David Diaz, illustrations
Harcourt, 1994
32 pp.
Age: 6+
Interests: city life, crime, racial tension, violence, community, single parent family, cats
Also by this author: Fly Away Home, Coffin on a Case!, The Memory String, How Many Days to America?, Night Tree, S.O.S Titanic
Rarest Kind of Best 