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stabigail_'s review against another edition
3.0
A great introduction to some new writers I’d like to continue reading. My favorites of the collection were: Like Me” by Varian Johnson, “Confessions of a Black Geek” by Olugbemisola Rhuday-perkovich, “Brotherly Love” by Francisco X. Stork, and “Why I Won’t be Watching the Avatar Movie” by Gene Leung.
thegruester's review against another edition
1.0
Many stories in this series are problematic. In less than 10 years they’ve become outdated and are not sufficiently woke to use with my middle school students.
Only one story in this anthology is worth my time “Under Berlin” by G. Neri.
Only one story in this anthology is worth my time “Under Berlin” by G. Neri.
debz57a52's review against another edition
4.0
I'm always looking for collections of short narratives to hook teens who don't like to read into reading something a little shorter. If the short pieces are written by authors who have longer novels - which can then help teens improve their reading endurance - all the better. This is a great example of a collection of short narratives (are they true?) that I thought were highly engaging, for the most part, and totally relatable for teens in 2019, especially those for whom identity is not super-obvious.
"Becoming Henry Lee" by David Yoo - What a great selection for the first story! So funny, about a Korean boy leaning into the Asian stereotypes his Connecticut classmates believed.... but eventually discovering what it means to be himself.
"Why I Won't Be Watching the Last Airbender Movie" by Gene Luen Yang - I've been a fan of Yang for years now, and I've seen him speak in both public and teacher speaking engagements. I've seen this comic before, and I like the activism bent to it. It's important to speak up for cultural awareness and representation, and I think Yang was fortunate enough to have a happy ending to that situation, since my son is *in love* with Yang's Airbender series.
"Talent Show" by Cherry Cheva - A sweet, semi-romantic story about two non-traditional talents trying out for a talent show. There was some good humor, both in the dialogue and in the asides/footnotes. It ends on a high note and an impulsive payoff, but without a clear future. My teenaged students will both love it and detest it. :)
"Voila!" by Debbie Rigaud - Although I liked the mystical bent (tiny particles) of this story's opening and closing, I admit I didn't understand the middle as much. It might have been the distracted moments when I was trying to read it, or the few exchanges of Creole that weren't clearly translated for the ignorant reader, or.. something else. This is the story I liked the least, though.
"Three-Pointer" by Mitali Perkins - Let's just say, although I didn't grow up with two gorgeous sisters and a competitive game about dating experience, I relate to Mitali's story. The trip with a boy to an amusement park, the hiding that had to be done so my parents didn't know, the high-inducing promise of time alone, the sweet kiss... it was all part of my experience and I liked seeing it on paper.
"Like Me" by Varian Johnson - At my mostly white suburban high school, there were only a few black girls. Although I didn't know most of the younger or older girls, I knew who they were. They stood out, and everyone knew it, but no one talked about it. I remember white girl asking me if they were all related, which they weren't, and I had no patient answer for her. This story takes me inside how high school students tiptoe around stuff like that.
"Confessions of a Black Geek" by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich - What a fabulous story! Right from the beginning, I can feel that the narrator is very comfortable with choices made, aspects of race felt, and personal value put out there by teachers. But the narrator - a female, I assume, since the author is also female - is clearly not aware of the anger and injustice that hovers under the surface when a hard-working person of color gets recognized for their work appropriately. My heart broke for her, and I felt like it made clear what so many white people don't understand. I feel like this story is a must-read for so many high school students out there who take their opportunities for granted.
"Under Berlin" by G. Neri - I know G. Neri from Yummy, but I didn't know that until after I'd finished this book and read the author bios. Then it made sense - the story is told in an alternative format (verse poetry) and the narrator is very aware of cultural touch points and how others (especially the Germans) feel about the presence of dark-skinned people in Germany. The story of the family, good-naturedly (I think) forcing others to deal with this skin color was both amusing and heart-warming. I don't know that others will feel the same way, but I do feel like I want to hang out with this family.
"Brotherly Love" by Francisco X. Stork - This story surprised me, as a coming-of-age story about a boy coming out to his sister, rather than an ethnic awareness like most of the others. However, as I read on into the story, I understand how Stork's character had a harder time than most dealing with his homosexuality because his father is so strict about what makes a Mexican man and what does not. On the other hand, I love his sister Rosalinda and his brother Bernie, who clearly get it and love the narrator all the more fiercely.
