Smoky Night

The book Smoky Night by Eve Bunting beings with a boy, Daniel and his mom sitting in the dark. They gaze out their window watching people rioting and stealing from the local stores just below their apartment.  The next morning, they are awaken by knocks on the doors and the smell of smoke. Once they reach outside the building they see firefighters attacking the big fire of their building. 

As I was reading the book I kept wondering when Eve Bunting wrote it. The conflict in the story is relatable to what is going on today. It appears that every time I turn on the tv there is some sort of disagreement. I do wish that as the boy and mother watched the riot that she would have made it a teaching moment. Instead she stated that when people get angry they act that way. It's okay to disagree but people need to be able to have an open dialogue. Through the fires and rioting neighbors who previously disliked one another were able to work together. 

In my class/school the teachers and staff continuously teach students how to resolve conflict by using words. It's an on going process, my hope is that the lessons we teach will resonate with students and they will begin to resolve disagreements by using their words and valuing the opinions of others. By the way this book was written in 1994 during the L.A. riots.