Editorial Review

At the height of the Harlem Renaissance during the 1930s, Zora Neale Hurston was the preeminent black woman writer in the United States. She was a sometime-collaborator with Langston Hughes and a fierce rival of Richard Wright. Her stories appeared in major magazines, she consulted on Hollywood screenplays, and she penned four novels, an autobiography, countless essays, and two books on black mythology. Yet by the late 1950s, Hurston was living in obscurity, working as a maid in a Florida hotel. She died in 1960 in a Welfare home, was buried in an unmarked grave, and quickly faded from literary consciousness until 1975 when Alice Walker almost single-handedly revived interest in her work.Read more

Reviews (369)

A Challanging yet amazing book
I really liked this book. I thought Janies life was interesting. it was a hard read. It was ahrd to understand but i loved it. I like reading about what people go through and how they deal with things. This was definitely one of those kinds of books. I strongly recommend it

Value as historical artifact
Funny how folks seem to love this or hate it.I admire the author's creativeness in the context of her time:the use of vernacular was quite creative at the time, and brings the reader intimately to the story.The very subject matter, a young black woman on a journey of self discovery-- easy to take for granted today how remarkable this publication must have been.That said, as a contemporary reader I didn't love this book and had to push myself to finish it (for my book club).Hard to care for this protaganist who passively scribes herself in relation to a succession of husbands.I just didn't like the person she was!But worth trying for yourself, I think.

A great book for our times
Out of curiosity I picked up "Their Eyes Were Watching God" at a yard sell and discovered a gem.
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Subjects:  1. African American women    2. Classics    3. Fiction    4. Literary    5. Literature - Classics / Criticism   

Reviews (567)

The House on Mango Street
The House on Mango Street is a story of Esperanza Cordero.Esperanza is sharing her life in a poetic form.She writes poems to describe her life on Mango Street.She is embarrassed to point and say, "That's my house."Her mama says, "It's for the time being," papa says, "its temporary."Esperanza shares her stories of love, friendship, and the trail of life.Esperanza's friend Sally gets into lots of trouble with boys and her papa doesn't tolerate this.Working at such a young age isn't very easy, but papa doesn't want Esperanza to go to public school, he believes you'll turn out bad.Living in the ghetto of Chicago can get difficult sometimes in ways that can just confuse you, like your friend getting married when she hasn't even reached eighth grade.Sandra Cisneros will share Esperanza's feelings and descriptions about neighbors and family great.Boys, where should we start?To Esperanza, they live in separate worlds, you can really only rely on your true friends.In the end, all these moments of feelings only equal one word, Life.
this book is so weird
this books chapter titles were random as hell and so was the book. its so weird.there is no plot whatsoever. i hated it, don't buy it cuz it sucks major balls.

For ESL students
I teach a beginner writing course for ESL students preparing for college, and we use this book to help students develop that all-important voice. The stories are simple but full of feeling, and resonate deeply with my mostly Latino students. Yes, there are incomplete sentences and words that don't belong in academic writing, but I find my students understand the concept of personal vs. academic writing, and can enjoy the book on its own terms. In addition, it could easily form the basis of a reading course for students once they are beyond the very early stages of learning English. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bildungsromane    2. Chicago (Ill.)    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - General    5. General    6. Girls    7. Literary    8. Mexican Americans    9. Popular American Fiction    10. Chicago    11. Fiction / Literary    12. Modern fiction   

Reviews (86)

Children of the River
This book is wonderful and exciting ...... Its a warm tale about girl escaping from her country at war and dealing with the conflicts and changes of living in America. This story will keep you glued from the beginning to the end.

