"His friends and family were right.
The food in America was strange.
The music was new, and, perhaps like you, he enjoyed it.
But Joe still missed Sierra Leone."
An homage to people who immigrate to a new, and often unfamiliar, country, this book introduces readers to Joe. His home country is Sierra Leone where he lived with family and friends, and was happy. But Joe had a dream and ideas for a better life. He was determined to make his way to America.
His community and parents told him it would be a tough life. People would be afraid of his dark skin and his speech. Joe was full of hope and determination, offering his own take on the move: "Watch me." He discovered that their warnings were true. While he loved his life in America, he yearned for his home.
"It hurt Joe to be hated for things
he couldn't control. Just like it hurts
you. Maybe going back home to Africa
was the safe and easy thing to do."
Safe and easy did not describe Joe. He stayed. It is at this point that the author encourages his readers to look around and really see people just like Joe. He pens pertinent and probing questions about their lives, their strengths, their treatment by others. To take the time to watch and see who they really are. He suggests that there is enough room for everyone.
After that brief pause for thinking, he continues with Joe's story. His life was not easy, always having to prove himself capable of meeting his goals and fulfilling his dreams. Joe became a doctor. The author has first hand knowledge of that, because Joe was his dad.
Watch closely and see others do what Dr. Joe did.
Joe Cepeda's warm, sunlit acrylic illustrations offer an openness that matches the text wonderfully well.
No comments:
Post a Comment