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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
This was a sweet story. The fish out of water emphasis, rather than the horrors of the Sudanese civil war is probably age appropriate, but since I'm reading What is the What at the same time, which provides a more adult perspective of the conflict, I found it a bit simplistic.
I listened to this story about Kek a Sudanese boy who has immigrated to the US from a refugee camp. His father and brother died in attacks on their village, his mother was lost in an attack on the first refugee camp he lived in and he's not sure if she is still alive. He's helped through the transition to American life by a girl who's also separated from her family (foster care) and a cow who reminds him of home.
I really liked this book, but it lost a star because the ending was too happy, it made everything seem less real and believable, which is a shame I think.
It's about a boy who loves cows, and who doesn't love cows?
It's about a boy who loves cows, and who doesn't love cows?
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a beautiful story. I am really looking forward to sharing this story with my students this year. So many things to talk about. Katherine Applegate, you are so masterful with words. I just love your stories.
The wording was not what I had expected: I expected it to be like [b:Inside Out & Back Again|8537327|Inside Out & Back Again|Thanhha Lai|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357771743s/8537327.jpg|13404762], but from the first page I could tell it was not at all like free verse poetry or any poetry for that matter. This book was short and sweet, and pretty light and fluffy. Think children's chapter book. It's in the view of a learning kid who's been forced to mature faster than others his age. He is confused and understanding, just trying to make things make sense.
I haven't read a lot of books-in-verse to talk about the book from this angle, but Home of the Brave is such a beautiful, simple read with a meaningful story. I enjoyed reading the simple words of this great book, and Kek, who is a Sudanese refugee coming to America to start a new life with his aunt and cousin, tells us about this different country from his point of view with innocent, afraid but mostly hopeful and curios words. He learns about the snow, the planes, the TV, but he still terribly misses his old life and clings to everything that reminds him of his homeland.
What I didn't like about the story however is that it doesn't show the complete truth, or we can say it leaves bit and pieces from the problems refugees face, especially that Kek is a person of color. Yes, there was a hint of that in parts two and three, and this is a children's book after all — and what a good book it is too, especially for kids! Though there were a couple of issues in the book that didn't entirely appeal to my taste, Katherine Applegate's Home of the Brave remain an excellent read.
What I didn't like about the story however is that it doesn't show the complete truth, or we can say it leaves bit and pieces from the problems refugees face, especially that Kek is a person of color. Yes, there was a hint of that in parts two and three, and this is a children's book after all — and what a good book it is too, especially for kids! Though there were a couple of issues in the book that didn't entirely appeal to my taste, Katherine Applegate's Home of the Brave remain an excellent read.
Make that eighteen more Bluebonnets to go. Home of the Brave is book two. Kek escapes from his warring homeland in Africa to live with family in icy cold Minnesota. Kek sees America with fresh eyes and bravely starts to make a new life here, quickly befriending a foster girl and a thin cow, hoping his mother has survived and will be reunited with him. Told in free verse (a device which serves well to reflect Kek’s real voice).
Sweet, heartbreaking, and beautifully done. This is the kind of book that might be easy to read in a sitting, but it sticks with you much longer.
I loved the sweet feelings I had toward Kek as I read this novel. Kek is a Sudanese teen refugee who has come to America after his family has been murdered by soldiers. Only he and his mother survived--and she is still missing. Applegate has Kek tell his story through poetic prose. He describes the difficulties he has with adjusting to America, shares his bad dreams and haunting memories, and allows us to see his ingenuity in trying to survive. I just loved this book!