Author Carole Boston Weatherford Describes Her New Book Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre

02/01/21 • 4 min

Celebrated author Carole Boston Weatherford provides a powerful look at the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation's history. The book traces the history of African Americans in Tulsa's Greenwood district and chronicles the devastation that occurred in 1921 when a white mob attacked the Black community. News of what happened was largely suppressed, and no official investigation occurred for seventy-five years. This picture book sensitively introduces young readers to this tragedy and concludes with a call for a better future.

Learn more and download an educator's guide at www.lernerbooks.com/Unspeakable.

Music credits
"Farm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Author Interview: Ginger Garrett, author of Name Tags and Oher Sixth-Grade Disasters

Today I chat with Ginger Garrett, author of Name Tags and Other Sixth-Grade Disasters, about inspiration, bullying, and selfies, and how to start a teen writer's club in your school or library.

Twelve-year-old Lizbeth always has a plan, and those plans have usually worked—until now. No matter what she tries, she can't get rid of her dad's new girlfriend, Claire. And when she and her mom move, Lizbeth has to join a sixth-grade class already in progress, where her teacher makes her wear a name tag and she's seated with three notorious "weirdos."

When faced with mandatory participation in a school talent show, Lizbeth and the Weirdos decide to create self portraits. Reluctantly, Lizbeth finds herself becoming friends with people she thought she had nothing in common with—and coming to terms with the things she can't control.

Praise for Name Tags and Other Sixth-Grade Disasters

"Disasters averted in this realistic yet amusing take on sixth grade life."—Kirkus Reviews

"Fun, funny, and fully heartfelt. Everyone needs true-blue friends like Lizbeth's. SuperChicken for life." —Kristin L. Gray, author of The Amelia Six and Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge

"One of those books that explores difficult topics—divorce, a new school, being dubbed a "weirdo"—with grace and good humor." —Rebecca Petruck, author of Boy Bites Bug and Steering Toward Normal

"This hilarious and heartfelt gem is moving straight to my "favorites" shelf." —Lisa Lewis Tyre, author of Last in a Long Line of Rebels and Hope in the Holler

You can find Ginger online at her website, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and don't miss her resources on Pinterest.

Here's a link to the Google Classroom collection of selfies that we discussed, as well as the awesome Calculus Roundtable that Ginger is involved with.

Music credits

"Farm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Traci Sorell Reads From Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross Cherokee Aerospace Engineer

Mary Golda Ross designed classified airplanes and spacecraft as Lockheed Aircraft Corporation's first female engineer. Find out how her passion for math and the Cherokee values she was raised with shaped her life and work.

Cherokee author Traci Sorell and Métis illustrator Natasha Donovan trace Ross's journey from being the only girl in a high school math class to becoming a teacher to pursuing an engineering degree, joining the top-secret Skunk Works division of Lockheed, and being a mentor for Native Americans and young women interested in engineering. In addition, the narrative highlights Cherokee values including education, working cooperatively, remaining humble, and helping ensure equal opportunity and education for all.

Learn more, read an excerpt, and download a free teaching guide at www.lernerbooks.com.

Music credits
"Farm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/