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.

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