A review by shighley
The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
3.0
Very moving story that can easily make you realize how uninformed you are. I was glad to see the explanatory information at the end; I wonder how much background students should be given before the book is read.
There are many wonderful phrases, and the poetic form does not seem compromised. I loved the description of Amira as "okra-toed", and the lovely pictures and descriptions beginning on page 250. Some things I would ask students after they've read this: What must Amira's mother feel like when she finally discovers she has a gift for drawing? (Can you imagine going through like without having a chance to realize you have a talent?) What must conditions be like to be very happy to receive a stick as a birthday present? What part does superstition play in Amira's life? What are the advantages/disadvantages of relying on superstition?
At first I found the drawings to be somewhat simple, but in reading the book, I came to appreciate what they represent. I would also encourage students to do further research on Darfur, and figure out something they might do to assist the people who have had to flee their native land.
There are many wonderful phrases, and the poetic form does not seem compromised. I loved the description of Amira as "okra-toed", and the lovely pictures and descriptions beginning on page 250. Some things I would ask students after they've read this: What must Amira's mother feel like when she finally discovers she has a gift for drawing? (Can you imagine going through like without having a chance to realize you have a talent?) What must conditions be like to be very happy to receive a stick as a birthday present? What part does superstition play in Amira's life? What are the advantages/disadvantages of relying on superstition?
At first I found the drawings to be somewhat simple, but in reading the book, I came to appreciate what they represent. I would also encourage students to do further research on Darfur, and figure out something they might do to assist the people who have had to flee their native land.