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Drita, My Homegirl
Key Features Description Fleeing from war-torn Kosovo, 10-year-old Drita and her family move to America with the dream of living a typical life. But with this hope comes the struggle to fit in and adapt, in a poignant story about the friendships that can overcome a cultural divide. This story deals with the budding friendship between recent Albanian refugee Drita and Maxie, an African American girl who's lost her mom. Fleeing from war-torn Kosovo, 10-year-old Drita and her family move to America with the dream of living a typical life. But with this hope comes the struggle to fit in and adapt, in a poignant story about the friendships that can overcome a cultural divide. This story deals with the budding friendship between recent Albanian refugee Drita and Maxie, an African American girl who's lost her mom. Product Details Item #: NTS902006 9780439020060 Paperback Book 144 Realistic Fiction 5 Lexile® 630L Guided Reading GR Level T DRA 40 - 50 ... ACR 3.9 Funding Title I, Part A Show Less Show More Key Features Item #: NTS902006 9780439020060 Paperback Book 144 Realistic Fiction 5 Lexile® 630L Guided Reading GR Level T DRA 40 - 50 ... ACR 3.9 Funding Title I, Part A
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First published March 16, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
March 3, 2011
I think DRITA My Homegirl was a very awesome book replacement while i was waiting on the book The Genie Scheme. This book is about a girl named Maxie (a trouble maker) who is getting into trouble of corse and lives in NYC. She meets a girl named Drita who has moved to NYC from Kosova. When fourth grade comes around for Maxie and Drita, they meet while doing a report on Drita's home town. When Maxie was at a younger age she and her mom were in a car accident and only Maxie survived now Maxie and Drita are struggling to keep their friendship. Will they make it????
January 5, 2010
Drita has to move from Kosova to New York City because her country is in war and they have to stay safe. She goes to New York City and has to learn english, meet new friends, and start a whole new life.
I thought this book was great, but I only gave it 4 stars because they spoke Kosovian a lot and it was hard to understand.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves touching, funny,and awesome books.I think it was also very sad and suspenseful at some parts.
I thought this book was great, but I only gave it 4 stars because they spoke Kosovian a lot and it was hard to understand.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves touching, funny,and awesome books.I think it was also very sad and suspenseful at some parts.
December 14, 2018
Drita is an immigrant to the United States from Kosova. Amongst the struggle of her and her family leaving their country and everything they have ever known she is trying to find her place in school while not even knowing how to speak English. Maxie living in New York City, is one of her classmates who lost her mom a couple of years ago and finds herself often acting out at both home and school. At first Maxie is resistant to befriending Drita, but later these 4th graders find themselves paired up by their teacher. Do Maxie and Drita become friends?
I really enjoyed reading Drita, My Homegirl. I team read this book with my own 4th grade daughter. The book alternates between chapters from each of the girl’s voices. My daughter and I had fun picking who was going to “be” Drita and who was going to “be” Maxie when reading.
Now I know this book is about someone who doesn’t speak English and the author probably wanted to illuminate what it was like for Drita when she put Albanian text in the book, but I felt it was too much. By the end of the book I was over the Albanian text and quite frankly I felt it was a distracted from the story itself. My daughter would get a kick out if and giggle so much listening to me try to read what it said. I didn’t make it a big deal that laughing at another language can be seen as disrespectful but I can see if other kids read this as a read aloud how they could get carried away and distracted waiting for the Albanian text to just get a good laugh.
Overall I really liked the book. I felt the story really shows what it may be like to come from another country both in school socially and some family struggles too. Furthermore, the weaving in of the American, Maxie’s struggles come to show that the girl’s are really not that different after all.
This book was very sweet, funny and best of all it was real. I felt the author, Jenny Lombard wrote a very realistic but still appropriate book of a topic of the struggles of immigration that all of us can use a little reminder about. As Jenny wrote, “Even though on the outside we are different, on the inside we were just the same.”
I really enjoyed reading Drita, My Homegirl. I team read this book with my own 4th grade daughter. The book alternates between chapters from each of the girl’s voices. My daughter and I had fun picking who was going to “be” Drita and who was going to “be” Maxie when reading.
Now I know this book is about someone who doesn’t speak English and the author probably wanted to illuminate what it was like for Drita when she put Albanian text in the book, but I felt it was too much. By the end of the book I was over the Albanian text and quite frankly I felt it was a distracted from the story itself. My daughter would get a kick out if and giggle so much listening to me try to read what it said. I didn’t make it a big deal that laughing at another language can be seen as disrespectful but I can see if other kids read this as a read aloud how they could get carried away and distracted waiting for the Albanian text to just get a good laugh.
Overall I really liked the book. I felt the story really shows what it may be like to come from another country both in school socially and some family struggles too. Furthermore, the weaving in of the American, Maxie’s struggles come to show that the girl’s are really not that different after all.
This book was very sweet, funny and best of all it was real. I felt the author, Jenny Lombard wrote a very realistic but still appropriate book of a topic of the struggles of immigration that all of us can use a little reminder about. As Jenny wrote, “Even though on the outside we are different, on the inside we were just the same.”
October 10, 2014
Student Teaching Read-Aloud Adventures
Okay, so I understand that this message of this book is about accepting different cultures. It's a great message and this book also goes well with my class unit over different cultures. However, this is just not a good book to utilize as a read-aloud in a third grade classroom. Here are my reasons for disliking this book:
1. Language - Well, the word 'damn' made a brief appearance on page ten of the book. I had not read this book prior to starting the read-aloud. I am so happy that I caught it quickly and was able to improvise and replace the word with 'darn.' Nice save on my part. Anyway, it was just completely pointless to use this word in a book that is written for third-fifth graders.
