Alicia Afterimage by Lulu Delacre

Alicia Afterimage by Lulu Delacre
Review by Erica Moore

Alicia is 16 years old when she is killed in a single car accident. Memories and stories from friends and family are woven together to paint a picture of Alicia’s life. Each chapter is titled after a particular person. Friends talk about how Alicia’s life and death impacted them. Throughout the book are muted line drawings and a sheet of memorial notes from students in yearbook style. The cover art reflects nicely the format of the book with a Chuck Close style self-portrait Alicia created when she was 15. Many seemingly separate parts complete a whole picture or person.

Alicia’s mother is the author, and most of the line drawings, collages, and photos in the book were created by Alicia. This makes it very personal. The story is approachable and would be helpful to teens wrestling with a similar tragedy. An afterimage is what Alicia’s mother sees for many months whenever she closes her eyes. She sees an outline form of Alicia. This is a real phenomenon and inspired the title of the book.

The writing is a little uneven and the narrator is strong so that there isn’t much change in voice between the many friends and family members. The story is told instead of the reader living it through the friends of Alicia. This distancing might be what keeps it from being too sad for readers.

The book is fiction because some of the accounts have been changed for the flow of the story. However, it reads as a true experience and there is an appendix and a photo of Alicia.


What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Write for a Reader: "This is a great book for young adults, because the loss of a classmate is so prevalent these days. We can not shield our children from death, as much as we’d like to, and grief is real, even in high school students." (read more...)

More Info:

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books (September 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600602428
• ISBN-13: 978-1600602429
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Hiromi's Hands: Supplemental Learning Resources

There are a number of directions you can go with Hiromi's Hands,the true story of one of the first female sushi chefs in the United States (see my review here). I pulled together a few web resources that teach more about Japanese culture.





Japanese Poetry:

• Haiku
• Tanka

Japanese History and Geography:

• Japan Past & Present
• Mapping Japan

Japanese Cuisine:

• Japanese Food & Etiquette (for 2ndGraders)
• Sushi and Sashimi Glossary
• Sushi Masters
• How to Make Sushi (I'm not brave enough to try, but you may be!)

Louis Sockalexis: Discussion Opportunities

Whether you're a parent, teacher, librarian, or anyone else who enjoys reading books with kids, Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer is a great book that will inspire discussion.
It can be a short conversation or can be expanded into more in-depth learning activities or lessons. Here are just a few ideas.

Baseball

• Discuss the sport and its most prominent figures, past and present
  
• Tell your child Jackie Robinson's story who faced similar issues as Louis Sockalexis
• Compare and contrast the game today to the game back then; in the book, there are many obvious differences, both in the text and illustrations
• Talk about your favorite team or players
• If you or your child plays baseball, discuss an important game you or he/she played

Native Americans

• Talk about the Native American culture, their traditions, and the pride they have in their land and people; why was it important for Louis's father to accept him? What impact did Louis's achievements have on his people?
• Discuss a Native American tribe in your area if applicable
• Visit a museum or exhibit that features Native American culture, art, people
  
• Talk about other famous Native Americans...in the past and present. How are they portrayed in the textbooks and culture?
  

Racism and Prejudice

• Louis was treated poorly because he was a Native American...talk to your child about how he/she felt about this and how they think Louis felt. Talk about his strength and determination.
  
• What other groups are victims of racism? Discuss the Civil Rights Movement and the Trail of Tears.
• Have they witnessed or experienced racism first-hand? Have you?
  
• How should you respond when someone makes a racist remark or joke? What should you do if someone is being treated unfairly?
  
• What is the difference between racism and prejudice? What groups are victims of prejudice?
  

Any other ideas?

Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer

This week's nonfiction choice

Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer

• Author: Bill Wise
• Illustrator: Bill Farnsworth
  
• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books (March 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584302690
• ISBN-13: 978-1584302698

The year is 1897, and Louis Sockalexis, a baseball player for the Cleveland Spiders is in New York getting ready to face Amos Rusie, the major league’s most formidable pitcher. Getting to this point was not an easy road for Louis, a member of the Native American Penobscot tribe in Maine. Confronted with callous racism and his own father’s disapproval, Louis’s passion for baseball prevent him from giving up his dream. Regarded by many as one of the best players in the league, this momentous game will change his life and the public’s view of him forever.

Bill Wise’s account of the first acknowledged Native American major league baseball player is nonfiction but reads like a story. We are taken back to Louis’s childhood when he plays his first baseball game and falls in love with the sport. We watch him grow into a man and a powerhouse slugger, and we witness the insults, the stinging words, and the prejudice he faced every day. As I was reading, I found myself feeling anger towards the people, empathy towards Louis, and great excitement as Louis stood at the plate. The sepia tones of Farnsworth’s illustrations take us back to the time period, but I hardly noticed the pictures as I was reading because I was so involved with the story. Much more than a book about baseball, Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer is a book about determination, hard work, adversity, and acceptance.

This would be a great pick for a baseball fan or someone who is interested in learning more about famous Native Americans. In addition, it’s a nice book to prompt discussion about prejudice and racism, but I’ll talk more about that tomorrow when discuss reading tips and discussion opportunities.