Winner of the International Literacy Association Social Justice
Literature Award
An award-winning middle-grade novel about the power of grassroots
activism and how kids can make a difference.
Every day, nine-year-old Yasmin borrows a book from Book Uncle, a
retired teacher who has set up a free lending library on the street
corner. But when the mayor tries to shut down the rickety bookstand,
Yasmin has to take her nose out of her book and do something.
What can she do? The local elections are coming up, but she's just a
kid. She can't even vote!
Still, Yasmin has friends -- her best friend, Reeni, and Anil, who even
has a blue belt in karate. And she has family and neighbors. What's
more, she has an idea that came right out of the last book she borrowed
from Book Uncle.
So Yasmin and her friends get to work. Ideas grow like cracks in the
sidewalk, and soon the whole effort is breezing along nicely... Or is it
spinning right out of control?
An energetic, funny and quirky story about community activism,
friendship, and the love of books.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language
Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.2
Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse
cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain
how it is conveyed through key details in the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.6
Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those
of the characters.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text;
summarize the text.
