Brenda Woods (1)

This is one of those books that should be read and discussed not just by kids who can relate to the protagonist, but by all as a way to build empathy for others. It's about a charming, curious, and lively biracial girl who struggles to fit in with her all white family (her father died in a car accident before she was born). Determined to understand her black identity, she arranges a meeting with her African-American grandmother, whom she'd never met. Woods doesn't shy away from the topics of show more race and racism, which I think can generate lots of discussion among young people. Violet's reflective nature and curiosity make sure this book doesn't get too heavy. Not to mention, the cover features an African American girl! show less

Of the Katrina books, I have to say this one is one of my favorites. I love Saint's personality, I love his caring family and his neighborhood and his love of music and the dog. It shares many of the characteristics of other Katrina books -- there's a beloved dog, the kid runs away from his family to save the dog, ends up helping an elderly neighbor, several narrow escapes. What you will not find in here is a tie-in to a conversation about racism, but you will find a solid and engaging story.

A nice story for young readers about an adopted boy grappling with his feelings of abandonment and questions about his birth family while caring for a one-winged bird. I think it breaks down some complicated emotional turmoil and questions in a way that would be easy to digest for a young kid. Coop's relinquishing of Hop to a place better equipped to care for the bird, while far from a perfect metaphor, does help to show kinder answers to the questions Coop struggles with.

Everyone expects Coop to be musical like his beloved parents, but he’s not. That’s one of the few things he finds awkward about being adopted—well, that and the fact that he sometimes wonders why his birth mother didn’t love him enough to keep him. This summer, he’s stuck at home with a broken arm after falling out of a tree trying to get a closer peek at a mockingbird nest. Later, when the eggs in the nest have hatched and the fledglings fly away, he and his friend Zandi notice show more that one of them stays behind. Taking a closer look, they realize the bird only has one wing. Since it won’t survive in the wild, they adopt it and name it Hop, and then learn everything they can about birds so they can care for Hop properly. Unfortunately, when a hawk injures Hop, the vet says it’s illegal to keep mockingbirds as pets. Faced with a difficult decision about surrendering his beloved little bird to a bird sanctuary, Coop starts thinking about his birth mother’s motivation in a new light. show less