Book Review: Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan

Link for book @ Publisher:
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316086370.htm

Link for the book @ Christian Book:
http://www.christianbook.com/say-youre-one-of-them/uwem-akpan/9780316086370/pd/086370?item_code=WW&netp_id=684028&event=ESRCN&view=details
(on back order) Paperback $11.99

Link for the book @ Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Them-Oprahs-Book-Club/dp/0316086371/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298650381&sr=1-1
Paperback is $8.01
Kindle is $9.99


This book was an Oprah's Pick Selection for 2009

Published by Hatchette Book Group, Little, Brown and Company June 2008/360 pages
Non-fiction/Slavery/Abuse/African Stories of Children

I really have debated on whether or not this book should be reviewed on this blog that is devoted to children/young adult books. In my opinion this book should not be read by a child younger than 15 or 16, and even then if the child is sensitive in nature not at all.

This book is a compilation of 5 stories of children living in Africa. Their stories are all tragic, depressing, sad, disturbing----not a book to read before bedtime. 
One of the stories is of a young boy riding a bus along with others that are Christian (I use that word loosely), he is a Muslim. He tries to keep his identity hidden, lying and trying to pass himself as a Christian. The story ends graphically violent.
Another story is of a boy that's family wants him to go to school, so his older sister prostitutes herself at age 12 in order to earn money for the family.
I know that this book was given accolades by Oprah and others but I did not like this book, I disliked it very much. I'm aware of the horrible atrocities of what is going on in Africa, India, Pakistan, the middle east, Belarus, and a host of other countries. But, I do not want to read the details of children that are sexually abused. I know it happens, it happens in America as well, but I don't want to buy a book and read about it. If I'd known that this book had this information in it I would not have bought it.
The book I feel was written with an intent of educating the world about what children in Africa are going through. They feel that the news we are given is downplayed, so that we are not given the horribleness of their existence.
I also had difficulty in reading the book, it is filled with broken English and with the language of the people living in Africa (their language without translation).

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Links for More!

Link for a great post on Top 10 Classic Books for ages 9-12.
http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2011/01/winning-kids-little-nippers-top-10.html

Visit Becky's blog @
http://zero-to-eight.blogspot.com/
She has posted several books for younger children and they are all a delight!

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Book Review: iShine NLT Bible for Tween Girls

To learn more about the iShine Bible:
http://www.ishineministries.com/ishine-books/

Published by Tyndale, link for the book:
http://www.tyndale.com/iShine-Bible-NLT/9781414348155
$19.99

Link for the book @ Christian Book:
http://www.christianbook.com/nlt-ishine-bible-for-girls/9781414348155/pd/348155?item_code=WW&netp_id=839263&event=ESRCN&view=details
$16.99

Published by Tyndale February 2011/ Soft Leather Like, Pink/Rockin Ruby Color/1024 pages


This Bible is also available in blue for Tween boys

Thank you to Tyndale for my free copy for reading/reviewing.

I felt that the first thing that stands out about this new Bible for tween girls is that it is personal, approachable.
There are sections in this Bible that speak directly to the person reading the Bible. The sections are on self-image, and being valued and loved by God.
I did not feel that the Bible is presented in a dorky kind of way, but would be pleasing to a tween.
(Is the word dorky showing my own age?)
There are several photo's of tweens in the Bible, both boys and girls.
There are smart phone codes to find out more information about the Bible.
The translation is New Living Translation---this translation is easy to read and understand.
In the front of the Bible is further study type stuff---What is the Bible, Finding Your Identity in Jesus, Growing In Faith, and The Bible Talks About (a variety of subjects).
The Bible is small. I have a small hand and it is the length of it----about 6 1/2 inches long and about 4 1/2 inches wide.
Not a red letter edition.
There are some references located at the bottom of each Scripture page.
The print is tiny, too tiny for my eyes, but maybe okay for tweens.
Overall I felt this would be a great Bible for tween girls and I can't wait to give it as a gift!

Blissful Reading!
Annette

February is Black History Month

Blissful Freedom!
Annette

Book Review: We Troubled The Waters by Ntozake Shange and Paintings by Rod Brown

Published by Amistad Collins an Imprint of Harper Collins 2009/32 pages/Ages 9 and up
Link @ Publisher:
http://www.harpercollins.com/books/We-Troubled-the-Waters-Ntozake-Shange?isbn=9780061337352&HCHP=TB_We+Troubled+the+Waters

I first have to express the power that this book has on the reader. The bold and almost touchable pictures exude emotion---passion. On each page is a poem sharing the history of civil rights, the feelings of African Americans, the leaders that gave their all for freedom, the everyday life of African Americans.
There are a couple of photographs that could be too disturbing for a young child. My 7 year old granddaughter would be upset by them, but then explanation will be necessary to any child being read this book.

