Piecing Me Together
Watson, Renee. 2018. Piecing Me Together. Bloomsbury YA. New York, NY. ISBN 978-1681191072
PLOT SUMMARY
Piecing Me Together is a story of Jade, a young African American teenager who attends a private school on scholarship. Jade comes from a single-parent home and knows that attending this school will provide her with an opportunity to attend college. She is an artist who enjoys making collages about events she finds important, such as racial discrimination, poverty, and social injustices. Jade is hoping to qualify for a study abroad program to visit Costa Rica because she knows it would be difficult for her to travel on her own. At school, she is chosen to participate in a woman-to-woman community program that empowers young African American girls to find opportunities to succeed. She is assigned a mentor, Maxine, for the program, who aims to empower and encourage her to use her art as a means of advocating for herself and others. However, Jade feels Maxine is using her for personal reasons and feels misunderstood at times.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Piecing Me Together emphasizes several important themes that African American families may face, such as racial discrimination and poverty. There is a scene from the book where Jade visits a store with her friend Sam. Sam, who is white, is trying on clothes when an employee approaches Jade and tells her that she needs to leave the store and is not allowed to be loitering. Jade realizes that the sizes sold in the store may not fit her bigger figure, but feels offended that the lady is asking her to leave. Later, the same employee asks Jade if she can store her large bag, and this is when she realizes that there are other customers at the store, but they are not asking them for their bags. She understands that the employee is racially profiling her as a possible threat of stealing from the store. In another scene from the book, Jade and her friends are walking down the street when they notice a police car nearby. One of her friends becomes extremely nervous with the cop being close to them. Jade needs to hold her hand and calm her friend down. These situations happen to African American people, while people of other races, especially white people, are oblivious to this kind of situation.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal - “This unique thought-provoking title offers a nuanced meditation on race, privilege, and intersectionality.”
Booklist - “A balancing act class, race, and social dynamics, with Watson constantly undercutting stereotypes and showing no fear in portraying virtues along with vices. The book’s defiance of a single-issue lens will surely inspire discussion and consideration.
Awards:
Coretta Scott King Award
Newbery Honor
CONNECTIONS
This book reminds others of the themes of racial discrimination throughout the country. Many who do not experience this tend to ignore it or disregard it.
Other related books:
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
Activity: Have students create collages similar to Jade’s artwork that depict important themes or topics to them.
The Undefeated
Alexander, Kwame. 2019. The Undefeated. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. Versify. New York, NY. ISBN 978-1328780966
PLOT SUMMARY
The Undefeated is a picture book about African American individuals who helped future generations by showing grit and perseverance in a time when they faced discrimination and racial inequality. It speaks about those who are well-known and considered heroes, but also about the common individuals who many have forgotten. It expresses the lessons to learn from past events and how it is important to embrace and accept the sufferings, but also share the triumphs of the African American community.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Through large, vivid portraits of the faces of well-known African American role models, the author shares the harsh journey encountered by many individuals as they fought discrimination. The author uses different-sized fonts to emphasize certain significant words, such as unforgettable, undeniable, unflappable, unspoken, and unafraid, to describe a community of people who fought for survival. The illustrations show details on the faces of the people, some showing courage, others sadness, and anguish. It shows people in military uniform, others participating in a sports event, and others protesting. The author uses important public figures who spoke for their people, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Langston Hughes. Throughout the book, there are illustrations of white egrets flying free across the sky. At the end of the story, the author chooses to repeat the words “This is for you, and you, and you” to portray the importance of his book as a group of smiling children gather together, who resemble perseverance and strength.
REVIEWS
The Horn Book (starred review)- “Alexander and Nelson honor the achievements, courage, and perseverance of ordinary black people as well as prominent black artists, athletes, and activists…creating a through-line from past to present.”
Kirkus (starred review)- “Alexander’s poetry possesses a straightforward, sophisticated, steady rhythm that, paired with Nelson’s detail-oriented paintings, carries readers through generations… An incredible connector text for young readers eager to graduate to weighty conversations about our yesterday, our now, and our tomorrow.”
Awards:
- Caldecott Medal
- Coretta Scott King Award
- Newbery Honor Book
CONNECTIONS
This book reminds us of the struggles and hardships that African American communities have encountered, but also reflects hope and a chance for a better life.
It makes a connection with students who have encountered difficulties in their lives.
Other related books:
We are Water Protectors by Carol Lindstrom
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
Activity: Students can look through the pictures in the book and discover who these important African American individuals are. Research about their lives and write about them, and how they inspired and paved the way for new generations.
