Harbor Me

My 11 year old granddaughter is a huge Jacqueline Woodson fan. I bought the book on a whim after seeing it while browsing for something else. Little did I know how much she wanted that book! Thanks for helping me look like a "cool, knowing" grandma.

There is a lot to like about Harbor Me. A group of six sixth-grade students forms a unique friendship when put together in an experimental school program called ARTT (A Room to Talk) every Friday afternoon by their teacher, Ms. Laverne. Even though the kids trust and like Ms. Laverne, they are quite suspicious at first. Four of the kids are African American, one is White, and the other is mixed. Haley, one of the kids in the group, lives with her uncle because her dad is in prison. Esteban, another one of the kids in the group, is upset because the immigration authorities have taken his father, and he doesn't know where his dad is at first.Haley decides to bring a recorder to the group and gives them the forum to discuss anything on their minds. The kids plan to meet again at the school in twenty years to listen to all of the recordings.What I liked best about the book was the relationships between the children as they felt authentic. There are disagreements, harsh words, kindness, and bonding. They learn that they have problems and form a bond of trust to look out for one another. I think many kids in upper elementary and even middle school would enjoy this book. I suspect that some people will find fault with some of the topics the author delves into (immigration, police brutality, etc...), but these are real problems that kids/families are dealing with.

An important and engaging story. Characters that are rich and messages about the real struggles we’re facing in this country right now.Can’t wait to read this with my 5th graders.

Wow. WOW. It is not very often that I finish a book and want nothing more then to pick it right back up again, flip back to page 1, and read it cover to cover just one more time. But that’s exactly how I felt when I put down Harbor Me, a stunning new novel by Jacqueline Woodson. If I have said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: Woodson is a gift to literature. Her words resonate deeply, and she possesses an extraordinary ability to tap into timely, almost desperate situations in a manner appropriate and gentle enough for young kids to grasp.In Harbor Me, six children are taken to their school’s old art room and told it’s a place for them to have a weekly chat— without teachers, thus making it totally unmonitored. The six kids, from varying walks of life, are hesitant at first. They each have their stories, but is it safe? Can they open up to one another? The room becomes dubbed the ARTT room, an acronym for “a room to talk,” and soon enough, their stories begin. As their connections develop and their words bridge divides, the students realize that sharing their stories could be the very thing they needed to give them the strength to handle circumstances that once made them feel so desperately alone.Harbor Me is stunning. At once both a coming of age story and an exploration of how America’s political and social challenges affect children daily, Woodson’s words ground us firmly in the ARTT room as the kids struggle to comprehend both their identities as individuals as well as their places in society. These children are America’s children. They are OUR children- children affected by the headlines pervasive in our country today including immigration, deportation, incarcerated parents, and the black lives matter movement. These children are in our homes and schools, and their confidence and self worth is being shaken regularly due to government regulations, racial profiling and harmful ignorance. Through Woodson’s evocative prose and magical storytelling, we watch the children become safe harbors for one another, their initial apprehension slowly turning into compassion, connection and perhaps most importantly, courage.

I wish I could live in one of Jacqueline Woodson's books because they are so full of beauty. Even when she is writing about heartbreaking events, she finds a way to paint the most desperate situation with her magical lyrical brush. Harbor Me is a short quick powerful read, which will leave you believing that Woodson could find a way to solve all of our country's problems. This novel explores the way we view and treat each other in this country. She manages to explore all the hot-button political issues through the lens of fifth and sixth grade "special" students. These topics include racism, immigration, rich vs. poor, the separation of families, and having an incarcerated parent. How she managed to pack so much depth in such a small book is beyond me, but let me tell you, folks, she did!What I love most about this novel is how Woodson tackles these important topics; six students spend an hour every Friday afternoon in a classroom talking to each other without any adults present. While one might think kids this age would talk about trivial things, these students truly open up to one another and talk about their preconceived notions of one another based on race, appearance, accent, etc. They find a way to break down the imaginary walls between them simply by honestly discussing their feelings. If only all adults could be so honest with one another, we would probably have a lot less stress in our lives. This book is a perfect spring broad into discussions about equal rights or the lack thereof in this country. Teachers should feel comfortable sharing this book with students in 4th grade and up; however, it would be an excellent tie-in to the fifth-grade curriculum (in South Carolina).#BookPosse

Bought this book for class and I enjoyed it. Really nice to see young kids talk about their issues and try to help each other out

ok

Book is good but it's for young children

Good reading.