Of all the books you read this year, you must put this one on your list. Have you ever heard someone tell you not to judge a book by its cover. Well, it means that when you look at a person or a book, you shouldn’t form an opinion about the person, or in this case the book, until you have actually read it. The cover maybe not seem enticing to you. It doesn’t have bright colors or show funny characters, and it may look like it would be a sad book. It is actually, and it’s also funny. But what I love about this book, is that it’s REAL. It’s so real and it’s happening right now. And if you want to know what is happening ‘right now’ then you need to read it!
2010 SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BOOK TRAILEE NOMINEE
Check out the trailer
powerful….very powerful….You are an amazing trailerist.
Dear Ms. Johnson,
OK, maybe I’m a little biased, but this is one of the most compelling, beautifully produced book trailers I’ve ever seen. You’ve managed to distill the essence of Home of the Brave while underscoring its message, and in just a few brief minutes. I sent it to my editor at Macmillan, and she wrote me back with the perfect summation: LOVELY.
Writers sometimes feel like we work in a vacuum, so it’s truly gratifying to see that a book is having an effect. Seeing your trailer was a tangible reminder that books help connect us to each other.
Your students might be interested in this class from Massachusetts. After reading HOTB, they made contact with a boy whose history was not unlike Kek’s, and made a real difference in his life:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/weston/news/education/x2122539356/Connecting-with-a-Lost-Boy-of-Sudan
Thank you again for your beautiful work, and if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
All my best,
Katherine Applegate