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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
Home of the Brave is a beautiful book about a young Sudanese boy named Kek who arrives in Minnesota where he hopes to make a home with his aunt and cousin. This is a novel in verse that reads very quickly with bright sparks of joy and humor mixed with sadness as Kek attempts to transition to a new world. In the following excerpt, the social worker is driving Kek from the airport when he sees a cow, the treasured animal of his homeland, and begs the social worker to stop the car:
To say the truth of it,
she is not the most beautiful of cows.
Her belly sags
and her coat is scarred
and her face tells me
she remembers sweeter days.
My father would not have stood
For such a weary old woman in his heard,
And yet to see her here
In this strange land
Makes my eyes glad.
To say the truth of it,
she is not the most beautiful of cows.
Her belly sags
and her coat is scarred
and her face tells me
she remembers sweeter days.
My father would not have stood
For such a weary old woman in his heard,
And yet to see her here
In this strange land
Makes my eyes glad.
Interesting and really like the aspect of refugees and immigrants, fascinating how they learn new things and are so innocent and wary of others.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Really enjoyed listening to this audio book! I laughed out loud and teared up a few times, which isn't really what you want while exercising, but clearly I liked the book :). It's the story of a young boy coming to America from Africa and trying to adjust to his new life. Wonderful story of holding on to hope.
I loved Katherine Applegate's The One and Only Ivan, so when the little girl I nanny insisted I read this book, I readily agreed, and read it in the course of two hours. This is a wonderful book of free verse poetry, and I have to admit I cried through quite a few of the lovely poems.
The main character's name is Kek, and he is a Lost Boy of Sudan. After his village was destroyed by soldiers and his father and brother killed, Kek and his mother fled to a refugee camp. When the camp in turn was attaked, Kek ran, forced to leave his mother behind. The book opens with Kek landing in Minnesota, to live with his aunt and cousin. At first, Kek is afraid and uncertain; he doesn't understand what he sees around him in American, he encounters snow for the first time. But he tries to be a good boy and not a burden on his aunt. While he makes mistakes along the way, he soon makes friends and even gets a job, caring for a lonely cow on a rundown farm. Throughout, he never gives up hope that his mother is alive.
I felt keenly for Kek and his family the whole time I was reading. Though Applegate herself has not experienced what Kek has, I believe she truly grasped the emotions of what these Lost Boys experience. Her writing is clear and lovely, and she clearly cares for and empathizes with all of her characters.
The main character's name is Kek, and he is a Lost Boy of Sudan. After his village was destroyed by soldiers and his father and brother killed, Kek and his mother fled to a refugee camp. When the camp in turn was attaked, Kek ran, forced to leave his mother behind. The book opens with Kek landing in Minnesota, to live with his aunt and cousin. At first, Kek is afraid and uncertain; he doesn't understand what he sees around him in American, he encounters snow for the first time. But he tries to be a good boy and not a burden on his aunt. While he makes mistakes along the way, he soon makes friends and even gets a job, caring for a lonely cow on a rundown farm. Throughout, he never gives up hope that his mother is alive.
I felt keenly for Kek and his family the whole time I was reading. Though Applegate herself has not experienced what Kek has, I believe she truly grasped the emotions of what these Lost Boys experience. Her writing is clear and lovely, and she clearly cares for and empathizes with all of her characters.
Gosh! Where do I begin? It has been two months, so I have forgotten a lot, like that I even read this book.
I understand that the book was written in the broken/awkward English it was in to show that this boy is newly immigrated from a terrible event. We are in his head, so we should hear how he thinks. I know that he is not from America, we understand by the events that happen to him while he is here.
The parts of him and the cow are a bit ridiculous, even more so when they bring it to the zoo. I understand that many things in America is foreign to him, but I just cannot imagine a kid will throw dishes into the washing machine and think he is doing something correct. Why not ask anyone for help? Don't think I've ever been in a wash room, or seen a washing machine that did not have pictures of clothes somewhere. Sure, you probably don't understand the language, but you sure as hell can look at a picture!
This is yet another book of a white person giving an unrealistic voice to a person of color. This kid did not receive any blatant racism other than the bus driver and a few people? No one bullied him at school or lunch for having an accent/not knowing English, just being Black in a rural area? It is very hard to write about the Black experience( or any other race religion, demographics) if you never actually sit down and speak to a person of that sec. Highly disappointing.
I understand that the book was written in the broken/awkward English it was in to show that this boy is newly immigrated from a terrible event. We are in his head, so we should hear how he thinks. I know that he is not from America, we understand by the events that happen to him while he is here.
The parts of him and the cow are a bit ridiculous, even more so when they bring it to the zoo. I understand that many things in America is foreign to him, but I just cannot imagine a kid will throw dishes into the washing machine and think he is doing something correct. Why not ask anyone for help? Don't think I've ever been in a wash room, or seen a washing machine that did not have pictures of clothes somewhere. Sure, you probably don't understand the language, but you sure as hell can look at a picture!
This is yet another book of a white person giving an unrealistic voice to a person of color. This kid did not receive any blatant racism other than the bus driver and a few people? No one bullied him at school or lunch for having an accent/not knowing English, just being Black in a rural area? It is very hard to write about the Black experience( or any other race religion, demographics) if you never actually sit down and speak to a person of that sec. Highly disappointing.
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Must. Read. (More than once!) This book broke my heart in the most wonderful of ways. Breathtaking.
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
great compaion to a long walk to water