Review: IN OUR MOTHERS' HOUSE by Patricia Polacco

Polacco, Patricia. 2009. In our mothers’ house. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 9780399250767.

PLOT SUMMARY:
A woman describes the lively childhood she spent growing up with two loving mothers, adopted siblings, a festive extended family, and friendly neighbors.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Although the author seems to aim at creating a joyful atmosphere, she overshoots her goal; the story comes off a little too sappy sweet. In every memory, the family is completely cheerful and loving. The only intrusion into their idyllic happiness is a homophobic neighbor who verbally attacks them at a neighborhood party. Although it would be wonderful if families could achieve a perfect state of harmony, I have yet to meet a single family who accomplishes that goal. Including some memories of sibling rivalry or teen rebellion would have given this book a feeling of authenticity that it lacks. The illustrations reflect the text’s exuberant spirit. The constant laughing expressions and waving hands feels a little overdone, particularly when contrasted with the horrified expressions on the page describing the neighbors attack.

The topic of same-sex parents is handled in a straight-forward, but appropriately innocent manner. The narrator describes her two mothers and their relationship just as casually as one would describe a typical mother-father relationship: “Our mothers were so different from each other that all of us often wondered how they found each other at all.” Although the book’s message (that a family with same-sex parents can be happy and accepted) is delivered a little heavily, it is still a cheerful book that will entertain readers.

REVIEWS:
School Library Journal: Is this an idealized vision of a how a gay couple can be accepted by their family and community? Absolutely. But the story serves as a model of inclusiveness for children who have same-sex parents, as well as for children who may have questions about a "different" family in their neighborhood. A lovely book that can help youngsters better understand their world.

CONNECTIONS:
Children and their parents who are interested finding more picture books that include same-sex couples may enjoy:
Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson
A Tale of Two Daddies by Vanita Oelschlager
Daddy, Papa, and Me by Leslea Newman

Review: KAMI AND THE YAKS by Andrea Stenn Stryer

Stryer, Andrea Stenn. 2007. Kami and the yaks. Ill. by Bert Dodson. Palo Alto, CA: Bay Otter Press. ISBN 9780977896103.

PLOT SUMMARY:
When the yaks that Kami’s Sherpa family relies on to earn a living go missing, Kami determinedly searches for them. When he finally finds them and discovers that one is trapped, he makes his way through a hail storm alert his father.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
The watercolor illustrations by Bert Dodson are expressive and detailed. The colors used closely follow the story’s mood. The first half of the book, when Kami searches for the yaks and struggles through the hail storm, is illustrated with cool, blue tones. In those pages, Kami’s red garment is the only source of warm colors. When Kami reaches his family and guides them to the yaks, the sky lightens and warm colors are introduced into the paintings.

Kami’s inability to hear is not introduced right away in the book. A few pages in, the author lets the reader know that he is deaf. This detail about Kami is handled authentically through the book. Stryer makes sure to describe the observations that Kami makes through sight, smell, and feeling, rather than sound. For example, when the storm hits, Stryer describes the sizzling smell of the flashing lightning as well as the vibrations that Kami feels from the thunder. When Kami tries to tell his father about the trapped yak, Stryer briefly explains to the reader that “because he never heard words, Kami was not able to speak.” Although Kami and his family do not seem to use a formal version of sign language, Kami is able to communicate through gestures.

Although Stryer does provide brief background information about Sherpas in an author’s note at the end of the book, it would have been interesting to learn more about the boy who inspired the book.

REVIEWS:
School Library Journal: Although Kami's disability plays an important role in the story, the author focuses on his strength. Readers will find inspiration in his abilities, his resourcefulness, and his courage. Dark, yet vivid watercolors extend the text, as both awaken the senses to the sights, sounds, and feel of the icy cold mountains' austere beauty. This story opens the doors to new worlds and gives readers a character to admire.

CONNECTIONS:
According to Stryer’s website, hers is the only Western children’s book about the Sherpa in Nepal. A quick internet search proves this claim to be nearly true. However, in 2009, Olga Cossi published the book Pemba Sherpa about a young Sherpa girl who wants to be a guide.

Review: ASK ME NO QUESTIONS by Marina Budhos

Budhos, Marina. 2006. Ask me no questions. New York: Ginee Seo Books. ISBN: 9781416903512

PLOT SUMMARY:
Nadira and her family are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Although they have spent years in the United States, working to build successful lives, in the aftermath following September 11, they fear deportation. When they make a desperate attempt to find asylum in Canada, they are turned away at the border and Nadira’s father is arrested. Nadira and her sister, Aisha, are forced stay with their uncle’s family and return to school while they work to find a way to free their father and avoid losing the lives they have built in the U.S.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Although the book’s plot is interesting and suspenseful, I felt that Nadira largely remains a stranger to the reader. Usually, stories told in the first person feel extremely personal. The reader is invited to experience every thought and feeling of the narrator. You come away feeling like you know that character like a friend. Nadira is more like a casual acquaintance. She never reveals who she is. By the end of the novel, all that I know about her is that she loves her family, is scared of being deported, and feels inferior to her sister. Budhos doesn’t provide any details about what Nadira is passionate about, how she spends her time, or what her personality is like on a day to day basis. There are some small instances in the book when you get a hint at her individuality, such as when she meets a college student and realizes that college is not just for overachievers like her sister. However, moments like this are cut short. Just when the reader is getting more insight into her character, Nadira realizes it’s time to pick up her sister.

Although Budhos does not reveal much about her protagonist, she does depict a variety of personalities, reactions, and attitudes in her other characters. Although most of the book’s main characters share similar experiences as Muslims living illegally in the U.S., they do not share the same reactions to their current situations. This diversity is described both before and after the effects of 9/11. Nadira’s mother shies away from leaving her home and generally spends her days learning English from cooking shows. Nadira’s aunt, on the other hand, eagerly defies her husband to pursue a job outside the home. The unifying behavior that Nadira shares with her family is their endeavors to blend in and avoid questions.

REVIEWS:
School Library Journal: “The author explains their situation well, but the effect is more informational than fiction. Nadira and Aisha are clearly drawn characters, but they don't quite come alive, and their Bangladeshi-American background is more a backdrop than a way of life. Still, this is an important facet of the American immigrant experience, worthy of wider attention.”

Booklist: “The teen voice is wonderfully immediate, revealing Nadira's mixed-up feelings as well as the diversity in her family and in the Muslim community. There's also a real drama that builds to a tense climax.”

CONNECTIONS:
This book provides an alternate perspective of the effects of the September 11th attacks than most Americans are used to hearing. Recommend this book to teens learning about 9/11 and the impact on the treatment of Muslims in the United States.