Ms. Nichols Reads

  Ghost by Jason Reynolds A: Bibliography Reynolds, Jason. 2016. GHOST. New York, NY; Simon & Schuster. ISBN 1481450166. B: Plot Summary Castle Crenshaw, otherwise known as Ghost, is a troubled little boy that comes from a difficult neighborhood. He finds comfort in the structure of running track. With the help of his coach, Ghost learns to turn away from anger and the difficulties that come from living where he does, and focus on improving his talents and athletic abilities.  C: Critical Analysis (Including cultural markers) What a whirlwind of a read! I am so glad this is just book one of a series, because I wasn’t ready for the story to be over when I reached the end. My heart went out to Ghost and everything he had to deal with that was way beyond his maturity level.  Culturally speaking, nearly every character in this novel was African American. The difficulties that these characters faced due to their race and poverty stricken neighborhood all play factors into ...

    Blended by Sharon Draper A: Bibliography Draper, Sharon. 2018. BLENDED. New York, NY; Simon & Schuster. ISBN 1442495014 . B: Plot Summary Isabella is an eleven year girl who is learning to navigate her new life as she copes with her parents’ divorce. One tricky hurdle that Isabella must jump through is the circumstances of her race. Her mother is white and her father is black. Isabella struggles to feel accepted and understood. As the story progresses the reader is able to see how Isabella’s struggles and difficulties begin to affect her in a negative light.  C: Critical Analysis (Including cultural markers) This book is one that I think many people would be able to relate to. Children of divorced parents would be able to relate to Isabella. Bi-Racial children would be able to relate to Isabella. Even just preteen girls could relate to Isabella. Because of this, this novel would be an excellent addition to any library.  At times, the content displayed in ...

  Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson A: Bibliography Woodson, Jacqueline. 2014. BROWN GIRL DREAMING. London, UK: Penguin Group. ISBN 9780147515827.   B: Plot Summary This is the story of little Jacqueline Woodson as she grows up in a time when African Americans are not treated with equality or respect. Woodson takes the reader through her childhood, alternating between locations in the North and South. Along this journey of self-discovery, Woodson discovers the importance of staying true to yourself and your personal values and beliefs.  C: Critical Analysis (Including cultural markers) This was such an enjoyable read! It is definitely a book I will have to read again in the future. I enjoyed the point of view of the little girl, and found myself relating to her time and time again; despite the fact that she made it very clear that we have different ethnicities. Furthermore, both the main character and myself’s childhoods look very at different surface level, but...

Thumbelina by Brian Pinkney A: Bibliography Pinkney, Brian. 2003. THUMBELINA. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishing. ISBN 0688174779. B: Plot Summary This is the classic retelling of a little girl, no bigger than a thumb, that gets kidnapped from her bed and goes on a journey in the quest to return home. Along the way, Thumbelina meets many animal friends (and enemies) including a welcoming field mouse, a rich mole rat, and a sick swallow. Ultimately, Thumbelina learns the power of resilience and perseverance in this story that has captured many generation’s hearts.  C: Critical Analysis (Including cultural markers) This story does not have many cultural markers to indicate what culture is to be represented in t his story. Aside from the illustrations of a “cinnamon-skinned figure” as Kirkus puts it, there is no indication of a culture presented.  Moreover, this story is just a retelling of the already told tale of Thumbelina. There is not much “new information” presented in...

  Two White Rabbits by Jairo Buitrago 2016 A: Bibliography Buitrago, Jairo. 2015. TWO WHITE RABBITS. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books. ISBN 1554987415    B: Plot Summary In this story, a little girl and her father are traveling throughout the country of Mexico, looking for work, and attempting to migrate to the United States. Told through the eyes of a child, the reader can see the hardships and danger that both the little girl and the father must endure on their journey. However difficult the trip seems, the little girl still seems to find innocence, happiness, and ultimately contentment in her situation. C: Critical Analysis (Including cultural markers) Buitrago has written a truly wonderful work of art. This story has done as I think it was intended to do; open my eyes, and anyone else who reads it, to the struggle that many people face when attempting to migrate to the United States. The hard work, rough travel conditions, and still happiness in the little girl, all affe...

  The End of the Line by Sharon McKay 2015 A: Bibliography McKay, Sharon. 2014. THE END OF THE LINE. Toronto, ON: Annick Press. ISBN 1554516595. B: Plot Summary Beatrix is a seven year old Jewish girl, living in Amsterdam, during World War II. One day she finds herself alone on a public tram, after her mother gets arrested by the Nazis. Luckily Beatrix is rescued by two elderly brothers; Hans and Lars. The little girl arrives home with the brothers and is fed and clothed, eventually being named their orphaned “niece”. As the war continues on, Beatrix learns to love and trust these brothers that turn into family. With the war ending, and Amsterdam recuperating from the destruction, fate arrived yet again on the same tram that found Beatrix alone some seven years previously.   C: Critical Analysis (Including cultural markers) This story portrays the atrocities that the Jewish population had to endure during World War II. McKay translates culture in her novel by using the He...

  Good Night, Sleep Tight by Mem Fox A: Bibliography Fox, Mem. 2013. GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT. London, UK: Orchard Books. ISBN 9780545533706. B: Plot Summary Little Bonnie and Ben are being babysat one afternoon by their favorite babysitter, Doug. As the night toils down to bedtime, both Bonnie and Ben attempt to procrastinate, as most children tend to do, by requesting stories and rhymes from Doug. The ever accommodating Doug tells nursery rhymes with ease, appeasing the children momentarily, until they request more. Eventually Doug shuts down the story-telling session and sends the children to bed with a tuck and a good night kiss.   C: Critical Analysis (Including cultural markers) Mem Fox tells the tale of two children being put to sleep by their babysitter. This story progresses with page after page of familiar rhymes that transcend generations.   The illustrations are of universal “white” children and a “white” babysitter. They all have white-peach colored skin ...