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A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship In the Home and Beyond
A guide for families of all backgrounds to celebrate cultural heritage and embrace inclusivity in the home and beyond.
Gone are the days when socially conscious parents feel comfortable teaching their children to merely tolerate others. Instead, they are looking for a way to authentically embrace the fullness of their diverse communities. A Place to Belong offers a path forward for families to honor their cultural heritage and champion diversity in the context of daily family life by:
• Fostering open dialogue around discrimination, race, gender, disability, and class
• Teaching “hard history” in an age-appropriate way
• Curating a diverse selection of books and media choices in which children see themselves and people who are different
• Celebrating cultural heritage through art, music, and poetry
• Modeling activism and engaging in community service projects as a family
Amber O’Neal Johnston, a homeschooling mother of four, shows parents of all backgrounds how to create a home environment where children feel secure in their own personhood and culture, enabling them to better understand and appreciate people who are racially and culturally different. A Place to Belong gives parents the tools to empower children to embrace their unique identities while feeling beautifully tethered to their global community.
Gone are the days when socially conscious parents feel comfortable teaching their children to merely tolerate others. Instead, they are looking for a way to authentically embrace the fullness of their diverse communities. A Place to Belong offers a path forward for families to honor their cultural heritage and champion diversity in the context of daily family life by:
• Fostering open dialogue around discrimination, race, gender, disability, and class
• Teaching “hard history” in an age-appropriate way
• Curating a diverse selection of books and media choices in which children see themselves and people who are different
• Celebrating cultural heritage through art, music, and poetry
• Modeling activism and engaging in community service projects as a family
Amber O’Neal Johnston, a homeschooling mother of four, shows parents of all backgrounds how to create a home environment where children feel secure in their own personhood and culture, enabling them to better understand and appreciate people who are racially and culturally different. A Place to Belong gives parents the tools to empower children to embrace their unique identities while feeling beautifully tethered to their global community.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published May 17, 2022
85 people are currently reading
1492 people want to read
About the author
Amber O'Neal Johnston
9 books132 followersAmber O’Neal Johnston is the author of A Place to Belong, a guide for families of all backgrounds to celebrate cultural heritage, diversity, and kinship while embracing inclusivity in the home and beyond. She is a regular contributor to the wildly successful Wild + Free homeschooling community, a frequent podcast guest, and a coveted speaker at homeschooling, parenting, and education conferences.
Amber lives in Georgia nestled among pine trees, hammocks and ziplines with her husband Scott and their four children. Her happy place is the back porch on a rainy day, preferably with a giant mug of hot tea and a good book. And although she was raised in the air conditioning, somehow the woods is where she feels most at home these days.
When they have the chance, her family enjoys extended worldschooling trips to immerse themselves in other cultures, so you can often find her researching their next home away from home. Amber writes and speaks about the beauty of an inclusive, culturally and socially conscious home environment, and she enjoys sharing diverse literary mirrors and windows on Heritage Mom website and @heritagemomblog (IG).
Amber lives in Georgia nestled among pine trees, hammocks and ziplines with her husband Scott and their four children. Her happy place is the back porch on a rainy day, preferably with a giant mug of hot tea and a good book. And although she was raised in the air conditioning, somehow the woods is where she feels most at home these days.
When they have the chance, her family enjoys extended worldschooling trips to immerse themselves in other cultures, so you can often find her researching their next home away from home. Amber writes and speaks about the beauty of an inclusive, culturally and socially conscious home environment, and she enjoys sharing diverse literary mirrors and windows on Heritage Mom website and @heritagemomblog (IG).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
June 10, 2024
In the book description this is called a”guide.“ It is certainly that and so much more. I am not sure what I was expecting from this book, but I knew that because of the kind of speaker and writer that Amber is that it would be good. What I did not expect was how challenged I would feel to get my literal house in order. This book made me think quite a bit as a homeschooler about my approach to guiding principles, but it also made me think as a Black woman what our core family values are and how we pass those down to our son.
