Hidden Roots by Joseph Bruchac

Bruchac, Joseph. Hidden Roots. New York: Scholastic Press, 2006. Print. ISBN 0-439-35359-9. Paperback. $5.99 USD.

Awards/Honors: 

2006 American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Young Adult Book

Annotation:
Sonny knows very little of the Indian world. When his ancestry roots rise above, nothing could prepare him for what he is about to learn.

Book Review:

“And now, I too, had more words I couldn't say, more things not to be talked about.”

11-year-old Sonny always felt as if he had to keep his head down low and his mouth shut. He fears his father, who is an angry and abusive man, and idolizes his uncle, who seems to know a little too much about Native Americans and their heritage. Sonny was taught to never ask questions and to stay out of trouble. He gets bullied at school and soon connects with the school librarian who shows him books about Indians and adventures. His father works long hours at the paper mill and is rarely home but eventually things start to turn around. Sonny’s father has an accident at work, which begins to decrease the abuse and anger. Through the sport of basketball, Sonny also begins to make some friends and eventually the family secrets, the ones he has been wondering about his entire life, begin to spill.

Based in the early 50’s, I believe that this historical fiction belongs in every library. The book fits perfectly within the young adult section, ages 12-18. Bruchac brings true light to Native American ancestry and opens young eyes to our world that is far from perfect. Abuse, dark pasts, miscarriages, bullies, and many other topics are brought to our attention and Bruchac teaches us how being from a different background can be extremely difficult. Readers can learn about the difficulties faced when raised as a Native American and why that heritage hid from their pasts. The book was an easy read, suitable for a 11 or 12-year-old, yet holds a story full of powerful topics that would be a great discussion for High School students.

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Selecting Books via Google for children and young adults:

Forever by Judy Blume

Blume, Judy. Forever... New York: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, 1975. Print. ISBN 0-689-84973-7. Hardback. $17.99 USD.

Awards/Honors:

- Margaret A. Edwards Awards

- Best Book of the Year Award (runner up 1975)

Annotation:
 Teenage sexuality is taking over the lives of Katherine and her boyfriend, Michael. Dealing with the everyday changes of young adulthood is a challenge they were not prepared for. 

Book Review:

“I love you, Michael Wagner.” 
“Forever?” he asked. 
“Forever,” I said. 

When you combine 17-year-old Katherine Danziger, a hopeless romantic and a firm believer of true love, with Michael Wagner, the redheaded boy from one town over, you create a love story that has readers believing that love really does last forever. This Classic fictional story starts off with two main characters, Katherine and Michael, meeting at a party and taking their time falling in love. Spending each possible weekend throughout their senior year of High School, Katherine makes Michael patiently wait for her to be mentally prepared for them to experience sexual intercourse. Learning to deal with her first boyfriend, her first love, and being separated for the first time the summer before college, Katherine learns about herself, her body, and how to deal with all of these new emotions. This story of young love is filled with happiness, sadness, jealousy, and many first experiences. The question that lingers in Katherine’s head is, does true love really last forever or will the first love of her life be a memory that will stay with her for as long as she can remember?

I believe that Forever… is a classic that should be found on the shelves of every library. Due to the authors’ sexual descriptions and intimate settings, this book has been challenged on many occasions. It has been argued to stay out of the hands of students under the age of 15 but I believe that ages 12 and up are perfectly suitable for this material. Not only does Blume teach safe sex, she describes multiple types of contraceptives and walks you through a Planned Parenthood visit with a gynecological exams. Blume opens the minds of readers who are to shy to speak to their parents about sex. She lets the readers know that waiting for the right time to start having sex is okay. Blume briefly writes about other issues such as homosexuality, suicide, and teen pregnancy. I would recommend this book to those young ones who are curious about sex and believe that keeping this book in the YA section of the library is necessary.

 

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