#IMWAYR September 7, 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.

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?

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.

RECENT BLOG POSTS

The Tea Dragon Tapestry by Katie O'Neill

NOVELS

5 stars

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! (Elmwood Springs #1) by Fannie Flagg & Kate Reading (Narrator)

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

Yara's Spring by Jamal Saeed & Sharon E. McKay 🍁

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

Dog Driven by Terry Lynn Johnson & Morgan Hallett (Narrator) 🍁

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

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi

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

#IMWAYR May 18, 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.

I am finally actually feeling relaxed. Our house is somewhat under control and the gardens are almost done. This is a temporary respite as we are planning on starting house renovations in the next couple of days. I am determined to preserve time to read everyday no matter what!

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

Queenie Quail Can't Keep Up by Jane Whittingham & Emma Pederson (Illustrations) 🍁

I enjoyed this story about a little quail who is distracted by the world around her. Consequently, she is always trailing behind her siblings. This turns out to be a good thing when she is diverted by a flash of orange and tracks it to find out what it is. Queenie ends up being a hero and her family come to appreciate the way she sees the world.
I live in the middle of quail country and watch them scuttle around my neighborhood everyday. So here's the rub, the quail in this book are cute, but they just don't look enough like my real ones.

Seaside Treasures: A Guidebook for Little Beachcombers by Sarah Grindler 🍁

This is an introduction to all the different things you can find on beaches around the world. It discusses shells, animals, sea glass and garbage. I appreciated the informative bits about the different kinds of flotsam and jetsam to be discovered on seashores.

If Pluto Was a Pea by Gabrielle S. Prendergast & Rebecca Gerlings (Illustrations) 🍁

I appreciate how this book translates our solar system into common everyday objects. It provides readers with a way to relate to the immensity of the planets and our sun. I like the diversity represented in the two children camping out in a backyard.
This will make a fabulous addition to a collection of books about space for primary school readers.

Dog vs. Ultra Dog by Troy Wilson & Clayton Hanmer (Illustrations) 🍁

This book is full of layers of meanings. It's the story of Dog, who can't live up to the commercial portrayal of a superhero, Ultra Dog. His doubts about his worth are exacerbated by the neighbor's cat. Dog tries his best to compete with Ultra Dog with mostly distressing, albeit hilarious results.

NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS

Scholastic Canada Biography: Meet Elsie MacGill by Elizabeth MacLeod, Mike Deas (Illustrator) 🍁

Elsie MacGill was one heck of a woman! She lived a life of many 'firsts.' Born in 1905, she was the first Canadian woman to get an engineering degree and the first woman in the world to to get her master's degree in aeronautical engineering. Getting polio in her twenties might have slowed her down a bit, but it sure didn't stop her! In 1938 she became the chief aeronautical engineer in charge of all airplane work at the Canadian Car and Foundry Company. During WW2 she was in charge of a team building Hawker Hurricane planes for the airforce. In 1942, children got to read about her in a comic called 'Queen of the Hurricanes: Elsie MacGill." After the war Elsie became involved with the UN as technical advisor to the International Civil Aviation Organization. In the 1960's she was active in the women's rights movement and became one of the commissioners for the 1967 Royal Commission on the status of Women.
Elsie MacGill is a role model for young women all over the world. She received many awards and honors during her lifetime and now has an award named after her. The Elsie MacGill awards are given out to recognize achievement of women in aviation.

Mike Deas' comic style illustrations are the perfect match for this biography. They provide context to Elizabeth MacLeod's words. I especially appreciate the use of text bubbles to add humour and reality to the story.

This book is a brilliant introduction to this amazing woman's life.

NOVELS

Stowaway by Pam Withers 🍁

If you are searching for a read that gets your adrenaline pumping, look no further than Pam Withers. Do not read this book before going to bed because you will either stay up all night reading, or not be able to sleep because of all that epinephrine coursing through your system.
Owen and his parents live on an island off the coast of British Columbia. His is a solitary life without peers nearby. Eventually we learn how and why this came to be.
When his folks leave him alone for a week, Owen connects to Arturo, a young man who, with his 'uncle,' have sheltered at their marina. When Owen stows away on what he thinks is Arturo and his uncle's friendly boat expecting to get dropped off at the nearest center, is he ever wrong. He finds himself caught up in an international human smuggling syndicate.
Pam Withers takes her readers from one hairbreadth adventure and escape to the next. I like how she alternates the two perspectives of Arturo and Owen in different chapters.