2. Tongue Twisters Galore - One of the main characters of the book, Drita, is from the country of Albania. Hence, there are several phrases that will be in Albanian. As a read-aloud, it's just a big tongue twister and I swear I think it sounding like I was saying bad words at some parts (I know this because my kids were snickering constantly. I'm not stupid). Also the other character, Maxie, has some interesting grammar to say the least. Of course, I realize that it's about accepting different cultures. I'm not trying to sound like a hypocrite (but I know that probably am), but just consider these things before selecting it as a read-aloud.
Again, I do like the overall message of this book. However, I just feel that there are better books out there for this age group that convey the same message. From a teacher perspective, think about whether or not you think that your class or an individual will be able to have thoughtful discussions about the book before you decide to select it for reading. As a casual reader, this book really didn't do much for me.
Okay, so I understand that this message of this book is about accepting different cultures. It's a great message and this book also goes well with my class unit over different cultures. However, this is just not a good book to utilize as a read-aloud in a third grade classroom. Here are my reasons for disliking this book:
1. Language - Well, the word 'damn' made a brief appearance on page ten of the book. I had not read this book prior to starting the read-aloud. I am so happy that I caught it quickly and was able to improvise and replace the word with 'darn.' Nice save on my part. Anyway, it was just completely pointless to use this word in a book that is written for third-fifth graders.
2. Tongue Twisters Galore - One of the main characters of the book, Drita, is from the country of Albania. Hence, there are several phrases that will be in Albanian. As a read-aloud, it's just a big tongue twister and I swear I think it sounding like I was saying bad words at some parts (I know this because my kids were snickering constantly. I'm not stupid). Also the other character, Maxie, has some interesting grammar to say the least. Of course, I realize that it's about accepting different cultures. I'm not trying to sound like a hypocrite (but I know that probably am), but just consider these things before selecting it as a read-aloud.
Again, I do like the overall message of this book. However, I just feel that there are better books out there for this age group that convey the same message. From a teacher perspective, think about whether or not you think that your class or an individual will be able to have thoughtful discussions about the book before you decide to select it for reading. As a casual reader, this book really didn't do much for me.
August 22, 2012
This is one of my favorite books I've read this summer. The story centers around two fourth grade girls. Drita is Albanian. Her family has just fled Kosova (she explains that Kosovo is the English way of spelling it) because of the recent surge of violence there. They settle in New York, where she meets Maxie. Maxie is one of the popular girls in class who makes fun of Drita at first. Then, the teacher assigns Drita to Maxie as a social studies project, and Maxie begins to learn just how difficult life has been for Drita, and how much they actually have in common.
The book might have a theme that has been done over and over again (on the outside we're different, but on the inside we're all the same), but the author is so effective in her story telling that I just didn't care. I got all choked up in the latter parts of the book as the girls try to work through the pains they have suffered in their short little lives. Then I felt all giddy and warm as the book came to a rather predictable ending.
From a child's perspective, however, it's not played-out and it's not predictable. My guess is that, even though it's a higher reading level (T, according to Fountas and Pinnell), many students could benefit from hearing this story. Either they relate to what Drita has gone through (many of my own students have recently immigrated from Haiti, so they can relate to Drita's status as a refugee), or they could benefit from learning along with Maxie the importance of reaching out to those we can't always understand. I definitely want to use this book as a read aloud. Not only do I think it has actual literary merit, I think it should also be used to help build a better understanding of each other. The themes of this book are relatable to all the kids, and I think it's important that they hear all these themes.
The book might have a theme that has been done over and over again (on the outside we're different, but on the inside we're all the same), but the author is so effective in her story telling that I just didn't care. I got all choked up in the latter parts of the book as the girls try to work through the pains they have suffered in their short little lives. Then I felt all giddy and warm as the book came to a rather predictable ending.
From a child's perspective, however, it's not played-out and it's not predictable. My guess is that, even though it's a higher reading level (T, according to Fountas and Pinnell), many students could benefit from hearing this story. Either they relate to what Drita has gone through (many of my own students have recently immigrated from Haiti, so they can relate to Drita's status as a refugee), or they could benefit from learning along with Maxie the importance of reaching out to those we can't always understand. I definitely want to use this book as a read aloud. Not only do I think it has actual literary merit, I think it should also be used to help build a better understanding of each other. The themes of this book are relatable to all the kids, and I think it's important that they hear all these themes.
April 14, 2015
Personal Reaction: This book was very funny and cute and I actually know someone who has somewhat of a similar story! My friend, Ina, is from Albania like Drita. Drita came to New York when she was in 4th grade, not speaking any english but eager to make new friends. I found that this book captured many similar experiences to what my friend, Ina, endured. I can’t imagine being in a world that spoke a different language than I.
Purposes/Use in Classroom
read aloud enrichment: Since this book is written from 2 different perspectives, I think this would be an interesting read aloud. I think it would help the students understand point of views and the importance of point of view when telling a story. It shows that Drita and Maxie had their own interpretations of their experiences.
read aloud for curriculum: For curriculum purposes, I feel that this book would be extremely helpful during a unit where the students are learning about conflicting cultures and the difficulties of adapting to a new culture. I think that it would open the eyes of the students to the obstacles faced by those who come to America seeking refuge. Many students in America have never had to deal with the stress of moving to a new culture and I think this book shares that unique experience.
independent reading: Personally, I would have enjoyed reading this book when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. First of all, it’s relatable in the fact that they are the same age, but would have given me a glimpse of what other children my age were experiencing, especially as a student from Kansas reading about students in New York. I also know that my friend Ina would have found comfort in this book because Drita was experiencing the same things she did.
