5 Steps to a 5 makes great AP Prep books. The Spanish Language edition contains advice, strategies, a pretest, practice tests and a great review of te5 Steps to a 5 makes great AP Prep books. The Spanish Language edition contains advice, strategies, a pretest, practice tests and a great review of test answers. It has an MP3 download for listening and speaking practice too. A quality product to get you to a 5!
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5 Steps to a 5 makes great AP Prep books. The Spanish Language edition contains advice, strategies, a pretest, practice tests and a great review of test answers. It has an MP3 download for listening and speaking practice too. A quality product to get you to a 5!...more
Great picture book introducing kids to the idea of voting. Shows a diversity of people and kids actively getting their parents to vote. Pleasant and iGreat picture book introducing kids to the idea of voting. Shows a diversity of people and kids actively getting their parents to vote. Pleasant and important. My only caveat is that it does stress that only American citizens can vote. I worry that immigrant and refugee parents might vote by mistake. ...more
A Detailed Story About How the Republican Party Became Trump
This is the story about how the Republican Party went with Trump. It had to do with a reluA Detailed Story About How the Republican Party Became Trump
This is the story about how the Republican Party went with Trump. It had to do with a reluctant party who felt they needed to move towards minorities to grow and Trump who cared nothing for that and went towards racists and white supremacy groups. And they liked it. ...more
Great book about how the world is fit together, human and animal, plant and mineral. It takes us back and forth from the past, present and funeral. ThGreat book about how the world is fit together, human and animal, plant and mineral. It takes us back and forth from the past, present and funeral. The illustrations are beautiful. ...more
Beautifully illustrated book about a soup called Freedom Soup. A Haitian soup that used to be made by slaves who were banned from eating it. The book Beautifully illustrated book about a soup called Freedom Soup. A Haitian soup that used to be made by slaves who were banned from eating it. The book talks about grandma making the soup at New Year’s, and tells the story of the soup and the Haitian people. Very well told, appropriate read for younger people. ...more
A fun fast paced overview of lives of women in English colonies, and United States. I’m not sure if the history will stick but it’s a fun read. I’ve aA fun fast paced overview of lives of women in English colonies, and United States. I’m not sure if the history will stick but it’s a fun read. I’ve always been a fan if Gail Collins. I enjoyed reading it a lot. It’s chocked full of facts and stories. ...more
I liked this book quite a bit. It doesn’t reveal anything new, nor does it shock or surprise. But it is well thought out and well written plea to stopI liked this book quite a bit. It doesn’t reveal anything new, nor does it shock or surprise. But it is well thought out and well written plea to stop Trump and restore democracy before it ends forever. The author also provides an example of the Athens democracy died when a demagogue politician made a speech urging Athens to take revenge on an ally who had defected to Sparta by killing the men and enslaving the women and children. Ultimately Athens citizens split the vote 50/50. The side that wanted peace eventually won but the populace who wanted violence became a powerful force in Athenian politics. The author points out 16 years later, Aristotle was forced to commit suicide by this violent faction as they continually degraded society. A very good example on how Trump and before, the GOP Congress, Tea Party and other increasingly right wing groups. I doubt that this author will be able to effect change with this book, I thought it was one of the best written about the Trump Administration. ...more
Moving anthology of stories presented by Malala (including her own story). All female accounts from across the world telling readers about their plighMoving anthology of stories presented by Malala (including her own story). All female accounts from across the world telling readers about their plight. Some are resettled in new countries, some are still in refugee camps. One woman is an American who talks about resetting refugees. I was shocked most by her story because it is the position I am in. She describes putting them in a house that clearly wouldn’t pass building codes and would be barred from habitation. The refugee resettlement organization found this house, clearly a violation of ousting codes. The girl also describes a school that barred students from entering at 18. You can admit up to 21. And the American mother mentions an English “tutor” not a certified ESOL teacher. Huh? Seems like there are some laws that need to be enforced in PA. ...more
An essay on promoting social infrastructure to help fight inequality, polarization and the decline of civic life. The author Eric Klinenberg suggests An essay on promoting social infrastructure to help fight inequality, polarization and the decline of civic life. The author Eric Klinenberg suggests opening up libraries, schools, universities and parks to the local people in general in order to promote a better life. I agree with his ideas on libraries the most. Access to a library is the best indicator of literacy in society. Access to books and free choice is important. Schools as a place to gather is wonderful too but I think the author minimizes why school access has so many barriers. It didn’t happen that schools militarized and denied access first but violence and weapons happened first and schools had to limit access and make sure weapons weren’t on campus. Schools can only open up once the community surrounding it is safe. Safe spaces need to be developed as is a more equal society. People have to have feast air, water and land to live on and money to survive on. Colleges and universities do need to be available to the community but often it’s the communities that have changed over time and many colleges are located in now dangerous urban areas. Again, investment in infrastructure would help. The author mentions MOOCs but they have been shown to be little used and unmotivating in general. It is probably important to learn in a human community, not online. The care for older people is very important in many developed countries, good methods are yet to be invented. Parks and pools are important. Community organizations that help are necessary when emergencies occur. The final chapter on San Francisco and the tech companies urban development is very important to discuss. As is homelessness everywhere in the USA. Cities trying to lure people with money back have shut out the poor already there and they have no housing. Mark Zuckerberg who acted like he cared about equality and democracy has shown he doesn’t. And since this book was written has done worse. So I would say that the author has a lot to discuss and started a conversation worth having. ...more
