Al Capone Does My Shirts

"Al Capone does my Shirts," by Gennifer Choldenko was an interesting novel to discuss. I was however most interested in the character Natalie who is defined throughout the novel as being "different." Although the reader is never given information on Natalie's disability, I assumed that she was autistic. I was not angry with the author for not giving a detailed definition of Natalie's disability however I felt that the characteristics given to her by her peers and others and the island were somewhat troubling. I must admit that the time era of this novel may have most to do with these troubling descriptions however perhaps the author, writing in more current times, could have celebrated Natalie's differences more than acknowledged her to be at times an embarrassment!

Part of the reason why I was so intrigued by this novel was the simple fact that it is part of my major-special education. I felt strongly about the topics surrounding Natalie and her family and perhaps it is encouraging to know that since the 1930s there has been substantial change associated with persons with disabilities. I have even more hope for the future and for people who struggle with disabilities!

Shiva's Fire

Staples, Suzanne Fisher. Shiva’s Fire. New York: Frances Foster Books, 2000.

Shiva’s Fire is a story about tragedy and luck for a young girl named, Parvati who lives in a small South Indian Village named Anandanagar. Her father is killed when a storm hits and her family goes to live with her father’s brother and his family. One day, she is asked by the Guru Pazhayanur Muthu Kuman Pillai to study a sacred dance form called the bharata natyam. Although this sacred dance form is strict, this is how Parvati supports her family and learns that she was born to dance.

With descriptive text and imagery usage, this novel represents traditions and customs that are found within the Indian Culture. Staples depeicts different class levels and customs through her content and researched work on Indian Culture. Staples lived in India for four years where she started writing this novel. With her descriptve text, she has created a character that young adults can relate to while reading this book. They will see a strong woman; a strong, independent character that can inspire them to do what they really want to do. This is all seen through the eyes of an Indian woman. This accurate portrayal of the Indian culture is seen through the ways in which Staples describes the traditional dancing, clothes, and language. She terms the dances and people with the correct names. A helpeful note that I liked about this book is Staples provides a glossary in the back that gives the pronunciation and definition of each word that she used in the book. This will help student's to learn more about the Indian culture while being captured in this novel.

Rebecca's Journey Home

Sugerman, Brynn. Rebecca's Journey Home. Minneapolis: Kar-Ben Publishing, 2006


Rebecca’s Journey Home, is a heartwarming tale of family and love that crosses cultural barriers and knows no cultural bounds. It’s centered around the idea of a family welcoming a new member. The book describes how a Jewish family, the Steins, are preparing for the arrival of their newly adopted daughter, Le Thi Hong, from Vietnam. Her American name would be Rebecca. The Steins are really excited for their newest member to arrive. The family had prepared for Rebecca’s arrival by having Shabbat every Friday night during the previous year to bless their children and Rebecca. Mrs. Stein and Rebecca finally arrive home and the family was very excited. They then celebrated their first Shabbat dinner together with Rebecca.
Sugerman explores positive and interesting situations regarding the Jewish faith. The family dynamics of a Jewish family involved with adoption will interest the reader. The story reflects how our society is becoming more diversified, even within the family. Even though this story was successful in the aspect of diversity, some of the illustrations were stereotypical representations of the people from Vietnam. Even though this story provides many accurate insights into different cultures, some of the illustrations could be regarded as stereotypical images of the Vietnamese. This Sydney Taylor Award winning book, would be a great addition to any child’s reading collection.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
By: Mildred D. Taylor
ISBN-13: 9780140384512
Cassie Logan, the narrator, is the spirited 9 year old girl living in 1933 on the 400-acre farm in Mississippi with her family. The Logan family works extremely hard trying to keep up their farm while facing the many racial prejudices that existed during this time period. Cassie and her brothers have to tread for miles to attend the badly equipped schoolhouse where they are a part of a class that uses hand-me-down supplies. Everyday they have to walk past the large Whites school building while having to watch the school bus pass them on the same road, while having the kids laughing and saying discriminating things as they get filled with mud and dust from the bus. Throughout the book there are several acts of prejudice towards the blacks in the community. The first is the Wallace boys burning and even killing some black men at the local store. Mama and Papa decide that the local store is no place for the children and they make it known that they aren’t allowed to go there. Because of another fight at the store, Mama tries to get the community involved and boycott from buying goods from there. Since Papa is away most of the time working and trying to make a good life for his family, Mama and Papa’s mother are trying to keep up with the children and the discriminating issues that are surrounding the community. The Whites in the neighboring towns are trying to stir things up by planning and going through with different attacks on the local black residents. Papa brings home a friend (L.T.) that got fired from his local job, for fighting with a white, to help and look after his land and family. T.J., the trouble-making teen and the (sort-of) friend of the Logan children teams up with two trouble-making Whites (Melvin and R.W.) that end up not being friends at all. Melvin and R.W. decide to take T.J. along with them on a vicious murdering route and then frame him to taking the fall for it. T.J.’s ultimate outcome for his actions is to be murdered; to stop the local chaotic scene in town Papa starts a fire in the cotton field. By doing this it the blacks and whites has to join forces in order to be able to put out the fire, which is a local commodity for all.


Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry is a realistic piece in the genre of fiction that takes you through historical events that sufficiently demonstrate showing how life was throughout this time period of the 1930s. This story puts together the overlying themes of the importance of family while fighting against the evil strings of racism. The story is told through the voice of Cassie Logan, who the author does a fantastic job putting it into perspective the kind of life those individuals led during that time period. The importance of family shines through the entire novel as the Logan family demonstrates what it means to “stick together” during the hard times. Cassie firmly believes in the value of family ties as she has witnessed through Big Ma and Papa that it is about never abandoning one another, especially during the rough times. During this rough time, this novel also brings the issue of Hope when all seems lost. Numerous troubling events effect many characters and the community of this piece with the sense that all might be lost, especially through the racist acts; but by the end of the text both white and black people have to work together to extinguish the flames of the cotton field. This situation shows the ray of hope of overcoming these racial barriers as they work together to achieve the common goal to save the cotton commodity while effectively working through the racial differences altogether. The final theme that is evident throughout the text is how unfair and prejudice life can be, especially when living in the South of this time period. Racism is everywhere and can effect anyone, and through this novel it shows how one is able to overcome many obstacles, simple to very life-threatening, if you use your strong will to do so.
Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry is a novel that puts life in the 1930s into perspective for readers today. It is about giving a historical feel to what life was like as a black family living in the South, as it is told through Cassie Logan life experiences. I believe this text is an excellent piece and source of information for all readers to enjoy. This text brings you into the story and life of those during this time period as you are able to imagine yourself taking the journey as well. This piece of literature also brings about the historical feel of what being a part of the African American culture was like living in a “white” dominant society. I believe this novel puts into perspective how much turmoil the blacks had to go through and are still going through today. It is a wonderful piece of adventure and historical events that I would use within my future classroom to represent this time period.

This piece of literature is more than a work of fiction as it is retells many events that came from Mildred Taylor's own family's life while being a portrayal of an important record of an African-American experience throughout a our country's very complicated history. It is a fictionalized piece that works through actual real life events that were told to her from her father's perspective. Even though oral tradition has some discrepencies, Mildred Taylor is able to retell these different events as she and her family were all insiders of these different experiences.

Taylor, Mildred D. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. New York: Penguin Young Readers Group, 2002.

Book Review: Riding The Bus With My Sister

Gillin, Beth. ‘Riding the Bus with my Sister/How I Learned How to Slow Down and Enjoy the Ride by Rachel Simon. The Philadelphia Inquirer. 02 October 2002.

This review of Riding the Bus with my Sister from the Philadelphia Inquirer is a fairly flattering review of the novel. It is clear that the author enjoyed reading the novel, and makes a point to bring up poignant moments and surprises that the novel had to offer. Another salient feature of this article is the summarization, which hits upon many of the key points of the novel. The article addresses the author’s internal struggle with Beth, their encounters with both kind and unkind people on the bus system outside of Philadelphia, the contrasts between Rachel and Beth in their personal lives and personalities, as well as Rachel and Beth’s traumatic history, which resulted in their separation for many years. This review provides a fairly short yet cohesive summary of the novel, and even addresses one of the issues that is also something grappled with in the novel itself.

