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Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Furia

Title: Furia 
Author: Yamile Saied Mendez
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers 
Publication Date: September 15th, 2020 
Genre/Format: YA Contemporary Fiction/Novel 
GoodReads Summary: In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life.
    At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her rising-soccer-star brother’s shadow, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father.
    On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far those talents can take her. In her wildest dreams, she’d get an athletic scholarship to a North American university.
    But the path ahead isn’t easy. Her parents don’t know about her passion. They wouldn’t allow a girl to play fútbol—and she needs their permission to go any farther. And the boy she once loved is back in town. Since he left, Diego has become an international star, playing in Italy for the renowned team Juventus. Camila doesn’t have time to be distracted by her feelings for him. Things aren’t the same as when he left: she has her own passions and ambitions now, and La Furia cannot be denied. As her life becomes more complicated, Camila is forced to face her secrets and make her way in a world with no place for the dreams and ambition of a girl like her.
What I Think: I'm completely obsessed with this book! Camila and her story sucked me in right away and I was desperate to know what was going to happen. While this is a love story...it's more about Camila loving herself than anything else and I'm all for that! I was so invested in this book and I think it has a lot to do with the writing and how honest Camila's story is. Maybe because I'm Latina myself and have spent so much time on identity work it really resonated with me...but please, share this with students because we all need some good examples of how to navigate our complex and unique identities and this story is so great for all readers.
    As a mentor text, Camila spends a lot of time navigating her different identities. She's a daughter but she's also a footballer and she's hiding that from her family. When it comes to thinking about our own unique and complex identities, this book gives us an opportunity to do that. The book starts off with her talking about a family proverb that has been passed down and how that lives now with her. This is a great way to think about who we are in the context of our family, our ancestors, and even the place(s) where we grow up. 
    In my notebook, I started by making a list of what comes to mind when I read the snatch of text, then I made a list of places in my life, and a list of a few sayings I heard over and over again growing up. Then I chose one saying to write about and, like Yamile, I wrote about how my ancestors lived that saying and how it has become part of my life. This is a great discussion to have with students that invites them to reflect on what messages have been passed down to them by their family and where they've grown up but also an opportunity to share what ideals their family has shared with them. As a teacher, this is a great way to learn about students and honor their backgrounds. For me, and for Camila, it's important to also question what we've been taught. Not from a good or bad perspective but from a perspective of, "Is this how I want to live?" Because we always have a choice.
    If you're interesting in slides so you can try this yourself and/or with students, check out the Story Exploratory Patreon community where I share videos, writing tips, extended activities, and monthly workshops. 
Snatch of Text: "Lies have short legs. I learned this proverb before I could speak. I never knew exactly where it came from. Maybe the saying followed my family across the Atlantic, all the way to Rosario, the second-largest city in Argentina, at the end of the world.
    My Russian great-grandmother, Isabel, embroidered it on a pillow after her first love broke her heart and married her sister. My Palestinian grandfather, Ahmed, whispered it to me every time my mom found his hidden stash of wine bottles. My Andalusian grandmother, Elena, repeated it like a mantra until her memories and regrets called her to the next life. Maybe it came from Matilde, the woman who chased freedom to Las Pampas all the way from Brazil, but of her, this Black woman whose blood roared in my veins, we hardly ever spoke. Her last name got lost, but my grandma's grandma still showed up so many generations later in the way my brown hair curled, the shape of my nose, and my stubbornness - ay, Dios mío, my stubbornness. Like her, if family folklore was to be trusted, I had never learned to shut up or do as I was told. 
    But perhaps the words sprouted from this land that the conquistadores thought was encrusted with silver, the only inheritance I'd ever receive from the indigenous branch of my family tree. In any case, when my mom said them to me as I was getting ready to leave the house that afternoon, I brushed her off. 
    'I'm not lying,' I insisted, fighting with the tangled laces of my sneakers - real Nikes that Pablo, my brother, had given me for  Christmas after he got his first footballer paycheck. 'I told you, I'll be at Roxana's.'"

Monday, June 28, 2021

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 6/28/2021

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA! 

