Shine

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I have been looking forward to reading Jodi Picoult's upcoming new novel "Small Great Things" and I was pleased to find this prequel to the book. "Shine" is not a long book but it was quite an interesting read and a great way to introduce some of the characters that will be in the new book. In "Shine" we meet a wonderful and unforgettable character, Ruth Brooks.

Ruth was a good student, the best reader in the class and loved astronomy. She was a good listener, a willing friend. They were studying about stars. The reason stars look so small in the night sky is because they’re so far away from us. I love Jodi Picoult for writing about topics that matter, issues that need to be focused on, and Shine was just what I always expect from her, a bunch of awesomeness. Soon she finds others look at her different. Some do not like her color. They are mean and mistreat her. All her hopes and dreams are soon shattered. Ruth happened to be on the outskirts of the universe. Thank you to the authors and Random House Kids for providing the #bookexpedition group an ARC of Shine! to read and share. Ruth Jefferson's Mama has been a long standing maid for a rich family in NYC. The family secures an enrolment in a prominent Upper East Side School for Ruth. She will attend with their daughter Christina whom Ruth has grown up and become friends with.Today is Ruth’s first day of third grade at Dalton. The prestigious institution on New York’s Upper East Side couldn’t be more different from her old school in Harlem. Despite being the smartest girl in her grade, Ruth suspects that her classmates and teachers only see her dark skin. She also notices that Christina, the daughter of her mother’s employer, treats Ruth very differently when they’re hanging out with the popular girls rather than playing together. Ruth must navigate between two worlds, never losing sight of the dreams she has for herself—in hopes that someday, someone will see her for who she really is.

Piper only has her father left now that her mother has passed away, and she learns how to make a family out of him. She learns to enjoy his company, because after all, he is her father, and he will always be there for her. As pa rents, we should never underestimate the power and influence classmates have on our children’s wellbeing, and the power the actions of our own children have on their friends. ‘Always be kind’ is indeed a great lesson for our youngsters; sharing these books with your child is a great way to develop that ethos. This ebook touches on race, friendship, and so much more. I highly recommend reading this and then reading Small Great Things. So dang good, and Jodi Picoult can seriously write. Christina and Ruth had been friends for a long time; however, this was something new. There would be no one who looked like her. How would Christina treat her around her friends? Erzählt wird die Geschichte aus der Sicht der achtjährigen Ruth, die in den späten Siebzigern auf eine neue Schule wechselt. Dabei fällt sie direkt auf, denn sie ist die einzige schwarze Schülerin an der Schule, was zur damaligen Zeit leider noch oftmals ein Problem darstellte. Dies bekommt Ruth auch zu spüren, denn obwohl sie sich sehr um Anschluss bemüht, wird sie oftmals nur von ihren Mitschülern abgewiesen.Auffällig ist hier wieder einmal, wie angenehm der Schreibstil von Jodi Picoult ist. Dieser liest sich nicht nur sehr leicht und flüssig, sondern besitzt auch eine gewisse Melancholie, die mir sehr gefällt. Die Dialoge sind gut ausgearbeitet und die Figuren sind gut ausgearbeitet, sodass man sie nicht nur ausreichend kennen lernt, sondern vor allem auch die kleine Ruth direkt ins Herz schließt. Die Erzählperspektive hat für mich leider gar nicht gut funktioniert. Ein Großteil der Geschichte wird aus Ruths Sicht, also der einer Drittklässlerin, erzählt. Dann wieder kommen eingeschobene Absätze, die eher wie von außen wirken und für die eigentlich kindliche Perspektive unpassend sind.

Raimy Greenland, Readaraptor. I adored this book, its so unique in its style and its voice and blends a second, strong narrative voice in so seamlessly that I cannot understand why anyone wouldn’t feel the same way ... The story is incredible. Read the Review. That was all it took. That chink in the foundation, that work of a question—for Ruth to peek behind the fancy wrapping of the story she’d created in her own mind. The justification, the wishful thinking—it swept away by the broom of doubt, like so much smoke. “ Dabei beschreibt die Autorin auf erschütternde Art und Weise aus Kindersicht, was Rassismus und Vorurteile bereits im Kindesalter anrichten können. Gleichzeitig macht die Autorin auch Lust auf mehr, denn "Das Mädchen mit den roten Schuhen" ist nur die Vorgeschichte zum Roman "Kleine große Schritte". Da Ruth in "Kleine große Schritte bereits erwachsen ist und auch da mit Rassismus zu kämpfen hat, bin ich sehr gespannt darauf, wie es Ruth im Laufe der Jahre ergangen ist. Our hope at Shine is that our books can help to normalise a range of SEN (special educational needs) conditions within society. Shine Books w ere created primarily for 3-8 year olds, but there is no set age limit! We are passionate about taking away the stigma that often comes with them, and we believe that educating children from a young age in this area can have a positive impact on acceptance and understanding across society.​​​​’Ms. Mina is her mama’s employer and Christina's mom. Ruth's mama is a housekeeper for the wealthy white family. They were a good family and helped her attain a full scholarship, but she had done the work, taken a test and done well. She was grateful for this incredible opportunity and wanted to make her mama proud. She wanted her to have a good education, so she could make something of herself. I read fast, and this book is for the middle grade audience, thus why it only took me a day. For younger readers, it would probably take a few days to a week to finish. There are a few heavy topics in this book, but nothing that children won’t understand. Philip Ardagh, The Guardian: “ Gourlay has created something very special here; a precious and important novel that also explores exile from neighbours, family and country. The book is about reinvention and the faces we present to the world, whether it be in person, on a postcard or on the internet, all wrapped up in an exciting and perfectly paced story with a disturbing and dramatic climax.” View

She learns early on (firsthand) she is in the middle of two universes. She does not want to be in Harlem as she does not fit in, as a light milky cream color and wants a better education. Nor does she fit in a white world at Dalton. Ruth is smart and wants to learn, unlike her sister, Rachel. She is even a much lighter color than her sister. Contemporary fans may like this one, particularly if you are interested in stories about racial differences.With Ruth’s Mama working for Ms Mina it meant that her daughter Christina and Ruth were friends, playing and spending time while Ruth’s Mama was working, then travelling home on their bus to Harlem. Eight and a half year old Ruth Brooks had left her old school in Harlem and was about to start school on a scholarship at Dalton in New York’s Upper East Side. She was both excited and nervous – Christina would be the only person she knew…