Culture 2 African American Literature Book Review

 

Culture 2 African American Literature Book Review

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pinkney, Andrea. 1993. SEVEN CANDLES FOR KWANZAA. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803712936.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
What is Kwanzaa?  Kwanzaa is an African American celebration that occurs from December 26^th through January 1^st of each year.  In Swahili, the word Kwanzaa means first fruits of the harvest.  The celebration that takes place in America is a time when those of African descent celebrate their African heritage.  There are seven principles celebrated, one for each day of the weeklong celebration. 

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)

The illustrations in this book capture an Afrocentric family with its vibrant colors and patterns.  The clothes, food, movements, and objects depicted here demonstrate how Kwanzaa is celebrated.  The details drawn on the faces of the people down to the hairstyles are distinct to the African culture.

The author does an excellent job of presenting the seven principles of the celebration using words in Swahili and giving the pronunciation so that those unfamiliar with the words can learn to pronounce them correctly.  Traditions are described and illustrations demonstrate how to celebrate each principle.  

 
D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Pick of the List designation-American Booksellers

School Library Journal Review: “Children whose families celebrate Kwanzaa as well as those who are not familiar with this festival will find this to be an enjoyable look at this tradition.”

E. CONNECTIONS
Students can draw a picture of a kinara complete with the correct order and color of the candles and then identify each principle of Kwanzaa on their picture to demonstrate their knowledge.

Other books about Kwanzaa:
Ford, Juwanda.  K IS FOR KWANZAA.   ISBN 0590922009

Chocolate Newton, Deborah. MY FIRST KWANZAA BOOK. ISBN  061322048

Katz, Karen. MY FIRST KWANZAA. ISBN  080507077

  

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Grimes, Nikki. 2008. BARACK OBAMA: SON OF PROMISE, CHILD OF HOPE. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781442450776.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
The tell of the 44th president of the United States and how he came to be.  Barack Obama, affectionately known as “Barry”, is the descendent of an African father and a European mother.  He was taught many lessons by his family including: 

“Education is the key”

“Education is the secret”

“Education is the way”

“Education is the path”

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Bryan Collier illustrated a vibrant collection of images documenting the life of Barack Obama.  From child to adult, the distinct subtlety of facial features are almost true to life.  The colors captivate all the different hues of skin in Barack’s experience from his mother’s fair complexion to his father’s dark complexion.  The illustrations of the locations are colorful and distinctive taking you from Hawaii to California then to New York, a church in Chicago and then Kenya.  The intricate background created a realistic location experience.

The author tells Obama’s story in a poetic way using repetitive phrases and descriptive adjectives that paint a picture in your mind.  Along with the beautiful images, this story is captivating, inspiring and informative.  The words and images display the diversity in Barack Obama’s life along with the love and hope that enriches and sustains it.  This suggests to the reader that all he is and has accomplished was engrained, rooted in his heart and mind to strive, execute, hope and dream.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Children's Category

Publishers Weekly: “Collier uses watercolor and collage, a choice he explains as a metaphor for the way Obama has ‘piece[d] life’s issues together to create a courageous vision for the world’.”

The Children’s Book Review: “While the words “extravagantly emotional” enter my mind, I believe that this will be a very sentimental and inspirational book for many.”

E. CONNECTIONS
Students can write the alphabet in order from A to Z, one letter on each line of a sheet of paper.  Beside each letter, think of a word starting with that letter to describe Barack Obama.  Some letters like x and y maybe difficult.  You can have students use a thesaurus or work with a partner.

Here are more books about the life of Barack Obama:
Brill, Marlene Targ. BARACK OBAMA WORKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. ISBN 0822560569 
Obama, Barack. THE AUDACITY OF HOPE. ISBN 0307237699
Obama, Barack. DREAMS FROM MY FATHER. ISBN 1921351438

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zoboi, Ibi. 2018. AMERICAN STREET. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN 1886910588.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
On the corner of American Street and Joy Road in Detroit, Michigan USA is a house where Fabiola Toussaint thought une belle vie-a good life would begin.  This is the house where her life began.  She was born in America and raised in Haiti.  As a teenager, she journeys back to America with her mother.  Once they arrive in New York, Fabiola’s mother is detained by immigration and she is forced to continue to Detroit on her own.  She returns to the house of her beginning where her family, her three cousins and Aunt live.  She must adjust to life in America, in this world that her family lives in.  Une belle vie-a good life seems hard to accomplish as life gets more and more complicated.  Fabiola learns how to love and care for her family in ways that she never thought she would have to.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)

The story takes place in Detroit, Michigan, and references Haiti often.  Fabiola Toussaint arrives in America and lives with her cousins and aunt.  She is learning how to maneuver her way in this new world.  Often, she compares the two cultures, African American and Haitian.  The author allows you to learn some words in French and creole by having the characters use various phrases and words in those languages and then defining them. 

Fabiola thinks of her home in Haiti often and describes places and events that occurred in her life there.  These passages give you a glimpse of life in Haiti and how it is different from life in the United States.  Fabiola talks about filling a tub with water outside to wash clothes right before an earthquake, she describes hanging out with her friends, places they would go and things they would do.  You see a stark contrast to no earthquakes in Detroit and hanging out with family and friends in Detroit. 

