I’ve been a fan of Jasmine Warga for some time. Other Words for Home and The Shape of Thunder are thought provoking, rich, poignant and MUST READ novels. Her writing is fresh, unique and takes the reader deep into the heart of her characters. So, I was already hooked on her writing. When I had the opportunity, as a member of the ARC reading group #BookPossse, to read A Rover’s Story, I didn’t want to miss out. It’s been a favorite of our group, and actually was published this fall.
A couple takeaways:
- When you read a book, and certain quotes live with you long after the last page, the book changes lives. I cannot get this quote out of my head:
It reminds me to keep looking up. Look for possibilities and don’t give up hope. The ‘dust’ is there. Try to avoid it when possible, but don’t lose sight of the stars.
- Jasmine Warga’s writing brings to light the human experience with such dignity, grace and HOPE. It’s so full of honest emotion, and gently unwraps the power of our interactions and connections. Readers will wrestle right along side the characters, while also correlating their own lives to this powerful journey of exploration. Possibilities exist when we work together and care. When we are willing to be vulnerable to expose our insecurities, we uncover an incredible treasure – each other!
During the 2021/22 school year, I had the an opportunity to collaborate with some incredible educators and experts in service of designing a learning experience in which 6th grade students were actually teaming with NASA education experts to explore ideas and innovations for traveling to the Moon. Our work that year reminded me in so many ways of A Rover’s Story. While our students didn’t actually get to put a rover on the moon, they were able to build their own personal capacity for perseverance, resilience, heart, confidence and communication. They saw connections outside of their own classroom. They witnessed first hand what happens when teams come together to make a difference and take a vested interest in each other. At times, it was really hard. But the struggle connected us. The journey showcased the power of our human experience to support and lean on each other. I’ve added a link to the website for this project spearheaded by Aaron Maurer. Please reach out if you like to learn more about this project, or other opportunities Aaron hosts for classrooms around the globe. amaurer@mbaea.org
So, thank you, Jasmine Warga for writing stories that take us out of our current scenarios, and to the ‘moon’. Yet, tie us right by to our current reality with such incredible creativity and imagination. You are making a difference for all of us.
Thank you!
Audio excerpt – page 88