It challenged me to think about how we interact with and value others’ purposes and heritages without sacrificing who we are as a people. I felt like I needed to get out a clipboard and start making a list with my family so that we can get to work! I’m so glad that this book wasn’t just targeted at one group of people. It spoke to so many of us and was so honest in its approach. For that I say thank you for writing this book Amber O’Neal Johnson!
It challenged me to think about how we interact with and value others’ purposes and heritages without sacrificing who we are as a people. I felt like I needed to get out a clipboard and start making a list with my family so that we can get to work! I’m so glad that this book wasn’t just targeted at one group of people. It spoke to so many of us and was so honest in its approach. For that I say thank you for writing this book Amber O’Neal Johnson!
April 30, 2022
This book challenged me. But not in a way that left me hopeless, feeling like my bi-cultural kids will never find a "place to belong." It helped me to realize the importance of my own role and how I can encourage them to develop a strong connection to their own cultures and the heritage of our family, while also strengthening their connections and helping them to find an external community where they can be known and where they can know others well. I loved that this book emphasized the valued treasure of cross-cultural relationships, as well as the need for "sacred spaces" where you don't always have to have "cross-cultural interaction mode" turned fully on. I have never read another book with quite this message--this is a needed book for parents, no matter your cultural heritage or the heritage of your children, you all need to know that you have 'a place to belong.'
May 17, 2022
I am inspired! The questions posed in the first section were an excellent for reflection for our family, as they will help us continue to walk our children through celebrating their heritage while also embracing the heritage of others. It has been helpful to consider the impact of our responses to these questions, as our actions and feelings towards others is what our children will mirror. There is a lot of food for thought, especially regarding creating an in-home culture where kids celebrate their heritage and learn to love others. I am always looking to expand our home library, and the author left me envisioned with the kinds of stories that will enrich the lives of my children. The themes by age and the goals for reading levels provided in the book are a helpful tool for evaluating a home library. I am motivated to find books about Hispanic artists, inventors, and activists, as well as Hispanics living daily life, so my children can grow up seeing themselves in the books that surround them. With everything from reflective questions to lists of diverse book awards, this book is a treasure trove for all parents who desire to provide a culturally-rich education and to equip their kids to delve into their cultural heritage. I am motivated to have my kids record some of the stories that their grandparents tell them, and to take time to affirm and encourage their heritage as part of our daily family life.
May 3, 2022
When I first encountered the author’s teaching points it was via a video on mirrors and windows, and I was moved. Previous to that, I was (and still am) a homeschooling mom who had become grieved over the dismissal, absence, or, frankly, racism in so many of the hailed books suggested in the booklists within homeschool curricula I loved so much.
In my first years teaching, I felt as if I were the only one who saw these painful references in our classic literature. How can I feed my child a consistent diet of this stuff? Myself as a biracial child growing up in an all-white city in the PNW, I knew the impact this could have on my kids.
So I dabbled in the author’s blog posts, social media, and conference sessions since and felt the same confirmation as at my first encounter, but THIS BOOK!
A Place to Belong takes my understanding to a whole ‘nother level of understanding for me. It is very detailed, practical, and applicable. And, perhaps most importantly, the author is somehow able to speak empathetically, knowledgeably, and wisely to both black and white parents simultaneously! She compassionately incorporates the voices of many others beyond and within the black/white dichotomy, as well as those of varying walks of life. It blows me away. I have gathered that her goal is unity—as much as can be attained—through the exposure we give to our kids through the books, experiences, home atmosphere, etc.
This book dug deep into my heart and moved beyond the influence of “confirmation” and into conviction and inspiration. So many things clicked for me. Whereas I knew something in our home library had to change, and I added black literature, composers, artists, historical perspectives, etc. here and there I realize that’s not what it’s really about for me. Not what I’ve really been looking for.
I can’t just sprinkle the chocolate shavings on top of the vanilla ice cream, so to speak. We need to go Willy Wonka style and just dive in to the chocolate! (My analogy, not the author’s—I know it’s a bad one, but I’m sure you feel me. 😂)
This type of shift into *more* freedom and more solid conviction—the bringing me into a deeper understanding of the “why” that already existed within me is probably too much for me to go into here. But I will say, that by God’s grace and his apparent calling on this lady “for such a time as this”, it has come through each chapter in this moving book.
