Ask Me No Questions

by Marina Budhos

ISBN: 9781416903512

Bibliography:

Budhos, Marina Tamar. 2006. Ask Me No Questions. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Plot:

Set in New York City, this story, told from the perspective of fourteen year-old Nadira, portrays a Bangladeshi immigrant family and the problems they face in post 9/11 America. After several failed attempts to become legal, and because the family's visas have expired, they seek asylum in Canada, but are denied due to the overwhelming number of immigrants that have already fled to Canada. As the family heads back to the American side, the father, Abba, is arrested and held indefinitely.

Analysis:

Budhos offers a unique and very real perspective of the issues faced by Arab immigrants in post 9/11 America and provides a voice for those that have gone unheard. Many families were unfairly treated after 9/11 because of fear. The family from this story simply wanted to make better lives for themselves, but due to some unfortunate circumstances, they were almost deported.

Racism is a major theme in this story. The following quote describes the racism and fear felt by Nadira's uncle as they have a conversation about becoming legal: "Legal! You think just because you're legal everything's a sunny day all of a sudden? When I get my residency, will I get a better job? Look around you. What do you see? Everyone is going home. Your Ali-Uncle, he told me he knows of four men who have disappeared. Four!"

Many cultural markers are evident throughout the text including the names of characters, the clothing worn by some of the characters including the shalwar kameezes and saris, the language, foods, and customs. We also see many examples of characters abandoning traditions and creating new lives for themselves regardless of what others think. Nadira steps outside the norm to do what needs to be done for her family which ultimately clears her father's name.

This story offers a meaningful message during Aisha's touching speech as valedictorian of her graduating class, when she makes the following plea: “All I ask of you is for you to see me for who I am. I want what you want. I want a future.”

Review Excerpts:

Horn Book: “Budhos's moving, quietly powerful novel explores the post-9/11 pressures on fourteen-year-old Nadira's Muslim family, Bangladeshi immigrants who have lived productively but illegally in New York for eight years. When they seek asylum in Canada and her father is detained at the border, Nadira realizes it is up to her to prove his innocence and hold her family together.”

Library Media Connection: “This book is a well-written and needed counterpoint in the body of September 11th literature. Many innocent, hard-working immigrants have experienced prejudice and fear, and this novel does an excellent job of telling their story.”

Connections:

*Check out Marina Budhos' Website: http://www.marinabudhos.com/

*Check out this interview with Marina Budhos: http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2006/02/author-interview-marina-budhos-on-ask.html

I Am Not Joey Pigza

by Jack Gantos

ISBN: 9780374399412

Bibliography:

Gantos, Jack. 2007. I Am Not Joey Pigza. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Plot:

Joey Pigza must decide if he will forgive his dead-beat father and give him another chance as his parents decide to give their dysfunctional relationship another try.

Analysis:

As Joey's father re-enters his life, he must deal with issues of forgiveness and identity. Joey has been disappointed countless times by his father and struggles to give him another chance. In the following touching quote, Joey visited his grandmother's grave seeking advice about whether or not to forgive his father and heard his grandmother's voice: "If you forgive him, then it will put you in control. Think about it. Who is the bigger person? The one who can forgive or the one who can't?"

Another theme in this story is identity. Joey's father encourages the family to give up their old identities and names in order to embrace a new life. This is also a struggle for Joey, because he tries to become someone else in order to make his family happy. In the end he recognizes his father's mistakes and wisely makes the following observation about his father: "He'll just be going in circles until he figures out how to be comfortable in his own skin-not some borrowed skin but the skin he was born in."

Joey has ADHD and uses a medicated patch to help him focus. He describes this issue in the following quote: "I always have to have something on my mind or something in my hands, otherwise my mind chases off in one direction and my hands go in another. This is how trouble starts for me, because if my mouth controls my mind and my hands control my body then I'm totally split in half." Though dealing with ADHD, Joey often made better decisions than his parents. Sadly, this situation is all too common when children must pay for the poor choices that their parents make. An example of this is when his parents decided to keep Joey from school to help with the restaurant.

Review Excerpts:

Kirkus Review: "With this fourth installment in the series, Gantos offers it all: outrageous schemes, funny scenes, strong voice, dramatic characters and profound reflections on identity, family and love. It stands well on its own, though anyone new to Joey's saga will want to read more. This is Gantos at his best, and that's saying a lot."

Booklist: "Gantos’ hilarious storytelling, including accounts of an over-the-top “rewedding,” an all-out paintball war between father and son, and a thwarted attempt at sneaking into an amusement park help soften the more serious issues at play in the story. Although the ending is heartbreaking, Joey, assuming his old identity, learns to let go of the past and dedicates himself to being a good role model for his new baby brother."

