Editorial Review

Alfred's life is going nowhere fast. He's a high-school dropout working at a grocery store. His best friend is drifting behind a haze of drugs and violence, and now some street punks are harassing him for something he didn't do. Feeling powerless and afraid, Alfred gathers up the courage to visit Donatelli's Gym, the neighborhood's boxing club. He wants to be a champion--on the streets and in his own life. Alfred doesn't quite understand when Mr. Donatelli tells him, "It's the climbing that makes the man. Getting to the top is an extra reward." In the end, he learns that a winner isn't necessarily the one standing when the fight is over. Teens and adults alike will be knocked out by this powerful story of how a frightened boy becomes a man. ... Read more

Reviews (298)

The Contender
In the book " The Contender," a series of bad events happen in Alfred Brooks' life, he decides he wants to be a boxer, but one thing he doesn't know is how hard the training will be for him.Although boxing is very hard for Alfred he has a lot of other things to deal with like gangs and cops and his best friend James or ex best friend James.Since Alfred can't solve that problem, he has to move on with his life.After his second fight, Donatelli, Alfred's trainer, decides to tell Alfred that his boxing career is over, but Alfred didn't want to stop until he knew he was a contender. After his third fight even though he lost, he realizes he was a contender.
The Contender
The Contender
The Contender

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Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Boxing    3. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile delinquency    8. People & Places - United States - African-American    9. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    10. Social Situations - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    11. Sports & Recreation - General    12. Sports & Recreation - Miscellaneous    13. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Reviews (50)

a great read about immigration into the united states
A Step From Heaven
high school summary
Ages 12 and up.The title "A Step From Heaven" first does not say a lot to you, until you start reading the book. The main charcater Young Ju is a 4 year old korean girl who is about to move to america. With innocent and creative mind Young Ju has, she does not understand the meaning of America. The reader will see Young Jugrowing up,getting in understanding of more things,and slowly learning a new language. You will read everything through her mind, how she compares one thing to another and how she thinks.
A Step From Heaven
The book is about a girl named Young Ju, her younger brother named Junno, her dad Apa and her moms name is Uhmma.Her best friend Amanda invited Young Ju to her birthday party but her parents did not want her to go to because they feel she will then learn more about being an American.Young Ju ends up going anyways because she talks her mom into it.Early in the book, the family is living in Korea but eventually moves to the United States of America.Harabugi is the God that Young Ju thinks she is going to see when she gets to America but when she asks a Real Estate agent that is talking to her family, where Harabugi is everyone just laughs.Young Ju tells everyone at her new school that her brother died, (but he really didn't).That's when Young Ju became friends with Amanda.One day when Young Ju and Junno were walking home, Junno was running and found a baby bird and named it Harry.Young Ju and Junno talked to each other and knew that their parents would not let them keep Harry so they hid Harry and took good care of him.When Harry died, Junno was crushed.They buried him on a hill where no houses were.Then Young Ju got a new green card after a lot of trouble waiting in line, and in the end Apa goes to jail because he wasn't supposed to be driving because of drugs, but he did.Apa abused Uhmma his wife and Young Ju finds out about it in the end and Uhmma drinks now because she hurts from all of this news.Young Ju and Junno found all of her beer cans.She tried hiding them from Young Ju but he found them.Young Ju goes to the Library with Amanda one night and when Young Ju comes back to her house, she calls to Uhmma "I am home from the Library!" Apa comes walking out of the kitchen then sits down on the couch, he asks Young JU where she was and she told him the Library.He called her a liar and he started beating her.Uhmma calls out to him that he is a drunken person.He then backs off of Young Ju and starts heading towards Uhmma.Young Ju was knocked out and once Young Ju woke up she heard Uhmma's scream.Young Ju called 911 then Apa was arrested.Uhmma was then forced to the hospital because of her injuries.She got 10 stitches on the cut above her eyebrow, 2 stitches on the corner of her lip, and taped ribs.She still didn't press charges.Young Ju's uncle called Uhmma and asked them if they wanted to live with them but she said no and they moved out of their apartment and into a house.Once they bought the house Young Ju had 3 weeks left till college and he got a scholarship so they didn't have to pay.Young Ju while un-packing found a box of pictures and opened them and they were of Uhmma as a little kid.Young Ju was leaving for college in a few days and while Uhmma and Young Ju were looking at pictures, Uhmma gave Young Ju a picture of when Uhmma and Apa were at the beach surfing.Uhmma told Young Ju to hold this close to her heart and you will seek bravery. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Family - General    4. Family life    5. Fiction    6. Girls & Women    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Korean Americans    9. People & Places - United States - Asian American    10. Social Issues - Emigration & Immigration    11. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Asian American   

