Incredible. Simply incredible.
Eucabeth A. Odhiambo, a professor at Shippensburg University has written and inspirational, heart-breaking, heart-melting, hard and important book telling the story of a 13-year old girl living in Kenya in the 1980s when the AIDS crisis was just beginning to take hold.
Dr. Odhiambo also an includes this link from the UN which can show you the progress that has been made and the important work that still needs to be done.
The winner. No matter what the committee says.
In my mind, not necessarily anyone else's mind, the Newbery should go to middle grade books, say 4th-8th grade, and Printz should be awarded to YA or high school level books, grades 9th-12th. High schoolers WILL NOT select and read a book with a thirteen year old protagonist unless the author happens to be Rick Riordan. So even without reading this book, I hope it gets considered by the Newbery folks, but not the Printz RealCommittee.
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