Song of the Trees (Logans #3) by Mildred D. Taylor

★★★

After reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, book 4 in the series about the Logan family, I figured it'd be worth reading the rest of the series as well.

I have to admit, I did not realize this book is essentially a short story. I'm actually glad I read it after reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, because that meant I went into this book already knowing who the characters were. Without that pre-existing connection, I'm not sure I would have felt as invested in this story.

Song of the Trees tells of the episode, referenced in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, in which a white man takes advantage of Papa not being home to strong-arm Big Ma into allowing him to cut down trees on her land. The book conveys a deep appreciation for nature while reaffirming David Logan's dignity in the face of overt racism.

It Ain't So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas

★★★★★

A downright funny book about a girl in middle school who moves to Newport Beach, CA from Iran by way of Compton. Her name is Zomorod, but in an effort to fit in better, she decides to go by Cindy. This book provides a unique glimpse into a very specific time in U.S. history: the late 1970s during the Iran hostage crisis.

That description probably makes this book sound random, but it's really a tight story. Through Cindy and her family, we get a look at a special kind of immigrant experience, one in which Cindy is expected to live a normal American life while knowing that her friends, her family, and the place she considers "home" are suffering indescribable injustices, fear, and turmoil. It's rare in a children's book, but Cindy's family is just not a typical, happy family. They are sad, and they become depressed. In the end, though, because it is a children's book after all, thanks to the kindness of friends and neighbors, everything turns out fine.

Now that description probably makes this book sound heavy and serious, but it's really such a fun read! Cindy is determined to make friends and have all-American experiences, despite her parents' lack of desire to assimilate themselves. She's smart and plucky and well-adjusted, and her energy is practically contagious.

This book offers so many relatable child-of-immigrant experiences, including having a name no one can pronounce, being your parents' translator, and having a family that doesn't openly communicate like the American families on TV. The details of life in the late 1970s might be new to young readers, but it was perfectly nostalgic for me, what with the passing mentions of Sears, cassettes, and pop culture references from my childhood.

Being an immigrant from Iran was bad enough because Cindy was frequently treated as an "other", but when the Iran hostage crisis happens, her life is upended. Now suddenly she is associated with the most hated country in America, and she is forced to face xenophobia head-on.

I was born in the 1970s, but growing up I knew nothing about Iran beyond hearing about "the Iran hostages" and associating Iran with Ayatollah Khomeini. This book provided an eye-opening lesson in U.S. history at a level appropriate for young readers. Most kids born and raised in America know about freedom of speech, but I can imagine some lines in this book could make a real impression on those who might not realize that not all countries enjoy such freedoms.

One small heads-up for parents who may want to know: There is a passing mention of "venereal disease" in the context of a classroom prank.

An excellent "window" book for today's middle grade readers, both entertaining and educational!

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

★★★★★

*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***

I don't care what anyone says, I refuse to believe that the little prince dies. I see him as the manifestation of the pilot's childhood innocence, and while many of us may lose touch with our inner child as we grow up, I don't think we ever lose that sense of youth completely. Our inner child may get buried deep inside us, maybe we never again consciously recognize them, but I think they live on inside us; I definitely do not think they die.

In fact, I see all the planets and their inhabitants as pieces of our adult selves, some being more prominent in one's character than others. None of them ever die, the potential for each personality trait exists within us, it's just a matter of which ones manifest in us the most, and to what extent.

And yes, I know snakes can represent loss of innocence, or evil, in books... And the little prince makes clear statements to and about the yellow snake regarding the snake's poison... But the pilot himself believes the little prince did go back to his planet, and that's good enough for me!

Anyway, one of the messages of the book is, "What is most important is invisible." So really, what's most important is that the spirit of the little prince lives on. It's not actually important to know for sure if the little prince physically "dies" on our earth or not, if he figuratively "dies" as part of his mode of transportation back home, or if he literally dies.

An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up from My American Dream by Julián Castro

★★★★★

An inspiring read that shows just how much America has to gain by welcoming immigrants and investing in all people equally. As a memoir, this book is very approachable. Only a small bit of policy is mentioned towards the end, when Castro discusses his political offices.

Julián Castro describes the American dream not as a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay in which each generation passes along what they have achieved in the hopes that the next generation might have even better and more accessible opportunities for success. He tells his own family history, an example of this relay for the American dream.

Castro is a Mexican-American who grew up in an underprivileged part of San Antonio, TX in a single-parent, multi-generational household. He and his identical twin brother Joaquin shared a special bond, and together they were raised by a passionately politically active mother who taught them how to help improve their community by taking action. There's always some debate about nature versus nurture, but it's fascinating that Julián went on to become a San Antonio city councilman, then mayor, then President Obama's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, while Joaquin became a state representative in Texas, and then a congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Through his life story, it's clear how Castro developed his sense of service and giving back. He believes that all people have ability and ambition, and it is mostly a lack of opportunity that holds back those of modest means. As someone who received critical mentoring along the way, he believes in both acknowledging the efforts of those who paved the path before him, and also reaching back and helping those who will follow behind him. His dedication to his hometown of San Antonio is admirable.

Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson

★★★★★

A wonderful middle grade book that exposes young readers to civil rights activism in the 1940s from a tween's point of view.

There's so much I love about this book. Mostly, I love the idea of showing young readers that every person who has ever made a difference in this world - every musician, athlete, activist, or scientist - was once a child, just like the rest of us. Each child has so much potential!

The book has a Biblical theme of "reaping what you sow", and as Betty tends to her "planted seeds" in relationships and activism, she learns that both require patience, care, and attention before she can "reap" any rewards. But Betty herself is also a seed, and through the love and guidance of those around her, she matures into a strong, thoughtful, and compassionate leader.

I like that the book touches upon race-related realities of growing up black, like how Betty and her friends rely on Ebony magazine for hairstyle ideas, and how dark-skinned Betty notices that even in Ebony, lighter skin is held up as desirable.

There's also some good modeling of respectful dialogue between Mr. Malloy and Deacon Boyd, who disagree in how they believe Negroes should go about trying to achieve equality. In the same way, Betty shows us that even though she and Phyllis have similar disagreements, they can still be friends.

There are a lot of positive messages woven into the story. Betty learns to overcome hardships by finding the good and praising it, and by counting her blessings. She also develops a strong sense of doing by following the Biblical passage that says "faith without works is dead." (James 2:26)

Young readers will get a sense of how life was different in the 1940s. The word "Negro" is used. Betty listens to records with her best friend Suesetta, enjoys learning to sew, and the local activist organization is called the Housewives' League. Only the boys in her family go sledding. Getting a whipping is nothing to call the police about, though it is still serious enough to justify a change in custody. And, of course, Betty's experiences while shopping illustrate the injustice, cruelty, and dehumanization of the overt racism of the time period.

Parents should know that this book does mention Leon Mosley, a 15-year-old black boy who was shot in the back and killed by police officers in 1948. Even if readers are aware of the current Black Lives Matter movement, perhaps they might be surprised to learn that policy brutality is not new, and the events currently being protested are just the same as events that were protested 70 years ago.

The back of the book includes several interesting sections that help shed light on how much of the book was fact, and how much was fiction.

One final thing to note: Despite the reference to Malcolm X in the title, the book doesn't actually talk about Malcolm X at all. The title might be confusing for some young readers who aren't familiar with Malcolm X. The extent of his mentions are basically limited to the dust jacket's front inside flap, which says, "Before Betty Shabazz met Malcolm X..." and the Author's Note at the back of the book, which says, "Dr. Betty Shabazz... is known to many as the wife of El Hajj Malik El Shabazz (Malcolm X)." This book is 100% about Betty Shabazz and does not in any way try to explain who Malcolm X was, and it's just fine with me if maybe a child reads it and one day later learns who Malcolm X is and thinks, "Oh, he's the guy who married Betty Shabazz"!

Repentance by Andrew Lam

★★★★

Disclosure: I know the author, Andrew Lam, and I read an early draft. I received an advance copy of the book.

Daniel is a Japanese-American surgeon whose marriage is on shaky ground. During World War II, his mother was incarcerated in the Manzanar Japanese internment camp while his father served in the all Japanese-American 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Daniel is estranged from his father, but is forced to come to terms with their relationship when he flies out to visit his parents in response to a medical emergency. Chapters alternate between "present day" scenes in the late 1990s and flashbacks to WWII-era events. The book offers both action-filled war sequences and tender moments.

I especially appreciate that this book brings attention to parts of Asian-American history - Japanese internment and the 442nd - that most people don't even know about. Andrew Lam does justice to their legacies, effectively conveying the unique position occupied by Japanese-American soldiers in the U.S. military and the extent of their bravery, as well as the injustice and sufferings of the Japanese-Americans detained in concentration camps.

While the events that unfold are suspenseful and absorbing, ultimately they serve to depict the human condition through the characters of Daniel and his father. Like each of us, they are flawed. We are presented with a poignant story of expectations and resentment, honor and loss, repentance and atonement.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the twist and turns of the storytelling, I have to admit, I'm a real stickler about representation and accuracy. On page 13, Daniel's half-white, half-Asian son is unfortunately described as "exotic", which perpetuates the idea that mixed race people are a kind of "other".

On page 47, there is this line: "There weren't any camps for German Americans or Italian Americans." I think this statement could be misleading... It's true there weren't any large-scale camps dedicated exclusively for Germans and Italians, and Germans and Italians weren't rounded up en masse like the Japanese, but they were detained on an individual basis, sometimes alongside Japanese detainees. More than 11,000 people of German ancestry and about 3,000 people of Italian ancestry, including U.S. citizens, were incarcerated during World War II, though those numbers pale compared to the 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry who were imprisoned.