Reviews (5)

Great Second Novel
Cynthia Kadohata's first novel, Kira-Kira, was an impressive book. And Weedflower is equally impressive. This time the novel is set in the Southwest before and during World War II. Sumiko is a typically happy twelve-year old. While she feels awkward that she's the only Japanese-American in her class at school, she has not yet felt the harsh stings of discrimination...until a vicious birthday party. Soon after, I believe the same weekend, Pearl Harbor is bombed. Her normal life vanishes, no more school...no more social life...only fear and anxiety as they wait to see what will become of them all.
Flower Child of Japanese Ancestry
The loving family of this child and her love of flowers get her through the devastating interment during World War II.She over comes losing everything and going on to see the world in the eyes of others.

A powerful story about growing up amidst racial struggles and war
For Sumiko, it all starts with the birthday party of one of her classmates. When she arrives at a party to which the entire class has been invited, she is quietly and firmly ejected for being Japanese.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945    4. Family - Multigenerational    5. Fiction    6. Historical - Exploration & Discoveries    7. Historical - United States - 20th Century    8. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    9. Japanese Americans    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. People & Places - United States - Asian American    12. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    13. United States    14. World War, 1939-1945    15. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Multigenerational   

Reviews (11)

creative, beautiful story
I am a third and fourth grade teacher.The librarian in our school highly recommended this book.I read it aloud to my third grade class of boys, and they were thoroughly intrigued by the book.There are several vignettes throughout the book, and each of these wonderful depections is written with breathtaking imagination.The characters and the storyline are well built.I would recommend this as an independent reading book for most fourth or fifth graders, and as a read aloud for third graders because it is written in an old-fashioned southern manner, which, in my opinion, is a bit difficult for most third graders to read fluidly by themselves.

A Wonderful Journey
This book takes you on a trip of discovering wonderful things around you. This is a great book for 5th graders and up. The message is awesome for all of us to remember. Everyday, we all see the wonders of the world.

Good ole story
This is a good, fun story of adventure. I enjoyed reading which wonders Eben might find. It's nice to be taken back to when kids could use their imagination and walk through-out their town, talking to people, discovering their environment and be safe doing so! This is a heart-warming, purposeful book.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Country life    5. Family life    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Historical - United States - 20th Century    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Juvenile Historical Fiction    11. Lifestyles - Country Life    12. Neighbors    13. People & Places - United States - Other    14. Social Issues - Community & Neighborhood    15. Social Issues - Values    16. Wonder    17. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Values   

Reviews (9)

Important Message in Fun, Easy to Read Format
A six year old girl's light hearted account tells how she came to her adoptive mother.The easy to follow text and child-like drawings celebrate adoption and "forever families" of every kind. It's an ideal story for lap-time reading or an easy way to make the adoption story part of 'happy bed time stories'.The book will inspire parents and kids to talk about their own first "meetings," whether at birth or in an adoption agency.This picture book will have great appeal for many youngsters, though adoptees and children from blended families and single parent homes will feel a special connection and be reminded that it's love that binds families together.
Heartwarming! Our Forever Family's FAVORITE!
A must have for every adoptive family's personal collection.Our three year old daughter (adopted from China), loves the story of Rain and Bo, and can relate so perfectly to how their forever family was formed - (and more importantly - how it explains how her own family was formed) - that she read it with us every night at bedtime.She now "reads" it all by herself - as it took no effort at all for her to memorize this heartwarming tale.Told from the child's perspective with simple but meaningful language, and the cutest illustrations - every child will love it.It's one of our favorites!

