I started a list on this post – Books give insight– and I have more to add after another few weeks of reading plus a stack that I look forward to reading soon. While protests are still happening across the country our own community has hosted a few community events and peace walks where people are allowed to share their stories. It’s good to listen as a person and as an educator yet I feel like the real people that need to hear the message are in our city councils, police departments, and other government positions. Our Black mayor was at the last organized Peace Walk. I’m sure he has his own stories from before he took office and during as I know just from reading the paper he has a few foes that stand in his way.
We have two sister sisters close together and while I happily have my feet in both communities the one I live and teach in does not seem as pro-change and I’m personally trying to figure out how to create good trouble for our new and so far ineffective Mayor Green.
But let’s segue back to books! For people interested in BLM stories this list gives you a great place to start. Some of my book choices come from The Brown Bookcase an independent bookstore run by 9-yo Rylei and check out The Brown Bookshelf for more inspiration.
1. Dear Martin by Nic Stone (2017) : This YA novel recounts Justyce’s story as he tries to be like his hero Dr. King and finds himself in several unnecessary situations with police including one off-duty officer when the music volume is in question. “Stand your ground” is a terrible law because it gives credence to any average G.I. Joe wannabe who carries a gun. If you have this mentality that someone is infringing on your own well-being and claim you feel unsafe or just simply anger for being disrespected. Ugh. This book! Too real. Justyce is pre-judged as gangster instead of the good student that he is. We see this happen all the time when we are shown “thug” photos instead of high school grad photos. I’m a new fan of Nic Stone and look forward to reading the next book in this series.
2. Clean Getaway by Nic Stone (2020) : After reading Dear Martin I quickly put this one on hold at our local library. This story, more for elementary/middle school, shares Scoob’s journey with his grandmother as she retraces her steps through a few Southern locations using Scoob’s grandfather’s Green Book. His G-ma picks Scoob up for an impromptu road trip leaving Scoob’s dad in the dark. This would make a great read-aloud to help students understand Jim Crow laws and other not-so-subtle rules to keep Black people segregated.
3. Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes (2020) : Donte, a mixed-race middle schooler, is getting used to a new prep school filled with mostly white students and staff. The first chapter has Donte in the principal’s office defending himself against a teacher who sees him as trouble. His sibling Trey presents as white and has a much easier time at school. This book is not my favorite JPR chapter book but I appreciated the issues raised. It’s maddening as an educator to hear how Donte is treated by people who should be supporting him. This would make a great read-aloud for 5th-7th grade to discuss the inequality of experiences.
4. Ways to make sunshine by Renee Watson (2020) : I’m in love with Renee Watson’s writing. What I love about this particular story is that while it is realistic fiction; it isn’t a “problem” story. The biggest “crisis” that happens is that the family has had to move to a new/old rental house because her dad’s postal job was eliminated. So relatable at this time. Ryan has fun with her friends, she goes to a pool party, her grandmother spends hours straightening her hair, she gets into trouble yet she loves her brother, her parents, and her extended family. This is the beginning of a series and I am so excited to read more about Ryan!
and one adult book-
5. A Good Neighborhood by Theresa Anne Fowler (2020) : Valerie Alston-Holt, a professor of forestry and ecology, lives in a beautiful older neighborhood where she raises her mixed race son. While her son, Xavier, was very young he husband died in a tragic accident. Enter in the Whitman family who’ve built a new home and pool and perhaps avoided a few property line codes along the way. Brad Whitman is new money and he’s not concerned about the environment like his neighbor. He only wants to make the three women in his life happy. His downfall is that he has a crush on his teenage stepdaughter Juniper. When Brad and Valerie collide major problems abound. I really couldn’t put this book down. I felt for Valerie as she stands up for what she believes in yet those decisions come with a price.
Books I’m looking forward to reading soon:
1. Take the mic: fictional stories of everyday resistance edited by Bethany C. Morrow (2019) : A compilation of major authors contributed stories to this book and I’m excited to see what they have to say.
2. Count me in by Marsha Bajaj (2019) : This one is about finding an unexpected friendship and how to deal with a hate crime when it happens to you and your beloved grandfather.
3. Love like Sky by Leslie C. Youngblood (2018) : Another teacher read this and offered it to me. This is a realistic fiction story set in Atlanta.
And two adult books:
4. I’m still here: Black dignity in a world made for whiteness by Austin Channing Brown (2018) : This is one I ordered early in April and it took until end of May to arrive. I heard Reese talk about it on her book club website and had to read it. Hopefully I will get to it soon.
5. Behold the dreamers by Imbolo Mbue (2016) : A friend passed this on and the story which takes place right before and during the Lehman Brothers collapse is about a Cameroonian immigrant living in Harlem.
Ahhh, so many good books, never enough time. School schedules are starting up. Groovy Girl heads off to college on the 20th. We are all hoping Covid-19 doesn’t affect schools but really I’m just worried. WORRIED MAMA.
**None of these books are linked to a store. I cannot promote Amazon and hope that you can find any of these at a local bookstore, bookshop, or simply from your local library. Have you read any of these on my lists or have other suggestions for me? Let me know via email or a comment.
Peaceful Reader 