Snow Day Reading

          Snow days are perfect for cuddling up with a good book, and that is just what I did last week when class was cancelled (after shoveling snow for AN HOUR).  I decided to read two of our new books that had been very well reviewed and I had been meaning to read for a while.  What I did not know, is that I would find so many similarities between these wonderful books.

                The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano is the story of Puerto Rican teenager living in New York City in the late 1960s. Evelyn becomes wrapped up in her neighborhood’s Puerto Rican activist group the Young Lords, and their struggle for equality.  I loved the characters in this book and although Evelyn was constantly struggling with her mother’s desire to keep their Puerto Rican heritage alive, I enjoyed reading about the food and hearing the language.

                The second book I read was My Name is Parvana.  This book is actually the final book in a series that follows a young girl who, in the midst of the Taliban’s harsh control over Afghanistan,  stands up for what she believes.  This book alternates back and forth between Parvana’s memories of starting a school for girls with her family, and her current silence and imprisonment by American soldiers.  Reading this book is humbling and you will not believe the experiences that Parvana endures.  Although this book is part of a series, it stands alone.  Having not read the others, I did not feel like I could not put the pieces together. 

                Both of these books feature strong teenage characters, who like many of you, are beginning to feel connected to politics and your community.  Forming your own opinions and having a stake in what goes on around you is one of the most important things about growing up, and these characters are inspirational.  If you like these books, or are interested in similar titles, check out Fire in the Streets, One Crazy Summer, or Kids of Kabul.