Home: Binti

Home: Binti is by Nnedi Okorafor. The second novella in the science fiction series centered around Binti and her family. Binti returns to Earth with the Meduse Okwu so that she can complete her pilgrimage and make peace with her family. From the moment they arrive on Earth however, things do not go as planned. Her family is less than pleased to see her and when the Desert People (her father's tribe) arrive to escort her into the desert, events converge which will force Binti to chose her own future and stop an interstellar war. You won't be able to wait for the final installment. 

Ratings: 9 out of 10 - 9th grade - V (Violence). 

The Vixen Scream & Other Bible Stories

The Vixen Scream & Other Bible Stories is by Nancy Stohlman. A weird, strange, and yet entrancing selection of flash fiction. The stories are unique and at the same time are intertwined in a bizarre way. If you like bizarro fiction then this might be for you. Prepare to be perplexed and entertained. 

Ratings: 7 out of 10 - 10th grade - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).

How to Read Poetry Like a Professor: A Quippy & Sonorous Guide to Verse

How to Read Poetry Like a Professor: A Quippy & Sonorous Guide to Verse is by Thomas C. Foster. An excellent primer on how to understand and read poetry. All of Foster's books are marvelous and this one is no exception. A must read for teachers, but very helpful for students and lay-people are well. 

Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10. 

Cool Salsa

Cool Salsa is edited by Lori M. Carlson. A wonderful selection of poems by a variety of Hispanic authors including Sandra Cisneros, Gary Soto, Pat Mora, Oscar Hijuelos, and many others. The English version of the poem is juxtaposed with the Spanish version. A great way to introduce fun poetry and another culture to a young audience. 

Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10. 

The Poet X

The Poet X is by Elizabeth Acevedo. A beautiful fiction in verse novel about the coming of age of a young Hispanic girl in New York. Xiomara lives in Harlem with her mother, father and twin brother. Her family situation isn't the best and she doesn't seem to be able to find her place; she has too many questions and not enough answers. Her sophomore year in high school, she discovers the power of poetry with the help of her English teacher and the poetry club and finds her voice. A powerful and beautifully written novel about a teenager's struggle for self-identity.

Ratings: 10th grade - 9 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content). 

Rewiring Education: How Technology Can Unlock Every Student's Potential

Rewiring Education: How Technology Can Unlock Every Student's Potential is by John D. Couch. An interesting look at the way technology can be incorporated into the school classroom to better teach every child in a way that will allow them to learn in the way, and at the pace, that suits them best. Couch doesn't have all the answers, but he does understand the problem and this book at least starts the discussion. Teachers should read this book, but so should parents, students, administrators, and anyone interested in education.

Ratings: 10th grade - 8 out of 10. 

Our Story: A Memoir of Love and Life in China

Our Story: A Memoir of Love and Life in China is by Rao Pingru. A beautiful graphic autobiography about the love story of a Chinese couple. Rao's story follows his childhood and that of his future wife, Meitang. Born in 1922, the Rao's story parallels Chinese history from WWII to the present. His story is one of happiness and separation (he is sent to a "re-education" camp for more than a decade), struggles with poverty and finally reunification and the struggles with illness, old age, and death. The love of Pingru and his wife is obvious on every page. Rao painted the pictures in the book and they are lovely. A wonderful book. 

Ratings: 9th grade - 9 out of 10.