Cornwall Ny 6th grader
I am a 6th grader.
Cornwall, New York, 6th Grader
I am a 6th grader.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Asian Americans    3. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Fiction    6. Khmers    7. Social Issues - Adolescence    8. Social Situations - Adolescence    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (16)

White Lilacs
In 1920's, Dillon Texas, Negroes worked like slaves, but the really were not. Rose Lee, a young girl not more then twelve years of age, lived with her mother, father, older brother, and two younger sisters, in their small house. Dillon is a very racist city. The Negroes had to stay in their own territory, which they liked to call Freedom, except for when they had to work. Rose Lee, along with her cousin, Cora, aunt, Tillie, and grandfather, Jim, worked at a white family's house, the Bell's. The Bell family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Bell, son, Edward, and daughter, Catherine Jane.
White Lilacs Book Review
In 1921 some of the white folks decide to move the "coloreds" out of the middle of Freedomtown because it is in the middle of Dillon, all the coloreds must take action. The only reason they are making the coloreds move is because they don't want them right smack in the middle of Dillon and they want a park built in Freedomtown. The whites decide to take a vote the day after July 4thabout whether they should keep the coloreds in Freedomtown or move them, and Rose Lee finds herself in a mess, she must be a food server to the Bells because her cousin Cora has fallen ill and she also finds herself a spy, giving any information that she hears about Freedomtown to the colored men of Dillon. Rose Lee also finds herself getting Henry out of two sticky situations and helping out an old friend, Catherine Jane. Soon Rose Lee has to answer these questions to herself, will she ever see her friends again? If the families of Freedomtown are kicked out of Freedomtown where will they move? Also, will she be able to find a way to save Henry's life?

I LOVED THIS BOOK BECAUSE...
The characters were so realistic and I think that the author did a good job of describing places and things and people.But I think that Henry is so mean.I think that this book wasn't boring so anyone who does, i don't agree.Why does this book even be considered boring?I think it is very cool.I wish I could tell Carolyn Meyer that.I like meeting authors face to face.Teacher's like this book also, because it receieved a teacher's choice award in 1991. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Blacks    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. People & Places - United States - African-American    8. Race relations    9. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    10. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    11. Texas    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (34)

Another side of the story
I have read many books dealing with the Japanese internment during WWII and the aftermath, but this book was the first I have seen that tells a very different story. Beautifully written, the author tells of the conflicts and guilt of a young man who refuses to serve in the US military during the war while his family was being held in an internment camp. After spending two years in jail for the refusal, he returns to the Japanese community in Seattle and struggles to reconcile his dual identify as Japanese and as an American.

Ugh ...
This book stinks, the plot is trivial, the characters suck, and the chapters go on and on and on and on and on about nothing, nothing at all. Here is my favorite passage from the book "There was nothing for him to do but roll over and try to sleep.Somewhere, sometime, he had even forgotten how to cry."Yeah the entire book is like that.

Thoughts on No-No Boy
John Okada's No-No Boy is an interesting perspective into Japanese-American life post WWII. The reader explores the protagonist Ichiro's struggles with being a "No No boy," or Japanese who refused the draft after the Japanese were put into internment camps. The placement of Japanese-Americans into internment camps pre-WWII is a historical subject that seems to be given little consideration outside the world of academia. This book explores the ways Japanese culture intersects with American culture, and how traditional Japanese values are or are not merged with American values. Those Japanese who refused the draft were abhorred by Japanese-American culture thereafter, and Okada explores the cultural and political implications of why this happened through Ichiro's struggle. The examination of the reaction of white America to Ichiro's experience opposed to the reaction of Japanese-America presents some interesting cultural differences concerning value. While certain people in white American would forgive and understand the perspective of Ichiro, he is seen as a threat to solidarity within the Japanese community. The expectations and standards that society places on an individual is made much more complicated if a person must do this between two different societal value systems, and also does not completely agree with either. Okada explores why this is relevant to the understanding of the history through the Ichiro's struggle. Okada's work is an interesting exploration of the intersection of different values, standards, stereotypes and politics. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. General    4. Modern fiction   

Reviews (51)

