Butterfly Yellow

Lai, Thanhha. 2019. Butterfly Yellow . Narrated by Lulu Lanm et al. Audible Harper Audio. Audiobook.

PLOT SUMMARY

  

Hằng, a young Vietnamese girl, is determined to find a way to travel to America with her younger brother Linh. However, an unplanned event occurs and the siblings are separated in the airport where only her brother is sent to America. Hằng begins a distraught journey to find her brother. Six years later after experiencing the unimaginable in a war-torn country, she decides to travel to Texas as a refugee. Once in Texas she unexpectedly meets an 18 year old cowboy named LeeRoy. Hằng is delighted when she finds her long lost brother, but soon realizes her brother hardly remembers her or his life in Vietnam. Through courage and persistence she learns the English language, trying to decipher syllables and sounds so she can learn to communicate with her brother and win back his heart. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Butterfly Yellow in the unabridged audio was entertaining, but difficult to understand in some parts of the story. Hằng tries her best to learn English, but deciphers words phonetically which makes it harder to comprehend. It is only certain words that are pronounced in syllables and with a Vietnamese accent, therefore the rest of the audio is understandable. The voices are easily distinguished between the Hằng, the Vietnamese girl,  and LeeRoy, the Texan cowboy. The listening experience was lively, especially when LeeRoy speaks his mind. His character is silly, but determined to help Hằng. Some of the descriptions included in Hằng’s flashbacks are distressing to listen to because of the content. It is harrowing to know what people experience in war-torn countries.

REVIEW EXCERPTS


New York Times Book Review- “In this radiant pearl of a book, Lại shows that we human beings are singing the very same song: a song of grace and redemption, a song of courage, a song of hope.”


Kirkus Reviews (starred review)- “Every sentence is infused with warmth, and Lại shows readers that countless moments of grace exist even in the darkest times. Masterfully conjures grace, beauty, and humor out of the tragic wake of the Vietnam War.”

Booklist (starred review)- “Lại’s imagery awakens the senses. Most powerful is the deep throb of regret and the thinnest wisps of hopefulness that Lại conveys throughout. They touch the soul.”

Awards: 

Scott O’ Dell Award

AudioFile Earphones Award

CONNECTIONS

• This book reminds us about the hardships endured by countries at war and the importance of being empathetic to refugees.

Other related books:

• Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh

• What the Night Sings by Vesper Stamper

Activity: Have students make a phonetic dictionary with the words that Hằng uses and decipher how she is pronouncing each one. 

Read upon Operation Babylift and write about the advantages and disadvantages of this program.

Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America

Longoria, Margarita. 2022.Living Beyond Borders: Growing up Mexican in America. Viking Books. New York, NY .ISBN 978-0593204986.

 

PLOT SUMMARY

Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America is a heartfelt collection of poems, stories, and essays written by a group of award- winning Mexican American authors as they depict their struggles, hardships, and glories of being raised in a Mexican American household. Some of these stories share their view of living in a Mexican American community where they are criticized and marginalized for not being considered Mexican or completely American either. Most of these stories come from a teenage point of view as they describe rich Mexican cultural values. The importance of family and friendships are explored in the book.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America is a relatable collection of books of Mexican American first generations. Cultural value is added when the book mentions important traditions such as a “quinceanera” and “una limpia de huevo”. Most of the teenagers in this book share the importance of value and the hard work most parents have to endure to give their children a better life. The inspiring stories deal with significant themes like the feeling of not belonging, a struggle to find themselves, racial discrimination, and dignity. Growing up in a border town on the southernmost tip of Texas, I found a deep connection to many of the storytellers. The rich use of vocabulary and Spanish words adds meaning to the book. 

REVIEWS

Booklist, starred review- "Superlative . . . A memorable collection."

School Library Journal, starred review -"Voices reach out from the pages of this anthology . . . It will make a lasting impression on all readers."

School Library Connection, starred review- - "This superb anthology of short stories, comics, and poems is fresh, funny, and full of authentic YA voices revealing what it means to be Mexican American . . . Not to be missed.

CONNECTIONS

• This book reminds us about how people view immigrants, especially those coming from Mexico. These Mexican Americans speak their truth in a world where they are criticized and isolated.

Other related books:

• We Are Not from Here  by Jenny Torres Sanchez

• The Journey of the Hummingbirds by Sue Zurita

Activity: Make a family tree that shows each student’s family ancestry. 

Share cultural celebrations in each family.

Make a pinata using video tutorials.