Purposes/Use in Classroom
read aloud enrichment: Since this book is written from 2 different perspectives, I think this would be an interesting read aloud. I think it would help the students understand point of views and the importance of point of view when telling a story. It shows that Drita and Maxie had their own interpretations of their experiences.
read aloud for curriculum: For curriculum purposes, I feel that this book would be extremely helpful during a unit where the students are learning about conflicting cultures and the difficulties of adapting to a new culture. I think that it would open the eyes of the students to the obstacles faced by those who come to America seeking refuge. Many students in America have never had to deal with the stress of moving to a new culture and I think this book shares that unique experience.
independent reading: Personally, I would have enjoyed reading this book when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. First of all, it’s relatable in the fact that they are the same age, but would have given me a glimpse of what other children my age were experiencing, especially as a student from Kansas reading about students in New York. I also know that my friend Ina would have found comfort in this book because Drita was experiencing the same things she did.
November 21, 2015
If you’ve ever been the new kid in school, you know how stressful of a feeling that can be. It’s even worse when you are an immigrant that speaks broken English. This is exactly what fourth grader Drita Kelmendi is feeling when she leaves war-torn Kosovo with her family to find safety in New York City. On the surface, it looks as if the culture-gap between Drita and her NYC classmates is too wide to overcome. But, as Drita is forced to form an unwanted alliance with a classmate, Maxie, she discovers her that their lives are not as different as they originally thought. Can they work together to achieve a common goal? The author, Jenny Lomabard, demonstrates to the readers about how diversity can be a beautiful thing. She teaches us that when we embrace other cultures, we soon learn to look at our similarities, rather than our differences.
It is fairly easy to incorporate Drita My Homegirl into thematic units. It provides opportunities for teaching diversity, acceptance, teamwork and globalization. As a writing component, discussions can be had about character perspectives, as the book rotates narration between Drita, a fourth grader from Kosovo, and Maxie, an African-American girl from New York City.
I consider this a “WOW” book because it works perfectly as a read aloud in schools that are as diverse as Wake County Public Schools. We’re able to have discussions about accepting the cultures within our own classrooms. I’ve found that this book helps unite classrooms into accepting each other’s similarities and embracing their differences.
It is fairly easy to incorporate Drita My Homegirl into thematic units. It provides opportunities for teaching diversity, acceptance, teamwork and globalization. As a writing component, discussions can be had about character perspectives, as the book rotates narration between Drita, a fourth grader from Kosovo, and Maxie, an African-American girl from New York City.
I consider this a “WOW” book because it works perfectly as a read aloud in schools that are as diverse as Wake County Public Schools. We’re able to have discussions about accepting the cultures within our own classrooms. I’ve found that this book helps unite classrooms into accepting each other’s similarities and embracing their differences.
January 25, 2010
For my children's literature class, I was required to choose a novel from a themed list about Coming to America. After I reviewed the titles and checked out their descriptions on Goodreads, I settled on Drita, My Homegirl by Jenny Lombard because I wanted to read a contemporary immigration story as opposed to a historical one.
I don't have a lot of experience with children's literature. One thing I noticed right away was that the sounds of laughter, honking cars, etc. are put into words, like "Haw haw." A bit off-putting, but I overlooked it. Since this is middle-grade fiction, I was relieved that so much was left to the imagination - not every little detail was spelled out.
The characterization was strong for both protagonists, Drita and Maxie. I think that the alternating viewpoints really enhanced one another. The use of different fonts to match the character was a subtle effect that will help students keep straight which character is talking.
Lombard explores the after-effects of immigration and war on the Kelmendi family very realistically. Another plot point, regarding a bully in the classroom, is also realistically handled, which lends the story a lot of credibility.
I don't have a lot of experience with children's literature. One thing I noticed right away was that the sounds of laughter, honking cars, etc. are put into words, like "Haw haw." A bit off-putting, but I overlooked it. Since this is middle-grade fiction, I was relieved that so much was left to the imagination - not every little detail was spelled out.
The characterization was strong for both protagonists, Drita and Maxie. I think that the alternating viewpoints really enhanced one another. The use of different fonts to match the character was a subtle effect that will help students keep straight which character is talking.
Lombard explores the after-effects of immigration and war on the Kelmendi family very realistically. Another plot point, regarding a bully in the classroom, is also realistically handled, which lends the story a lot of credibility.
April 20, 2019
Told from alternating points of view, two girls, Drita and Maxie, come from opposite sides of the world, but soon realize they have a lot in common.
Drita has resorted to sneakiness and misbehavior ever sense her mother’s death. But when her teacher suggests making the new girl, Maxie, her research project, Drita soon realizes that she may find a real friend in an unusual place.
Maxie’s family are refugees from Kosova. They’ve just moved to the United States and Maxie is thrust into an American School where she doesn’t know the language and doesn’t have any friends. But as Drita starts reaching out, Maxie realizes that there are many people who are empathetic to her family’s struggles and you can find friends in unusual places.
This is a quick read (I’d say 3rd-6th grade).
It’s great bc it will expose kids to some of the difficulties that refugees go through and how many people who immigrate to the US had established careers in their home country (engineers, teachers, cosmetologists, etc).
