Memoir is a hard genre for me to embrace, but these books were powerful eye openers. Both of these men stopped the cycle of poverty and abuse, through their choices and owning their stories. Never victimizing their misfortune, but simply stating the truth of tough circumstances. Their lives are somewhat parallel, despite cultural differences, I recommend reading both, they are fascinating to compare and contrast.
You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie
Sherman Alexie’s book helped me recognize and rectify the stereotypes I had formed about Indians and life on a reservation. Sherman grew up in Spokane on a reservation. I had never understood all layers of pain, loss, and abuse that built the foundation for many Indians in America. I cried reading his childhood memories of white teachers abusing him and his classmates daily during school. The atrocities are horrific, the potential for evil against our fellow human beings is overwhelming. As I read I kept rejoicing in knowing this story so I can choose the light, instead of the dark. Sherman grew up in a half-finished barely insulated home. He endured winter months without light or heat, waiting for Sherman’s mother to sew a quilt, sell it, and pay the utility bills.
Sherman Alexie endured such immense pain in his youth, some inflicted by his mother, some by the reservation community. Sherman retells his mother’s history as best he can, she was a consistent liar, so he has pieced her years together through siblings and relatives stories mixed with his mothers. He chronicles the abuse she survived, his memories of her, and his journey to forgive her. He captures the essence of loving and being loved by deeply flawed people. Pain mixed with tender adoration, mixed with rage, mixed with mourning. If you read only a few books this year, put this on your list. It is necessary to understand the evils others have endured to fight for the good in this world. Read it with your book club, it is moving, hard, tender, and wonderful, and gut wrenching. Worth every moment spent reading.
To Purchase this book, click here:You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir
The Hillbilly Elegy
I can see why Hillbilly Elegy struck such a chord with readers. As a West Coast resident for twenty years, it helped explain the hopelessness of towns left with no economy. J.D’s story could be told from any poor part of the United States. At the heart, it is the story of growing up with violence and trauma in your home and those residual effects. I have met children in Seattle who have stories like J.D.’s. However, his story is intensified by the culture of drugs and joblessness in his rural residence. This book reads like a story, at times you cannot believe his experiences, but also cannot stop reading. I thought a lot about the recovery process, the healing an abused brain and heart has go through. Reading J.D.’s story, it is inspiring to see his tenacity for creating healthy habits, and breaking away from patterns of destruction. His story ended with an impressive degree from Yale Law. However, after living through J.D’s story, going to college, staying off drugs, and contributing to society is simply impressive. This book led to very thoughtful discussion, a thoughtful book for book clubs.
To Order on Amazon, click here: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
Charlie boards a ship to Europe with her mother, pregnant, unwed, and a little angry. The Second World War has just ended, and nothing is right in Charlie’s life, or the world. Fed up with her mother, she sets out on her own as soon as she reaches England. Charlie’s cousin Rose, is missing in France. She has one lead, a woman named Eve, and all the determination in the world.
When you are big, hairy, and maybe a little scary, back to school comes with its own special challenges. Bigfoot takes on the challenges, and makes school the best it can be. This book is brilliantly clever and funny, but it can also lead to great discussion about their own challenges and strengths. The freshest version of a classic back to school theme.
Rose wants a star on the blackboard, but her reading voice is too quiet, her desk is always messy, and she worries and worries about desk inspection. It turns out Rose has talents all her own, her worries are unfounded, and her teacher sees her for the shining star she is. In my classroom experience children struggle with anxiety. This book is an example to children that worries typically are just worries. I think this is a good conversation starter to help children cope with unnecessary worry.
Dylan faces the typical back to school stresses and routines. However, he imagines his new school as a space station, and he is the astronaut on a mission. A fun book, ignites imagination, and appeals to any space lovers in your classroom.
Lola presents her argument, she certainly cannot attend school this year. Charlie presents his counter arguments. This dialogue explains all the universal Preschool and Kindergarten experiences. It is comforting, all the problems are real for children. It contains rich vocabulary, a perfect Preschool or Pre-K first day book.
Mr. Strictor’s class hatched tadpoles, and gets to keep just one for the class pet. The class pet gets out of control, but the students don’t know what to do. Their teacher loves the pet and won’t let it go. The children ban together to find the perfect solution. I love how the class solves the problem. A humorous, endearing book for primary grades.
It is nice to find longer picture books, I think it is beneficial for children’s attention span. Amanda Panda is eager for her first day of school, but nothing goes quite like she expected. I noted that the main character was the unkind friend, I think this creates good discussion with children. In the end, she learned to be a good friend even when she didn’t feel like choosing to be kind. A great first month of school read aloud.
Read with us! Our book club chose Hillbilly Elegy for our next summer meeting. It has been on my list. Get it off your ‘to read’ list and read it with us!
This book kept me completely content through a long plane ride, the sign of a good read.
Beginnings and Book Ends 