Toni Morrison's examination of this topic is, in my opinion, wonderful.
Each time I read this novel I appreciate it even more. The characters are carefully drawn, unveiling their idiosyncrasies layer by layer. Valerian's retreat into the greenhouse where he must learn how to get plants to bloom and ants to walk the other way is both amusing and pathetic. What I have found particularly enjoyable is Morrison's use of symbolism. The woman in the yellow dress, the tar pit, etc. all weave together to form a powerful novel. Perhaps not quite as arresting as "Beloved," "Tar Baby" certainly deserves high marks.
A poignant and contemporary struggle
Morrison is such a masterful author.Her novels always have a force behind it that draws the reader in and makes sure that you understand the various points of view.We first see Valerian's point of view, and we agree with him.Then we see Margaret's point of view and we agree with her also, although Valerian and Margaret are arguing with each other.This is how Morrison brings a story to life, using recursive narration to move forward and back in time regardless of the time period that the novel is currently in.One minute we are looking at Valerian and his past, the next we are looking at Margaret until it catches up to the present storyline and then advances further, which allows us to understand how and why each character acts the way that they do.Simply masterful.
totally different than i envisioned- in a really great way
When I began reading TarBaby I had no idea what it was about.I borrowed it from a high school classroom while I was student teaching and couldnt believe the difference between it and other Morrison novels while the language is beautiful and that is what makes it uniquely a Toni Morrison masterpiece.However, the love story between a black man and a woman who is black yet not, surprised me.Their love was so deep and so poignant - yet totally overwhelming and surprising at the same time.
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Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Caribbean Area    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - General    5. Fugitives from justice    6. General    7. Literary    8. Retirees   

Editorial Review

Outraged over the annual "Slave Day" fundraiser at his high school, Keene Davenport cooks up a few plans of his own in protest. Civil disobedience rarely proceeds smoothly in any environment--especially in a high school--so many surprises are in store! Told in alternating first-person narratives, this novel will take readers inside the lives of eight people (including geeks, beauty queens, football players, and one cranky teacher) as the events unfold during the strangest Slave Day ever. Here, Rob Thomas--one of the freshest voices in books for teens--explores the many facets of prejudice with grace, subtlety, and wit. A lively read! ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Slave Day
No one at Robert E. Lee High School had ever opposed the annual "Slave Day" fund raiser.They had just let it run its course, watching student body representatives and teachers auctioned off to the highest bidders to serve as anything from book carriers to chauffeurs throughout the course of the day.At least, no one had opposed it until Keene Davenport came along.
Altered intentions
I thought that this was a great book. It really had a good feeling too it. The meaning of the book was not what you would begin the book thinking. It has nothing to do with slavery really. It just uses different stories tied into one to prove that a lot of times one's original intention could turn out to be completely altered. You may go in to a situation thinking "Wow, this is going to really suck," but your doing it for some good reason like for charity, and you come out feeling really good and much better about yourself, you may even gain a whole new perspective on life. Each character in this book changed a great amount throughout the book just as a result of being involved in a school fund raiser, in which they were involved with for various reasons. But many of them came out of it feeling better about themselves, and the rest even gained another perspective on life, which I thought was really cool. This book very good and if there were a movie on it, I would love to see it.

Beware of offensive language and subject matter
This book takes the reader through one day at Robert E. Lee High School as they are observing the annual "Slave Day".Seven different peoples' thoughts are relayed throughout the day.Any plot that was intended by the author is very difficult to follow because of the way the book is organized.Also, 72 of the 188 pages contained offensive language.There was also detailed description and slang used concerning sexual relations. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. High schools    5. Race relations    6. School & Education    7. School stories    8. Schools    9. Social Issues - General    10. Juvenile Fiction / School & Education   

Editorial Review

The third novel from one America's most powerful writers turns 20 years old in 1997, but Read more

Reviews (207)

Absolutely entrancing...EVERY time I read it.
Toni Morrison has never disappointed.This is a deep, rich experience.Ms. Morrison writes in beautifully overlapping, intertwining layers and vines, like a French braid from head to floor, the strands only coming together inches above the plush carpeting.It is not possible to completely crack and embrace this gem encrusted geode in one read. About every ten years I discover something new to appreciate when I treat myself to another swim in Song of Solomon.

