On May 17, 1954, in the case of Brown v. the Board of Education, the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously ruled that "separate but equal" education violated the Fourteenth Amendment.  The segregation of schools was inherently unequal and should, therefore, be abolished.  While many cheered the landmark decision, many others opposed it, including Arkansas governor Orval Faubus.  His vehement opposition to the integration of Little Rock High School turned the city into a hotbed of tension and racist violence, making the news around the world.  In defiance of Faubus' wishes and the opinions of many Little Rock citizens, nine brave Black high school students integrated the institution with armed guards by their sides in 1957.  They became known as the Little Rock Nine.  Their courage in the face of unthinkable prejudice, mockery, and violence made them heroes whose fortitude continues to awe and inspire.

Journalist Melba Patillo Beals was a 15-year-old high school junior when she and eight others became the first Black students to enroll at Little Rock Central High School.  Determined to get the same education as her white peers, she endured name-calling, being spat on, death threats, being burned with acid, and hundreds of other humiliations at LRCHS.  Although she did not graduate from the institution (she completed her schooling in California, where she boarded with white Quakers), she endured a year of hell there.  It was a year that changed her forever.  In Warriors Don't Cry, Beals tells her story of both terror and triumph in an intimate, personal memoir that is memorable and moving.  The book provides a horrifying but fascinating peek into the history of the Civil Rights Movement, giving readers a gut-wrenching look at what one innocent child had to endure simply because of her skin color.  What stands out is Beals' faith, determination, and inner strength.  Her story is an important, empowering one that intrigued and inspired me.  

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock by David Margolick and The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine)

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find

Once upon a time, a group of animals lived at a forgotten roadside attraction called the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade.  Now that they've all been rescued, Ivan the gorilla and Ruby the baby elephant live at a sanctuary.  Bob, their canine friend, was taken home by Julia, the daughter of the mall's janitor.  He gets to visit his friends frequently, but it's not quite the same.  Still, there's lots to be said for the domesticated life—plenty of food; lots of belly rubs; a safe, warm bed; etc.  For a "mutt of uncertain heritage" (5), it's not a bad life. 

One day as Bob is visiting Ivan and Ruby, an oncoming hurricane starts wreaking havoc on the sanctuary and its animals.  Bob is separated from Julia in the chaos.  As he tries to help the distressed sanctuary residents, the canine makes a startling discovery—someone he thought was gone forever might still be alive.  Bob can't believe it, but he has to find out if the dog in question is really his long-lost sister.  Is it possible?  Can Bob save his litter mate from being caught in the storm?  Or will she rescue him from a life of domesticated boredom?  When push comes to shove, what does family really mean?  Where does Bob truly belong?

If you, like me, loved The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, then you're going to enjoy its sequel as well.  The One and Only Bob is an upbeat, heartwarming story featuring a funny, fast-"talking" hero who will make you smile.  Although the novel isn't as thoughtful and wise as Ivan, it still tells a sweet, uplifting story that teaches some good lessons about family, forgiveness, and friendship.  Through Bob's actions in the tale, it also shows that anyone—no matter how small—can be a hero.

(Readalikes:  The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate)

A student at a special arts high school in San Diego, 18-year-old Mira Hayes is heading home to Pittsburgh to spend the holidays with her mother.  Christmas Day will be the first anniversary of her mom's twin sister's death and Mira knows her mom's anxiety and depression will be through the roof.  Mira needs to be there for her.  As her plane descends into Newark, however, Mira gets some bad news:  worsening winter weather has grounded all flights out.  Phoning home only increases her worry about her mother's mental health, so when Mira's glamorous seatmate from the plane offers her a ride home in the car she and some friends are renting, Mira accepts. 

It doesn't take many hours on the road for Mira to realize that something is not right with the situation.  Not only are her four fellow passengers not friends with each other, but they're actually complete strangers.  As the weather grows increasingly stormy and important items—like cell phones and laptops—go missing from the car, Mira finds herself more and more cut off from the outside world with people she's finding harder and harder to trust.  With no way to contact her mother or anyone else, she's not just nervous, she's terrified.  Discovering alarming secrets about each of her traveling companions only increases her fear.  Although the storm outside is nasty and threatening, it's nothing compared to the danger Mira faces inside the car ...

The premise of Five Total Strangers, the newest YA novel by Natalie D. Richards, is a simple but compelling one.  When I first read the plot summary, I knew I had to read this book.  Unfortunately, the promise of the premise didn't pan out as well as I wanted it to.  The novel is definitely atmospheric, with a tense, unsettling vibe that makes the story deliciously suspenseful.  That's what kept me reading.  It certainly wasn't the characters, who are almost wholly unlikable.  As far as plot goes, the tale is engrossing and compelling, even if a lot of it feels contrived.  Not all of the plot elements make logical sense—some of them go nowhere at all while others never come full circle.  In spite of these irritants, Five Total Strangers sucked me in and kept me turning pages.  I didn't end up loving it like I wanted to, but I liked it well enough to keep reading.  Overall, it was just an okay read for me.     

(Readalikes:  Reminds me a bit of No Exit by Taylor Adams)

At his old junior high, Donte Ellison didn't stand out at all.  Now living in a Boston suburb and attending a snobby prep school, he feels like the whole world has turned white.  Donte and his brother are both bi-racial, but Trey can "pass" with his lighter skin and straight hair—he's navigating their new school just fine while Donte is constantly bullied.  

When Donte's main aggressor takes things too far, Donte decides the only way to get the kid to back down is to beat him at his own game:  fencing.  With no idea how to play the sport, Donte seeks out an old Black janitor who was once a fencing champion.  Arden Jones reluctantly agrees to coach Donte, Trey, and a few other kids.  As they learn how to fence, their confidence grows, and their team becomes one that's at least worth a second glance.  Now that Donte's managed to channel his anger into mastering a new sport, can he prove himself to the bully?  Is revenge even important to him anymore?  

Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes is about a lot of things:  racism, colorism, classism, the unfair targeting of Black males in the criminal justice system, standing up for one's self, etc.  None of those things make the book particularly unique.  Fencing, however, is a topic I've never read about before and certainly one that's never showed up in all my reading of books for children.  Using the sport as a backdrop gives Black Brother, Black Brother a fresh hook that makes the novel stand out.  Not only does Rhodes use it to show that Black kids can and do excel at traditionally "white" sports (check out The Peter Westbrook Foundation), but it's also a vehicle to demonstrate Donte's growth throughout the book.  Black Brother, Black Brother moves along at a steady pace, using a staccato narrative style that gives it an almost verse-like feel.  The characters are sympathetic and likable, the plot is compelling, and the story is thought-provoking and engrossing.  As mentioned before, it teaches some excellent lessons about empathy, fitting in, standing out, channeling anger into healthy pursuits, etc.  Black Brother, Black Brother should appeal especially to boys and reluctant readers as well as anyone else who wants an exciting, enlightening read.  

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee T. Frazier as well as the movie Life of a King.  Rhodes' books have also been compared to those by Jason Reynolds and Jacqueline Woodson)

Grade:  

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find