Anyway, overall, an entertaining story that I could easily imagine on a big screen.

Blended by Sharon M. Draper

★★★★★

*** Warning!! This review contains spoilers!! ***

I think this middle grade book is perfect for helping to stimulate much-needed age-appropriate discussions about race, identity, class, and divorce.

There's so much I appreciate about this book. Mostly, I like that it can serve as a "mirror" for so many children who more often than not get "windows". There aren't a lot of books about children with divorced parents who don't get along, but I'm sure there are plenty of kids who could relate to Isabella's frustrations as she alternates weeks between mom's house and dad's house. I can imagine kids feeling relieved and understood as they read about Isabella's mixed emotions, especially regarding things that other people simply expect her to be happy about.

Of course, Isabella has the added confusion of trying to make sense of her identity as the child of a white mother and a black father. Children's books about people of color are still few and far between, let alone books about biracial children. In this book, biracial children can relate to Isabella's confusion as she comes to terms with her racial identity, including her experiences that are uniquely tied to being mixed race. All children of color might be able to relate to the incidences involving the way other people treat her based on her perceived race.

Going even farther, Isabella's two households are separated not only by race, but also by class. Her father is a white collar professional who has a large and formal home. Her mother is a blue collar worker who has a modest and laid back home. Class differences are rarely addressed in children's books, but surely children notice when their friends have much fancier, or much more modest, houses and lifestyles.

On top of all that, this book does a huge service by modeling productive race discussions in classrooms, among friends, and between parents and children. Isabella's white friend Heather even serves as a positive example of allyship.

I've read some other people's reviews already, and I sort of feel like I want to address some of the most common complaints. Many people dislike that there were "too many" issues, but I strongly disagree. This is Isabella's life, complicated and messy, just as many children's lives are in real life. I appreciate that this book reflects that reality.

Some people thought the narrative voice of 11-year-old Isabella didn't sound genuine, or they got annoyed with her constant references to slime and brand names. Obviously this is a matter of opinion, but I really found Isabella's dialogue and perspectives to be authentic. I could easily imagine the printed words being spoken to me by a 6th grader.

Another common complaint is that the race-related events just weren't believable, or were treated too heavy-handedly. Personally, I was constantly making connections to real-life events, and I think they are worth exploring. When Isabella's black friend Imani finds a noose in her locker, I was reminded of the 10-year-old Muslim girl who received hate notes in her school cubby. When Isabella and Imani are confronted by a security guard in a store, I was reminded of the three black teenage boys who were accused of shoplifting at a Nordstrom Rack. And when Isabella was shot during a police stop, I was reminded of both Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old black boy who was fatally shot by police officers who mistook a toy gun for a real gun, and also Stephon Clark, a black man who was fatally shot by police officers who mistook a cell phone for a gun.

All of that might sound kind of intense for a children's book, and I'm always quick to give a heads-up in my reviews to alert parents of any content that might call for concurrent or follow-up conversations. So definitely be aware that this book addresses police brutality and Black Lives Matter. Still, I think the material is presented in approachable, age-appropriate ways, and I think the topics covered are worth talking about with upper elementary and middle school kids.

Sunny (Track #3) by Jason Reynolds

★★★★★

This book is written as a series of diary entries by Sunny. I have to admit, I was a little put off by the format, because I enjoy reading dialogue. But Sunny's authentic middle school voice really won me over. I think Jason Reynolds does a fabulous job capturing Sunny's all-over-the-place kind of internal monologue.

What I liked most about this book is how Sunny really feels himself to be "weird", different from other kids. And he's not wrong. His mother died giving birth to him, so he carries around the guilt of feeling like he's his mother's murderer. He's been homeschooled his entire life, so up until he joined the track team, he had no friends his own age, and his whole life revolved around his home. I think it can be really valuable for young readers to see a character who truly feels a kind of loneliness, a person their age who doesn't fit the mold of a "typical" kid. Still, he is typical because when it comes down to it, all he wants is what everyone wants, the love of family, supportive friends, and to do what he enjoys.

Also valuable is for young readers to see how complex and full Sunny's "non-standard" life is. There're a lot of disparate ideas that all come together through Sunny. He empathizes with cancer patients at the hospital where his grandfather is a doctor. He makes connections with the groundbreaking movie Baraka. He and his father literally and figuratively piece together his mother's image, working together though their relationship is cold and strained. There's even a message about forgiveness and loyalty, relationships and new beginnings, as Sunny learns the true story behind how and why Aurelia came to be his homeschool teacher. (Heads up for parents who want to know these things: There's reference to drug addiction, but it's clear that drugs are bad, and people who suffer from drug addiction can recover and thrive.)

I love that in this book, there is no stigma in crying. Sunny cries, Aurelia cries, his father cries. Everyone cries, and it's fine, it's just what people do.

Also, as a former shot putter, I appreciate that this book brings in the "field" component of "track and field"!