Research in a Local Bookstore- Barnes & Noble Bethesda

Liberty Porter, first Daughter NEW GIRL IN TOWN by Julia Devillers

Along the River (A Chinese Cinderella novel) by Adeline Yen Mah

Keena Ford and the Field Trip Mixup by Melissa Thomson

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell

Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

In the Young Readers' Section I have noticed that the most diverse range of books are the Newbery Award Winners Novels and in the New Young Release section, although, in their Local Favorites section there weren't many diverse books; only around one or two books were categorized as 'diverse' . Through my observation it seems to be like this because some novels are historically important for readers to be familiarized of what happened in the past. Last week I briefly visited the Barnes & Noble in Rockville last weekend and I noticed that in their Local Favorites section there were books based on different cultures and race. Many areas in Montgomery County are Multiculturally diverse but I believe that areas like Bethesda and Friendship heights it's difficult to look for that highlight issues such as racism or sexism in the Local Favorites Section. In the Children's Section it is a little racially diverse than that young reader's section. The Children's section seems to be sending out a message that everyone is different and each person has their story to tell. There were books that most races can relate to. On the other hand, children's books appear to emphasize on 'sexism'. There were books like What to doodle? GIRL STUFF!, The Girls' Doodle Book and The Boys' Doodle Book.

Also, I want to add something I noticed while sitting on the benches while doing this assignment. There was a boy, approximately 3 ~ 4 years old, playing with toys and not playing fairly with the other boys, so the mother tells him that the'll have to leave if he continues to be impolite. Finally, on the last straw she says "Okay, not that's enough, ets go over there and I'll read you books." Then he gets up and runs over and grabs Tangled (Rumpelstiltskin) and Princess Barbie. his mother immediately says "Sweetie, the Thomas [the train] books aren't here, it's over there." He then knocks over all the books on that shelf and the mother responses in a agitated tone, "Okay, now honey lets pick up these books and go over the Thomas books, okay?" Then they left. It was interesting to see this. I have no idea how to form my question though, it was as if the parent was guiding her son to be more like a 'boy' than being 'girly' ~ So in class should we be gender bias and indirectly drive the students in the direction that society accepts?

Post ideas regarding Critical Analysis Podcast assignment

I narrowed down my focus to racism. This is the issue that has been constantly brought up. So listening to podcasts of different books and opinions about it would certainly be intriguing. Even as adults, we could learn from another's point of view on the issue or how he or she perceives the book.

I was thinking about the children's book Red or Blue, I Like You! a Sesame Street storybook featuring Elmo. It primarily talks about race and their differences and similarities. Elmo meets a new friend named Angela, who is a blue-monster. Elmo goes over to Angela's house located in an all blue-monster community. There are many things they are surprised about Elmo. One of those things, they thought it's interesting that Elmo likes the same kind of food as them. When Angela goes over Elmo's house a similar situation arises but in Elmo's family not everyone is red, there are members of the family who come in several colors. Elmo's aunt offers Angela to make spaghetti for dinner, but to his aunt's surprise, Angela says that she likes chicken and salad like everyone else in the house. Angela also meets Elmo's friends who are green monsters, blue monsters and big yellow birds. That day she played with all of them, enjoyed it so much and eager to return to Sesame Street.

Using this book, I would bring up questions about what I would discuss with the class after reading the book. I feel like this is such a great book to discuss with children around the ages between 4 to 7 year olds. I would talk about why this book should be exposed to children at such a young age and how talking about racism will affect them.

Quotable Quotes

"Hush, baby," [...] could not remember where she was, remembered that he mother had not called her baby for a long time.

I felt that this is significant because it implies an identity that she once had and miss. At the same time reminisces of the good, heart-felt, memories of the past. Everyone has these moments some point in their life. Some children feel special because you're either their (parents) favorite and only child or out of your siblings your parents can point out something uniquely different from your other siblings. Also you are the only important person in their (parents) lives at that moment. As a child you would feel this special bond.

