Selected Children’s Books

When tenth grader Vivi Hartman arrives with her rabbi father at a Seneca reservation to arrange the funeral of a Jewish girl who died violently, she finds herself investigating rumors of murder.
Vivi, working on a social studies project, comes across several surprises. Her assignment is to do an ethnography about a girl about her own age. Vivi's investigation uncovers secret resentments between Jewish, Christian and Native American residents of Pike's Landing. To get to the bottom of the mystery, Vivi invokes pilpul, a method of logic that Jews practice to understand the Torah. This novel should induce thought-provoking discussion about both Native American and Jewish cultures. Grades 6-10

Flake, Sharon G.  Begging for Change.  New York: Jump at the Sun, 2004.
ISBN: 0786814055

Teenaged Raspberry Hill tries to sort out her confused feelings of disgust, shame, and love for her homeless, drug addicted father and worries that she may have inherited his lying and stealing ways.

Flake, Sharon G.  Money Hungry.  New York: First Jump at the Sun, 2001.
ISBN: 0786815035

Determined never to be homeless again, Raspberry cares only about getting her hands on money, but money can't solve the problems that keep her awake at night and she wonders if life will get better, in a dramatic and riveting novel.

Seventh-grader Maleeka Madison is tormented by other students because of her dark skin. When Maleeka sees her new teacher, whose skin is blotched from a rare skin condition, she thinks she has finally met someone who is worse off than her. As she watches Miss Saunders refuse to accept the taunts of children, Maleeka begins to explore her response mechanisms to the cruelty of her peers. In rethinking how she defends herself, Maleeka learns that she too often judges people by their appearances.

This novel explores the ways in which people's own insecurities can affect how they are treated along with how they behave. 1998, 176 pages, Grades 8-12, Hyperion

Sixteen-year-old Danny Vo feels caught between two very different worlds: he fits in with his American friends, yet they don’t understand his traditional Vietnamese home life. When his cousin Sang Le comes to live with his family after spending years in a re-education camp in Vietnam, Danny becomes a silent witness as Sang Le falls in with a Vietnamese gang.

Garza, Carmen L.  In My Family.  California: Children’s Book Press, 2000.
ISBN: 0892391634

In her eagerly-awaited second book for children, In My Family/En mi familia, internationally-renowned artist Carmen Lomas Garza takes us once again to her hometown of Kingsville, Texas, near the border with Mexico. Through vibrant painting and warm personal stories, Carmen bring to life more loving memories of growing up in a traditional Mexican American community: eating empanadas, witnessing the blessing on her cousin’s wedding day, and dancing to the conjunto band at the neighborhood restaurant.

Gogol, Sara. Vatsana’s Lucky New Year. Lerner Publications Company. 1992.
ISBN 0-8225-0734-X

Goldin D. Barbara. While the Candles Burn: Eight Stories of Hanukkah.  Puffin Books, 1999. 
ISBN: 0140373411

Dedication, faith, religious freedom --- these are just some of the concepts at the heart of the celebration of Hanukkah. Noted storyteller Barbara Diamond Goldin offers eight stories, original and traditional, that range over many countries and centuries to reflect the significance of the most widely observed Jewish holiday.
In her vivid, eloquent, and occasionally light hearted voice, she portrays timeless themes such as commitment, courage, lights, and miracles, plus issues such as contemporary as today’s headlines: the role of women in Judaism, and peace between Arabs and Israelis. With one story for each night of the holiday and Elaine Greenstein’s evocative illustrations throughout, this collection will be a lasting favorite.

Gonzales Bertrand, Diane.  Sweet Fifteen.  Pinata Books, 1995.
ISBN: 155885133X

When seamstress Rita Navarro makes a quinceaänera dress for fourteen-year-old Stefanie, she finds herself becoming involved with the girl's family and attracted to her uncle.

Greene, Patricia Baird. The Sabbath Garden. Dutton / Lodestar Books, 1993.
ISBN: 0-525-67430-6

While studying the Harlem Renaissance, students at a Bronx high school read aloud poems they've written, revealing their innermost thoughts and fears to their formerly clueless classmates.