Today it’s time to share what you’ve been reading lately. Jen at “Teach Mentor Texts” hosts this informative meme.
Here are a few of the books I’ve read the past week:
Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds by Paula Yoo
This book tells the story of Sammy Lee, who overcame many obstacles, including racism, to compete in the Olympics as a diver and win gold, twice. Well written. And a wonderful message of perseverance and determination to achieve one’s dreams.
Red Bird Sings by Gina Capaldi and Q.L Pearce
Another biography, this time of Zitkala-Sa, born Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, who was taken as a child to a residential school, but who would triumph, again over racism at the turn of the nineteenth century. She was a musician, a teacher, writer, and a political activist who sought to educate Americans about native people. The text uses her own writings to tell her story.
Meltem’s Journey by Anthony Robinson
This book is part of a series on refugees from around the world. Meltem is a 13 year old Kurdish girl who must escape from Turkey with her mother. She finally settles in England but must undergo many delays and upheavals before she can be allowed to stay permanently. An interesting look at a refugee family and their trials and tribulations.
Beverley A Baird 
Wow, Beverley, all three books are new to me. Meltem’s Journey is out of print, & I can find it used, also hopefully at my library. It sound very good. Reminds me of other refugee books I’ve enjoyed. Thank you! Hope you are doing well!
We are going to have a war and poetry reading theme soon and Meltem’s Journey sounds exactly like the kind of book we would love to feature for our theme. Thank you for sharing these wonderful new titles. I shall pin them now, especially your PBBs.
Thanks Myra. Sounds like an interesting theme.