Crude, disgusting
I'm no prude, but some of the actions described in this book go beyond crude to disgusting and repulsive.Who needs to waste time reading about such behavior?Don't we see enough of the depths of human depravity on the news? I would have expected a huge protest from families of middle class black people, who are portayed with every variety of perversion and obsession...the only ones who are shown as decent human beings are strange in their own ways, nonformist to the extreme.

It's a very good read & worth it
I thought this book was amazing. The author gives you a lot of random information during the beginning half of the novel, but once
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Subjects:  1. African American families    2. African Americans    3. Domestic fiction    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - General    6. General    7. Literary    8. Michigan    9. Sagas    10. Fiction / General    11. Modern fiction   

Reviews (6)

bilingual poetry
I love this little book of Spanish and English poems that so well captures the experience of growing up bilingual and / or as an immigrant in the United States.Although that is not my personal experience, I have been an ESL teacher for 25 years, and Spanish is my second language.I have watched many students from a wide variety of first languages and cultures go through experiences similar to those expressed in the poetry.I think this inexpensive book is a great addition to the study of poetry in ESL, bilingual, or literature classes, and can inspire bilingual / bicultural students toexpress their own feelings and experiences in poetry.

Spice For All
If you like mild, medium, or hot there is something for anyone in Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Growing up Latino in the United States, and just like nachos, there is a whole lot for everyone.This book is a compilation of first, second, and third-generation Latino writers, and it includes a diversity of writing styles and themes.The combination of the poems captures the essences of Latin rhythms and ways of life in America. Students of all races will relate to different aspects of this book, and two examples of poems that all students should be able to identify with are "Translating Grandfather's House" and "The Aquatic Show.""Translating Grandfather's House" depicts in a semi-sarcastic tone a very common situation.A teacher is looking at a student's sketch, and she tells him that it looks like a house from a Zorro movie instead of a picture of a real house.However, the student says he is drawing the house that his mother was born in and she was born in Mexico.On the finished picture of a Spanish style house in an elaborate natural wild grass setting of his grandfather's town, he titles the picture "GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE."The teacher realizes her error, gives the picture an "A+," and then displays the picture on the "green" blackboard.The teacher-student miscommunication battle is timeless, and the irony or confusion over why green chalkboards are called "blackboards" is classic as well. The "Aquatic Show" is a very charming and funny poem.A kid is talking about singing and sort of dancing in the shower.He explains how much he enjoys this activity.Also, he assumes that the bathroom fixtures, which are his audience, really enjoy it too. He mentions songs from different Latin countries, which is a nice form of cultural exposure for non-Latin Americans. In addition to the poetry, this book has an excellent glossary and an interesting "Biographical Notes" section that gives a brief synopsis of accomplishments for each poet. Just as it is named, Cool....
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Subjects:  1. Caribbean & Latin American    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. Children's poetry, American    4. Children's poetry, Hispanic Am    5. Children's poetry, Hispanic American (Spanish)    6. Hispanic American authors    7. Poetry    8. Poetry (Young Adult)    9. Poetry - General    10. Spanish: Grades 3-4    11. Translations into English    12. Translations into Spanish    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Poetry / General   

Reviews (5)

Half and Half
I think that this book was okay. I, myself, being biracial as well think that it can be slightly offending. It is almost sterotyping all biracial teens and saying that they do not "embrace" their black heritage. And I do not appreciate that. However, the book does have some better qualities. It does have a very good message on the struggles that biracial children go thorough in figuring out where they belong. I was actualy able to relate to Emily Rose because she seemed like a real character along with Mother Rose. All of the characters had specific qualites about themselves and it was easy to differentiate them. Overall, I think the book was pretty well written.

A excellent book!!
Jubilee Journey is about a biracial teen who never really knew about her African-American heritage on her mother's side until she paid a visit to her great-grandmother, Mother Rose, in Dillion, Texas. She realizes that Texas is very different from Connectiut (her hometown) when certain things happen that makes her realize that she has a lot to learn about being black . A great sequel to White Lilacs , I think this book is very interesting and has a great plot.

