Read Time: 12mins
Author: Irene Smalls
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Don’t Say Ain’t, by Irene Smalls, is a beautiful and moving story of a young girl’s struggle to adjust to a changing world without losing touch with her roots. It’s 1957 and jump ropes beat out Double Dutch rhythms for three best friends living in Harlem. For Dana life is about to change.
Points of Interest: Friendship, language, integration, opportunity, hard choices
Who may like this book: Children who stand out even amongst their friends.
Dialogic Reading Prompts
- Why were Dana’s friends ignoring her?
- Why did Dana’s teacher not want her to say “aint?”
- Why did Dana’s teacher act differently at school and on the street than talking inside with Dana’s Godmother?
- Dana is good at math and Cindybelle is good at double dutch. What is something you are good at?
- Why did the other kids at school not like Dana?
- How would you react, if your friends didn’t talk to you and you were at a new school?
- Where in America do you think Dana lives?
- How would you react to someone like Dana coming to your school?
The Path to Literacy 