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I didn't even realize that Peña's “How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court“ was written in second person until I was about half way through the story. Something about it felt natural and immersive, but once I realized the POV, I was a little thrown off. I know my own reading preferences, but it made me think about those of my students. Exposure to different writing styles is important and necessary for students and ourselves.

This masterful collection of short stories truly speaks to a variety of audiences, and kept me engaged from the start. “Flying Lessons and Other Stories“ was filled to the brim with dreams, nostalgia, and emotion. While each reader may feel drawn to a different story than the next, we all leave this book with a sense of belonging. Great start to a course full of interesting reads!

Absolutely loved reading this book, it was such a fast easy read that will absolutely be recommended to students, even if it‘s just showing them one of the many stories in this book. It was a unique way to be able to read so many stories from different authors with varying writing styles but almost all having a main theme of teaching a lesson of finding purpose and enjoying who you are in your family and culture, and where you are put at in life.

A cool thing/side-note from Alexander‘s “Seventy-Six Dollars and Forty-Nine cents” mentioned father, Jack Jackson. My grandfather‘s name is Jackie Jackson and great grandfather‘s name was Jack Jackson as well

“The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn” by Kelly J. Baptist is one of the few stories in this that I would love to have more of the story, to know what happens after and maybe even have a blurb of the story the dad had written. The high hopes of Isaiah (publishing the story) given the circumstances surrounding him is admirable and would be a great short read to give students in my future class.

Meg Medina‘s story “Sol Painting, Inc.” was one of the first of these stories to stick out to me. The siblings dynamic is what caught my attention at first and made me think back to my own family life, being the oldest I was able to think about how my younger siblings may have felt about standards that were set for us. The big thing that sticks out is the use of bilingual dialogue that was kept in, it was such an interesting read for me.

Seventy-Six Dollars and Forty-Nine Cents by Kwame Alexander
Shout out to Macon, Georgia! Where I am from, and also Angel Carter's grandma. What are the chances of that?

In Flying Lessons by Soman Chainani, Nani is an icon of fashion and wisdom. She pushes Santosh to live beyond books and accolades. He's stuck in negative thinking, imagining rejection before it happens. Nani's lesson is clear: live a little, mess up, and be open to connection. Her line, “Sometimes it's hard to know whether you like someone or want to be them,“ hits hard. In the end, I think both Nani and Santosh are free.

Main Street by Jacqueline Woodson opens with the grief of an absent mother, a dismissive father, and the unique pain of a child. Like others we've read, it explores how broken families impact kids. Celeste's struggles with race and identity in a white-majority town add another layer. Unlike the hopeful tones in other stories, the ending felt vague and unsettling. Did anyone else feel a sense of foreboding?

The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn by Kelly J. Baptist shows how writing offers an escape from hardship, inspired by those we‘ve lost, like Isaiah‘s late father. In class, Isaiah‘s outburst reflects struggles at home more than peer conflict. The teacher‘s reprimand gives him a quiet moment in the hallway, which he craves. He‘s not a bad kid; he‘s seeking peace, a reminder for us as future educators.

Flying Lessons and Other Stories was an easy read. I kept putting myself in the shoes of a middle schooler reading this book. I can imagine how it would be quick to read, easy to understand from a vocab standpoint, and chock full of meaning that's relatable. I would love to incorporate the aspect of identity and story telling into my classroom activities at some point. this book compared with a memoir unit. Overall I really enjoyed it. 10/10 rec

A major takeaway I had from the assortment of stories is the highlight of meaning in ordinary events. Each author examined a point in their life that was significant to coming-of-age and the understanding of life. I think this is a great way to get young writers examining the meaning of the things that have happened in their own life even if it seems boring to them. I would love to incorporate these stories as a mentor text for memoir writing.

The first story by Matt de la Peña: “How to Transform an Everyday Hoop Court Into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium“ was one of my favorites from the entire book. I loved the way diverse identities were explored through the eyes of a rising freshman. I immediately began to think of students I've worked with who would enjoy this book and it got me thinking of mentor texts in my classroom with regard to meaning and entertainment.

I cannot express how much I loved this book enough. I resonated with the various trials and tribulations of being a kid that are presented across the stories. I would've loved to read as a 6-12 student because it's relatable and manageable. I most enjoyed how it shows many styles of writing that students can use to shape their own writing. This book reminded me that despite our differences, we become one, immersed in the scribbles on a page.

A quality that I have appreciated throughout reading this book is its diverse content. Literature teaches the power of words, and this book has shown how impactful words are across cultures, interests, values, and identities. For young readers, this is an easy and quick read that packs a powerful punch. I would love to use it to show students that meaningful messages can be conveyed in many ways, whether that is a short anecdote or a hefty novel.

