Imatge de l'autor

Richard Michelson

Autor/a de As Good as Anybody

24 obres 1,395 Membres 144 Ressenyes

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Inclou aquests noms: Rich Michelson, Richard Michelson

Crèdit de la imatge: photo by Seth Kaye

Obres de Richard Michelson

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Sydney Taylor (born Sarah Brenner) "knows she is One of a Kind": born in 1904, she was the middle sister of five (later, baby brother Charlie came along). The Brenner family are German Jewish immigrants who live in New York; they are poor, but Sarah loves dance, keeps a diary, and even changes her own name from Sarah to Sydney so that people will pay attention to what she writes. She believes in women's right to vote, and becomes a socialist; she meets Ralph Taylor at a meeting of the Young People's Socialist League, and they are "two of a kind." They get married, and Sydney dances with Martha Graham for years before having a daughter - who asks why all their bedtime stories feature Christian children. So Sydney tells Jo stories from her childhood, eventually writing them down. The stories are rejected by publishers at first, but years later, Ralph sends them in to a contest, and they win first prize.

Back matter: afterword about Sydney and the All-of-A-Kind Family books, about Ralph Taylor, about Jo Taylor Marshall; author's note; sources; photographs; acknowledgments.

See also: Just Like Beverly
… (més)
½
 
Marcat
JennyArch | Mar 13, 2024 |
Fascinating indeed!

A very short children's book which my 9 year old daughter bought to write a biography book review. The Star Trek bug rubbed off on her from me and Spock is by far her favorite character. The book has some interesting little tidbits, including the origin of the Vulcan greeting. An enjoyable read for elementary school kids and Trekkies alike.
 
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amurray914 | Hi ha 12 ressenyes més | Feb 27, 2024 |
A boy scares/reassures his younger sister about various terrors and how he'll protect her, but the scare that materializes in the doorway is their dad, who they've woken up.
½
 
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JennyArch | Hi ha 6 ressenyes més | Nov 12, 2022 |
Brewster's first day of school is rife with conflict. `As the author notes, this book is a based on the fact that many young African American children were bused in the 1970's into previously all-white schools. Interestingly, Brewster, the author's character of the story told the friendly librarian he wanted to be President one day! As the author notes, he wrote the book before Barack Obama was elected the first African American president of the United States. Thus, Brewster's dream of the possibility of the potential black president occurred.

The illustrations and the story are strong, but not overpowering. This was written as a backdrop of the United States Supreme Court 's outlawing segregated schools in 1954, with the enactment of Brown vs. Board of Education. As the author notes in this book, in 1971, the Supreme Court took the mandate further and forced busing. Instead of allowing black students to attend a white school, some black children were forced to do so, and were bused far from their house. And, likewise, white students also were bused outside of their neighborhoods. This was a failed experiment, which led to violence and dissatisfaction, but black students did indeed have opportunities in previously all-white schools that were not available to them previously.

Brewster attends a previously all-white school. His first day is filled with comments from white students that his kind should go back where they belong. There were police who helped to integrate the schools. In this story, in order to control potential violence, the policeman brings students to the library. Brewster finds the library to be a safe space, and a wonderful white woman who is the librarian reaches out to him. Thus, Brewster's first day of school has a ray of sunshine that carries him forward.

From personal experience, it was a librarian in the small town school where I lived, who helped me feel safe and wanted. My skin was not black, but I had a dysfunctional childhood, and it was the librarian who welcomed me and gave me a love of reading which lasted all my life.

Highly Recommended. Four Stars!
… (més)
 
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Whisper1 | Hi ha 34 ressenyes més | Feb 7, 2022 |

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Estadístiques

Obres
24
Membres
1,395
Popularitat
#18,427
Valoració
4.0
Ressenyes
144
ISBN
64

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