Reviews

The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border by Stephen Briseño, Magdalena Mora

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goldenabs's review

emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Beautiful hand made illustrations that really lent will to the feeling of the story. The language was approachable but I don't know if the subject was being too vaguely described for a child of that age group.

cwtchcherie's review

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emotional informative sad fast-paced

4.5

msgabbythelibrarian's review against another edition

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4.0

To ANYONE who thinks that individuals from Mexico are illegal and not worth being treated as special, I say.....

YEAH. RIGHT.

This gorgeously written, impactful story is about hope. Of belief. Of encouragement that those who seek asylum WILL find it. Oh the author's note about did me in y'all/ Knowing that this notebook has a history, a history that also faded with Covid, oh that hit HARD.

Read this book and have a conversation.

missprint_'s review against another edition

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3.0

Interesting story about border crossing but also already dated by the time it came out because the pandemic closed the San Ysidro Border Checkpoint in Tijuana to enter the United States. Author’s note and selected sources.

sunflowerjess's review

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emotional reflective slow-paced

5.0

This book highlights a part of the border crossing I had never heard of before - the notebook keeper. At the border, a refugee was in charge of recording each refugee's name and country and assigning them a number. They were a kind face and a source of encouragement to the families seeking asylum. When the number of the person in charge of the notebook was up, they passed on the responsibility to another refugee. And so on right up until 2020, when the border was closed during the pandemic.