A Long Journey to a Grand Jubilee
This book was excellent!I would have to say this is one of my favorite books!I would recommend it for the ages ten and up.It is easy to understand and it's very enjoyable! I like this book so much because, it tells the truth about the history of whites and blacks.It explains how girls and boys from the different races were raised.The black families were moved jout of the town they all loved.And, their churches were burnt down by whites. This book is familiar to a book I once read called Run Away Home.It's famiiar because the main character goes back to her home and her family.In this book Emily Rose, the main character, goes back to her family where her mother was raised after her mom died and her dad left.Although, she is not at her true home, she likes it and doesn't want to leave because she feels like she belongs there.This book is very much multicultural and the struggles of racism.It also tells of how people were mistreated.I loved this because because it touched me and made me realize how badly people got hurt from other people. I really learned a good lesson, that we need to treat all people of every kind equally.It will keep you reading on. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Family - Marriage & Divorce    5. Family - Multigenerational    6. Fiction    7. Great-grandmothers    8. Identity    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. People & Places - United States - African-American    11. Racially mixed people    12. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    13. Fiction dealing with multiculturalism    14. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / General   

Reviews (22)

This is a great book!!!
Chan Kim is a kid who loves soccer, and his life.But when they move into a tiny town called Minnesota then his whole life changes. His family is the only Asian family in Minnesota. When Chan meets Allpro after the first couple of days at school he is talked into joining the football team as a kicker. He ends up joining soccer because there isn't soccer in Minnesota. He was planning on just being a field goal kicker but his coach said it was a rule to have more than one position so he became a running back. Chan had to have the necessary roughness to become a football player. Which he learned on his first practice. On his first practice Chan had an okay practice, but at the end of the practice the team had to do sprints until somebody vomits. Then a few weeks later his first season started. Although Chan didn't get a chance to play his first game it was made up to him by him kicking the winning field goal in the second game of the season which led to him being a starting kicker for the rest of the season. Then after the season they found out that they made it to the playoffs; where Chan leads his team to the championships but if you want to find out if they win the championship then you'll have to read the book.
outstanding book
Necessary Roughness was an outstanding book! This book was and is the best book I have read! This book is about two teenage kids who go by the name of Chan Kim and young kim. They are twins who don't get along with they're father, well Chan doesn't. They start off living in L.A., California! Chans uncle Bong was in Minnesota where he owned a store. Bong got the money from the store from Abogee which is Chans father. Abogee always gave Bong money which he always loses. So Bong leaves to Korea and the kim family moves to Iron River, Minnesota to take over Froggys (Bongs store). When they get to Minnesota, its full of white people and they are the only Korean family.They move on the second floor of some nice old lady's house because they don't have enough money to purchase they're own house. Of course some discrimination begins to happen! Chan and his sister Young go to Iron River high school and of course they are the only koreans! Chan eventually gets invited to try out for the football team by his soon to be best friend Mikko! Chan tries out for kicker but he plays other positions as well. In Los Angeles Chan played soccer and Young was part of an orchestra. Chan makes the team and Young decides to be in the school band. There was good detail when the football games were being explained but I feel Marie G. Lee could have given a little more detail about the football games for football fans. Back to the story, well Chan finds a girl by the name of Rainey. He began talking to Rainey at a party the football players had after one of the games. Eventually Young begins to talk to Mikko! Also there I s a guy on the football team thano one likes his name is Rome, he does some pretty mean things to Chan and others! Then towards the end a something tragic happen in Chans life! You have read the story to find that one out, it will surprise you. I recommend this book for football fans. Also for anyone who is part of a minority because it shows what the kim family which is a minority goes through!

