Skip to main content

Out Today!


Orchards by Holly Thompson (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)

After a classmate commits suicide, Kana Goldberg — a half-Japanese, half-Jewish American — wonders who is responsible. She and her cliquey friends said some thoughtless things to the girl. Hoping that Kana will reflect on her behavior, her parents pack her off to her mother's ancestral home in Japan for the summer. There Kana spends hours under the hot sun tending to her family's mikan orange groves.

Kana's mixed heritage makes it hard to fit in at first, especially under the critical eye of her traditional grandmother, who has never accepted Kana's father. But as the summer unfolds, Kana gets to know her relatives, Japan, and village culture, and she begins to process the pain and guilt she feels about the tragedy back home. Then news about a friend sends her world spinning out of orbit all over again.

Comments

  1. I've always been fascinated with Japanese culture so this one has definitely piqued my interest! Thanks for sharing, Tarie!

    ReplyDelete
  2. And really, how many Japanese/Jewish American protagonists are out there?! =D

    ReplyDelete
  3. Haha, good point! That certainly introduces a fresh and interesting perspective. XP How is thesis revision going?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thesis revision? . . . *runs away screaming*

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds interesting. I'm going to look it up.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ako'y Isang Mabuting Pilipino (I Am A Good Filipino) by Noel Cabangon and Jomike Tejido

This one is a real crowd pleaser: Ako'y Isang Mabuting Pilipino , Lampara Books ' 2012 picture book adaptation of Noel Cabangon 's song, with Cabangon's original Filipino lyrics, functional English translations by Becky Bravo , and illustrations by Jomike Tejido ! Cabangon's inspiring lyrics remind children of the ways they can be good Filipinos, such as doing their best in school and obeying their parents. There are plenty of reminders for adults too, such as following traffic rules and not selling their votes during elections. Tejido's illustrations are warm and wholesome, acrylic paintings on hand-woven mats that depict different ways to be good citizens.    You just can't go wrong with Ako'y Isang Mabuting Pilipino ! Children and adults will understand and appreciate the lyrics and paintings. The chords of the song are provided, so music lovers can play and sing along. There are notes and guide questions for educators. There is even

GIVEAWAY: Bumasa at Lumaya 2: A Sourcebook on Children's Literature in the Philippines

I'm giving away three copies of   Bumasa at Lumaya 2: A Sourcebook on Children's Literature in the Philippines  (Anvil Publishing Inc., 2016)! This is a collection of English and Filipino essays, interviews, and other discussions edited by Ani Rosa Almario, Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, and Ramon C. Sunico, trailblazers in the Philippines' children's book industry. For a chance to win a copy of   Bumasa at Lumaya 2 , all you need to do is leave a comment on this post. Write your name, email address, and one sentence about why you want to learn more about Filipino children's literature. I will randomly select three winners at 9 p.m. (Philippine time) on Wednesday, July 27. This is an international giveaway! :o) EDIT: There appears to be something wrong with the comments section. :o( I apologize for that. Please shoot an email to asiaintheheart@yahoo.com to join the giveaway! Thank you! For more information about the book, visit the other stops on the   Buma

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

There is a barren mountain aptly called Fruitless Mountain, and by it lies the dark Jade River. In the shadow of the mountain is a poor village where everything is the dull color of mud. In this village live Ba and Ma and their quick-thinking daughter Minli. Ba, Ma, and Minli work hard in the fields every day, yet they only have plain rice to eat for their meals. Ma sighs with discontentment all the time. Minli looks at her weary father, her dissatisfied mother, and her desolate village and wishes she knew how she could change their fortune. Ba has told Minli wonderful stories about the Never-Ending Mountain and the Old Man of the Moon who knows the answer to all important questions, for he alone holds and reads the Book of Fortune. Minli decides to find the Never-Ending Mountain and climb up to the moon so that she can ask the Old Man how she can change her family's fortune. And so begins Minli's journey. Along the way, she makes many new friends, including a dragon, a buffa