****************************************************************************************************

Almost American Girl : An Illustrated Memoir

Ha, Robina. 2019. Almost American Girl. Balzer + Bray. New York, NY. ISBN‎ 978-0062685094

PLOT SUMMARY

Chuna is a young teen growing up in Seoul, Korea with her mom. As far as she remembers her dad has been out of her life, and her mom has worked fiercely to give her everything she can. However, one day they travel on vacation to Alabama. Chuna is unaware that it will be more than a week of family vacation, and is not prepared to stay in America indefinitely. Her mom surprises her with the news that she will be marrying a Korean man, and that she will be enrolled in school. She is devastated knowing she left behind her friends, her prized comic books, her food, and most importantly her culture. Being in America came with much difficulty, especially since she struggled with the English language and with making new friends. Chuna even decides to change her name to Robin to make it easier for Americans to pronounce and understand. Life at home was also filled with struggles with her new stepfamily. Chuna finds solace in her drawings and Korean comic books.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Almost American Girl : An Illustrated Memoir is a graphic novel that embraces important themes such as the importance of family, the American dream, and immigration. This memoir touches your heart as a young teenager shares her struggles in American society. Feeling isolated, she tries to learn the English language to no avail. Although she knows her mother has worked tirelessly to give her all she needs, she would rather return home to Korea to be with her friends, eat her favorite food, and understand the language. The colorful pictures in the novel depict the differences between America and Korea. The pictures change to a sepia tone when the author is having flashbacks of certain events in her life. She uses Korean words for certain favorite meals and compares it to greasy American food.

REVIEWS

Kirkus Reviews (starred review)- “This heartfelt memoir from an author who shares her honest, personal experiences. An insightful, moving coming-of-age tale.” 

School Library Journal (starred review)-"A poignant and unvarnished depiction of immigration—both the heartache and the rewards." 

Awards:

Harvey Award Nominee

CONNECTIONS

• The memoir reminds us about the struggles immigrants have to deal with when they move to a different country not only with the language, but also with the food, the customs, and the culture.

Other related books:

• Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

• Something Like Home  by Andrea Beatriz Arango

Activity: 

Students can choose to look up words in Korean.

Students can make a recipe book of common Korean dishes.

Students can create a short story using comic strips. 

The Outsiders




Hinton, S.E. 1967. The Outsiders . Viking Books. New York, NY. ISBN 978-0142407332




PLOT SUMMARY

The Outsiders explores the life of a group of teenagers from low socio economic backgrounds called the “greasers”. These boys are in a constant battle with the “socs”,a group of upper middle class boys who have an easy life with money. The Curtis brothers, part of the “greasers”,lost their parents to an accident and rely on each other to make a decent living. The eldest, Darry, takes the role of the father, while the middle teen, Sodapop, quits school since he is unable to manage getting high grades. The youngest, Ponyboy, does well in school and spends most of his time with Johnny, who is ignored and belittled by his parents. One evening, after an argument with Darry, Ponyboy runs out of home to meet up with his friend Johnny. Both teens are confronted by the “socs. Johnny accidentally injures and kills one of the socs which leads him and Ponyboy to escape from the authorities and run away. As the events unfold, they hide in an abandoned church that later catches on fire. The young boys do everything they can to save some children caught in the fire. The “greasers” learn a valuable lesson about friendship and survival.



CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Outsiders is narrated through the eyes of young Ponyboy. Although he is only fourteen at the time, he has encountered such difficulties in life that have made him mature for his young age. Although he comes from a low socio economic status, he does well in school and values learning and reading which is uncommon for a group like his. This book emphasizes the value of friendship, loyalty and finding one's true identity.. It also depicts the differences between two groups of teenagers; it describes a division between classes.


REVIEW EXCERPTS

The Horn Book–"This remarkable novel gives a moving, credible view of the outsiders from the inside...we meet powerful characters in a book with a powerful message."

Awards:

A New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Book

A Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

Winner of the Massachusetts Children's Book Award


CONNECTIONS

This book reminds us about the importance of the value of friendship and the importance of an education.

Other related books:

That Was Then, This is Now by S.E. Hinton


The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger


Activity: Have students compare and contrast the differences and similarities between the “greasers” and the “socs”. Then list the positive and negative traits of each group.