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Book Review: Ginger and the Mystery Visitor by Charlotte Voake

Published by Candlewick Press 2010/Ages 3 and up/40 pages
Link for the book @ Publisher:
http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763648655&pix=n

I loved this book!
A little girl that has an adult cat named Ginger and a kitten notices a visitor peering at them through the window. This visiting cat that has been peering at them through the window eventually makes himself at home in their home one day. The little girl attaches a note to the collar of this cat for the owner. That is when the fun begins!

I liked the large and bold print of the lettering and the large watercolor images on each page. The artist gave expressiveness to the little girls face, as well as her bewildered cats and the confident visiting cat.
I loved the story and it made me laugh aloud! A very true tale, reminds me of my own cat Noelle! 

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Book Review: Mathilda and the Orange Balloon by Randall de Seve and illustrated by Jen Corace

Published by Balzar + Bray An Imprint of Harper Collins 2010/32 pages/for ages 3-6
Link for the book @ publisher:
http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Mathilda-Orange-Balloon/?isbn13=9780061726859&tctid=100

Young Matilda is a gray sheep. Her small world appears to be gray or green. One day she spots an orange balloon and then wishes to become one herself!
The story of Mathilda is about imagination and the possibilities of dreams.

Orange is my least favorite color, yet it is a color that you cannot miss. For Mathilda orange is so radically different than her blah or bah world! The orange color catches her eyes and her imagination.
I felt this was a good story to open up the eyes for a young child to their own environment, to make them more attentive to what is going on around them. A fluffy sheep seems to be such a docile and dim animal, yet gentle for a child.
The illustrations are simple and focused on the sheep, little color is used except in the bold orange. 

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Book Review: Three Cups of Tea The Young Readers Edition by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin and adapted by Sarah Thomson

I'd heard about the first book written for the adult reading audience, Three Cups of Tea and often thought "I need to read that book". Instead, I purchased the Young Adult Readers Edition to read and review on A Garden of Books.

I read the entire book yesterday evening, I was just entranced with the story of Greg Mortenson and his loving devotion to building schools for the children of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The story begins with Greg making a trip to Pakistan to climb one of the mountains there named K2. After Greg's sisters death, he had wanted to do something in honor of her by placing her necklace on top of this mountain, but he got lost. I guess that could have been the end of that story, instead he wandered into a village and was taken care of by a family that introduced him to a need that would become his life endeavor and mission---building schools for kids. 

I thought this was a great book! In so many ways!
It is a book that can be used in the classroom to introduce students to a Muslim nation, the middle east, poverty and illiteracy, war.
It is a book that introduces kids to what can become their future as well--humanitarian work. As an adult I wonder, "what can I do?" This book is an encouragement to think not just about what is going on in our own city or state or country, but what other peoples needs are and that we can really do something to help. When I learn about another people group it gets my mind out of the box so to speak. The world is much bigger than my own back yard!
I loved Greg's honesty in telling his story, he shares the mistakes he made, the gambles he made, and patient hope in fulfilling the goals.
Greg was willing to sacrifice much in his life in order to fulfill his promise to build schools, he is a man of integrity and certainly true grit.

Included in the book is a foreword by Dr. Jane Goodall, an interview with Greg's daughter Amira, a time-line, glossary, list of characters, discussion questions, information about Pennies for Peace, other books available, there are also many photographs throughout the book (several in color).  

http://www.threecupsoftea.com/

http://www.threecupsoftea.com/about-the-book/three-cups-of-tea-youth-editions/

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Cups-Tea-Young-Readers/dp/0142414123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222723107&sr=1-1
Paperback $8.99
Kindle $7.99

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Three-Cups-of-Tea/Greg-Mortenson/e/9780142414125/pwb=1&
Paperback $8.81
Nook $7.99

http://www.penniesforpeace.org/
http://www.ikat.org/
http://gregmortenson.blogspot.com/
http://www.davidoliverrelin.com/

Blissful Reading!
Annette