Ritualo's Reviews

  Bibliography:  Ross, G. (1995). How Turtle’s Back was Cracked: A Traditional Cherokee Tale . Illus. by Murv Jacob. Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-0-8037-1728-2 Plot Summary: Turtle and Possum are best friends, and frequently share their favorite food, persimmons. When a wolf interferes, and sneakily steals Turtle's persimmons, the wolf is killed by possum.  But Turtle, realizing that Wolf stole his persimmons and unaware of what Possum had done, believes he had killed Wolf. He shares this victory story with his friends, and soon Wolf's family hears and they plan Turtle's demise. The clever turtle tricks them into throwing him into the river, not knowing he could swim. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned, and Turtle is no longer the same.  Critical Analysis: The story is based on a Native American folktale, and the oral tradition of passing down stories is clearly seen. Through the story, Ross also demonstrates the respect Native Americans give to nat...

Bibliography:  Alexie, S. (2007). The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian . Illus. by Ellen Forney. Little, Brown & Company. ISBN: 978-0-316-01368-0 Plot Summary: Junior lives on a reservation in Spokane-he wants to be a cartoonist. To get a "better" education, Junior decides to attend a school outside the reservation. A mostly white school, Junior faces discrimination and racism, and struggles with his identity, not sure of where he belongs. Along the way, he makes friends and gains support from members of his community and finally comes to accept himself for who he is. Told in the first person (it is a diary!) Junior shares his experiences  with poverty and racism using a mix of humor and honesty. Critical Analysis: Alexie uses simple language to tell Junior's story, as would be appropriate for Junior's age (14). Forney's artwork is charming and is representative of the mind of a 14 year old boy, showing Junior's emotions and struggles throughout...

Bibliography:  Erdrich, L. (2017). Future Home of the Living God . HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 978-0-06-269405-8 Plot Summary: Cedar is a pregnant young woman in a time when society seems to be moving in reverse. She tries to keep herself and her unborn child safe, though society is becoming increasingly oppressive. She goes into hiding with a small group, including family, in order to avoid government captuere. Cedar struggles not only with the idea of what the future holds, but her own identity as well. It is unclear what this dangerous new world may hold for her and her baby. Critical Analysis: Erdrich's choice of words vividly depicts this dystopian world and draws the reader in. Throught the novel, Erdrich weaves in issues of identity and race reflecting how even in this chaotic new world, marginalized communities still often feel unseen. Cedar struggles with issues of identity as a Native American woman who is further oppressed in this chaotic society. Injustices are prev...

  Bibliography:  Bruchac, J. (2007). Bearwalker . Illus. by Sally Wern Comport. HarperCollinsPublishers. ISBN: 978-0-06-112309-2 Plot Summary: Baron, a self-proclaimed "Native American midget"is an average 8th grader, other than his stature  (14).  On a class camping trip, he quickly becomes suspicious of their "guide" a man that looks native, but clearly isn't. A series of events deepen his suspicions, and it seems only Baron is aware of the pending doom.  When evil becomes apparent and his suspicions of the guide are confirmed, Baron attempts to seek help, and encounters a bear family, who will shortly come to his rescue.  Critical Analysis: Bruchac uses simple yet vivid language to tell a story that mixes Native American lore with modern life. Several native words are used throughout and given explanation, which aids its authenticity.  The pictures, though few, are effective and support the story line. Bruchac frequently uses the word "Indian" which...

Bibliography:  de la Pena, M. (2019). Love . Ill. by Loren Long. Findaway World, LLC. ISBN: 978-1-524-74091-7 Plot  Summary: This picture book looks at the many ways love can be shown and experienced in everyday things. Love is described through family, friends and even the things around us. It shows that love can be found everywhere if we look for it and it is something that everyone, regardless of who they are, can feel. Critical Analysis: De la Pena uses simple words to depict a not so simple emotion-love. The illustrations visually support the text and readers can see how love is expressed in different ways among different people, showing that it is a universal feeling. The illustrations capture the feelings of each character and help support the reader's understanding of the various types of love.  The illustrations also show the cultural diversity of communities, which vary from rural to urban, again demonstrating the universality of love. It was beautifully simple,...

  Bibliography:  Mora, P. (2007).   Yum! ¡Mmmm! ¡Qué Rico!: Americas’ Sproutings . Ill. by Rafael Lopez. Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN : 978-1-584-30271-1 Plot Summary: Various agriculture from all over the Americas is described in  haiku form using bright, colorful pictures and fun figurative language.  The author then shares the history and culture surrounding the food. Critical Analysis: Mora uses haiku and vivid figurative language to introduce different foods from the Americas. An example when talking about chilies (7)  : "Dad bites green mouthfire/Laughs when tears fill his eyes, sighs/MMM this heat tastes good." The illustrations are vibrant and colorful, allowing the reader to further appreciate the diverse foods of the Americas. The book does a great job of sharing the cultures behind the foods, especially focusing on foods native to the Americas, by showing the traditions and history behind each item. The use of haik...

  Bibliography:  Medina, M. (2013). Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass . Candlewick Press.      ISBN:  978-1-48066-309-1 Plot Summary: Piddy is at a new school. She doesn't know many people or have many friends, and generally minds her own business. But Yaqui Delgado wants to beat her up, and she doesn't know why.  She is also being bullied because others think she is flaunting her figure.  And for this reason, Yaqui thinks Piddy is trying to steal her boyfriend. The bullying begins to complicate her home and school life, until she is cornered and beaten by Yaqui and her friends. When she is finally forced to report the incident, her life begins to turn back around. Critical Analysis:  Medina portrays Piddy's experiences as a Latina girl facing racism and stereotypes well, highlighting some of the challenges minorities face regularly. Throughout the novel, cultural markers such as food and music enrich the story, celebrating the dynamics o...

Bibliography:  Engle, M. (2013). The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba’s Greatest Abolitionist . Harcourt, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 978-0-547-80743-0 Plot Summary:  Tula is a young girl in Cuba whose mother has arranged for her to marry a wealthy older man. But Tula craves knowledge and freedom.  Not just for herself, but also for the enslaved on the island. She loves words, especially writing, where she feels she can express herself.  When she refuses to marry for anything other than love, her mother banishes her to her. Eventually she falls in love with a man who doesn't love her back. She leaves for Spain where she finally finds some of her freedom.  Critical Analysis: This work of historical fiction is told in verse from multiple perspectives.  Engle's use of poetry allows readers to see into Tula's thoughts and emotions, providing a clear picture of her life experiences. Throughout Tula's story, Engle paints a picture of Cuba's natural beauty and its v...