Connections:

*Other Works by Jack Gantos:

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key ISBN: 9780374336646

Joey Pigza Loses Control ISBN: 9780374399894

What Would Joey Do? ISBN: 9780374399863

Back to School for Rotten Ralph ISBN: 9780064437059

Heads or Tails: Stories From the Sixth Grade ISBN: 9780374429232

In Our Mothers' House

by: Patricia Polacco

ISBN: 9780399250767

Bibliography:

Polacco, Patricia. 2009. In Our Mothers' House. New York: Philomel Books.

Plot:

This story, narrated by the oldest of three children, describes a nontraditional family made up of two mothers and three adopted children from various cultures living in a neighborhood in Berkeley, CA.

Analysis:

This book bravely addresses the controversial topic of same-sex marriage. At times, this story seems romanticized, but no more than other picture books might romanticize a traditional family. Themes addressed in this story include: tolerance, prejudice, and family. The following quote illustrates the fact that this family is just as capable of providing a loving home for their children than any other family: "There wasn't a day in my life that I didn't feel deeply loved by Meema and Marmee. Our mothers were willing to do anything for us. We knew that." The illustrations do seem to portray stereotypical images of lesbians, depicting women with short hair who only wear pants, though this does not detract from the overall message of the story.

An example of prejudice is illustrated in the story when a difficult neighbor tells the mothers that she doesn't appreciate their lifestyle. When the daughter asks one of her mothers about what was disturbing the disgruntled neighbor, she replies,"She's full of fear, sweetie. She's afraid of what she cannot understand: she doesn't understand us." Tolerance is also depicted in this book by the many friends and neighbors of this unique family which are also illustrated in a very multicultural manner.

Review Excerpts:

Library Media Connection: “The writing style is truly Polacco and the colorful illustrations are warm and loving. This is a strong and memorable story of a peaceful, devoted family unit.”

School Library Journal: “This gem of a book illustrates how love makes a family, even if it's not a traditional one. Is this an idealized vision of a how a gay couple can be accepted by their family and community? Absolutely. But the story serves as a model of inclusiveness for children who have same-sex parents, as well as for children who may have questions about a "different" family in their neighborhood. A lovely book that can help youngsters better understand their world.”

Connections:

*Other Works by Patricia Polacco:

Chicken Sunday ISBN: 9780399221330

Emma Kate ISBN: 9780399244520

The Graves Family ISBN: 9780399240348

Pink and Say ISBN: 9780399226717

Thank You, Mr. Faulker ISBN: 9780399231667

*Other Picture Books That Address Same-Sex Relationships:

Newman, Leslea. 1989. Heather Has Two Mommies. Illus. by Diana Souza. Los Angeles, California: Alyson.

Parnell, Peter and Richardson, Justin. 2005. And Tango Makes Three. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Wilhoite, Michael. 1990. Daddy's Roommate. Boston, Massachusetts: Alyson Wonderland.

For More Information on This Topic Visit: http://www.alyson.com

A Step From Heaven

By An Na

ISBN: 9781886910584

Bibliography:

Na, An. 2001. A Step from Heaven. Asheville, NC: Front Street.

Plot:

Young Ju and her Korean family immigrate to the United States with hopes and dreams of having better lives but experience many problems while adjusting to life in America.

Analysis:

This story is told from the perspective of Young Ju from the age of four until she prepares to leave for college. It begins in Korea where four-year old Young Ju learns that her family will soon be moving to the United States. Adjusting to life in the United States is a major theme in this story. Ironically, four-year old Young Ju confuses Mi Gook (the United States) with heaven and thinks she will find her late grandfather there. America ends up being anything but heaven as the family deals with surviving the harsh realities of trying to fit into a new world where the customs, traditions, and language are completely different from their homeland.Young Ju and her brother search for their own identities while dealing with an abusive, alcoholic father.

Cultural markers in this story include the language, struggles of assimilating into a new culture, names of the characters, and forms of address. Na gives us a glimpse of the difficulties of learning a new language in many situations throughout the text. Young Ju and her parents must depend on their children to help them interpret English, which is a common trend for immigrants. In the following quote Young Ju meets her aunt's American husband for the first time, and we observe Young Ju's first experience with making sense of English, "His hair is wavy brown seaweed. He says to call him Uhing Kel Thim (Uncle Tim). That is Mi Gook (American) talk for Sahmchun (uncle), but my mouth does not want to make those words. He says it is fine to call him Sahmchun until my mouth is ready to learn."

