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Showing posts from February, 2020

Review; Modern Sudanese Poetry: An Anthology by Adil Babikir

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the poetry collection Modern Sudanese Poetry: An Anthology by Adil Babikir through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Spanning more than six decades of Sudan’s post-independence history, this collection features work by some of Sudan’s most renowned modern poets, largely unknown in the United States. Adil Babikir’s extensive introduction provides a conceptual framework to help the English reader understand the cultural context. Translated from Arabic, the collection addresses a wide range of themes—identity, love, politics, Sufism, patriotism, war, and philosophy—capturing the evolution of Sudan’s modern history and cultural intersections. Modern Sudanese Poetry features voices as diverse as the country’s ethnic, cultural, and natural composition. By bringing these voices together, Babikir provides a glimpse of Sudan’s poetry scene as well as the country’s mod

Review; Martin Luther King, Jr. (Little People, Big Dreams) by Isabel Sánchez Vegara

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book Martin Luther King, Jr. (Little People, Big Dreams) by Isabel Sánchez Vegara through Netgalley and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads From the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., the inspiring minister and civil rights activist. Little Martin grew up in a family of preachers: his dad was a preacher, his uncle was a preacher, his grandfather was a preacher…so maybe he’d become a great preacher too. One day, a friend invited him to play at his house. Martin was shocked when his mother wouldn’t let him in because he was black. That day he realized there was something terribly unfair going on. Martin believed that no one should remain silent and accept something if it's wrong. And he promised himself that—when he grew up—he’d fight injustice with the most powerful weapon of all: words. This moving book features stylish and

Review; Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words by Susan Reyburn

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A few months ago I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the book Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words by Susan Reyburn through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Until recently, Rosa Parks's personal papers were unavailable to the public. In this compelling new book from the Library of Congress, where the Parks Collection is housed, the civil rights icon is revealed for the first time in print through her private manuscripts and handwritten notes. Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words illumines her inner thoughts, her ongoing struggles, and how she came to be the person who stood up by sitting down. At the height of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, as Parks was both pilloried and celebrated, she found a catharsis in her writing. Her precise descriptions of her arrest, the segregated South, and her recollections of childhood resistance to white supremacy document a lifetime of battling inequality. Parks expressed her thoughts

Omtale; En nåde av Toni Morrison

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For en liten stund siden leste jeg En nåde av Toni Morrison og i dag kommer omtalen av boka. Beskrivelse fra forlaget I 1680-årene er slaveriet i Amerika i sin spede begynnelse. Ungjenta Florens blir overlatt til Sir som avdrag på gjeld. Florens har lært å lese og skrive og kan gjøre god nytte for seg på farmen. Florens hungrer etter kjærlighet og søker den først hos den eldre tjenestekvinnen Lina. 16 år gammel forelsker hun seg i smeden, en vakker afrikaner som aldri har vært slave. Når Sir dør, blir Florens sendt av gårde for å hente hjelp fra smeden. Men vil hun finne ham, og vil hun vende tilbake? En nåde er en fascinerende roman om indre og ytre slaveri - en historie som beveger dypt. Mine tanker om boka Det er en vakkert skrevet bok om viktige tema. Det var ganger da jeg ble noe forbanna, men noen av de beste bøkene provoserer.

Top Five Tuesday; Five Books by Black Authors That Caused A Major Book Hangover

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It's Tuesday and time for a new Top Five Tuesday post, courtesy of  Bionic Book Worm . The theme of the week was books that caused a major book hangover and I decided narrowing it down to books by black authors as it is Black History Month. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Omtale; Alligatorvannet av Lynne Bryant

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Siden jeg har en del uleste bøker i hyllene mine, gav jeg meg i kast med Alligatorvannet av Lynne Bryant og i dag kommer omtalen av boka. Beskrivelse fra forlaget Et sommerbryllup fører Avery Pritchett hjem. Tilbake til familien som sendte henne bort. De siste ti årene har Colorado vært Averys hjem - stedet hvor hun full av sinne og skam måtte søke tilflukt som gravid tenåring. Her har hun skapt seg et nytt liv med datteren Celi. Da Avery mottar en invitasjon til brorens bryllup, øyner hun en mulighet til å vende hjem til Greendale, Mississippi, og gjenforenes med familien. Datteren hennes er lykkelig uvitende om at hennes mørke hud vil vekke oppmerksomhet. Vil møtet med Averys fordomsfulle mor, som nesten kostet en ung mann livet den gang, føre til en ny start eller forsterke gammelt nag? Og hvordan skal Avery få bedt sin tidligere kjæreste om tilgivelse, han som har blitt nektet å se barnet sitt alle disse årene? Mest av alt trenger hun å finne svaret på hvordan Celi har fått

