Canning and gardening continue here. On a positive note, I almost see the end in sight. Today I will can peaches and put another batch of tomato sauce on to cook before sitting down and reading all your blog posts.
Maybe the end isn't really in site. My garden still has an abundance of green tomatoes. A friend who is a farmer was over for supper last night. She told me I will be harvesting til the end of September. Next year I am not going to put in so many tomato or cucumber plants! Also, does anyone want any eggplant or basil?
The really really big news from last week is that I am now a Grandma again! I know I am biased, but isn't she the most beautiful newborn you have ever seen?
Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page of the book.
RECENT BLOG POSTS
The Tea Dragon Tapestry by Katie O'Neill
NOVELS
 |
| 5 stars |
I adored this book. The sequel is on my this years #MustRead and so of course I read this first. Although it was written in 1998, the way some media mess with the truth make it eerily prescient for us two decades later.
Baby Girl, Dena Nordstrom, is a successful TV journalist with an even brighter future facing her. She just has to overcome a few obstacles to get there: her health issues and her scruples. I loved her.
Everytime I read a Fannie Flagg novel I am gobsmacked by her characters. Each of them have depth and richness. Elmwood Springs is a town I'm looking forward to visiting again.
 |
| 5 stars |
I read this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. It will be published October 13th 2020 by Annick Press.
"Give what you can, my daughter, even if it is only a smile."
This novel begins and ends in a refugee camp in Jordan. The rest of it reveals what happened to Yara and how she ended up there. It finishes with hope for a better future.
Those in between pages are a hard read. Tears leaked from my eyes more than once. Yara’s life in Aleppo was a happy one with her family in spite of an authoritarian regime. With the Arab Spring uprisings all over the Middle East, conflict in Syria was inevitable.
When her Uncle Sami comes for a visit, Yara ends up asking her father,
What is revolution?
Baba hung his head. “It is another word for war,” he said softly.
Readers see how life changed gradually until their house and family bakery was bombed by government helicopters. Yara's grandmother, Yara, her younger brother, and two neighbour children flee in search of a way out of Syria and into Jordan. It's a treacherous journey with danger coming from everywhere. At the same time, they are helped by many ordinary people.
Add this to your must read list. Read it and give it to your anti immigrant friends to help you and them understand what it means to be a refugee. #CanKidLit
 |
| 5 stars |
This was an exciting, fast paced adventure. It's full of heartfelt characters with all kinds of obstacles to overcome. McKenna Barney agreed to enter a dog sled race for her sister who has stargardt disease and is legally blind. They hope to raise awareness of it so that a cure can be found. The route is challenging, but what makes it more hazardous is that McKenna also has the disease. She's been keeping it a secret from her family because she doesn't want to lose her independence.
At the same time as this novel is full of hair raising near disasters, it's full of wonderful compassionate characters. It might be a competition, but for the most part the contestants have each other's backs.
I really appreciated learning more about dog sled racing and stargardt disease. #CanKidLit
NONFICTIOIN
 |
| 5 stars |
What does it mean to be racist? These two authors have brilliantly and beautifully unpacked it in this book. It’s a journey across time and space into the origins of slavery and how it became the economic background of what is America today. It’s examines the historical roots of systemic racism in analyzing the language and behaviour of individuals with power.
This is a must read for everyone. I would purchase a couple for my elementary school library for upper intermediate readers and encourage all teachers to read it.
CURRENTLY
I'm reading Forward Me Back to You by Mitali Perkins and The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson. I'm listening to Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen
UP NEXT
I'm blaming Aaron Cleaveley for not getting to David Robertson's Monster last week. (He mentioned Roberston's new book so I found it on Netgalley and I am in the middle of it instead.) I'm planning on getting to Obsidian: A DreadfulWater Mystery, by Thomas King. My next audiobook will be Unplugged by Gordon Korman.
PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS
Big Books Summer 2020 10/10
#MustReadIn2020: 18/25 one in progress
#MustReadNFIn2020: 8/12
Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors: 17/25 one in progress
Books by Canadian Authors: 107/100
Goodreads Reading Challenge: 248/333
What a beautiful picture. Congratulations! I agree that Stamped is a must-read for everyone.
ReplyDeleteOh my, the best thing besides the books about your post is that new granddaughter. Yes, she is beautiful, Cheriee! Congratulations! And I loved & bookmarked all your books, except Stamped which I have read & passed on to my daughter. I agree that it is one I wish everyone would read. I loved hearing about the Fannie Flagg book, doubt I'll get to it soon, but I put it on my list. And I shared a picture book about refugee camps today, will certainly look for Yara's Spring when it comes out. Thanks, and happy rocking!
ReplyDeleteOh Cheriee, she's BEAUTIFUL! I can't believe I'm moving further and further away from my baby days because when I see newborns, my ovaries skip a beat. On books, I'm almost positive I have a copy of Dog Driven. I really need to make time to read it with my youngest. Of course, she'll demand that I hand it over and let her read it, which is just fine by me. LOL I am still looking forward to the YA version of Stamped. I'm happy to hear just how wonderful it is, again and again. OH, and to answer your question: no, we aren't yet completely settled. I'm shooting for being completely unpacked by Christmas. I would say sooner, but I'm teaching a new section of Children's Literature at our local college and I've been putting out one fire after another (due to lack of access to books in local libraries since students are to read 250+ children's book in one semester). But we'll get settled, eventually. Hopefully! lol Have a great reading week!
ReplyDeleteshe is beautiful! Congrats on your new granddaughter! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful granddaughter—congratulations! Yara's Spring sounds painful but gorgeous—it's horrifying what people have had to go through in Syria. I've seen tons of people enjoy Dog Driven, and I appreciate your thoughts about Stamped. Thanks for the great post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely baby. She looks like she's happy to be here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the reviews -- I want to read STAMPED while the adult version is still in my memory.