The Last Stop on Market Street is a wonderful book to use to engage students with the four dimensions of critical literacy. In the article Critical Literacy as Comprehension, McLaughlin and DeVoogd (2004) state, “Critical literacy helps teachers and students expand their reasoning, seek out multiple perspectives and become active thinkers”(pg. Both the text and the corresponding image bring us sharply back to the present, but we carry the message with us. Gone are the dreamy, cool colors that create this beautiful, magical moment where metaphorically CJ is “lifted out of the bus.” No longer do we hear the music of the man’s guitar. Notice how in the page that follows this one (see below), both CJ and the reader are snapped right back to reality. In turn, I as the reader am filled with emotion as I too internalize Nana’s words and the meaning behind them. As CJ begins to internalize the magic in his grandmother’s insights, we see the author’s use of imagery, figurative language and music in language combine (see the page below). These relationships are precious and we should seek them out. Because of this, we see that relationships with people can bring much joy, even if it is a small thing (like Trixie’s new hat). And, I hear Trixie got herself a brand-new hat.” In this moment, the author could have chosen to hit us over the head with a lesson instead, he chooses understatement which is far more powerful. They’ll never get a chance to meet Bobo or the Sunglass Man. When CJ asks why his friends never have to go to the soup kitchen, Nana responds by saying “I feel sorry for those boys. In Last Stop on Market Street, the grandmother character provides these unexpected insights for the reader. We live with characters as they work their way through problems but may be delighted suddenly by an eye-opening insight about the human experience that comes from their struggles” (pg 30). al (2016) state “Life like good stories contain occasional small surprises. This Sunday’s bus ride to Market Street proves to be special as CJ’s Grandma opens his eyes to the beauty of his world a beauty he didn’t previously see. By the end of the story, CJ realizes this magic as well. To each of CJ’s questions, she has an answer that shows CJ the magic and beauty present in their everyday life. At one point while staring out the window, CJ feels sorry for himself when thinking about these things. He wonders why he doesn’t have an iPod, why some people are blind and why the area around the soup kitchen is so dirty. He wonders why he always has to go to the soup kitchen after church when his friends don’t. As they ride along, CJ continues to notice and wonder about differences he sees around him. CJ’s Nana responds by pointing out that if they didn’t ride the bus, they would miss the fun tricks of Mr. On this rainy Sunday, CJ wonders why they have to ride the bus in “all this wet” when his friends have cars to ride in. SummaryĮvery Sunday after church, CJ and his grandmother ride the bus across town to their stop on Market Street. He also visits high schools and colleges throughout the country. ![]() He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York and teaches writing. He received his MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University. Matt attended the University of Pacific on a full basketball scholarship. In 2016, Matt was awarded the NCTE Intellectual Freedom Award for his work. He explained that, half-Mexican, half-white, he had grown up speaking no Spanish too white for Mexican kids, too brown for whites” (Winerip, 2012). He told students “his story of reluctant reader to successful writer. When visiting Tucson high school students, Matt shared about himself. In 2012, Tucson schools banned the use of Matt’s book Mexican Whiteboy as part of the curriculum. This book is a tie-in for Pixar’s blockbuster hit Coco. Matt’s picture book Miguel and the Grand Harmony was released by Disney in both English and Spanish. Matt’s book Ball Don’t Lie was made into a major motion picture. Matt De La Pená is a Newberry honor award winning author who has written six young adult novels and four picture books. Literary Awards: Newberry Medal Award (2016), Caldecott Honor Book Award (2016), Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book (2016),A New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of 2015,A Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Book of 2015įocus: Contemporary Realistic Fiction About the Author Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pená
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