Ask Me No Questions

Budhos, Marina. 2006. Ask me no questions. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781416903512

Plot Summary

In the wake of 9/11 and a crackdown on illegal Muslim immigrants, 14-year-old Nadira and her family flee to the Canadian border seeking asylum. When they are turned back at the border, Nadira’s father is detained, facing deportation. Nadira and her older sister, Aisha, return to Queens alone and try to resume their routines. As months pass, Aisha breaks under the stress of working toward a future that she can no longer be certain of, high school valedictorian and acceptance into a prestigious college. It is up to Nadira, a plump underachiever overshadowed by her gifted sister, to fight the way through a bureaucratic nightmare to reunite her family and assure their place in America.

Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers)

Ask No Questions presents the difficult reality faced by many Muslim illegal immigrant families who were tacitly accepted into the framework of American life, until the acts of terrorists turned the tide of public opinion and government leniency. Although the story is specifically about a Bangladeshi family with a focus on the after effects of 9/11, it represents the fears and difficulties faced by any illegal immigrant family.

Budhos spares most of the details of detention and the residency application process, focusing instead on the effect that possible deportation and a family separated has on the teen daughters. Nadira’s feelings of invisibility within her own family reflect the family’s invisibility to the bureaucrats and judges who will determine the family’s fate. Aisha’s dramatic, yet believable, breakdown in the face of losing all that she has worked for provides the incentive for Nadira to step forward and make herself, and her family, seen.

Nadira draws strength from remembering stories her father told about the resiliency of the Bangladeshi people in the face of seasonal floods and borders redrawn by uncaring politicians. “There’s a Bangla phrase: ar chor gora, ei niye amader jibon. ‘The land breaks and new land forms.’ This is our life.” Nadira’s family and extended family exhibit a wide variation in degrees of assimilation of American culture. Nadira’s parents allow her and her sister more freedom from the traditional expectations of Muslim women, while her aunt and uncle try, unsuccessfully, to impose those expectations upon their rebellious daughter. Nadira’s mother surprises everyone by breaking out of her shell of self-imposed seclusion, due to her insecurities about her command of the English language, and adopting American style dress in an effort to help her husband during his detention. While Nadira finds comfort, and the key to her father’s release, in the calm presence of a devoutly religious Muslim friend of the family.

Review Excerpts

Horn Book Magazine: “Nadira and Aisha’s strategies for surviving and succeeding in high school offer sharp insight into the narrow margins between belonging and not belonging, and though the resolution of the story is perhaps more optimistic than realistic, it feels earned.”

Kirkus Reviews: “Nadira's need for acceptance by her family neatly parallels the family's desire for acceptance in their adopted country. A perceptive peek into the lives of foreigners on the fringe.”

Connections

Marina Budhos presents interviews of real teenage immigrants in Remix: Conversations with Immigrant Teenagers. Booklist says “Whether they arrived from Ethiopia, Ukraine, or Bangladesh, their struggles are similar, and we see their confusion and exhilaration as they settle into a life where the rules are suddenly so different.”:

Budhos, Marina. 2007. Remix: Conversations with immigrant teenagers. Oregon: Resource Publications. ISBN 9781556356100

The Pirate of Kindergarten

Lyon, George Ella. 2010. The pirate of kindergarten. Ill. by Lynne Avril. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781416950240

Plot Summary

Ginny loves reading circle, but it’s hard to find a seat when half of them aren’t real. Ginny loves to read, but it’s hard when there are two of every word on the page. Numbers and scissors are especially hard because Ginny sees two of everything. On vision screening day Ginny finds out that most people only see one of everything. After a trip to the eye doctor Ginny returns to school with an eye patch. As a Kindergarten Pirate, Ginny is able to read, do numbers and scissors, and take her place in the reading circle without knocking over chairs.

Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers)

The Pirate of Kindergarten offers a straightforward example of the difficulties of succeeding in school with a vision problem. Ginny has difficulties in reading, math, and trouble with spatial reckoning. Ginny has developed coping skills such as tightening her mind “the way you tie a knot in a rope.” Some of Ginny’s coping skills, reading with her nose in the fold of the book or with one eye closed, are discouraged by her well intentioned, but oblivious, teacher. The teasing of other children and the details of the corrective therapies are briefly mentioned, but they are not the focus of the story. What the story reveals is the confusion of double vision, and the relief when corrected.

