Some Places More Than Others

Amara is a twelve-year-old girl from Oregon who travels to Harlem to visit her father's family for the first time. Her school project about family history provides an opportunity to learn about her roots and connect with her New York relatives, including the grandfather she's never met. The story follows Amara as she explores her heritage through family stories, visits to cultural landmarks in Harlem, and discoveries from her father's childhood. Her relationship with her father deepens during their time in New York, while she also forms new bonds with her extended family members. Amara faces challenges at home and in Harlem as she navigates complex family dynamics and confronts difficult truths about her past. She works to complete her family history project while dealing with the tension between her relatives in Oregon and New York. This middle-grade novel examines themes of identity, family relationships, and the importance of understanding one's cultural heritage. The story demonstrates how knowledge of the past can shape a young person's sense of belonging and self-discovery.

Readers describe this middle-grade novel as a heartfelt exploration of family relationships, identity, and heritage. Many found the main character Amara's journey to learn about her roots in Harlem authentic and relatable. Readers appreciated: - Natural incorporation of Black history and culture - Realistic family dynamics and conflicts - Age-appropriate handling of complex topics - Strong sense of place in depicting Harlem Common criticisms: - Plot moves slowly in places - Some found the resolution too neat - Characters could be more developed Ratings: Goodreads: 4.17/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (350+ ratings) Several teachers and librarians noted the book's effectiveness for classroom discussions about family heritage. Parent reviewers highlighted how it prompted conversations with their children about ancestry and identity. As one Goodreads reviewer wrote: "Perfect for helping kids understand the importance of knowing their family history while dealing with real relationship struggles."

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The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore A young teen in Harlem processes grief and finds connection to his community through building with LEGOs and discovering his roots.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia Three sisters travel to Oakland to spend the summer with their estranged mother and learn about their family history against the backdrop of the Black Panthers movement.

Clean Getaway by Nic Stone An eleven-year-old boy and his grandmother embark on a road trip through the American South, uncovering family secrets and civil rights history.

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson Six students meet weekly in a classroom to share their stories, revealing connections between their families, cultures, and experiences.

🌟 Author Renée Watson grew up in Portland, Oregon, where she began writing and performing at age seven, crafting plays about civil rights leaders. 📚 Like the book's main character Amara, Watson made her first trip to Harlem as a child and was deeply moved by experiencing the neighborhood's rich cultural history. 🏆 Some Places More Than Others won the 2020 Children's Literature Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. 🗽 The book features real Harlem landmarks including the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Apollo Theater, weaving authentic neighborhood history into the story. 👗 Amara's father works as a shoe designer for Nike in the story—a detail Watson included to reflect the real-world connection between her hometown Portland and the Nike headquarters located there.