Not nearly as simple as that!
I am an adoptive mother, I have done quite a bit of research about adoption, and I have written my Master's thesis about adoption and its perspectives in children's literature. This book oversimplifies the subject and leads children to believe that an adopted baby understands the journey she begins when she meets her forever family. The text is nothing like what a six year old (the supposed age of the character narrator) would use. The pictures are over simple in some parts to look as if a child has drawn and colored them, and in other parts they are something like a bizarre cross between a photo and a sketch. They are not likely to draw a young child in or hold their interest.
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Subjects:  1. Children: Kindergarten    2. Family - Adoption    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Asian American    5. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Adoption    6. Preschool Picture Story Books    7. Adopted children    8. Adoptive parents    9. Chinese Americans    10. Intercountry adoption    11. Interracial adoption    12. Orphans    13. People & Places - United States - Asian American   

Reviews (2)

Museum of Native American art
This is the best, most extensive book on Native American crafts for children I have ever seen.Teachers doing a unit on Native Americans will find this book a tremendous resource for creating all kinds of not authentic, but good semblances of Native American crafts.Using mostly ordinary materials, there's enough here that you can create a classroom museum and invite others to see it.In your display you can have: miniature teepees and wigwams, an "adobe" house, pottery, "bark" boxes (made of brown paper), chamois and bead pouch, coup stick, breechcloth, leggings, grass anklets (made of yarn), warbonnet, headband, breastplate, and much more.These clothing items can also be used in a play or other enactment.In addition, there are some interesting recipes, including: corn soup, steamed clover, fried squash blossoms, roasted pumpkin seeds, and other more familiar foods.

EXCELLENT!
More than Moccasins is this homeschooler's dream come true.Homeschooling a six year old, who is also a very hands-on learner, this book fits the bill.Each section, from Indian dwellings to pottery to traditional games, has activities that are fun and EASY TO DO!Very general household itemscan be turned into bakeable clay for pottery, teepees, etc.So many bookswith crafts require tedious materials that are difficult or cumbersome toobtain.Plus each section has a bit of information and history on thatparticular area of Native American culture ~ short enough for the youngerset but detailed enough to provide accurate historical information to goalong with the project.There are MORE activities, games, crafts andrecipes than you could ever do in an entire unit.This is a book I willreturn to over and over.GREAT JOB! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - General    2. Activity programs    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Indians of North America    6. Juvenile Multicultural Studies    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. People & Places - United States - Native American    10. Social Science - Customs, Traditions, Anthropology    11. Study and teaching    12. American history    13. Culture & customs    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Ethnic / Native American    15. North America   

Reviews (53)

A Chinese Jackie Robinson?
I loved this book. As a teacher, there is nothing better than a multicultural children's chapter book, with American history and a plethora of vicarious experiences. This is a great book to teach children about immigration and traditional Chinese customs. It wasn't until college that I learned some of these customs and it was also then that I learned that all I had to do was read Lord's book and I would've had the knowledge that it took me 20 years to get. The young girl in the story, Shirley, takes children through a whirlwind of adventures and experiences that children can relate to and learn from. This is a great multi-cultural book to add to your collection.

I'm 8 and loved this book
It was definitely a book to read over a period of time (say one chapter per night).It was very well written and I loved the chants!

excellent children's story!
I read this one when I was ten, and recently bought a copy for my three daughters to enjoy. I read this one at least 7 or 8 times myself.... Lord creates a wonderful character in Shirley who has to adapt to a whole new culture on her way to becoming an American. I recommend this one for all kids, not just those interested in sports.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Chinese Americans    4. Fiction    5. Humorous Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Moving, Household    8. People & Places - United States - Asian American    9. Schools    10. Social Issues - New Experience    11. Sports & Recreation - Baseball    12. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Asian American   

Reviews (5)

Family Togetherness
Children's Book Press recently published a 15th anniversary edition of Carmen Lomas Garza's Family Pictures. One of the San Francisco-based publisher's most popular titles, the bilingual picture book won a Pura Belpre honor some years ago for its art work.(The Belpre awards are given biannually to Latino writers and illustrators.)
Family Pictures
I have read many children's books; this book however, isn't really a book for reading. It's greatest attribute are it's pictures. It does have a small descriptive paragraph opposite each picture in both English and Spanish, therefore making the book accessible to many different children. It is a great multicultural book; you can learn about the culture and traditions of a Mexican American family. It is a good book to develop multiculturalism and can be used in many ways in the classroom.

