The Library in the Woods by Calvin Alexander Ramsey illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

 Junior and his family sell their farm after a devastating flood to live in the city where more reliable jobs are available. As Junior adjusts to city life, his new friends introduce him to a library in the woods where Blacks are welcome. 

A great book to share with kids while studying the segregated South in the 1950s & 1960s.

This fictional story is based on a real library in Roxboro, NC,  that the author frequented during his childhood. I found the author's note especially interesting.

Discussion: segregation, illiteracy

-Borrowed from the library.

Bing's Cherries by Livia Blackburne illustrated by Julia Kuo

 A Chinese tall tale based on a real Chinese immigrant

Ah Bing travels from China to work in the U.S.  An orchard owner, Seth Lewelling, eagerly hires Ah Bing because of his height. Over time Ah Bing's skills cause the orchard to thrive. When people try to attack Ah Bing and his fellow Chinese friends because of their race, Ah Bing is sad. Planting some cherry seeds, he cries. A giant tear lands on one of the seeds. This seed grows into a Bing cherry tree.

The author's & illustrator's notes about the inspiration for their story and also information about the real Ah Bing are very interesting.

Recipes included.

-Borrowed from the library.

Shoes for Everyone A Story About Jan Matzeliger by Barbara Mitchell illustrated by Hetty Mitchell*

 Jan Matzeliger was born in Dutch Guiana (modern day Suriname) where he worked at a government machine shop at the age of ten! (His father was the supervisor.) His father was a Dutchman while his mother was a black Surinamese. When he was nineteen, he left Paramaribo to be a seaman for the Dutch East Indies Company and then eventually to become a machinist in North America. This biography focuses on his struggles, his determination and eventual success in North America in the late 1800s as a machinist and inventor despite prejudice and poverty. Reading how his faith was a foundation to his life was encouraging.

A rich biography that elementary students can read and appreciate.

My history curriculum recommends this book (Modern Era).

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL

Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule by Harriette Gillem Robinet*

Award winner-Scott O'Dell

 At first I was not connecting with the characters in this story. As the story progressed, the history behind it intrigued me and caused me to "highly recommend" it.

Pascal and his brother Gideon set out to claim their forty acres and mule that is promised to freed slaves. Along the way other freed slaves join them. They form a resourceful family. Despite night riders and other dangers, the group claims forty acres and begins to cultivate a beautiful farm. When President Lincoln is assassinated, laws change, which impacts their dream

.

Pascal ponders the entire novel, "what is freedom". 

Readers will experience a vivid account of the Reconstruction and the issues people faced.

Discuss: prejudice, Civil War and the Reconstruction era, violence/cruelty, hints at what slave masters did with slave girls, the novel ends somewhat sad  (it was what actually occurred)-but the characters seem optimistic.

*Highly recommend, especially for those studying the Reconstruction era

-Borrowed via ILL

A few books recommended in Soul School by Amber O'Neal Johnston

 Below are a few books featured/recommended in Soul School, which I recently reviewed. I borrowed all these books from the library.  I do not "highly recommend" all of these books. Please read carefully.😀

1. Saving the Day by Karyn Parsons illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

In rhyme, Ms. Parsons shares Garrett Morgan's childhood and his idea for the traffic signal. She imagines a story to highlight his invention. She also reveals he that invented many other helpful objects but only shares one other device-a gas mask.

2.  The 1619 Project-Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones & Renee Watson illustrated by Nikkolas Smith

A young girl needs to research her heritage. When she asks her grandmother about her ancestors, her grandmother reveals her family's rich West Central African heritage (Ndongo Kingdom) and then how they were captured, sold, and shipped across the Atlantic to Virginia to work the tobacco fields. Unique format: poems 

Considerations/discussions: I found it  one-sided-they only state about the whites capturing and selling them. Black Lives Matter is mentioned. Because of the cruel nature of slavery, I would read this book with older children, who are ready to discuss the many facets to this part of history (& be prepared as a parent to disclose how whites were not the only ones selling the Blacks into slavery).

3. The Roots of Rap -16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston-Weatherford Art by Frank Morrison

The history of rap/hip-hop  I did not really learn about it through the main text. The glossary and list of  who's who of Hip-Hop taught me the most. I do not have much schema for it! 