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop I co-host with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing ReadersThe original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It's a great way to share what you're reading and get recommendations. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Last Week's Adventures:
I finished listening to The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna. I heard from various people that it took a while to get into it and I agree, it was at least halfway in before I was really invested. But by the end, I was completely hooked. I'll need to do a blog post about it because I saw so many parallels to life that I want to explore.

I found myself picking up Why They Can't Write by John Warner. I started reading it in the fall and was about halfway through so I spent time (mostly by the pool, yay summer!) finishing it. I also have Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses that I also started during the school year but haven't finished so I've spent time with that too.

This Week's Adventures:

My plan this week is to finish Craft in the Real World and to read King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender for the Book Love Summer Book Club. I'll also (finally!) be listening to I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez.

Goodness Coming Your Way This Week!

Teachers Write is back!!! I'm soooooo ready to connect with my teacher writer friends! This summer is all about time to reflect, write, and renew. If you aren't signed up for Teachers Write yet, you can do that here. As always, Teachers Write is all about YOU. You make it what you want it to be. Kate and I will be sharing resources and you decide what works for you. This year I'll be posting the weekly check-ins on Thursdays so be sure to check back and let me know how your writing is going! I've been part of Teachers Write since the very beginning and it has played such a big role in why I love working with young writers and teacher writers.

What are you reading this week? 
Link up below and check out other blogs to see what they're reading!
To help build our community and support other bloggers,
we ask that you comment on at least three other blogs before you.
Also, if you tweet about your Monday post, don't forget to use #IMWAYR!


Monday, June 21, 2021

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 6/21/2021

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA! 

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop I co-host with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing ReadersThe original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It's a great way to share what you're reading and get recommendations. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Last Week's Adventures:
I read more of Aftershocks and have been listening to The Gilded Ones. I heard it took a bit to get into it and I'm almost half way and I'd agree with that but it is intriguing. I'm also reading To Shake a Sleeping Self by Jedidiah Jenkins, a man who rides his bike from Oregon to Patagonia. 

This Week's Adventures:

I'm going to continue with my books. I hope to finish The Gilded Ones so I can start I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. I've started it before but promised myself I'd officially finish it this summer.

What are you reading this week? 
Link up below and check out other blogs to see what they're reading!
To help build our community and support other bloggers,
we ask that you comment on at least three other blogs before you.
Also, if you tweet about your Monday post, don't forget to use #IMWAYR!


Monday, June 14, 2021

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 6/14/2021

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA! 

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop I co-host with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing ReadersThe original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It's a great way to share what you're reading and get recommendations. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Last Week's Adventures:
Last week I finished listening to Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez and Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes. I started listening to The Gilded Ones by Namina Forma. I also read more of Aftershocks.


This Week's Adventures:

This week I'll keep reading more of Aftershocks and listening to The Gilded Ones.

Goodness Coming Your Way This Week!

What are you reading this week? 
Link up below and check out other blogs to see what they're reading!
To help build our community and support other bloggers,
we ask that you comment on at least three other blogs before you.
Also, if you tweet about your Monday post, don't forget to use #IMWAYR!


Monday, June 7, 2021

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 6/7/2021

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA! 

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop I co-host with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing ReadersThe original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It's a great way to share what you're reading and get recommendations. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Last Week's Adventures:
Last week was the last week of school! I'd love to hear if you are done with the school year or not done yet. If you are done, yay! If you are not done, hang in there! I adore the students I worked with this year. I swear, they got me through more than I got them through. We did it. 

I relied on my audiobook this week and have been listening to Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez and I'm absolutely loving it. I'm so invested in these characters! I also barely started reading Aftershocks by Nadia Owusu.


This Week's Adventures:
I'll finish up Furia this week and then want to start Ghost Boys. I'll read more of Aftershocks and I picked up Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova. I've seen the series but haven't read it.

Goodness Coming Your Way This Week!


What are you reading this week? 
Link up below and check out other blogs to see what they're reading!
To help build our community and support other bloggers,
we ask that you comment on at least three other blogs before you.
Also, if you tweet about your Monday post, don't forget to use #IMWAYR!