Published: No Matter What I Should Be Myself Fully: An Anthology by Passages' Students at Belmont

Congratulations to our student authors just published by 826NYC in the anthology No Matter What I Should Be Myself Fully.  Out this week and available exclusively at Passages, this volume collects writing crafted with the gifted teaching artist Jaydra Johnson in February as part of our Frederick Douglass interdisciplinary project.  Participants read about Douglass' life in Bolden's biography, then read excerpts from Douglass' autobiography, and finally drafted their own pieces of memoir and poetry to share with the world. --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin: Civil Rights Heroes by Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Shauna Grant

You probably know who Rosa Parks was, and it’s likely you’ve also heard of Claudette Colvin.  But did  you know the two women knew each other?  And do you know what teenager Colvin was up to during the time of the 1955-56 Montgomery Bus Boycott?  

In this double biography of the two civil rights figures author Baptiste and illustrator Grant give readers the missing pieces needed to better understand the events of the Montgomery Bus Boycott,  and the brave actions of Parks and Claudette,  all done in comic book format.

Adolescent readers who enjoy comics as well as reading about history and civil rights heroes will enjoy this book as will Social Studies teachers.  --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Baptiste, Tracey.  History Comics: Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin.  New York: First Second, 2023.  Print.

Incredible Hulk by Jason Aaron: The Complete Collection

Finally they’ve split themselves apart. The Hulk and Bruce Banner are now two separate beings able to go their separate ways - at least that’s what they think!  After wanting nothing more than to live without the Hulk,  Bruce Banner’s wish finally comes true, only to realize he needs the monster within him more than he expected. 

Meanwhile The Hulk believes his life will be different now that he is rid of Banner,  but   trouble finds them both descending into a pit of madness and suddenly they find themselves intertwined once again through unforeseen circumstances.

 

Can The Hulk and Bruce Banner keep their separate identities? Or will fighting for their individuality destroy everything around them? Any Marvel or Action comic book reader should be sure to pick this one up.--Claudio Leon

Aaron, Jason. The Incredible Hulk by Jason Aaron: The Complete Collection. New York: Marvel, 2017. Print.

Digital Data Security by Heather C. Hudak

This is a well-rounded look at data security written on at a middle school reading level explaining how data breaches happen and how readers can protect themselves. Readers are also given information about digital literacy, and each chapter introduces important vocabulary,  as how to research more about digital data security. The author also explains how to evaluate primary, secondary and tertiary sources.  

Text blocks are broken up by pictures, charts and graphs to highlight information. This book is a great starting point for learning  about digital data security and information literacy.--Claudio Leon

Hudak, Heather C. Digital Data Security. Crabtree Publishing Co. 2019. Print

Frederick Douglass in Brooklyn edited by Theodore Hamm

New York City mayor Eric Adams wrote a note prefacing this account of the towering 19th century figure Frederick Douglass making the book especially relevant and timely to us New Yorkers today.

In his intro the book’s editor provides the reader with context for meeting Douglass through the eyes of the poet Walt Whitman and the “varied reactions to his positions on abolition and black equality thus illustrate the ways in which those issues shaped the city in its formative decades.”  

Each of the book’s chapters highlights a speech Douglass made in Brooklyn between 1859 and 1893 and are fascinating primary sources including contemporary public responses to his ideas.  Thus the reader is given crucial, often painful insight into how Brooklynites viewed issues of equality 160 years ago.  

Footnotes add important context.  Recommended for educators.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Programming Spotlight: Percussion Workshops with Mike Ramsey

Mike Ramsey at Bronx Hope 12/22/22 photo credit: Jamila Abdulrashid

Happy 2023! While we are looking forward to what’s ahead in  the new year we didn't want to forget to tell you about last month’s percussion workshops with the brilliant percussionist and music educator Mike Ramsey.  Mr. Ramsey visited with all students in all groups at both of Passages’ non-secure sites, Bronx Hope and Belmont and students drummed their hearts out.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

14 Ways to Die by Vincent Ralph

After ten years, everyone has forgotten about Jess’ mom. The media no longer covers  what happened back then,  and everyone has gone back to their daily lives. The killer,  however, is still on the loose,  has kept on killing,  and now 13 more victims are dead.  But Jess’ mother was the first and Jess’ life has never been the same. 

Now Jess has a plan to catch her mother’s killer and the whole world is going to be part of it. 

Readers of One of Us is Next, Disappeared or The Female of the Species will very likely enjoy this murder mystery.--Claudio Leon

Ralph, Vincent. 14 Ways to Die. Naperville: Sourcebooks Fire, 2021. Print

Cryptocurrency By Matt Chandler

For the reader looking for a very basic understanding of cryptocurrency, this book provides just that. Written at a 6th grade reading level, Cryptocurrency keeps things very simple covering the history of how this relatively new currency came about,  how it works, its advantages and disadvantages,  and how one acquires and uses cryptocurrencies. 

