LitVentures

 Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan is a truly fantastic novel that follows the journey of a harmonica and its owners over a span of years, and how the music produced by it helps the owner overcome their challenges. It portrays the life and difficulties of 3 children and how the harmonica helps and intertwines them with each other. The book begins with a young boy, Otto, and trio of enchanted sisters as they hand him the harmonica to be passed on to many others after. The story then moves on to portray Friedrich from Germany during the rise of Hitler, Mike from Pennsylvania 2 years later, and Ivy from California during world war II.   Friedrich is shunned from the society as the birthmark on his face did not match the ideal “perfect” according to Hitler. Mike and his brother live in an orphanage with poor conditions. However, Mike and his brother are adopted by a wealthy woman, Mrs. Sturbridge. They are initially happy but soon find out that the woman doesn’t want them. Ivy, the daughter ...

The book Dear Martin by Nic Stone highlights racial discrimination and the hardships faced by individuals because of their skin color, despite some claims that such issues don't exist. The story follows Justyce, an African American teenager from a tough neighborhood. Justyce doesn’t expect to experience the same struggles as other black individuals because he is focused on his studies and on his way to an Ivy League university. However, when he is wrongfully arrested due to a misunderstanding, he realizes that some people only see him for his skin color. This incident prompts him to question why people can’t see him as a human being deserving of respect. To cope, he starts a project to be like  Martin Luther King Jr., and writes letters to Dr. King in his journal to maintain his sanity and sense of reason. Another crucial support in Justyce’s life is his best friend, Manny. Though Manny is also black, he comes from a wealthy family and lives in a posh area. Manny becomes frustrated...