Avril’s mixed media illustrations clearly show how the world would look to someone with double vision. The illustrations often contrast what Ginny sees, overlapping doubled images, with the clear images that her classmates and teacher see. The pirate aspect of the story does not come into play until after Ginny receives her eye patch, and then it is only used as a metaphor of Ginny’s growing confidence and command once her view of the world has been set right.

Review Excerpts

Horn Book Magazine: “Avril’s easygoing pictures in cheerful colors simultaneously depict a warm, inviting classroom and the chaos seen through Ginny's eyes. Ginny squints her way through the day, eager to learn and succeed at school, but her efforts and frustration are palpable.”

Booklist: “Based on Lyon’s own experience, the sensitively written story radiates empathy and good humor. Even children who have not experienced Ginny’s problem will understand her occasional frustration and find it intriguing that one person can literally see the world differently from another.”

Connections

Nonfiction books about vision disorders and eyeglasses for older readers:

Goldstein, Margaret J. 1997. Eyeglasses (Household history). Minneapolis : Carolrhoda Books. ISBN 9781575050010

Silverstein, Alvin. 2000. Can you see the chalkboard? (My health). New York: Franklin Watts. ISBN 9780531139691

Wildthorn

Eagland, Jane. 2009. Wildthorn. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780547370170

Plot Summary

When 17-year-old Louisa Cosgrove arrives at Wildthorn she is told that she is ill and her name is Lucy Childs. Lou knows it has to be a mistake, she is not ill and she is not Lucy Childs. Lou quickly realizes that Wildthorn is an insane asylum and that the more she protests her sanity and identity, the more convinced the attendants are that she is right where she belongs. As Louisa tries to solve the puzzle of who put her in an asylum, and why, her situation goes from bad to horrific. It will take the love of an attendant who believes her to set her free.

Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers)

Louisa’s first person narration offers a shocking glimpse of the horrors and injustices suffered by women confined in 19th century insane asylums. Many of the women confined in the asylum are there because they were uncooperative or a burden to the men responsible for them. Those who came to Wildthorn sound of mind, and those suffering from treatable depression or anxiety, quickly lose their minds due to neglect, cruel and uncaring attendants, and barbaric treatments.

The clues to why Louisa is in Wildthorn, and who put her there, are revealed through series of flashbacks. Louisa has never shown an inclination for proper womanly pursuits such as homemaking, preferring instead to read and study medicine. She was often at odds with her mother and brother because of this, while her father indulged her interests. When her father died, Louisa’s insistence that she wanted to be a doctor, her natural depression due to grief, and an unlucky combination of “concerned” relatives lead to her incarceration. Louisa’s anger and feelings of impotence are clearly expressed through her narration.

The promised love story is slowly revealed, and may come as a shock to readers. Louisa is afraid that one of the reasons she is in Wildthorn is because her cousin Grace broke a promise. What that promise was is not clear until Louisa finally tells Eliza about the night, shortly before she came to Wildthorn, when she acted on her feelings for Grace, kissed her, and was gently rebuffed. Eliza’s calm acceptance of this revelation is one of the first clues to Eliza’s feelings for Louisa. It is not until Louisa is free of the asylum, seeking refuge with Eliza and her family, that she comes to understand why Eliza was willing to believe and help her.

The joy of first love is quickly complicated by the arrival of Louisa’s cousin Grace and her aunt. Louisa returns to her home to make amends with her mother, who is finally willing to acquiesce to Louisa’s wish to go to medical school. Louisa’s excitement about attending medical school is not shared by Eliza, who has a better understanding of the impossibility of living together openly as lovers and equals. The ending puts aside those worries for later with a clever bit of deception that allows the two women to stay together. After the slow build up and revelation of their desire for one another, the steamy epilogue does not disappoint.

Review Excerpts

Kirkus Reviews: “Like many of her fellow "patients," Louisa's been committed for being a troublesome woman. Luckily, her family doesn't know of those tendencies that would make her utterly irredeemable--her overly fond feelings for her beautiful cousin Grace. Unlike many of the other inmates, who seem to develop mental illness from the cruelty of their surroundings, Louisa is determined to escape, perhaps with the help of a lovely asylum employee, Eliza. Despite a too-pat ending, Louisa and Eliza provide a window into a shameful history of mental health care and women's incarceration that only ended in living memory.”

Publisher’s Weekly: “The author tenderly and expertly builds a romance between Louisa and an attendant, Eliza ("I close my eyes, breathing in her warmth, her familiar almond scent and my thoughts fly like birds"). The surprisingly happy ending--in which Louisa escapes and confronts her accusers--is a welcome relief after all of her angst and despair.”