The Horse of the River: A Camp Canyon Falls Adventure by Sari Cooper 🍁

This surprised me. I'm not much of a horse riding fan, but was completely engaged by this coming of age tale.
Gillian is nervous to be attending a horse riding/training camp for the first time. It seems to be going fine until the thoughtless actions of another girl damages her horse. She ends up paired with The Beast, a horse who challenges even more confident riders. When Gillian loses control of The Beast, she lands in a raging river where she is pulled downstream through rapids and over a waterfall. At this point it becomes a survival story with Gillian and The Beast coming to terms with one another.

I appreciated that all the characters end up being thoughtfully rendered with authentic back stories.

The Body Under the Piano (Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen, #1) by Marthe Jocelyn & Sarah English (Narrator) 🍁

I loved this audiobook. It has the feel of Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series. Aggie Morton is a precocious, imaginative twelve year old writer growing up around the turn of the century in 1902. Many of the characters Agatha Christie would come to write about are integrated into this murder mystery for middle grade readers. Aggie's newest best friend, Belgian immigrant Hector Perot, and her perceptive Grannie Jane, help solve this mystery of the murder in a dance studio. I especially appreciate the depth of characters here and the complexity of the plot.
I can hardly wait for the next one in the series. Unfortunately that won't be until September of this year!

CURRENTLY

I'm reading Embrace the Chicken by Mahtab Narsimhan. I'm listening to The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead.

UP NEXT

I started listening to Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee, but my life has been already so full of anxiety, that I put it aside. Maybe I will get back to it this week, or I might just try and find the book in text format. This coming week I'm planning of reading Tick Tock Terror by Melanie Jackson, Dressed to Play by Jennifer Manuel, and Cold Falling White by G. S. Prendergast.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2020: 8/25 one in progress

#MustReadNFIn2020: 4/12

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors: 9/25

100 books by Canadian Authors: 87/100

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 166/333

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel looks at the plight of chimney sweeps in Victorian England. It's got a bit of a Dickensian feel, but it is imbued with magic, including a loveable golem.

It's the story of a sweep who finds a baby girl, Nan, and looks after her. He teaches her his trade, but he is also a story teller who fills their hardest times with love. The story unfolds in two sections. Italic text tells the story of Nan when she was still with her sweep. Regular text puts the reader into Nan's present. When he disappeared he left Nan his top hat and a magical piece of coal that is always warm. It turns out this piece of coal is the seed for a golem that is released when Nan almost dies in a chimney fire. 

Jonathan Auxier writes gorgeous, complicated and rich characters. You can't help but worry about all of them. Nan is spunky and smart. Toby, who at first she isn't sure she likes, is resilient, loyal and clever. Charlie, the golem, is naive, strong, and full of love. At first he is hardly aware of his own power and purpose. Nan's sweep is a kind of ideal caregiver. Even Roger, the antagonistic sweep Nan works with, is shown to have a heartbreaking background that enables the reader and Nan to understand him better.

This book connects to universal truths about what it means to be human. Sometimes you read a book and certain lines jump out at you with the power of their universal truth. Here are some lines that resonate with me.

"That's how it works, doesn't it? We are saved by saving others." page 180

"That's what it is to care for a person," Toby Said. There was not even a hint of mocking in his voice. "If you're not afraid, you're not doing it right." page 272

Love is what this book is all about. After finishing it I've been thinking about what parents and caregivers give to their children and how much more we might be prepared to give to ensure their survival. Would we, like Nan's sweep, give our lives? Maybe we already do, bit bit, just like he did. 

#IMWAYR September 17, 2018

#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 UnleashingReaders 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 a busy week. Friday we celebrated our son being called to the bar! We went to my brother's birthday party on Saturday and then Sunday we celebrated my husband's 65th birthday. I managed to finish a shirt for his gift. I'm also sewing the binding on a baby quilt.

Next week won't be much better as I will be working on another shirt for my son who has his birthday next Monday I'm working a couple of days at different schools, and my other son is coming over early Tuesday morning to make salsa!

BLOG POSTS LAST WEEK

Gordon: Bark To The Future! by Ashley Spires

#MustReadIn2018Fall Update

(I had finished this in advance of our official update and then forgot about it til last week)

BOARD BOOKS

3 stars

Little Critters by Xavier Deneux

The construction of this book has a lot of potential. It has different little creatures protruding from the pages. The name of the animal is usually on the top of the page with additional details in smaller print near the bottom. This secondary text identifies parts of the body. However, many of these details are not shown in the images.