Consideration: Some of the groups and artists may have questionable lyrics. Graffiti is one of the four pillars of hip-hop. So this book will promote discussions! 😉

4. Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham illustrated by C.G. Esperanza

*Highly recommend!

A family gathers each Sunday to make and eat "soul food". For the first time a young boy helps his Granny prep each item on the menu. A great book about family and working together  A recipe for mac/cheese is included! I loved the author's note where she explained how she learned to cook!

5. John Henry by Julius Lester illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

**Highly, highly recommend.

Award-Caldecott Honor Book

One can hear Mr. Lester tell this story-the words have so much voice! I especially delighted in the figurative language-hyperboles, similies, personifications etc. My favorite line-"Dying ain't important. Everybody does that. What matters is how well you do your living."

Consideration/discussion: Spoiler Alert- John Henry dies at the end.

6.  Black-Eyed Peas and Hoghead Cheese -A Story of Food, Family, and Freedom by Glenda Armand illustrated by Steffi Walthall

As a young girl assists her grandmother in the kitchen prepping and making food for the extended family's New Year's Day dinner, she listens to stories why each of the foods are significant and the history of her ancestors. Learning about the food history was interesting. I love how the book celebrates grandparents and extended family. A recipe for pralines is shared!

7.  My Rows and Piles of Coins by Tololwa M. Mollel illustrated by E.B. Lewis

*Highly recommend!

Award winner- Coretta Scott King Award

Each market day in Tanzania a boy helps his mother. If it is a good market day, she gives him a few coins for him to purchase something. Instead, he saves the coins. He longs to buy a red, white, and blue bicycle.  A sweet story with a surprise ending

8. Black Cowboy Wild Horses  A True Story by Julius Lester illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

**Highly, highly recommend!

What a fascinating tidbit of history! Mr. Lester elucidates how Bob Lemmons, a former slave, tracks wild mustangs and captures them. He was a legendary Texan cowboy! Of course, Mr. Lester utilizes beautiful language (figurative) to narrate this unusual piece of history.

Soul School by Amber O'Neal Johnston

 When I took a course for my masters which focused on teaching multiculturally, I noticed a dirth in fictional books about ordinary Black people. Since then (over twenty years ago), I have not seen much improvement. This book addresses this issue by offering an annotated book lists that include Black characters and culture. I still think Ms. Johnston's choices mostly feature books about Black history/racial issues (but one of her goals was to expose children to Black history/culture.). 

The book is well organized. Part One, with five chapters, sets up the premise. Part Two provides the annotated book list, divided by ages (2-4, 5-7, 8-10, 11-14, 15-17). I was impressed with her thought-provoking discussion questions she provides with each book plus the intriguing, meaningful activities she suggests. For each book she offers two more books similiar to it (but does not annotate them or supply discussion questions and activity ideas).

I requested quite a few picture books (& one chapter book) she recommends and will review them soon.

-Borrowed from the library.

Will's Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes*

 Redeemed Reader reviewed this book and gave it a starred review.

Even though the Emancipation Proclamation freed Will's family, they still do not own their land as they spend their days as sharecroppers. When Will's father brings home a pamphlet announcing the opportunity for free land in OK, the family decides to leave Texas for Oklahoma. During the arduous journey, Will's relationship with his reticent father transforms. Fending off thieves, facing  racism, fending off rattlesnakes, eduring long, boring days and befriending a former Union soldier (Caesar), Will becomes a young man with his own identity.

An exciting coming-of-age story  This engaging historical fiction novel brings the Oklahoma Land Rush to life. Highly recommend having your children read it when studying this period of history

Finally, a historical fiction with a male main character which will appeal to boys. So many historical fiction books target girls!

Warnings/discussion for sensitive readers or younger readers: racism, violence-Western fist fights and gun battles, When Will stakes out his family's land, he encounters a group of men who want to steal his plot from him. Will threatens to kill them with Caesar's Colt and realizes that he is capable of killing another man, which goes against his father's principles. He grapples with this person he is becoming.

*Highly recommend for grades 4 and older.

-Borrowed from the library.

Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar

 One of the Newbery Honor winners & a Sydney Taylor Book Award-Silver Medalist-2025

Ms. Behar bases aspects of this novel on her own Jewish grandmother's journey from Turkey to Cuba.

Readers will learn the history of Shephardic Jews from four different female viewpoints during four different time periods-Benvendia, 1492 (Spain to Turkey),  Reina, 1923 (from Turkey to Cuba), Alegria, 1961 (Cuba to Miami), and then Paloma, 2003 (twho ties all three ancestors together by visiting Spain and learning more about their story).

I really enjoyed learning the history of these specific Jews during the time periods. The author researched extensively and relayed the facts well. The characters are not well-developed. Their stories end abruptly, but I wasn't upset because I did not connect to them. I felt like the book was more didactic than a captivating story. The purpose of this book seems more informational than a well-crafted story. I also felt like in part 4 all of the stories meshed together a bit too perfectly. This book would have been a great informational book, not a novel. The characters regarded their Jewish faith more as a superstition than a relationship.

-Borrowed from the library.

When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman

 I read this novel in less than twenty-four hours! It is a compelling read.

Ms. Hoffman imagines what Anne Frank's life may have been before her father hid her and the family in the secret annex. Readers experience with Anne the gradual loss of freedom in the Netherlands as the Nazi assume more control. Throughout it all Anne keeps trying to cling to the good in people and in life and concludes love is the one thing they cannot take away. The book ends with Anne entering their secret room.

I felt the writing was a bit repetitive. Throughout the novel, I thought, "Yes, this idea or this phrase was already mentioned and expounded upon. Let's have a new thought or point."

Discuss: WWII and its atrocities, hope vs courage (towards the end the characters do not hope but try to have courage), Anne begins a romantic relationship w/ a young man at age twelve (they only hold hands), following a set of rules or having absolutes was regarded as not a good way to conduct life, instead-being you and whatever your heart desires is what is true.

A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittenstein illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

 This picture book focuses on the backstory of Martin Luther King Jr. writing his speech for the 1963 March on Washington. The collages and illustrations by Mr. Pinkney are powerful and expressive.

-Borrowed from the library.

Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte*

Award-winner 

1805 Martha's Vineyard-

Mary Lambert is deaf. She is comfortable within her community on Martha's Vineyard, where many people are deaf. Those who are not deaf speak with signs too. Then a young man from Boston arrives to discover the "cause" of the community's prevalent deafness. As Mary watches him, she realizes he views their deafness as an illness and treats them as lesser individuals. Mary reads his notes/letters and discovers he will be bringing dirt and water samples from the island plus a live specimen. She wonders what a live specimen is. Unfortunately, she finds out! A life of horror and confusion awaits her.

A fascinating piece of history I had never encountered before reading this book. 

Book #1 of a trilogy

The author's biography has a misspelling, which annoyed me.

*Highly recommend but  discuss----

Points to Discuss: deafness, treatment of Wampanoag and freedmen, prejudices,  kidnapping, physical abuse, Mary's hearing brother died (before this book takes place) and her mother is treating Mary unkindly in response to it (Mary thinks his death is her fault)

-Borrowed from the library

I Am Ruby Bridges by Ruby Bridges illustrated by Nikkolas Smith

 Ruby (in 2022) has published another book about her experience being the first black student in a formally all white school after the Brown vs. Board decision. This version reads how a six-year-old would tell the story. Glossary is in the back, defining words in ruby red throughout the narration. I liked the connection between her name (first & last) and what she accomplished.

-Borrowed from the library.

Ruby Bridges text set

 We will be studying the 1960s soon in American history. I am having my youngest son do a deeper study of Ruby Bridges. The following books he could use for his study-

1. The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles-narrative picture book for grades 2nd-6th, junior high  It includes the prayer Ruby prayed over the angry mob. Her prayer made me emotional. *Highly recommend. I own this book.

2. Ruby Bridges Goes to School My True Story by Ruby Bridges -Scholastic Reader Level 2-perfect for beginning & transitional readers, full of photographs *Highly recommend. -Borrowed from the library.

