Woodson, Jacqueline. FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF MELANIN SUN. New York: Scholastic, 1995. ISBN 0590458817
Melanin Sun is a 13 year-old boy. He is experiencing the typical things boys his age go through: hormone changes, girls, friends, insecurity. He has an extremely close relationship with his mom. When he finds out she's in love and who she's in love with it challenges what he thought was right. Readers will be moved by Melanin's emotions as he works through them in this story that may be more real than we think.
Jacqueline Woodson has created a character in 13 year-old, African-American, Melanin Sun that kids of similar and older ages will relate to. He is the type of person that boys and girls can understand no matter what race. He is quiet, observant, thoughtful, and writes about everything. He is living in an apartment in the city, has two close friends, is just beginning to show interest in a particular girl. He also shows how insecure he is around the opposite sex. It is important that readers bond with Melanin so that when his mother tells him her secret readers will be rooting for Melanin to find a way to be at peace. It's a coming of age story in a modern world with real emotion.
Many young people growing up today not only have to deal with the typical problems but also may worry about sexual preference. Because Melanin is quiet and thoughtful he seems to worry about his or at least how it appears to others. "I knew it was faggy to collect stamps but I didn't care. It was something I liked and as long as I didn't start wanting to kiss on Raphael and Sean, I was okay." His friends know he collects stamps and tease him so he is dealing with the inner conflict.
As an African-American Melanin and his friends also have issues with whites at times. Melanin and his mother go to the beach and he realizes "no one was as dark as me." When he gets teased by some white boys at the beach he feels "stupid then, dark and ugly. Alone. It made me hate white people in a way I hadn't thought about hating them before." His friends talk about wanting to beat them up but know they wouldn't. They all hold on to "the hate." This issue sets up part of the problem with his mother's secret.
When Melanin's mother tells him she is in love with Kristin, a woman, a white woman, his first reaction is that he will become what he has been reassuring himself he is not, gay. As he begins processing the new information he feels great anger, he wants to die, he punches walls, and cries. He screams obscenities at her and moves to feeling embarrassed because others will know what she is. Woodson does a great job of combining the actions and emotions so readers feel the fury inside Melanin.
Melanin retreats to his own world and works on putting some order back in his mind. When one of his friends makes a comment revealing he knows about Melanin's mother and her girlfriend the raw emotions come to the surface again in a physical fight that results in the ending of a friendship.
As the story comes to a close, Melanin is still dealing with wanting things to go back the way they were before the secret was revealed, ignoring his mother, yet wanting the love of his mother even though he doesn't agree with her choice. He feels so torn and Woodson writes to allow readers to feel the same. Melanin's close relationship to his mother finally results in a deep and sincere dialogue where the beginning of understanding is born for Melanin. His mother asks him to " ' see her [Kristin] as human, Mel. Just walk into one day without being so mad at me.' " Melanin wants to know how he's supposed to " 'walk out of it' " and she replies, " 'However you walk out of it.' " She gives Melanin some power in his feelings and how he views things but by asking him to keep an open mind he begins to see his mother as he did before. Melanin also questions Kristin about why she loves his mother. As he talks with her more he begins to allow himself to accept her thus accepting that this is his reality. He starts looking, also, for the time when this newness will be behind him. Readers are left with a sense of hope that Melanin will make peace with his new situation and hopefully more acceptance.
Woodson has done a terrific job revealing a side of this issue that most do not think about because it happens behind closed doors. Melanin shows us this is not an issue that kids go discuss with their friends. Woodson's descriptions of Melanin's thoughts and emotions bring him to life. Also, showing Melanin's and Kristin's conversations gives great insights to conversations that must have taken place before but aren't discussed openly in many circles. Woodson writes with a purpose, but it's the story and Melanin that will be remembered.
HORN BOOK GUIDE: "Woodson tells a powerful and ultimately hopeful story in this concise novel."
KIRKUS: "Melanin Sun's inner journey will leave readers moved and reassured."
