Alana Tyson

An African American child learns about the Black community’s complicated relationship with the U.S. flag.

The nameless young narrator expresses pride in the flag that waves at their home, greeting friends and strangers who pass by. For the child, the flag is part of their diverse community, a message reinforced by their teacher. The narrator’s grandpa agrees but shares that the flag is also a reminder of the nation’s history of injustice. For many, there are still problems that cause some citizens to protest the flag as a symbol of a country that has not lived up to its creed. Grandpa emphasizes that everyone has the right to protest—for instance, by kneeling during the singing of the national anthem—but notes that they can also take pride in the flag, and he reminds the child of contributions of Black Americans like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., who helped make this country what it is. Grandpa’s strongest message to his grandchild is that they have a choice in how they use their voice. Tyson uses age-appropriate language and examples to bring clarity to an abstract concept. The warm relationship between Grandpa and the child gives the narrative a reassuring tone. Ladd’s bold, painterly illustrations, crafted with acrylics, textured cut paper, tissue paper, and colored pencil, illuminate and expand the ideas in the text. (This book was digitally reviewed.)

An effective, accessible acknowledgment that both the U.S. flag and history are deeply fraught. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)

-Kirkus Review… (altro)

I would wager a bet that there’s scarcely a woman reading this review who hasn’t have a relationship or dating experience they’d like to forget about and to keep it a secret, known only to themselves; especially when it came to a guy who for the want of a better word had acted badly towards you which might have also caused an embarrassment making you to run off and hide.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a shoulder you could cry on anytime knowing they’ll make no judgement at any time regarding what you’ve just experienced? Well the author of this book and her four older sisters had been lucky to have had this sort of comradeship/sisterhood.

While some of the experiences these 5 sisters have freely shared in this book would seem to be unbelievable to those reading them; they’re none the less are true. I believe there might be readers who’ve read this book and argue some of these stories have been exaggerated, the truth is they’ve haven’t; which would lead some to wonder whether the social environment these sisters grew up in had been the underlying causing of their failed romantic experiences. Whether or not their social environment had been the cause is something I’m not going to dwell, as the fact remains, their experience did happen: and we should be grateful to them for their willingness to share their secretive relationship experience to show her readers that they’re not alone.

While I had enjoyed reading the stories which the book contains I found that the writing sounded more like someone telling us each of the stories, which didn’t bother me as much as the formatting of the various stories. The formatting showed no indication of where a paragraph would end and the next one would begin; which is why I’m giving this book 4 STARS based on its contents, and not for the entire book.

I read this book via a KINDLE Unlimited download on Amazon-US.… (altro)