Welcome! It's #IMWAYR time again, when bloggers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to. 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. These are fabulous places to start your search for what to read next.
As I write this on Sunday morning, I realize that only one week ago I was hyped on coffee and boogieing to gospel music at the Vancouver Island Music festival in Courtenay BC. It was three days of heat, sunshine, multiple genres of music from around the world, late nights, and maybe, a bit too much wine. We had a fabulous time listening to familiar artists and becoming fans of previously unknown (to us) ones.
We were away for a week so by the time I got home, I had to work to get the garden back under control. It's a losing battle, since it's been just to hot to spend much time out there. On a positive note, we have been eating corn, tomatoes, eggplant, spinach, cucumbers, peppers, basil and other produce from it. We have company coming this week, so now I have to focus on getting the house in shape!
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.
CHILDREN'S NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS
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| 5 stars |
Just Like Beverly: A Biography of Beverly Cleary by Vicki Conrad & David Hohn (Illustrator) August 13, 2019
I have no idea how many Beverly Cleary books I have read to children, but it has been a lot! I remember her work being devoured by readers ever since I started teaching. Recently my son told me that he has been reading the Henry Huggens series to his six year old son. Both of them love them.
It was an absolute joy to read this book and find out more about the author and how she came to write so many books that have filled the hearts and minds of youngsters.
The Wisdom of Trees: How Trees Work Together to Form a Natural Kingdom by Lita Judge March 2, 2021
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| 5 stars |
The Wisdom of Trees: How Trees Work Together to Form a Natural Kingdom by Lita Judge March 2, 2021
Here in British Columbia where I live, our government dithers while the last remaining old growth forests are decimated. Last year, across the globe, more than 15,300,000,000 trees were cut down. That's the equivalent of two per person on the planet. It equals 3000 rolls of toilet paper.
This book is chock full of information. You might even use the word 'stuffed' with data. At the same time, it's a gorgeous picture book. Each themed two page spread includes stunning artwork, with a poem on the right side. On the left is a side bar with details expanding on the theme. If this isn't enough, following the author's note, the back matter is full of additional material pertaining to the specific trees in each illustration. I appreciate that it has advice for how to help forests. The book concludes with a glossary and sources section.
I would be tempted to purchase two copies of this if I was still working in my school library. Not only is it fine just as it is for younger intermediate learners, it is also a brilliant starting point for more mature students ready to research the themes in more depth.
Rock, Rosetta, Rock! Roll, Rosetta, Roll!: Presenting Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock & Roll by Tonya Bolden & R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator) February 14, 2023
I had heard of Rosetta Tharpe, but really knew little about her. This NF picture book is a delightful introduction to her life and music. It captures the spirit of the little girl who became the Queen of Rock and Roll.
Upon finishing it, I went off and spent an hour or so listening to her music.
Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontës by Isabel Greenberg February 6, 2020
CURRENTLY
The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler
Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck January 1, 1961
To Track a Traitor by Iona Whishaw May 2, 2023
Leeva at Last by Sara Pennypacker
This book is chock full of information. You might even use the word 'stuffed' with data. At the same time, it's a gorgeous picture book. Each themed two page spread includes stunning artwork, with a poem on the right side. On the left is a side bar with details expanding on the theme. If this isn't enough, following the author's note, the back matter is full of additional material pertaining to the specific trees in each illustration. I appreciate that it has advice for how to help forests. The book concludes with a glossary and sources section.
I would be tempted to purchase two copies of this if I was still working in my school library. Not only is it fine just as it is for younger intermediate learners, it is also a brilliant starting point for more mature students ready to research the themes in more depth.
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| 4 stars |
Rock, Rosetta, Rock! Roll, Rosetta, Roll!: Presenting Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock & Roll by Tonya Bolden & R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator) February 14, 2023
I had heard of Rosetta Tharpe, but really knew little about her. This NF picture book is a delightful introduction to her life and music. It captures the spirit of the little girl who became the Queen of Rock and Roll.
Upon finishing it, I went off and spent an hour or so listening to her music.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
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| 4 stars |
Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontës by Isabel Greenberg February 6, 2020
I don't much care for gothic tales so I am not a Brontë fan. I picked this up only because I AM a huge Isabel Greenberg fan!
This strange tale is a combination of truth and fiction. Against a backdrop of actual events in the Brontë family, Greenberg has used the information from her research to create a magical story that takes us inside the imaginary worlds created by the siblings. I ended up being fascinated, captivated, and sometimes, disturbed.
ADULT/YA FICTION
If you like character driven books that give you insight into other people's worlds and experiences, this book is perfect for you.
It is the story of Baxter, a queer Black sleeping car porter. He is saving up to go to school and become a dentist. He only needs another hundred dollars, but he already has fifty demerits. If he gets ten more he will be fired. On a trip across Canada, we see what his life is like while he performs his duties and deals with all kinds of people. A challenging journey becomes even more so when the train is stranded due to a landslide across the tracks. I really appreciated how the community of porters came to his defence when it looked like he was going to get fired.
Baxter's exhaustion, hunger and fear are brilliantly portrayed by Suzette Mayr.