"Lexicon" by Naomi Shihab Nye - I like Nye's poetry, so I was happy to see this one included in this collection. Although it's not my favorite of hers, when it comes to ethnic understanding, I do like the sentiment that she sows through her Arab father's behaviors. One of my favorite lines in poetry is in this poem, I admit: "Mine [her father] said friend to everyone. / You don't even know her, Dad. / I'll know her sooner if I call her friend."
Overall, a very strong collection of stories that anyone, especially any teen, could pick up and engage with. I'll have to keep some of these in mind when we do narrative writing again - and the narrative challenge.
"Becoming Henry Lee" by David Yoo - What a great selection for the first story! So funny, about a Korean boy leaning into the Asian stereotypes his Connecticut classmates believed.... but eventually discovering what it means to be himself.
"Why I Won't Be Watching the Last Airbender Movie" by Gene Luen Yang - I've been a fan of Yang for years now, and I've seen him speak in both public and teacher speaking engagements. I've seen this comic before, and I like the activism bent to it. It's important to speak up for cultural awareness and representation, and I think Yang was fortunate enough to have a happy ending to that situation, since my son is *in love* with Yang's Airbender series.
"Talent Show" by Cherry Cheva - A sweet, semi-romantic story about two non-traditional talents trying out for a talent show. There was some good humor, both in the dialogue and in the asides/footnotes. It ends on a high note and an impulsive payoff, but without a clear future. My teenaged students will both love it and detest it. :)
"Voila!" by Debbie Rigaud - Although I liked the mystical bent (tiny particles) of this story's opening and closing, I admit I didn't understand the middle as much. It might have been the distracted moments when I was trying to read it, or the few exchanges of Creole that weren't clearly translated for the ignorant reader, or.. something else. This is the story I liked the least, though.
"Three-Pointer" by Mitali Perkins - Let's just say, although I didn't grow up with two gorgeous sisters and a competitive game about dating experience, I relate to Mitali's story. The trip with a boy to an amusement park, the hiding that had to be done so my parents didn't know, the high-inducing promise of time alone, the sweet kiss... it was all part of my experience and I liked seeing it on paper.
"Like Me" by Varian Johnson - At my mostly white suburban high school, there were only a few black girls. Although I didn't know most of the younger or older girls, I knew who they were. They stood out, and everyone knew it, but no one talked about it. I remember white girl asking me if they were all related, which they weren't, and I had no patient answer for her. This story takes me inside how high school students tiptoe around stuff like that.
"Confessions of a Black Geek" by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich - What a fabulous story! Right from the beginning, I can feel that the narrator is very comfortable with choices made, aspects of race felt, and personal value put out there by teachers. But the narrator - a female, I assume, since the author is also female - is clearly not aware of the anger and injustice that hovers under the surface when a hard-working person of color gets recognized for their work appropriately. My heart broke for her, and I felt like it made clear what so many white people don't understand. I feel like this story is a must-read for so many high school students out there who take their opportunities for granted.
"Under Berlin" by G. Neri - I know G. Neri from Yummy, but I didn't know that until after I'd finished this book and read the author bios. Then it made sense - the story is told in an alternative format (verse poetry) and the narrator is very aware of cultural touch points and how others (especially the Germans) feel about the presence of dark-skinned people in Germany. The story of the family, good-naturedly (I think) forcing others to deal with this skin color was both amusing and heart-warming. I don't know that others will feel the same way, but I do feel like I want to hang out with this family.
"Brotherly Love" by Francisco X. Stork - This story surprised me, as a coming-of-age story about a boy coming out to his sister, rather than an ethnic awareness like most of the others. However, as I read on into the story, I understand how Stork's character had a harder time than most dealing with his homosexuality because his father is so strict about what makes a Mexican man and what does not. On the other hand, I love his sister Rosalinda and his brother Bernie, who clearly get it and love the narrator all the more fiercely.
"Lexicon" by Naomi Shihab Nye - I like Nye's poetry, so I was happy to see this one included in this collection. Although it's not my favorite of hers, when it comes to ethnic understanding, I do like the sentiment that she sows through her Arab father's behaviors. One of my favorite lines in poetry is in this poem, I admit: "Mine [her father] said friend to everyone. / You don't even know her, Dad. / I'll know her sooner if I call her friend."
Overall, a very strong collection of stories that anyone, especially any teen, could pick up and engage with. I'll have to keep some of these in mind when we do narrative writing again - and the narrative challenge.
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