Book Review: All the Ice Cream in the Land by Emmy Kastner

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All the Ice Cream in the Land  by Emmy Kastner  is about a princess, the kingdom she lives in, and her loyal subjects. Full of twists and turns, children will surely delight in this story about ice cream. When I saw the title and cover art of this kid's book, it made me instantly think of my childhood and how I would've loved a book like this one. A huge shout out and thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for approving my request to read this book. I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. The storyline is very easy to follow, making it especially suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers, particularly children between the ages of two and six. Its straightforward narrative and clear structure make it an excellent choice for read-aloud sessions at home, bedtime stories, or classroom story time. While there is limited character development, which is typical for a picture book format, the princess is still an intere...
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Book Review: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

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Book Club Pick Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson is a non-fiction book taking a look at the history of the United States of America, specifically racism as a caste system and compares it to other caste systems like those in India and Nazi Germany. Using specific examples from history, Wilkerson takes a hard look at how we got to where we are now.

Wilkerson's Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents is a powerful and eye-opening book that everyone should read, and it deserves a place in high school curricula. The depth of historical research included is truly remarkable. While I recognized some of the events and facts, many were completely new to me. What surprised me most was realizing how much of this critical history is often glossed over in traditional school lessons.

One shocking example of history being glossed over is the practice of photographing public hangings. Photographers would capture the moment so that each person or family could have their photo taken with the person being executed hanging from the tree. These images were then turned into postcards and sent to friends and family.

The amount of historical detail in this book is truly jaw-dropping, and I am amazed that much of it was never taught in school. This is essential information that belongs in textbooks, as it helps people become more aware, understand systemic oppression, and ideally, learn from the past to prevent history from repeating itself.

Wilkerson also explores immigration throughout U.S. history and how it intersects with the caste system. While some of this reinforced what I already knew, it is such an important part of our history, showing how race, immigration, and social hierarchies are intertwined,a critical context for understanding the caste system presented in Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.

Isabel Wilkerson did a phenomenal job with Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. This book is a must-read, and I believe it should be required reading for all high school students. I gave it five out of five stars.

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