Wonderful piece!
Family Pictures is an excellent example of an autobiographical as well as multicultural book written for children from kindergarten through fourth grade.Lomas Garza covers a short period of her own childhood and the social life and customs of Hispanic Americans.The reader's attention is held by the detailed illustrations done in a variety of materials including oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas, and gouache on arches paper.While children will be drawn by the wonderful paintings, they will be learning a great deal about the Hispanic culture. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art - General    2. Children's All Ages - Fiction - General    3. Family - Multigenerational    4. Hispanic American families    5. Hispanic Americans    6. Juvenile Multicultural Studies    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Kingsville    10. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    11. Social life and customs    12. Spanish: Grades 1-2    13. Texas   

Reviews (11)

Class Book
My class loved this book.It was part of an African American History unit.

I want to get away.I want to fly away.
First off, this book would pair brilliantly with Deborah Hopkinson's, "Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt".Utilizing a style not unlike the classic slave quilts featured in "Sweet Clara", "Tar Beach" tells a contemporary story while tying its narrative to the history of African American storytelling.Before I say anything else, though, I should warn you about something.When I first read this book I had borrowed it from my local lending library.The copy I got out was a hardcover from 1991.Now, do you remember getting books when you were a kid and they, not to put too fine a point on it, stank?Certain picture books have some kind of binding glue or something that, over time, makes them stink to high heaven.This book was especially smelly and even as it sits next to me here on my desk I'm reluctant to open it up for reference because of its offensive odor.It's quite possible, even probable, that the editions of this book being sold now (being paperback and all) are smell free and no longer printed so as to attack one's olfactory senses.Just don't buy a used hardcover copy from 1991.That's all I'm saying.
Tar Beach
Tar Beach Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. Flight    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. People & Places - United States - African-American    8. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    9. Juvenile Fiction / General    10. Picture books   

Reviews (7)

Five Stars from a Texan
As a Texan, I had to have this book for my 4 month girl. Obviously, she is too young to understand the text, but as soon as she is old enough I will not hesitate to continue reading this book to her. It is so beautifully written and the illustrations are wonderful, as Tomie dePaola's illustrations always are. The lessons of selflessness and sacrifice are invaluable. And it gives a perfect opportunity to discuss such realities of life as being orphaned and loneliness in a non-threatening way if the proper discussion between parent and child accompanies the book.

Happy Customer
Wonderful prompt service.Couldn't be happier. Book was in wonderful condition!

This was my favorite story when...
This was my favorite story when I was a child. I love how it tells of a young girl who chooses to give up something she loves for her family and people... I read this book whenever I could in school. Now that I teach pre school I get to share the beauty of this story with my class and they love it too...In Texas you see them everywhere in late March to early May. I use to think it was funny but now I have to wonder why, when you see a bluebonnet an Indian paintbrush isn't that far away? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bluebonnets (Lupines)    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Comanche Indians    5. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Native American    6. Folklore    7. Indians of North America    8. Texas    9. Fairy tales, folk tales, fables, magical tales & traditional stories    10. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Native American    11. Picture books   

Reviews (8)

Terrific Book
We lived in South Korea for a year when our children were smaller.We like to cook Korean food at home to help them remember our experiences there.I was thrilled to find this book. The rhymes are delightful, the pace is light, the illustrations are charming, and the recipe and instructions are wonderful!We've had so much fun as a family with this book.It's a keeper.

Delicious!
I am a first grade teacher and used this book while teaching my class about South Korea. My kids really enjoyed the fun rhyme and rhythm of this book, which I used to culminate our week-long unit.When I finished the story, we made "bee-bim bop" right in class!It was yummy, the kids loved it, and they were eager to read the book over and over again in our class library.

Bee Bim Bop
My 3 and 4 yr old Korean born children LOVE this book, and run around the house repeating the rhyming verses.They can't wait to make Bee Bim Bop at home, there is a recipe at the back of the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Cookery, Korean    6. Cooking/Food    7. Family - Parents    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Koreans    11. People & Places - United States - Asian American    12. Preschool Picture Story Books    13. Stories in rhyme    14. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Asian American   

Reviews (12)

A Good book
A cute book - small enough to take in the car -
educational
This is a good book as it help kids to count both in Spanish and English and the Spanish is broken down for proper pronunciation.I would recommend it to any parent. Counting is only up to ten though.