Drita has resorted to sneakiness and misbehavior ever sense her mother’s death. But when her teacher suggests making the new girl, Maxie, her research project, Drita soon realizes that she may find a real friend in an unusual place.
Maxie’s family are refugees from Kosova. They’ve just moved to the United States and Maxie is thrust into an American School where she doesn’t know the language and doesn’t have any friends. But as Drita starts reaching out, Maxie realizes that there are many people who are empathetic to her family’s struggles and you can find friends in unusual places.
This is a quick read (I’d say 3rd-6th grade).
It’s great bc it will expose kids to some of the difficulties that refugees go through and how many people who immigrate to the US had established careers in their home country (engineers, teachers, cosmetologists, etc).
June 28, 2009
Drita's family comes to the United States from Kosovo in order to escape the violence there. Life is not easy for Drita as she doesn't speak any English, but she wants to fit in with her classmates. Maxie, a popular student is paired with Drita for a class project. Although they can't communicate very well, an unlikely friendship develops.
March 25, 2014
I was not expecting this book when I picked it up...students who pick it up because of the title are going to be disappointed, students who don't pick it up because of the title are missing out. This is a great book about trying to fit in - both regularly and as an immigrant student. Important lessons for all readers, without being too preachy.
July 31, 2014
This is a really nice book about Drita, a girl from Kosovo who ran away to America with her family, and Maxie, a girl who lost her mother and is acting out at school. These two girls find each other and form a friendship, despite their language barriers and differences.
August 30, 2014
A good serious but not heavy story told in alternating chapters by two girls, one an Albanian refugee and one a New York girl who lost her mother. Perfect for 3/4/5 although with Kosovo out of the news some background might be necessary. 2014 bluestem nominee.
Read
October 28, 2013I abandonned the book because I got bored of it.
November 28, 2016
Cute novel about friendships looking past cultural differences.
(Had to read for a class)
(Had to read for a class)
September 8, 2020
135 pgs. This realistic fiction book is heartwarming and full of situations that kids will be able to relate to. I am so glad the friendship developed in this book shows how people so different can come together. We need that more than ever today. The author does a great job of taking the reader on a journey with Maxie to learn about Drita and where her family is from. The more she learns the more questions arise. It is a well-crafted book and will leave readers satisfied and hopeful. If only we were all so lucky as to have a friend like Maxie. It is written on about a 4-5th grade level and would be appropriate for those grades. Even though it is mostly about girls, I think all kids would enjoy it. There is one curse word but maybe it can be overlooked. Highly recommended.
January 9, 2020
This middle grade book had way more depth than I'd expected it to. It follows the budding friendship of two ten year old girls in NYC. One is a recent refugee from Kosovo who has just been reunited with her father who traveled ahead to the USA. The other is a Black girl who lives with her grandmother and widowed father. Both girls love basketball, cats, and drawing. After one girl stands up for the other against a bully, they become friends.
What I was really impressed with about this story though was that it dealt with some really heavy topics in ways that were accessible to a younger audience: refugees, war, the death of a parent, mental health, and adapting to a completely different culture.
What I was really impressed with about this story though was that it dealt with some really heavy topics in ways that were accessible to a younger audience: refugees, war, the death of a parent, mental health, and adapting to a completely different culture.
March 16, 2022
About 6 of my fifth graders are reading this right now, so I figured I'd read it as well, since a couple of them already had questions about it. Prepare for a few middle readers in your future. :P
This is a really sweet book about two fourth-graders, Drita and Maxie, who strike an unlikely friendship at their public school in NYC. Drita is an Eastern European girl recently emigrated from Kosovo who struggles with both English and friendships in her new country, and Maxie is a Black girl with plenty of friends already, although she keeps her guard up too much to let any of them in. The book swaps narratives between them through their trials and tribulations at school, and as the story progresses it becomes clear that though Drita is the one with the more obvious issues, they both could benefit immensely from becoming friends.
Though the book's beginning is a bit hokey, it turns into a genuine story about human generosity and kindness. I hope my boys glean some valuable lessons from it.
This is a really sweet book about two fourth-graders, Drita and Maxie, who strike an unlikely friendship at their public school in NYC. Drita is an Eastern European girl recently emigrated from Kosovo who struggles with both English and friendships in her new country, and Maxie is a Black girl with plenty of friends already, although she keeps her guard up too much to let any of them in. The book swaps narratives between them through their trials and tribulations at school, and as the story progresses it becomes clear that though Drita is the one with the more obvious issues, they both could benefit immensely from becoming friends.
Though the book's beginning is a bit hokey, it turns into a genuine story about human generosity and kindness. I hope my boys glean some valuable lessons from it.
May 31, 2023
One of the many read-a-thons on YouTube this month is Middle Grade May, and my friend Leane read this for the read-a-thon.
I went to graduate school to be a school librarian, so I am always on the look out for new-to-me authors.
Drita's family travels from war-torn Kosovo (Kosova) to Brooklyn New York, to join her father. This is the story of Drita's adventures learning English and new friends.
I went to graduate school to be a school librarian, so I am always on the look out for new-to-me authors.
Drita's family travels from war-torn Kosovo (Kosova) to Brooklyn New York, to join her father. This is the story of Drita's adventures learning English and new friends.
May 18, 2023
Really cute story about two girls from different cultures who are forced to get to know each other for a school project. During that time, they learn of each other's past and make a true friendship.
