Welcome to Litsy!

I loved Armstrong Dunbar‘s “Never Caught,” and this one is great too. This adult nonfiction story of the life of Harriet Tubman focuses on her escaping slavery, rescuing enslaved people, and her work during the Civil War as a nurse and spy, as well as her work for women‘s rights and care-taking for elderly people of color.

Overall I liked the easy-to-read format, larger text and illustration.

50 of 50 books read for #readingwomenofcolor2019

I loved this memoir in verse. It is so impossibly distilled. Gorgeous. I couldn‘t put it down.

Grimes‘s life as a youth was difficult and yet, she finds beauty, and hope and faith. She deftly draws the reader into understanding how writing saved her life, again and again.

#poetry
#readingwomenofcolor2019

Edie knows her mom‘s heritage is Native American, but her mom was adopted by a white family in the 70‘s and she knows nothing beyond this. When she and her friends find a box full of letters and from her mom‘s birth mother, she realizes her mother has known far more than she‘s let on.

This compelling story sheds light on a few of the injustices Native Americans have faced, and finds hope in the future.

#readingwomenofcolor2019
#middlegrade

Griselda loves working with plants, but when her 18-year-old sister starts making money as a beauty consultant for Alma Cosmetics, she gets an idea to help her family by selling lip gloss.

This sweet story was a compelling read I couldn‘t put down.

#middlegrade
#readingwomenofcolor2019

When José‘s Puerto Rican mother finds that her roast doesn‘t fit in her small American oven, José and his father set out to find a way to cook the roast. Along the way they bring community together and celebrate the joy of the Christmas holiday.

Colorful and fanciful illustrations by Marjorie Priceman perfectly capture the spirit of the story.

#readingwomenofcolor2019
#christmasprotagonistsofcolor
#crossculturalchristmasstories

The whole family loves celebrating with Mim‘s Christmas belly-hum jam, but this year won‘t be the same since Pap is in New York City digging the hole for the new subway. Pap is working for 2 bosses who won‘t give the men Christmas off, but when Mim sends her belly-hum jam everything changes.

#crossculturalchristmasstories
#readingwomenofcolor2019

Jackie Robinson‘s daughter writes the true story of how well-meaning Robinson bought a Christmas tree for his Jewish neighbors.

My elementary-age kids thoroughly enjoyed this sweet story of kind intentions and the joy of holidays.

#readingwomenofcolor2019
#christmasprotagonistsofcolor
#crossculturalchristmasstories

Sonia Sotomayor, who was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of 7, encourages readers to understand that we are all different and to be empowered by that knowledge.

Each page features a different child with their own challenges and strengths, differences that make our whole world “more interesting and fun.” Illustrations by López are bright and joyful, a perfect compliment in this compelling story.

#readingwomenofcolor2019

This was so much fun: A steamy romance that is body-positive, featuring a woman of color who has a chronic illness. Wow.

After a near-death experience Chloe makes a list of goals to accomplish in an effort to “get a life.” When she enlists the help of her building‘s handyman (and talented artist) she finds more than she expects.

#chronicillness
#readingwomenofcolor2019

Harpreet has colorful patkas for every occasion and mood. When his family moves across the country for his mom‘s new job, Harpreet feels sad and lonely until making a new friend.

This is a great read for talking about emotions. A note at the end gives more information about Sikhism, and expounds on the turbans called patkas, and the religious traditions of Sikhs.

#readingwomenofcolor2019