Fascinating - and unsettling - piece of history

Even if you're not usually a fan of historical fiction, there's a good chance you'll be captivated by Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.  The book tells about Beverly, Harriet, Maddy, and Eston, the children of Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings.  In some ways, the children got special treatment, but - and this is huge - they were still slaves, and even though everyone at their home at Monticello knew who their father was, they were never supposed to mention it.  Told through the eyes of some of the sons, the story includes the determination of Sally to see her children set free when they turn 21, the horrors of slavery, and the contradictions of Jefferson - how could he have written the Constitution - "all men are created equal" - and still own slaves?  Powerful, spellbinding, and heart-breaking.

Deza Malone is back!

If you enjoyed Bud, not Buddy, be sure to read the companion book: The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis.  Deza Malone and her family are living through the Great Depression in Gary, Indiana.  Deza's father (like many others) is out of work, and he goes to Flint, Michigan, to try to find a job.  After Deza's mother loses her job, shes takes Deza and her brother Jimmie on the road, hopping trains and staying in questionable places to reach Flint. While looking for Mr. Malone, they have no choice but to stay in "Hooverville," a shantytown for the homeless.  It's easy to like Deza and admire her strong family ties, so when Mr. Malone is finally found, you'll be both happy and sad.  A humorous, yet realistic look at the hardships of the time.

Brought together by boxing and the radio

If you enjoy stories that are told in alternating voices, look for Bird in a Box by Andrea Davis Pinkney.  This takes place in the 1930s, and the chapters are narrated by three 12-year-olds: Hibernia is a minister's daughter who longs to be a nightclub singer like her mother, who left years ago; Otis is now at the Mercy Home for Negro Orphans, since his parents were killed in an accident; Willie is an aspiring boxer and has run away to the Mercy Home, after his hands were injured by his abusive father.  Running throughout the story are radio broadcasts of famous boxer Joe Louis's matches, which have a different impact on each child.  The voices of the three youngsters are wonderful, and the reader feels the pain, pride, and hope of each one as they overcome pretty tough situations in their lives while maintaining their dignity and a sense of humor.  This would be great to read in a book club!

Why is the land so important?

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor won the Newbery Medal in 1977, and it was a well-deserved honor. The story takes place in the Deep South in the 1930s. For Cassie's African-American family, that was a time of poverty and brutal racism, but also strong family ties and a sense of honor. The author describes in a painfully touching way how Cassie comes to understand the reasons she and her brothers are treated so differently from the neighboring white children. And now there are night riders and burnings and humiliation. Why is tall, towering Mr. Morrision really staying with Cassie's family? Why is the land so important to Papa? This is a powerful, moving story about racial prejudice and those who withstood it with pride and dignity.

The fight for civil rights

The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon is a gripping exploration of the Civil Rights Movement in 1968. Sam is 14 and he's always obeyed his father, an eloquent civil rights leader who's committed to a path of nonviolence. Sam witnesses police brutality toward a friend of his, and then he learns that his older brother Stick is a member of the Black Panthers, whose beliefs are opposite of what he's been learning at home. Coupled with the news of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Sam wants to do something, but he's torn by the two vastly different approaches to action and the growing conflict within his own family. This was a hard book for me to read for many reasons: the uncalled for violence, the desperation of people trying to do the right thing, the horror at how many were treated. However, this is an important piece of history to know about, and the book would be a good tie-in with the new Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Surviving Katrina - bittersweet and beautiful

I can guarantee you'll be touched by the characters in Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Lanesha is a spunky, resourceful 12-year-old who lives in the poor Ninth Ward of New Orleans with Mama Ya-Ya, an elderly midwife who has raised her since Lanesha's mother died in childbirth. Hurricane Katrina is on its way, and Mama Ya-Ya can sense that there's something even worse to survive than the hurricane itself. They make it through the storm - they have no money or transportation to evacuate - but then the flooding comes, and that's when things get really bad. The relationship between Lanesha and Mama Ya-Ya is absolutely warm and pure, and the book's touch of magical realism (Lanesha has the "sight" and can see ghosts, including that of her mother) adds a beautiful angle. Even though I already knew about Katrina and its aftermath, the suspenseful writing totally drew me in. An awesome survival story.

Making a sacrifice for her country

I've really got to get over my hesitance to read historical fiction; Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith is another great one! Ida Mae Jones lives on a farm in the South at the start of World War II. Her late father taught her to fly so she could help with dusting the crops, and when she hears of a new group called the WASP - Women Airforce Service Pilots - she's convinced this is the best way for her to help the war effort. Unfortunately, a black person isn't allowed to be a WASP, and she uses her light skin tone to "pass" as a white girl. Ida Mae goes through the danger and excitement of basic training, but she has to sacrifice her true identity to maintain the silver wings she worked so hard to earn. She is stymied when she gets the opportunity to work for a white man she has fallen in love with: "I can fly and be with Walt or be with my family and never fly again. It's not fair." Readers will cheer for Ida Mae and wonder what she does after the book ends.

Telling the truth or stretching it?

Reviews of Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and T. R. Simon use words like "gentle," "brilliance," and "intriguing."  I have to agree.  This is a fictionalized account of one autumn in the childhood of author Zora Neale Hurston, and it's told in the first person by her best friend, Carrie.  Set in Eatonville, Florida, at the turn of the century, Zora is known for her fantastic storytelling talents.  When a murder occurs, she's convinced the suspect is Mr. Pendir, a reclusive neighbor who shape-shifted into a "gator man."  As Zora and Carrie slowly discover they truth, they also learn about secrets, family, and racial relations.  A terrific book for discussion, it's the only project endorsed by the Zora Neale Hurston Trust that wasn't written by Hurston herself.  

Can Armpit make the right choices?

I listened to this book, and it was great: Small Steps, written by Louis Sachar and narrated by Curtis McClarin.  In a follow-up to Sachar's well-known Holes, Armpit is home from Camp Green Lake and taking small steps to get his act together.  He's going to summer school classes, working hard at a landscaping company, and maintaining a really cool relationship with Jenny, the little girl next door who has cerebral palsy.  But then his buddy X-Ray tempts him with a money-making scheme - scalping tickets for a concert by teen rock star Kaira DeLeon - and Armpit's life takes a few steps back.  Sachar smoothly blends such unrelated topics as race issues (Armpit is black, Jenny is white), a behind-the-scenes look at the rock world, and making choices; McClarin's narration adds a beautiful depth to the story.

She wants to be my friend...what's the catch?

I really liked the strength of the main character, Kate, in Hot Girl by Dream Jordan.  Kate is fourteen, and after getting moved from one foster home to another, her life is finally settling down - she gets along pretty well with her foster parents, her grades are good, and she's got a great friend, Felicia.  After Felicia goes on a trip for the summer, Kate's on her own.  She's not sure why she's befriended by super stylish fly-girl Naleejah, but Kate's not complaining when the make-over Naleejah gives her catches the eye of Charles, Kate's long-time crush.  Something is up, though, and if Kate can't keep her actions under control, she's liable to lose the stability her current foster home is finally offering.  What is she willing to risk?  The voices, thoughts, and conflicts in this book are wonderfully authentic and the character development is great.  A super book, especially for older middle school to high school girls.