Read
June 27, 2023awkwardly written, but lovely story
April 13, 2021
A great little early chapter book to read aloud to a primary class to introduce the concept of refugees. The dual narrative is perfect for helping kids understand perspective.
Read
December 13, 2009Author: Lombard, Jenny
Title: Drita My Homegirl
Publisher: Scholastic
Edition: paperback
13 digit ISBN: 978-0-439-02006-0
Price: $4.95
Number of pages: 135
Rating: 4 stars: very good; without serious flaws; highly recommended
Description Prompts:
Format: Prose
Genre: Junior Fiction
Honestly, I did not have high hopes when I selected this book. It is a Scholastic Trade Book publication, which often causes me to be (snobbishly) dismissive. To say that I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. I am a librarian in a school that has many English Language Learners. Our school population is only 225 students, yet we have 2 ELL teachers on staff. Refugees are a large portion of the city of Utica population. This is due to the fact that the Mohawk Valley Refugee Center is located in our city. The remainder of our school population is inner-city African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian. This story resonated with me because the children in the story could have been students at my school.
Drita My Homegirl is the story of a young refugee from Kosovo and an African American girl, Maxie. They become acquainted when Drita is placed in Maxie’s class. Maxie is a class clown with some behavior issues stemming from the fact that her mother is dead. At first, Maxie is not nice to Drita in an effort to show off and seem cool. This is strongly reminiscent of the population I deal with on a daily basis. The teacher gives Maxie an assignment to report on Drita and where she is from for “Project Day’. Needless to say, Maxie is less than thrilled. After another instance of bad behavior, the principal assigns Maxie a book to read about Kosovo.
Drita works hard at fitting in. Her mother, though, has major adjustment problems. Drita’s father was in the United States for a year previous, and her grandmother and younger brother accompanied Drita on her journey. Maxie lives with her grandmother and father. She is having adjustment issues of her own due to the fact that her father is interested in a woman he works with. Maxie fantasizes that her mother may one day return, and has a hard time letting go of that fantasy. In both families, the grandmother is the strongest member. Many grandmothers of students in my school have full responsibility for children for a variety of reasons.
The climax of the story involves Drita playing in a basketball game. She is extremely good, and this arouses the ire of “Queen Bee” of the grade, who slaps her. Maxie becomes enraged at this injustice and punches the girl. Maxie’s punishment involves sitting out for recess for two weeks. Drita joins her, and Maxie shares the book given to her by the principal. Drita is thrilled to see a book about her homeland, and the two develop a tentative friendship. Drita invites Maxie over; Maxie and her grandmother arrive in the midst of a family crisis. Drita’s mother is having a breakdown. Maxie’s grandmother, a former nurse, assists the family by getting the woman to the hospital.
From that point on, the girls’ friendship is sealed. Maxie also comes to the realization that her father’s “friend” does not want to usurp her mother’s place, and accepts “Miss Thing.” Although the ending is a traditional happy one, it is not saccharine in any way. The book did not feel at all formulaic, and the characters were believable, not one-dimensional. The students, families, teachers, refugee workers, etc. were all accurately drawn. I encounter the same cast of characters every day in my school.
The language is clear and accurate. The cover illustration and title font are appealing. I believe the intended audience is fourth grade. It fits that audience perfectly. In addition third, fifth, and sixth graders could also read and enjoy it. It is written for girls, and I believe there in its appeal stays. Even though is it geared toward girls, I would strongly recommend as a read-aloud due to its length (not too long) and familiar language. In fact, I am planning on reading it aloud to third and fourth grade classes in my school.
I would strongly recommend this book for any school that has an ELL population. It might be one of the few (fun) books ELL girls can relate to. There are many heavy books on refugees; but I believe that this book would make them feel like “normal, American girls.” In my experience, the ELL students come far and fast, and I would imagine they would be able to read this book within 2-3 years of their arrival.
This story made me think about my students and the experiences they bring with them daily to school. I felt connected to the characters and grew to love them. This relatively simple story touched me emotionally, and made me glad that I selected it.
Title: Drita My Homegirl
Publisher: Scholastic
Edition: paperback
13 digit ISBN: 978-0-439-02006-0
Price: $4.95
Number of pages: 135
Rating: 4 stars: very good; without serious flaws; highly recommended
Description Prompts:
Format: Prose
Genre: Junior Fiction
Honestly, I did not have high hopes when I selected this book. It is a Scholastic Trade Book publication, which often causes me to be (snobbishly) dismissive. To say that I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. I am a librarian in a school that has many English Language Learners. Our school population is only 225 students, yet we have 2 ELL teachers on staff. Refugees are a large portion of the city of Utica population. This is due to the fact that the Mohawk Valley Refugee Center is located in our city. The remainder of our school population is inner-city African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian. This story resonated with me because the children in the story could have been students at my school.
Drita My Homegirl is the story of a young refugee from Kosovo and an African American girl, Maxie. They become acquainted when Drita is placed in Maxie’s class. Maxie is a class clown with some behavior issues stemming from the fact that her mother is dead. At first, Maxie is not nice to Drita in an effort to show off and seem cool. This is strongly reminiscent of the population I deal with on a daily basis. The teacher gives Maxie an assignment to report on Drita and where she is from for “Project Day’. Needless to say, Maxie is less than thrilled. After another instance of bad behavior, the principal assigns Maxie a book to read about Kosovo.