In my first years teaching, I felt as if I were the only one who saw these painful references in our classic literature. How can I feed my child a consistent diet of this stuff? Myself as a biracial child growing up in an all-white city in the PNW, I knew the impact this could have on my kids.
So I dabbled in the author’s blog posts, social media, and conference sessions since and felt the same confirmation as at my first encounter, but THIS BOOK!
A Place to Belong takes my understanding to a whole ‘nother level of understanding for me. It is very detailed, practical, and applicable. And, perhaps most importantly, the author is somehow able to speak empathetically, knowledgeably, and wisely to both black and white parents simultaneously! She compassionately incorporates the voices of many others beyond and within the black/white dichotomy, as well as those of varying walks of life. It blows me away. I have gathered that her goal is unity—as much as can be attained—through the exposure we give to our kids through the books, experiences, home atmosphere, etc.
This book dug deep into my heart and moved beyond the influence of “confirmation” and into conviction and inspiration. So many things clicked for me. Whereas I knew something in our home library had to change, and I added black literature, composers, artists, historical perspectives, etc. here and there I realize that’s not what it’s really about for me. Not what I’ve really been looking for.
I can’t just sprinkle the chocolate shavings on top of the vanilla ice cream, so to speak. We need to go Willy Wonka style and just dive in to the chocolate! (My analogy, not the author’s—I know it’s a bad one, but I’m sure you feel me. 😂)
This type of shift into *more* freedom and more solid conviction—the bringing me into a deeper understanding of the “why” that already existed within me is probably too much for me to go into here. But I will say, that by God’s grace and his apparent calling on this lady “for such a time as this”, it has come through each chapter in this moving book.
May 18, 2022
I am writing this review quickly - because I want to honor the work of the author by sharing what I LOVE about this book, but selfishly, I WANT to get back to diving in more deeply!
Amber offers an invitation and a path forward toward giving our children both mirrors and windows. This offering is deeply rooted in hospitality and generosity of spirit. She begins with the premise that we do, indeed, “all love our children, value our communities, and want the best for both” (xvii).
I’m especially loving her practical tips for embracing hard topics of conversation and wisely creating space for children to come to us while also discerning when we might and should initiate conversations on tough topics with our children.
As a mother formed by the classical tradition and seeking to form my own children with roots in this tradition, I very much appreciate her thoughtful conversation around the topic of “The Canon.” This is especially helpful and affirming as our own home library has grown in recent years due to Amber’s writing and thought provoking questions about selecting life giving books. Classical texts that wrestle with timeless questions of what it means to be human now share space on our shelves with contemporary books that give my children a window into the history and lives of a more diverse representation of humanity, where their mind’s eye doesn’t automatically center a white character within any given story.
And now, I have so much more to read and re-read; I’m grateful to have this book as I consider our educational path for next school year.
Amber offers an invitation and a path forward toward giving our children both mirrors and windows. This offering is deeply rooted in hospitality and generosity of spirit. She begins with the premise that we do, indeed, “all love our children, value our communities, and want the best for both” (xvii).
I’m especially loving her practical tips for embracing hard topics of conversation and wisely creating space for children to come to us while also discerning when we might and should initiate conversations on tough topics with our children.
As a mother formed by the classical tradition and seeking to form my own children with roots in this tradition, I very much appreciate her thoughtful conversation around the topic of “The Canon.” This is especially helpful and affirming as our own home library has grown in recent years due to Amber’s writing and thought provoking questions about selecting life giving books. Classical texts that wrestle with timeless questions of what it means to be human now share space on our shelves with contemporary books that give my children a window into the history and lives of a more diverse representation of humanity, where their mind’s eye doesn’t automatically center a white character within any given story.
And now, I have so much more to read and re-read; I’m grateful to have this book as I consider our educational path for next school year.
May 16, 2022
This book is thought provoking, timely, and well organized. Filled with life giving wisdom, it challenges readers to embark upon (or continue along) a personal journey of understanding and celebrating their unique heritage. Further, it invites readers to see beauty that lies in cross cultural connections. It is a tool for parents of any age or background with bold questions that offer a launching pad for engaging in rich discussion and meaningful connections with children. Serving as a guide to facilitate conversations with children, this book will certainly shape future generations in a powerful and transformative manner.
