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My Heart Will Not Sit Down (2012)

by Mara Rockliff(Favorite Author)

3.97 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0375845690 (ISBN13: 9780375845697)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Knopf Books for Young Readers

review 1: This one tugged at my heart, more than I expected it to. Kedi lives in Cameroon and her teacher is from America. He tells them about the Great Depression that is making people go hungry in his homeland. Although America is far away "across the great salt river", Kedi feels compassion for the hungry children and her heart will not sit down. She finds a way to raise money in her small village, a village where money is scarce, to send to those in need in the United States. The author's note at the end is what really got me. Rockliff writes about the worldwide experience of compassion: children in Guatemala collecting cans to raise money when they hear about the hungry children in Malawi, the Papua New Guinea islanders sharing food with the American Peace Corps volunteers. Pai... morer this with "14 Cows for America" by Carmen Agra Deedy and talk about ways the global community can care for each other.
review 2: Based on a true story, this lovely picture book is set in Cameroon, Africa, in the early 1930s. A missionary teacher in Africa has told his students there about the hardships Americans--across the great salt river--are facing. Kedi's "heart will not sit down," because she's so troubled by the tales her teacher tells. Despite their own hard lives and poverty and initial resistance, Kedi and the people of her village donate what they can to send to America to help.This book grew on me with repeated readings. It's not sappy, but it's really heartwarming. To see this story of impoverished people reaching out to help America--it's got so many wonderful twists and messages--but isn't didactic. Americans need help, too. You don't have to be rich to make a difference in other people's lives. Generosity makes your heart feel good. (And so does this book.) less

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