Local Voices

This timely volume presents powerful stories told by Black families and students who have successfully negotiated a racially fraught, affluent, and diverse suburban school district in America, to illustrate how they have strategically contested sanctioned racist practices and forged a path for students to achieve a high-quality education.

Drawing on rich qualitative data collected through interviews and interactions with parents and kin, students, community activists, and educators, Family Engagement in Black Students' Academic Success chronicles how pride in Black American family history and values, students' personal capabilities, and their often collective, proactive challenges to systemic and personal racism shape students' academic engagement. Familial and collective cultural wealth of the Black community emerges as a central driver in students' successful achievement. Finally, the text puts forward key recommendations to demonstrate how incorporating the knowledge and voices of Black families in school decision making, remaining critically conscious of race and racial history in everyday actions and longer term policy, and pursuing collective strategies for social justice in education, will help eliminate current opportunity gaps, and will counteract the master narrative of underachievement ever-present in America.

This volume will be of interest to students, scholars, and academics with an interest in matters of social justice, equity, and equality of opportunity in education for Black Americans. In addition, the text offers key insights for school authorities in building effective working relationships with Black American families to support the high achievement of Black students in K-12 education.

"A riveting memoir. . . an important, moving work that those who have suffered cannot afford to forget and those who have been spared cannot afford to ignore." -- San Francisco Chronicle

From a childhood survivor of the Cambodian genocide under the regime of Pol Pot, this is a riveting narrative of war crimes and desperate actions, the unnerving strength of a small girl and her family, and their triumph of spirit.

One of seven children of a high-ranking government official, Loung Ung lived a privileged life in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh until the age of five. Then, in April 1975, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge army stormed into the city, forcing Ung's family to flee and, eventually, to disperse. Loung was trained as a child soldier in a work camp for orphans, her siblings were sent to labor camps, and those who survived the horrors would not be reunited until the Khmer Rouge was destroyed.

Harrowing yet hopeful, Loung's powerful story is an unforgettable account of a family shaken and shattered, yet miraculously sustained by courage and love in the face of unspeakable brutality.

Three friends-challenged with marriage, work, children, and self-doubt-all fall for the same man.

The handsome, charming, wealthy, and recently divorced Mack Taylor returns to Cape Cod at the beginning of the summer season after years away and shakes up several lives. It all begins with an innocent Facebook friend request to Sadie from Mack. Mack is coming back to the Cape to open a resort. Having once dated him, Sadie she feels she has dibs on a renewed friendship. But she soon realizes she has competition from her best friends: Charlotte, the charismatic former model, and Ada, the smart and coy beauty. All the women are at crossroads in their lives, so Mack's laid-back personality and attention is alluring and magnetic. But are they willing to gamble their marriages and families for a second chance at love? And will their friendships survive?

Alexandra Slater depicts Cape Cod sensuously, and the glittering beaches, boats, golf clubs, summer soirées, and fancy cocktails make for a lingering and memorable setting that readers will find irresistible. Yet, equally relatable to readers is the fact that even with all their luxuries, the women of Friends with Boats are still searching for something more. Mack's return to the Cape is a catalyst for self-discovery and reinvention.

Filled with humor, drama, sex, and romance, Friends with Boats is the perfect beach read.

Alexandra Slater is an award-winning journalist and writer. She graduated from Columbia University and is a former actress and comedian with Upright Citizens Brigade. She splits her time between Boston and Cleveland with her husband, their children, and three dogs.

Grandma Hattie teaches colors, numbers and so much more using ice cream. Each color has is connected to an amazing flavor as well. Count along with Aubrey as Grandma Hattie teaches her to count using scoops of ice cream.