#IMWAYR April 13, 2020

Hello out there. It's #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.




We are enjoying some gorgeous weather here in Vancouver, BC. I live on a block famous for its spectacular ornamental cherry blossom display. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't understand what staying inside and/or social distancing means. While it's not as busy at it would be any other year, it's still like a party out there.

Now that I am finished with my rant, how are the rest of you doing?

I have no time to be bored.
Packing, cleaning, listening to audiobooks, reading, and sewing masks (until my machine died) has kept me busy. I am now working on a Read Across Canada database. If you are interested in helping out with this project please let me know!

Titles with a 🍁 indicate this is a Canadian Author and or Illustrator.

Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page of the book.

PICTURE BOOKS


5 stars
Ojiichan's Gift by Chieri Uegaki & Genevieve Simms (Illustrations) 🍁

This beautifully illustrated picture book tells of the connection between Mayumi and her grandfather, who live an ocean apart. She spends two months each summer staying with him and helping him tend his garden. Then one summer when she arrives with her family, the garden is in disarray, and she understands that her grandfather can no longer look after it and must move. After taking out her feelings of frustration and loss on the garden, Mayumi figures out a way to preserve it for both herself and her grandfather.


3.5 stars
My Mommy, My Mama, My Brother, and Me by Natalie Meisner & Mathilde Cinq-Mars (Illustrator) 🍁

Mathilde Cinq-Mars' water colour illustrations are gorgeous in this rhyming picture book. It takes readers to Crescent Beach, Nova Scotia, a small fishing community. Two brothers explore the beach with their two moms. On their walk they discover all kinds of interesting objects and creatures, but the highlight of the excursion is in the making of new friends.
I appreciate much about this book except that while the rhyming pattern worked and delighted me initially, later on it became cumbersome and got in the way of my enjoyment.


4 stars
The Good Egg (Bad Seed #2) by Jory John & Pete Oswald (Illustrator)

Just delightful. A little egg drives himself nearly to a breakdown by not only trying to be a really good egg, but by trying to get the rest of his carton to do likewise. He leaves to go and restore himself and returns with a healed shell and a renewed outlook on life.

GRAPHIC NOVELS


4 stars
The Monster Sisters and the Mystery of the Unlocked Cave by Gareth Kyle Gaudin 🍁

This book starts out strong. While introducing readers to the history of Victoria BC it begins by acknowledging the Coast Salish people. I loved this bit where it continues, "It may have been "found" by James Douglas in 1843. But it has been "lost" by monsters in the twenty-first century."
The Monster Sisters, Enid Jupiter and Lyra Gotham, are superheroes fighting off monsters and protecting their city. The book is a medley of serious and imaginary history and geography. I love the references to Neil Young and his After the Gold Rush album. Readers of this graphic novel will experience fast paced action, mystery, humour, research, puzzles to solve, and even saga poetry.
Honestly, I was completely absorbed by this graphic novel until the ending when it all kind of fizzled out. This doesn't mean I won't be looking forward to reading the next in the series though!

NOVELS


5 stars
Badir and the Beaver by Shannon Stewart & Sabrina Gendron (Illustrations) 🍁

I'm just delighted with this book! Badir and his family are new immigrants from Tunisia to Canada. While on a walk with his mother he spies a large rat swimming in a pond. When Badir learns that the the rat is actually a beaver, he begins to research this new to him, animal. When the beaver is threatened by a local park enthusiast who is worried about the trees, Badir and his friends have to come up with a way to save the beaver and the park.

I like so much about this book.

1. It's peopled with diverse characters who are kind and work together for a cause.
2. Readers will learn a lot about beavers and what it means to be a Muslim family celebrating Ramadan.
3. It's full of humour and love.
4. The characters have depth and nuance and will wiggle their way into your heart.
5. It's written at an easy to read level, but you wouldn't know it by the richness of the story.


4 stars
Ghost of the Mill House by Margriet Ruurs & Claudia Davila (Illustrator) 🍁

Four friends travel to an old grist mill in Oregon to stay with an aunt and uncle of one of them. While they have a lot of time for fun, they also help get the house and grounds ready to become an historic park. This is not a ghost story to keep you awake at night. The infestation of bugs is more disturbing! When a hollywood film crew rents the property for a location, a ghost shows up on the rushes. That's how they all learn it is real. The film is rewritten and the two boys end up taking turns acting as the ghost in the movie.
There is a lot in this book to entertain readers of all ages and genders. The illustrations portray diversity in the characters. The kids get along with each other and the adults are solid role models.

