Blog post 8: Alternative Narrative Draft

Character Background

Main Character – Leilani (Hawaiian – Royal child of heaven)

Abuelita paternal grandmother – Ramona/Mona (Spanish – Wise Protector)

Two-Spirit Best Friend – Hajar (Arabic – Stone)

Older/Younger Sister –

Father – African American and Latino

Mother – African American and Hawaiian

Nana – African American maternal grandmother

Statement of Purpose

I chose a multiracial family to challenge the all white characters of the original text and to help multicultural children better see themselves in the text. I allude to the idea that the main character may have Pacific Islander, African American, and Latina heritage but I don’t state it explicitly in the text because that is not a main focus in the text (similar to how my parents learned to eat).

I chose names with meanings that reflect the role and personality of each character. I chose a city setting because it is one that I am more familiar with. I chose to base the city off a combination of Berkeley and New York. I chose Berkeley because the San Francisco Bay Area is well known for its liberal social, political, and economic thinking. I chose New York because of its high levels of intercultural exchange and because it’s where I grew up. In both places inequalities do exist but they are often overlooked. I chose a family structure that was similar to my own, intergenerational. I chose to incorporate Spanish to appeal to English language learners.

The personalities of the main character and her best friend are based off of me when I was younger. Her relationship with her Abuelita represents the relationship I have with my grandfather. Some of her friends and classmates are based off of the people I grew up with. The issues she deals with are issues that I or my friends have faced in school.

I experimented with different perspectives before I chose one. Right now its in the third person but I' like to change it to the first person point of view. It seems more powerful with young Leilani trying to understand the world. It also seemed like a good way to break the typical silence of female main characters in fairytales. There always seems to be someone else telling Her story, as though girls can’t speak for themselves. I think the readers will be able to relate to a heroine that literally speaks directly to them.

            Although the family has specific cultural origins I wanted the book to appeal to a wide audience. I wanted my target audience to be more general but I often found it difficult to see myself in certain texts growing up. So I specifically wanted children of color to feel like they could see themselves in it in some way. Regardless of the background I wanted to create universal characters and a resonant storyline.

            I couldn’t decide if I wanted it to rhyme or not. Rhyming usually helps to appeal to a younger audience. It makes it easier for them to follow along and it makes it easier for them to recall. I also couldn’t decide if I wanted the book to be for adolescents or young children. I went back and forth in between several drafts but I think I'll stick with the 5-7 age group.

Page 1 - In lively location not far away, there’s a city that sits by a bay. This bustling place moves at a rapid pace, it’s filled with cars and not much space.

·         City by the bay

·         Busy street with cars

Page 2 - In a house in the middle of the street where the Amsterdam and Convent meet, live Leilani and her family in building number 123. Nana lives in 456, Hajar in 789. The Sampsons live in 321 and Abuelita on the other side.

·         Our block with 4 row houses

Page 3 - Lelani is a vibrant girl who likes to run and skip and twirl. She likes colors and flare and all things rare. She’ll even eat a bug on a dare.

·         Leilani in a colorful “eccentric” outfit (pearls, doc martens,

·         Friends freaked out by dare

Page 4 - She studies cars, and books, and songs. But there’s one thing she loves most of all. Leilani loves to dance, you see. It means more to her than you or me.

·         Playing with hotwheels and naming cars on the road

·         Reading books and singing songs

·         Dancing

Page 5 - Dancing is Leilani’s gift she picks up moves in class quite swift. On a stage or on TV, a dancer is what she wants to be.

·         Leilani in dance class

·         Leilani as a professional dancer

Page 6 - Then again there just might be something more special to Leilani. More important even than dancing is Leilani’s family!

·         Family portrait/reunion/dinner at grandmas

There are always different parts that make us who we are. Leilani’s many nicknames reflect them all. Daddy calls her “spunky” while she helps him with his tools. Mami calls her “mi vida” when she drops her off at school. Granny calls her “suga” while they practice math rules. Abuelita calls her “niña preciosa” while they bond over stories and food.

·         Picture helping Daddy fix things

·         Getting dropped off at school

·         Playing math games with Grandma

·         Cooking with Abuelita

Leilani’s special bond is with her Abuelita. Their favorite things to do together are cook and tell stories. They make all kinds of savory dishes that remind Abuelita of home. Abuelita comes from a tiny island with lush trees and crystal waters. The hills turn silver in the moonlight and the frogs sing horrible songs. The people are warm and friendly. Everyone knows each other. There are lots of festivals with bright colorful costumes, dance, music, and of course good food.

At home she may be loud and colorful, even dramatic if you may. But in class and afterschool she’s pretty quiet and shy; she hardly talks during the day except to defend her best friend against bullying. It wasn’t always that way. She used to be more outgoing but she started to get bullied for defending her best friend. Her best friend is a girl named Hajar. The older girls at school refer to Hajar as a tomboy. The teachers at afterschool whisper that she might grow up to be a word that Leilani doesn’t recognize. One day she decides to ask Abuelita. Abuelita tells her that there are some people who have two-spirits. “These people are very special and are often misunderstood”. Abuelita says it is good that Leilani has chosen to support her friend. Considering Hajar is Leilani’s second closest friend after Abuelita she never thought twice about defending her.

At school she has several friends but she’s not the most popular. At afterschool she’s well behaved but she’s not the teacher’s favorite. At dance she does well but she’s not the most talented. At home she comes first but everywhere else she seems to settle for second best. Leilani makes a promise to the night star that one day she’ll grow up to be the best at something and stand out.