He hated boring books and books that seemed to hate or dismiss him and where. Heartfelt thanks to torrey maldonado, whose article inspired me to start the fathers day series. Apr 30, 2010 growing up in the gritty world of the red hook projects, the last thing on torrey maldonados mind was becoming an author and becoming a role model. An urban novel with the power and intensity of walter dean myerss books.
Hes also just discovered the author cory doctorow and loves him but i think his novels are futuristic in themes. His newest mg novel, tight, is a coming of age tale about choosing your own path. He has taught in brooklyn, new york for twenty years, where he was born and raised. We are still reading secret saturdays by torrey maldonado. Sean is justins best friend, at least justin thought he was. Latino authors gathered for a halloween day discussion titled the rise of latino literature for youth at the new york public library. Secret saturdays by torrey maldonado arc publisher. Told in youth slang and rappoetics, the novel describes how 12yearold justin and his friends struggle with the need to front and face the challenges of school bullying and absent fathers. The book is about boy with a best friend who is acting with a tough crowd and is spiraling out of control. Aug 30, 2018 turned out he was a teacher, which made perfect sense. Of course he was a writer as well, and had not too long ago published the book secret saturdays with puffin books. Secret saturdays is a book middle grade classrooms should consider using to speak to the issues of bullying, gangs and the endurance it takes for a child to make a better life for him or herself. Torrey maldonado, the author of the critically acclaimed tight and secret saturdays, was the first to respond. For mor information on the harlem book fairl, please click.
Luckily, he was introduced to not boring and culturally responsive books. Children can find solace by connecting to the characters in a. From page one of torrey maldonado s secret saturdays, the author grips the reader with the almost audible voices of the protagonist and his friends, creating a crystal clear picture of what it is to be a boy growing up in brooklyns red hook projects. Friends justin and sean, both 12, live in the red hook projects in brooklyn, are puerto rican and african. As a boy, i wrote to distract my mind from the rough realities of my neighborhood and schools.
His books reflect his students and his experiences. Story of pablo neruda among books for teens deseret news. His novels are inspired by his life and the experiences of his students. Like the characters in his book, he too grew up in red hook, a poor, violent section of the brooklyn. A poignant look into one fatherless twelveyearolds struggles with friendship and trust. We interviewed torrey maldonado at the westchester childrens and teens.
Set in one of new yorks most dangerous neighborhoods, secret saturdays is an affecting read highlighted by strong characters and an authentic, heartening voice. Secret saturdays ebook by torrey maldonado rakuten kobo. You are not too late to join the teens book club here at washington highlands on wednesdays at 4 p. Youll find a familiar male, teen voice and an urban. Old rare antique book fielddays in california by bradford.
Literature plays an important role in supporting antibullying efforts. Using childrens literature as antibullying material. Archive from tuesday, october 2, 2018 in the media. Turned out he was a teacher, which made perfect sense. Without glamorizing the various social issues depicted in the book. Torrey maldonado teacher and author of the book tight and. Nov 17, 2015 we interviewed torrey maldonado at the westchester childrens and teens. What i loved about this book is its interrogation of what it really means to be a man. Perfect for fans of jason reynolds ghost and david barclays the stars beneath our feet. I believe this is a book that should be in every school.
The cover has light wear and small tears, the page edges are dusty and the book is in great shape for its age, with clean pages. He hated boring books and books that seemed to hate or dismiss him and where he was from. Synopsis an urban novel with the power and intensity of walter dean myerss books sean is justins best friend or at least justin thought he was. Maldonado is the author of the ala quick pick, secret saturdays, that is praised for its currentfeel. The boy is afraid to lose his best friend, so he does something to get his best friend back. His bio on his website is so wonderful, im sharing it word for word here. Torrey maldonado 96 and his book, secret saturdays, were the subjects of a school library journal story. He is a teacher born and raised in brooklyn, new york, where he still lives. Author torrey maldonado is available for skypevirtual author visits during the school closure. Dec 05, 2011 you are not too late to join the teens book club here at washington highlands on wednesdays at 4 p. Sonia sotomayor will be a guest at the 2nd annual bronx book. Torrey maldonado has crafted characters that are right on target. Writing helped me with my problems but it also brought new problems. With books failing him in a failing school, he unplugged so hard from books that he repeated a grade, almost three times.
Secret saturdays by torrey maldonado the boy in the dress by david williams the girls by amy goldman koss emmajean lazarus fell out of a tree by lauren tarshis slob by ellen potter. In secret saturdays, by torrey maldonado, the hard, gritty world of housing projects is drawn with a tight focus. High interest, low vocabulary books that will entice even the most bookaverse. Next, i had to stop being that stereotype and act differently. Countee cullen is once again pleased to participate in hosting programs and workshops for the harlem book fair, a community forum for readers to discover, experience and celebrate its history and culture through books. Torrey is the author of secret saturdays, tight and his newest book what lane. Seans been telling lies, getting into trouble at school and. Read torrey maldonado s posts on the penguin blog and the new penguin community. Torrey was born and raised in red hook, brooklyn, new york, in a housing projects.