***********************************************************************************


We Are Not Free









Chee, Traci. 2020. We Are Not Free. Clarion Books. New York, NY .ISBN 978-0358668107

PLOT SUMMARY

We Are Not Free is a compelling and emotional historical fiction novel that portrays the lives of fourteen Japanese American teenagers living in San Francisco after the Pearl Harbor attack. With their families, these teens describe their anguish and desperation of being forced out of their homes, leaving their prized possessions and family heirlooms to go live in the Topaz incarceration camp. Each chapter narrated from a different character’s point of view shares the feeling of not belonging to either the Japanese or the American culture. Through their voices feelings of anger, resentment, hope, and bravery are observed. The teens value their friendship and share a dream of being accepted and valued. However, they are seen as a threat and the discrimination against them is horrendous. They are asked to present their loyalty to the American Flag, while being mistreated by the Americans. Some of the teens are asked to fight in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and show their loyalty to their country, while the families who are unable to share their allegiance are relocated to Tule Lake Camp.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This story is told chronologically during a period between 1942 to 1945. Each character continues the story from their point of view. The style of writing varies from verse to letters. The narration captures the essence of the teenagers as they share their deepest feelings from loyalty to fear to anger. Symbolism is captured through different objects such as the origami creations left behind by Mr. Ito. These paper animals are distributed the depressing day they leave for the encampment which brightens up the day for the small Japanese Americans not knowing what awaited them. While Bette’s blonde wig symbolizes her desire to embrace American culture.


REVIEWS

Booklist (starred review) –"Chee is a master storyteller…. Here, she uses her own San Francisco–based Japanese American family's history to inform a blazing and timely indictment of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII. Her passion and personal involvement combine with her storytelling talents to create a remarkable and deeply moving account of the incarceration…. [We Are Not Free] should become required curriculum reading on a shameful and relevant chapter in U.S. history."


Kirkus Reviews (starred review) –"A compelling and transformative story of a tragic period in American history....Each voice is powerful, evoking raw emotions of fear, anger, resentment, uncertainty, grief, pride, and love....An unforgettable must-read."

Awards:

National Book Award Finalist

Printz Honor Book

Walter Dean Myers Award

Asian/ Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book

CONNECTIONS

This book reminds us about the many injustices that have happened in the span of America’s history. It can appeal to immigrants who have found discrimination in this country. It also can connect to those who find the positive even in difficult and dark moments.

Other related books:

We Are Not from Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

They Called Us Enemies by George Takei


Activity: Draw a portrait of your favorite character depicting both the external and internal responses.

Create origami art by listening to tutorials.

***********************************************************************************

Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir



Grimes, Nikki .2019. Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir. Wordsong. New York, NY. ISBN‎ 978-1635925623


PLOT SUMMARY

Ordinary Hazards is a memoir that recounts the life of young Nikki Grimes. Living with a psychotic schizophrenic mother and an absent father, Nikki and her older sister Carol, learn to fend for themselves at an early age. With time, both sisters are sent to separate foster homes. Nikki is blessed to spend several year with the Buchanans who teach her the meaning of love and family. Yet, soon she is sent back to her mom who has recently remarried. Nikki learns to adapt to many moves, and to defend herself against gangs, a delirious mother, and an abusive stepfather. Through these frightening ordeals she learns to express her emotions and begins to write her feelings in her confidant notebook.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Ordinary Hazards takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride that celebrates the power of words. Learning about Nikki Grimes’s experiences from such a young age, allow the reader to discover that many children live a tumultuous childhood. Through a collection of powerful poems, Nikki Grimes delves into themes such as family, abuse, and finding a place in the world. The book is arranged in chronological order from 1950 to 1966. However, instead of allowing her childhood traumatic experiences to shape her life, she turns to writing to inspire her to persevere and become resilient.

REVIEWS

The Horn Book, starred review- "As poetically written as Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming with a story as hard-hitting as Sapphire’s Push....the striking free-verse poems powerfully convey how a passion for writing fueled her will to survive and embrace her own resilience.... (a) must-read for aspiring writers.

School Library Journal -Grimes offers young adult readers the special treat of literary ingenuity in her new memoir... that doesn’t demand a time line. This nontraditional memoir from a long-working and highly acclaimed author will speak deeply to young readers harboring their own interest in writing or otherwise squeezing art out of life’s spiky fruit.

School Library Connection, starred review- “Written in highly readable verse and delivers a relatable message characterized by pathos and resilience... This book is an homage to the fortifying effect of written expression. School counselors can use this text as bibliotherapy for students in similar situations (and it) can also act as mentor text in classroom lessons on memoir writing or when teaching confessional poetry."


Awards:

ALA Michael Printz Honor Book (YA)

ALA Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

Arnold Adoff Poetry Award 2020


CONNECTIONS

This novel will appeal to those who have suffered from family abuse


This novel will create class discussion about trying to find oneself after experiencing traumatic events.



Other related books:

Forever is Now by Mariama J. Lockington

Brown Girl Dreaming- by Jacqueline Woodson

Apple: Skin to the Core by Eric Gansworth


Activity:

Students can choose to write a journal entry depicting a significant event in their life that has shaped them.

Students make a collage of pictures that describes what they represent.