“That�s when you know, really know, you�re surrounded by family. Nobody has to say a word. They just look at each other and you know what they are thinking.”

I like how much Tingle drew attention to the familial aspect of Choctaw culture. The story Uncle Kenneth told, the way he italicized the phrase “dozens of cousins”, how he described the aunts and uncles, pointed to a close knit family. This is a dynamic that is often overlooked in writing.

I think as a whole, this collection of stories would be good to use as a mentor text for students. Students could choose a story to model their own short story after that teaches a life lesson. It would allow students to see different ways they could foreshadow a lesson, or characterize others in a brief way. It would allow for creative writing while also learning how to write narratives in a variety of different ways.

As I began reading Matt de la Peña's piece, I thought, How can I connect with this piece? I am the antithesis of the narrator, yet as I finished the piece, I felt a connection to the narrator. This struck me from a teacher's and a reader's lens. While we may not directly connect to the story or characters, little bits resonate differently across my classroom. How cool is it that the same story can be read differently to each student I teach?

As a whole I really enjoyed this book. I loved all the individual characters and their stories that had nothing to do with one another, though I like to think they were all existing in the same world as one another, learning life together. It was a slice of life in every section, and would be a great piece to introduce to students to demonstrate different lived experiences, and promote critical thinking.

As I read through the book, I was adding tabs to different parts of each story where I felt the lesson that was being shared was being highlighted. However, the only story I found I did not tab as I was reading was. “Seventy-Six Dollars and Forty-Nine Cents.“ It was not that there was nothing interesting about it, I was just so captivated by the prose-style writing that I got lost in it, and found it be more fun rather than a lesson.

The short stories that make up this collection are a beautiful celebration of what it means to be human, in all of our diverse ways. The book, adeptly named, teaches students about themselves and their surroundings, and can help mentors discern how to best guide those around them. Through learning independence, how to stand up for oneself, how to be a good friend, and how to tell a good story, each story taught young adults a lesson in how to fly.

I love stories in verse. The short segments. The quick turn of the page. The fast pace. Verse contains so much potential to captivate audiences who struggle with rambling sentences that include so many extra details. For those with a short attention span, writing in verse is great. I also enjoyed the plot of “Seventy-Six Dollars and Forty-Nine Cents”. I would love to use this as a mentor text for students looking to format a narrative uniquely.

The more stories I read in this book, the deeper my appreciation grows for the lessons present in each chapter. In addition to the rich diversity present in the backgrounds, there are different perspectives, issues, and forms of resilience present. For both students and teachers, these texts can be useful in finding authors giving a voice to different experiences, and encouraging us to challenge our understanding of the larger world.

“How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court Into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium” eloquently demonstrated that success cannot be left to talent alone. One must also put in the work. Additionally, mentorship comes in all shapes and sizes. Mentees can learn that you may receive the best life advice from someone you least expect. For mentors, it's helpful to see how one impacted another, even by speaking to them once.

I was hesitant about this book because I do not usually lean toward realistic fiction, but I loved this diversity it showcased. Each story was different and highlighted different cultures and experiences, which means many students in the classroom can likely find at least one thing to connect to. There are great opportunities for mentor texts, but it was also just an enjoyable read: it was fast-paced and kept me engaged. I'd definitely recommend!

The format of “Main Street“ by Jacqueline Woodson was slightly different than other stories. This and Kwame Alexander's story in verse would be a great way to explore different writing formats and their impacts. “Main Street“ was very touching and I loved how it discusses connection, whether it be to a place or another person. It also touches on loss and missing people, and while that can feel isolating, it can also bring people together forever.

“Choctaw Bigfoot, Midnight in the Mountains“ by Tim Tingle was a captivating story, but it also highlighted this Native American culture beautifully. Tingle immediately immersed readers in Native culture as he focused on family, language, and the unity storytelling brings to all. This could be a great mentor text for introducing the genre of folklore and cultural legend, perhaps before students write their own myths or legends. I loved this!

“For while the path before me may be difficult, it will be my own.“

“The Difficult Path” by Grace Lin was one of my favorites. It had a bit of everything I love: historical fiction, pirates, female empowerment and solidarity, and the importance of education in finding a voice. This would be a fantastic story to show students the roles of women and/or the lower class in a diverse historical setting and demonstrate the power of sharing knowledge!

Isaiah's story in “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn“ was very moving and eye-opening in my opinion. We see Isaiah through his struggles of poverty, grief, being in a broken home, and family struggles. Through these challenges, he manages to find purpose, hope, and fortitude through his writing. I think it was really beautiful how he was able to connect with his father through his words and memories.

