Autumn books

I had another opportunity to make a booklist for PBS Parents. This one is books about autumn!

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/13-childrens-books-for-celebrating-fall

Home of the Brave

My daughter told me that her teacher was reading Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate aloud to the class, so I decided to get it from the library and read it as well. It was also already on my to-read list, and I have really liked several of Katherine Applegate's other books (Wishtree, The One and Only Ivan). This book is about Kek, who comes to America from Africa after living in a refugee camp. He lost his father and brother in the war and desperately hopes that his mother is still alive. As he joins his aunt and cousin in America, he adjusts to his unfamiliar aspects of his new life--snow, school, and even laundry machines.

This was a beautiful read. It was written in verse (which I love, like I always say), and the author created distinct, believable characters and a story that kept me engaged. I'm really glad my daughter is reading this book as well because it offers a glimpse into what it's like to be an immigrant--learning about a completely new culture and having to adjust. It also doesn't shy away from the pain that is in the past of a refugee child. This was a meaningful read that had me tearing up several times.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Unbound

I've had Unbound by Ann E. Burg on my to-read list for awhile and finally got around to reading it now that I have access to a physical library again. Unbound, written in verse, is about Grace, a 9-year-old slave who has to leave her family to work in the Big House. The more time Grace spends around the Master and Missus, the more she recognizes the injustice of slavery and the life she and her family must live. When her family is in danger, she realizes the only option is to run.

This was a a wonderful book. I always love books written in verse, and Ann E. Burg is a great writer. (I also loved her book Serafina's Promise.) I think this is a great book to introduce older children to the reality of slavery, and it is also good for adults to learn about a unique historical aspect of slavery--runaways who found safety in the Great Dismal Swamp.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)