#IMWAYR August 8, 2016


Here we are again, time for #IMWAYR. Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host this weekly event when readers of kidlit share what they have been reading. 

The life of a reader is fraught with difficulty. 

Before I went away with my sisters, I lost my house and car keys. I searched high. I searched low. I could not find them anywhere. 


me and my sisters dressed in matching tops in honor of our mother
When I returned home after a fabulous time, I continued to search. Eventually, I had an idea that they must be in the pocket of my library book bag. Unfortunately, I couldn't find my book bag anywhere. Now I was missing my keys, my library books and the beautiful bag gifted to me by one of my best friends! 

I cleaned the house. I couldn't find my bag. I had a bad feeling that I might have left it in our car (which we regularly leave unlocked) or maybe in the hall with the front door open. 

Thursday I went to the library to drop off titles I had finished and pick up what had arrived, I asked if someone had returned it, you know, just in case. Then I went and spent $240 on a new car key and contemplated the cost of changing locks on the house. 

On Friday morning I got a message from the Vancouver Public Library. Some kind patron found my bag of books somewhere and returned it, my books and keys to the library! 

Library users are the best kinds of people. 


PICTURE BOOKS 

4 stars
A Beginner's Guide to Bear Spotting by Michelle Robinson and David Roberts (illustrator)

These stunning illustrations by David Roberts make this book work for me. The story and guidelines are humorous. I don't think I appreciate the hilarity so much since I love to be in wild spaces where encountering bears can be seriously scary.



5 stars
The Airport Book by Lisa Brown

This book just wowed me! It's the kind of book my sons would have been lost in way back in the day when we were all much younger. The book follows a family taking an airplane on their way to visit grandparents. The youngest has packed her own sock monkey in her suitcase. Unfortunately it isn't available when she needs or wants it while on the plane.

That's the basic storyline, but there is so much more going on in this book. For younger readers who've never been on a plane ride, this book explains everything that happens in the process. 


What makes this book spectacular is that there are many parallel stories revealed in the illustrations at the airport. I think I went back three times to figure out who the people were and how their stories would unfold.

There is also a fun story about what happens with the sock monkey in the cargo area of the plane.

3 stars
Marvellous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans by Phil Bildner & John Parra (illustrator)

This is a story about a Cornelius Washington, a garbage man in New Orleans who inspired others by just being who he was. I absolutely adore John Para's illustrations.

It's just, there is something surreal in this tall tale style that, for me, ended up minimizing the real person and the power and spirit of the collective of New Orleans. The idea that one person alone can make a difference perpetuates a myth of the power of an individual and belief that we have to be 'special' to contribute. Granted there is more about how the local and larger community worked together after Hurricane Katrina at the end of the book, but this juxtaposition following the exaggeration, didn't work for me.
I wish I had learned more about how 'Marvelous Cornelius' came to be the man he was. I enjoyed watching him talk about the importance of respect in the following video.







4 stars
Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Abigail Halpin (illustrator)

These are gorgeous illustrations showing us the many facets of wild. The language is lush with evocative descriptions.
My only quibble is the section where the two children search for wild in a city and only end up discovering it in what looks to be a park. As a city dweller who loves wild, I can attest that wild is impossible to bury that deep. Scraps of it make itself known everywhere, even in the concrete jungle!.


NOVELS

3.5 stars
I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest read by Mary Robinettte Kowal

I gave this one 3.5 but think maybe it would have been more if it wasn't an audiobook. I missed all the graphic components and it took me a while to figure out that this is what was going on in the oral portrayal of it. I enjoyed this mystery that unfolds as May follows the clues to find out what happened to her best friend Libby. May thought Libby had died in a car accident until versions of a comic they created together show up on the Internet. What I liked most about this book is that it has diverse male and female characters working together without any romantic overtones. 

3 stars
Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly  read by Bea Miller

I finally got around to this book. It was a title recommended to me by many of my older book club members in the past few years. There is much to laud. I enjoyed listening to Bea Miller's narration. The book has strong independent female characters and interesting world building. The story is loaded with adventure and close calls. It's just that sometimes the writing was stilted and jarred. 


5 stars
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm read by Becca Battoe

This book! Holy Carumba. I started listening to this book and finished it in one day. This is historical fiction at its finest. Holm has created strong characters and placed them in time and space so authentically, readers can't help but connect to and believe in them. I have to admit that the ending kind of surprised me, but I think the open endedness actually makes it a stronger story. And honestly, it left me with that spark of hope for what might be for Turtle's biological parents. 

CURRENTLY
Lately I have been devouring audiobooks, but am almost stalled with real reading. I've been trying to work my way through The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle, but it just isn't working for me. If this was my own book instead of a library copy, I would just abandon it, but it's already overdue, so I have to finish it! I wonder if I didn't associate Federle with the Nate books I might appreciate this one more. 
I'm still savouring One Native Life by Richard Wagamese. I have just barely started the audiobook of Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk.

