#IMWAYR October 25, 2021

Hello everyone. 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.

In the middle of the ravages of renovation, I have discovered the joy of rereading favourite series. I've almost finished the complete Murderbot by Martha Wells and have started rereading Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London. It helps that our living room, while a long way from being finished, is at least habitable. (for now at least)

Nothing is as satisfying as getting things accomplished. I managed to finish all the unread picture books laying around the house and am making headway with the other library books. The end is in sight for one of my Olivier Dunrea quilts, and I've started quilting the background for the second. I hope to post a picture of a completed quilt next week. 

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

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

PICTURE BOOKS


When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling & Aaron Asis (Illustrator) January 1, 2021

This is a book I want to gush about. Together, Michelle Sterling & Aaron Asis have created the perfect homage to summer, grandmothers, and Filipino culture.


Golden Threads by Suzanne Del Rizzo & Miki Sato (Illustrator) April 15, 2020 🍁

A toy fox is swept away during a storm. The people who find him mend him with golden thread. Eventually he is returned to his owner.
This charming book teaches readers to find and appreciate the beauty in imperfect things.


Halal Hot Dogs by Susannah Aziz & Parwinder Singh (Illustrator) May 04, 2021

This is a delightful book. A young boy tells the story of how his family celebrates after Friday prayers with special Jummah treats. It's full of humour, love and sweetness. His love for hotdogs makes instant connections across cultures. 


The More the Merrier by David Martin by Raissa Figueroa (Illustrator) June 15, 2021

This book is pure joy. Bear begins dancing in a forest . They are joined by Moose, Snake, Deer and many other animals. As each one joins in they proclaim their delight in how the others move and add, "But I'm not like you. So I'll just do what I can do." This is the best message about acceptance and inclusion.

NON FICTION PICTURE BOOKS


The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford & Frank Morrison (Illustrations) January 8, 2019

This book begs to be read out loud. If I was still working in the library I'd give it to a group of creative students and ask them to perform it. Weatherford celebrates the history of rap in her poem. Frank Morrison's illustrations are just stunning. The back matter is rich with additional information.

READERS 


Fish and Sun by Sergio Ruzzier June 22, 2021

Two unlikely characters become friends in this sweet graphic reader. I love Ruzzier's illustrations.


GRAPHIC NOVELS


Ruth is a 12 year old journalist who publishes a blog called the CoolsLetter. In the process of uncovering that her community has contaminated water and figuring out where it comes from, readers, along with Ruth, learn how a journalist works.
I like a lot about this book. I like that the water issue is connected to personal consequences for Ruth and other individuals in her community. I like the diversity of characters. I like the background of ordinary peer pressure. I like the bit of romance. I like the teachers and parents. I would probably purchase a couple of copies if I was still working in a library.


Sugar Falls by David A Robertson, Scott B. Henderson (Illustrator) & Donovan Yaciuk (Illustrator) December 31, 2011 🍁

This black and white graphic novel is based on the experiences of Elder Betty Ross. At the age of eight she was taken from her family to a residential school across the lake from her home. It's a profound fictionalized account of the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse she experienced there. This 10th anniversary version includes a forward by Senator Murray Sinclair, chair of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and an afterward by Betty Ross. Both talk about the long term consequences of residential schools for themselves and their communities.

NOVELS


The Beatryce Prophecy Kate DiCamillo, Sophie Blackall (illustrator), & Finty Williams (Narrator) September 28, 2021

This jewel of a book (Aren't all Kate DiCammilo's books jewels?) reminded me of The Magician's Elephant. It's set in a medieval world and is brimming over with deep philosophical issues about basic rights, humanity, acceptance, kindness, and love. Especially it's about the power of love.

The lives of four children intersect because of acts of kindness and encouragement. Each of them has their own struggles. This beautiful book shows readers how simple acts of kindness can change the world.


Take Me with You When You Go by David Levithan, Jennifer Niven & Sophie Amoss, Jim Frangione, Kevin R. Free, Skyler Gallun, Brian Holden (Narrators) August 31, 2021

Ezra Ahern's older sister, Bea, disappears. Soon after leaving, she emails him and swears him to keep their communication a secret. The story is told in their emails to one another. Their abusive home life is revealed through them.
This is an intense book.


After finishing a couple of newer books in the Rivers of London series, I decided to reread them all while I wait for the next volume to be published. I adore how smart and witty the writing is. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's narration almost makes me swoon.
Peter Grant is a young constable just starting out in the Metropolitan Police Service in London, England. One evening while guarding a murder scene, a ghost appears to him to tell him what he saw.  When he returns to the crime scene in hopes of interviewing the ghost again, he meets up with Chief Inspector Nightingale. Instead of ending up trapped in a position of doing paperwork so real coppers don't have to, Peter ends up as apprentice wizard to Nightingale. It's just as good if not better the second time round. 