Read other books by Jacqueline Woodson:'
FEATHERS
ISBN 9780399239892
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Culture 6 - Inclusive: HABIBI
Nye, Naomi Shihab. HABIBI. New York: Simon Pulse, 1997. ISBN 9780689825231
Liyana is moving to another country. She has grown up in America and now her father is moving the family of four to his homeland - Palestine. She doesn't know this Arab side of herself. She doesn't know the relatives, the language, the customs, anything. It takes a friendship for her to begin to feel at home in this new place.
HABIBI is full of cultural markers towards the Arab culture. Cultural markers exist for the Jewish and Armenian cultures as well. The combination of all the cultures are woven together to tell the story of Liyana's family as they move from America to Jerusalem. Liyana, her mother, and brother were all born in America and always knew they would move overseas to experience the other half of their heritage. Liyana's parents decided this was a good time because of Liyana's and Rafik's ages, entering high school and middle school, respectively. Her father thinks it is safe enough to return to his homeland. Liyana is not sure this will be fun since she has just experiences her first kiss. The story is full of conflicting emotions in many of the character's lives and it will be reassuring for readers to see Liyana's inner thoughts throughout.
The idea of being immigrants is raised several ways. Liyana's father, Poppy, is an immigrant in the United States and his wife and children become immigrants in Jerusalem. After announcing the move, Poppy tells his family, " 'I never thought I'd become a citizen. I planned to return home after medical school.' " Poppy is preparing Liyana for the move by telling her "Arab women don't wear shorts" because they are inappropriate, as well as other tidbits about Arab women. Liyana's stress builds and we see what many people with dual heritage background may experience when face with the prospect of going to a place that is part of them but not known to them. She tells it to her father like this: " 'I'm just a half-half, woman-girl, Arab-American, a mixed breed like those wild characters that ride up on ponies in the cowboy movies Rafik likes to watch. The half-breeds are always villains or rescuers, never anybody normal in between.' " Liyana's character is admirable because she is bright and articulate and is able to put into words what many people her age cannot. Readers will admire and learn from her through her experience.
Liyana is a writer and we see bits of things she writes down, but one of her assignments before she moves is to interview her father about Jerusalem and discuss some of the issues from his point of view. Her paper has references to food and friends of different backgrounds but gives a simple explanation of some of the reasons for unrest in Jerusalem. "After the British weren't in control anymore, the Jews wanted control and the Arabs wanted control. Everybody said Jerusalem and Palestine was theirs. Too many other countries, especially the United States, got involved with money, guns, and bossing around." Liyana also shares information regarding what it was like during the fighting as it touched close to her father. Her paper also makes a reference to American Indians and how they "made my father very sad. He knew how the felt." This paper is integral to the story for background and will help readers who don't know the history from watching the news.
Once the family moves Nye gives readers vivid pictures of life in Israel. The tone is set for the story when the family is stopped at customs. The family is nervous and the reality of the peace that exists in America is not the same in Israel is apparent. The family begins their new life at a hotel in Jerusalem and is a good transition for them. The first time they meet Sitti, their grandmother, she blesses them and expresses her joy in a traditional cry, "threw her head back, rolled her tongue high up in her mouth and began trilling wildly." It is awhile before Liyana feels comfortable enough to go stay with her relatives in their village. She does not know their language and they do not know hers. It is a barrier that is overcome by love.
Cultural markers of appearance are introduced when meeting the relatives. Vivid details abound like Sitti's hands "tattooed with the dark blue shapes of flying birds." "The women's long dresses were made of thick fabrics, purple, gold, and navy blue, and stitched brightly with fabulous, complicated embroidery." "All the women wore gold bangle bracelets. The older ones had long white scarves draped and knotted firmly over their hair. The younger ones had bare heads, which made Liyana feel relieved." Details of the men's attire is given as well with differences noted for the older men. Rafik wants to understand names of relatives. A few words are thrown in interlingually but are explained well.
Liyana goes to an Armenian school and during lunch off campus one day meets a boy, Omer. Omer is Jewish, thus presenting a sensitive issue in the dynamics of the cultures of Israel. Omer is interested in Liyana's relatives but Poppy isn't sure the family would understand their friendship. She wins over her father by bringing up the issue of peace that he so desperately wants for his country. The relatives have mixed emotions regarding Omer's presence, but it is Sitti who welcomes him and opens the eyes of others in the family.