Smakebit på Søndag; Roanoke Ridge av J. J. Dupuis

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Smakebit på søndag blir arrangert hver uke av  Betraktninger  og  Flukten fra virkeligheten  som bytter på ansvaret. Nå nylig leste jeg en krim/mysterie-roman som heter Roanoke Ridge skrevet av J. J. Dupuis. Boka omhandler blant annet en forsker som forsvinner i skogen, et mord og Bigfoot. Her er i hvert fall smakebiten, som er fra det første kapittelet. "There is nothing out here but trees. No restaurants or gas stations. Just trees on either side of the highway, broken up by the odd rocky outcropping or pond filled with cattails and floating logs. In the distance, far from any roads or trails, I can see pristine old-growth patches of western hemlock and Douglas fir.   The radio is on. Some kind of folk music plays between static crackles. Saad isn’t listening to it; neither am I. We’re not talking. Maybe we used up all the conversation on the flight from Cleveland. We flew into Sacramento this morning instead of Portland because it’s closer, and we wouldn’t have to wa

Review; Dressed in Dreams: A Black Girl's Love Letter to the Power of Fashion by Tanisha C. Ford

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the non-fiction book Dressed in Dreams: A Black Girl's Love Letter to the Power of Fashion by Tanisha C. Ford through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads From sneakers to leather jackets, a bold, witty, and deeply personal dive into Black America's closet In this highly engaging book, fashionista and pop culture expert Tanisha C. Ford investigates Afros and dashikis, go-go boots and hotpants of the sixties, hip hop's baggy jeans and bamboo earrings, and the #BlackLivesMatter-inspired hoodies of today. The history of these garments is deeply intertwined with Ford’s story as a black girl coming of age in a Midwestern rust belt city. She experimented with the Jheri curl; discovered how wearing the wrong color tennis shoes at the roller rink during the drug and gang wars of the 1980s could get you beaten; and rocked oversized, brightly co

Book Blogger Hop; Go-To Recommendations For Someone Who Doesn't Read Much

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It's Friday and time for a new Book Blogger Hop post, courtesy of  Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer . The question of the week was " What is your go-to recommendation for someone who doesn't read often? ". Book Blogger Hop Personally, I would stear them towards either The Cryptic Lines by Richard Storry and/or A Pair of Silver Wings by James Holland. The first one is a short book with a flair of classic mystery, while the other is an engaging and action packed WW2 historical novel with a wee bit of romance (without going overboard).

Review; WITCHDOCTORPOET by Bola Juju

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A while ago I was fortunate enough to recieve a copy of WITCHDOCTORPOET by Bola Juju from Netgalley. I've finally read it and today I'll post my review. Description from Netgalley WITCHDOCTORPOET is the debut collection of poetry and prose by the US based artist, Bola Juju. This book explores topics such as love, spirituality, womanhood, addiction, ancestral trauma and the unwavering power of healing from the inside out. WITCHDOCTORPOET is an offering to those in need of a sensual and empowering stance on the realities and legacies of the Diaspora. My Thoughts on the Book I enjoyed reading this beautiful poetry collection, which contained poems on several topics such as womanhood and love. As with most poetry collections, there were some poems I enjoyed more than others, but it is of course my personal taste and doesn't mean the other poems were bad.

Review, Josephine Baker by Isabel Sánchez Vegara

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book Josephine Baker by Isabel Sánchez Vegara through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads Meet Josephine Baker, the world-famous entertainer, activist, and French Resistance agent in this true story of her life! This board book version of Josephine Baker —from the beloved Little People, BIG DREAMS series—follows the incredible life of Josephine Baker, from growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, during segregation to defying expectations and performing on the stage in Paris, where audiences fell in love with her. Josephine Baker was born for the stage. But growing up in segregated St. Louis, she didn't have the same opportunities as white entertainers. So, she moved to Paris where audiences fell in love with her. Josephine worked as a dancer, an actor, and even a spy. She then spent the rest of her life spreading the word that people o

Top Five Tuesday; Bookish Habits

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It's Tuesday and time for a Top Five Tuesday post, courtesy of  Bionic Book Worm . The theme of the week was bookish habits. Here's mine; 1. I never stop reading in the middle of the chapter. If I need a break or anything, I finish reading the chapter first. 2. I read the books before I watch the movie adaptions. 3. I usually visit the local library at least once a month. 4. I always bring a book with me if I'm dogsitting. 5. I love reading at coffee shops as it combines two of my favourite things - books and coffee.