April 29, 2022
When we think of our home and homeschool environment and the choices we make, want them to be done with love and intention. A Place to Belong takes you through the step by step process to understanding what is important and sacred to your family and how to make that reflect in your home and how you educate your children. This is an excellent read for parents who want to raise children who can see the value and beauty in people of all colors, especially their own. Most importantly, we need to set up mirrors for our children to see themselves in all the beauty that cultivate for them. This book has definitely book to add to your Mother Culture basket for personal growth and to learn how to tackling hard subjects with your children.
May 26, 2022
Amber clearly outlines the vision for creating an environment in which our children are deeply rooted in their family and cultures and therefore free to listen to and learn from others.
This book has both the why and the how, and the encouragement that says "you can!".
I hope this book will become standard reading for parents.
This book has both the why and the how, and the encouragement that says "you can!".
I hope this book will become standard reading for parents.
May 18, 2022
A Place to Belong is a reminder that the work for a secure place to live for our children starts in the heart of our home. This book isn’t simply a guide, it’s a challenge to rise to the occasion, to change the way we view the world from inside our homes. Amber offers a feast of relatable and practical ways to make our homes culturally rich and fulfilling through art, music, travel, and literature resources and shared experiences. The Group Discussion Study Guide is the next step this book provides to encourage table talk around the important topic of this text.
This book is a reminder that as parents we all share a unique commonplace wanting the same things for our children. Through Amber’s words we are given the knowledge to produce small humans who find joy in the uniqueness of the people around them, and we are able to connect parts of ourselves to celebrate too. Enjoy this learning journey of self reflection from “colorblind to colorful living”.
This book is a reminder that as parents we all share a unique commonplace wanting the same things for our children. Through Amber’s words we are given the knowledge to produce small humans who find joy in the uniqueness of the people around them, and we are able to connect parts of ourselves to celebrate too. Enjoy this learning journey of self reflection from “colorblind to colorful living”.
May 17, 2022
Amber Johnson is a much needed voice in how to curate our family cultures to being a colorful home and a place to belong. Her book is divided into four parts: Laying the Groundwork, Curating the Home Library, Shaping the Home Atmosphere, and Moving Beyond the Four Walls. She writes from a place of where she had to learn and improve. She provides many practical ideas on how to bring diversity into our home life. Her family is a homeschool family but this is written for all families and there are nuggets for everyone. It is not written as a one size fits all but something to pull from. I can not recommend this book enough - it is a must read for all families.
May 10, 2022
This book is such a treasure! The author perfectly blends inspiration, thought-provoking questions, and practical guidance on how to help our children develop a strong sense of their own identity while also becoming caring, inclusive members of our communities. I came away with specific ideas that I’m eager to try with my family. I particularly love the book’s tone; it’s thoughtful, confident, and kind. As I read, I continually thought of friends and family members I wanted to pass this on to, and I’m looking forward to reading it over again myself!
May 1, 2022
Amber's wisdom, personal experience, and practical advice makes this book a must-have for every family library.
May 16, 2022
I want my kids to feel connected not only to our family, but also to people across the globe. I want to prevent an "us vs. them" mentality and raise kids who are compassionate and brave while being firmly rooted in truth. I can research books with diverse and multicultural characters and read to my kids all the live long day, but actually getting out of my comfort zone and meeting people and developing relationships with them is not something that comes naturally to me (introvert). I've been seeking resources to help guide me in the daily how-to's. I have been searching for a book like this. I'm so pleased to have finally found one!
And wow. It has tons of ideas. I highlighted like crazy. The hard part will be narrowing down what I want to add in first for us so that I don't crash. I was nervous that I might end up feeling overwhelmed (ok maybe I did a couple of times) but mostly I just feel excited and encouraged. But you know, my favorite part of the book wasn't even all the practical ideas and resources. It was the tone of hope and understanding. I'll definitely be coming back to this over the years.