Necessary Roughness
2B-Tim Miles
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Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Fiction    3. Juvenile fiction    4. Korean Americans    5. Prejudices   

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Sociology    2. Children's Books - Young Adult    3. Children's Books/Young Adult Social Situations    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Pluralism (Social sciences)    8. Prejudices    9. Racism    10. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    11. Social Situations - Prejudice & Racism    12. Toleration   

Reviews (3)

A Peace Child International Project celebrating Human Rights
"Stand Up for Your Rights" is a book written by and for children around the world from over 60 countries, who describe in their own words and pictures the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.The Declaration was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 and sets forth the basic civil, economic, political, and social rights and freedoms of every person.This book divides the Declaration into two broad sections, the first dealing with legal and political issues, such as freedom and equality for all people, while the second relates to the daily quality of life of an individual. Within this context the book explores each of the 30 Articles, beginning with the language of the article made simple and then a mixture of historic and contemporary events with the words and drawings of the children and young people.It is the later that provides thought-provoking material, which should serve as an excellent starting point for class discussions.Certainly the topics touched upon within these pages will be easily relatable to what young students see on the nightly news.The book also includes the Convention on the Rights of the Child adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 1989.Comparing the difference in the rights of children versus those of "humans" should also prove interesting, especially as a way of defining the difference between children and adults.There is also a list of organizations and efforts, such as Amnesty International and Defense for Children International, which gives children an opportunity to do something about this issues besides just reading about them.

Great Introduction to Human Rights
Stand Up for Your Rights is a great intoduction to humanrights.Children will appreciate the detailed and well chosen artwork and the short passages contributed by children from around the world.The passages come in the form of poems, letters, interviews, and narratives.These passages are short and easily accesible to both children and adults.While the book does attempt to give a balanced view of human rights, some ethnocentric and unbalanced reporting did come through.In several cases the authors failed to explain the reasons behind human right violations.In this respect, Stand Up for Your Rights is a good resource manual for teachers and parents to go over with children, who can supplement the book with discussion or other resources.At the end of the book is a listing of organizations and ways for children to get involved with human right causes.In all, this is a gook book about human rights and I believe children will appreaciate it as well.

Great Learning Tool for Children and Adults
Stand up for Your Rights is a fascinating and informative book.Written by youth from around the world, this book puts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into terms that everyone can understand.Photographs,drawings by children, first-person narratives and explanatory paragraphsmake this a very readable and eye-catching book.As an ESOL teacher withyoung students from around the world, I find this book to be unparalleledin offering a view of life that doesn't always make it into the daily newsor the movies.I highly recommend this book for anyone of any age whowants to learn more about our world and its people. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Politics / Current Events    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Civil rights    4. Human rights    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Politics & Government    8. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    9. Social Science - Politics & Government   

Reviews (10)

Gripping novel with plenty of darkness and hope
This was a great find & I highly recommend it if you like reading about hardships, addicition, real characters, poverty, and hope.Enjoy!

Six Out Seven? How about 10 out of 10?
In Six Out Seven, Jess Mowry has crafted a deeply poignant, graphic and utterly gripping depiction of life as a black youth in America today. Gifted with a real sense for dialogue (you can almost hear the characters speak) and an amazing ability to capture the settings he describes - be it the steamy deep south or the numbing squalor of the ghetto. His characters are real and human, and the reader cannot help but be caught up in their struggle for survival.
Great Read
First off, I want to say that this is an excellent book. The beginning of the book was very slow, but once you merged into the nover further, the better the book got, and the harder the book was to put down. Its a basic black coming of age novel about a 13 yr old who leavesMississppi and travels because of circumstances to Oakland, California. Ive reccommended the book to all my friends, and I suggest you do to. It uncovers alot of myths that float around about the black community that needs to be brought to light, and Mr. Mowry does just that![.] GO GET THE BOOK!... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African American teenage boys    2. Bildungsromans    3. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - General    6. General    7. Oakland (Calif.)    8. Social Science / African-American Studies   

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children's 12-Up - Sociology    3. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    5. Civil rights    6. Equality    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Political Science (Young Adult)    9. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    10. Social Problems (General) (Young Adult)    11. Social Science - General    12. Social Science - Politics & Government    13. Social Science - Sociology    14. Social justice    15. Sociology - General    16. United States   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (1561)

The classic classic... that I still don't get why it's one.
This is another of those books that everyone tells you how wonderful and incredible it is. I read it, and... okay. It's a book. And a not-bad one at that. But is it amazing? Is it the greatest, most thought-provoking book of all times? Is it truly just overrated?
"It's a great book....."