HABIBI is a must-read for students. Nye has woven together strong cultural markers and a strong story-line that captivates readers from the first sentence to the end. The themes of peace will be left with readers and could interest them enough to find ways to contribute.
BOOKLIST: "The story is steeped in detail about the place and cultures: food, geography, history, shopping, schools, language, religions, etc."
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Nye's climactic ending will leave readers pondering, long after the last page is turned, why Arabs, Jews, Greeks and Armenians can no longer live in harmony the way they once did."
Read other works by Naomi Shihab Nye:
19 VARITIES OF GAZELLE: POEMS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
ISBN 9780060504045
Liyana is moving to another country. She has grown up in America and now her father is moving the family of four to his homeland - Palestine. She doesn't know this Arab side of herself. She doesn't know the relatives, the language, the customs, anything. It takes a friendship for her to begin to feel at home in this new place.
HABIBI is full of cultural markers towards the Arab culture. Cultural markers exist for the Jewish and Armenian cultures as well. The combination of all the cultures are woven together to tell the story of Liyana's family as they move from America to Jerusalem. Liyana, her mother, and brother were all born in America and always knew they would move overseas to experience the other half of their heritage. Liyana's parents decided this was a good time because of Liyana's and Rafik's ages, entering high school and middle school, respectively. Her father thinks it is safe enough to return to his homeland. Liyana is not sure this will be fun since she has just experiences her first kiss. The story is full of conflicting emotions in many of the character's lives and it will be reassuring for readers to see Liyana's inner thoughts throughout.
The idea of being immigrants is raised several ways. Liyana's father, Poppy, is an immigrant in the United States and his wife and children become immigrants in Jerusalem. After announcing the move, Poppy tells his family, " 'I never thought I'd become a citizen. I planned to return home after medical school.' " Poppy is preparing Liyana for the move by telling her "Arab women don't wear shorts" because they are inappropriate, as well as other tidbits about Arab women. Liyana's stress builds and we see what many people with dual heritage background may experience when face with the prospect of going to a place that is part of them but not known to them. She tells it to her father like this: " 'I'm just a half-half, woman-girl, Arab-American, a mixed breed like those wild characters that ride up on ponies in the cowboy movies Rafik likes to watch. The half-breeds are always villains or rescuers, never anybody normal in between.' " Liyana's character is admirable because she is bright and articulate and is able to put into words what many people her age cannot. Readers will admire and learn from her through her experience.
Liyana is a writer and we see bits of things she writes down, but one of her assignments before she moves is to interview her father about Jerusalem and discuss some of the issues from his point of view. Her paper has references to food and friends of different backgrounds but gives a simple explanation of some of the reasons for unrest in Jerusalem. "After the British weren't in control anymore, the Jews wanted control and the Arabs wanted control. Everybody said Jerusalem and Palestine was theirs. Too many other countries, especially the United States, got involved with money, guns, and bossing around." Liyana also shares information regarding what it was like during the fighting as it touched close to her father. Her paper also makes a reference to American Indians and how they "made my father very sad. He knew how the felt." This paper is integral to the story for background and will help readers who don't know the history from watching the news.
Once the family moves Nye gives readers vivid pictures of life in Israel. The tone is set for the story when the family is stopped at customs. The family is nervous and the reality of the peace that exists in America is not the same in Israel is apparent. The family begins their new life at a hotel in Jerusalem and is a good transition for them. The first time they meet Sitti, their grandmother, she blesses them and expresses her joy in a traditional cry, "threw her head back, rolled her tongue high up in her mouth and began trilling wildly." It is awhile before Liyana feels comfortable enough to go stay with her relatives in their village. She does not know their language and they do not know hers. It is a barrier that is overcome by love.
Cultural markers of appearance are introduced when meeting the relatives. Vivid details abound like Sitti's hands "tattooed with the dark blue shapes of flying birds." "The women's long dresses were made of thick fabrics, purple, gold, and navy blue, and stitched brightly with fabulous, complicated embroidery." "All the women wore gold bangle bracelets. The older ones had long white scarves draped and knotted firmly over their hair. The younger ones had bare heads, which made Liyana feel relieved." Details of the men's attire is given as well with differences noted for the older men. Rafik wants to understand names of relatives. A few words are thrown in interlingually but are explained well.