Drita works hard at fitting in. Her mother, though, has major adjustment problems. Drita’s father was in the United States for a year previous, and her grandmother and younger brother accompanied Drita on her journey. Maxie lives with her grandmother and father. She is having adjustment issues of her own due to the fact that her father is interested in a woman he works with. Maxie fantasizes that her mother may one day return, and has a hard time letting go of that fantasy. In both families, the grandmother is the strongest member. Many grandmothers of students in my school have full responsibility for children for a variety of reasons.
The climax of the story involves Drita playing in a basketball game. She is extremely good, and this arouses the ire of “Queen Bee” of the grade, who slaps her. Maxie becomes enraged at this injustice and punches the girl. Maxie’s punishment involves sitting out for recess for two weeks. Drita joins her, and Maxie shares the book given to her by the principal. Drita is thrilled to see a book about her homeland, and the two develop a tentative friendship. Drita invites Maxie over; Maxie and her grandmother arrive in the midst of a family crisis. Drita’s mother is having a breakdown. Maxie’s grandmother, a former nurse, assists the family by getting the woman to the hospital.
From that point on, the girls’ friendship is sealed. Maxie also comes to the realization that her father’s “friend” does not want to usurp her mother’s place, and accepts “Miss Thing.” Although the ending is a traditional happy one, it is not saccharine in any way. The book did not feel at all formulaic, and the characters were believable, not one-dimensional. The students, families, teachers, refugee workers, etc. were all accurately drawn. I encounter the same cast of characters every day in my school.
The language is clear and accurate. The cover illustration and title font are appealing. I believe the intended audience is fourth grade. It fits that audience perfectly. In addition third, fifth, and sixth graders could also read and enjoy it. It is written for girls, and I believe there in its appeal stays. Even though is it geared toward girls, I would strongly recommend as a read-aloud due to its length (not too long) and familiar language. In fact, I am planning on reading it aloud to third and fourth grade classes in my school.
I would strongly recommend this book for any school that has an ELL population. It might be one of the few (fun) books ELL girls can relate to. There are many heavy books on refugees; but I believe that this book would make them feel like “normal, American girls.” In my experience, the ELL students come far and fast, and I would imagine they would be able to read this book within 2-3 years of their arrival.
This story made me think about my students and the experiences they bring with them daily to school. I felt connected to the characters and grew to love them. This relatively simple story touched me emotionally, and made me glad that I selected it.
December 1, 2018
I read this because my 10-year-old niece read it for school and wanted us to talk about it. It's hard to rate it as an adult reading it, but I thought it was very well done with good messaging without being too simplistic. The characters were good, alternating points of view worked, and in the end I was happy for the two young friends who learned a lot during the course of the novel
April 25, 2014
Jenny Lombard's book "Drita My Homegirl" is an emotional and educational book about discrimination. I enjoyed how this book alternates chapters of each girls point of view. As each chapter went by, the girls grew closer to each other.
On the last page of this book, there is one sentence that caught my attention. I think it sums up the theme of the book. The sentence is "Even though on the outside we are different, on the inside we were just the same." This book teaches not only children but adults to not judge a book by it's cover.
There are two main characters in this book. One is named Drita and the other is named Maxie. Drita is a 10 year old refugee from Kosovo, which is a lot different than New York City. She's got some family problems at home because her mom is always depressed. She is different in many ways and just wants to fit in at school. Drita's culture is different so she doesn't have the same foods, clothing, or language as her classmates. Many kids tease her because of these differences. Maxie is an African American girl who gets in trouble a lot. She is funny, athletic, and has lots of friends. She hides the fact that her mom died in a car accident three years ago. There's also another character who is less important named Brandee. She is a mean girl who likes to show off. She is a bully to Drita.
In the beginning of the story, Brandee smacks Drita in the face during a basketball game. Drita is very good at basketball and Brandee is jealous of her. Maxie comes to Drita's defense and punches Brandee in the stomach. Maxie is later assigned to a project about Drita and her culture. She starts becoming friends with Drita and they get closer. One day, Maxie and Drita were supposed to have a play date but ended up in the hospital. Drita's mother was very depressed and needed help. Maxie was there to support Drita. Maxie learned to appreciated all of Drita's differences after getting to know her and the research she had done for her report.
In conclusion, I recommend this book to any young girls. It reminds us that although we are all different, we can find similar interests and be friends. Friends of different cultures widen our world.
On the last page of this book, there is one sentence that caught my attention. I think it sums up the theme of the book. The sentence is "Even though on the outside we are different, on the inside we were just the same." This book teaches not only children but adults to not judge a book by it's cover.
There are two main characters in this book. One is named Drita and the other is named Maxie. Drita is a 10 year old refugee from Kosovo, which is a lot different than New York City. She's got some family problems at home because her mom is always depressed. She is different in many ways and just wants to fit in at school. Drita's culture is different so she doesn't have the same foods, clothing, or language as her classmates. Many kids tease her because of these differences. Maxie is an African American girl who gets in trouble a lot. She is funny, athletic, and has lots of friends. She hides the fact that her mom died in a car accident three years ago. There's also another character who is less important named Brandee. She is a mean girl who likes to show off. She is a bully to Drita.
In the beginning of the story, Brandee smacks Drita in the face during a basketball game. Drita is very good at basketball and Brandee is jealous of her. Maxie comes to Drita's defense and punches Brandee in the stomach. Maxie is later assigned to a project about Drita and her culture. She starts becoming friends with Drita and they get closer. One day, Maxie and Drita were supposed to have a play date but ended up in the hospital. Drita's mother was very depressed and needed help. Maxie was there to support Drita. Maxie learned to appreciated all of Drita's differences after getting to know her and the research she had done for her report.