For Thanksgiving, Aunt Jo gets sick and cannot continue preparing the meal, so she asks Fabiola to finish.  Fabiola sees the turkey and prepares it the way she would in Haiti not knowing that her American family were expecting something else.  Ultimately her family devours the meal because they found it delicious.

Fabiola practices voodoo to protect her family.  The author explains the alter that is created, the prayers, and other practices performed for specific purposes.  This is another cultural difference between America and Haiti.

The author describes each of the main characters in the story at different points.  She gives a back story for each one detailing specific information about them.  It helps the reader see them more clearly and even understand their motives behind certain decisions they make. 

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature

South Carolina Book Award Nominee for Young Adult

Lincoln Award Nominee

Américas Award

School Library Journal: “Zoboi weaves grittiness, sensitivity, and complexity into every character, but Fabiola's longing, determination, and strength shine especially brightly.”

Kirkus Review: “Filling her pages with magic, humanity, tragedy, and hope, Zoboi builds up, takes apart, and then rebuilds an unforgettable story.”

Booklist: “Zoboi’s stunning debut intertwines mysticism and love with grit and violence…Fierce and beautiful.”

E. CONNECTIONS
Use details from the book and your own imagination to write a back story for Fabiola’s mom, Valeria Toussaint.  Include details of her life in Haiti before and after Fabiola was born.  Tell why she came to America before Fabiola was born and explain what happened to Fabiola’s dad.

Books about teens written by other Haitian authors:

Ulysse, Katia.  MOUTHS DON’T SPEAK. ISBN 1617755923

Moulite, Maika and Moulite, Maritza.  DEAR HAITI, LOVE ALAINE. ISBN 1335777091

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Draper, Sharon. 2020. BLENDED. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 9781338712865.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Isabella is an eleven-year-old who is a child shuffled between two households.  Her parents are divorced, and they have a custody agreement that stipulates Isabella spend one week with mom and then one week with dad.  She is exchanged every Sunday in front of the Apple store.  Isabella is “blended” in more than one way, because of this, her journey is filled with many challenges that she must face.  She discovers that with the love of her families, she can get through anything.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
This is the story of a diverse family. A black professional dad and a white blue-collar mother.  Isabella affectionately known as Izzy is the product of this marital union turned divorce.  She tells the story from her point of view.  Isabella maneuvers through her two-household world that is made more complicated with economics, race, and custody issues.

When Izzy is with her mom, they do things like go to Target and eat at the bowling alley where her future step father John Mark is the manager.  Izzy often goes to The Waffle House after school to wait for her mother’s shift to be over.  Nicole, Izzy’s mom drives an old car that breaks down.  She practices piano on a Casio electronic keyboard.  In contrast, Isabella’s father is not a fan of Target. They go to stores in the mall like Nordstrom’s.   They eat at places like Capital Grille, an upscale expensive restaurant, or the Cheesecake Factory. Mr. Thornton drives a brand-new black Mercedes.  She sees her piano teacher twice a week and practices on a Steinway baby grand piano that is polished regularly in a room they call the music room.  The two households are very different economically.

Isabella describes feeling more comfortable going out with her black family.  She looks as if she belongs to her father and soon to be stepmother.  People do not look twice when encountering them.  This is because her stepmother is a black woman.  When she is with her mom and her fiancé people look at them twice and give a look like, how are they together?  John Mark, Izzy’s soon to be stepfather is white.

Isabella describes herself as having some facial features like her mom and some like her dad.  Her skin color is darker than her mom’s but lighter than her dad’s.  She says “…I’m not white.  I never will be, and… I don’t want to be.  Because the half of me that is Daddy is stronger.”

The parents have a custody agreement that is very formal.  She spends one week with Dad and one week with mom.  If at any time Izzy wants to say spend the night with anyone other than a parent, forms must be signed and there is this whole big thing.  When she wanted to spend the night at her friend Imani’s house, her mom agreed to give up one of her days.  There were phone calls and texts exchanged between all the parents, and permission forms signed. 

This story lays out how complicated divorce can be.  It also lays out how complicated being black in America can be.  In Izzy’s case, she is both black and white and that in itself has its own complications.  The story culminates with her parents setting aside whatever differences or frustrations they have with each other to put the needs of their daughter first. 

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Mark Twain Award Final Nominee

YARP Award Nominee

South Carolina Book Award Nominee

YouPer Award Top Ten Title

School Library Journal: “The dialogue is realistic and the alternating chapters between Isabella's time with her mom and dad underscores the protagonist's discomfort moving back and forth between them.”

Booklist: “Draper has written a book in which kids will see themselves.”

E. CONNECTIONS
Students should choose five words from the book that were unfamiliar to them before reading the book and write a sentence using each one.

Books about biracial children:

Hutchins, Tanya.  BORN BEAUTIFUL BIRACIAL.  ISBN 0986065951

Gaskins, Pearl F.  WHAT ARE YOU?  ISBN 0805099336

Diggs, Taye.  MIXED ME.  ISBN 1250047196