Just a drop of water

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Title :

Just a drop of water / Kerry O'Malley Cerra.

Title:

Just a drop of water

Author:

Cerra, Kerry O'Malley

Format:

Books

Physical Description:

304 pages ; 23 cm

ISBN:

9781629146133

Production / Publication Information:

New York : Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., 2014.

Summary:

"Jake and Sam are best friends, but after the attacks on September 11, their friendship is in danger of crumbling as Sam and his family succumb to hatred for being Muslim American"--

Language:

English

Geographic Term:

Florida -- Fiction.

Florida -- Juvenile fiction.

Subject Term:

Best friends -- Fiction.

Friendship -- Fiction.

September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001 -- Fiction.

Arab Americans -- Fiction.

Muslims -- Fiction.

Conduct of life -- Fiction.

Family life -- Florida -- Fiction.

JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / United States / 21st Century.

JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Friendship.

JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Prejudice & Racism.

JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Bullying.

Best friends -- Juvenile fiction.

Friendship -- Juvenile fiction.

September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001 -- Juvenile fiction.

Arab Americans -- Juvenile fiction.

Muslims -- Juvenile fiction.

Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction.

Families -- Florida -- Juvenile fiction.

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Material Type	Library	Call Number	Item Barcode	Location
Book	Searching... Lowell - Pollard Memorial Library	YA FIC CERRA	31481005058263	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Newbury Town Library	J CER	32127001065633	Searching... Unknown

Ever since he was little, Jake Green has longed to be a soldier and a hero like his grandpa, who died serving his country. Right now, though, he just wants to outsmart--and outrun--the rival cross country team, the Palmetto Bugs. But then the tragedy of September 11 happens. It's quickly discovered that one of the hijackers lived nearby, making Jake's Florida town an FBI hot spot. Two days later, the tragedy becomes even more personal when Jake's best friend, Sam Madina, is pummeled for being an Arab Muslim by their bully classmate, Bobby.

According to Jake's personal code of conduct, anyone who beats up your best friend is due for a butt kicking, and so Jake goes after Bobby. But soon after, Sam's father is detained by the FBI and Jake's mom doubts the innocence of Sam's family, forcing Jake to choose between his best friend and his parents. When Jake finds out that Sam's been keeping secrets, too, he doesn't know who his allies are anymore. But the final blow comes when his grandpa's real past is revealed to Jake. Suddenly, everything he ever knew to be true feels like one big lie. In the end, he must decide: either walk away from Sam and the revenge that Bobby has planned, or become the hero he's always aspired to be.

A gripping and intensely touching debut middle grade novel by Kerry O'Malley Cerra, Just a Drop of Water brings the events of September 11, which shook the world, into the lens of a young boy who is desperately trying to understand the ramifications of this life-altering event.

Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers--picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Reviews (3)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-8-This historical novel takes place in Coral Springs, Florida in the days leading up to and after September 11, 2001. Jake Green struggles with the knowledge that one of the hijackers was living in his town prior to the attacks. His best friend and neighbor, Sam Medina, an Arab Muslim, is targeted by boys in their class whose actions and behavior toward persons of Arab descent is disrespectful and volatile. Sam's father is taken into FBI custody after the discovery that he serviced the hijacker at the bank he worked at prior to the attacks. Jake soon finds himself at odds with his immediate family as he defends his best friend's honor and tries to help bring Mr. Medina home. Tensions run high at Jake's house as he tries to make sense of his mother's prejudices. His interest in history and war leads him to develop a relationship with a mysterious neighbor who lived through the attack on Pearl Harbor and its aftermath. The author, a former history teacher, uses the friendship between two boys to transport middle grade readers into the highly emotional experience of a pivotal point in modern American history. Historical fact and realistic fiction elements are woven together with an expert hand, making readers care about this moment in history and giving educators an excellent book sure to spur thoughtful discussion.- Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

The tragedy of 9/11 forces a 13-year-old Florida boy who has always lived with a comfortable, straightforward code of conduct to explore the issues of loyalty, patriotism and fair play. In this tale that should be just the supplemental material middle-grade history teachers are looking for, Cerra presents three cross-country teammates: a Christian Everykid, a Muslim whose father had a routine business interaction with one of the terrorists, and a Jewish boy whose Navy officer father died during the attack. The story is narrated by Jake Green, the Christian boy, who is best friends with Sameed "Sam" Madina, a child of Saudi Arabian descent from a nonobservant Muslim family. Prejudice rears its ugly head directly after the attack: Sam is assailed by a bigoted classmate, and Jake rushes to his defense, striking Sam's attacker. Later, Jake is shocked to discover that he's not supported by his coach, many of his classmates and his parents, particularly his emotionally distraught mother, whose old psychological wounds have been reopened by the event. Sam too has changed, particularly after his father comes under suspicion, leaving Jake confused and alone. Although the tale is didactic and slow in spots, Cerra does a good job of re-creating the combination of fear, confusion, patriotism, prejudice and community spirit the attack engendered, and readers should identify with Jake's plight. A perceptive exploration of an event its audience already sees as history. (Historical fiction. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

September 11th changed life both nationally and personally. On September 10th, Jake's most pressing issues are becoming captain of the middle-school track team and hanging out with his best friend, Sam Madina. But as the towers fall, Jake's life is upended. His mother becomes fearful, avoiding the Madinas, who are Muslim. A classmate bullies Sam, and Jake gets into trouble for defending his friend. Then he learns Sam's father, a banker, is being questioned by the FBI because he had dealings with one of the terrorists. What's going on? Cerra makes a common first-time-novelist mistake plot and characters devised to fit slots (e.g., a Jewish classmate's father is killed at the Pentagon, yet he remains friendly with Sam, exemplifying tolerance). But there are some terrific things here as well. Jake finds himself in a true moral quandary as he tests the limits of friendship and family, and readers will wonder what they might do in the same situation. This title, one of the few on the topic, also gives kids a feel of what life was like during those terrible, confusing days.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2014 Booklist

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Reviews (3)

School Library Journal Review

Kirkus Review

Booklist Review