In conclusion, I recommend this book to any young girls. It reminds us that although we are all different, we can find similar interests and be friends. Friends of different cultures widen our world.
July 14, 2016
Lombard, Jenny. Drita, My Homegirl. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2006. Print.
This book would be a good read from 9 to 12 year olds; Lexile 690.
This novel is written from 2 main character viewpoints. The viewpoints come from 4th graders Drita and Maxie. Drita along with her family leave a war-torn Kosovo to come to New York City. Maxie and her mom were in a car accident, only Maxie survived the car accident. Maxie lives with her grandmother and father. Maxie is considered to be a trouble maker. As a new student to Maxie's class, Drita gets bullied because she knows little English. Maxie is asked by her teacher to use Drita for her project, to learn about Drita. Drita opens up to Maxie by teaching a little about Kosovo. Maxie changes her mind about Drita after she reads a book and watches the news about Kosovo. Drita's mom experiences depression from leaving her relatives in Kosovo. Maxie is a handful she floods the school bathroom by stuffing paper towels in the sink. When Maxie gets grounded she uses the telephone to call Drita. Drita and Maxi decide to play basketball, during the game Brandee slaps Drita and Maxi hits Brandee. Drita and Maxie meet build a bond of friendship that turns into the two becoming best friends. Maxie visits Drita's apartment and witness Drita's mother on the floor crying. Drita's mom becomes hospitalized and as a gift to cheer her up Maxie gives her a robe. Drita discovers Maxie's secret about Maxie, that Maxie's mother died. The book ends in the classroom with the two giving a presenting Maxie's project about their bond.
Main Characters: Drita Kelmendl, Drita's parents, grandmother and her little brother. Maxie, Maxie's dad, grandmother, Lisa, Mrs. Mirfue, Nene, and Brandee.
Themes presented in the text include: immigration, friendship, language and communication, bullying, discrimination, team work, and death.
I really enjoyed reading Drita, My Homegirl. I especially loved that the text was written from 2 different viewpoints. I also enjoyed the parts of the book were written in Drita's spoken language.
As a question for discussion, I would like to teach students about teamwork, diversity, and different cultures. As a writing component, I would have the students write an essay on friendship and acceptance.
This book would be a good read from 9 to 12 year olds; Lexile 690.
This novel is written from 2 main character viewpoints. The viewpoints come from 4th graders Drita and Maxie. Drita along with her family leave a war-torn Kosovo to come to New York City. Maxie and her mom were in a car accident, only Maxie survived the car accident. Maxie lives with her grandmother and father. Maxie is considered to be a trouble maker. As a new student to Maxie's class, Drita gets bullied because she knows little English. Maxie is asked by her teacher to use Drita for her project, to learn about Drita. Drita opens up to Maxie by teaching a little about Kosovo. Maxie changes her mind about Drita after she reads a book and watches the news about Kosovo. Drita's mom experiences depression from leaving her relatives in Kosovo. Maxie is a handful she floods the school bathroom by stuffing paper towels in the sink. When Maxie gets grounded she uses the telephone to call Drita. Drita and Maxi decide to play basketball, during the game Brandee slaps Drita and Maxi hits Brandee. Drita and Maxie meet build a bond of friendship that turns into the two becoming best friends. Maxie visits Drita's apartment and witness Drita's mother on the floor crying. Drita's mom becomes hospitalized and as a gift to cheer her up Maxie gives her a robe. Drita discovers Maxie's secret about Maxie, that Maxie's mother died. The book ends in the classroom with the two giving a presenting Maxie's project about their bond.
Main Characters: Drita Kelmendl, Drita's parents, grandmother and her little brother. Maxie, Maxie's dad, grandmother, Lisa, Mrs. Mirfue, Nene, and Brandee.
Themes presented in the text include: immigration, friendship, language and communication, bullying, discrimination, team work, and death.
I really enjoyed reading Drita, My Homegirl. I especially loved that the text was written from 2 different viewpoints. I also enjoyed the parts of the book were written in Drita's spoken language.
As a question for discussion, I would like to teach students about teamwork, diversity, and different cultures. As a writing component, I would have the students write an essay on friendship and acceptance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2015
Drita, a young girl from Kosovo, starts her new journey in New York where she meets another young girl, Maxie. Maxie is not very nice to Drita in the beginning of the book, but throughout conflict and consequence, they become friends due to their similarities. I enjoyed the diverse friendship that the two young girls were able to create in the midst of this book. I also liked the setting and overall concept of the story. Many young children go through hardships and this story is a great way of showing students that they are not alone and that others go through tough times as well. Overall, I liked this book, but I thought that it could have been more exciting in some way or another.
I think that this book should be read independently by students from about third to fifth grade. Some of the language in the book could be hard to understand, because the dialogue is different when both Drita and Maxie speak. There are new words and concepts that are also present within the story. After reading this book, I would ask students why they thought that Drita and Maxie spoke differently and if they have ever had a friend who spoke differently as well? This would open up discussion to diversity and different languages around the world. Students could do their own research on different languages and maybe even a brief history of each. In relation to that, students could also watch a short video or documentary of people from around the world speaking foreign languages. I think that students would find that both interesting and broaden their perspectives.
The concept of war is important to introduce to children in elementary school ages, even if it is something that we do not like discussing. This book brings that concept into the readers minds, without overwhelming them. I am happy that Jenny Lombard was able to accomplish this as an author.