And finally the book addresses the dangers that have emerged with cryptocurrency’s proliferation.

Students who want to learn about digital currencies and investments should pick up Cryptocurrency.  – Claudio Leon

Programming Spotlight: New Victory Residency + ELA collaboration

This month students at Belmont participated in a New Victory residency program that brought two extraordinary teaching artists from the theatre into our school library for a week.  The gifted teaching artists were Marisol Rosa-Shapiro and Ugo Anyanwu who led the series of workshops at Belmont  which were bookended by two trips to the New Victory theater where we saw productions of both Romeo and Juliet  and The Three Musketeers.  

Our two wonderful teaching artists played theater games with us,  taught us to give compliments and Shakespearean insults,  facilitated the drafting of an original soliloquy, and had us read and recite pieces from the classic texts connected to  the two plays we saw at the New Victory. --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass By Mariko Tamaki, Art by Steve Pugh

A new take on an original… Badgirl? Anti-heroine? You’re never sure where Harley Quinn stands on the spectrum of good - bad. Even in this remake of her original story all the pieces are here - Poison Ivy as just Ivy, The Joker and even Bruce makes an appearance. However that is as far as the similarities go.  In this new story about Harley Quinn the author brings social elements to the table touching on the problems the LGBTQ+ community faces, gentrification, the economic divide,  and even climate change. 

All these topics can’t be addressed at a very deep level;  however this graphic novel is a good way to pique the interest of readers while they get their DC Comic fix.  Readers of the books Birds of Prey,  Ms Marvel,  Nubia and Real One should pick this one up. --Claudio Leon

Tamaki, Mariko & Pugh, Steve. Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass. Burbank: DC Comics 2019. Print

Che Guevara’s Face: How a Cuban Photographer’s Image Became a Cultural Icon by Danielle Smith-Llera

How did one image of the revolutionary leader Che Guevara’s face become so popular?  Students who have seen the iconic image - originally a photo by the Cuban photographer Alberto Korda - may be very interested in this picture book-sized volume. 

The author tells the story of Che’s famous photographic portrait in four chapters that draw the reader in by setting the scene in which the original photo was taken-- a memorial service for the 100 killed and 200 wounded by a 1960 explosion in Havana Harbor that destroyed a ship carrying grenades and munitions.

Using historical photographs as well as Korda’s photographic contact sheet from that day,  author Smith-Llera provides context for this shocking and gruesome moment, inviting the reader to imagine the life of a photographer working in Havana at the time.

The author also includes a summary of Cuban history with many historical photographs,  however other than Korda’s,  the images are not credited within the text.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Smith-Llera, Danielle.  Che Guevara’s Face: How a Cuban Photographer’s Image Became a Cultural Icon.  Minnesota: Capstone, 2017.

“Aight, so boom.  Check it.” 

So begins When We Make It narrated by 8th grader Sarai, who lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn.  

It’s the late nineties and Sarai,  who identifies herself as a first-generation U. S. born Puerto Rican, lives with her mother and sister.   The family are continuously on the move and trying to survive while dealing with daily challenges of hunger,  loss of dignity, and basic safety.

Short poem-chapters and searing honesty make this book a highly engaging read for fans of novels in verse and of strong characters in realistic YA fiction.  

Spanish phrases are not translated and text is accompanied by an author’s preface.  Backmatter includes acknowledgements, resources for readers needing support, and a list of poetry that inspired the author in writing her own poem-chapters for this book.  Recommended for middle school book clubs. --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Velasquez, Elisabet.  When We Make It.  New York: Dial, 2021.

Click here for an educator's guide/discussion guide offered by the the publisher.

Don’t Mess With Me By Paul Erickson

Have you ever been curious about venomous sea creatures? Well you’re in luck!  Don’t Mess With Me is filled with tidbits of information about some of the most insane and deadly creatures living in the sea! On every page beautiful images are accompanied by text explaining how and why the featured creature attacks, and  sometimes highlighting something extraordinary about it. Anyone interested in dangerous animals or sea life should pick this one up!--Claudio Leon

Erickson, Paul. Don’t Mess With Me. Tilbury House: Thomaston, 2018. Print.

Jackpot by Nic Stone

While her mom is at work Rico basically runs her family while attending high school -  taking care of the budget,  seeing the bills are paid,  working herself after school and weekends at a convenience store,  shopping for groceries, and caring for her little brother -  and she really could use a break.

