Exploring the complexities of gender identity, this collection highlights the experiences of tomboys and other non-conforming figures who challenge traditional gender norms. Through personal narratives and cultural analysis, it celebrates the courage and resilience of those who defy societal expectations. The book delves into the intersections of gender, sexuality, and identity, offering insights into the lives of individuals who embrace their authentic selves. It serves as a powerful testament to diversity in gender expression and the importance of representation.
"A sweet middle-grade chapter book about two best friends who transform their torn-up street into a world where imaginations can run wild. In 1984 Los Angeles, Alex is a tomboy who would rather wear her hair short and her older brother's hand-me-downs, and Wolf is a troubled kid who's been wearing the same soldier's uniform ever since his mom died. They set their worries aside when their street is torn up by construction machines and transformed into a muddy wonderland with endless possibilities. To pass the hot summer days, the two best friends seize the opportunity to launch a gleeful street war against the rival neighbourhood kids. But when Alex and Wolf make their headquarters inside a deep trench, Alex's grandmother warns them that some buried things want to be found and some want to stay hidden. Although she has the wisdom of someone who has survived the Mexican Revolution, the Spanish Flu, and immigration to a new country, the kids ignore her warning, unearthing more than they bargained for. The exuberant and expressive black-and-white line drawings by Gabriela Godoy perfectly capture the summers of youth, when anything feels possible and an adventure is always around the corner. Bursting with life and feeling, both the people and the land come alive in a tale interwoven with Mexican-American identity, experience, and history. The Street Belongs to Us is a story of family, friendship, and unconditional acceptance, even when it breaks your heart."-- Provided by publisher
Children spend a lot of time debating with each other over what makes a boy a boy and a girl a girl. It's a time of choices. It's a time of creating themselves. It could be a time for blending and embracing the many ways they express themselves, but it is too often a time of narrowing the possibilities of who they can be. This book enters into this conversation and opens it up. It is the story of a child thinking through who she is, a child learning through her mother's love how to be both strong and soft.