This novel speaks to the difficulties that many immigrants face when they come to America in search of a better way of life. Many sacrifices are made by parents so that their children will have better opportunities to experience success. This particular family was torn apart by the stresses associated with such sacrifice. In the following quote this sacrifice is described: "Uhmma said her hands were her life. But for us, she only wished to see our hands holding books. You must use this, she said and pointed to her mind. Uhmma's hands worked hard to make sure our hands would not resemble hers."

Review Excerpts:

School Library Journal: “The loosely structured plot is a series of vignettes that touch upon the difficulties immigrants face: adjusting to strange customs, learning a new language, dealing with government bureaucracy, adults working two jobs each, and children embarrassed by their parents' behavior. Woven throughout is the underlying theme of dealing with an alcoholic and abusive father. Na has effectively evoked the horror and small joys of the girl's home life while creating sympathetic portraits of all of the members of the family. A beautifully written, affecting work.”

Horn Book: "From childhood through adolescence, Young Ju's voice is convincingly articulated. Throughout the novel, images of reaching and dreaming poignantly convey the young narrator's desire to survive her father's brutality and its devastating effect on her family. Mother and daughter exhibit a quiet strength; similarly, each of these vignettes by first-time author An Na displays an astonishing and memorable force."

Connections:

*An Na's Website:

http://www.anwriting.com/

*Other Works by An Na:

The Fold ISBN: 9780399242762

Wait for Me ISBN: 9780142409183

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

By Grace Lin

ISBN:

9780316114271

Bibliography:

Lin, Grace. 2009. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. New York: Little, Brown and Co.

Plot:

This magical story takes place in the poor village of Fruitless Mountain. Minli, a young girl inspired by her father's magical stories, embarks on a journey seeking to change her family's fortune in order to help them find happiness. While on this adventurous journey, Minli discovers that the key to true happiness is being content with what one already has.

Analysis:

Lin utilizes the story within a story format to weave many Chinese tales throughout the text, adding depth to the story and its characters. The theme of this story is contentment, which is repeatedly reflected throughout the text as in the following quote: "As Minli looked at the buffalo boy, aglow with happiness against his poor surroundings, she saw it was enough for him. More than enough, as the smile that kept curling up on his face told her."

Minli's journey teaches her to be content and thankful for what she has, and by being content, she gains more wealth. Minli's mother also grows and changes throughout the story. In the beginning she was very negative and never happy with anything. After she thought that she had lost Minli, she realized that she should have been thankful for all what she'd had all along. The following quote from the mother's story is especially touching: "How lucky she had been! She was at last able to see that her daughter's laughter and love could not be improved by having the finest clothing or jewels, that joy had been in her home like a gift waiting to be opened."

Cultural markers evident in this story include character names, the illustrations, and many Chinese symbols such as the dragon, the red thread, the rabbit, and the tiger. The gorgeous illustrations in this book are reflective of traditional Chinese culture. Images of flying dragons, clothing worn in ancient China, and other Chinese symbols beautifully adorn the pages of this book. Also, many of the short stories that are woven into Where the Mountain Meets the Moon were inspired by Chinese folk tales, which adds another layer of cultural authenticity to this work.

Review Excerpts:

Booklist: “With beautiful language, Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine and a mystical land. Stories, drawn from a rich history of Chinese folktales, weave throughout her narrative, deepening the sense of both the characters and the setting and smoothly furthering the plot. Children will embrace this accessible, timeless story about the evil of greed and the joy of gratitude. Lin’s own full-color drawings open each chapter.”

Horn Book: “Minli seeks the Old Man of the Moon, hoping to change her family's fortunes. Interspersed with the main story are folktales explaining past events or anecdotes allowing characters to relate their experiences. Lovely full-page illustrations in blues, reds, greens, and luminous golds as well as delicate chapter-openers, all influenced by traditional Chinese art, contribute to the folklore-inspired fantasy's sense of timelessness.”

Connections:

*Other works by Grace Lin:

The Year of the Dog ISBN: 9780316060028

Dim Sum for Everyone ISBN: 9780440417705

The Red Thread ISBN: 9780807569221

The Year of the Rat ISBN: 9780316114264

*Check out Grace Lin's Website:

http://www.gracelin.com/

Tea with Milk

By Allen Say

ISBN: 9780395904954

Bibliography:

Say, Allen. 1999. Tea with Milk. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co.

Plot:

Tea with Milk describes the life of a young Japanese-American girl who was raised in the United States and upon her graduation from high school, the family decides to return to live in Japan.

