ReedALOUD: Lucky Broken Girl

For the past two months a few of my students have been reading and passing along an advanced reader copy of Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar. I am excited to see that students love this book. I am incredibly impressed and think there will be many conversations around this book with its themes of immigration, assimilation, friendship, love, and, of course, overcoming adversity.

"Ruthie Mizrahi and her family recently emigrated from Castro’s Cuba to New York City. Just when she’s finally beginning to gain confidence in her mastery of English—and enjoying her reign as her neighborhood’s hopscotch queen—a horrific car accident leaves her in a body cast and confined her to her bed for a long recovery. As Ruthie’s world shrinks because of her inability to move, her powers of observation and her heart grow larger and she comes to understand how fragile life is, how vulnerable we all are as human beings, and how friends, neighbors, and the power of the arts can sweeten even the worst of times."

One of the cool things about getting an Advanced Reader Copy of a book is the fun of putting it in students hands in a way that differs from a published book that is part of the collection. First, they know that it is not yet published and are privileged to read it and therefore more excited than usual. Second, the students' feedback helps me book talk the book once it is in the collection. Third, and probably coolest, they can treat this book differently, like they can even write in it. I don't do this with all advanced reader copies, but this time, I asked the students to comment and ask questions in the margins while reading the book. I also asked them to write a brief reaction to the book in the back. 

The book is out "traveling" at the moment, but I have some early reactions from the first readers.

What follows are some comments and questions while reading. I plan to bring these early readers together to talk about the book. Given what I am reading, I am looking forward to that conversation.

This student is absolutely correct!