sean67's review against another edition
5.0
We take our education for granted, the fact that we can just go to a school and it is paid by our Government, but it is not the same everywhere.
The fact that our kids don't have to work so the family can survive.
This one about the desire for a girl to go to school, but having to work to help the family is moving.
The information at the end about the direction to end child labour and get education for children in Bangladesh was heartening.
Another book in the inspiring Asian Pacific American Literary Awards list.
The fact that our kids don't have to work so the family can survive.
This one about the desire for a girl to go to school, but having to work to help the family is moving.
The information at the end about the direction to end child labour and get education for children in Bangladesh was heartening.
Another book in the inspiring Asian Pacific American Literary Awards list.
academianut's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully illustrated, timely, wonderful exploration of a Bangladeshi girl's fervent desire for education and her and her family's quest for it.
scarlettsims's review against another edition
2.0
I received my copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Yasmin is a young girl in Bangladesh who wishes to attend school. However, her family needs her to work to help support them. In the end, Yasmin uses the titular tool to earn enough money to attend school. The book necessarily evokes Mitali Perkins' Rickshaw Girl, and is tied up just as neatly at the end. The high point of Yasmin's Hammer is the list of sources at the end. In addition to information on aid organizations, there are books for further reading as well as a glossary.
I know two stars doesn't seem like a lot... I would give it three if not for Goodreads' categorization of the stars. This book was average so I want to give it three, but the description of three stars is "liked it" when really I felt that "it was ok." So two stars it is. I would recommend the book to girls or boys who like learning about other cultures; it's definitely more of a window than a mirror. However, it's also about overcoming adversity so if a kid showed an interest in that I would also recommend the book.
Yasmin is a young girl in Bangladesh who wishes to attend school. However, her family needs her to work to help support them. In the end, Yasmin uses the titular tool to earn enough money to attend school. The book necessarily evokes Mitali Perkins' Rickshaw Girl, and is tied up just as neatly at the end. The high point of Yasmin's Hammer is the list of sources at the end. In addition to information on aid organizations, there are books for further reading as well as a glossary.
I know two stars doesn't seem like a lot... I would give it three if not for Goodreads' categorization of the stars. This book was average so I want to give it three, but the description of three stars is "liked it" when really I felt that "it was ok." So two stars it is. I would recommend the book to girls or boys who like learning about other cultures; it's definitely more of a window than a mirror. However, it's also about overcoming adversity so if a kid showed an interest in that I would also recommend the book.
tashrow's review
4.0
In Dhaka, Bangladesh, Yasmin rides to work in the morning in her father’s rickshaw. Though Yasmin longs to go to school, she has to help earn money so that her family can eat and her father can someday purchase the rickshaw. Yasmin thinks about the quiet days in her village before the cyclone forced them to move to the noise and bustle of the city. Now she must work breaking bricks for use in building roads and buildings. Even Yasmin’s little sister must work in the brickyard so the family can survive. Yasmin comes up with a plan of how she can both help her family and make sure that she can be educated too. Each day she works harder and faster than anyone else, and the boss gives her extra coins. These she saves for her secret plan that no one in her family knows about.
Sprinkled with Bangladeshi words, Malaspina’s text is poetic and strong. She captures the city and the country in tangible ways, through colors, sounds and smells. This is a book about child labor, though it is not overly dramatic. It is a quiet story of desperation in the face of poverty. The focus is on the importance of education for children and the struggles that a family must overcome to offer it.
Chayka’s illustrations are filled with warm light. They capture the hustle of the city streets, nicely contrasting it with the quiet of the countryside. Bright colors, enliven his paintings that invite readers into this story.
This is an important book that offers a glimpse of children living in very different circumstances than we see in our part of the world. It is one that will spur discussions and also have children realizing how well off they are to not have to work and to be able to go to school. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
Sprinkled with Bangladeshi words, Malaspina’s text is poetic and strong. She captures the city and the country in tangible ways, through colors, sounds and smells. This is a book about child labor, though it is not overly dramatic. It is a quiet story of desperation in the face of poverty. The focus is on the importance of education for children and the struggles that a family must overcome to offer it.
Chayka’s illustrations are filled with warm light. They capture the hustle of the city streets, nicely contrasting it with the quiet of the countryside. Bright colors, enliven his paintings that invite readers into this story.
This is an important book that offers a glimpse of children living in very different circumstances than we see in our part of the world. It is one that will spur discussions and also have children realizing how well off they are to not have to work and to be able to go to school. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
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