Special Event: National Hispanic Heritage Month

NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH is held each year from September 15 through October 15.

The National Hispanic Heritage Month website housed at the Library of Congress provides a history of the event, a wealth of content pages, as well as links to other resources.

The website features carefully selected Exhibits & Collections, Images, and Audio/Video resources. A Teacher section provides specific ideas for connecting primary sources to hispanic heritage-related lessons.

Sections on Hispanic Americans in Congress, The Latino Experience, and Hispanic American Veterans provide in-depth exploration of these areas.

Librarians will find lots of useful resources and activities at the Library of Congress website. In addition, the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Park Service, and Smithsonian Education - Hispanic Heritage Month websites contain specific pages focus on this event.

Be sure to check out the new Library of Congress, National Archives, and Smithsonian Institution Pinterest Boards associated with this important month.

To learn more, go to http://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/.

Book Review: When Reason Breaks

WHEN REASON BREAKS by Cindy Rodriguez is a beautifully written work of realistic fiction for young adults. Told through alternating voices, the story follows two very different teens each facing the pressures of school and family. While Elizabeth’s frustrations and fears often end in outbursts, Emily’s anxieties are projected inward. An English teacher with a passion for Emily Dickinson brings the two together.

Rodriguez does a masterful job exploring the different faces of depression. Her characters are believable and realistic. Readers will easily connect with both the main characters as well as the supporting cast.

The author makes meaningful social references and seamlessly infuses cultural references without making these elements the focus on the story.

Weaving in a discussion of the poems of Dickinson was an excellent way to dig deep into the world of mental illness and depression. Librarians will want to pair this book with the works of Dickinson for a richer experience.

While some readers will be drawn to the theme of mental illness, others will enjoy the realistic portrayal of the everyday pressures of school, family, and friendship. All readers will gain insights into the triggers that lead to depression and suicide.

This is the Rodriguez’s first novel. Her experience as a classroom teacher are clearly reflected in her realistic portrayal of the classroom scenes. Readers will eagerly be following her website looking for her next YA book!

To learn more about this author, go to her website at http://cindylrodriguez.com/.