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Hurry Freedom and Forgotten Fire
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From: Megan Schliesman <Schliesman>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 15:54:48 -0600
Like Deborah Hopkinson, I appreciated Hurry Freedom greatly. I don't find it of the caliber of writing that I think Forgotten Fire and Many Stones are, but still think it's a very fine book. I thought Stanley was especially effective at conveying the intense effort of African Americans in California to go through the legislative process to establish basic rights (in this case, the right to testify in court). One of the things that becomes so clear, and makes the book so interesting in the context of broader history, is that like the effort of African Americans throughout the 20th century civil rights movement, those fighting for rights in California in the 19th century thought carefully and about the approach they took. There were congresses held among African Americans to debate the action they would take. There was not always agreement on the approach, but they were able to give voice to concerns and come up with a strategy, which they varied each time they were disregarded by the legislature. I think about the very deliberate planning that went into so many of the court cases and actions of the Civil Rights Movement and am reminded--and young readers can discover--how this has been the reality of civil rights struggles all along.
As for Forgotten Fire, this book just stunned me by the beauty of the writing and the horror of what was taking place. The juxtaposition of these two things makes it all the more provacative and powerul. Like Sally Leahey, I found myself stopping to notice the language and phrasing. I would be reading something incredibly brutal and even in the midst of my shock be able to take heart, somehow, in the richness and beauty of the writing.
We're just a few days away from the announcements of the American Library Association's children's and young adult literature awards. Perhaps some of the books we have already discussed this month as National Book Award nominees will be among those named; perhaps not. Please continue to share your thoughts on the National Book Award nominee titles in the coming days. Depending on Monday's announcements, this may be your final chance to say what you want to say about these titles on CCBC-Net!
On Monday, we invite you to share your initial responses to the ALA award announcements. You can log onto the CCBC web site at www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/awardnew.htm, where we provide links to the American Library Association web pages where the award information will be available after the announcement is made at a press conference in Washington D.C. on Monday morning.
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education UW-Madison 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Fri 12 Jan 2001 03:54:48 PM CST
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 15:54:48 -0600
Like Deborah Hopkinson, I appreciated Hurry Freedom greatly. I don't find it of the caliber of writing that I think Forgotten Fire and Many Stones are, but still think it's a very fine book. I thought Stanley was especially effective at conveying the intense effort of African Americans in California to go through the legislative process to establish basic rights (in this case, the right to testify in court). One of the things that becomes so clear, and makes the book so interesting in the context of broader history, is that like the effort of African Americans throughout the 20th century civil rights movement, those fighting for rights in California in the 19th century thought carefully and about the approach they took. There were congresses held among African Americans to debate the action they would take. There was not always agreement on the approach, but they were able to give voice to concerns and come up with a strategy, which they varied each time they were disregarded by the legislature. I think about the very deliberate planning that went into so many of the court cases and actions of the Civil Rights Movement and am reminded--and young readers can discover--how this has been the reality of civil rights struggles all along.
As for Forgotten Fire, this book just stunned me by the beauty of the writing and the horror of what was taking place. The juxtaposition of these two things makes it all the more provacative and powerul. Like Sally Leahey, I found myself stopping to notice the language and phrasing. I would be reading something incredibly brutal and even in the midst of my shock be able to take heart, somehow, in the richness and beauty of the writing.
We're just a few days away from the announcements of the American Library Association's children's and young adult literature awards. Perhaps some of the books we have already discussed this month as National Book Award nominees will be among those named; perhaps not. Please continue to share your thoughts on the National Book Award nominee titles in the coming days. Depending on Monday's announcements, this may be your final chance to say what you want to say about these titles on CCBC-Net!
On Monday, we invite you to share your initial responses to the ALA award announcements. You can log onto the CCBC web site at www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/awardnew.htm, where we provide links to the American Library Association web pages where the award information will be available after the announcement is made at a press conference in Washington D.C. on Monday morning.
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education UW-Madison 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Fri 12 Jan 2001 03:54:48 PM CST