"The thing that he loved most about American, he once confided to the boy, was the glazed jelly donut. Can't be beat."


I chose this quote in the book, even though it's insignificant within what the book is about as a whole. However I wanted to mention that this quote is a quotable quote. I definitely heard this saying so many times. Well, it wasn't exactly said like this but I have heard many people say something like "nothing can beat a glazed jelly donut". When hearing this repeatedly I would always

"The boy. The girl. Their mother."


I've notice that throughout the book that the protagonists names weren't mentioned. It's like they didn't have an identity of some sort. It was sort of frustrating.

Positioning and Being Positioned

Hello, my names are:
Jee-eun, Jee-eun nuna, Jee, JK/Crajee, G-g-g-geeee-unit

Jee-eun Kim or in Korean 김지은- either spelling it's pronounced the same way. This is my full given name. Many people mistakingly think that "eun" is my middle name because there is a dash but "eun" isn't my middle name it's part of my first name. I love my name because it brings uniqueness for my personality. When people first see my name, they misjudge me as a F.O.B. <fresh off the boat, but to put it into modern terms some people say "fresh off the plane"> (some, not all, Asian-American-born or those who weren't born in the states but grew up an a very age, takes this to offense). Though in reality, I'm a American-Korean who doesn't have an english name and who can't speak and understand Korean very well. People tend to find that very strange and usually asks me why I don't have an english name. Well, why is that I have to have one? I like my name, why should I change it? My name defines my ancestral culture, defines my identity as a South Korean and defines my unique background. My grandfather gave me this name. The first part of my name "Jee" means 'significance' - hope and the second part "eun" means hill. So when you put them together, my name means "to have and provide a vision and hope to other people and stand firm in your life." In addition, my last name means "gold" in other words "precious". Pretty unique, right?

Jee-eun nuna- This name is used by my younger brothers and any boys who are younger than me. "Nuna" (can be spelled in many ways) means older sister in the form for boys to use to older sisters. There are different names between younger brother to older brother, younger sister to older sister, younger sister to older brother, etc. It's like a sign of respect for those who are older than you.

Jee- This is the name was first used by my volleyball teammates all throughout high school because it was easier to say while playing on the court because people often butcher my real name. Then later, towards end the end of high school going to new classes, a lot of the teachers really liked to learn how to pronounce my name but I got tired of it and ended up just introducing myself as Jee. So, to this day I still introduce myself as Jee so my peers and professor can easily remember my name and I don't have to hassle with the pronunciation. Though surprisingly coming to college I've never met so many people who can pronounce my name perfectly first time around!

JK/Crajee- These names are used from time to time when my closest friends are just playing around. When we were kids they found it amusing that my initials were "J.K." because in the texting/instant messaging world it also means "just kidding." The name "Crajee" pretty much sums up my personality, my closest friends say that I tend to be random and crazy (in a good way) and that I'm fun to be with. Interestingly, when you say the word "crazy" with a Korean accent it comes out to "Crajee" haha!

G-g-g-geeee unit- This was my nickname from 8th grade thru end of 2nd quarter of 10th grade. It was difficult for many people to say the second part of my name so some of my guy friends came up with this nickname. It was annoying at first but then got used to it.

Hello, my names are not:

Jzhe-un, Kim, Tee-une, Ji-eun

Jzhe-un- I had many people mispronounce my name before but just close enough to how it sounds like but I've never had anyone pronounce it as, as if it is a french name... yes, at some point in my life someone did pronounce my name as if it's a french name.

Kim- My first name is NOT KIM! It just irritates me.

"Tee"-un- I just don't understand how some people think that my name is spelled like this. I really don't understand. The first part of my name clearly sounds like the letter "G". Where did the "T" come from???

Ji-eun- I like my three "e"s in a row. My name is pronounced as "jeee" as in Jeep not "Ji"as in Jill -- Sounds too short. This is the most irritable spelling of all.