I really enjoyed Kwame Alexander‘s poetic storyline. As a kid, I loved the idea of casual superpowers like this and I think I would have really enjoyed reading this in middle school. The poetic structure was also alluring and playful, which may help students who dislike poetry to see it as something other than complicated. I don‘t remember seeing poetry that expressed a story like this until college, so it could be a cool read for younger kids.
“That‘s when you know, really know, you‘re surrounded by family. Nobody has to say a word. They just look at each other and you know what they are thinking.”
I like how much Tingle drew attention to the familial aspect of Choctaw culture. The story Uncle Kenneth told, the way he italicized the phrase “dozens of cousins”, how he described the aunts and uncles, pointed to a close knit family. This is a dynamic that is often overlooked in writing.
Hello! I have read the first three stories in this book so far. The 2nd person POV of the first story caught my attention since I felt more immersed into the narrative, especially when the MC mulls over lessons learned during his time in the gym. I also really appreciated that Meg Medina included a child who is proud of her blue collar father's job. Those jobs are often ignored as viable career options, a mindset that needs to be challenged more.