CURRENTLY

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters by Ursula K. Le Guin
Under Shifting Stars Alexandra Latos

UP NEXT 

Clash by Kayla Miller
Jukebox by Nidhi Chanani
Linked by Gordon Korman
Closer to Nowhere by Ellen Hopkins
Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales by Soman Chainani

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2021 26/25 

#MustReadNFIn2021 11/12

#MustReadPBIn2021 63/100 

Big Book Summer Challenge 9 

Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 34/25

Books by Canadian Authors: 97/100

Canada Reads 2021 5/5 

Discworld Series 41/41

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 367/333 


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#IMWAYR October 17, 2021

Hello everyone. 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.

It's been three weeks since my last post. Life has been hectic and I am trying to live a reasonable life without taking on too much. (insert hysterical laugh track here)
Also, our house looks like hell.
We are now renovating the main part of the house - the living room, dining room and kitchen area. 
Dust is not one's friend. 
To survive I've been hiding out in my sewing room working on quilts and listening to audiobooks. Most of them have been for adults, although many will appeal to teens.
In the middle of all this, I have misplaced my book review notebook. I am sure it will turn up eventually, but in the meantime, I don't have my notes for books I need to review.

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

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

PICTURE BOOKS


On the way to school, Bunny meets Beetle. The two of them then connect up with Martin. Throughout the day, the group of friends grows bigger as they continue to help out more and more animal children. It culminates in "a party of those who cared, those who bothered, who tried, who shared." Ohi's artwork is as charming as usual.

4 stars

Mommy's Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow & Ebony Glenn (Illustrator) April 03, 2018

A young muslim girl admires her mother's Khimars. When she gets to wear one, it's like a super hero cape that enables her to shine like the sun and protect her baby brother.
I think all children enjoy trying on their parents clothes, and love that the specifics of the Khimar/hijab, provides both a mirror for muslim children, and a bridge that enables other children to make connections.

4 stars

Old Bear and His Cub by Olivier Dunrea November 11, 2010

You can read this without having read Little Cub first, but the story has more oomph if you have. It's the story of the love an old bear and his adopted cub share for each other. My grandkids and I enjoyed reading it together.


This book has been on my to read list for like forever. George Littlechild's art is spectacular. The text is equally stunning. A boy asks his family the question, What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? Their responses tell us as much about them as they do about horses. I appreciate how much we learn about Van Camp's family, culture and their relationship to dogs.


This is based on White Currents, a short story written by Emily Carr. It's the fantastical adventure of a young girl coming to appreciate the glory of wild space. 

4 stars

What Can a Citizen Do? by Dave Eggers & Shawn Harris (Illustrator) September 11, 2018

I like the diversity in the children portrayed in this book. I like that even animals are considered citizens. I like all the action happening in the pages. I like that when all the citizens work together they create a magnificent treehouse.
The book is written in ABCB rhyming scheme. It didn't work for me. I ended up reading it out loud to myself to get the flow of it. The problem with this in this book is that in order for the rhyme to work, you need to read it too fast to appreciate the illustrations. If I was going to read this with a group, I would cover all the text. We would spend time unpacking the images and making meaning from them. Only after that would I introduce the words.

NON FICTION PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

Gloria Takes a Stand: How Gloria Steinem Listened, Wrote, and Changed the World by Jessica M. Rinker & Daria Peoples-Riley (Illustrator) March 12, 2019

Having read Steinem’s autobiography, I wondered what details from such a remarkable life, would make it into a book for children. The author has done a good job capturing the highlights. I appreciate that Gloria is often shown with diverse groups of women. The colour illustrations are full of joy. Modern feminists might criticize aspects of Steinem’s work, but growing up with her as one of my feminist role models, I never understood feminism to be anything other than intersectional and inclusive.

5 stars

Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees by Franck Prévot, Aurélia Fronty (Illustrator) & Dominique Clément (Translator) January 1, 2011

Wangari Maathai was a remarkable woman - a hero for girls and boys of all cultures, colours and creeds. Her capacity for standing up to oppression in order to save forests and trees is truly inspiring.
The whole world needs to recognize that “a tree is worth more than it’s wood.”
I only wish this was an own voices book.

5 stars

Mornings with Monet by Barb Rosenstock & Mary GrandPré (Illustrations) March 02, 2021

Based on other biographies of artists by this duo, I expected to read more about Monet's life. Instead, this book focuses on the time when he was painting his river series. Through this we get a rich, in depth look at how Monet worked as he captured light in his paintings. Additional details about his life are in the author's note in the back matter.

4 stars

The Girl with a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague by Julia Finley Mosca & Daniel Rieley (Illustrations) September 04, 2018

This rhyming nonfiction picture book is delightful in that it actually works and doesn't interfere with the story.
Raye Montague was amazing black woman who wasn't deterred from her goal by the racism and misogyny she faced on her way to becoming an engineer.

READERS 

4 stars

What Is Chasing Duck? by Jan Thomas June 06, 2017

The Giggle Gang series is ideal for fans of Elephant and Piggie. Something wild and hairy with big teeth is chasing Duck, Sheep and Donkey. Bear convinces them to stand up to their fears. Who is actually chasing them ends up being a hilarious surprise.
I read this for the second time with my two eldest grandkids. They enjoyed it so much that the next day I caught one of them reading it to one another.

