Judith Vigna

This book is form 1992 and has historically been banned. It’s about a little girl named Christy, and her friend Kira. Kira lives in a bad neighborhood and her parents want to move. Christy suggests the house next door, and it happens. But neighbors are not happy with Kira’s family moving into their neighborhood, as Kira and her family are Black. They are mistreated and even have their property harmed, plus other neighbors move out. Unfortunately, things like this did and do still happen. “Not in my backyard” as the saying goes. There is no reason for this book to be banned. I could see a “problematic” label, as Chrissy and her family act as “white saviors” for the new family in the neighborhood. However, why hide reality from kids. Let them see it in books so they learn and grow, and we can avoid these situations in the real world.… (meer)

A young girl is having trouble enjoying Christmas. She's excited about the sled her dad got her, but he won't open her card or go sledding like promised. Instead, he just gets drunk and angry before fighting with our protaganists mother. The mother and daughter go visit Ms. Fields, a recovering alcoholic they had met through a support group. They all share Christmas dinner together and our main character felt safe at Ms. Fields.
What I could appreciate about this book was the bluntness of it. Children of addicts/ alcoholics know words such as "beer", "drunk", and "bar" at inappropriately young ages. So while some may find the vocabulary too adult or jarring, it actually makes sense in the book. I also appreciated Ms. Fields, because she was prove that a parent can recover from addiction. This is an incredibly sad and heavy book, but a necessary one.… (meer)