As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds

As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds was published in 2016 and won The Schneider Family Book Award, The Kirkas Prize, and the Coretta Scott King Award. It deserves all three.

Goodreads blurb: Genie’s summer is full of surprises. The first is that he and his big brother, Ernie, are leaving Brooklyn for the very first time to spend the summer with their grandparents all the way in Virginia—in the COUNTRY! The second surprise comes when Genie figures out that their grandfather is blind. Thunderstruck and—being a curious kid—Genie peppers Grandpop with questions about how he covers it so well (besides wearing way cool Ray-Bans).

How does he match his clothes? Know where to walk? Cook with a gas stove? Pour a glass of sweet tea without spilling it? Genie thinks Grandpop must be the bravest guy he’s ever known, but he starts to notice that his grandfather never leaves the house—as in NEVER. And when he finds the secret room that Grandpop is always disappearing into—a room so full of songbirds and plants that it’s almost as if it’s been pulled inside-out—he begins to wonder if his grandfather is really so brave after all.

Then Ernie lets him down in the bravery department. It’s his fourteenth birthday, and, Grandpop says to become a man, you have to learn how to shoot a gun. Genie thinks that is AWESOME until he realizes Ernie has no interest in learning how to shoot. None. Nada. Dumbfounded by Ernie’s reluctance, Genie is left to wonder—is bravery and becoming a man only about proving something, or is it just as important to own up to what you won’t do? 

Jason Reynolds writes characters well. I love how the brothers interact with each other and with their grandparents. I love how the boys respect their grandparents. The situation with the flies, apple seeds, and birds is actually pretty funny and stressful for Genie. I need to read this one again.

I am hoping to add a second hospital to our NICU book project, so click the link below if you are interested in donating books to babies.

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez

The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez was published in 2014. I listened to the audio version that was narrated by several different voice actors, all of whom did an amazing job. Their voices and accents made the story come alive.

This book tells the stories of several people whose families immigrated to America for different reasons. Each family gave up much to get to come here where they hoped to have a better life. Often the lives of the immigrants connect to each other.

The main story is of Maribel. Her parents come to the USA to gain medical care for her after she suffers a traumatic brain injury.

Blurb from Goodreads: After their daughter Maribel suffers a near-fatal accident, the Riveras leave México and come to America. But upon settling at Redwood Apartments, a two-story cinderblock complex just off a highway in Delaware, they discover that Maribel's recovery--the piece of the American Dream on which they've pinned all their hopes--will not be easy. Every task seems to confront them with language, racial, and cultural obstacles.

At Redwood also lives Mayor Toro, a high school sophomore whose family arrived from Panamá fifteen years ago. Mayor sees in Maribel something others do not: that beyond her lovely face, and beneath the damage she's sustained, is a gentle, funny, and wise spirit. But as the two grow closer, violence casts a shadow over all their futures in America.

Peopled with deeply sympathetic characters, this poignant yet unsentimental tale of young love tells a riveting story of unflinching honesty and humanity that offers a resonant new definition of what it means to be an American. 

I enjoyed this story even though parts of it are very sad. I think this book shows that all of us are more alike than different from each other. We all want what is best for our children. We all want to have gainful employment, to not be cheated, and to be treated kindly. This book is well worth reading or listening to.

We've had some very generous donations this week. I'm very thankful as we are hoping to add a second NICU to our project. These donations help make that happen. We can reach even more families and hopefully give them the reading bug. 

Caitie sent these books over:

 Alysen brought over this cute  chunky board book that has colors and pieces that roll.

 Michelle found these cute books - most of them board books.

Intermountain Health Care found out about our project and used it as the basis for their service project. They gathered over 6,000 books for children in our area, and our little project was the recipient of 213 books. I'm so happy that so many children will receive books. The next several pictures were all from Intermountain.

 Check out these cute animal books that double as toys.

 Every McKay Dee packet will have a Love you Forever book for quite a while. This donation will allow me to gather books for a second hospital as all of these books will go to McKay Dee.

Click this Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

The Robe by Lloyd C Douglas

The Robe by Lloyd C Douglas was published in 1942 during WWII. We read this for our book club during June. This isn't a story, I normally would have read, but I am so glad I read it. Lloyd C. Douglas is an excellent writer, and he researched this story well. 

He wrote a story that centers on some the last words of Jesus Christ, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Luke 23:35. This story is about one of the soldiers who put Christ to death, and he really doesn't understand what he has done until after he does it. 

This story is his journey to come first of all come to terms with the depression that descends upon him after the crucifixion, and then to learn about this Savior or King of the world. It is against the law to be Christian during this time, and Marcellus, the soldier who rolls for the robe of Christ, must figure out what to do with the knowledge he gains after he crucifies the Savior. 

Douglas puts the reader into the mind of Marcellus who isn't just an easy follower. He is not superstitious and wants evidence to back up what people tell him about Jesus Christ. He asks hard questions, and looks to reality to try to explain the miracles seen during the Saviors life. Based on his own experience, he has no trouble believing some of the miracles, but he struggles to believe others. 

This book makes the reader think and the story will stay with me. I look forward to reading this one again. 

5 of 5 stars. 

Link to our NICU book registry if you'd like to donate books to babies in the newborn intensive care unit so their parents can read to them while they grow. You can also donate gently used books to our project by sending them to me or to Angie. Email me for a mailing address. We can use both English and Spanish books. If you have a graduate of the NICU, or if you have a baby whose life you would like to honor by donating books to this project, let me know, and I can make a book plate with their name for the books you donate.

Read to a child today even if that child is you.