Sabrina's Bookish Adventures

Bibliography Watson, Renée, 2017. PIECING ME TOGETHER. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing Inc. ISBN 9781681191072. Plot Summary Jade is determined to not let her personal upbringings affect her chances of being successful in life. As a 16 year old black girl, Jade is afraid to fall under the stereotype her less wealthy neighborhood presents. Despite attending an elite private school on a scholarship, Jade is still feeling as though she cannot properly allow herself to be comfortable or speak up. Her school counselor considers her to be "at-risk" based on her race and personal upbringing (her mother working constantly to meet ends needs), requesting Jade take part in a Woman to Woman mentorship program. Feeling skeptical at first, unable to see the difference the program will make, Jade changes her mind after meeting her mentor. For once, she is encouraged to speak up, take chances, and make a difference by expressing her feelings through her collage art.  Critical Analysis  ...

  Bibliography Pinkney, Andrea Davis, 2002. ELLA FITZGERALD: THE TALE OF A VOCAL VIRTUOSA. Ill. by Brian Pinkney. New York, NY: Disney Jump at the Sun. ISBN 0786814160. Plot Summary A unique and inspiring biography of the most famous female Jazz singer of all time, Ella Fitzgerald. In order to follow the chronological order of Ella's life, readers will follow her inspirational story told from the character Scat Cat Monroe. How Ella began life as a small town Yonkers girl worked hard until her big break at the Harlem Opera House as a featured singer. Ella Fitzgerald will inspire readers to stay determined and never give up on their dreams. Critical Analysis  Andrea Pinkney writes a smooth, telling biography of the great Ella Fitzgerald. Beginning with an introduction of Scat Cat Monroe, the cool cat narrator of this unique tribute to Fitzgerald. Beginning with Ella's start in life in 1917, she had a dream of becoming a famous dancer. She was so determined to make her dream come...

  Bibliography Williams-Garcia, Rita, 2010. ONE CRAZY SUMMER. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780060760908. Plot Summary In 1968, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern Gaither travel from Brooklyn, New York to Oakland, California to stay with their mother for the summer, as they hadn't seen her in years. Their mother abandoned them and has not looked back since, leaving the girls to wonder what she's like and if she'll like them. The girls quickly realize their summer vacation will not be an ordinary one as they spend most of their days at a summer camp ran by Black Panthers, learning about their past and the current state of the country.  Critical Analysis  Williams-Garcia writes about the Gaither sisters summer journey to Oakland, California to meet a mother they had not seen since they were toddlers/newborns. Told from the older sister, Delphine's, point of view, readers are given a unique point of view during the Black Panther Movement in America. In the year 19...

Bibliography King, Jr., Martin Luther, 2012. I HAVE A DREAM. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York, NY: Dragonfly Books. ISBN 9780593518113. Plot Summary A beautifully illustrated version on the inspirational speech, I Have a Dream , given by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the American Civil Rights Movement. Young readers have the chance to read Dr. King's powerful message and visualize the hopeful dream he shared on August 28, 1963; that one day the world will recognize everyone is equal and free, living the American dream.  Critical Analysis  This story includes excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous  I Have a Dream speech. Dr. King delivered this powerful speech on August 28, 1963, on the Lincoln Memorial steps, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. At a time when African Americans were not being seen as equals, Dr. King was encouraging others to see reason and remember everyone was created equal. No adult or child should be judged by ...

Bibliography Thor, Annika, 1997. THE LILY POND. New York, NY: Random House Children's Books. ISBN 9780385740401. Plot Summary Taking place during World War II, Stephanie and her sister, Nellie, evacuated Vienna, Austria to live with foster parents on a Swedish island. While her parents stay behind in Nazi-occupied Vienna, Stephie has the opportunity to enroll into school and continue her studies; not many Jewish children had the luxury of doing so at this time. The school is located on the mainland, so Stephie will be staying a family she previously met last summer. Looking forward to seeing the son, Sven again, Stephie begins to think everything is slowly falling into place, despite juggling all of the emotions and heartache the war has brought on. One place she always finds solace in the hardest of times; the lily pond.  Critical Analysis As the sequel to A FARAWAY ISLAND, readers are able to follow more of the Steiner sisters journey into their lives in Sweden. More specifically...

Bibliography Rundberg, Johan, 2020. THE NIGHT RAVEN. New York, NY: Amazon Crossing Kids. ISBN 9781662509582. Plot Summary It's a dark, cold night in Stockholm and Mika is running through her personal checklist of how to survive during the unbearable, freezing winters in the local orphanage. She suddenly hears a knock at the door and there is a boy holding a newborn child claiming the Dark Angel knows he has taken this child. Without any explanation, the boy takes off running, leaving Mika with many questions and another child to help care for. The Night Raven was a notorious serial killer in Stockholm and was supposed to be dead, now Mika is left wondering if somehow he is involved. With the help of a local detective, Mika will hunt out the truth and solve a murder. With this opportunity, Mika can become someone strong and who matters in this world, not allowing her only identity to be an orphan.  Critical Analysis Rundberg writes a suspenseful mystery, more specifically a murder i...

Bibliography Yage, Wang, 2017. PLAYING WITH LANTERNS. Ill. by Zhu Chengliang. New York, NY: Amazon Crossing Kids. ISBN 9781542029841. Plot Summary Zhao Di is looking forwards to celebrating Chinese New Year with her friends and family in their village. She loves the traditions each new year brings, celebrating this special time in the beginning of the year for fifteen days. Zhao Di is excited for the fifth day, when her uncle brings her paper lanterns. With the paper lantern in hand, Zhao Di and her friends light the lanterns each night, walk around the snow filled village with her friends, and watch the fireworks, until they reach the fifteenth day. On the last night, the paper lanterns are smashed, in order to bring good luck for the year. Although the celebration was over, the New Year memories fulfill Zhao Di and keeps her eager for next year's festivities.   Critical Analysis Wang Yage has beautifully captured a traditional folk Chinese custom and transformed it into a sw...

  Bibliography Fox, Mem, 1988. KOALA LOU. Ill. by Pamela Lofts. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780152000769. Plot Summary Young Koala Lou yearns for the days when she was an only child and her mother would tell her how she loved her the most. As the years have passed and more siblings have arrived, Koala Lou thinks about what she can do to earn her mother's attention. With the Bush Olympics right around the corner, she enters the competition (specifically, the gum tree climbing event), dreaming of her victory and her mother telling her how much she loved her. Despite not winning the event, her mother is proud of her and reminds her of how much she loves her. Koala Lou learns that a mother's love is forever and does not have to win her over. Critical Analysis  Mem Fox has captured the sweet, eternal love a mother will always have her child. The main character, Koala Lou, recalls the moments when her mother would tell her she loved her most and how it uplifted her...