And wow. It has tons of ideas. I highlighted like crazy. The hard part will be narrowing down what I want to add in first for us so that I don't crash. I was nervous that I might end up feeling overwhelmed (ok maybe I did a couple of times) but mostly I just feel excited and encouraged. But you know, my favorite part of the book wasn't even all the practical ideas and resources. It was the tone of hope and understanding. I'll definitely be coming back to this over the years.
January 17, 2023
4.5 stars. Amber does a wonderful job weaving very personal family stories with research and practical tips. Thought provoking. I especially loved the chapters on building a home library.
May 17, 2022
A Place to Belong is part of a much larger and necessary conversation. I love the author's balanced and life giving approach to this sometimes very divisive topic. Amber talks about how our own family culture shapes this conversation, how to curate resources that are both "doors" and "windows" for our children, allowing our children to find roots in who they are, and how to move beyond our own homes and experiences to include others. I loved how in depth she went on how to find good resources for our children that reflect both their own family values and culture and others. I think my favorite part was allowing our children to be rooted in our own families in a way that is life giving (creating depth in our own family/community relationships) and in turn that allows them to reach out lovingly and confidently to others who are different with an attitude to learn and relate and enjoy. I definitely recommend this book!
May 17, 2022
Every parent is educating their children, no matter where “school” is located. It’s daunting to think about everything we need or want to teach our kids. Will they treat others with kindness? Will they be selfless? How do we show them the world is bigger than our little corner of it? How do we discuss differences while celebrating diversity?
I found this book to be a helpful guide in these areas and so many others. Amber shares lots of ideas for creating a vibrant and caring family culture, as well as sharing wisdom gleaned from her own life experience.
I found this book to be a helpful guide in these areas and so many others. Amber shares lots of ideas for creating a vibrant and caring family culture, as well as sharing wisdom gleaned from her own life experience.
May 19, 2022
“Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”Can any of us really say? Well, I will say that while reading “ A Place to Belong” I harkened back to my childhood quite a bit! And what I noticed was that I had Mirrors all around me, but very few- if any windows at all. Thanks to this book I now know that I was raised colorblind. My family did an excellent job of teaching us to love our “ brownness”. “ A Place to Belong” in my view, challenges the status quo in a healthy way. It teaches one to truly look within to see one’s own perspective and/ or vantage point. It’s a vehicle to help bridge the gap that much of humanity experiences in learning to appreciate and empathize with those who are different than us, those we often misunderstand. This is a conundrum that has plagued even perplexed mankind for centuries. This book has been a “mirror” of some sorts for me. I can personally relate to one or two stories told within the pages. The author did an excellent job with laying out the narrative of the ills that still plague us all today, and for that she gets five stars!
PS: Amber also did an excellent job with sharing ways on how to build heritage within your family, and shows example of how you can build relational windows with those that are different than you. Everyone that seeks to become a better version of themselves should read this book.-Period!
PS: Amber also did an excellent job with sharing ways on how to build heritage within your family, and shows example of how you can build relational windows with those that are different than you. Everyone that seeks to become a better version of themselves should read this book.-Period!
May 16, 2022
As my children exit the infant/toddler stages and enter preschool/kindergarten ages, I’ve increasingly realized how much I don’t know, or how much I’ve not completely thought through, in terms of goals I have for my parenting and how I’d like to guide my children. A Place to Belong helped me think through important topics in a helpful, encouraging way. The author walks alongside the reader in a way that is wise and also not condescending or prescriptive.
Johnston’s writing is approachable and poetic, winsome and wise, honest and kind. It is apparent on every page that the author is well read and purposeful - she doesn’t waste the reader’s time with irrelevant facts, misplaced anecdotes, or unrelated quotes. She generously includes practical tips and action steps that assist the reader in discerning next steps for their family.
In my opinion, this book is first and foremost about being a good parent and raising empathetic, understanding, well-rounded, wise children. It’s not a book for Black parents or white parents, nor a book about being woke or homeschooling. Rather, it’s a call to parents to meaningfully and intentionally invest and nurture their children in a way that allows they to fully become who they were created to be, so as to fully embrace the humanity of others. I highly encourage all parents to read this book!