I can't help but wonder how much I am influencing my granddaughter's lack on interest in this book. It begins with a spider, and much as I try to be neutral, I am not particularly fond of spiders. Irrational fear comes closer to describing my relationship with them. That said, other pages are delightful and Ada does like to feel the different little creatures.

3 stars

Ears by Flowerpot Press

I like the photographs in this book a lot. I like that it is a nonfiction title for the littlest ones. On one two page spread it shows just the ears of a specific animal and a question asking, with some specific detail, who has ..... ears like these? The next page spread shows the whole animal.

Unfortunately, Ada doesn't love it as much a I do, although she can now show us where her own ears are!

3 stars

Who Can? by Charles Ghigna & Vlasta Van Kampen (Illustrator)

Vlasta van Kampen's illustrations are gorgeous in this rhyming riddle book. Ada and Everett are not really ready for the puzzle part but they do enjoy the images, especially if we read the book as if it is a hiding game.

5 stars

Who is Smiling? by Yusuke Yonezu

We love this book. It's one of those that Ada brings to me regularly these days while saying "book." But don't take my word for it. Look at her reading it to her doll in this video.

PICTURE BOOKS

3 stars

A Stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker

I've read this book numerous times and I still haven't figured out what to think about it. On the one hand the artwork is hands-down beautiful. What confounds me is the storyline. It begins with a young girl and her family burying their pet dog. Then the family is shown at the beach with this young girl making connections to a rock that she finds in the ocean. We are then shown a possible history of this rock across time and space.

I think the author is trying to show that the death of a family pet is a small thing in the bigger picture of time and space and that this brings the girl comfort. Even if young readers figure out this connection, which is debatable, I think it's balderdash. I say this as someone who is in the middle of grieving these days. Knowing a loved one's death is part of a larger picture does not assuage one's grief. It doesn't bring comfort. Over time perhaps this connection makes sense, but it doesn't feel authentic to me given that the girl has just buried her beloved pet.

I do think the second narrative, of the life cycle of the rock landing as a meteorite on earth, stands on its own as a brilliant story.

GRAPHIC

4 stars

Gordon: Bark To The Future! (P.U.R.S.T. #2) by Ashley Spires

Ashley Spires can do no wrong! If you are not a fan of all her graphic novel series, (Binky and PURST) you are leading a deprived life. I wish I had a dog like Gordon! If you have beginning readers, you need these books. 

NOVELS

4 stars

The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend & Gemma Whelan (Narrator)

Morrigan Crow is a cursed child who is doomed to die on her 11th birthday. She is rescued by Jupiter North, who brings her to Nevermoor, where he sponsors her to compete in the trials to become a member of the Wundrous Society. This book is a wonderful fantasy that highlights the truly important things in life, being connected to others and belonging.

Although there is a bit of irritating girl snarkiness, it's negligible, and there are interesting twists inside of it.

I'm really glad I got around to reading this. Not only did I love this tale of Morrigan Crow, but no sooner did I finish it, I went to see if the next in the series was available. Unfortunately, it's on order, but not as an audiobook, so I'll wait a while and try to catch up on the rest of my reading.

5 stars

No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen

I barely finished this NetGalley title this afternoon. I'm in the process of writing a review, but here are a few important things about it. I'm not particularly fond of reading on my device, and I was compelled to keep coming back to finish this one. Also, my eyes leaked for the last 25 pages or so.

Adult Nonfiction

           

4 stars

Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts by Jacquie Gering & Katie Pedersen

Ever since reading about Gee's Bend quilts I've become more interested in modern quilting. To be honest, I skimmed through much of the basic information about quilting since I've been making quilts and wall hangings or some time already.

CURRENTLY

I'm listening to Word by Word by Kory Stomper. I plan to start reading Front Desk in the next couple of days and I need to finish The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser, a NetGalley title, before it expires on me!

UP NEXT

I hope to get to The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed, a pile of picture books and hopefully spend some time dealing with the pile of picture books!

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2018 21/25

#MustReadNFIn2018 6/12

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 17/25

Goodreads Reading Challenge 310/333

#IMWAYR March 19, 2018

#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.

I am finally feeling like I have won the battle with the sinus infection that's been plaguing me for a month. I'm thankful for the miracles of modern medicine and a decent health care system. As soon as I catch up on all the housework I've abandoned over the past month, I'll feel like my life is back to as normal as it ever gets around here. 

