Reviewed by Veronika Jenke Reviewed Source: Africa Access Book Author: The Heart Never Forgets, written by Ana Ot, is the story of a young girl who attends a celebration of ancestors without her grandfather, who recently passed away. This annual celebration brings together the entire town with music, dancing, and masquerade performers. But the little […]
Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (In Love)
Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (In Love) is a touching young adult graphic novel that underscores the highs that may come out of the lows in life. From a complex sapphic romance to grief over the loss of a parent and from the pressure of being […]
Pockets of Love
Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Star and Sebi pair up with their father to make empanadas for mami on her birthday, just as their grandmother used to do every year before she passed away. Fortunately, grandma Monona left a recipe, but unfortunately, it doesn’t disclose what her secret ingredient was. […]
Empty and Me: A Tale of Friendship and Loss
Reviewed by Brad Manker Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Empty and Me is a bilingual (Arabic/English) children’s book that personifies grief in an interesting way. Azam Mahdavi’s sensitive text, paired with the evocative illustrations by Maryam Tahmasebi, combine to create a powerful and healing experience for young readers. Empty and Me is a valuable […]
When a Brown Girl Flees
Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: When a Brown Girl Flees is a thought provoking, contemporary young adult novel where author Aamna Qureshi seamlessly invests readers in her protagonist’s journey of healing from all-consuming grief to rediscovery and self-love. Eighteen-year-old Zahra Paracha makes the biggest decision of her life after graduation […]
All My Rage
Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: A powerful contemporary young adult novel, All My Rage is rife with anger and grief on the ongoing price of the American dream for immigrant families. This narrative is an homage to the predecessors who painstakingly worked to carve out a smoother pathway for their […]