Growing up in the gritty world of the red hook projects, the last thing on torrey maldonados mind was becoming an author and becoming a role model. High interest, low vocabulary books that will entice even the most book averse. Jul 17, 2010 countee cullen is once again pleased to participate in hosting programs and workshops for the harlem book fair, a community forum for readers to discover, experience and celebrate its history and culture through books. Torrey maldonado, the author of the critically acclaimed tight, secret saturdays, and what lane. His name was torrey maldonado and there was just something about. Read torrey maldonados posts on the penguin blog and the new penguin community. Apr 15, 2010 but what if confronting sean means justin loses his very best friend. Read secret saturdays by torrey maldonado available from rakuten kobo. From the ice caves of ellef ringnes where they search for the wolflike amarok, to the edge of a chilean volcano where they encounter the fiery lizardman called the cherufe, the saturdays make. This is a bit longer than a regular post, but you will be glad you read. Hes been getting into more and more fights when he used to advocate dissing instead of fists. Readers will connect with bryans journey as he navigates a tough world with a heartfelt desire for a different life.
Now the twitter feedback from librarians and educators is at a whole other level. Torrey maldonado is a teacher and author who was born and raised in the red hook projects section of brooklyn, new york. Secret saturdays by torrey maldonado fake id by lamar giles 33 minutes by todd hasak lowy alias by tracey alexander also the spud series and adrian mole. Oct 25, 2018 torrey maldonado delivers a fastpaced, insightful, dynamic story capturing urban community life. From page one of torrey maldonados secret saturdays, the author grips the reader with the almost audible voices of the protagonist and his friends, creating a crystal clear picture of what it is to be a boy growing up in brooklyns red hook projects. Maldonado told us that the mother in his book, secret saturdays, warns her son that if he keeps his emotions contained and does not share them that he will eventually explode like a soda can that has been shaken. Jan 25, 2010 secret saturdays by torrey maldonado arc publisher. By the way, if you want to see other best childrens book lists in this vein. Living in the hardscrabble neighborhood of red hook, in new york city, sixthgrader justin believes that his friend, sean, has it nailed. His name was torrey maldonado and there was just something about the guy that stayed memorable.
Torrey maldonado delivers a fastpaced, insightful, dynamic story capturing urban community life. But what if confronting sean means justin loses his very best friend. Fatherless days is also featured on the latina book club blog. This is a rare book still being printed today in modern form but there are very few available from 19.
Sean is justins best friend or at least justin thought he was. Torrey maldonado is the author of the critically acclaimed tight, secret saturdays, and what lane. Interview with torrey maldonado about secret saturdays. The fair has become one of the countrys largest community gatherings of african american readers and book lovers. Secret saturdays by torrey maldonado, paperback barnes. The book that i have read was secret saturdays written by torrey maldonado. A panel discussion on the importance and impact of multicultural books, moderated by wade hudson president, jub will follow from 23 pm. Dear all, i sent this to the nyc librarians listserv. Torrey maldonado, the author of the critically acclaimed secret saturdays, is a teacher in brooklyn, new york, where he was born, raised, and lives. His first young adult novel secret saturdays was released from putnam juvenile this past april.
Computer pioneer rear admiral grace hopper 28 was the subject of an interesting engineering story. Growing up in the gritty world of the red hook projects, the last thing on torrey maldonados mind was becoming an author and becoming a. Maldonado explores issues of manhood, friendship, and family in this heartfelt, humorous, and poignant urban tale. Torrey maldonado featured on the brown bookshelf as part of the 28 days later campaign. Torrey maldonado is a teacher and author who was born and raised in the red hook.
When u were a boy, racist adults in ur middle schl tried 2 snuff out ur light. An urban novel with the power and intensity of walter dean myerss books sean is justins best friend or at least justin thought he was. Torrey maldonado is a teacher, a father, a writer, and a fierce hand ball player. Torrey is also the author of highly acclaimed secret saturdays. Nov 16, 2015 maldonado told us that the mother in his book, secret saturdays, warns her son that if he keeps his emotions contained and does not share them that he will eventually explode like a soda can that has been shaken. Living in the hardscrabble neighborhood of red hook, in new york city, sixthgrader justin. She tells him if he remains muy macho that he will end up like his father.
1395 136 12 1071 1272 189 883 959 675 566 190 790 1431 1429 1136 424 1432 1429 593 313 1058 822 696 349 755 191 852 1237 1377 219 69 89 410 175 641 834