UP NEXT
I've peeked into Kim Fu's For Today I am a Boy and am excited to read more of it ASAP. Ellen Potter's Too Much Good Luck, the second Piper Green and the Fairy Tree title is sitting beside me hollering for attention. I still have a few more audiobooks to get through as well.  

PS I finally finished The Great American Whatever! More about it next week.

26 comments:

  1. The Airport Book is a great book. There are so many details in the illustrations and they make the book so interesting. I took out a bunch of picture book biographies from the library so I have Marvelous Cornelius in my pile. I didn't realize it was a tall tale. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Picture book biographies are wonderful! I look forward to reading your thoughts on Marvelous Cornelius.

      Delete
  2. I love your story at the beginning, and its wonderful ending!
    I loved The Airport Book too! It was a fun surprise, I didn't expect that much in it!
    I started The Great American Whatever and couldn't get into it. I was very busy at the time so that may have had something to do with it! I'll try again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think The Airport Book will go onto my list of possible gifts for the younger members of my family. I'm glad I finished The Great American Whatever, but it wasn't my favourite Federle books.

      Delete
  3. Curious to see what you think of Wolf Hollow. Glad you found your car keys! The keys for my new car are $360, a fact which I remind my daughters of every time they take it out! Have to invest in a massive lanyard! I liked Full of Beans even better than Turtle in Paradise, so you should definitely take a look at that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The worst of it is, as soon as I ordered the new key, I have to get it. Sigh, at least we will now have a spare key. Thanks for the heads up about Full of Beans. I just put a hold on it at my local library. It's on order but I am first in line when it arrives! So far I'm having trouble with Wolf Hollow because I don't like these bullying books at the best of times. We'll see.

      Delete
  4. I'll look for A Beginner's Guide to Bear Spotting, another bear book! So glad for you that you found that important bag! Whew, what a time for you. Hope you enjoy Wolf Hollow, and I'll also check on that Donnelly book. I've enjoyed some of her books in the past. I loved Finding Wild and Mr. Cornelius, two great picture books! Thanks, Cheriee!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you will enjoy this bear book Linda. It's fun and those illustrations are glorious!

      Delete
  5. Yay library people! I should just put the Cornelius book on request right now. I've been curious about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The illustrations are wonderful Earl, I'll look forward to reading what you think of it. Maybe I was just in the wrong frame of mind when I read it. I just don't like how he was turned into a kind of super hero.

      Delete
  6. I had the exact same reaction to Marvelous Cornelius. The idea of even considering it "nonfiction" seems wrong to me. Loved Turtle in Paradise - the prequel (Full of Beans) is coming out soon, I believe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank Goodness I'm not the only one Katie. I'm looking forward to Full of Beans. I loved the Diaper Gang!

      Delete
  7. We love being able to reunite patrons with their lost belongings, it's great to see the relief on people's faces when they find something they thought was lost forever. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love all the staff at Hastings library where I mostly get my reading materials from.

      Delete
  8. I need to get a copy of The Airport Book! My son would love it! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am sure he will Ricki. It is reminiscent of all those Richard Scary books my boys once spent hours absorbed in.

      Delete
  9. I've loved all of the picture books on your list; I need to get busy on the novels though! I wish I could read more of them in a week; and now with school about to start, I'll have even less time. Oh well, I'll put the novels on my To Read list and get to them one of these days. Love the tops that you and your sisters are wearing to honor your mother! I know it can't be easy, and I think about you and pray for you and your family a lot! Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Jana, we miss mom a lot, but we are all doing as well as can be expected.

      Delete
  10. Oh dear what a story with the keys. I had money returned to me once that was left in a VPL book. So pleased you enjoyed Turtle in Paradise. Did this as a read aloud in past - was really fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow Money! Readers are so honourable! I can hardly wait for Full of Beans.

      Delete
  11. I peeked at The Airport Book when I was in the bookstore the other day, and it wasn't many pages before I was convinced I'm going to need it. So smart.

    My students and I also have much love for Marvelous Cornelius. Some happy picture books on your list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad that Marvelous Cornelius worked for you and your students. The art is something else indeed.

      Delete
  12. I just put Finding Wild on reserve - as it will definitely fit our upcoming reading theme to a T - very gratified to hear about you getting your book bag back - stories like that restore my faith in humanity! I often lose things as well, so it's great to read stories like these. Will also have to find the picturebook about the airport and Marvelous Cornelius.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm looking forward to reading about your theme that includes Finding Wild. The Airport book is a must by if you have younger readers, (and maybe older ones will like it - I did)

      Delete
  13. I had the same issue with Marvelous Cornelius but couldn't really put my finger on what was bothering me and even minimizing the importance of the story for me, but you nailed it. Aren't John Parra's illustrations magnificent though? Love his work. Turtle in Paradise is on my Middle-Grade Shelf of Shame. Seriously, how is it possible that I haven't read that book yet??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know Elisabeth, but you better hurry up and remedy that. There is a sequel now! Well at least you won't have to wait for it.

      Delete