Shana Burg

"The Supreme Court passed a law that violates our state's right to educate the children of Mississippi as we see fit... Fortunately, I'm in charge of the schools in Kuckachoo, so I'm just not gonna follow that law. Integration here? That ain't nothin' but a thousand never evers!"This is a story of the Civil Rights Movement in the South, told through the eyes of Addie Ann Pickett. Addie Ann learns of the murder of Medgar Evers from her beloved older brother Elias, and shortly after that, he show more knocks out a white boy who is abusing Addie Ann's cat and must disappear to avoid the lynch mob. Addie Ann and her Uncle Bump work for Mr. Adams, who dies and leaves his home and six acre garden to the entire town for the use of ALL of its citizens, black or white, but that information is kept secret by the town fathers who want to prevent blacks from using the place. The gift to the town sets off a chain of events leading up to Bump's arrest and trial for destruction of property, and Addie Ann must decide whether to break her mother's cardinal rule: "Never tell white folks what they don't want to hear." This is fantastic historical fiction with an amazing ending -- a story of strength, courage, and the price of dignity. Everyone should read this. 6th grade and up. show less

I described this book to a co-worker as "Bummer, bummer, bummer, sappy, sappy, sappy," but that's probably too harsh. Author Shana Burg is a decent writer and the story has some interesting parts. I liked the pidgin English spoken by the Malawian characters (when I was in Namibia we called their version of English "Namblish"), the details of life in the Malawi bush, and the friendship that forms between Clare, a 13-year-old American girl and Memory, a her new classmate in Malawi.

But the show more bummers are piled high in this book. Clare's mom is recently deceased and Clare aches from the loss. Both of Memory's parents have died. And that's just the deaths you get up front. There are more in the story. We are often in Clare's head and she struggles to overcome the pain of her mother's absence. Harsh. Angsty. Emo.

And then the conclusion. It wasn't overly contrived or convenient, but it was heavy with lessons learned and feel-good-ness.

So, if you're in the mood for a quiet read about a sad white girl discovering Africa, this will fit the bill. Not especially recommended otherwise. show less

I can't imagine being thirteen and losing my mother. I have had many students who have had to go through this heart-rending situation. What made this story even more emotional was knowing that Clare's father pulled her from everything and everyone she knew and loved and moved her to Malawi for six months. Her father was excited to go back to a country he had worked in before. Clare had decided to give her dad the silent treatment for the entire six months. It's funny how meeting someone who show more has lost more than you have, and learning that there is always a silver lining if you look for it hard enough can help you heal and grow.

Clare is stubborn, intelligent, artistic and very loving. She has let the pain of losing her mother guide her for too long. In Malawai she learns she has much to offer others as well as watching as others who have lost so much more give everything. This was not an easy book to read. It is a book I will put at the front of my class on the first day of school and recommend to all of my students. I am trying to create global minded students. My students may not be able to travel to Malawi or any other country less fortunate than we are here in the USA. Through books like this one they will learn so much about what it takes to truly give of yourself. They can learn that the simplest gesture can make a difference. The fact that the book is full of information and facts because the author has been to Malawi holds great weight with me. I loved the vocabulary throughout the book. It is something else my students will love.

The book was so wonderfully written I could envision Clare's first encounter with a hippo and her shock at the school compared to her school back home. The author did a wonderful job of bringing the reader along with her to Malawi. I felt like I was a character walking beside Clare, Memory and Agnes. I will definitely read more by this author. I look for great books to recommend to my students and my parents for their children. This book is not just for middle schoolers or young adults. This is a book that even adults will enjoy. If you read no other book this year, this is the one you must read. show less

The portrait of thirteen-year-old Clare shows a typical north-American teen concerned with friends, clothes, school. To go through the agonizing despair of losing her mother was as much as she could bear, but then she finds she must live with her dad during his stint as a doctor in Malawi and attend school there. The story not only shows how Clare adapts and accepts the changes but provides a good description of life in contemporary Malawi. A book adults as well as young readers will appreciate.