This is an essay by Kwame Anthony Appiah. His parents are Ewe from Ghana and immigrated to Great Britain. He looks at how human beings identify themseThis is an essay by Kwame Anthony Appiah. His parents are Ewe from Ghana and immigrated to Great Britain. He looks at how human beings identify themselves by identity starting with himself. Do his family identify as Ewe first? Who are the other people who were around them in Ghana. Do they identify as Ghanaian? As British? Does he identify as British? Do others accept him as a British man? This is a interesting look at identity. Is very much like a lecture at a university but he is a professor. An interesting look. ...more
Excellent anthology of great women over time. From the 19,20and 21 centuries. Hillary and Chelsea Clinton are very good writers and their list of womeExcellent anthology of great women over time. From the 19,20and 21 centuries. Hillary and Chelsea Clinton are very good writers and their list of women who had “guts” is very extensive and well worth reading. A very important read. Very enjoyable too!...more
Ms. Snyder tells the tales of several victims of domestic violence and they are terrible. But the most alarming story she tells is about how many caseMs. Snyder tells the tales of several victims of domestic violence and they are terrible. But the most alarming story she tells is about how many cases of domestic violence aren’t included in reported statistics. Murder- suicide and incidents of entire or most family members killed aren’t considered as domestic violence. That’s crazy. Many states have very few laws about domestic violence, they are recent and poorly enforced. It’s clear that the patriarchy are making the laws and it’s primarily to protect themselves. Men, who commit most of the crimes are protected throughout. Women when faced with men who violate orders of protection or stand down in the face of prosecution, for survival, not because they are crazy or inconsistent. The women look at how little protection they are likely to get from authorities and choose to appease the man. Kids are often used as bargaining chips because it is very difficult to sever custody rights. Recently, I was in the ER with a woman in my same pod who was in a neck brace. A man came in looking normal and concerned as any family member would. She just looked at him with shock. I thought I heard him say don’t tell anyone I asked if there was a problem and got the attention of a nurse. This man had been able to get to the patient area with no problem. A social worker came in to see if the woman needed support after she was released (she didn’t even get treated yet) and the woman told a horror story of being stalked and beaten with authorities arresting the guy and letting him out later. She even had her kids live elsewhere because of the danger. This is what this book deals with, the terror that women and children live in while violent men are able to get off. She brings to light the problems with domestic violence even if obvious solutions aren’t being dealt with. ...more
The author is Noam Chomsky’s daughter, Aviva. She is a PhD Historian and specializes in Latin American Studies at Salem State University in MA. I his The author is Noam Chomsky’s daughter, Aviva. She is a PhD Historian and specializes in Latin American Studies at Salem State University in MA. I his book was published and n 2014 so Trump isn’t mentioned. She discusses how Mexicans and Latinos often had easy access to the USA as cheap labor but often denied rights. The 1965 law that created quotas helped other immigrants but drastically cut the number of Latinos coming here. Essentially making them illegal. The 1986 law to give many citizenship, causes more Latinos to be illegal and made working here illegal. This has snowballed into a serious crisis for Latinos. They are charged with a crime coming here but have to come for work and safety. US policies in Latin America also causes problems. The whole system is unjust to people in need and this was before Trump. Awful. ...more
The author details a number of people whose lives have been wrecked by the criminal justice system in different ways. Excessive bail, wrongfully conviThe author details a number of people whose lives have been wrecked by the criminal justice system in different ways. Excessive bail, wrongfully convicted and treatment in different ways. The topic is very interesting and I’ve listened to the author’s podcast and interviews on NPR. My problem is that the book isn’t written in a way that held my interest and struggled to read it through. I did but it was a chore. ...more
Another book that brought me to tears. A boy and a community get together to repair his grandmother’s house. Close to home. My students are always dreAnother book that brought me to tears. A boy and a community get together to repair his grandmother’s house. Close to home. My students are always dreaming of owning a house. One warned me if I went there I would only find an apartment. Another often tells me stories about getting a house then recants. ...more
Touching picture book about nature, the world, people, and the universe. Basically introducing a child to his/her world in a very beautiful way. Can’tTouching picture book about nature, the world, people, and the universe. Basically introducing a child to his/her world in a very beautiful way. Can’t wait to read this to kids. ...more
A disturbing and timely book about climate change and the history of American exploitation of California. The Spanish then the Mexicans enslaved the NA disturbing and timely book about climate change and the history of American exploitation of California. The Spanish then the Mexicans enslaved the Native Americans but Sutter and American settlers brought money and technology to a whole new level when they arrived. One of Sutter’s men did discover a small nougat of gold and was overheard trying to verify it with a mining specialist in town. The rush of miners and people searching for gold brought about the dissemination of the natives who were virtually wiped out, but the mining tactics of miners for gold, ruined the land for many farmers and ranchers. The lack of water in CA grew worse and much was mixed with salt and pollution. Some good water was merely run into the sea. As farming and ranching became popular, more water needed to be brought from other places to be used and crops that ruined soil or too much water were used. In the current times, farmers and ranchers, who are huge corporations, take water from communities and retain water rights to 80% of CA’s water legally. Cities are given 20%. But small farmers and ranchers and small towns, often occupied by Mexican Americans or African Americans, have no rights at all. Most are run out of the area due to lack of water. A stunning and disturbing tale of greedy corporate men who will run off the poor and endanger species of animals and plants to get more money. They are everything as an impediment to get what they want. Denying climate change as it happens around them is a familiar tactic. I was surprised at how absorbed I was in the book. ...more
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