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Showing posts from February, 2024

Book Review: The Arrival

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  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Tan, S. (2007). The arrival . Arthur A. Levine Books . ISBN: 0439895294 2.  PLOT SUMMARY This wordless graphic novel was designed to look like an old photo album that shares the journey of an immigrant moving to a new place. Through Tan’s illustrations, readers get a glimpse at a man’s journey and the challenges he faces in a new country in an effort to build a new future for him and his family. 3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS This book is a must have! I have to admit, it took a bit to understand some of details Tan considered with this book. Writing a review for this novel was a bit challenging because the book itself has no words. However, the illustrations are MAGNIFICENT! Each illustration clearly describes what is happening in the story.  Even with no words, the story line is easy to follow. Using sequence of events, readers see some of the challenges this man faces in his new home. Tan thought of everything!!!! The illustrations are meant to depict and old photo album, the

Book Review: Living Beyond the Borders: Growing up Mexican in America

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  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Longoria, M. (2022). Living beyond borders: Growing up Mexican in America . Penguin. ISBN: 0593204980 2.  PLOT SUMMARY Written by a variety of different authors, this book shares a collection of short stories, essays, comics, and poems about struggles they have faced as Mexican Americans and the borders they have crossed. 3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS If I am honest, I am not sure how I feel about this book. On one side, reading each short story and I immediate began reminiscing about my childhood experiences where McDonald’s was rarely served at the dinner table. Instead, my parents would serve warm tortillas and enchiladas like what was mentioned in Yoli Calderon and Principal Hayes. These stories felt alittle stereotypical to me. I am a Mexican American living in Texas, more specifically in a border city where Mexico is only a short walk across a bridge. I couldn’t relate to the stories shared in this collection. This was the biggest let down for me. Yes, a lot of the things

Book Review: The Rose that Grew From Concrete

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  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Shakur, T. (2009). The rose that grew from concrete. MTV Books/Gallery Books. ISBN: 9780671028459 2.  PLOT SUMMARY Written by Tupac at age 19, this collection of poems is hand written and gives readers an inside to his deepest thoughts and feelings. This collection of 100 poems that were written between 1989 and 1991. Each poem touches on an aspect of Tupac’s life’s struggle. 3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS This book of verses is a must read!!!! Growing up in the 90’s I was a huge Tupac fan. I remember listening to his music and singing along to his lyrics. I will say I was in disbelieve at first, as I read through each poem. The poems in this collection show a sensitive side to Tupac that was rarely seen. I really felt these poems were heart felt and touched on either his personal struggles, love, friendship, or poverty. I really felt like these poems were easy to connect to, especially if you have background knowledge of Tupac and his life.  These poems would be great to engage

Book Review: Dragon Hoops

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  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Yang, G. L., Yang, K., Pien, L.,& Meyers, R. (2020). Dragon Hoops. First Second. ISBN: 1626720797 2.   PLOT SUMMARY This graphic novel is an autobiography of Gene Luen Yang as he begins to follow the Oakland’s basketball team and their journey to the State Championship. As he does this, he also explores the history of basketball from its invention to becoming a professional sport and he gets to know the team’s coaches and a few star players. His journey in writing this graphic novel, juggling his family, and job is also shared throughout the story. 3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS I have mixed feelings about this book. Maybe it’s because I am not a basketball fan, but I didn’t find this book to a page turner. But then again, this book isn’t all about basketball, it is also about Yang’s journey in writing this novel. There were some positives to this book, and a lot of the events mentioned in the book are added to help readers understand Oakland’s journey to the Sta

Book Review: The Outsiders

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  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Hinton, S. E. (1967). The outsiders. Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House. ISBN: 014240733X 2.   PLOT SUMMARY Set in the 60’s in Oklahoma, this classic novel is about the sad divisions of society. In this story, we meet Ponyboy, who is also known as a “greaser”. In this small town, teenage boys are divided into the “greasers” and the “Socs”. The “Socs” are the rich and privileged kids who can do no wrong. The plot thickens when one of Ponyboy’s friends, Johnny, accidently kids a “Soc” named Bob. With the help of another friend, Dally, Ponyboy and Johnny go into hiding for a few days.   Tragedy doesn’t seem to escape them. While trying to save some kids from a church fire, the roof collapses and Johnny is seriously injured and dies from those injuries. Filled with guilt, Dally robs a grocery store and is chased and killed by police. 3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS This book was amazing! I can not believe I waited this long to read the book!!!!! This novel was nar

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

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  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Green, J. (2014). The fault in our stars. Penguin Random House Australia. ISBN: 014242417X 2.  PLOT SUMMARY This novel is written from the perspective of a 16-year-old girl, Hazel, who is diagnosed with cancer. At the beginning of the story we learn that Hazel suffers from depression because of her cancer and her parents force her to join a support group.  This is where she meets Augustus, a 17-year-old boy who is in remission and attends the meeting in support of his friend Isaac, who also has cancer. Hazel and Augustus begin to develop a strong bond and during a trip to Amsterdam both teenagers confess their love for one and other. Shortly after the trip, Augustus tells Hazel that his cancer has returned and as his health worsens. He is then admitted to the hospital where he later dies. 3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS Well, where to start…to be honest this was not one of my top choices when deciding on which novel to read. I obviously knew what the story was about to some exten