The issue of politically correct and people first language has been long debated in the arena of special needs, and this article touches on that with the quote “Is it really a politically correct affectation, Simon wonders, to call Beth "a person with mental retardation," instead of "mentally retarded"? After all, she notes, people with cancer aren't called "cancered." That would reduce them to a disease.” The article ponders the question but does not attempt to answer it in such a short span, merely addressing the issue as one that is presented in the book. Briefly, the article also mentions Rachel’s struggle with nature vs. nurture as Rachel wonders how much of Beth’s personality is her really her personality, and how much of it is her syndrome. These issues require special attention by an informed reader throughout the novel, and once brought to attention by the article, can be made a focus when reading.

Riding The Bus With My Sister

Simon, Rachel. Riding the Bus with my Sister. New York: Plume, 2002.

Riding the Bus with my Sister, written by Rachel Simon, is a compelling autobiography of Rachel and her sister Beth and the year they spent together riding buses around Philadelphia. While on these buses, Rachel learns about her sister and her daily struggles, such as encountering people who yell “Get a job!” and bus drivers who won’t stop for her. The bus system is also filled with wise bus drivers that impart their wisdom, generosity, and kindness upon the two sisters, who both benefit from this treatment in different ways. This book also details Rachel’s internal struggles with how to deal with Beth, dotting the book with memories from her childhood which explain her resentment and pent-up aggression towards her sister. This year long journey enables Rachel to cope with the traumatic events of her past and find a newfound love and respect for her sister as well as herself.

This book follows the journey of Rachel’s self-discovery, from ignorance and bitterness to a desire to learn and understand, to ultimately love and acceptance after forty years. Beth is a complex character and is depicted with compassion and realness, yet the language used in the book is troubling at times. The term mental retardation is used frequently, despite the author’s discovery halfway through the book of the proper terminology and people first language. Rachel questions people first language, as she believes that using that format defines the person by their illness, rather than the other way around. Despite this fact, the overwhelming attitudes of acceptance, love, and willingness to learn are prevalent throughout the book and promote the reader’s own journey to discover their own feelings.

As a piece of diverse literature, this autobiography, written by an insider, clearly portrays the struggles that families endure when living with someone with Down Syndrome. Compassionate and straightforward, the book combats serious issues that are common across these families without giving an ultimate answer. This is a journey of self-discovery for the author which results in a positive, loving relationship with her sister. It is a piece of quality diverse literature that could be used in many ways, least of all to demonstrate internal struggle and ultimately successful relationships.

"The Truth about My Bat Mitzvah"

This book was particularly interesting to me because it seems to mirror some of my own life. My father is extremely Christian, while my mother has faith in god but does not attend church with the rest of my family. Just last year I learned that my grandfather was Jewish. Just as Caroline felt, I felt as though I was missing out on a large part of my heritage.
As the reader looks from the outside into Caroline’s search to find if she should appease her father or take to her new found religion. Near the end of the story Caroline commits to her Jewish heritage by getting her school photo taken with her star of david necklace, that was her grandmother’s. This was her way of claiming her mother and her religion as her own. When she said she was Jewish out loud she found herself having something in common with her crush Ryan. The very end of the story is Caroline at her best friend Rachel’s Bat Mitzvah, where the girls realize Caroline doesn’t need the party to make her Jewish, she just has to turn 12 and be her mother’s daughter, which she ALREADY IS!

This positive discovery story is a great cultural example of anyone’s introduction to or travel through Judaism. The book discusses Judaism with much compassion and accuracy. I would say that this book would be of better literary quality than our “discovery of Judaism” book, “The Confessions of a Closet Catholic.” I feel that this book is a stronger story to introduce adolescents and adults to Judaism.
Citation:Baskin, Nora R. The Truth About My Bat Mitzvah. New York: Simon and Schuster Books, 2008.

~Written by Howlett A