[Show cover.] Like
all of us, Deza Malone was born with advantages and setbacks. I’m going to get
the bad stuff out of the way first, so here it is:
Deza and her family are living
during the Great Depression, a time in the United States when many people were
poor, many children went hungry, and many men and women could not find jobs.
Deza’s family is especially poor
and cannot afford medical care. Although Deza is basically healthy, her teeth
are rotting are she is often in pain because of this. She’s only 12, and that
shouldn’t be happening to someone that young. Deza overhears her father
privately talking about how upset he is over her teeth and how frustrated he is
that he can’t do anything about them.
Racism is still alive and well
during the Great Depression, and many whites still look down on
African-Africans. Deza and her family have experienced racism and prejudice
first hand.
Okay, I got some of the bad stuff out of the way. Now for
the cool stuff about Deza.
Deza is an awesome friend and
sister. She’s funny, loyal, and kind. She and her best friend, Clarice, look
out for each other. They have a secret sign that means, “two girls, one heart.”
Deza is super smart and never brags
or has an attitude about it. She’s a great reader and a brilliant writer. The
only time she got a low grade on an essay was when she had a teacher who didn’t
believe in giving good grades to African-Americans. Ever.
Deza is tough (she can hold her own
in a fist fight) and surprisingly sneaky (in a good way). I can’t tell you what
she did that was sneaky, but it really took me by surprise, and that’s part of
the reason her father calls her The Mighty Miss Malone.
The
Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis. 2012: Wendy Lamb Books. 307
pages. Booktalk to intermediate grades and middle school. Newbery 2013
contender.
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