The City of Ember

This science fiction novel appeals to the adventures child with a vivid imagination. The City of Ember is one in a series of books based on an underground city. The city is detailed and almost flawless. The children need to be brave and rely on the friendship and comradery of others to survive.  The book is full of mystery, action, adventure as well as scary scenes. The main characters, Lina and Doon are fascinated by the city. They soon find out that supplies for survival is dwindling, people are hoarding, being extremely selfish and acting very strangely. Problems escalate as the lights of the City of Ember begin to dim. This is a good read, even for those not interested in this genre.

Nomi and the Magic Fish

This is an African folktale that was written by a 15year old South African. Nomi was a beautifully tall girl. Her sister Nomsa was very short & not very attractive as some say she was ugly. Nomi’s father marries again and his second wife doesn’t like Nomi, beats her, sends her to bed without food. Nomi set to look after cattle as ordered by the stepmother. While in the field Nomi has an encounter with a fish. The fish feeds Nomi bread and milk after hearing her cries and her story. Nomi’s stepmother notices that she is not hungry and of course doesn’t believe her story that a fish feeds her. The stepmother beats Nomi again. The stepmother/Second wife tricks the husband into eating the fish so it cannot feed Nomi again. The fish tells Nomi of its impending doom and tells Nomi after it is dead what to do with its bones. Nomi throws down bones, the Chief finds bones and then the Chief orders the girls of the village to come to him to pick up the bones. Nomi comes and picks up the bones and as a reward the Chief says he will marry her.

The Story of Cinderella

This fairy tale is based on the Charles Perrault version made in France as a Disney movie in1950. Cinderella's father married again after her mother died. Cinderella's stepmother made her do all the household work. Cinderella's stepsisters were invited to the ball. Cinderella cried because she wanted to go to the ball too and her stepmother put obstacles in her way to keep her from going. Cinderella's fairy godmother changed a pumpkin into a coach. The prince and Cinderella danced at the ball and as the clock struck at midnight Cinderella had to leave. Cinderella lost her glass slipper when she was running from the castle. The prince found Cinderella when he put the glass slipper on her foot. After the Prince found out it was Cinderella who wore the glass slipper he fell in love with her, they got married and they both live happily ever after.

The Biography of Nikki Giovanni

Yolande Cornelia “NikkI” Giovanni, Jr. was born June 7, 1943 in Knoxville, Tenn. but grew up in

Lincoln Heights which is a suburb in Cincinnati, Ohio. She later went back to Knoxville in 1958 to live
with her grand-parents.

Nikki Giovanni is an American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. She is one of the

world's most well-known African-American poets. She also writes poetry anthologies, poetry
recordings, nonfiction essays, and children's literature. She has won many awards such as the Langston Hughes Medal, the NAACP Image Award, nominated for a Grammy Award, and has been named as one of Oprah Winfrey’s twenty-five “Living Legends.”

She began her professional career at Livingston College of Rutgers University in 1969, and since 1987 she has taught writing and literature at Virginia Tech where she is a University Distinguished Professor. Nikki Giovanni is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star(PHA) and is an Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. In 2015 Giovanni was named one of the Library of Virginia's "Virginia Women in History" for her contributions to poetry, education, and society

Informational

Proverbs as we remember, whether they come from the Bible, “Big Mama” or our “Sista’ Cousin” always have a purpose and usually a deep meaning. During any given conversation you will hear a proverb or two and to some a proverb is artistic because it has poetry, rhythm and rhymes. The basic reason and purpose of a proverb is to teach; specifically to teach a life lesson. Life lessons in the Proverbs of Solomon, are a teaching tool from God, with words of wisdom about human behavior.

The following African proverb is familiar to many with credit usually given to Hillary Clinton who used several African proverbs in her book, “It Takes a Village”.

“It takes a whole village to raise a child.” Which means: The society where the child is living, has the responsibility for the moral characters it creates and everyone in a community should be responsible for helping to train a child irrespective of who the parents are offering correction where they are needed.

Another is: Ran does not fall on one roof alone. Which means: Trouble comes to everyone at one time or another. Either one of these can be used to advise a generation or both of these can be applied to many people especially in describing a rule of conduct that should be applied.
Every cultures on this planet has proverbs that are associated with and come from wise men and women. In African cultures it would be a wise man/woman to say one but it is “unacceptable” to tell an African proverb and still be the one to explain the meaning.

