This is an engaging story of Pedro/Peter finding his way and place amid a family of 9 siblings and across generations and national identities.
There aThis is an engaging story of Pedro/Peter finding his way and place amid a family of 9 siblings and across generations and national identities.
There are many humorous moments exploring the widening perspective of growing up. There are also some powerfully symbolic moments in this story that I was surprised to see pop up in a graphic novel. I was wrong in thinking this would be a typical “coming of age” story. While there are several coming of age elements present, there is something more visceral at work as well in this book—a mortality that is handled with both nuance visuals and humor. There are scenes from this book that I am still chewing on and will be for a long while. I want to read more of Pedro Martin’s work
A potent graphic novel that poses questions about gender policing and sexuality as well as friendship and faith. The bullying scenes in this book wereA potent graphic novel that poses questions about gender policing and sexuality as well as friendship and faith. The bullying scenes in this book were hard for me. There were so many characters that I didn’t like. Some even made me angry and misanthropic. This made it difficult to move forward at times. Yet, Seth, the main character keeps you in the story. He is kind, clever and playful. His difficult experience shows how hopeless it can feel to get bullied everyday and not feel accepted for who you are.
A moving true story of brothers and friends who cultivate a sense of home, care, resilience, patience and purpose while living in a refugee camp.
OmarA moving true story of brothers and friends who cultivate a sense of home, care, resilience, patience and purpose while living in a refugee camp.
Omar and his brother Hassan have lived in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya for 15 years. They encounter several struggles yet draw upon the love and care of their fellow displaced caretakers and friends to keep active their hope for resettlement in the future.
This is the first graphic novel to make me cry. Much attention was devoted toward the visual representation of the relationships and emotional connection between the characters. Kudos to Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed for their collaboration on this story.
“A Poem of Stars” by Maryam Farah (from pg 255-256)
Those who are lost Look to the stars to Lead them home.
I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about this book and finally picked it up this weekend. A recent winner of the Pura Belpre Award, It did not disappointI’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about this book and finally picked it up this weekend. A recent winner of the Pura Belpre Award, It did not disappoint. The characters are multidimensional, struggling through difficult questions of family and racial identity yet with joy and collective self-determination.
The artwork conveys complicated emotions around family relationships and hair. Bousamra’s depictions of eyes and brows speak paragraphs in a single curve.
While I had originally thought this would be a good read for early elementary, I’m now thinking late elementary and middle school readers might be able to connect more deeply to the story’s characters and events.
New: Boswell (bought as a gift for my younger niece but am going to keep for myself, or at least hold onto it for a few more years ;)...more
The artwork in this graphic novel captured me. Shifting use of colors and couture fashion were used to disrupt linear understandings of home, family, The artwork in this graphic novel captured me. Shifting use of colors and couture fashion were used to disrupt linear understandings of home, family, communication, and acceptance
This graphic novel offers some insightful words and images for describing worry and runaway thoughts. If I could add images I would. Instead I offer tThis graphic novel offers some insightful words and images for describing worry and runaway thoughts. If I could add images I would. Instead I offer these few words:
“Even if the world around me Is silent, It’s always loud Inside my head”
“Sometimes I don’t say anything Not because I don’t have words but because I have too many.”
A beautifully illustrated poetic journey. An artistic call to action for humans to consider humbly their place and impact in the world.
The scene in whA beautifully illustrated poetic journey. An artistic call to action for humans to consider humbly their place and impact in the world.
The scene in which the man looks into the eye of the whale is reminiscent of other human&whale reckoning scenes I recently read/seen:
— scene in Avatar 2: Way of the Water (2022 film) Dir. James Cameron — scene in The Boy and the Whale (picture book) by Mordicai Getstein
In these scenes there is an acknowledgment of a shared sentience among the living creatures while also a momentary humility on the part of the human realizing that they are the subordinate party in the situation. These scenes affect me on deep levels Thad I’d like to explore more carefully going forward.
Note: This book would need scaffolding for high school readers both for the the language and the visuals.
Climate literacy concepts: Interdependence, ego vs eco, fungibility, the mother tree
This was an informative read. Juneteenth is a celebration of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery and became an indepThis was an informative read. Juneteenth is a celebration of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery and became an independence for all Americans. My 9 year old who listened with me also found the book to be interesting. He said that Juneteenth day reminds him a lot like Independence Day. We were both surprised to learn that Juneteenth started in Texas and that Milwaukee has one of the largest celebrations
Gil says I should give this book 4 stars because he thinks it is a good book. Z was his favorite letter. Y for yellow was Eli’s favorite page. I thougGil says I should give this book 4 stars because he thinks it is a good book. Z was his favorite letter. Y for yellow was Eli’s favorite page. I thought it would be more funny, but it was actually anxiety provoking at times,especially when reading it aloud to my children who asked it each of the worries were real. So we compromised and rated it 3.5 (3 stars for me. 4 for them)
Although I’m not a fan of spooky and frightful stories myself, my son is and finds them to be peculiar and funny. I liked the playful rhymes and drawiAlthough I’m not a fan of spooky and frightful stories myself, my son is and finds them to be peculiar and funny. I liked the playful rhymes and drawings for such a morbid topic of children dying accidental deaths. I think E. Will find it entertaining.
I also think this book could work well as a set of spooky writing prompts in that writers would be invited to tell the story leading up to the fatal choices made by the children, yet with humor and play.
This was too close to home at times, yet at the same time felt distance. The graphic comic form made the content easier to grapple with while also lesThis was too close to home at times, yet at the same time felt distance. The graphic comic form made the content easier to grapple with while also less intimate. Perhaps that was just the positioning I was needing.
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