This was a hard audiobook to finish.
It’s a collection of short stories. Mostly they are full of tenderness, love, and brutality.
I abandoned the last story as soon as I understood what was coming. I tried a couple of times to finish it, but in the end, I downloaded a print version and merely skimmed over the last pages. I can’t imagine attending a lynching, never mind bringing a child to one, but this kind of party spectacle was once all too commonplace in the American South.
If you haven’t read any James Baldwin, I encourage you to pick up his work and read it. Maybe you don’t want to start with this one, but his writing is brilliant.
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto & Eunice Wong (Narrator) March 14, 2023
I am now a hard core Jesse Q. Sutanto fan. I absolutely adored this book! It's hilarious, but it's also loaded with all kinds of important truths.
One morning, Vera Wong, the 60 year old Chinese owner of Vera Wang's World Famous Teashop, comes downstairs to open her shop. She finds a dead body on the floor. Before the police arrive, she pilfers a flash drive from the murder victim's hand.
Vera has opinions. She is sure she can do a better job of finding the murderer than the police can. In the process of accumulating a group of young suspects, she builds a found family and her life becomes much richer.
When the murderer is finally revealed, it's not unexpected, but it is a bit of a surprise.
If you are looking for the perfect summer read, look no farther.
It is the story of Baxter, a queer Black sleeping car porter. He is saving up to go to school and become a dentist. He only needs another hundred dollars, but he already has fifty demerits. If he gets ten more he will be fired. On a trip across Canada, we see what his life is like while he performs his duties and deals with all kinds of people. A challenging journey becomes even more so when the train is stranded due to a landslide across the tracks. I really appreciated how the community of porters came to his defence when it looked like he was going to get fired.
Baxter's exhaustion, hunger and fear are brilliantly portrayed by Suzette Mayr.
This was a hard audiobook to finish.
It’s a collection of short stories. Mostly they are full of tenderness, love, and brutality.
I abandoned the last story as soon as I understood what was coming. I tried a couple of times to finish it, but in the end, I downloaded a print version and merely skimmed over the last pages. I can’t imagine attending a lynching, never mind bringing a child to one, but this kind of party spectacle was once all too commonplace in the American South.
If you haven’t read any James Baldwin, I encourage you to pick up his work and read it. Maybe you don’t want to start with this one, but his writing is brilliant.
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| 5 stars |
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto & Eunice Wong (Narrator) March 14, 2023
One morning, Vera Wong, the 60 year old Chinese owner of Vera Wang's World Famous Teashop, comes downstairs to open her shop. She finds a dead body on the floor. Before the police arrive, she pilfers a flash drive from the murder victim's hand.
Vera has opinions. She is sure she can do a better job of finding the murderer than the police can. In the process of accumulating a group of young suspects, she builds a found family and her life becomes much richer.
When the murderer is finally revealed, it's not unexpected, but it is a bit of a surprise.
If you are looking for the perfect summer read, look no farther.
ADULT NON FICTION
This is a fascinating, in depth, look at diseases across time. Kang and Pedersen examine the world's worst diseases looking at their origin, how they evolved, and the ramifications politically, socially, and historically. They discuss different treatments, including the really wacky ones as well as the development of antibiotics and vaccines.
It's a delightfully accessible read.
Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler
To Track a Traitor by Iona Whishaw May 2, 2023
UP NEXT
READING GOALS
#MustReadFiction 14/24
#MustReadNonFiction 11/20
Canadian Authors 26/75
Indigenous Authors 11/20
Big Books Summer 2023 - 7 - 3 in progress
Goodreads Reading Challenge: 107/200
Glad you enjoyed your time away. But reality is always hard to adjust to when you get home, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteAs they say, "reality is a bitch."
DeleteThat said, I have enjoyed my time here at home since we returned.
Sounds like you had a great time at your music festival. You read a great assortment of books too. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThe music festival sounds like such a wonderful time, Cheriee, and I'm so glad you got to enjoy that event! Settling back in after that definitely sounds tricky, though.
ReplyDeleteIt does look like you've been reading some wonderful books! I'm not familiar with Isabel Greenberg's work, but Glass Town is on my list since you like her books so much. Basically every other book on this list looks wonderful too—the James Baldwin book sounds powerful but certainly frightening too, at least in that last story. (Not his fault—this world is frightening sometimes!) Thanks so much for the thoughtful reviews, and have a great week!
Ah, so glad you came by or I wouldn't have known you posted! And, I love that you went to the music festival, sounds wonderful! You've shared more books for me to find, too, Cheriee. I really don't need to discover another mystery author but you've made Sutanto's book sound very good. I will try to find the James Baldwin, new to me, and I have read others, but not lately. Travels with Charley is a long-time favorite, maybe time to read again. I have an old, special copy from my husband. I loved The Wisdom of Trees & noted The Sleeping Car Porter & the Cleary Bio. I've earlier read The Girl from Yamhill about her but not recently! Thanks for every bit!
ReplyDeleteSutanto’s book is new to me, but sounds like a fun read. Thanks for sharing! Glad you had a good time at the music festival.
ReplyDelete