Johnston’s writing is approachable and poetic, winsome and wise, honest and kind. It is apparent on every page that the author is well read and purposeful - she doesn’t waste the reader’s time with irrelevant facts, misplaced anecdotes, or unrelated quotes. She generously includes practical tips and action steps that assist the reader in discerning next steps for their family.
In my opinion, this book is first and foremost about being a good parent and raising empathetic, understanding, well-rounded, wise children. It’s not a book for Black parents or white parents, nor a book about being woke or homeschooling. Rather, it’s a call to parents to meaningfully and intentionally invest and nurture their children in a way that allows they to fully become who they were created to be, so as to fully embrace the humanity of others. I highly encourage all parents to read this book!
May 18, 2022
Amber gives us a great way to bring discussions of diversity and unity into our homes. She embraces celebrating your own culture and heritage while learning about others. Her goal is not to have us all meld together, but to learn into others and ourselves in a way to make the world a more beautiful place together. The goal is to expose our families to different cultures and groups, not to agree with them, but to recognize their humanity. Amber encourages us to lead with growth and authenticity, not from fear. While I do not homeschool my children, I found this book to be beneficial for my family (and myself) as we try to expand our understandings of those around us and create places of belonging. We need to take the time to learn and listen to each other.
July 4, 2022
Wonderful
A thorough, honest, and edifying book! She really takes the time to work through the "whys and wherefores" of some tough issues. I loved reading about how much her daughter influenced her thinking on these topics and how they address them in their own home. I've followed her Instagram account for some time but it was great to go deep. Highly, highly recommended reading.
A thorough, honest, and edifying book! She really takes the time to work through the "whys and wherefores" of some tough issues. I loved reading about how much her daughter influenced her thinking on these topics and how they address them in their own home. I've followed her Instagram account for some time but it was great to go deep. Highly, highly recommended reading.
May 29, 2022
This book doesn't cuddle you, and it's not a feel-good book, but it's highly graceful. I confronted the truth about myself while being admonished to show understanding toward other people.
This book made me realise that a lot of what makes 'me' has been concealed from my children. This is my starting point for change, showing my culture and giving my stories.
'Books are by no means panaceas, but the more children read about the real lives outside their bubbles, the richer their relationships and experiences will be. '- Amber O'Neal Johnston
.
I'm aware that I'm limiting my children's view of the world by not providing windows that transcend race and gender. I've been spurred to make plans for my picture wall of 'mirrors' and 'windows'. I am starting a family timeline. I'm investing in my children knowing who they are. My language has changed. I needed this book.
Amber is like a big sis cheering you on without judging you, inspiring you to do better without condemning you, and giving you an encouraging glance when you're doing good.
This book made me realise that a lot of what makes 'me' has been concealed from my children. This is my starting point for change, showing my culture and giving my stories.
'Books are by no means panaceas, but the more children read about the real lives outside their bubbles, the richer their relationships and experiences will be. '- Amber O'Neal Johnston
.
I'm aware that I'm limiting my children's view of the world by not providing windows that transcend race and gender. I've been spurred to make plans for my picture wall of 'mirrors' and 'windows'. I am starting a family timeline. I'm investing in my children knowing who they are. My language has changed. I needed this book.
Amber is like a big sis cheering you on without judging you, inspiring you to do better without condemning you, and giving you an encouraging glance when you're doing good.
May 28, 2022
Being an interracial family in a small, non-diverse town has not been without it’s challenges. From my children being the only brown children on the playground to outright painful experiences we’ve faced, I have often struggled with where we are raising our family.
This only intensified as I began homeschooling. Flipping through curriculum after curriculum, nothing ever seemed to convey to my children their true history. Not to mention when we would be reading through a “classic” and constantly ran into offensive racial terms.
It has been hard and lonely.
Until Amber. From the first time I heard her speak it was as if for the first time someone saw my kids. Someone validated and celebrated who they are.
There aren’t words to really describe how much A Place to Belong has meant to me. Or how thankful I am to have it as a tool and a resource to pass on to friends who are in our village pouring into our kids. This book isn’t just for brown families, or interracial families, it’s for all families. Because we all have a responsibility to create and foster a society, and homes, and tables, and bookshelves that show others you, in all of your fullness and uniqueness, matter and are welcome here. I have no doubt that I will continue returning to Amber both in this book and in her continual outpouring of knowledge online as a resource on how to do just that.
