Sabrina's Bookish Adventures

  Bibliography Bruchac, Joseph, 2005. CODE TALKER: A NOVEL ABOUT THE NAVAJO MARINES OF WORLD WAR TWO. New York, NY: Speak. ISBN 0803729219. Plot Summary At a young age, Ned Begay is sent away to a Navajo mission school, where he is stripped of his culture completely. Telling his grandchildren of his experience during this time, he was told to speak in English, cut his long hair, and wear a uniform. All the Navajo students are told their culture is bad and to learn "the way of the whites". Once World War II breaks out, Navajos are specifically recruited by the U.S. Marine Corps for a special duty; Navajo code talker. Ned is not only ready to serve in the Marines, but he is ready to bring his culture back to life. He is prepared to become a warrior for his people and show bravery through this life changing experience.  Critical Analysis  It is noted that Joseph Bruchac writes of his Native American heritage in his books. In Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of W...

Bibliography Smith, Cynthia Leitich, 2001. RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME. New York, NY: Heartdrum. ISBN 9780688173975. Plot Summary  On her 14th birthday, Cassidy Rain Berghoff wakes up to one of the worst news she's ever received. Her best friend, Galen, died on the walk back from their adventure the night before. Just when she was ready to venture out in life, Rain finds herself shutting everyone and everything out. It takes months for Rain to slowly leave her house and talk to people again. One thing that manages to get her out of the house is becoming the town newspaper's photographer. Her first job is to cover the Indian camp her aunt manages in the summer, the camp Rain turned down. Seeing how much controversy arises from Indian camp taking place in their small town in Hannesburg, Kansas, Rain is stuck between participating in her Native traditions and wanting to shut out any new beginnings that doesn't include Galen.  Critical Analysis  It is noted that Cynthia Leitic...

Bibliography Tingle, Tim, 2008. CROSSING BOK CHITTO: A CHOCTAW TALE OF FRIENDSHIP & FREEDOM. Ill. by Jeanne Rorex Bridges. New York, NY: Cinco Puntos Press. ISBN 9781933693200. Plot Summary Bok Chitto is a river in Mississippi that was a boundary line between the Choctaw Nation and plantation owners and their slaves. According to the tale, if a slave were to escape and cross Bok Chitto, they were free. The Choctaws were aware of a stone path they created throughout the river, however, they warned their children to never cross Bok Chitto. One day, young Martha Tom was sent to gather blackberries. Coming up short, she decides to cross Bok Chitto, to see if she will be able to find berries on the other side of the river. Not only does she find berries, she found a forbidden slave church. Quickly discovered by a kind African American slave, he sends his son to accompany Martha Tom back across Bok Chitto. What starts off as curiosity quickly turns into a strong friendship between two cu...

  Bibliography Maillard, Kevin Noble, 2019. FRY BREAD: A NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILY STORY. Ill. by Juana Martinez-Leal. New York, NY: Roaring Book Press. ISBN 9781626727465. Plot Summary A Native American family shares their sweet tradition of cooking fry bread. This unique food has the power to bring this family together to keep their Native traditions alive, learn more about their culture, retell the history of their tribe, and spend time together.  Critical Analysis  Maillard writes a sweet family story centered around Fry Bread, a food staple believed to have been created by the Navajo over 150 years ago. In efforts to weaken tribal governments and take over ancient lands, fry bread is the result of the resilience and perseverance the Indigenous communities hold when left without their familiar lands and crops. In order to uphold sacred traditions while navigating food that was rationed by the government, the tradition of fry bread was able to live on with the ingredients...

  Bibliography Tonatiuh, Duncan, 2014. SEPARATE IS NEVER EQUAL: SYLVIA MENDEZ & HER FAMILY'S FIGHT FOR DESEGREGATION. New York, NY: Abrams Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781419710544. Plot Summary In 1947, Sylvia Mendez is excited to begin school in the new city her family moved to. When she walks through the door, she is immediately greeted with rudeness and is told to go to the Mexican school instead. Hurt and ashamed, she tells her mother she does not want to go to school anymore. Her mother listens to her sadness and reminds her to hold her head high, the Mendez family fought for the right to attend the Westminster school. She was being unfairly judged for her looks alone, despite being an American who spoke perfect English, all people saw was her dark hair and skin. Sylvia's mother reminds her of how her family fought for the same opportunity for the kids to attend a good school and have equal rights.  Critical Analysis  Duncan Tonatiuh shares the powerful, true ...

  Bibliography Sánchez, Erika L., 2017. I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER. New York, NY: Ember. ISBN 9781524700485. Plot Summary Julia Reyes' life in Chicago has always felt smothered and misunderstood, living life with her mother, father, and older sister Olga. The typical Mexican traditions frustrate Julia, as they hold back her chance of being an independent and successful writer. Things take a turn when her sister dies unexpectedly, leaving her family to cope with the hurt of losing an important member of the family. Olga was the pride and joy of the family, she did as she was told, never leaving home and respecting traditions. Julia is left with not only questions of how this tragedy could happen, but also the pressure to be the perfect Mexican daughter.  Critical Analysis  Sánchez writes about strong, independent Julia carrying the weight of family expectations and responsibilities. Her family crossed the border from Mexico and have lived a hardworking, careful...

  Bibliography Muñoz Ryan, Pam, 2000. ESPERANZA RISING. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN 9780439120425. Plot Summary In 1924, Esperanza Ortega was living a peaceful, fortunate life on her family's ranch, El Rancho de las Rosas, in Aguascalientes, Mexico. She had never had to work or struggle, as her family's house had servants and her family had money from their ranch. She was given the best things in life, such as lively parties, beautiful dresses, and delicate dolls. Esperanza had never known tragedy until her father's unexpected death, turning her family's life upside down. Forced to run away from their home and her greedy uncles, Esperanza and her mother sneak away with their servants to California, to work in a migration camp for Mexican workers. Adjusting to a worker's life is new and difficult for Esperanza, but when faced with unavoidable situations in life, she manages to overcome the hardships to do what is necessary for her and her mother.   Critical A...

Bibliography Mora, Pat, 2007. YUM! ¡MMMM! ¡QUÉ RICO! AMERICA'S SPROUTING'S. Ill. by Rafael López. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books, Inc. ISBN 9781600608926. Plot Summary A fun, colorful, and informative collection of haiku, celebrating the 14 delicious foods native to the Americas. Each food has a haiku, a beautiful illustration, and an informative piece included, providing readers with the origin, history, a fun fact, and the food's current production.  Critical Analysis  Pat Mora provides a collection of short haiku, listing off 14 foods that first sprouted in the Americas. Although the haiku poem originated from Japan, Mora takes the haiku form and creates vivid pictures of the foods with carefully selected, detailed words, providing their connection to Latino culture. To give young readers more background information about these native foods, there is a brief informative piece provided for each food. In the information, the origin is shared, along with it's current...