3. This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges Written in 2020, Ms. Bridges encourages children of this era to stand vs racism  She recounts her school integration, exalts her father, shares about her sons, and points out modern racial issues. Lots of photographs-some show the hatred people had toward blacks & integration. She mentions Black Lives Matters & includes several photographs of their demonstrations. One photo has a preschooler wearing a t-shirt that states, "lightly melanated hella black". Ms. Bridges does NOT focus on how racial relationships have improved since 1961. She does place hope in this younger generation to break prejudice. This book should provide opportunity for an interesting discussion with my son. 

Suited for grades 4 and older.  Borrowed from the library.

4. Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges 

published 1999 This longer narrative shares how Ruby Bridges participates in the civil rights struggle. Tons of photographs. The photographs do expose the hatred people had towards blacks and integration. *Highly recommend.  For readers in 5th grade & older.  -Borrowed from the library.

*I just read on-line that Barbara Henry, Ruby's teacher, is still alive (91 years old)!!

A book should be written about her!

When Winter Robeson Came by Brenda Woods*

 A novel in free verse

Eden is thrilled that her cousin Winter Robeson from Mississippi is staying with her and her parents in LA for two weeks. Her mother has created an itinerary for the cousins; however, Winter has another agenda, to find his father who has been missing from his life for ten years. As the cousins investigate, they encounter interesting inviduals who quickly become their friends. Then for six days the Watts Riots occur, shutting down certain sections of LA. Despite the danger, the cousins rescue an elderly lady from the fray. A wonderful ending! I love the incoroporation of figurative language that utilizes musical terms.

Based on the author's memories of the Watts Riots in 1965.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowd from the library.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee**

Award-winner-Pulitzer Prize 

As a teenager I read this book and loved it.(I did not read many classic books in my younger years, so I have no idea what compelled me to read it!) Reading it aloud to my boys was a pure delight. Often they would ask me to "keep reading", which is the highest compliment. 

Scout and her brother Jem are comfortable on their street in their southern town, Maycomb-the gossipy ladies, their walk to school, the mysterious Radley house on the corner where Boo Radley only to emerge at night (supposedly), Atticus, their lawyer father who comes home like clockwork for meals, and Calpurnia, their Black housekeeper. Then their father agrees to defend a Black man accused of raping a white young lady. The town has its Opinions. Those Opinions affect the kids. Danger lurks in places they never imagined. Through it all, the children learn what their father means by, "You never understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . .until you climb into his skin and walk around in it". This book made me cry while reading aloud-a rare occurrence.

I think this novel makes it into my top ten favorite novels. The writing is superb, the story is compelling, and the characters and the setting are well-developed.

A Bildungsroman novel

**Highly, highly recommend (but see warnings below).

Warning: swearing-even Scout, an eight-year-old utters some swear words, the topic of rape-nothing graphic but enough not to hand this novel to a junior higher or younger to read on own, prejudice behavior and actions, violence, the children are violently attacked and a murder occurs

Berliners by Vesper Stamper*

This book was challenging for me to read. . .the topic and period of history were dark and expose the evil within us. I, however, felt it was necessary to read and to understand this time period and the people it affected. As far as I know, I have not read any young adult books about Berlin and how the wall affected its people. Ms. Stamper also bravely ventures into the lives of the Germans who fought with Hitler. How did they process what they had done under his leadership? Should all Germans who followed the  Nazis way be prosectued like Eichmann?

Ms. Stamper is an amazing author. She creates a credible story with a tight plot and well-developed characters woven with sobering history.

Rudi and Peter, fraternal twins, live in East Berlin with their father, mother, and great-grandmother. Both boys are dedicated to their Free German Youth to destroy fascism and to bring peace and utopia through socialism. When their parents divorce, Rudi lives with his father in West Berlin while Peter remains with their alcoholic, mentally unstable mother and his aging great-grandmother in East Berlin. Overnight a wall is built "to keep the facists out". After all, all the facists live in West Berlin. Soon the brothers realize how different they are in their views. Secrets about their parents' past reveal each of is capable of great evil. Who can they trust?

This review does not do justice for the complexity and artistic value in this book.

*Highly recommend for high schoolers and adults but see warnings. It is labeled as "young adult".