Badir and the Beaver and Ghost of the Mill House are from the Orca Echo Series. These titles are written at a grade two reading level, so they are perfect for young readers just starting chapter books. They aim to interest readers from six through to nine years, but even old people like myself are entertained by them. 


4 stars
Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker & Noah Galvin (Narrator)

This is a beautifully crafted coming of age novel. It's a slow thoughtful look into the lives of two quirky preteens. Ware is an introvert with a passion for the knight's code of honour. Jolene is a tough realist. The two create a refuge in an abandoned church grounds where Jolene grows papayas and Ware escapes from the Rec program he is supposed to be attending.
This novel reminded me of Lynn Rae Perkins' Criss Cross. It's as much about character as plot, although this one does have an interesting dilemma and satisfying conclusion.


4 stars
The Three Spartans by James Alfred McCann 🍁

There is nothing quite as satisfying as knowing the setting of a book. The mention of places and events a reader can actually visualize from memory adds a layer of unparalleled authenticity to a novel. This story of Art, a twelve year old Canadian boy visiting his family's summer home in Birch Bay, Washington is like that for me. Over the years I've been lucky to have spent many weekends there with friends and family.
Art and his friends, Leo and George, are the three Spartans. They challenge Zeke, a local bully, to a paintball war in the woods behind the local campgrounds. I've never paintball battled, but in my youth, my cousins and siblings and I had many cow pie fights over control of the barn. Although the stakes were very different, it sounds pretty similar. In this case, the three Spartans and their crew are standing up for the freedom to enjoy their summer without being harrassed and bullied. Whether they win at paintball or not, they will still come out ahead.


5 stars
Ru by Kim Thúy & Sheila Fischman (Translator) 🍁

Listening to this feels as if someone is reciting poetry. The prose is gorgeous. The original French language version and Sheila Fischman's translation have garnered all kinds of accolades and won, or been nominated for, all kinds of awards. It won a Governor General award, was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and in 2015, was a Canada Reads winner.
It's a fictionalized account of a Vietnamese family who were part of the first group of Boat People. The story is revealed through the first person perspective of An Tinh Nguyen. It weaves together her memories as a young girl in Vietnam, then living in a refugee camp in Malaysia, immigrating with her family to a small town in Quebec and then visiting Vietnam as an adult.
I knew of some of these experiences from narratives by other authors and for many years I taught Vietnamese children and got to know their parents and their stories.
Narrated by the author, Ru is so authentic, I thought it really was a memoir as I listened to it!

CURRENTLY

My Jasper June by Laurel Snyder is the audiobook I have on the go. With my eyes I'm reading Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju.

UP NEXT

Roll With It by Jamie Sumner will be the next audiobook. I'm hoping to read at least four novels and finish off the picture books from my Chocolate Lily Box.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2020: 6/25 1 in progress

#MustReadNFIn2020: 3/12

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors: 9/25

100 books by Canadian Authors: 72/100

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 146/333

#IMWAYR April 6, 2020

Hello out there. It's #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.



Hope you are all staying safe inside these days and managing to find comfort in books, art, interacting with friends via the internet and whatever other hobbies you enjoy. I have planned out three quilting projects and managed to get one of them cut and ready to sew. Unfortunately I have started packing up my house so I probably won't be doing much sewing other than masks for friends and family in the next while.

Titles with a 🍁 indicate this is a Canadian Author and or Illustrator.

Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page of the book.

PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars
Light A Candle/Tumaini Pasipo Na Tumaini by Godfrey Nkongolo, Eric Walters, Eva Campbell (Illustrations) 🍁

This is a fictional retelling of an important event in the history of the United Republic of Tanzania. It is told in both English and Swahili.
Ngama is a young Chagga boy who goes against his father's wishes and follows a group of men who were tasked to light a freedom torch at the top of Mt Kilimanjaro to unite their new country. Eva Campbell's art captures the majesty of the country and the culture of the people in her vibrant painting.
The back matter contains additional information about the country and it's origins.

5 stars
Unicorns 101 by Cale Atkinson 🍁

This compendium of information about unicorns is delightfully hilarious. It’s chock full of important facts that are sure to please the unicorn fan club. The jacket cover even has glitter on it. In the back matter there’s a Unicorn Scientificus Diploma readers can fill in proving they are officially Unicorn Scientists. Cale Atkinson knows his stuff. According to the jacket cover, he studied under Professor Sugar Beard to earn his PhD in hornology. His knowledge shines through in the comical illustrations filled with a riot of rainbow colours.

4 stars
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Moose by Chrissy Bozik & Scot Ritchie (Illustrator) 🍁

This is a fun retelling on the traditional story. It has a definite Canadian twist to it with all the things the old lady eats. The ending is just delightful!

