Book Review: The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind

Our review is coming to you a little later than usual with the holiday weekend, which means I got to hear what the rest of our book group thought before sharing here on the blog.  My thoughts on the book are below (I loved it), but I thought I’d also let you all know how much our book group really loved Meg Medina’s novel.  We had great conversations about the book, and everyone thought it could be a really powerful addition to the classroom.  The language and story are straightforward, and could easily be read independently in middle or high school, but we even thought it would be a great read-aloud for upper elementary (although, you might want to do a little editing depending on your particular class, so be sure to read it ahead of time).  I hope you’ll consider reading it.  I don’t think it will disappoint.

The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind
Written by Meg Medina
Published by Candlewick Press, 2012
ISBN:   9780763646028
Age Level:  12 and up 

Advertisement

Book Review: The Queen of Water

The Queen of Water had me hooked from the very beginning.  It’s the story of Virginia, a young indígena born into an impoverished family in Ecuador. At the age of six, Virginia is sent away to work for a wealthier mestizo family.  Both the reader and Virginia come to realize that this is the beginning of Virginia’s life as a domestic slave.  While domestic slavery (especially of a young child) is difficult enough to stomach, what makes it all the more troubling is that it is a true story set in the 1980s. In fact, it is co-written by the ‘real’ Virginia—María Virginia Farinango. 

World Wide Web: Ecuador and the Fulbright-Hays Teacher Created Curriculum Unit

Continuing with one of last week’s world wide web themes on resources to support the use of The Queen of Water, I’d like to highlight a great curriculum unit on Ecuador.  The unit is the product of the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad program that provides educators the opportunity to travel to various countries with the purpose providing an introduction to a particular country or countries with the expectation that teachers will create unit plans for

Blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii), Galapagos islands, Ecuador
Photo taken by Mandala Travel

their classrooms on their return.  The program has created a wide variety of unit plans for countries across the globe, so it’s amazing resource of materials for teachers working to create a depth of global knowledge in their classrooms.

World Wide Web: Resources for Teaching The Queen of Water

As you’ve probably read, we’re highlighting The Queen of Water for our September book group meeting.  We’ll be posting our own review next week, and our Educator’s Guide is already available, but I thought I’d also share some other online reviews and resources that may be helpful as you consider using The Queen of Water in your classroom.

Our Next Good Read. . .The Queen of Water

Join us September 10th at Bookworks from 5:00-7:00 to discuss our next book.  We are reading The Queen of Water by Laura Resau and María Virginia Farinango.   It has received numerous awards and was recently named the Américas Award honorable mention for 2012.

Book Giveaway!! The Queen of Water

Our second book giveaway ends in just one week!! We’re giving away 5 copies of The Queen of Water–our featured novel for September’s book group meeting!! All you have to do is comment on any post on the blog by NEXT FRIDAY August 10th. Everyone who comments between July 20th and August 10th will be entered in the drawing.  If your name is chosen, we’ll email you ASAP about getting the book to you.

Good luck!