This only intensified as I began homeschooling. Flipping through curriculum after curriculum, nothing ever seemed to convey to my children their true history. Not to mention when we would be reading through a “classic” and constantly ran into offensive racial terms.
It has been hard and lonely.
Until Amber. From the first time I heard her speak it was as if for the first time someone saw my kids. Someone validated and celebrated who they are.
There aren’t words to really describe how much A Place to Belong has meant to me. Or how thankful I am to have it as a tool and a resource to pass on to friends who are in our village pouring into our kids. This book isn’t just for brown families, or interracial families, it’s for all families. Because we all have a responsibility to create and foster a society, and homes, and tables, and bookshelves that show others you, in all of your fullness and uniqueness, matter and are welcome here. I have no doubt that I will continue returning to Amber both in this book and in her continual outpouring of knowledge online as a resource on how to do just that.
May 23, 2022
The book is easy to read, it's even easier to apply and act on. She writes so peacefully but never passively about the need for diversity in our homes that I wish that I and every other passionate person could be this pursuasive and approachable.
This is only the second book I've read about creating a learning environment for my kids, and I'm really glad Ms ONeal Johnston is the one teaching me about:
• choosing good age appropriate books for my kids,
• valuing our own heritage,
• valuing diversity even if it makes me uncomfortable,
• setting a comfortable place for hard conversations,
• being a brave parent that will make the world better for everyone.
Some of these topics might be redundant for older parents familiar with Charlotte Mason, but I she adds her own perspective and clear focus. I never felt lost even though I'm not a Charlotte Mason person.
Today many Episcopalians read about Alcuin. "Who in a rude and barbarous age, rekindled the light learning" and basically saved the cultural depth of his society. In the aftermath of the Buffalo shooting and Riverdale highschool graduation shooting amidst our own rude and barbarous age, Amber ONeal Johnston's book, A Place to Belong, rekindles a desire for diversity and light of learning.
This is only the second book I've read about creating a learning environment for my kids, and I'm really glad Ms ONeal Johnston is the one teaching me about:
• choosing good age appropriate books for my kids,
• valuing our own heritage,
• valuing diversity even if it makes me uncomfortable,
• setting a comfortable place for hard conversations,
• being a brave parent that will make the world better for everyone.
Some of these topics might be redundant for older parents familiar with Charlotte Mason, but I she adds her own perspective and clear focus. I never felt lost even though I'm not a Charlotte Mason person.
Today many Episcopalians read about Alcuin. "Who in a rude and barbarous age, rekindled the light learning" and basically saved the cultural depth of his society. In the aftermath of the Buffalo shooting and Riverdale highschool graduation shooting amidst our own rude and barbarous age, Amber ONeal Johnston's book, A Place to Belong, rekindles a desire for diversity and light of learning.
May 30, 2022
This book is a treasure trove of important ideas. It is a practical guide full of inspiration and encouragement for families to carve out their own path toward cultivating a healthy, self-aware, globally-minded sense of beauty and belonging for their children. The author shares advice and also her own personal stories. She helps readers navigate nuances of racial and cultural diversity that bring everyone into the same conversation. This book is a real treat!
May 22, 2022
If you want to dive into some important and challenging cultural topics in the sweetest, kindest way possible, this book is for you! Part 1 (Laying the Groundwork) and Part 4 (Moving Beyond the Four Walls) are for ALL humans (whether you are currently raising children or not). These sections are filled with questions and concepts to guide you through examining your own history, thoughts and actions (related to topics like heritage, community, race, bias, and leadership). Just contemplating a few of these will kindle the fires of greater understanding and empathy -- and inspire a broadening concept of diversity. The middle of the book -- Part 2 (Curating a Home Library) and Part 3 (Shaping the Home Atmosphere) -- is a treasure trove of parenting resources and ideas for raising children who are rooted in understanding of their own culture and who are connected, in meaningful ways, to a culturally diverse global community. There is so much goodness in this book. Get it and buy one for a friend.
