Ms. Dirickson's Reading List

                                                                  Harriet Tubman: Toward Freedom Cover     "Harriet Tubman: Toward Freedom" is a graphic novel about the infamous Harriet Tubman's life. The book opens with an introduction explaining some of the historical context as well as Harriet's significance. The story then starts with Harriet in her late 20's, after her initial escape, and then jumps back and forth between different points in time to depict different parts of her life. The main event it chronicles is when she returns to where she was formerly enslaved to help her brother's escape their enslavement and find a free life in Canada. The book is approximately 100 pages long, if the reader goes through the Introduction and the "Panel Discussions" in the back of the book,...

                                                                          "My Powerful Hair" Cover         " My Powerful Hair" is a picture book for elementary age students, but the message and history behind it is deep, and powerful. The story is told from a young Native girl's point of view, and she explains how she wants to grow out her hair, because it holds memories and strength for Native peoples. The book explains the cultural significance of growing one's hair and connecting to earth, how braiding a loved one's hair is a symbol of love, and the act of cutting one's hair and putting it in a loved one's grave. All of these actions are important to Native American culture, and it was something I did not understand as...

  For this week's graphic novel theme, I could not pass up the opportunity to re-read Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. When the first book came out, I was in 3rd grade. I remember it very quickly taking over the scholastic book fair, and everyone fighting to get a copy from the library. I think this is the first time I really experienced a cultural obsession with a book, where everyone at school was reading it, knew the inside jokes from it, and just couldn't get enough of it. It really was that important. That was 2009. I'm 26, and it still holds up as a very funny book. My boyfriend, and all of our friends, know what we're referencing when we say "they have the cheese touch". Like I said- this book was a cultural phenomenon. Not because it was romantic or life changing literature, but because we could all laugh and relate to it. What's not to like? The story is told from the perspective of a middle school student, Greg Heffley. Greg decides to start ...

My first love in academia will always be history. Mostly because there are so many stories of true perseverance, against all odds. There are people I've learned about that I have never met, but their story made me realize what kind of teacher, and person, I wanted to be. One of those people is the great John Lewis.  In the "March" graphic novel series, the reader learns about John Lewis's early life, how he became part of the Civil Rights Movement and how he started working with Dr. Martin Luther King. The novel chronicles Lewis's fight for an education, as well as his fight for Civil Rights. Lewis was one of Dr. King's right-hand-men, and was very young when his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement began. The novel also details the plans, preparation and execution of the infamous March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. This march includes one of the darkest days in American History, Bloody Sunday, which John Lewis survived. The novel explains the trainin...

       To continue with the theme of “Boys and Books” for this week, I read Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis.      This novel is the story of Bud, who is an orphan that lost mother when he was very young, from some some kind of illness. The setting is 1930’s Michigan, and Bud is an African-American. All Bud has is a suitcase that holds some of his Mother’s things. One day, Bud decides to run away from his orphanage and find his father, using the items in the suitcase as clues. The story is then about the adventures and people Bud encounters along the way. It ends with Bud finding his grandfather, and learning more about his family history.         Curtis is the author of several wonderful novels that are great for adolescents. I remember reading this novel for the first time in 5th grade. Our teacher would usually read one chapter aloud, and then let us read on our own. I also remember the whole class being captivated...

My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis Illustrated by Suzanne Desimone     The theme for this week was "boys and books". I chose "My Princess Boy" by Cheryl Kilodavis because it is something different than what a teacher may usually read. The book does not have much of a plot, but it is very colorful to look at, and makes a profound point. I would say the writing is reminiscent of a poem, and it's told from a mother's point of view. There is a sing-songy sound when you read it, as each page begins with "My princess boy...".  Nothing in this book is even mildly inappropriate, but it is on several "banned book" lists throughout the United States. The reasoning for this is along the lines of the book "indoctrinating" or "Brainwashing" students, but in my personal opinion, that really misses the mark.     Boys are often taught from a young age it's "wrong" for them to like pink, or it's "wrong" for...

    When Stars Are Scattered Cover Art     The other novel I chose for this week is also focused on two brothers. This time, the story is told from the perspective of Omar, the older brother. Omar tells the reader about how he and his younger brother Hassan were separated from their parents in Somalia, and how they now live in a refugee camp in Kenya. Omar does not attend school most of his childhood because he has to take care of Hassan. Hassan has epilepsy, and can only say the word "Hooyo", which is Somali for "home" or "mother". Omar tries to remain hopeful and talks often about the life they will live whenever they get out of the refugee camp and find their Mother. Omar's day-to-day life is changed whenever he is offered a chance to go to school with the other kids. Omar really enjoys school overall- and is a fast learner. He realizes he needs his education if he is ever going to do anything with his life when he finally leaves the refugee camp.  ...

                                                     All Good In The Hood  by Dwayne Reed                All Good In The Hood by Dwayne Read is a children's book about a family on their way to their neighborhood Juneteenth celebration. The story is told from the youngest brother's point of view, and he tells the reader about multiple events that he finds scary. Luckily though, he has his older brother, who always comforts him with the words "Don't worry Lil' Bro, it's all good in the hood!" At the end, we see some character development because the younger brother comforts his older brother with the same words.      I think this book is a great elementary classroom pick! It addresses Juneteenth, which is still relatively new as a national holiday. I think i...