#IMWAYR January 7, 2019


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



New Years Day my partner and I headed off to our Okanagan house for a few days of rest and relaxation. I planned to go on long walks but slammed my foot into something and ended up damaging one of my toes. It made wearing shoes impossible. Wool socks with flip flops worked to go visiting, but isn't conducive to wandering outside in winter. We arrived safely back in Vancouver late Sunday after a bit of a harrowing journey through sections of snow and icy highway. 

One of my plans this year is to highlight books by Canadian authors. We are so close to the USA that our brilliant writers can easily get overlooked. I'm also wondering if I should actually try to read less. It's hard to keep track of even the best books with so many to remember. My rememberer doesn't work as well as it once did. How do you all keep track?

BLOG POSTS LAST WEEK



PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

I read this and was so awed I put the book down to come back to it again. I think it was better the second time round. Frané Lessac's art is spectacular. This book does two important things. First it shows us modern indigenous people living lives steeped in their culture. Second, while focusing on those aspects of their lives that they are grateful for, it reminds all of us to be thankful for the ordinary as well as the extraordinary aspects in our own lives. Cherokee vocabulary is integrated into Traci Sorell's text. I appreciated the pronunciation guide at the bottom of the pages. 

4 stars

This is a multilayered book about overcoming our fears. Jo is afraid of what lives beneath the surface of the ocean. When her father is too ill to deliver bottles full of messages, she has to take on his job. Not only does she overcome her fears, she discovers that many of them are imaginary and makes new friends.
Cale Atkinson is Canadian author. He makes his home in the beautiful province of BC. 

5 stars

A young boy accompanies his father while he works as a janitor at a school. Lyrical is the best word to describe the gorgeous writing in this book. Karen Hesse's words are breathtaking.
We pull into our space.
Dad hauls out a ring of keys
as big as the rising moon.
He opens the door,
and the building sighs.
Come, it whispers to us.
G. Bryan Karas' grey toned illustrations capture both the ambience of the night and the loving relationship between the two of them.

4 stars

I'm glad I don't have to decide what I like best about this series: the illustrations or the stories themselves. I love how Woollvin twists these traditional tales wherein strong women and girls vanquish evil. I also love her artwork. It's mostly black and white with one other color. In this case it's the yellow of Rapunzel's hair.

NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS

5+ stars

This was my first nonfiction picture book of 2019. It sets a very high bar for the rest of them to meet.
Matthew Forsythe's illustrations are beyond stunning. They are mesmerizing. I want a framed copy of the page that shows Ken Nedimyer as a young boy sitting on the beach staring out at the golden ocean. I love how Nedimyer has captured the essence of this young boy with his hair whorl and ears sticking out. His art unites with Kate Messner's lyrical text to create a spectacular book that is both informative and inspirational.
I wonder if they can collaborate on a new book explaining why the sea urchins died and what is being done about this.

4 stars

Each two page spread begins with the question, Do you see my tail? This is followed by a brief description and another question, Guess who I am? Lifting the flap on the next page reveals the animal. I like this book and think that my grandchildren will too. I'm reserving the right to change my evaluation of this book depending on what they think.

3.5 stars

This is a fun informative toon book that introduces readers to snails. It provides detail about their biology, their predators and reproduction. I liked the use of comparisons to other animals to show how fast they move. I had no idea that snails make mucus roads that other snails follow, but that does account for why some of my plants get devoured before others.

NONFICTION

3.5 stars

Back in the 1960’s and 70’s my sister and I sang along to our treasured Joni Mitchell albums. We knew all the lyrics. These days when I run into another fan we often end up crooning our favourites together. I feel as though I have met a soulmate if they can join me in Twisted.
Thus I was excited to see this biography. I enjoyed Xe Sands’ narration and appreciated learning the backstory that led to the different albums. 
It's just, sometimes you don’t want to know exactly everything about your idols. You want them to maintain their mythic status. You don’t want to learn about their pettiness and flaws. You don’t want them to be human.
I would be lying if I told you I loved this book. I almost abandoned it at one point, but didn’t and am glad I finished it. It turns out that it’s ok to see that people you admire are just human after all. It made me appreciate Mitchell’s genius even more.
I especially appreciated my Spotify account so I could go and to listen to the music I was reading about. Being able to listen in conjunction with the book turned out to be a brilliant way to appreciate her music and life more deeply. It’s what enabled me to continue when I was ready to give up. In retrospect I think it would be better to have the music in the background while reading the book with my eyes. I recommend it if you decide to give this a go. 