****************************************************************************************************Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Songs
Pinkney D., Alexander. 2013. Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Songs. Ill. by Brian Pinkney. Little Brown Books. New York, NY. ISBN 978-0316070133
PLOT SUMMARY
Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Songs is a story about the lives of both Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahalia Jackson, from their early years until they met at one of the most pivotal events during the Civil Rights Movement. Both were born with the gift of gospel. While one was able to deliver outstanding speeches with his strong, booming voice, the other could sing with her powerful, buttery voice. Their goal was to get the message across that speaking up in a nonviolent way was the journey to take to reach equality and freedom. With strength, love, and unity, change was inevitable. Before Martin Luther King Jr. gave his beautiful “I Have a Dream” speech, Mahalia Jackson settled the audience with her thunderous voice.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Songs is a powerful story of how two magnificent voices formed an alliance during the Civil Rights March to Washington, D.C. Early in the book, they describe both Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahalia Jackson's upbringings in Atlanta and Louisiana. Living in the south made both experience the harsh Jim Crow laws. The author uses color to write verbs that describe what both Martin and Mahalia were doing. Verbs like prayed, taught, worked, spread, and stretched are written throughout the story. The illustrator uses watercolors with green and blue hues to write about Martin Luther King Jr. and red and orange hues to write about Mahalia Jackson. Yet, the most impressive connection is that the illustrator uses purple hues when he joins both individuals. Swirls of ribbons are plastered across the pages with significant words and phrases. Most every page shows a dove flying through the different scenes, which symbolizes peace. Several of the pages have to be read vertically as the illustrator uses both sides of the page to draw the crowds of people gathered at these events. Towards the end of the book, the author uses a timeline to describe the major events that happened between 1911, when Mahalia was born, to 1972 with her death. It describes the 1963 March on Washington, where Mahalia Jackson sang and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his speech.
REVIEWS
Booklist (starred review)- Wife-and-husband team Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney match talents as they weave together the stories of two giants of the American civil rights movement.
School Library Journal - The Pinkneys present important figures and pivotal moments during the Civil Rights Movement in a fresh and visually compelling manner. Readers are invited to follow a path and a dove throughout images that are rich in multiple meanings.
ALA 2014 Notable Children’s Book
CONNECTIONS
This novel shows the importance of using nonviolence and raising your voice when inequality and discrimination are experienced by a community.
Other related books:
Martin Rising: Requiem for a King by Andrea Davis Pinkney & Brian Pinkney
The Cart that Carried Martin by Eve Bunting
Activity:
Students can create a timeline with illustrations about the events that led to the Civil Rights Movement. Students can also write biographies on either Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Mahalia Jackson and how they influenced the world.
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Garvey’s Choice
Grimes, Nikki. 2021. Garvey’s Choice. Wordsong. Honesdale, PA. ISBN 978-1635925111
PLOT SUMMARY
Garvey is a young African American boy who wants to be loved and accepted especially by his father. However, his father is hoping that Garvey picks up athletics, like he did when he was young. Garvey’s disinterest in sports creates a wide gap in his relationship with his father. As part of feeling unaccepted, he begins to eat uncontrollably and gains much weight. Classmates begin calling him hurtful names and bully him in relation to his weight. Soon he learns that he has a talent for singing and joins the school choir. Uncertain about his father’s reaction, he keeps this new accomplishment to himself, until his sister, Angie, hears him sing and pleads for him to share it with their parents. His father realizes that it is through Garvey’s musical talent that he can find a connection with his son.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Garvey’s Choice is written in tanka verses, which is a Japanese short poem made of five lines. The form used in this book is broken down into line 1 and line 3 containing 5 syllables, while lines 2, 4, and 5 contain 7 syllables. This rhythmic pattern of words creates a story of perseverance and determination. Each page has its one bold print title that summarizes the main idea of the poem. Themes of self- acceptance and finding your own voice are present throughout the book. Garvey learns that he may be overweight, but that he is special in his own way, and that his weight does not define who he is. He accepts that he has a special talent and he chooses to use it to his advantage.“My voice skips octaves like a smooth stone on a lake”, is an example of how the author uses powerful metaphors to describe Garvey’s voice. There is an allusion to famous African American singer, Luther Vandross in several of the poems. He understands that Luther Vandross died of a heart attack while struggling with his weight, therefore Harvey decides to take care of his body as he exercises with his best friend Joe.
REVIEWS
School Library Journal, starred review- “(A) sensitively written middle grade novel in verse…(readers) will fall hard for Garvey, a tender, sincere boy who dislikes athletics. Grimes writes about adolescent friendships in a way that feels deeply human. A short, sweet, satisfying novel in verse that educators and readers alike will love.”
Booklist Starred Review- “ Grimes returns to the novel-in-verse format, creating voice, characters, and plot in a series of pithy tanka poems, a traditional Japanese form similar to haiku, but using five lines….(w)ritten from Garvey’s point of view, the succinct verses convey the narrative as well as his emotions with brevity, clarity, and finesse.”
Awards:
School Library Journal Best Book
ALA Notable Children’s Book
CONNECTIONS
This book shows the troubles young teens encounter when parents expect them to follow their interests instead of their own. It also demonstrates the importance of being true to oneself.
Other related books:
Garvey in the Dark by Nikki Grimes
The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan
Activity:
Students can write a tanka poem describing a special time in their lives and make an illustration to compliment the poem.
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