Analysis:

The main theme of this story is the search for an identity and the struggle to find one's place in the world. Masako only spoke English and was raised as a Japanese-American, so when she relocated to Japan with her parents, she felt lost. The following quote depicts Masako's predicament: "I'm a foreigner in my parents' country, she thought. And they came back here because they didn't want to be foreigners. But I wasn't born here. I should leave home and live on my own, like an American daughter." Another theme found in this text is tradition versus modern ways of life. In this story Masako bravely rejects tradition in the way that she dresses, by refusing to marry the matchmaker's match for her, and by relocating to Osaka and getting a job.

The beautiful, watercolor illustrations accurately portray both Japanese and Japanese-American cultures in the skin tone and clothing of the characters, in the architecture of the buildings, and in the portrayal of the tea ceremony. Other cultural markers include the lessons in flower arranging, calligraphy, and the tea ceremony that Masako's mother encouraged her to take so that she could be a "proper Japanese lady".

Review Excerpts:

Booklist: "Watercolors and text tell an elemental story that will appeal to everyone who feels a stranger at home. Like many foreigners, Masako discovers her home in the city, where she finds work, opportunity, and a husband from an even more diverse background than her own. Both an 'ugly duckling' romance and a universal story of leaving home, this is a picture book that will have intense appeal for older readers."

School Library Journal: “This is a thoughtful and poignant book that will appeal to a wide range of readers, particularly our nation's many immigrants who grapple with some of the same challenges as May and Joseph, including feeling at home in a place that is not their own.”

Connections:

*Other works by Allen Say:

Allison ISBN: 9780618495375

Emma's Rug ISBN: 9780395742945

Erika-San ISBN: 9780618889334

Grandfather's Journey ISBN: 9780395570357

Home of the Brave ISBN: 9780618212231

Kamishibai Man ISBN: 9780618479542

Music for Alice ISBN: 9780618311187

A River Dream ISBN: 9780395482940

The Sign Painter ISBN: 9780395979747

Stranger in the Mirror ISBN: 9780395615904

*Check out this interview with Allen Say from papertigers.org:

http://www.papertigers.org/interviews/archived_interviews/asay.html

Navajo: Visions and Voices Across the Mesa

by: Shonto Begay

ISBN: 9780590461535

Bibliography:

Begay, Shonto. 1995. Navajo: Visions and Voices Across the Mesa. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Plot:

Navajo: Visions and Voices Across the Mesa is a collection of poems and artwork by Shonto Begay that describe the Navajo way of life.

Analysis:

Begay’s poetic verse and artwork creates a window, which allows the reader a glimpse of the Navajo culture. His paintings of the southwest depict the people, the land, the animals, and the symbols of the Navajo culture. In the author’s note Begay describes the purpose of this beautiful work: “Here, for me and for you, too, visions and voices from across the mesa - past and present - are recaptured for all time.”

Other cultural markers embedded within this work include examples of beliefs, traditions, rituals, and chants of the people. Respect for the elderly is an important theme in the Navajo culture and is exemplified in the following quote from the poem, Grandmother: “The lines in her face were marks of honor." Another theme that is important to the Navajo people is respect for the land, which is modeled by the following quote from the poem, Early Spring: “For this generation, and many more to come/This land is beautiful and filled with mysteries./They reveal themselves and their stories/If you look very carefully, and listen…./” He also mentions in the authors note that his elders always taught him that the land was sacred and that we belong to it.

Review Excerpts:

Horn Book: “Twenty of Begay's beautiful, evocative paintings accompany his original poetry describing some of the emotions, stories, and experiences shared in his Navajo community. Some of the poems are lengthy and are more suitable for an older audience. An index of paintings is appended.”

Publisher's Weekly: “With these heartfelt paintings, poems and memoirs, the noted Navajo artist fulfills his stated goal of taking the reader ``into the corners of my world, the Navajo world.'' Similar in conception to George Littlechild's This Land Is My Land, this book places more emphasis on the traditional and spiritual, its contemporary setting notwithstanding. The sacred intertwines with the everyday.”

Connections:

*Works Illustrated by Shonto Begay:

Alice Yazzie's Year ISBN: 9781582462929

The Mud Pony ISBN: 9780590415262

The Boy Who Dreamed of an Acorn ISBN: 9780399225475

The Magic of Spiderwoman ISBN: 9780590460958

*Written and Illustrated by Shonto Begay:

Ma'ii and Cousin Horned Toad: A Traditional Navajo Story ISBN: 9780590453912

*Check out Shonto Begay's Website:

http://shontogallery.com/