Kirjahaku

Many saw the 2008 election of Barack Obama as a sign that America had moved past the issue of race, that a colorblind society was finally within reach. But as Marianne Modica reveals in Race Among Friends, attempts to be colorblind do not end racism—in fact, ignoring race increases the likelihood that racism will occur in our schools and in society.This intriguing volume focuses on a “racially friendly” suburban charter school called Excellence Academy, highlighting the ways that students and teachers think about race and act out racial identity. Modica finds that even in an environment where students of all racial backgrounds work and play together harmoniously, race affects the daily experiences of students and teachers in profound but unexamined ways. Some teachers, she notes, feared that talking about race in the classroom would open them to charges of racism, so they avoided the topic. And rather than generate honest and constructive conversations about race, student friendships opened the door for insensitive racial comments by whites, resentment and silence by blacks, and racially biased administrative practices. In the end, the school’s friendly environment did not promote—and may have hindered—serious discussion of race and racial inequity.The desire to ignore race in favor of a “colorblind society,” Modica writes, has become an entrenched part of American culture. But as Race Among Friends shows, when race becomes a taboo subject, it has serious ramifications for students and teachers of all ethnic origins.

Many saw the 2008 election of Barack Obama as a sign that America had moved past the issue of race, that a colorblind society was finally within reach. But as Marianne Modica reveals in Race Among Friends, attempts to be colorblind do not end racism—in fact, ignoring race increases the likelihood that racism will occur in our schools and in society.This intriguing volume focuses on a “racially friendly” suburban charter school called Excellence Academy, highlighting the ways that students and teachers think about race and act out racial identity. Modica finds that even in an environment where students of all racial backgrounds work and play together harmoniously, race affects the daily experiences of students and teachers in profound but unexamined ways. Some teachers, she notes, feared that talking about race in the classroom would open them to charges of racism, so they avoided the topic. And rather than generate honest and constructive conversations about race, student friendships opened the door for insensitive racial comments by whites, resentment and silence by blacks, and racially biased administrative practices. In the end, the school’s friendly environment did not promote—and may have hindered—serious discussion of race and racial inequity.The desire to ignore race in favor of a “colorblind society,” Modica writes, has become an entrenched part of American culture. But as Race Among Friends shows, when race becomes a taboo subject, it has serious ramifications for students and teachers of all ethnic origins.

Imagine a world where a nationalistic distortion of Christianity has become the state religion. Imagine a world that divides people into two groups: those who are "Committed" to the state religion, and those who remain "Uncommitted," refusing to pledge their loyalty to the oppressive religious sect. Welcome to Wylie's world. Wylie, an Uncommitted teen, lives as a second-class citizen in a late twenty-first century reality where adherence to the state religion is everything. One day, forgotten recordings from a long-past college theology class invade Wylie's life and set her on a journey toward the miraculous. When Wylie connects with true-believer Abby through a virtual holo-story, past and present flow together in unexpected ways. Join Wylie on her adventure in this cautionary tale for believers who hope for a better way.

Imagine a world where a nationalistic distortion of Christianity has become the state religion. Imagine a world that divides people into two groups: those who are "Committed" to the state religion, and those who remain "Uncommitted," refusing to pledge their loyalty to the oppressive religious sect. Welcome to Wylie's world. Wylie, an Uncommitted teen, lives as a second-class citizen in a late twenty-first century reality where adherence to the state religion is everything. One day, forgotten recordings from a long-past college theology class invade Wylie's life and set her on a journey toward the miraculous. When Wylie connects with true-believer Abby through a virtual holo-story, past and present flow together in unexpected ways. Join Wylie on her adventure in this cautionary tale for believers who hope for a better way.

Mom is behaving strangely-even for her, Will realizes, and the inquisitive teen can't rest until he discovers why. So begins a time travel adventure for Will and his sister, Halia-adventure Will has longed for but never thought possible, and that Hal would rather avoid. With the help of their next-door-neighbor and an unlikely feline ally (their cat, Chester), Will and Hal discover that their perpetually sunny mom is traveling back in time to relive her children's younger days and correct what she thinks has gone wrong in their lives. Even more incredibly, they find that Mom received the time travel technology from two aliens named Fost and Tuley. When a secret trip to the past goes awry, the teens discover that an unknown, malevolent actor is tampering with the timeline to corrupt the eco-friendly, technologically advanced future and that, unbeknownst to her, Will's mom has been given time travel to correct the events that will lead to those aberrations. After a series of plot twists involving a betrayal, altered DNA, role reversals, and memory wipes, Hal and Will find that their choices will help decide the path of the planet for centuries to come. Should they and their friends join the battle? Should they risk their safe, comfy today to fight for a better, greener tomorrow? Or should they be content in the security of the present and let the future take care of itself? How will the choices of a few regular kids (and their not-so-regular cat) affect the planet for ages to come?

Life couldn't be better for ten-year-old Ryan King. He spends his days playing video games, riding his bike, or snuggled close to his dad as they follow the adventures of their favorite comic book superheroes, the Inhumans. Then one day Dad gets a troubling phone call and nothing will ever be the same. Ryan finds himself in a new home and a new school, with new friends and a new foe, and with only his imaginary superheroes to help him. But who will come to his rescue when real-life bullies threaten? Where is Dad when Ryan needs him most? King Me is the story of a young boy who learns to use the superpower of his voice to help himself and those he loves.

The R Word is a thoughtful story of a white girl's self-discovery as she begins to think about race and race relations for the first time. Rachel Matrone has led a sheltered life, unaware of the racial tensions that surround her. She knows her family loves her, but maybe they love her too much. When Rachel steps out of her social comfort zone she realizes her world is not the fair, just place she'd always assumed it to be. What will Rachel do with her new discoveries? How will she hold on to her new relationships without losing her family?