Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go To War

An estimated 10% of their worlds soldiers are children, author Jimmie Briggs writes. This reporter's memoir reads like a war correspondent's account of the battle field. There is nothing easy or pleasant about reading this non-fiction text. The subject is difficult; Briggs journeys around the world to interview children of war. From Rwanda to Sri Lanka, their heart piercing stories prompt the age old question of why evil exists, and what on earth do we do with it? Unfortunately, the author does not offer much hope. However, the first-hand accounts are valuable in and of themselves. This text compels mature readers to grapple with the complexity of child soldiers and their own complicity in the process of innocence lost.

Ages: 16+

Payton Skky: Staying Pure

Stephanie Perry Moore delves into high school dating scene with Payton Sky, a popular upper classman. Payton's boyfriend wants to sleep with  her, but she's committed to waiting until marriage. Her conviction threatens not only her relationship with her boyfriend, but her best girl friends as well. Perry Moore's raw narrative engages teenage readers where they are and presents an alternative to the lifestyle of casual sex.

I enjoyed this series as 16 year old for several reasons. First, the setting: Moore is a greater Atlanta resident, as am I.  Her series takes place in Georgia, which was an instant connecting point for me. Moore is published by Moody Publishers , and I had the privilege of working with their staff during college. It's rare to find quality young adult literature which is both explicitly Christian and written for a Black audience. Perry Moore delivers it all.

I Saw Your Face

Kwame Dawes is an American writer of African descent (Ghana). He weaves together his international experience, West African story-telling technique, and English meter to recount the African diaspora. Tom Feeling's haunting sketches of Black children around the globe illustrate the striking relationship amongst a fragmented community. I so appreciate quality representations of Black people in children's literature. Feelings' illustrations capture the intricacies of my face, and the faces of the children I teach. It is so important that children recognize themselves positively in literature.  I stress positively because reading, especially at a young age, shapes and influences a child's identity. The words and strokes of I Saw Your Face pierced my own heart. The African Diaspora is my story; those are my relatives rooted in Accra and Atlanta. Our relationship is distant, yet irrevocably linked.

Ages: 8-12 

Mary Mcleod Bethune

Mcleod Bethune is my hero. I want to be just like her when I grow up. Here are a few reasons why...

1. She loved books!
2. She graduated from the Moody Bible Institute.
3. She wanted to serve as a missionary in Africa...God had other plans though :)
4. She founded multiple schools.
5. She advocated for those in need, particularly Black children and women.
6. She adorned herself in bright hues and rich fabrics.
7. She was a devoted wife and mother.
8. She advised the president on his youth educational programs.
9. She cherished the Word of God.
10. She was one of our nation's greatest educators, and her legacy continues bless young and old today. 
    
    

    Mary McLeod Bethune: A Great American Educatorby Patricia C. McKissack, Fredrick L. McKissack
    

    
    
    The structure of this 3rd. grade biographical texts flows extremely well. Most books about Mrs. Mcleod Bethune include the same photos and excerpts of original document. The Cornerstones series does these artifacts justice by formating them to precisely to the text. Upper middle grade students will find this a helpful resource for research projects, while lower grades will benefit from read alouds.

The Color of Water

James McBride is a story teller. This memoir reads as such; it's a tale of relationship set against the back drop of Harlem, the church, and racially divided America. The strokes of McBride's Black America were painted through the loving wisdom of his White mother -- an experience to which I can relate.  McBride's story differs greatly from mine though. My mom grew up in an Evangelical Christian tradition while his mother was from an Orthodox Jewish family. However, if this book communicates anything, it is that God mysteriously transforms our seeming divisions into a glorious bond that not even death can destroy.

My mom is in Heaven today. Though my six brothers and sisters are scattered around the world, pursuing various endeavors, we ARE a family that will continue to walk the path to eternal life with Jesus Christ. Mom painfully blazed that trail for us, and her journey came to rest a year ago today.

My People

I love the way words and images combine to create an exapanded sensory experience for the reader.   Young readers will benefit from the real-life depiction of abstract concepts.

My People

Happy Langston Hughes' Birthday!

One hundred and nine. James Mercer Langston Hughes would turn 109 if he were still living to day. Hard to believe 1902 was that long ago, but then maybe it's not so hard to believe. America looks considerably different than it did when Hughes mirrored life through his vivacious writing.    No doubt he would be surprised to see how children are growing up in the 21st. century. Lifestyle has certainly changed since Hughes was a young. However, children have not really have not changed at all. Hughes triumphantly depicts the resilience of a life through this simple piece: 

My People


The night is beautiful,
So the faces of my people.

The stars are beautiful,
So the eyes of my people.

Beautiful, also, is the sun.
Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people. 

Langston Hughes