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2020 John Newbery Medal Awards
By Kristen · 28 posts · 271 views
By Kristen · 28 posts · 271 views
last updated Mar 28, 2021 06:44AM
Final Round - 2020 Mock Newbery Award
By Kristen · 85 posts · 307 views
By Kristen · 85 posts · 307 views
last updated Feb 05, 2020 12:39PM
What Members Thought
2020 Newbery honor, my committee year!
The titular Genesis is a wonderful, flawed, thoughtful 13-year-old and this story is special because of her. I really liked the discussions about colorism - I've read plenty of middle grade books about racism point blank, but not as many about the intricacies of colorism in black families and communities. Williams writes adult characters that are also very three-dimensional: a father who continues to mess up, a mother who is Genesis's rock, a grandmother who has questionable beliefs, and a lovel
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Genesis Begins Again is a 2020 Newbery Honor book, and because it has a relatable main character with real problems but hope for the future, I think it well deserves that award.
During the time I was reading this middle grade novel, I received a Anti-Racism Daily newsletter on the topic of colorism. Defined as “the differential treatment based on skin color, especially favoritism toward those with a lighter skin tone and mistreatment or exclusion of those with a darker skin tone, typically among ...more
During the time I was reading this middle grade novel, I received a Anti-Racism Daily newsletter on the topic of colorism. Defined as “the differential treatment based on skin color, especially favoritism toward those with a lighter skin tone and mistreatment or exclusion of those with a darker skin tone, typically among ...more
13-year-old Genesis despises her dark skin and kinky hair. So much so that she actually keeps a list of things she hates about herself that currently has 96 things on is. So much so that she tries everything she can think of to lighten her skin like her mother's. It doesn't help that her alcoholic father can't hold down a job and keeps gambling away their rent money so the family is constantly having to move. Genesis loves her dad, but hates him at the same time. And she is also frustrated with
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A powerful story of not feeling right in your skin and finally finding your own voice.
Race, identity, music, addiction. This upper middle-grade novel intertwines these concepts as Genesis and her family get evicted (again) and she starts a new school (again). Genesis is filled with self-loathing. She wonders with every choice she makes if this will be the person she will be able to call "friend" or if this is the moment when her father will be able to see her and love her. She wonders when she will be beautiful enough to love herself.
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