The Bakery Lady / La señora de la panadería

The Bakery Lady / La señora de la panadería

Written by: Pat Mora
Illustrated by: Pablo Torrecilla

Elementary Grades

"Mónica spends her life around a bakery, not just because she likes the sweets, but also because she loves her grandparents, the baker and the bakery lady. She watches the bustle of la panadería, and she knows that she will one day be the baker.

Her first real test comes as she and her beloved grandparents prepare for the coming celebration of January sixth, El Día de los Reyes Magos, the Feats of the Three Kings. When Mónica finds the baby in the round bread ring, the King's Ring, it becomes her responsibility to plan the celebration: invitations, decorations, and most important of all, the lemon cookies that Mónica will bake especially for her family and friends. And though she wants to do it all herself, she realizes that the love and help of family can make any job a joy."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.patmora.com/book_pages/bakerylady.htm

A Good Night for Freedom

A Good Night for Freedom

Written by: Barbara Olenyik Morrow
Illustrated by: Leonard Jenkins

Upper Elementary Grades

"In the winter of 1839, Hallie discovers two runaway slave girls in the cellar of Quaker abolitionist Levi Coffin. She finds herself in a predicament when slave hunters arrive and her Pa advises her not to meddle in their business. As she struggles with her conscience, she weighs the concepts of freedom and obedience, and eventually offers wrong directions to the men in an attempt to save the fugitives, despite her father's warning. Hallie is a spunky heroine, and the story is thrilling. The well-written text smoothly blends fact and fiction. Levi and his wife are real, and their Indiana homestead can be visited today. The first-person narrative adds a personal touch and helps to bring this piece of history to life. In an author's note, Morrow describes her research and lists useful print resources and Web sites. Jenkins's mixed-media illustrations capture the emotions of the characters as well as the details of pre-Civil War life."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://www.whispersofangels.com/opposing.html

Nothing but Trouble: The Story of Athena Gibson

Nothing but Trouble: The Story of Athena Gibson

Written by: Sue Stauffacher
Illustrated by: Greg Couch

Elementary Grades

"ALTHEA IS NOTHING BUT TROUBLE! Everyone agrees: her mama, her daddy, her teacher, even the policeman. But when Buddy Walker, the play leader on Althea's street in Harlem, watches her play paddle tennis, he sees something more: pure possibility. Buddy buys Althea her very own stringed tennis racket, and before long, she's on her way to becoming a great athlete—and to proving that she's more than just trouble.

Althea Gibson was the first African American ever to compete in and win the Wimbledon Cup. Sue Stauffacher's lively text, paired with vibrant paintings by artist Greg Couch, captures the exuberance, ambition, and triumph of this remarkable woman."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.suestauffacher.com/pages/books/altheagibson.html

Bessie Smith and the Night Riders

Bessie Smith and the Night Riders

Written by: Sue Stauffacher
Illustrated by: John Holyfield

Upper Elementary Grades

This story is told by a young girl living in the south during the 1920's who is excited about the famous blues singer Bessie Smith coming to her town. When Bessie puts on a concert in a big tent with a grand party young Emmarene is listening from the bushes and trying to catch a glimpse of her favorite singer. Emmarane notices a group of Ku Klux Klan members approaching the tent and she bursts inside the tent to warn everyone of the danger. Bessie comes out and scares off the Night Riders using her booming voice and larger then life personality. This story contains an author's note at the end explaining the historical and social truths contained in this work of fiction. Further reading on Bessie Smith is discussed as well.

Jennie's Review

Online Resources:
http://www.suestauffacher.com/pages/books/bessiesmith_lk.html

Nory Ryan's Song

Nory Ryan's Song

Written by: Patricia Riley Giff

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"Life is hard for poor Irish potato farmers, but 12-year-old Nory Ryan and her family have always scraped by... until one morning, Nory wakes to the foul, rotting smell of diseased potatoes dying in the fields. And just like that, all their hopes for the harvest--for this year and next--are dashed. Hunger sets in quickly. The beaches are stripped of edible seaweed, the shore is emptied of fish, desperate souls even chew on grass for the nourishment. As her community falls apart, Nory scrambles to find food for her family. Meanwhile, the specter of America lurks, where, the word is, no one is ever hungry, and horses carry milk in huge cans down cobblestone streets.