Liyana goes to an Armenian school and during lunch off campus one day meets a boy, Omer. Omer is Jewish, thus presenting a sensitive issue in the dynamics of the cultures of Israel. Omer is interested in Liyana's relatives but Poppy isn't sure the family would understand their friendship. She wins over her father by bringing up the issue of peace that he so desperately wants for his country. The relatives have mixed emotions regarding Omer's presence, but it is Sitti who welcomes him and opens the eyes of others in the family.
HABIBI is a must-read for students. Nye has woven together strong cultural markers and a strong story-line that captivates readers from the first sentence to the end. The themes of peace will be left with readers and could interest them enough to find ways to contribute.
BOOKLIST: "The story is steeped in detail about the place and cultures: food, geography, history, shopping, schools, language, religions, etc."
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Nye's climactic ending will leave readers pondering, long after the last page is turned, why Arabs, Jews, Greeks and Armenians can no longer live in harmony the way they once did."
Read other works by Naomi Shihab Nye:
19 VARITIES OF GAZELLE: POEMS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
ISBN 9780060504045
Culture 6 - Inclusive: RULES
Lord, Cynthia. RULES. New York: Scholastic, 2006. ISBN 0439443822
Catherine is 12 years old. She has a brother that she thinks interferes with her having a normal life. Her brother has autism and although she helps him a great deal she is embarrassed in front of people who don't know and angered by people who make fun of him. When she makes friends with a boy who challenges her to define normal.
Rules, written, unwritten, and unspoken are all around us. "Most kids don't even consider these rules." Catherine writes rules for her autistic brother, David, as a way to hopefully avoid embarrassment. Most of the rules apply to us all and will make us laugh binding readers with the story and characters from the beginning. "Sometimes people don't answer because they didn't hear you. Other times it's because they don't want to hear you." "If you want to get away with something, don't announce it first." Readers can almost forget Catherine is only 12 since she is the one writing the rules for her brother. Her parents rely on Catherine to help care for David so it has made her mature faster than other girls her age. Catherine is endearing to readers because we see that she's not always comfortable being a caretaker and wants to do what everyone else is doing. "It feels deliciously easy to be visiting a friend's house without having to say first, 'Sorry, David, this is for me.'"
Lord does a great job showing Catherine as a normal girl experiencing frustration with her family that all girls and boys experience. Catherine is also frustrated by the fact that her dad chooses to distance himself from his family. He works late, spends time in his garden and takes David to his favorite place, the video store. Catherine reaches out to her father and asks to do something with him and he puts her off. "'Someday soon,' he says. 'I promise.'" Catherine thinks to herself, "I know he's just promising to stop me from asking again."
All students experience teasing and children with disabilities are no exception. Ryan, a boy in Catherine's neighborhood, has teased David and therefore, has an enemy in Catherine. Catherine meets a boy, Jason, at the OT's office who is in a wheelchair and doesn't speak. Catherine and Jason become friends and when faced with the prospect of being seen together at a dance steps back for fear of both being made fun of. Catherine's friendship with Jason began with her making word cards for him to use to point to when he wanted to "speak". She begins to see he is normal in his thoughts, ideas, and feelings, but his body is what makes him different. Even though she despises Ryan's treatment of her brother it is her desire to keep Jason hidden from others that forces her to question what she believes is normal and acceptable. When Jason asks if she wants to go to the dance she makes excuses and he sees right through and asks her "Are? You. Embarrassed. About. Me." It is the question we all wonder how we would answer. We hope we would answer it correctly but Catherine shows us our true answer may not be the right one and she realizes she must change her thinking. Her confrontation with the issue is realistic and universal. Readers will gain insight from Catherine and begin asking themselves how they would react.
Another important issue in RULES is that Cynthia Lord does not give clinical details about autism or Jason's disability. Facts about each one are woven into the story without becoming a distraction. One day at OT Catherine notices Jason is angry because he "slides his hand across his book, jabbing at cards. His fingers curl, clawlike, as his knuckle raps one word and another." Jason's "hands twitch, and he makes rumbling-throat sounds, near to growling." Autism has so many different characteristics but Lord gives readers enough tidbits of information to give a good visual of what he's like. David loves to go to the video store and has to "walk down each row of videos, flipping boxes over to read the parental advisory and the rating - even on videos Dad would never let him rent."
