Alexandra Penfold

I was curious to know why this book was listed in the Scholastic banned list. Upon finishing the book, I think the book has nothing controversial. Oh wait, there is a scene where kids in a cafeteria are sharing different kinds of bread from their cultural backgrounds. One character is holding a popular Mexican sweet bread called a Concha (they are very tasty). I am wondering if the book got added to the ban list because of germs. I suppose that could be a valid reason.

Otherwise, the book doesn't have anything censurable in my opinion. Characters show a map where their families emigrated from, children go to school in wheelchair access ramps, other children hug their parents goodnight. Nothing that would strike me as covert brainwashing. Ok, yes, there is one page in the book where two kids are brought to school by what seems like 2 parents of the same gender. But the drawings are done in such a way, that you would really have to focus and go looking for it to spot it. I doubt the target audience for this book would notice.

The ebook formatting is good without major issues. I think my sole complaint about the book was some of the prose in 1 or 2 pages was hard to read grammatically speaking. Which stroke me as odd since this is a trad book that would have been revised by several editors before publication. For this reason, I give the book 4 stars. Otherwise, I believe the book gives children a positive message.… (mer)