Warnings: swearing, violence, kissing, prejudice vs. Jews, capitalists, Blacks, Rudolf and Ilse are intimate before marriage and only marry when Ilse becomes pregnant with the twins, Ilse prostitutes herself to earn extra money before she is pregnant with the twins, Ilse is an alcoholic, it is hinted at that she is unfaithful in her marriage, divorce, Rudolf tries to commit suicide, the great-grandmother is a chain smoker, a lot of adults smoke

-Borrowed from the library.

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome*

Awards: A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book  & Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

After his mother's death, Langston and his father depart beloved Alabama for Chicago where job opportunities abound. Quietly grieving his mother's death, he finds solace in the library and in Langston Hughes's poetry.

I loved this short novel. Ms. Cline-Ransome writes poetically and beautifully. Her character development and word choice are superb.  

Mentor text for "show, not tell".

A lot of topics to discuss: deaths (mother & grandmother),  Great Migration, Langston Hughes, bullies, discrepancy of the treatment of blacks in south vs north, some lying

*Highly recommend. 

**Read also the companion books: Leaving Lymon & Finding Clem.

-Borrowed from the library

The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

 Award-winner- Newbery Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Award

I read this book aloud to my twelve-year old.  He enjoyed it immensely (he loved the humor). 

Kenny and his family reside in Flint, MI.  Byron, his older brother, creates "excitement" for the whole family as he searches out and embraces trouble.  Joetta, "Joey", the youngest and only sister, attempts to rescue Byron from trouble.  Kenny relishes Byron's punishments.  When Byron pushes it too far, his parents decide he needs real help-from his maternal grandmother in Alabama.  Mrs. Watson creates a schedule (down to each minute!) in a notebook for their trip to Alabama. Little do they know that this trip will not only transform Byron but the rest of the family as well.  

Humor and familial relationships/interactions dominate the story. The writing and the character and plot development are superb (Mr. Curtis is an excellent writer).

Read Aloud Revival recommends this book for high school. The "warnings" below will explain why they recommend it for this age group. My only question concerning this age group recommendation is "will high schoolers want to read it or listen to it since narrator is a ten-year-old"? Mostly middle-grade readers will be drawn to this book but it is not appropriate for them to read independently. Since I read it aloud, I could skip the inappropriate parts. 

Warnings/points to discuss: treatment of blacks in the 1960s-especially in the south, the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church bombing in Alabama on Sept. 15, 1963 (details are given-girls lying around, shoes sticking out in the debris etc), swearing (quite often), stealing, Mr. Watson sneaks a feel at Mrs. Waston's chest (the kids see it; it is described), poor grammar (on purpose, of course!), Kenny almost drowns-described in detail, bullies, characters are proud that they have looked at magazines with naked ladies

-I own this book.

Jonkonnu by Amy Littlesugar illustrated by Ian Schoenherr

 A young girl narrates about the summer Mr. Homer Winslow, a Yankee artist, stays at her mother's hotel.  He "shakes the southern's town world" as he paints and interacts with the African-American community down the road.  

I read aloud this picture book to my twelve-year old to support our study of Winslow Homer. 

The word choice and figurative language are superb.  I also liked the artwork.  Clearly, the placement on the page is making a statement.  I had never heard of "jonkonnu". 

-Borrowed from the library.

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee

 Valora Luck sneaks onto the Titanic using her acrobatic skills.  Her twin brother, Jamie, is working on the Titanic, shoveling coal.  Disguisng herself as her deceased employer, Mrs. Sloane, Valora uses her status to convince a circus manager to hire her as circus performer.  Will she be able to convince Jamie to leave his dependable job and join her in America?  With the Chinese Exclusion Act, admittance may  prove even more challenging.  

The story is told in first-person, present tense.  Present tense was a bit different for me, but after I read the book, I understood why the author chose this tense.  I did not connect to Valora; I liked Jamie better. I also did not like the ending.   The inclusion how the Chinese were treated during this time period was eye-opening.  Ms. Lee incorporated a lot of figurative language that was well executed.  

Categorized as "young adult".

Warnings: a few swear words, Valora thinks someone wants her to work at a brothel but is mistaken, a minor character who interacts with Valora throughout the story is most likely a lesbian (the term is never used-just hints-Jamie was not her "type" and that she had no interest in men), beliefs about the afterlife and heaven, Valora has strong romantic feelings for Bo