I think that this book should be read independently by students from about third to fifth grade. Some of the language in the book could be hard to understand, because the dialogue is different when both Drita and Maxie speak. There are new words and concepts that are also present within the story. After reading this book, I would ask students why they thought that Drita and Maxie spoke differently and if they have ever had a friend who spoke differently as well? This would open up discussion to diversity and different languages around the world. Students could do their own research on different languages and maybe even a brief history of each. In relation to that, students could also watch a short video or documentary of people from around the world speaking foreign languages. I think that students would find that both interesting and broaden their perspectives.
The concept of war is important to introduce to children in elementary school ages, even if it is something that we do not like discussing. This book brings that concept into the readers minds, without overwhelming them. I am happy that Jenny Lombard was able to accomplish this as an author.
April 14, 2015
1. Personal Reaction: Being from a different country and moving to a new country is not the easiest thing to do. Especially when you are in school, it is really tough to make friends. Having read this story I have found that a lot of people have some similarities, but they don't even notice it. In this story Ditra and Maxie have something in common which is about their moms. Ditra's mom is traumatized by a car accident she was in and is depressed. While, Maxi's mom died from a car accident. At first, Maxie makes fun of Drita, but eventually becomes her best friend. I personally didn't like this book when it first started. But, once I started to get more into the novel it became interesting and you could see the bond and friendship that was being made between Drita and Maxie.
2. Purpose/Use in the Classroom: The genre in this story is realistic fiction, because all of the things that happen can happen in real life to anyone. For instance, students in the classroom can do an activity of seeing where some of the students heritage is from. This book would mostly be used in a classroom setting for grades 5th and 6th. Something that could be taught while using literary elements could be taught in a classroom could be setting. For example, showing how over time how Maxi and Drita became friends and how Maxie ended up doing a big report on Drita and her home country.
3. Diverse Perspectives: One thing that I really liked from this book was how the diversity was shown through an American life vs. the Albanian life. Maxie shows how the American life is, while Drita shows what her life is like through the Albanian way. This book is wonderful to use to teach children about diversity and how people are different, yet we have very similar interests and so forth.
2. Purpose/Use in the Classroom: The genre in this story is realistic fiction, because all of the things that happen can happen in real life to anyone. For instance, students in the classroom can do an activity of seeing where some of the students heritage is from. This book would mostly be used in a classroom setting for grades 5th and 6th. Something that could be taught while using literary elements could be taught in a classroom could be setting. For example, showing how over time how Maxi and Drita became friends and how Maxie ended up doing a big report on Drita and her home country.
3. Diverse Perspectives: One thing that I really liked from this book was how the diversity was shown through an American life vs. the Albanian life. Maxie shows how the American life is, while Drita shows what her life is like through the Albanian way. This book is wonderful to use to teach children about diversity and how people are different, yet we have very similar interests and so forth.
March 1, 2014
Drita is a ten year-old refugee from Kosovo who arrives in Brooklyn with her family. Her father, an engineer, escaped over a year ago and has been driving a taxi so he could bring his family to the safety of the U.S. Drita just wants to fit in and be liked by the students in her new class, but things start out pretty lonely for her, with her limited English skills, albanian lunches, and unfashionable clothes. Drita's mother is in a deep depression about leaving home and worries about her family. Maxie is an African-American girl who is in Drita's new class. Maxie is one of the homegirls of the fourth grade: she's funny and athletic and has a lot of friends, but she often gets into trouble. Maxie is being raised by her dad and grandmother; her mom died when she was just seven years old and Maxie really wants her back. Maxie is definitely not ready for her dad to have a new girlfriend. Maxie's teacher suggests an unusual social studies project: to study Kosovo, the homeland of the newest class member, and tell the background information of Dirta's life. This story includes a lot more than just a book about two friends: it's about the things that we all have in common and about how our differences make the world a smaller place.
I liked this book, "Drita, My Homegirl" because of the meaning behind it. A girl coming from a different country and wanting at least one friend. Everyone wants a friend they can tell everything to and call them their best friend. It took a while for Maxie and Drita to understand each others accents, but they eventually get use to it and notice how much they have in common.
I liked this book, "Drita, My Homegirl" because of the meaning behind it. A girl coming from a different country and wanting at least one friend. Everyone wants a friend they can tell everything to and call them their best friend. It took a while for Maxie and Drita to understand each others accents, but they eventually get use to it and notice how much they have in common.
August 12, 2011
What a treat. This goes far beyond the "typical" friendship stories aimed at 3rd through 5th graders. A refugee from Kosovo, Drita has just arrived in America with her family. She is excited about attending school, but her first day in Miss Salvato's fourth grade classroom proves challenging: even though she does not speak English, she can tell that one of the girls is making fun of her. Miss Salvato turns the tables on this class clown, though, when she suggests that Maxie's social studies project can be to learn about Kosovo and about Drita's journey to America. The chapters alternate between Drita's voice and Maxie's, and through the two perspectives, readers quickly appreciate the girls' differences and commonalities: both girls are struggling with difficult family situations. Their friendship develops slowly and believably, and readers will cheer for both girls as they and their families grow through the connections they make. While most children at this grade level probably are not familiar with the conflict that has torn the former Yugoslavian region for so long, Lombard weaves in current events in a way that middle graders will understand. The liberal use of Albanian phrases may be intimidating to some readers, and no glossary is included, although the meanings of most of the phrases can be inferred from the text. Students who do not let the unfamiliar phrases deter them, however, will be glad that they stayed with the story.
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