NOVELS

4 stars
This is the first in a charming series with animal characters. It’s for readers moving into longer transitional chapter books. The Heartwood hotel is a hollow tree in a forest that is run by different animals for the benefit of other ones.
It centres around Mona, a spunky mouse, who comes upon the hotel by accident ands stays to work as a maid.
I’m off to find the next in the series.
Kallie George is not only Canadian, she lives in my city!

4 stars

This book took me WAY out of my comfort zone. It's told in two parts. One part is the story of a girl name Sadie, who is searching for her sister's murderer. The other part is the transcription of a podcast about the two girls and what happened to them. It's a dark thriller that brings awareness of child sex abuse and highlights why so many girls go missing.
Courtney Summers is Canadian author who lives in Ontario.

GRAPHIC

4 stars

I loved the story, the world building, the art and the characters in this science fiction graphic novel. I loved that it is entirely populated with individuals who are women or nonbinary. It showcases many different aspects of love within fully authentic relationships. Across the span of the book they all grow and change. Walden's artwork: the buildings, the different parts of the universe, and the boarding school are atmospherically gorgeous. I really appreciated the contrast between the expansiveness of her universe juxtaposed with the intimacy of the connections between the characters.
However, the font is nearly minuscule and unless I was sitting in front of window with the sun shining through, reading the text was an exercise in frustration.

CURRENTLY

I've downloaded and plan to start listening to The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny. I'm reading What If It's Us by Adam Silvera & Becky Albertalli. I've just started The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag.


UP NEXT

I've got a couple of graphic novels to read, Aquicorn Cove by Katie O'Neill & Illegal by Eoin Colfer. I hope to start Odd One Out by Nic Stone.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2018 1/25

#MustReadNFIn2018 1/12

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 0/25

25 books by Canadian Authors 3/25

Goodreads Reading Challenge 8/333

24 comments:

  1. I love your plan to highlight some of the books you have read that are Canadian. Cale Atkinson is one of my favourite picture book writers, and if you get to the indie store in Kelowna he has some copies signed there with cute doodles. I have We Are Grateful on my 2019 Must Read list but I haven't bought a copy yet (this year's list will be expensive). I almost added The Brilliant Deep to that list too, as I usually love Kate Messner's NF and the art looks amazing. I might add Sadie to my list too, although it would be an uncomfortable read for sure (that is needed sometimes). Illegal was that book at times for me. I hope you get to it though. A good way into the trials of refugees for some of my library patrons. Thanks for the great post, glad you made it okay through the winter travelling. Oddly, there is not a speck of snow in my part of the interior. Although, I know I am 15 minutes away from some in most directions.

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    1. I am assuming you are talking about Mosaic Books? Many many years ago when I was going to college in Kelowna, I spent many happy hours there. I swear that Cale Atkinson gets better and better with every new book he publishes. I agree that sometimes we need to read difficult books. I'm mostly ok with them so long as they are authentic.

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  2. Hmmm. Maybe Off & Away will be a good title for ME. I love boats and the beach, but I have an irrational fear of the ocean and lakes. I thoroughly enjoy water skiing, but am terrified every second between the moment I fall down and the minute the boat makes it back around to pick me up. LOL I’m so glad to hear of how much you loved The Brilliant Deep, too! That was such a wonderful book! I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on Odd One Out once you finish, Cheriee. That one raised some questions for me, but I know it will be helpful for many teens caught in similar situations. I can’t wait for Night Job! And Sadie continues to grab my interest. I’m hopeful I can get to it in 2019. Have a wonderful reading week!

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    1. I don't have an irrational fear, but I am much more comfortable swimming in a pool. Even rivers make me nervous. Now I really can't wait to get to Odd One Out!

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  3. I love Off & Away. It's a great story and the illustrations are amazing. I agree that The Heartwood Hotel series is a delight.

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    1. The Heartwood Hotel series is so sweet! I'm thinking that Cale Atkinson is in his prime these days!

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  4. Our "rememberers" don't work as well anymore either so we keep track of books on Pinterest. The boards on Pinterest make everything so visual, it is easy to remember titles. Here is a link to our boards - https://www.pinterest.com/tammyandclare/

    We love how you focused on Canadian authors. Have you read books in the Citizenkid series - The Red Bicycle, Iqbal and his Ingenious Idea, One Hen, etc.. This series is published in Canada and is FABULOUS!