CHAPTER BOOKS


Franklin has a long list of worries. With the help of Eugenia and Baby Lincoln and Mercy Watson, Franklin just might learn how to control them. 
Anytime I get to visit with the literary characters on Deckawoo Drive, I am happy. In theory I know these book are written for children, but I am positive that Kate DiCamillo also writes them for old folks like me. I have started reading Mercy Watson with my grandkids and look forward to reading the whole series with them. 

GRAPHIC NOVELS


After the Rain by Nnedi Okorafor, John Jennings & David Brame (Illustrator) January 05, 2021

I'm struggling with how to evaluate this. This is because I am a hard core Nnedi Okorafor fan, but am confused and conflicted by this transformation to graphic novel. Some of artwork is gorgeous. I think the story all by itself would be riveting. Together it just doesn't work for me.

5 stars

The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel May 4, 2021

I wasn't sure about this at first, but then I got into it and loved how rich the narrative was. Sure it's about every exercise fad over the past 5 decades or so. At the same time, its a deep look into what it means to be enlightened and have a meaningful intimate relationship with another human being.

SHORT STORIES 

4 stars

Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection by Ben Aaronovitch & Ben Elliot, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Penelope Rawlins, et al (Narrators) July 31, 2020

I was delighted to visit one of my favourite fantasy worlds through this collection of short stories. The different narrators made the individual stories shine. I am sad for people who have not yet read any of the Rivers of London collection. I only wish my library had all the graphic novels so I could read those too. I sure hope Ben Aaronovitch writes another book about Peter Grant soon.

NOVELS


This is considered a Canadian classic. It tells the story of four generations of a Chinese Canadian family. It's a complicated, heartbreaking saga that involves betrayal, deception, accidental incest, and plenty of racism. It centres on the women and their relationships with each other and the men in their lives. While the setting is global, it mostly takes place around Vancouver, BC. I was fascinated by the parts about the real murder of Janet Smith, a nursemaid to a wealthy family. The Chinese houseboy was accused of her murder, but was eventually acquitted.

5 stars

What Abigail Did That Summer by Ben Aaronovitch & Kobna Holdbrook-Smith & Shvorne Marks (Narrators) March 18, 2021

I loved this visit to the Rivers of London series so much that I no sooner finished listening to it, I started all over again. Peter Grant's younger cousin, Abigail, ends up tracking down missing teens.
Abigail is now one of my favourite fictional teens. I love that she is smart and courageous. I like that while it's a terrifying, fascinating read, it's also about living with disability. I like how much compassion and understanding she has for her parents and her brother who is wasting away with some kind of disease. I like that Abigail figures out that her new friend, Simon, isn't like other kids, and no matter how much his mother wants it, never will be.

4 stars

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese & Sunil Malhotra (Narrator) February 03, 2009

This is the story of twin boys. Their mother died at their birth and their father abandoned them. They were lucky to be adopted by two other doctors at the clinic they all worked in. This is a beautiful story about love, family, and forgiveness. 

5 stars

The Silence of Bones by June Hur & Greta Jung (Narrator) April 21, 2020 🍁

Set in 1800 in Joseon, Korea, this is an historical murder mystery. A young girl works for the police because of social constraints that limit men's interactions with women - alive or dead. It's a fascinating whodunit that reveals a world of Korean history and culture.

MEMOIR 


Brilliant read. This memoir begins with Tomson Highway’s birth in a snowbank on the Manitoba Nunavut border, and ends with him getting ready to head south to Winnipeg for high school. I desperately hope there is a sequel.
“His memoir offers insights, both hilarious and profound, into the Cree experience of culture, conquest, and survival.”


What a story! Cea Sunrise went from living in a teepee in the Canadian Wilderness to modelling in Europe. It's a riveting narrative that kept me turning page after page.

NON FICTION

5 stars

The (Other) F Word: A Celebration of the Fat and Fierce by Angie Manfredi, Rachelle Abellar, Lily Anderson et al September 24, 2019

I'm not the target audience here, but I loved this book and think teens will too. I read it in bits and pieces to give me more time to absorb the messages. It wasn't an easy read for me. Coming face to face with my own internalized hatred for my body (and others' bodies) and understanding how I might have inadvertently hurt people close to me isn't easy to digest. I wish I could say that this book healed me, but it didn't. It certainly heightened my awareness of what it means to be fat in our culture. It gives me hope that I can eventually acknowledge and ignore all the negative messaging (internalized and others) and come to love myself in a fully human way.

CURRENTLY

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Flight of the Puffin by Ann Braden

UP NEXT 

Sugar Falls by David A Robertson
The Leak: For the Love of Truth by Kate Reed Petty
No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters by Ursula K. Le Guin

BLOG POSTS PLANNED FOR NEXT WEEK (Hopefully)

The Great Bear by David A. Robertson
Gemma and the Giant Girl by Sara O'Leary

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2021 26/25 

#MustReadNFIn2021 11/12

#MustReadPBIn2021 61/100 

Big Book Summer Challenge 9 

Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 33/25

Books by Canadian Authors: 95/100

Canada Reads 2021 5/5 

Discworld Series 41/41

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 355/333 


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