The Ballad of Casey Jones

The information regarding this ballad originates from medieval French dance songs (Jacobs) with its function as a process for telling a story in a song is Scandinavian and Germanic (Housman). Types of ballads or classifications of them are traditional, broadside and literary. In America there are Irish, European, British, Native American and African-American versions of this genre. Characteristics of African-American ballads is a combination of blues, folklore, African narratives, and some urban settings. This genre was popular for roughly 40 years from 1885 to 1925. Rap music today even has properties of the ballad genre.

My focus is on a ballad of K. C. Douglas: “Cassie Jones”.  Douglas is a Black vocalist on the song, who was born in Mississippi, moved to California as a young man and lived there the rest of his life. “Casey Jones” was originally recorded acapella and is based on a real character, of the same name, who is said to have wrecked his train. “Casey Jones” was copyrighted by a white songwriters Lawrence Siebert and Eddie Newton, in 1909 and published as “The Only Comedy Railroad Song.”  Siebert and Newton’s song is alleged to have been based on an earlier composition by Wallace Saunders, a black railroad worker (Pearson). The song Casey Jones gained renewed popularity in the 7O’s with country rock group the Grateful Dead who revised the song for the prevailing culture of the day.

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

This genre would appeal to children 8 years old and up and who may or may not be questioning their faith, conditions, their heart and why people are different. In the book, Catherine is taking care of her brother David who has a disability; he is Autistic. Events in the summer causes Catherine to have some intimidation partially as a result of an encounter with Jason who is confined to a wheelchair. He is deformed and cannot speak. His way of communication is with word cards. Catherine has spent time showing her brother how to behave the best way she can and to try to acclimate him into society. She attempts to teach him rules such as "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" and to "keep your pants on in public". Taking care of her brother and meeting Jason gets her to focus and take a look at her own behavior towards people who are different; and she asks herself a basic question which is, What is normal?

Gulliver’s Travels, whose full title is Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World; In 4 Parts.

Originally published: October 28, 1726 by Jonathan Swift

Gulliver’s Travels (Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World) has Lemuel Gulliver telling the story of his life where in the beginning he studies medicine under an assumed name, becomes a surgeon, travels on ships and later resides in London. On another sea voyage that he thought would be his last, the ship hits a storm and the crew is lost. Gulliver swims to shore, falls asleep and wakes up to little people tying him down. Gulliver living among the little people is different and diverse with conflict. They all persevere and they all go home.

Gulliver’s Travels is a fantasy, but also an adventure story, a satire, and a fable. The original had no illustrations. However, through the years there have been many adaptations of this story. Even though this fantasy novel has four parts, what is remembered by most is the first part which has always been made into a Hollywood movie. The movies are nothing like the book.

How does this explore the satire of politics and colonialism in England at the time when this book was written? During this period Europe was powerful while England was small. What did England have that was more significant the Europe’s power?

Activities would align with Saint Leo value of Respect because the book shows that size and power is relative. That power in a society is guided by what is right. The author Swift also suggests that in regards to the many interpretations of the Bible does not mean that any one interpretation is either right or wrong.

Gulliver’s Travels is a fascinating read. It’s about power, a person’s limitations, diversity, cultural differences and above all respect for others. It has many plots but the book teaches about sympathy, to not criticize or judge and to keep in mind that another person’s difference is not to be ridiculed.

Swift, J., & Williams, S.H.H.  (19965). Gulliver’s travels: 1726 (Vol. 11). H. Davis (Ed). Blackwell.

Elijah of Buxton

Elijah of Buxton as a historical fiction novel tells the story of an African-American born during the time when few of them gained their freedom and most during this era were still slaves. Elijah was special, his mother referred to him as “fra-gile.” Elijah was born as the first free person in Buxton which is a settlement in Canada specifically for runaway slaves who had escaped from the United States. A story that circulated was that Elijah vomited on the head of Frederick Douglas when he tossed Elijah in the air. The story grew and changed throughout time and this was a part of Elijah’s notoriety in addition to being the first free person born of that generation. Elijah’s other talent and accomplishment was the ability to kill fish by hitting them in the head with a rock, usually with one blow. Another issue with Elijah is that he scared easily. Elijah has friends that ranged from a not so religious preacher and his best friend Cooter who leads an adventurous life still of danger.