NOVELS

5 stars
The Wicked King by Holly Black & Caitlin Kelly (Narrator)

I am just loving everything about this series - the characters, the world building, the suspense and tension both romantic and political. The only thing I hate is having to wait for the next book to become available.

3 stars
The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard & Xe Sands (Narrator)

This takes us into the lives of numerous characters who worked on the Manhattan Project. Ordinary people had no idea they were working on the atomic bomb. The title is deceptive because it actually introduces us to the reality for multiple characters, not just women. The main focus is a country girl, June, who ends up in a relationship with Dr Sam Cantor, one of the scientists. June shares a dormitory with another young woman, CC. Their relationship starts out positive but deteriorates when CC can no longer control June. I appreciated Dr Cantor's moral dilemma as he worked towards creating a bomb that he knew was going to be horrific. I was also fascinated by the lives of the black men who worked as labourers and janitors.
This is ok as a light romantic story, but didn’t get into enough details about the actual going’s on at the site for me. That said, it's made me want to read this nonfiction title about life in Atomic City: The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II.

4 stars
Making Friends with Billy Wong by Augusta Scattergood.

This is why I have MustRead lists. Making Friends with Billy Wong has been on my list for the past few years and I finally got to it. It's the story of a girl and her grandmother. It's about making mistakes and reconciliation. It's about friendship. It's a reminder to look deep beneath the surface to understand where others are coming from.
Set in 1953, this historical novel features Azalea as the main protagonist, but Billy Wong's perspective is shown in alternate verse chapters. It's a powerful format that enables readers to learn what it was like to live in an important time in history. The underlying sweetness encourages us to have empathy for those who are different from us.

3.5 stars
Finding Cooper by Stacey Matson 🍁

I have mixed feelings about this book. Cooper Arcano and his best friend, Ali, are fans of The X Files and unsolved mysteries. Cooper's grandfather is losing his memories due to Alzheimer's disease. Somehow Cooper ends up engaged in some fantastical magical thinking. He gets it into his head that his grandfather is the famous outlaw, D.B Cooper and is faking his illness. If Cooper can prove it, then he will come into enough money to cover the cost of his grandfather's care and his parents will stop fighting and not get divorced. He ends up getting himself and his friend into all kinds of trouble before it's all over.
I really appreciated the authenticity of the grandfather's decline and the family's struggle to deal with the emotional and financial stress that accompanied it. I liked the authentic characters - especially Cooper's mom and his friend Ali. I liked Cooper.
My quibble is that while I understand that Cooper's belief in his hypothesis about his grandfather is connected to his not wanting to acknowledge reality, it just did't work for me. I can't see any of the 12 year old boys I've met getting caught up in this. I would love to be able to give this to some of them and see what they think. Maybe they will enjoy seeing the mistakes Cooper is making before he does.

CURRENTLY

I've just started listening to Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker. With my eyes I'm reading a graphic novel, The Monster Sisters and the Mystery of the Unlocked Cave by Gareth Kyle Gaudin, and The Three Spartans by James McCann.

UP NEXT

Ru by Kim ThΓΊy will be the next audiobook. I'm hoping to read at least three novels and three picture books from my Chocolate Lily Box.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2020: 5/25

#MustReadNFIn2020: 3/12

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors: 9/25

100 books by Canadian Authors: 65/100

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 137/333

#Poetry Friday April 3, 2020

Today's edition of Poetry Friday is hosted by Heidi Mordhorst at my juicy little universe. Heidi is sharing poems inspired by poets.org #ShelterInPoems project. Enjoy her poetry and don't forget to check out all the other bloggers posting today.

Hello Poetry Friday friends. I have missed you. 

Like a lot of you, I'm overwhelmed with other things in life. For the last few years I have participated in the April Poem a Day Challenge. This year, what with moving, house renovations, shelter in place orders, and social distancing, I don't need any more challenges. I've also got three quilting projects on the go.

I'm going to try to write at least one poem a week but...

My poem this week is not inspired by other poetry, although poetry and other art forms have brought me solace in these interesting times. Instead I am inspired by the art of our friend, Ron Peace, a gifted photographer and artist. He shares his work with friends and followers on facebook. Ron's photographs are a regular highlight of my day. Please take a moment to check out his website. Prepare to be dazzled.

Wednesday's image almost broke me.

While we are not yet stir crazy here in our isolation, I had no idea how much I wanted to break free until I saw this. Ron has graciously granted me permission to share his image with the poem it inspired.



imagine

someday
we too might fly

might take off
into sky

might rise high
into glorious light

imagine
flight

lift off
a gift of
respite