May 19, 2022
Insightful and practical. This book feels like the distillation of years of deep thinking about issues of inclusivity and belonging. The author's tone is both direct and generous. The personal stories about her own family are so helpful in illustrating her ideas and also make the book extremely readable. I feel like she is speaking to me parent-to-parent. I would recommend A Place to Belong to any parent, including both my conservative and liberal friends.
Some specific things I love about this book:
+ guidance on "tough table topics" -- how to encourage open dialogue in the family even about "taboo" topics
+ ideas for choosing diverse books for my family (with specific tips for different ages)
+ ideas for celebrating my own family history/culture as well as others' stories/cultures
+ guidance for addressing hard history in an age appropriate way
+ awesome quotes and research from diverse thinkers/ experts
+ book discussion guide at the back (perfect for book groups!)
This feels like the perfect parenting book for our time. It offers a hopeful and realistic antidote to the divisiveness and dividedness of our country.
Some specific things I love about this book:
+ guidance on "tough table topics" -- how to encourage open dialogue in the family even about "taboo" topics
+ ideas for choosing diverse books for my family (with specific tips for different ages)
+ ideas for celebrating my own family history/culture as well as others' stories/cultures
+ guidance for addressing hard history in an age appropriate way
+ awesome quotes and research from diverse thinkers/ experts
+ book discussion guide at the back (perfect for book groups!)
This feels like the perfect parenting book for our time. It offers a hopeful and realistic antidote to the divisiveness and dividedness of our country.
May 26, 2022
I love this book! It's such a treasure. Amber shared stories from her experience as a mom. I could really relate to the struggle about waiting to talk about certain topics but our kids face all kinds of things whether we talk about them or not. I love the idea of being a space for my children to talk about anything and being available even if my experience is different. I love that Amber shares books by black authors, it has impacted my home in such profound ways.
May 18, 2022
“A Place to Belong” is a beautifully written book, filled with personal stories of Amber's journey to broaden her family’s worldview, while also rooting them more deeply in who they are as individual people. She encourages the reader to dig deep into their own family’s story and heritage, while also seeking to better understand other people’s stories, cultures, and experiences.
What makes this book even more of a gem is that you aren’t left scratching your head afterward, wondering how to put all you’ve read into action. Amber shares practical steps, questions to reflect on, and ideas for creating a home in which culture and diversity are celebrated.
Our family current lives outside of our passport country, so we’ve had abundant opportunities to learn from other people and cultures. However, this book proves that you don’t have to uproot yourself and move across the world in order to be a part of a global, multicultural community.
What makes this book even more of a gem is that you aren’t left scratching your head afterward, wondering how to put all you’ve read into action. Amber shares practical steps, questions to reflect on, and ideas for creating a home in which culture and diversity are celebrated.
Our family current lives outside of our passport country, so we’ve had abundant opportunities to learn from other people and cultures. However, this book proves that you don’t have to uproot yourself and move across the world in order to be a part of a global, multicultural community.
May 25, 2022
I follow Amber on social media, and knew I wanted this book as soon as I heard she was writing it. Her quest to provide her children with an environment that would give them both windows to other cultures and mirrors on their own will benefit every human. We are fortunate to follow her journey and learn from her practical advice. This book is a much needed voice in a time in our world in which we still have people (and sometimes are the people) who do not see nor honor the value and beautiful colors in every human being.
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June 1, 2022Years from now, we will look back at A Place To Belong and say, “It began with this book!” Amber O’Neal Johnston wrote the blueprint which will change the face of homeschooling for the next decade. This book will be as popular as Sarah Mackenzie’s Teaching From Rest because it is sincere, relevant, applicable to every homeschool family and all families looking to create home libraries that reflect the beauty and diversity of the people around us. If you cannot afford this book, please request that your public library buy it. Please! If you are a BIPOC homeschooler, like myself, you will feel heard, seen, and validated by Amber’s testimony. As I was reading, crying, smiling throughout this book, I recalled this prayer by Mother Teresa, “May God break my heart break so completely that the whole world falls in.” Amber’s book will break your heart and you will gain a new perspective on how to give your family and community the world.
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