Review; The Escape of Robert Smalls: A Daring Voyage Out of Slavery by Jehan Jones-Radgowski and Poppy Kang

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book The Escape of Robert Smalls: A Daring Voyage Out of Slavery by Jehan Jones-Radgowski and Poppy Kang through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads The mist in Charleston Inner Harbor was heavy, but not heavy enough to disguise the stolen Confederate steamship, the Planter, from Confederate soldiers. In the early hours of May 13, 1862, in the midst of the deadly U.S. Civil War, an enslaved man named Robert Smalls was about to carry out a perilous plan of escape. Standing at the helm of the ship, Smalls impersonated the captain as he and his crew passed heavily armed Confederate forts to enter Union territory, where escaped slaves were given shelter. The suspenseful escape of the determined crew is celebrated with beautiful artwork and insightful prose, detailing the true account of an unsung American hero. My Thoughts on the Book This was an int

Boktips til Mammutsalget 2020

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Den 24. februar braker det løs med årets Mammutsalg med over 800 titler en kan velge mellom. Tatt i betraktning at det er litt å velge mellom, fant jeg ut at jeg kunne skrive et innlegg med noen boktips, sånn at det kanskje kan bli bittelitt lettere å finne noe en har lyst på. Selv har jeg også lagt inn en forhåndsbestilling på bøker jeg selv har lyst på, sånn at jeg slipper å lete meg halvt i hjel for å finne de titlene jeg er på jakt etter. Uansett, her er noen forslag til bøker en kan kjøpe under Mammutsalget i år. Faglitteratur; En bokhandlers dagbok av Shaun Bythell Kjære verden av Bana Alabed Leselyst av Tone Selboe Bønn for Tsjernobyl av Svetlana Aleksijevitsj Krim og spenning; Stalpi av Stefan Spjut Død manns tango av Geir Tangen Jenta uten hud av Mads Peder Norbo Enda mer krim; Ingen vei tilbake av Tove Alsterdal Møt meg i paradis av Heine Bakkeid Evas siste vitne av Tove Alsterdal Parfymen av Patrick Süskind Korset av Ingar J

Weekend Cooking (Review); Saltbox Seafood Joint Cookbook by Ricky Moore

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the cookbook Saltbox Seafood Joint Cookbook by Ricky Moore through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and I'll post my review today as part of the Weekend Cooking, hosted by  Beth Fish Reads . Description from Goodreads Ricky Moore was born and reared in the North Carolina coastal town of New Bern, where catching and eating fresh fish and shellfish is what people do. Today, Moore is one of the most widely admired chefs to come out of the region. In this cookbook, he tells the story of how he started his wildly popular Saltbox Seafood Joint(R) restaurants and food truck in Durham, North Carolina. Moore, a formally trained chef, was led by a culinary epiphany in the famous wet markets of Singapore to start a restaurant focused purely on the food inspired by the Carolina coast and its traditional roadside fish shacks and camps. Saltbox Seafood Joint's success is a testament to Moore's devotion to selecting the f

Book Blogger Hop; Which Genre I Like The Most

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It's Friday and time for a new Book Blogger Hop post, courtesy of  Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer . The question of the week was " Which genre do you like the most? ". Book Blogger Hop There's so many genres that I do like, but three of my favourite genres are fantasy, crime and historical fiction. I honestly struggle to choose between those three.

Review; Limelight by Solli Raphael

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the poetry collection Limelight by Solli Raphael through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads From thirteen-year-old award-winning slam poet Solli Raphael comes Limelight, an extraordinary book that showcases that age is no barrier to creating poetry that inspires social change and positive action. Limelight is a unique collection of slam poetry paired with inspirational writing techniques. With over 30 original poems in different forms, Raphael's work tackles current social concerns for his generation, such as sustainability and social equality, all while amplifying his uplifting message of hope. Solli’s book also contains 5 chapters on how to write and read poetry, how to manage stage fright and writer’s block, and encouraging tips on how we can all make tomorrow better than today. As a voice of his generation, and at a time when youth movemen

Review; With Gratitude by Marala Scott

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I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of With Gratitude by Marala Scott last year through Netgalley. I admit that I also read it last year, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads Poetry and prose to reframe your days, renew your spirit, and help you approach the world with an eye towards the positive, meaningful moments—with gratitude. With Gratitude is a collection of relatable experiences that will inspire you to recognize the good in beautiful and difficult situations—both past and present. It is a meditation on the benefits of appreciating love, loss, relationships, and fleeting moments of kindness. My Thoughts on the Book With Gratitide is an amazing poetry collection that pulls your heart strings with relatable topics. I highly recommend reading it.

