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Author: JoAn Criddle
Publisher: East/West Bridge Publishing House
Ethnicity: Cambodian, Cambodian American
Protagonist: Female
Genre: Biography/Oral History
Illustrations:photographs
Suitable for: Junior High and High School
Other Books to Mention by Same Author: Bamboo & Butterflies
Winner of the 1993 Multicultural Publishers Exchange Adult Non-Fiction Literary Book Award
Comments:
TO DESTROY YOU IS NO LOSS follows one prominent Cambodian family's struggle to survive four years of unprecedented brutality and wanton destruction during Pol Pot's communist Khmer Rouge regime. Featuring fifteen year-old Teeda, it is the true story of the four generation Butt family's efforts to stay alive,and their eventual terror-filled escape attempts from a war ravaged, famine riddled nation.
Along with three million fellow residents of Phnom Penh, Teeda's family becomes part of the grueling march into the countryside. Forced to settle in rural communes and required to toil in leech-infested rice paddies, her family becomes primitive rice farmers, part of the faceless masses living in crude huts in the loathsome Communist communes of rural Cambodia.
During the upheaval of the Vietnamese invasion in late 1979, Teeda and her family grasp the opportunity to flee Cambodia. Again, despite overriding terror and exhaustion during their incredible escape attempts, Teeda finds happiness: romantic love blossoming for the first time, a full belly, pride in the former glory of her country when she views fabled Angkor Wat, a sense of excitement and thanksgiving for a chance to be free, and finally the security of a Thai refugee camp and eventual freedom in California.
For Ordering Information:
East/West Bridge Publishing House
1375 Estates Drive, Dixon CA 95620-3236
phone # (916)678-8454 fax #(956)678-1137
Author: Melba Patillo Beals
Publisher: Archway Paperbacks
Copyright Year: 1995
Ethnicity: African American
Protagonist: Female
Genre: non-fiction: autobiography
Illustrations:photographs
Suitable for: Junior High and High School
Comments:
In 1957 Melba Patillo, a sixteen year old student, was selected as one of
nine students to help integrate Central High School in Little Rock,
Arkansas. Melba kept a diary of her accounts of cruel remarks from
schoolmates and their parents, what the National Guard and Little Rock
police officers went through to protect the nine students from the mob,
and her pain as she washes away the acid sprayed in her eyes. A
wonderful, inspiring and important book for people all ages to get
first hand account of the climate in the south during the Civil Rights
Movement.
Many thanks to Jamie Louise Turner for this wonderful review, and for opening our eyes to this book.
Author: Zora Neala Hurston
Publisher: Harper and Row
Copyright Year: 1937
Ethnicity: African American
Protagonist: Female
Genre: Fiction
Illustrations: No
Suitable for: High School
Comments:
A must in any teacher's repetoire who is serious about multicultural education. Hurston's book is one of the most influential pieces of literature of the 20th century. Written in a true vernacular, and reflecting the life and times of African-Americans in Southern Florida, Hurston's book explores the growth of voice and joy in a woman who for too long did what was expected of her. Through the mouth of Janie, we follow her life as she seeks, finds, and loses joy. The book is not so much about the pain of loss. Rather, it is about the glory of living, of being a full person, and living life for one's self. As Janie says, ". . . you got tuh go there to know there." And this book must absolutely be read.
Author: Carol Parker
Publisher: Gull Crest
Copyright Year: 1993
Ethnicity: African American
Protagonist: Male
Genre: Fiction
Illustrations: Art by Nan Barter
Suitable for: K-3 and possibly 4
Comments:
Based on the real experiences of her son when their family moved from Conneticut to Maine, Carol Parker's children's book is a nice introduction for young students to the issues of racism and slavery. Nine year-old Brian is frustrated by the name he is called by Joey and his friends. Brian's mother and his teacher both turn the situation into a "teachable moment," and help the students understand the ignorance inherent in racism and the pride we can feel in our ethnic heritages.
For Ordering Information Write to:
Gull Crest Publishing
PO Box 125
Boothbay HArbor, Maine 04538
Or Call (207) 633-6876
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