The Mighty Miss Malone / Christopher Paul Curtis / 303 pages

Once you meet the character of Deza Malone, you will not be able to forget her.  The Mighty Miss Malone is set in Gary, Indiana during the Depression.  Christopher Paul Curtis does a wonderful job of creating a very poor African American family who enjoys being together.  Deza is determined, smart and proud, the best in her class.  Her brother Jimmy is not so great as a student, but has a wonderful singing voice.  When Deza's father cannot find work and then changes after surviving a very tragic fishing accident, things begin to unravel.  Eventually Deza, Jimmy & their mother end up in a hobo camp.  This is the story of their survival and their triumph in unbelievably hard times.  Certainly a great book to be read and shared.  There are certainly Deza's in our communities and we need to celebrate them and protect them. Recommended for grades 5-7.