Top Ten Tuesday; 10 Books For People Who Love Animals

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It's Tuesday and time for a new Top Ten Tuesday post, courtesy of  That Artsy Reader Girl . As it was a love freebie this week, I decided writing a list of books for people who love animals. My picks are; Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot Animal Farm by George Orwell The Dog Who Dared to Dream by Sun-Mi Hwang The Sheperd's Life by James Rebanks When Fraser Met Billy by Louise Booth Oscar the Bionic Cat by Kate Allan Marley & Me by John Grogan A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen Greyfriars Bobby by Eleanor Atkinson Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Review; Bonyo Bonyo by Vanita Oelschlager

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Sometime last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the biographical picture book Bonyo Bonyo by Vanita Oelschlager through Netgalley. I read it last year, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads Bonyo Bonyo is a true story about how a Kenyan boy’s courage and determination, along with critical support from family and strangers, helped him live out his dream of becoming a physician. Pursuing his goal forces him to leave his family and ultimately his country. But years later he is able to return as a doctor with the resources to build a much-needed clinic. Bonyo’s story is full of wonderful core values: individual determination, growth through loss and pain, willingness of others to help us reach goals, the benefits of giving back. Intended for 4-8 year olds, ones who are old enough to understand how hard it would be to leave your family just so you can continue to go to school. Vanita Oelschlager wrote this book after interview

Review, Patricide by Dave Harris

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Last year I recieved an ARC of the poetry collection Patricide by Dave Harris through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I didn't want to publish my review until now as I'm focusing on black authors this month. Description from Goodreads Dave Harris's stellar debut takes a nuanced look at the complexities of black masculinity. Patricide weighs those complexities and how they impact a lineage of black boys who fight to become men in the image of their fathers. More than just a book about fear or death centered on being black in America, Patricide illuminates the internal struggle to be the best man possible with the shadow of other men at your back. Through poems on loss, music, college, and family strife, Harris examines how time shifts and changes, despite so much of a life's architecture staying the same. Ultimately, Patricide opens itself up to reveal a story of many threads, one that finds a way to tie together in unexpected and joyful ways. My Tho

Book Tag Saturday; The Valentine's Day Book Tag

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I came across The Valentine's Day Book Tag over at  The Book Dutchesses  and I decided to play along. What book(s) have you been given as a gift that you loved? I was fortunate enough to recieve Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling way before the hype began in Norway. What book(s) would you like to give as a gift to someone else? The Kitchen Without Borders by The Eat Offbeat Chefs If you could gift a random person any bookish item, what would it be? A bookish candle, perhaps one from Frostbeard. If you could gift a random person any non-bookish item, what would it be? Coffee is usually a nice gift for lots of people. What do you say when a person gives you a gift you don’t like? I usually fake a smile and say "thank you", just to not hurt that person's feelings (too much). Mention a book based around Valentine’s Day. In Cold Chamomile by Joy Avon. Mention any two tips for blogging as a gift to ot

Omtale; Gule krokus om våren av Laila Ibrahim

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I forbindelse med Black History Month, endte jeg opp med å lese den historiske romanen Gule krokus om våren av Laila Ibrahim og i dag kommer omtalen. Beskrivelse fra forlaget Bare sekunder etter at Lisbeth Wainwright er blitt født på en diger plantasje i Virginia, blir hun overlatt til Mattie, en av plantasjens slaver som skal være amme for barnet. Fra da av opptrer Mattie som stedfortreder for Lisbeths mor. Hun mater henne, synger henne i søvn og trøster henne om natten. Men det å være mor for Lisbeth, har revet Mattie bort fra hennes egen tre måneder gamle baby, Samuel, som er igjen i slavekvarteret. Mine tanker om boka Gule krokus om våren er en bok som både er hjerteskjærende og varm på en og samme tid, spesielt  med tanke på hvordan slavene ble behandlet, samt forholdet mellom Lisbeth og Mattie. Det er et interessant persongalleri og boka er på generelt basis bra skrevet.

