Mini Review of A Place to Belong, Amber O’Neal Johnston.
In a world tainted by racism, can we raise our kids to bridge the divides between people? Can we teach them to rejoice in the differences God gave us in everything from skin color to the volume with which we speak? Author Amber Johnston offers a hopeful answer, as she turns to books as a primary way to teach our children about the beauty found in diversity.
The author speaks and writes with a warm, welcoming tone, and overall I felt that this book was beneficial for me to read and consider. I have always curated my kids’ reading selections at home and from the library with an eye toward diversity. I want them to see the beauty and joy of the variety of people and cultures God has given us in this world. Mrs. Johnston’s words reminded me to continue that good work of providing what she calls “mirrors” and “windows” to my children. (Mirrors show them children like themselves. In contrast, windows give them valuable insight into people who have different cultures than their own.) Her family goals are in many ways similar to my own, as I seek to homeschool my children in a Charlotte Mason-esque way that encourages love for beauty and truth in learning about the world.
Some Highlights of A Place to Belong
A fun highlight of A Place to Belong is the story of how the Johnston family does “world schooling.” (Adding long-term stays in other countries to their homeschooling.) They live frugally and stay for a long time in one place to be able to afford family travel and to prioritize meeting people above seeing as many places as possible.
Mrs. Johnston’s compassion is evident in her kind reaction to misguided remarks from insensitive people. (Remarks along the lines of, “I’m glad you came on this hiking trip because we’ve been wanting more black people.”) When those of us who don’t share her ethnic background read her stories, we benefit from the “window” she gives us into her internal reactions. We are better able to consider the impact of our words before speaking them.
An Issue to Be Aware of When Considering A Place to Belong
If I had stopped reading before the last two chapters, I would wholeheartedly endorse this book. However, the hints that had been dropped earlier became more obvious at the end, as she mentioned her “privilege” as a straight person of feeling comfort with being openly affectionate with her husband in public.
Since this is supposed to be a brief review, I will let you, the reader, draw your own conclusions here.
Reading Windows
I do try to follow Mrs. Johnston’s advice on reading “windows.” This won’t be the last time I read a book to its end even when I disagree with some of the author’s conclusions. I usually try to, “seek first to understand before seeking to be understood,” a la Stephen Covey’s famous Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. (Another book, by the way, which I think is worth reading in spite of the fact that I don’t agree with everything in the book.)
Overall, I’d say there is a lot to learn from in A Place to Belong. So if you are a Christian looking at this book: read, gather what you can, and then compare it all with Scripture.
Quotes from A Place to Belong
“Success is not that our children don’t notice diverse images, people, and experiences. Success is that they see people for who they are, notice their beauty, value their presence, and quickly move on because they expected them to be there all along.” –Amber O’Neal Johnston
“As I raise my kids, I will infuse in them all the beauty of who they are and where they come from while ensuring that they see you and your children as friends and not foes. I’ll give them windows into other families and their ways of life alongside the mirrors reflecting our own culture to them. I will lead them to love themselves. And I will teach them to love you.” – Amber O’Neal Johnston