Working at the convenience store on Christmas Eve Rico sells a winning lottery ticket -  but it hasn’t been cashed yet.  Determined to find the kind, elderly woman she thinks bought the ticket,  Rico joins forces with her unbearably smug  and handsome football player classmate,  Zan Macklin. 

This YA romance is a fun read and may appeal to teen readers who loved Nic Stone’s Dear Martin and Dear Justyce.  --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Welcome Back!

 The Passages Academy library Team would like to welcome you all back to our blog. Once again we are up and running for the school year and looking forward to bringing you all of our reading recommendations for incarcerated and detained youth and exciting programming that we have planned for the year. We will be starting with a program that, at this point in time, has never been more important: Banned Books Week. In our library we will be speaking to students about banned books and the importance of exercising our first amendment. --Claudio Leon

Mo’s Bows: A Young Person’s Guide to Start -Up Success by Moziah Bridges with Tramica Morris, forward by Daymond John

This book is a wonderful introduction to business and  entrepreneurship for teen readers.  While Bridges’ unique voice is a bit lost in the translation to the written  page, his story isn’t! Mo and his co-author (his mother Tramica!) use Mo’s youngful success in his home state of Tennessee and then his national television appearances on Steve Harvey’s show and Shark Tank to draw the reader in.   The authors motivate their young audience to believe they can succeed as Mo did if willing to learn from failure and follow the  BOWS acronym: B=  believe in yourself,  O= take the opportunity to give back,  W= work hard, and S = seek support.  

Confident readers looking for how-to-improve-your-hustle advice will appreciate this book.   And although they may balk at the “corniness,”  Mo’s success is undeniable.  --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Sky the Limit by Passages Academy Students

 

Another year, another National Poetry Month celebrated!  Students enjoyed playing with magnetic poetry tiles so much last year that we brought them out again, and thanks to LIT's generosity, we were able to gift a set to each NSP and NSD house.  

In class we shared Reynolds' Ain't Burned All the Bright and today we're publishing a second ebook anthology of students' creations.  Click here to access 20 new poems handcrafted in Brooklyn.  --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Programming Spotlight: Word. Sound. Power. 2022 at BAM

 

Students from the Blum group home attended Word. Sound. Power. 2022, Brooklyn Academy of Music’s poetry celebration for teens.  Participants had the pleasure of experiencing live music and performances presented by Drew Drake, Dizzy SenZe, Freakquencee, and Amyra, including dance choreographed by Jade Charon.  

The event was emceed by Mikal Lee, and the students participated in a follow-up session in our library with Mr. Lee himself.  Students learned about Lee’s role as producer in crafting the show and the teaching artist elicited reflection, shared some of the lyrics performed by SenZe, and engaged students in a creative writing exercise. We are grateful to everyone at BAM for including our students in this special experience. --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Programming: Field Trip to Queens Library Teen Space

Image of the interior from Library Journal article by Lisa Peet

On Friday, April 8th, three of us educators (librarian, ELA teacher, Speech-language pathologist) took our Martin DePorres group to the Queens Library’s Hunters Point branch teen space.  We were met by teen librarian Maggie Johnson who had worked with her team to prepare library cards for our students in advance of their arrival. 

Students completed a library scavenger hunt, learned how to print using their new library cards, and enjoyed a board game. When our visit was over, students said they did not want to leave and can’t wait to go back.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Kid Start-Up: How You Can Be an Entrepreneur by Mark Cuban, Shaan Patel, and Ian McCue

Students who know the TV show Shark Tank may be interested in this  book co-authored by the American billionaire Mark Cuban, former Shark Tank contestant Shaan Patel,  and Ian McCue who is a successful teen entrepreneur.

The book offers direct, practical advice for younger readers with a section on “10 businesses that any kid can start”  including pricing and strategy suggestions, procedural directions, and a list of supplies needed - it is a how-to book rooted in the practical.  

Chapter 5  “The Nuts and Bolts of Launching Your Business” gives screenshot-illustrated directions on creating an advertising flyer,  setting up social media, building a weekly website, and selling items on eBay.  These directions link to templates that unfortunately may frustrate detained readers who are without Internet at present, but may be usual nevertheless and in the future.

Chapter 7 is designed like a workbook with lines where readers can write their comments and responses.  Backmatter includes info on affiliate marketing, a glossary, and affiliate links to resources.  Page 65 lists legal tips and may spark additional interest.

While not a perfect fit for all older NYC adolescents,  nor culturally relevant to most Passages students,  the book nonetheless offers useful information and a reader-friendly table of contents.  Older readers may find the book valuable despite the  “kid” focus and language.  --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Cuban, Mark and Shaan Patel, Ian McCue.   Kid Start-Up: How You Can Be an Entrepreneur.  New York: Diversion Books, 2018.