As Patricia Reilly Giff writes in her note to the reader, the Great Hunger of 1845 to 1852 was a tragic time for the Irish. Enough food to feed double the population was sent out across the sea, while an indifferent government ignored the starving masses. More than one million of the eight million people in Ireland died. Nory Ryan's Song, a fictionalized account based on this terrible era in history, describes the heroic struggles of one girl who refuses to give in to hunger, exhaustion, and hopeless circumstances. Young readers may have heard of the Irish Potato Famine, but they won't truly understand it until they meet Nory."

Amazon Review

Online Resources:
http://suzyred.com/2001nory.html

Seesaw Girl

Seesaw Girl

Written by: Linda Sue Park

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"Life in 17th-century Korea is not easy for a girl, even for the daughter of a wealthy family. Jade Blossom must learn to do the laundry, sew the clothes back together after each washing, help in the kitchen, and embroider flawlessly. Her world is circumscribed by the walls of the Inner Court where she will spend her life until she marries and then will be confined to the Inner Court of her husband's household. However, when her aunt and best friend since childhood gets married, Jade is determined to see her again."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://www.lindasuepark.com/bio.html

Henry Aaron's Dream

Henry Aaron's Dream

Written and Illustrated by: Matt Tavares

Elementary Grades

"The opening page presents a stark reminder of baseball’s shameful past: a chain-link fence, its sign emblazoned with, “WHITES ONLY,” separating the viewer from the field. This reality is echoed in the narrative, which opens with Aaron’s childhood. After seeing Jackie Robinson play his first game as a Dodger in 1947, the skinny boy who could hit the ball harder than anyone around—even though he held the bat with the wrong hand on top—knew he had a chance to live his dream. But, as Tavares pointedly relates, it was anything but an easy road.

Aaron weathered racism with steady perseverance and outstanding play from the Negro Leagues to his Milwaukee Braves debut. Tavares’ vibrant artwork brings viewers into dingy dugouts, on cramped busses, and into the dust of the diamond as Aaron works his way into history. Though the book ends just at the outset of Aaron’s record-making big-league career, a final spread of stats shows how good he was, and for how amazingly long. The home-run record may have been stolen, but books like this ensure that Aaron’s legacy remains intact."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://www.myhero.com/go/hero.asp?hero=aaron_ansonia_jhs_05_ul
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/edit/edit0204.shtml

Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution

Red Scarf Girl

Written by: Ji Li Jiang

Junior High and High School

This is a very personal and deeply movingstory about the author's childhood growing up during the Chinese Communist Revolution in the 1960's. Ji Li excels in school, art, and leadership at her school until the day that she is forced to strip herself of all the things that interested her while she and her school mates and family are forced to denounce everything they own and possess to show their loyalty to Chairman Mao and the communist ideals. The determination and character that Ji Li and her family show as their world is being torn apart shows just how strong the human spirit can be in spite of horrible political and social forces.

Jennie's Review

Online Resources:
http://www.jilijiang.com/school-visits/guide.htm
http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=66&catid=2&subcatid=6

Weedflower

Weedflower

Written by: Cynthia Kadohata

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

Set in California and Arizona during the 1940's Kadohata introduces us to Sumiko and her Japanese-American family who enjoy spending time together working on their flower farm. Sumiko and her family's life changes forever when Japan bombs Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1944. They are taken to a Japanese internment camp in Arizona where Sumiko and her family begin living life as prisoners in their own country. Sumiko is a strong character who students who have ever felt discriminated because of their race or National origin will be able to identify. This piece of historical fiction is an important read for teachers and students.

Jennie's Review

Online Resources:
http://suzyred.com/2007weedflower.html
http://www.pbs.org/childofcamp/history/index.html

Riding Freedom

Riding Freedom

Written by: Pam Munoz Ryan
Illustrated by: Brian Selznick

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

This work of historical fiction recounts the life of Charlotte Parkhurst, known as Charley, who spent most of her life disguised as a man. Set in the mid-19th century "Charley" has no fear as she takes on tasks such as rounding up horses and stage coach driving, tasks that a woman during her time would never be allowed to do. This story is well researched and written and will leave readers feeling connected to a strong female character who lived her life with passion, humor, and confidence. Excellent audio book that could be used in the classroom as well.

Jennie's Review

Online Resources:
http://www.pammunozryan.com/free.html