Connections

Other books with an unexpected Lesbian love affair:

Lo, Malinda. 2009. Ash. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316040099

Lo, Malinda. 2011. Huntress. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316040075

The Year of the Dog

Lin, Grace. 2006. The year of the dog. Ill. by Grace Lin. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0316060003

Plot Summary

It is the Year of the Dog, a time for making friends and deciding what you want to be when you grow up. For Pacy, known as Grace at school, the friend part comes easily when she meets Melody, another Taiwanese American girl. Figuring out what she wants to be when she grows up is a lot harder. After a few false starts, Pacy figures it out just in time to welcome the Year of the Pig.

Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers)

The Year of the Dog is the light-hearted story of a young Taiwanese American girl trying to find her place in the world. A semi-autobiographical tale, it is the story that Grace Lin “wished I had had when I was growing up”. The story is filled with a year’s worth of Chinese foods, celebrations and traditions as Pacy tries to figure out not only what she will be when she grows up, but also what it means to be both Taiwanese and American. When Pacy dreams of being Dorothy in the school production of The Wizard of Oz, her hopes are dashed when a classmate scoffs “You can’t be Dorothy, Dorothy’s not Chinese.” When Pacy meets other Taiwanese American girls at a summer camp, they call her a “Twinkie” because she does not know how to speak Taiwanese. Even her name is a contradiction, one name for when she is at home with her Taiwanese family, another for when she is at school with her American friends and teachers.

Grace Lin skillfully conveys a lot of information about Taiwanese heritage through the story. Lin includes descriptions of celebrations and foods, information about the difference, similarities and confusion between Taiwanese and Chinese, and glimpses of a childhood in Taiwan through the stories that Pacy’s mom tells. Lin also explores the differences between Taiwanese families. Melody’s mom cooks Chinese food, but it is nothing like the food that Pacy’s mom cooks. Pacy does not know how to speak Taiwanese or Chinese, while other girls take great pride in being multilingual.

Pacy’s hopes and frustrations will be familiar to readers from any culture. Whimsical line drawings with descriptive captions are scattered throughout the text and offer both humorous visuals and rich detail. An author’s note offers more biographical and historical details.

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal: “Bubbling with sparkling similes and irresistible humor, Lin's delectable narrative comes seasoned with tiny sketches and mounds of mouth-watering Chinese food.”

Horn Book Magazine: “With a light touch, Lin offers both authentic Taiwanese-American and universal childhood experiences, told from a genuine child perspective… Appealing, childlike decorative line drawings add a delightful flavor to a gentle tale full of humor.”

Kirkus Reviews: “This comfortable first-person story will be a treat for Asian-American girls looking to see themselves in their reading, but also for any reader who enjoys stories of friendship and family life.”

Connections

The story continues in:

Lin, Grace. 2008. The year of the rat. Ill. by Grace Lin. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316114264

Grace Lin’s website, at www.gracelin.com, offers suggestions of related activities and photos of the real life inspirations behind some of the events portrayed in the book.

Behind the Mask

Choi, Yangsook. 2006. Behind the mask. Ill. by Yangsook Choi. New York: Frances Foster Books. ISBN 0374305226

Plot Summary

Halloween is coming and Kimin is trying to decide what his costume will be. Kimin’s mother suggests that he look through his grandfather’s boxes of photos and Talchum (Korean mask dance) dance costumes for inspiration. Kimin is reluctant to go through the boxes because his last memory of his grandfather was frightening. Kimin braves opening the boxes and decides to honor his grandfather by going as him for Halloween. His friends think his costume idea is silly, until they see the mysterious masked dancer. When Kimin makes what he fears is a tragic mistake, he receives a precious gift that shows him how much his grandfather loved him.

Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers)

Yongsook Choi blends the Korean traditional mask dance, Talchum, and Korean traditions of honoring the dead with the American Halloween traditions of wearing costumes and trick-or-treating. The colorful illustrations capture the movement of the dance, and the exaggerated features of the masks. The illustrations show culturally authentic Korean details such as the rice paper door and Korean lettering, along with American details such as a jack o’ lantern and fanciful Halloween costumes. The details of the Talchum, with more information provided in an author’s note, will interest children of all cultures, and the underlying theme of missing a deceased grandparent is universal.

Review Excerpts

Booklist: “Quiet and well crafted, the story manages some subtle emotional shifts as well as the smooth weaving of one tradition into another.”

