From: Cassie Wilson <cwilson2>
Date: Thu, 02 Oct 2003 01:38:07 -0400

Greetings! One of the neatest new books I've read that puts community in a very warm perspective is "Spitting Image" by Shutta Crum. It takes place in a small town in the South (I should remember which state, but I don't.) and explores both the good and bad sides of a community and ways it affects an individual and ways an individual affects it. The novel even explores the effect that government can have on a community, in a good way, in the form of VISTA and in regular law enforcement and non-enforcement.

The book would be an excellent springboard for discussion for history, government, or sociology classes; but since it includes a rape (which doesn't take place within the story), it might be difficult for some elementary school teachers to use.

"Tadpole" is another 2003 example of a novel that deals with a community as well as a family. Both of these books first deals with the family as a community, but they go farther out and show community support in difficult situations and depict excellent role models of neighbors who help and support each other in need and righteous causes and is an excellent reminder of our responsibilities to each other in a world that tells children not to "get involved." The irritating thing about
"Tadpole" is that is written in a sort of semi-dialect, and I hate to hear those words being pronounced in my brain because I pick things up so easily.

For me, they were both enjoyable books. I look forward to hearing about books that the rest of you have been reading. Cassie Wilson
Received on Thu 02 Oct 2003 12:38:07 AM CDT