What Am I Reading? Part 9 January/February 2019

1/1/2019

It's been a very busy January/February-- what with report cards, parent-teacher conferences, writing deadlines, a busy presentation schedule during Black History Month, and trying to find a happy balance. But I kept on reading. Thank goodness for audiobooks. I have decided to change my format for "What Am I Reading? Part 9 January/February 2019. Instead of posting all of the reviews for each of the books I have read, I will post only the book covers with just a few reviews. Part of the reason for this is that posting can be too time consuming (I need more time to write) plus, I already post my reviews on Goodreads for your reading pleasure. In addition, I will be posting a year-end review of all of the books I read in 2019 similar to the format I used in posting my favourite books in 2018 here. My 2019 reading goal is 200 books and as of finishing this post on February 24th, I have read 30 books which is 3 ahead of schedule. Hopefully, I have provided enough suggestions for you-- a mix of African-American texts, diverse young adult books, picture books, and some classics. Happy reading everyone!

Barracoon: The Story of the "Last Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston
The Unlikely Hero of 13B by Teresa Toten
The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel
Holes by Louis Sachar
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
Rain Is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith
When We Were Alone by David Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett
Betty Before X by Iyanah Shabazz with Renee Watson
The Walking Bathroom by Shauntay Grant, illustrated by Erin Bennett Banks
The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Sounder by William H. Armstrong
Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes
The Bagel King by Andrew Larsen, illustrated by Sandy Nichols
Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Jared Schorr
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Festival of Colors by Kabir and Surishtha Sehgal, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
They All Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Geronimo Stilton Book #20 and #21
Stuart Little by E.B. White
The Boy In the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Leontyne Price: Voice of a Century by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Raúl Colón
Don't Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller
Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Sean Qualls
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten
Riot by Walter Dean Myers

Barracoon: The Story of the "Last Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston
Impressive research completed by both Zora Neale Hurston and editor Deborah G. Plant. This was a book I had longed to read about the last "Black Cargo" who was illegally smuggled into the United States from Africa. His village was raided by the Dahomey of Benin and then he was brought across the ocean to the United States on a 70-day journey. He had been enslaved for 5 years but was unable to purchase his passage to return to Africa. It was interesting learning about how this short book was compiled. I also learned more about the continental African presence and language that existed within the US. Unfortunately, so much of this has been lost. Thank you Dr. Plant for persisting to bring this story to the world.

The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel
I have been to Portugal in July 2017. What a beautiful nation! This country takes place over two time periods-- one in the earlier part of the nineteenth century, the second in a modern time. I am not sure if I understood everything. Three men are drawn to "the High mountains of Portugal" line and they have generational, inextricable link. I feel like there is the symbolism used of the crucifix, chimpanzee (primate species), the elusive Iberian rhinoceros (extinct), the newly invented automobile, and the mysteries and veneration of saints in the Catholic church. It felt like a portrait in a lot of ways, as I could feel the sun of Portugal shining. It also felt like three separate short stories.

Holes by Louis Sachar
Spoilers: This book was okay. I had heard about it for a long time as it is read in many schools as well. Stanley Yelnats is away at "camp" to pay for a crime he did not commit. At this location, I meet other teenage boys. The task at hand is to dig for holes. I wonder about the symbolism of these holes and about the ensuing escape, rediscovery, and hidden treasure that seems to be lurking around every corner. What was the purpose of the warden and the cruel adults who made these kids do this seemingly pointless activity of hole-digging? Not sure.

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
I listened to this as an e-audiobook. I feel like I need to re-read it as there were a lot of events in this short book but I feel like I missed a lot. I loved the sound of the language though and the choice of words in this imagined world.

Rain Is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith
This e-audiobook was sweet, gentle, and small town country. I loved the narration and voice of Rain, as she reflects on the grief of losing her mother and her almost boyfriend Galen, love, her Christian faith, and life as a mixed race native teen in a small town. Along with other teens, Cynthia advocates for a summer camp program for youth like herself who are trying to connect with their places of origin. I look forward to reading Cynthia's other titles.