This is a guest blog post from our spring intern, Annabelle.
During the first two weeks of my internship, I received a book donation request from a woman who worked as a public defender for children in juvenile detention. Her email was short and simple; she needed books for the clients she worked with. The stories she wanted were far from bright and happy, but they faithfully portrayed the lives of children struggling with poverty and violence- an all-too-familiar situation for the individuals she represented.
March is known as National Women’s History Month, but it is also National Professional Social Work Month. LEE & LOW celebrates the importance of social workers across the nation as they continue to improve our society through compassion and devotion. We extend our support by promoting and publishing stories that will hopefully resonate with children in dire need of empathy and understanding. Here are five titles that I think cover important topics in social work:
Bird, by Zetta Elliott and illustrated by Shadra Strickland. A young boy nicknamed “Bird” struggles to understand the death of his grandfather and his older brother’s downward spiral into drug addiction.
Yummy, by G. Neri and illustrated by Randy DuBurke. This graphic novel depicts the true story of Robert “Yummy” Sandifer, an eleven-year-old boy who was a member of a notorious street gang.
Calling the Water Drum, by LaTisha Redding and illustrated by Aaron Boyd. After losing his parents during the harrowing journey from Haiti to America, Henri is unable to speak and uses a bucket as a drum to communicate.
The Three Lucys, by Hayan Charara and illustrated by Sara Kahn. Luli is a young boy living in Lebanon with his three cats. When his hometown is attacked during the July War, Luli has to cope with the devastating loss of one of his beloved pets.
Alicia Afterimage, by Lulu Delacre. A poignant novel about loss and recovery, Alicia Afterimage tells the story of sixteen-year-old Alicia Betancourt, who was killed in a car accident due to reckless driving. The novel features different perspectives, ranging from her close friends to the driver, who survived the crash.
Annabelle Chan is LEE & LOW’s spring intern. She’s a junior at Baruch College majoring in Digital Marketing, with a focus in Information Technology and Social Responsibility. In her free time, she likes to visit antique bookstores, practice her web design skills, and play Dungeons and Dragons with her friends.