Great Counting Book
My 18 month old daughter loves Dora.I bought this book in a boxed set so she could have some books with Dora.I really like this book because it uses different fruits and it's very colorful.Of course my daughter loves it since it's Dora.We've only had this book for about two weeks and I think I've read and/or listened to my husband read it about fifty times. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    2. Concepts - Counting & Numbers    3. Concepts - Opposites    4. Counting    5. Fruit    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Movie Tie - In    9. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    10. Spanish: Babies & Toddlers    11. Juvenile Fiction / Movie or Television Tie-In   

Editorial Review

In all Mildred D. Taylor's unforgettable novels she recounts "not onlythe joy of growing up in a large and supportive family, but my own feelings ofbeing faced with segregation and bigotry." Her Newbery Medal-winning Read more

Reviews (432)

Confusion
I never quite understood why everyone seemed to love this book so much. I read it, along with my entire grade, in seventh grade, and found the book to be annoying. I was especially annoyed by flawed characters, and a not very impressive writing style.
Very disappointed...
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor was a very disappointing book. There is no particular story; the book starts rising action here and there and down again here and there. There is no specific climax. Basically, it's like there's no story. What I also hated about this book was the ending and the fact that there was no moral in the story. The book was full of cliches from every chaper by chaper. Each chapter was too long( this is not a dumb complaint). Instead of just starting a new chapter, Taylor just skips a line to basically start a new chapter. I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense to you.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Searching for a book to read that Beautifully Infiltrates...Gracefully Relates...Lovingly Displays...Proudly Annunciates...then Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry is the answer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Afro-Americans    3. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Classics    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. People & Places - United States - African-American    10. Race relations    11. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    12. Southern States    13. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American    14. Modern fiction   

Reviews (2)

Plus the recipes sound delish
You know what author Shelley Pearsall's got? Flexibility, baby. Loads of it. Let's say, for example, that you write a rip-roaringly good bit of harrowing historical fiction (as she did with "Crooked River"). Now you'd like to follow that up with another book for kids. Do you follow the straight and narrow path of always writing with an eye on the past? Or do you get inspired by a group of students at the Alexander Hamilton School in Cleveland, Ohio? Pearsall opted for the latter, and the result is the surprisingly good, All of the Above. Now I avoided this book like crazy for a while. Why? The crummy cover. But open that same cover up and you find a story that never loses hope but that also never treads into the world of mindless optimism. There's a gritty reality hiding at the core of this book. The surprise is that it's a pleasure to discover it for yourself.
Richie's Picks: ALL OF THE ABOVE
Sharice:
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Concepts - Size & Shape    4. Family problems    5. Fiction    6. Interpersonal relations    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    9. People & Places - United States - African-American    10. School & Education    11. Self-confidence    12. Social Issues - Friendship    13. Social Issues - General    14. Social Issues - Values    15. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Size & Shape   

Editorial Review

Maria is feeling so grown-up, wearing her mother's apron and helping to knead the Read more

Reviews (5)

Wow!
This is a beautiful picture book that just melts your heart. This is one of Gary Soto's classics. This is an asset for any classroom to have. The illustrations are so beautiful that you could almost reach out and hug Maria when she is looking at the ring on her finger. Her smile is adorable.The illustrations show the glittery feeling of the holiday season. This book could be used in teaching many lessons on honesty, traditions, Christmas, family and the humor within the storyline. Every child should have a chance to hear this story being read to them and have the opportunity to read the story on there own.

don't underestimate the power of this book
I got this book because of its truly exceptional illustrations.The colors are rich and evocative.But I was surprised to see the profound effect that this book had on my four-year-old daughter.She empathized so deeply with the shame and the desperation of the main character that for an entire week after reading this story she was coming to me to make confessions of all the times she was tempted to do things that were wrong.It was a combination of the story and the intense emotions that are depicted in the paintings that came together to shake her to the core.For that reason, think this is a great book for all children, not just Latinos and not just for Christmastime.

4 1/2* One Ring to Fool Them All
The warm interiors suffusing this beautifully illustrated Christmas time story convey the entire emotional tone of the book.Although we're waiting for an accident to happen-we can just tell that young Maria is somehow going to lose her mother's ring while helping her make tamales-we also are pretty certain thins are going to work out alright.While this may take away a bit of suspense, this is a comforting book that promises a happy conclusion (delivered her by a surprise).
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Christmas    4. Fiction    5. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Mexican Americans    8. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    9. Rings    10. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    11. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / Christmas   

Reviews (15)

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