Books with author Denise%20Lewis%20Patrick

Melody Ellison can't wait to sing her first solo at church, and she wants to pick a song that's special. She gets advice from her big brother, who has his sights set on becoming a Motown star, and inspiration from her older sister, who's home from college with new ideas about marches and protests and making things fair. When Melody experiences discrimination for herself, she decides to stand up and speak out about civil rights, too. As her solo approaches, an unimaginable tragedy leaves her silent. Can Melody find her voice to speak up for those who can't?

Reesie Boone just knows that thirteen is going to be her best year yet-this will be the year she makes her very first fashion design on her Ma Maw's sewing machine. She'll skip down the streets of New Orleans with her best friends, Ayanna and Orlando, and everyone will look at her in admiration.But on Reesie's birthday, everything changes. Hurricane Katrina hits her city. Stranded at home alone, Reesie takes refuge with her elderly neighbor, Miss Martine. The waters rise. They escape in a boat. And soon Reesie is reunited with her family. But her journey back home has only begun.Finding Someplace by Denise Lewis Patrick is a story of a family putting itself back together, and a young girl learning to find herself.A Christy Ottaviano Book

It's Melody's birthday, and she's excited to turn "double digits" on January 1, 1964. She's also eager to answer her pastor's New Year's challenge and make her community better. Melody decides to fix up the neighborhood playground and plant a garden. Her friends pitch in to help, but after a series of setbacks, Melody realizes that being a leader isn't easy. But it is easy to say yes when her brother asks her to sing backup for him. Melody gets to go to the Motown music studio and add her voice to a real record! Can she find a way to make her voice stand out in the studio and in her community?

Melody Ellison just turned ten, and she's dreaming of new ways to make her community a better place! When her pastor issues a New Year's challenge, she decides to fix up a neighborhood playground and plant a garden. But when her friends put her in charge, Melody finds out just how hard it can be to lead. From opportunities of a lifetime in Motown, to learning what it means to not give up in the face of setbacks and adversity, Melody discovers that working together makes everyone stronger. This second volume of Melody's classic stories tells how Melody strives to make justice, equality, and dignity grow in her community. 232 pages. Paperback. Author: Denise Lewis Patrick. Ages 8+

"There ain't no words right enough to explain feelin' free."On a dark Texas night in 1863 Midnight Son escapes from the plantation where he has lived all his life. In constant fear of bounty hunters, he hides in trees during the day and travels by night until he makes it across the border into Mexico.Free from slavery, Midnight finds work as a ranch hand and soon learns the ropes of a cowpoke. But as exciting as the job is, Midnight must face life-threatening situations everyday--like leading a team through a twister--in order to protect his herd.Denise Lewis Patrick explores the physical and emotional experiences of a young cowboy who is coming to grips with his past, learning to accept the racial tensions around him, and ultimately embracing the goodness he has found in others.

Reesie Boone just knows that thirteen is going to be her best year yet-this will be the year she makes her very first fashion design on her Ma Maw's sewing machine. She'll skip down the streets of New Orleans with her best friends, Ayanna and Orlando, and everyone will look at her in admiration.But on Reesie's birthday, everything changes. Hurricane Katrina hits her city. Stranded at home alone, Reesie takes refuge with her elderly neighbor, Miss Martine. The waters rise. They escape in a boat. And soon Reesie is reunited with her family. But her journey back home has only begun.This is a story of a family putting itself back together, and a young girl learning to find herself.A Christy Ottaviano Book

From the shores of Africa to the bowels of a transatlantic ship to a voting booth in Mississippi to the jungles of Vietnam, all human connection is a matter of souls. In this stirring collection of short stories, Denise Lewis Patrick considers the souls of black men and women across centuries and continents. In each, she takes the measure of their dignity, describes their dreams, and catalogs their fears. Brutality, beauty, laughter, rage, and love all take their turns in each story, but the final impression is of indomitable, luminous, and connected souls.

Reesie Boone just knows that thirteen is going to be her best year yet-this will be the year she makes her very first fashion design on her Ma Maw's sewing machine. She'll skip down the streets of New Orleans with her best friends, Ayanna and Orlando, and everyone will look at her in admiration.But on Reesie's birthday, everything changes. Hurricane Katrina hits her city. Stranded at home alone, Reesie takes refuge with her elderly neighbor, Miss Martine. The waters rise. They escape in a boat. And soon Reesie is reunited with her family. But her journey back home has only begun.This is a story of a family putting itself back together, and a young girl learning to find herself.A Christy Ottaviano Book

At fifteen, Midnight Son has already lived quite a courageous life. He has escaped bounty hunters intent on returning him to slavery and has survived a fierce tornado. It seems no challenge is insurmountable for this young cowboy. But when Midnight Son comes upon a vulnerable Indian village during the journey to find his separated family, he knows he must delay his search in order to help his new friends get safely through the final days of the Civil War.In this companion to The Adventures of Midnight Son, Denise Lewis Patrick tells a powerful coming-of-age story about a young man who discovers the true meaning of responsibility, bravery, and honor in the face of adversity.