I Was Supposed to Be at School - by Ananda Luz & Isabel Malzoni (Hardcover)

About the Book

Children living in a low-income neighborhood in Brazil sent letters and drawings to their government showing the impact of frequent violent police raids.

Book Synopsis

The children living in Maré, an area of low-income neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, wrote letters to their government showing what happens to them during the violent police raids that are part of their everyday life. Their words and pictures tell stories of sadness, fear, joy, and anger. They are also a call to uphold the right of every child to live without violence.

Review Quotes

"Children in Maré, a slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, want to play, learn, get ahead in life. In I Was Supposed To Be At School...they write -- in collaboration with Ananda Luz and Isabel Malzonito -- the government about how police violence permeates their lives. A constant state of fear causes parents to miss work and kids to miss school, keeping them in poverty.... The book is aimed at children aged 6-8, but its poignant, sophisticated content can also be used to educate children aged 8 and up about the state of the world."