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    1. thanks for the link to your Pinterest page. I agree that seeing the visuals really helps. I have read many of the Citizenkid books, although I see a few that I haven't seen. I think I purchased most of them when I was still working in the library. They are indeed fabulous. I loved How to Build Your Own Country!

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  5. After reading so many books each year I do forget about some of them, unless I own them & then re-read. I understand about the 'rememberers', Cheriee. Two of the picture books I loved this year were We Are Grateful & Night Job. Both are so, so wonderful, story & illustrations. I have Illegal, trying to find time for it! I'm glad you highlight Canadian authors. That has expanded my knowledge quite a lot. Thanks for all! Hope your foot is better!

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    1. The foot is much better. It looks like it wasn't cracked or broken like the last time I did something like this. Those two books are some of the finest picture books I've seen in a while.

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  6. The font of On a Sunbeam nearly killed me! A lot of the GNs were a struggle because the fonts are ridiculous. I get that it's probably mostly young eyes reading these books, but middle-aged and elderly eyes try too! I don't normally like reading on my devices at all but I ended up loving being able to make fonts bigger for the ebook GNs I read for 1st round Cybils. I agree with you about book quantity: a lot of it just blurs together by the end of the year. That seemed much more the case for me in 2018 than it usually does. There were a lot of 5-star books from early in the year that I couldn't remember anything about by December! I didn't realize that Courtney Summers is Canadian! I read We Are Grateful last night and loved it for the same reasons you mention. So good!

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    1. I feel much better about my complaint about the font. My 30 year old daughter in law complained too when I gave it to her to read! It's not just us older people. I'm sure glad you picked such good graphic novels so that I, as a second tier judge, just get to read the good ones!

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  7. I enjoyed reading Off & Away, as I find inspiration in books where the characters overcome their fears. The rest of your books this week are new to me. Now that the holidays are finished, I can get back to a regular reading schedule. Hope your foot feels better. Put it up and spend your recovery time reading! Have a good week!

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    1. I appreciated that message of overcoming fears in Off & Away, but also couldn't help but see a political message in that fear of others and different spaces. I guess we see all kinds of messages in books if we look deeply enough.

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  8. I agree that Bethan Woolvin's interpretation of fairy tales is fantastic. I hope she keeps doing them.

    I met Tillie Walden at NCTE and she is an absolute hoot. I didn't know anything about her before but I am reading Spinning right now and loving it. I'm with you about the frustration of small fonts in graphic novels. I've read quite a few graphic novels like that and it's always super frustrating. The March trilogy was like that as well as Lucy Knisley's graphic novels, all of which I adore, I just wish they were easier to read.

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    1. I am wondering what fairy tale Bethan Woolvin will take on next! I'm so glad that I am not the only one complaining about font size. I sure wish On A Sunbeam could have been published in a larger format like those of Isabel Greenberg's The Encyclopedia of Early Earth and The One Hundred Nights of Hero.

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  9. Sadie is one of my favorite YAL books from last year! It is dark though. Over than the beautiful Off and Away, I haven't read any of the others--I've added to my TBR list.

    Happy new year and happy reading this week!

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    1. Dark is ok, so long as there isn't too much of it and it better be authentic and not gratuitous.

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  10. We Are Grateful is going on my favorites list this year! It is so good!

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  11. Cale Atkinson is one of my favorite author illustrators, I loved Off & Away’s message. If you haven’t already, you need to read Where Oliver Firs & Sir Simon. His work is truly Caldecott worthy! Have a great week!

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    1. I adored Sir Simon and pretty much everything else of Cale Atkinson's that I have read. Just put a hold on Where Oliver Fits.
      Unfortunately the Caldecott can only be won by Americans!

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  12. On a Sunbeam sounds perfect given our current reading theme. Yay to highlighting more Canadian authors! I've had the privilege of moderating Frane Lessac's session here in Singapore last year - and her talk was one of the most positively received for obvious reasons. I wanted to give my daughter a copy of Sadie for Christmas - looks like I missed out on that one! :)

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    1. On a Sunbeam is indeed perfect for your theme. Frane Lessac's illustrations in We Are Grateful are brilliant and beautiful!

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