Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester

Let's Talk About Race is a powerful book with a very important message . . . we are all different, but beneath our skin we are all the same. In this book, the author, Julius Lester, shares facts about himself. He calls it his "story." Using easy-to-understand words, Lester explains that everyone has a story and that race is just one small part of that story. Then he goes on to explain that we are all made the same underneath our skin. In kid language, Lester is teaching the reader that people should not judge others by their race. I think that the most thought-provoking lines of the entire book are the last lines, when Lester states, "I'll take off my skin. Will you take off yours?" This book and especially these lines would be a great way to start a conversation about equality in an older-elementary classroom.

Julius Lester has written many other children's books, including From Slave Ship to Freedom Road, To Be a Slave, and Why Heaven is Far Away.

References:

Lester, J. (2005). Let's Talk About Race. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

HarperCollins. (2008). Let's Talk About Race. Retrieved on April 7, 2008, from http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060285968/Lets_Talk_About_Race/index.aspx

Hiroshima by Laurence Yep

Hiroshima, written by Laurence Yep, is a powerful historical fiction story that details the dropping of the first atomic bomb, including the events leading up to it and what happens afterwards. I remember learing about this awful part of our country's history in high school, however, I'm not sure that the details of the suffering that was incurred by the people of Hiroshima was quite as vivid as it told in this book. In this story, Yep introduces the reader to two sisters named Riko and Sachi, who are 16 and 12 years old respectively. The girls live in Hiroshima and are both in the city at the time of the bombing. Riko is killed instantly. Sachi survives but is left with terribly disfiguring scars, which cause her to become somewhat of a recluse. It isn't until years later that she is sent to America where doctors are able to repair some of her injuries and help her to feel as though she can return to her homeland to assist other survivors.

This book is written at a level that my 3rd and 4th graders could easily read, but the content and historical facts are not watered down at all. In fact, I found the information in this story to be so interesting that it prompted me to do some internet research on the aftermath of the atomic bomb and on the Hiroshima Maidens, which is the name given to the group of 25 women who traveled to America for numerous surgeries.

Interestingly enough, Yep dedicated this book to Yoshiko Uchida, another author whose books we are assigned to read, and he makes mention of Sadako, the child written about in the well-known story Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Yep is also the author of many more books that feature Chinese characters, such as Dragonwings, Dragon's Gate, The Cook's Family, and The Tiger's Apprentice series.

References:

Yep, L. (1995). Hiroshima. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Fantastic Fiction. (2008). Hiroshima. Retrieved on March 5, 2008, from http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/y/laurence-yep/hiroshima.htm

Princess Academy - 2006 Newbery Honor Book

The Princess Academy, written by Shannon Hale, is the story of a mountain girl named Miri. More than anything Miri longs to be accepted as a valuable member of her family. She wants to show her worth by working side by side in the quarry with her father, sister, and the other members of the village, but her father will not allow it. Instead, Miri is given the job of trading goods and caring for the family goats.

When an announcement comes, stating that the prince's bride-to-be will be chosen from the mountain girls of her village and all of the eligible girls must attend an academy to train for life as a possible princess, Miri wants nothing to do with it. She would much rather stay with her family on Mount Eskel. However, when it is clear that she must go, she decides that she will demonstrate her worthiness to her family by becoming the academy princess. Her stubborn nature and decisive tactics earn her the respect of many of the girls in the academy, and when bandits attack the academy, it is Miri who discovers the way to save them all.

References:

Hale, S. (2005). The Princess Academy. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Squeetus. (n.d.). Books: Princess Academy. Retrieved on March 4, 2008, from http://www.squeetus.com/stage/books_academy.html