WEEK 2- Diversity

                                              The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare      Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments Series is enthralling from start to finish. Thrust into a world of demons, "mundies," and Shadowhunters, protagonist Clary Fray must join forces against all evil to save her new friends, uncovering truths about her past along the way.  This is an adventure in a fantasy world featuring various mythical and fantastical —even spiritual — creatures like angels, demons, vampires, werewolves, faeries, and warlocks —if you can think it, it's probably in this book. However, reading it, it is somehow grounded and contained. It never feels like too much. You get pretty swept up in what happens to the protagonist and the kinds of things that she sees, the world that unfolds around her. No matter how liv...

        The  I Survived  books by Lauren Tarshis   are some of my favorites to read. They are action-packed, thought-provoking, and informational. These books allow the reader to fill the shoes of the protagonist who navigates a difficult journey through tragedy, tumult, and conflict, all inspired by true events. It answers a question that children might often ask: "What would happen if the worst happened?"  This specific book is about a little boy and a stranded dog trying to survive Hurricane Katrina. Separated from his family, eleven-year-old Barry is alone in New Orleans and just wants to get back to his family. We follow him as he overcomes disaster, fear, and uncertainty. Though the worst has happened, we see Barry grasp for bravery and courage and succeed. This book deals with themes of surviving against the odds, socio-economic disparities, and community and family against disaster.  If I had a classroom, I would have a discussion wit...

  Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac details Ned Begay's life as he navigates childhood, embracing his heritage despite oppression, and using his Navajo culture with bravery and for the good of mankind. I think this is another story about having the courage to be who you are. A lot of our situations are not as extreme; we might not have ever been asked to deny a part of ourselves to assimilate to something else, but our protagonist was- and that became his strength. It took intelligence and resilience to overcome racism and injustice and fight for a country that does not fight for you. I enjoyed how the author wrote about the Navajo culture, like there was great love in his voice when he spoke about the traditions, the names, and the Navajo language. If I had a classroom, I would do a canned food drive. I would research some people or places that might need help and make it a class project to help them, just like Ned did in his own classroom when he gave to those in need in Japan. It co...