Multicultural

The Red Pencil

Author: Andrea Davis Pinkney 

Publisher Info: Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2015

Description: The Red Pencil  tells the powerful story of Amira, a young girl from a peaceful Sudanese village whose life is turned upside down by the violence of the Janjaweed. Forced to flee with nothing but her courage, Amira embarks on a dangerous journey to a refugee camp, struggling to hold onto hope. A gift of a red pencil rekindles her spirit and opens new possibilities for self-expression, helping her find strength in the midst of unimaginable loss. 

Evaluation:  This story in verse offers a rich, emotionally engaging narrative that provides students with a personal lens into the challenges faced by those living in conflict zones. The book's use of verse, along with its vivid depiction of loss, resilience, and hope, makes it an excellent resource for fostering empathy and discussion in the classroom. Additionally, the story's historical context and Amira’s journey of self-discovery encourage critical thinking about themes like survival, identity, and the power of art.

Usage: Use this novel in the classroom to spark discussions on themes such as resilience, the impact of war, and the importance of self-expression. You can incorporate the novel-in-verse into lessons on poetry, creative writing, and social studies, encouraging students to reflect on global conflicts and their personal connections to art and hope. It also provides an opportunity for students to explore empathy through character analysis and engage in projects that explore refugee experiences and cultural awareness.

Resource Overview By : J. Deel

Echo

Author:  Pam Muñoz Ryan

Publisher Info: Scholastic Press, 2015

Description: Decades after Otto finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving three mysterious sisters and a magical harmonica, three children with miles of distance between them become interwoven when the very same magical harmonica lands in their lives. 

Faced with daunting challenges, each child's suspenseful solo story converges in a powerful crescendo by an invisible thread of destiny. 

Evaluation:  Echo is a middle-grade novel that weaves together historical fiction, magical realism, and a love of music in a beautiful narrative. This Newbery Honor story follows the journey of a mysterious harmonica whose evocative melodies and “secret magic” ripple through time and across continents.   

Usage: Echo can be used in upper elementary and middle grade levels for various ELA lessons. Analyzation of key themes such as hope, resilience, prejudice, family, and the power of music can be incorporated as student's trace these theme's across each character's story. Students can examine the growth of Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy over their course of their individual journeys, comparing and contrasting their struggles and triumphs. For students learning point of view and structure, teachers can use Echo to teach narrative students by analyzing how the book weaves together three separate story lines and uses Otto's tale in the forest as a frame story. The lyrical style used by the author gives a great opportunity for students to work on vocabulary and figurative language by identifying similes, metaphors, imagery, and symbolism.