#IMWAYR January 23, 2017

#IMWAYR time again, when readers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to in the past week. The adult version of this meme is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. The kidlit rendition is hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers. Whatever you are looking forward to in your next great read, these are fabulous places to start your search.

Wasn't that a Saturday? 
Wasn't that a march?

Against the backdrop of hate and bigotry, of misogyny and homophobia, of 'alternative truth' and pure BS, we marched. Certainly there is more work to be done, but knowing that so many of us have each other's back, that we are the resistance together, empowers me/us to continue on.

My friends and I wore our pink pussy hats at the Vancouver, BC March. 

I've been contemplating A.S. King's Glory O'Brien's History of the Future these days. When I first read it, I thought the idea of women losing what they had gained was fanciful and impossible because American women wouldn't put up with having their rights and freedoms stripped from them. I hate that we might be about to see if this is true. 

BLOG POSTS THIS WEEK

The Dance of the Violin by Kathy Stinson and Dušan Petricic

For those of you who read and review ARCs, when do you post your reviews for books that won't be published for a while?

PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

The Dance of the Violin by Kathy Stinson and Dušan Petricic (Netgalley)

This is based on an incident in the life of Joshua Bell, renowned violinist and conductor. It's a story of persistence, resilience, and passion. The writing and imagery are powerful, but sometimes they didn't merge together seamlessly. I still think it is a great read, so mark your calendars for March 14 when it is released. 

GRAPHIC NOVELS

4 stars

Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt (Narwhal and Jelly) by Ben Clanton (Netgalley)

In this sequel, Narwhal and Jelly discover their superhero powers. I enjoyed this novel more than the first one in the series. Even the nonfiction spread talking about the real superpowers of sea creatures was fun. The release date for this is May 2. Full review to come. 

KIDLIT NOVELS

The Year of the Garden (Anna Wang 0.5) by Andrea Cheng & Patrice Barton (Illustrator)(Netgalley)

4 stars

I've been meaning to read some of Andrea Cheng's work ever since I had two very excited grade three students argue over who would be first to read The Year of the Baby. They were shocked that I had not read The Year of the Book. This was a good one to start with since it is a prequel to the first in the series. I now get their joy. Cheng's authentic characters deal with realistic problems. Their diversity doesn't get in the way of solid friendships as they all learn to be better human beings. These children have loving parents and normal siblings who live within a supportive community. It is a delightful series for readers ready to move beyond beginning chapter books. It's publication date is April 11th. Full review to come.

Goblins vs Dwarves (Goblins #2) by Philip Reeve & David Thorpe (Narrator) 

5 stars

So if you are wondering what book or series to read to your younger children, (6 to 10ish?) check out Goblins by Philip Reeve. I just finished this one. Skarper, the goblin, is a character I adore. Reeve wrote this series for his son, so they are already kid tested. They are hilarious, cheeky, and filled with important lessons on how to live a satisfying life and get along with all kinds of individuals. This one deals with how a group of people (the dwarves) get seduced into following an empty headed leader. (Sounds familiar doesn't it?) I was both suprised and impressed by how it backfired. Apparently the books are filled with illustrations, but I listened to them. David Thorpe's narration was perfect. This is my favourite in the series. I now want to go and binge on Philip Reeve. I'm looking forward to reading another title of his, Pugs of the Frozen North, the first in a series he writes with Sarah McIntyre that is supposed to be appropriate for 7 year olds to read on their own. I'm hoping to find time for Mortal Engines sometime this year since I was impressed as heck by Fever Crumb when I read it a number of years ago. 

The Other Boy by M.G. Hennessey

4 stars

This is a book that needs to be in elementary and middle school libraries. George and Gracefully Grayson tell the story of transgender girls. This is the story of a transgender boy. Shane has been at a new school for a few years and has established himself as his baseball team's star pitcher. He's got a best friend and even the beginning of a relationship with a girl. Then one of the older students discovers his past and posts a picture of him from his previous school. I was worried that this might take the book into a deep hole of bullying, and while there is a bit of that, it isn't the most important aspect of the plot. What's important is that Shane has loving parents, even if his father has a harder time than his mother dealing with his identity. Adults at school are also supportive. He is lucky to go to a support group and get paired up with a trans girl who helps him navigate all the challenges he has to deal with. He's got a true best friend. Ultimately, this is a book that shows all of us how to be accepting human beings. 

YA NOVELS

Fans of the Impossible Life by Kate Scelsa, Narrated by Michael Curran-Dorsano, Imani Parks & MacLeod Andrews

3 stars

This debut novel tells the story of three teens, Mira, Sebby, and Jeremy, who become best friends. My niece loved this book or I might not have persisted. I did appreciate the diverse cast of characters, but they are all so damaged in their own way. The story is filled with A LOT OF ANGST, almost too much for me. It deals with depression, drug addiction, bullying and bisexuality. Thankfully there are many supportive adults, although I wanted to smack Mira's father and the high school principal. On the other hand, I loved Jeremy's two dads. This is definitely for older teens as there are some pretty graphic sex scenes.

ADULT NOVELS

The Break by Katherena Vermette

5+ stars

Books win awards for a reason. This is why. The Break is profound, heartbreaking, and gritty. Vermette places her readers in the bitter cold Winnipeg winter where generations of women survivors are trying to cope with the brutal rape of their 13 year old daughter/granddaughter/sister/niece/cousin. Vermette reveals how much work it takes to maintain their strength and continue to survive in their world. It's a world permeated with fear, a world marked by violence, a world where many of them can go missing. It's told through the perspectives of the different family members, the policeman investigating the crime, and others connected to it. The writing is exquisite. 

These few sentences punctuate a section from Flora's perspective.

IN THE END, all that matters is what is right here...

IN THE END, all that matters is what has been given...

IN THE END, all that matters is what is left behind. Moments go so quick...

This is one of my books for my goal of 50 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors. You should read it. 

CURRENTLY

I've started reading Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien. Honestly going from The Break to this is pure reading ecstasy. I've started listening to Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and am plodding away at Spin: How Politics Has the Power to Turn Marketing on Its Head. Thankfully I found my reading glasses to help with the small print in that one.

UP NEXT

I'll probably get to Catching A Storyfish by Janice N. Harrington, and The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid since they have to be returned to the library soon. I've also got a pile of picture books to get to. Next week I've got to pick up a box of books to read in preparation for being a juror for the Chocolate Lily book award. All my library reserves have been put on hold for a while.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MUSTREADIN2017 1/36 1 in progress

#MUSTREADNFIN2017 1 in progress

50 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 2/50

Goodreads Reading Challenge 19/333