Overall, this anthology of short stories was impeccably put together. As a “We Need Diverse Books“ publication, I greatly appreciated that the short stories within the book should be considered as different houses within the same neighborhood. This comparison highlights how, just as in real life, some people may experience and identify differently from one another, and their stories are all valid. I can see each piece being used in the classroom.

“But the time you spent on the actual court, you'll realize, was nowhere near as important as the time you spent in the bleachers,“ (de la Peña).

This quote from the story fully encapsulates the essence of what the narrator was trying to express. It just really shows the audience the importance of his journey rather than his end goal of being a great ball player, which is so important to the overall theme.

When I began reading the first story, I was really shocked at how relatable and personal this story felt. I believe that the second-person point of view was a very high contributor to this effect, and it made following along a lot easier and realistic. What really caught my attention in this story was how specific and detailed the narration of emotion was. The way the protagonist took us through both his defeat and his triumph was really special.

Hello! I have read the first three stories in this book so far. The 2nd person POV of the first story caught my attention since I felt more immersed into the narrative, especially when the MC mulls over lessons learned during his time in the gym. I also really appreciated that Meg Medina included a child who is proud of her blue collar father's job. Those jobs are often ignored as viable career options, a mindset that needs to be challenged more.

For this collection of short stories as a whole, I loved the message of advocating for diverse representation in literature. Each story shows what someone‘s life may actually be like whether it‘s the good the bad or simply the mundane. This book would be great for young readers in the classroom to connect with!

This quote from the “Sol Painting Inc.” story was very impactful. This specific lesson that Merci had to learn can be applied to everyone no matter the age. It teaches the reader to know when to pick your battles which is such an invaluable skill.

The opening stories are very engaging and even drew me in as an adult reader. I liked how this collection of stories showcased many different backgrounds and portrayed the realities of different kid's upbrings and circumstances. This is helpful to teach younger students to be more compassionate to their peers.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading the book. I enjoyed it at an adult reader and I think it could be very useful to use in a middle grades environment. While the reading level is for more of a middle school level, there were several stories in the book that could be utilized in a high school classroom.

I really enjoyed reading “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn”. It dealt with discussing alcoholism in a really gentle way that is show through a child‘s eyes. It hits you where it hurts while reading about it though a child that doesn‘t fully understand the situation and has to navigate it all with that lack of understanding.

I liked the book more than I thought that I was going to. The different messages behind the short stories are applicable to many different students and the length of the stories are short enough that they won‘t dissuade any learner from reading it.

“I will ride the winds and surmount endless waves. Setting sail on the vast ocean, I will one day reach the distant shores.“ This quote is a poem that Lingsi had to read in “The Difficult Path.“ It makes me think about her fascination with the ocean, and reminds me of my own love for it.

A lot of these stories are good for middle school readers to read because of the different topics and situations that they deal with. Stories such as “The Difficult Path“ and “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn“ deal with things that younger readers might not have a lot of experience reading, or might be curious about. For example, take Lingsi being sold to the Li family, and the topics of homelessness, and alcoholism.

I feel that all of the stories in “Flying Lessons & Other Stories“ are good for middle school students to read. Because of the nature of the stories and the way they seem to all be told from a young narrator's point of view, I feel like this makes them more relatable and will resonate with younger readers.

Something that stuck out me was how in “Welcome to the Neighborhood“ from FL&OS the narrator talks about his father's views on hospitality, and how it doesn't matter how little or how much you have. You always offer what you can and invite someone into your home. I especially took note of how he ties this into the topic of reading a book. “Books are homes, have been homes, will continue to be homes.“ It is a writer's job to invite the reader in.

Overall, I loved the diversity and variety of stories in this anthology. It definitely seems like a great tool to use in a Middle School classroom, especially the stories with tough subjects and the poetry. It's a great way to ease kids into reading and thinking critically about what they read.

“The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn“ was a really powerful story. I love how the author tackled tough topics like alcoholism and homelessness in a way that is palatable to young audiences, but without taking away from how those issues realistically affect children and family dynamics. Although there isn't a “happy ending“, it still ends on a hopeful note, which could make for interesting discussions about that decision in the classroom.

Overall, I really like the diverse stories presented in this children‘s lit anthology. The use of poetry was refreshing. I wasn‘t TRULY introduced to poetry until I was about 16. I think it would be smart to include poetry for middle schoolers to begin to learn how to analyze poetry and learn how to just, simply read them with open minds. I used to hate it because I didn‘t know HOW to read poetry. Anyways, I really enjoyed it!