In 2017, Sheela Chari, a 2012 finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Book, had her second YA book, Finding Mighty, was published by Amulet Books. I was fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to review this book for this years Multicultural Children’s Book Day. The mission of MCBD is “is to not only raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity, but to get more of these books into classrooms and libraries.” I could not agree more- our books need to have characters and plots that represent all of us.
With Finding Mighty, we have not only a book that has adventure, drama, and mystery, but also a diversity that has been missing for years. The story grabs you right from the start! As with all great books, you have a hard time putting down the book because the story makes you feel like you are right there next to these interesting characters. Myla, an Indian-American Girl, and Peter, an African-American boy are the main characters in the Book. They talk about fitting in and being the only people with dark skin in their classes. It is great to hear this discussion and I find it refreshing as it gives the reader a perspective that some of us may not have had. This empathy we feel for others may give us a deeper understanding of a little bit of what they are going through is always important for others to feel.
The location of the story is New York City and in lower Westchester county. Exciting moments of the story happen where subway train tracks, and the ancient Aquaduct water system, historic houses, and more join together to help tell the story. It makes for an interesting backdrop to a delightful mystery that is told in an exciting and captivating way.
As their stories begin to intertwine, the reader is drawn in like the third member of the crew. You are right there with them through all the exciting and daring moments of the story. The author uses an interesting device of having both the characters become the main voice alternating who’s perspective the story is filtered through. It’s interesting to imagine how different parts of the story would be told were the main voice of the chapter be switched from Myla to Peter, or vice-versa.
This book is absolutely appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students. There is one mention of someone selling dope, which I thought was a little too much for young readers and although it may be what kids are hearing and seeing all across America, it still felt a little unnecessary.
Overall, this is a great book that I highly recommend giving it a read! Dig it!
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 (1/28/22) is in its 9th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.
MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission & History HERE.
MCBD 2022 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!
SUPER PLATINUM: Make A Way Media
PLATINUM: Language Lizard
GOLD: Barefoot Books, KidLitTV, Candlewick, Capstone, Abrams Books
SILVER: Pack-n-Go Girls, Charlotte Riggle, Kimberly Gordon Biddle
BRONZE: Carole P. Roman, Patrice McLaurin, Dyesha and Triesha McCants/McCants Squared, Redfin.com, Redfin Canada, Redfin Mortgage, Redfin/Title Forward, Create & Educate, Star Bright Books, Vivian Kirkfield, Dr. Eleanor Wint, Kind World Publishing, Snowflake Stories, Lisa Wee, SONGJU MA, Melissa Stoller, J.C. Kato and J.C.², Crystel Patterson, Audrey Press, Pragmaticmom, TimTimTom, Wisdom Tales
MCBD 2022 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!
Charlene Mosley (official MCBD2022 Poster Creator)
Illustrator Isabelle Roxas (Class Kit Poster Creator)
Alva Sachs, Brianna Carter, Ebony Zay Zay, Rita Bhandari, Gwen Jackson, Lois Petren/The 5 Enchanted Mermaids, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Josh Funk, Afsaneh Moradian, Eugenia Chu, Maritza Martínez Mejía, Diana Huang, Kathleen Burkinshaw, CultureGroove, Sandra Elaine Scott, Dorena Williamson, Veronica Appleton, Alejandra Domenzain, Lauren Muskovitz and Sandfish Publishing, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Kimberly Lee, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher, Nancy Tupper Ling, Winsome Hudson-Bingham, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Sivan Hong, Michael Genhart, Debbie Dadey, Elizabeth Cureton, Stephanie Wildman, Maryann Jacob, Sherri Maret, Rochelle Melander, Dia Mixon, Kiyanda and Benjamin Young, Shereen Rahming, Linda Thornburg and Katherine Archer, Rebecca Flansburg and BA Norrgard , Maxine Schur Natalie McDonald-Perkins
MCBD 2022 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!
MCBD 2022 is Honored to be Supported by these Media Partners!
Check out MCBD’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!
FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day
Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
FREE Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Raising Awareness on Systemic Racism in America Classroom Kit
FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program
Join us on Friday, Jan 29, 2021, at 9 pm EST for the 8th annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day Twitter Party! Be sure and follow MCBD and Make A Way Media on Twitter!
This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.
We will be giving away an 8-Book Bundle every 5 minutes plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **
Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. See you all very soon on Twitter!
Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with us on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.