I have been very remiss in posting as I realize that my last post was about the time I went to the YRead conference and never wrote anything up. This is a new bi-annual conference (Opposite to Books for the Beast) held at the Carroll Community College. I chose the multi-cultural track and read four interesting books. This conference is only a half day one and was too short in my opinion. We barely scrapped the surface of discussions and most of mine centered on how to incorporate the books into curriculum which didn't interest me.
Red Glass by Laura Resau
This story begins in Arizona when Sophie's family takes in a young boy who is the only survivor from a group trying to cross into the U.S. from Mexico. The boy doesn't speak so Sophie nicknames him Principito, or Little Prince, after the story he loves to listen to her read. The boy's remaining family in Mexico learn that the little boy is the sole survivor. Sophie, her Aunt Dika, a refugee of the war in Bosnia, Dika's boyfriend and his son and Principito go on a road trip to his village where he has to choose between Sophie and his family.
Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin
Karina is the daughter of a Haitian immigrant in New York. Her mother married "the Daddy" for stability but this all seems about to topple when he almost kills her older sister. Beatings are normal and deserved, abuse is covered up while fear and guilt are rampant. Will lies cover everything up or will Karina make her own normal life?
The Absolutely Ture Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
A very funny tale of heartache and isolation. Junior is an Indian living on a reservation until he is forced to see that hope doesn't just happen but you have to make it happen. He transfers to the miles away white school and fights to belong somewhere. Interspersed with Junior's brutally honest cartoons, this is a quick read covering issues from Indian rights, alcoholism, violence and despair.
In the Name of God by Paula Jolin
Nadia lives in modern day Damascus right in the middle of the struggle between Muslim and Western beliefs. She is a good religious girl but she struggles to figure out her path. Her brother can't get a job, her cousin is arrested and no one knows his fate, good Muslims are dying so Nadia begins to think of acting radically herself. How far will she go? What is right or wrong or justified?
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