Omtale; Håpet 1787-1825 en roman om Dansk Vestindia av Mich Vraa

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For et par år siden var jeg såpass heldig at jeg fikk tilsendt et leseeksemplar av den historiske romanen Håpet av Mich Vraa fra forlaget. Jeg fikk til slutt somlet meg til å lese boka og i dag kommer omtalen. Beskrivelse fra forlaget Håpet er en velskrevet roman om slavetrafikken mellom Afrika og Dansk Vestindia som la grunnlaget for en ufattelig rikdom for dansk overklasse. Kaptein og skipsreder Anton Fredriksen har tjent en formue på å seile slaver fra Afrika til Vestindia på fregatten «Håpet». Nå har han gitt opp denne siden av sitt virke, men uforvarende blir han og hans 14 år gamle datter Maria dratt inn i en siste slavetransport med skipet i 1803. Tjue år senere kommer den idealistiske historiker og forfatter Mikkel Eide til Dansk Vestindia med det mål å fortelle sannheten om det brutale slaveriet, men hans idealer og oppfatninger settes på prøve, blant annet av de svarte selv. Mine tanker om boka Håpet er en interessant roman om et dystert tema. Det er flere historier

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge; Celebrity Crushes

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It's Wednesday and time for a new Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge post, courtesy of  Long and Short Reviews . The theme of the week was celebrity crushes. At the moment, I'm having only one and that's the historian and author James Holland. Se dette innlegget på Instagram Nice beach but fricking cold. Et innlegg delt av James Holland (@jamesholland1940) Feb. 16, 2018 kl. 12:58 PST

Review; Taking a Knee, Taking a Stand: African American Athletes and the Fight for Social Justice by Bob Schron

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Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of Taking a Knee, Taking a Stand: African American Athletes and the Fight for Social Justice by Bob Schron through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads A history of the activism and achievement of African American athletes from Jesse Owens to Serena Williams to Colin Kaepernick, who advanced the cause of social justice through their outspokenness, commitment, and integrity. Muhammad Ali refused to fight in a war he believed was immoral. Wilma Rudolph retired from track and field to campaign for civil rights. Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem to draw attention to the oppression of black bodies. Taking a Knee, Taking a Stand tells their stories and the stories of other prominent African American male and female athletes who often risked their careers to fight racial discrimination and promote social justice. From Jackie Robinson brea

Review; A Peach For Big Jim by Lisa Belmont

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the historical novel A Peach For Big Jim by Lisa Belmont through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads In 1947 racially charged Mills Hollow, South Carolina, Chloe Mason knows not to go near the Negroes who live in the river shacks, especially sixteen-year-old Big Jim. He’s something of a myth, a big black boy known for eating opossums and howling at the moon. At least that’s what Chloe’s brother, Caleb, and her Pa, a fiddle-playing Southerner who waves a Confederate flag, tell her. Yet, when Chloe slips into Foxhole Swamp, it’s Big Jim who saves her from an alligator. She secretly befriends Big Jim and takes it upon herself to teach him to read, even bringing him a forbidden peach from Widow Jones’ tree. Chloe meets Big Jim in a tree fort he constructs out of wood scraps, and together they endure the injustices Big Jim suffers – like being whipped by Chloe’s fathe

Review; Ona Judge Outwits the Washingtons: An Enslaved Woman Fights for Freedom by Gwendolyn Hooks and Simone Agoussoye

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book Ona Judge Outwits the Washingtons: An Enslaved Woman Fights for Freedom by Gwendolyn Hooks and Simone Agoussoye through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Soon after American colonists had won independence from Great Britain, Ona Judge was fighting for her own freedom from one of America's most famous founding fathers, George Washington. George and Martha Washington valued Ona as one of their most skilled and trustworthy slaves, but she would risk everything to achieve complete freedom. Born into slavery at Mount Vernon, Ona seized the opportunity to escape when she was brought to live in the President's Mansion in Philadelphia. Ona fled to New Hampshire and started a new life. But the Washingtons wouldn't give up easily. After her escape, Ona became the focus of a years-long manhunt, led by America's first president. Gwendolyn H

Omtale; Livet i Catfish Alley av Lynne Bryant

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For en liten stund siden leste jeg romanen Livet i Catfish Alley av Lynne Bryant og i dag kommer omtalen av boka. Beskrivelse fra forlaget En uønsket oppgave får uante følger ... Roxanne Reeves er med i en komité som arrangerer byvandring i Clarksville, Mississippi. Da hun får i oppgave å gi en omvisning i det tidligere afroamerikanske samfunnet, er hun først skeptisk. Hva i all verden kan være interessant ved det? Motstrebende går hun med på det og finner ut at hun trenger en guide. Grace Clark var i mange år lærer ved den svarte grunnskolen, og den eldre kvinnen ser seg villig til å hjelpe Roxanne dersom hun kjører henne rundt og skriver ned historiene. Grace tar henne med til Catfish Alley, til hus som er falleferdige eller borte nå, men som har så mange historier knyttet til seg. Mens Roxanne lytter til Grace, får hun øynene opp for mennesker som i alle år har vært usynlige for henne. Hun forflyttes tilbake i tid, til 1931, da en hvit manns hat mot Graces bror, Zero, før