Sabrina's Bookish Adventures

  Bibliography Budhos, Marina, 2006. ASK ME NO QUESTIONS. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781416903512. Plot Summary Living in New York City with expired visas, Nadira and her family are forced to make tough decisions on their futures. As immigrants from Bangladesh, the family lives in constant fear of the future, to the point where they must seek asylum in Canada. Due to the immigration status after 9/11, Nadira's family was turned away at the Canadian border and their father was arrested by immigration. Trying to come up with a solution to bring the family together, their mother stays in a women's shelter, while the two sisters go back to New York to live their lives as if nothing happened. During their time alone, the sisters learn a lot about each other and help each other survive physically and emotionally during this difficult time.   Critical Analysis  Budhos writes a powerful story about a Bangladeshi family facing hardships in the Unite...

  Bibliography Bryant, Jen, 2013. A SPLASH OF RED: THE LIFE AND ART OF HORACE PIPPIN. Ill. by Melissa Sweet. New York, NY: Dragonfly Books. ISBN 9780375867125. Plot Summary An inspiring biography about the life of Horace Pippen, born in the late 1800's and loved to create artistic pieces. Despite experiencing financial and physical hardships throughout his life, Horace was able to overcome these obstacles and pursue his dream of becoming an artist.  Critical Analysis  An inspiring biography, teaching any readers to never give up on their dreams. Bryant has chosen to write about the life of African-American artist Horace Pippen, who from a young age has been interested in art and creating pictures for his friends and family. He used supplies such as charcoal, colored pencils, paints, brushes, and pencils. Art was a wonderful escape for Horace, however, he never let it take over his everyday responsibilities, such as helping his family out around the house. Unfortunately, h...

  Bibliography Love, Jessica, 2018. JULIÁN IS A MERMAID. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9781536210613. Plot Summary Julián and his Abuela are spending the day at the community pool to swim. Julián can't help but be mesmerized by the "mermaids" he sees during this adventure. When they arrive back home, Julián is inspired to dress up like a mermaid and surprise his Abuela. Rather than showing anger, his Abuela shows her endless support and love for her grandson, helping him become a confident mermaid. Critical Analysis  Love writes about a young Afro-Latinx boy who becomes enthralled by three "mermaids" on a subway ride with his Abuela. They are on their way for a day of swimming at the community pool and Julián cannot help but think of the beautiful, unique mermaids he saw. These women are dressed up in gowns that shimmer like mermaid scales, colorful hair done, and have eccentric, daring makeup applied. Julian begins daydreaming about becoming a mermaid ...

  Bibliography Lin, Grace, 2006. THE YEAR OF THE DOG. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316060028. Plot Summary Pacy's family has just celebrated Chinese New Year and Pacy is excited to learn it is the Year of the Dog. According to Chinese cultures, dogs are faithful, man's best friend, and honest. Because it is the Year of the Dog, this year will bring friends, family, and a chance to find yourself. Pacy is excited by the prospect and begins searching right away for the luck the year is guaranteed to bring.  Critical Analysis  Grace Lin writes an autobiographical story based on her childhood and stories provided by her family. Growing up in a Taiwanese-American household, Grace (Pacy) learns to navigate life as one of the only Asian American students at her school, this including her two sisters. At home, they take part in their family's Chinese/Taiwanese cultures such as Chinese New Year, eat traditional dishes, tend to a garden filled with vegetables fo...

Bibliography Park, Linda Sue, 2021. THE ONE THING YOU'D SAVE. Ill. by Robert Sae-Heng. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children's Books. ISBN 9781328515131. Plot Summary In her classroom, Ms. Chang has asked the students an important question: if your home was on fire, what would be the one thing you could save? Their families and pets are safe, so students must think about the single most important thing in their life, one they cannot live without. The answers she receives are priceless.  Critical Analysis  Linda Sue Park has created a thoughtful story in the form of narrative poems inspired by the Korean poetry form sijo. The story is a poem collection in which a classroom teacher, Ms. Chang, asks her students an important question, which single object would you save in an emergency. Families and pets are safe from the emergency, size and weight is not a concern, which leaves room for the students to really think about the objects that matter the most to them. Each poem shares t...

  Bibliography Say, Allen, 2009. TEA WITH MILK. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780547237473. Plot Summary Raised in America, young Masako was enjoying life and getting ready to attend college in San Francisco, when her parents started feeling homesick. Much to Masko's disappointment, they decide to move back to their home country of Japan, after missing it for so many years. Although Masako is a Japanese American, she feels like a foreigner her parents home country and misses the home she made in America.  Critical Analysis  Say retells the story of his mothers journey to Japan, after being born and raised in America. Masako's parents are from Japan and raise Masako in San Francisco, California. Even though they were living in America, there were Japanese traditions upheld at home such as the language and food. When it becomes time for Masako to leave for college, her parents express their homesick feelings and decide to move back to Japan. Masako's adjustment to bein...