School Library journal: “This is an evocative look at a Korean tradition and an interesting intergenerational and multicultural story for Halloween.”

Connections

There are many videos on YouTube of Talchum dances, from amateur to professional, and instructional videos for learning the dances and making the masks. Here are a couple to start with:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dcmSwgtY3E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgOjkG5xDtY

Grandfather’s Journey

Say, Allen. 1993. Grandfather’s journey. Ill. by Allen Say. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395570352

Plot Summary

A young Japanese man sails to America where he explores and falls in love with the beauty of North America. He returns to Japan to bring his wife to America and they settle in California where they raise their daughter. After many years, the man misses Japan and returns home with his family.  He often tells his grandson, who was born and raised in Japan, about America and how he hopes to see California again, but war prevents him from returning. When the grandson is grown he moves to America and comes to understand why his grandfather loved California, and why he missed Japan.

Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers)

Through Grandfather’s Journey, Allen Say portrays both the enticement of exploring a new land, and the longing to return home. “The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other.” This is a bicultural story that spans generations with the grandson completing the grandfather’s journey.

The richly detailed watercolor paintings capture the variety of landscapes, villages, and cities in both America and Japan. The clothing is detailed and reflects both the time period, and the locations. The paintings have the feel of family photos that manage to capture the strangeness of wearing unfamiliar clothes, the camaraderie of new and old friends, the culture shock of coming “home” to a foreign homeland, and the desolation of a city destroyed by war.

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal: “The brief text is simple and unaffected, but the emotions expressed are deeply complex. The paintings are astonishingly still, like the captured moments found in a family photo album.”

Horn Book Magazine: “The soft-toned watercolors have the feel of a family album... They seem to be moments taken from a life, intensely personal and at the same time giving voice to and confirming an experience shared by countless others.”

Connections

The story of Allen Say’s mother, a Japanese American who moved to Japan with her family when she was a teenager, is told in:

Say, Allen. 1999. Tea with milk. Ill. by Allen Say. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395904951

Saltypie

Tingle, Tim. 2010. Saltypie: A Choctaw journey from darkness into light. Ill. by Karen Clarkson. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press. ISBN 9781933693675

Plot Summary

A Choctaw Indian tells about his Mamaw’s life and some of the difficulties she faced. From her childhood in an Indian boarding school, to a violent attack she suffered as a young mother, to the eye transplant that allowed her to see her grandchildren. “Saltypie” is a term coined by her son, the narrator’s father, that the family uses to shrug off troubles.

Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers)

Tim Tingle’s story of his grandmother’s life reveals a modern day Choctaw Indian family shaped by the events and wisdom of the past. The story touches on the injustices the grandmother suffered, but the grandmother’s love for her family, and their love for her, is the enduring message of the story. Cultural details include the evening talking time and the importance of stopping to listen to what the silence reveals.

A author’s note fills in more details of the story and places it in the context of the forced relocation of the Choctaw people, Indian boarding schools, racial violence, and how the Choctaw people have persevered. The author’s note explicitly states his intention to contradict many of the stereotypes of Indians as skin wearing teepee dwellers. Clarkson’s illustrations support this aim, showing a family who looks like any other modern day family in terms of their dress and home. The illustrations of the gathering of the extended family show a variety of skin tones, facial features, and hair colors.

Review Excerpts

Kirkus Reviews: “A grandmother's life story centers this welcome depiction of a contemporary Choctaw family… Tingle provides a corrective view of contemporary Native American life, as his author's note reveals was his intent. Clarkson's evocative illustrations bathe each scene in a soft light that accentuates the warmth of the family's love.”

School Library journal: “Tingle tells his family's story from their origins in Oklahoma Choctaw country to their life in Texas. The account spans generations and weaves in ghosts from the past to the present day.”

Connections

Other books about Choctaw Indians by Tim Tingle:

Tingle, Tim. 2003. Walking the Choctaw road: stories from Red People memory. Ill. by Norma Howard. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press. ISBN 9780938317746

Tingle, Tim. 2006. Crossing Bok Chitto: a Choctaw tale of friendship & freedom. Ill. by Jeanne Rorex Bridges. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press. ISBN 9780938317777

Tingle, Tim. 2007. When Turtle Grew Feathers: A Tale from the Choctaw Nation. Ill. by Stacey Schuett. Atlanta, GA: August House LittleFolk. ISBN 9780874837773