RULES is a great book that readers will love whether or not they have had any experiences with people with disabilities. Hopefully, it challenges readers to examine their own feelings towards people with disabilities.
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "A rewarding story that may well inspire readers to think about others' point of view."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability."
Read other Schneider Family Book Award winners:
Sachar, Louis. SMALL STEPS. New York: Delacorte Press, 2006. ISBN 9780385733144
Catherine is 12 years old. She has a brother that she thinks interferes with her having a normal life. Her brother has autism and although she helps him a great deal she is embarrassed in front of people who don't know and angered by people who make fun of him. When she makes friends with a boy who challenges her to define normal.
Rules, written, unwritten, and unspoken are all around us. "Most kids don't even consider these rules." Catherine writes rules for her autistic brother, David, as a way to hopefully avoid embarrassment. Most of the rules apply to us all and will make us laugh binding readers with the story and characters from the beginning. "Sometimes people don't answer because they didn't hear you. Other times it's because they don't want to hear you." "If you want to get away with something, don't announce it first." Readers can almost forget Catherine is only 12 since she is the one writing the rules for her brother. Her parents rely on Catherine to help care for David so it has made her mature faster than other girls her age. Catherine is endearing to readers because we see that she's not always comfortable being a caretaker and wants to do what everyone else is doing. "It feels deliciously easy to be visiting a friend's house without having to say first, 'Sorry, David, this is for me.'"
Lord does a great job showing Catherine as a normal girl experiencing frustration with her family that all girls and boys experience. Catherine is also frustrated by the fact that her dad chooses to distance himself from his family. He works late, spends time in his garden and takes David to his favorite place, the video store. Catherine reaches out to her father and asks to do something with him and he puts her off. "'Someday soon,' he says. 'I promise.'" Catherine thinks to herself, "I know he's just promising to stop me from asking again."
All students experience teasing and children with disabilities are no exception. Ryan, a boy in Catherine's neighborhood, has teased David and therefore, has an enemy in Catherine. Catherine meets a boy, Jason, at the OT's office who is in a wheelchair and doesn't speak. Catherine and Jason become friends and when faced with the prospect of being seen together at a dance steps back for fear of both being made fun of. Catherine's friendship with Jason began with her making word cards for him to use to point to when he wanted to "speak". She begins to see he is normal in his thoughts, ideas, and feelings, but his body is what makes him different. Even though she despises Ryan's treatment of her brother it is her desire to keep Jason hidden from others that forces her to question what she believes is normal and acceptable. When Jason asks if she wants to go to the dance she makes excuses and he sees right through and asks her "Are? You. Embarrassed. About. Me." It is the question we all wonder how we would answer. We hope we would answer it correctly but Catherine shows us our true answer may not be the right one and she realizes she must change her thinking. Her confrontation with the issue is realistic and universal. Readers will gain insight from Catherine and begin asking themselves how they would react.
Another important issue in RULES is that Cynthia Lord does not give clinical details about autism or Jason's disability. Facts about each one are woven into the story without becoming a distraction. One day at OT Catherine notices Jason is angry because he "slides his hand across his book, jabbing at cards. His fingers curl, clawlike, as his knuckle raps one word and another." Jason's "hands twitch, and he makes rumbling-throat sounds, near to growling." Autism has so many different characteristics but Lord gives readers enough tidbits of information to give a good visual of what he's like. David loves to go to the video store and has to "walk down each row of videos, flipping boxes over to read the parental advisory and the rating - even on videos Dad would never let him rent."
RULES is a great book that readers will love whether or not they have had any experiences with people with disabilities. Hopefully, it challenges readers to examine their own feelings towards people with disabilities.
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "A rewarding story that may well inspire readers to think about others' point of view."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability."
Read other Schneider Family Book Award winners:
Sachar, Louis. SMALL STEPS. New York: Delacorte Press, 2006. ISBN 9780385733144
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