A Classic Can Be Interesting
Scout Finch is a girl that wants to be just like her father, even though the rest of the world wants to see her as a young lady. She worries that when she's away, Calpurnia, her cook and friend, will not have anything to do. She is also very protective of her family, especially her father Atticus.
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Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fathers and daughters    3. Fiction    4. Lee, Harper - Prose & Criticism    5. Legal    6. Literary    7. Literature - Classics / Criticism    8. Literature: Classics    9. Race relations    10. Southern States    11. Trials (Rape)    12. Modern fiction   

Editorial Review

Mokes has a huge problem: should he obey his father or stand by an old friend? When a Navy ship drops anchor off the coast of his Hawaiian village, Mokes's dad gives him a curfew. He doesn't want Mokes out in the village after dark when the rowdy sailors will be drinking, dancing, and looking for trouble. But Mokes's friend Booley is planning to get revenge on a sailor--how could Mokes miss that action? Complicating things further are two facts: Mokes's dad isn't just any father; he happens to be the police chief (!). And, even worse, Mokes has just realized that his friend may have stolen his father's favorite gun. Award-winning author Graham Salisbury will thrill readers with this suspenseful tale of a boy struggling with issues of violence, friendship, honor, and trust. As always, Salisbury avoids predictable solutions and allows his characters to work out their problems in realistic ways. Reluctant readers, especially, will appreciate this fast-paced adventure. ... Read more

Reviews (110)

Don't jugde a book by it's cover
I mostly liked Shark Bait, but one thing i really didn't liked was the front cover, because the boythat represents Eric, the main character looks stupid.On the inside of the bookEric, acts though and that is what makes it interesting.on the outside of the book he looks like a weak anyway, it was good I highly recommended to teenagers. I'm sure they would like it.

An average Book
A kid, a boy who had to make decisions between right Shark Bait
Hello,Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fathers and sons    4. Fiction    5. Friendship    6. Hawaii    7. Social Situations - General    8. Social Situations - Violence    9. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General   

Reviews (1)

A Person worth reading about
This is one wonderful book. Before I read Breaking the Color Barrier in Tennis, David k. Wright, I have to be honest, I had never heard of Arthur Ashe. It such a shame that there are thousands of people out there, justlike me, who never heard of such famous and extraordinary people. Instead,we know about all the negative parts of life, such as drugs and how to usethem. They should pick up this book and maybe they will learn somethingfrom it. This was a great short book on an amazing man.I hate it when youstart reading a book and it is so hard to understand because the authoruses confusing words. It seems like you're reading a foreign language. Butthis book was easy to read and understand. In such a small number of pages,the author writes exactly about whom Arthur Ashe was and what he was about.Even though discrimination towards black people was still going strongduring his time, it didn't stop this great black tennis legend from hisgreat accomplishments. And even when he knew that all those accomplishmentswhere going to disappear, due to his diagnose of the AIDS virus from ablood transfusion, he still fought strong and tried to make the best of hislast days. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - People of Color    3. Biography & Autobiography - Sports & Recreation    4. Children's 12-Up - Biography / Autobiography    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Discrimination in sports    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Racism in sports    10. Tennis players    11. United States    12. Ashe, Arthur   

Editorial Review

Filled with inspiring accounts of faith and courage, this book rescues and preserves the stories of children and teenagers who contributed to the civil rights movement. All of us know, for example, of Rosa Parks, whose refusal in 1955 to give up her seat to a white man on a city bus sparked the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott. Most of us don't know, however, that just months earlier high school junior Claudette Colvin had been arrested for doing the same thing. In their own words, Colvin and 29 others tell their stories in this book, reminding us once again of the broad base that helped ensure the success of the movement in the South. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Amazing Read
Many figures and groups of people are marginalized in the study of the Civil Rights Movement.This book is an excellent forum to give voice to the children of the movement.Especially powerful are the stories of students who were among the first to integrate.One student recounts the time when he asked a white friend to sign his senior year book.the white friend wrote "there was a time wh