May 2021 In Review

MAY 2021  |  IN REVIEW
READ  |  WRITE  |  DISCUSS  |  PRAY  |  SERVE  |  REFLECT

Even in Cambridge

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Read

Everything Sad is Untrue

This month I was hoping to grace the world with my first official publication, a story of my friendship with an Iranian Muslim mom, but fortunately, since my submission didn’t pan out, Daniel Nayeri has a much, much better memoir for you.  Please read his book and be humbled by the faith of his own Iranian Muslim-turned-Christian mother.

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Write

Parachutes

The friend who recommended this book is right: it addresses some really big issues both for girls and women and for certain cultural groups.  I’m just not sure I’d give this YA book to anyone under the age of 18.  Is it just me, or is our reading culture becoming much more aggressive and explicit in the subject matter it tackles?  Here’s my take on how to temper our portion control.

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Discuss

The Vanishing Half

We all found this story incredibly engrossing.  My favorite character was Desiree, but the rest of you said, hands down, that yours was Jude, whom we admired for her steadfast acceptance of who she was in the midst of great antagonism and racism.  A fascinating inquiry on what it means to be successful and how characters are able or unable to separate that from attaining whiteness, this book is definitely one to try.

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Pray

Adventure Awaits: Mother Daughter Retreat

After a year hiatus, my daughter and I returned to Camp Berea for a weekend retreat, where once again she challenged me with her questions, and I realized all over again why this was worth renting a car and picking off ticks and dodging maskless others who might spread COVID: Some things are eternal.

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Serve

How to serve other people’s children

Before I started my current job as a lunch and recess monitor at an elementary school, I hadn’t thought much about a teacher’s perspective.  I could barely imagine it.  Now I look at the students around me and wonder, how can I reach them?  Fortunately, educators like Lisa Delpit started researching this question decades ago, and in my community, her ideas are gathering strength like never before.

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Reflect

Reflect

Check out the reflect button on the homepage where you can view this and all monthly newsletters.

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VISIT THE SITE

Looking forward to reading & discussing with you!

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