As you might be aware, I am the grandmother of two brilliant, adorable nine month old grandchildren. We share a house with one of them, so I get to spend a lot of time with my granddaughter Ada. Ada is half Korean, so I have been thinking about books for her as she grows up. This week I checked out a couple of picture books to consider before purchasing them. Both of them were about food, and both have recipes at the end!

BOARD BOOKS

4 stars

Peek-a-Who? by Nina Laden

Any book or activity where peek a boo is part of the action, is exciting for Ada. This one has a hole that shows part of something, with the beginning phrase, Peek-a.. Then when you turn the page, you see the object and a word that rhymes with boo. The owl page shows who. The cow shows moo...  At the ending it says you! and includes a mirror. This one is a hit.

4 stars

Jane Foster's Colors by Jane Foster

This one has no real gimmicks, but both of the babies enjoyed it. It is amazing how differently they show this. Everett just gazes intently at the images and enjoys turning the pages. Ada grabs at the images and wants absolute control over the page turning. Each page highlights a specific colour with animals and things that are connected to it. It is beautiful.

PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

No Kimchi for Me! by Aram Kim

I predict a Korean feast in our future. It will include kimchi pancakes!

I like Aran Kim’s charming illustrations showing the characters as cats. I’m impressed at how human they all manage to look. I like that the grandmother (halmoni) helps the young girl to expand her culinary experiences.

5 stars

Bee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park

Nice rhythmic poetry tells the story of a family preparing a young girl's favourite meal, Bee-bim Bop. Ho Baek Lee’s illustrations capture her excitement delightfully. We all see our Ada growing up to be just this little girl here.

NON FICTION PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

Bees: A Honeyed History by Piotr Socha

I appreciate the combination of scientific, cultural, and archaeological information in this oversized book about bees. The artwork is gorgeous! I had a rudimentary knowledge about some aspects of bees. Those aspects are now much deeper, plus I know a whole lot more about bees than I knew was possible.

When I finished it, I felt ready for part one of a workshop on backyard beekeeping Sunday morning. This didn't exactly prove to be the case. I stopped off at the library on my way home to pick up an adult title on beekeeping. I hope to become less terrified of killing off any bees I should eventually decide to keep.

5 stars

Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre

As thankful as I am that winter is over, these stunning photographs and lyrical poetry make me yearn for one more snowfall. (I concede that living where we do, this is an easy claim to make since it is highly unlikely to happen)

I don’t know enough about how photography style works to figure out how I managed to make the connection, but I opened this book and at the second page wondered if this was the same author as the Raindrops Roll book. I checked the cover and sure enough it is!

MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS

4 stars

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman & Sarah Watts (Illustrator)

Finished at last! I wish I hadn’t read this book in fits and starts. When I finally gave up on trying to read it like that, and allowed myself to fall into it, I couldn’t stop reading. I like the characters and their relationships with one another. I love all the literary references. I wish there really was a book scavenger game.

4 stars

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Aven Green and her friends Connor and Zion are characters who are easy to admire and root for. I love that while each of them has their own challenge, it's their individual humanity that shines through. 

ADULT AND YA

4 stars

Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older & Anika Noni Rose (Narrator)

I'm not a big fan of fantasy, but I was hooked nearly from the get go with this book. It's like a parallel world where the everyday sexism, racism, gentrification, police violence and homophobia are carried over into a world where fantastical spiritual realms coexist and are visible and manipulated by a select few. I loved Sierra Santiago and her friends and am looking forward to reading more about them. 

4 stars

Thud! by Terry Pratchett & Stephen Briggs (Narrator)

This wasn't one of my favourite Terry Pratchett books although it's full of endearing moments and resonates with his satirical humour.  All of his work opens a mirror so we see ourselves more clearly. Also, just as a note, not being a favourite has nothing to do with lack of quality. It's just that I adore all his witch novels!

In this one, Duke Samuel Vimes, Commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, has to deal with racism between trolls and dwarfs, and vampires and werewolves, both on and off the police force. When an important dwarf appears to be murdered by a troll, Vimes has to solve the case before war breaks out. He also has to be home to read to his young son at 6:00 PM precisely, each and every day.

CURRENTLY

I'm savouring This Accident of Being Lost: Songs and Stories by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson because honestly, her writing just blows my mind! It's both a window into another way of knowing the world, and inspires me to try and find words to write about my own. It is due back at the library on Wednesday and since I'm only half way through it, I doubt I will be finished. It's a book I know I will purchase, but still want to finish first! I'm listening to Almost Home by Joan Bauer. I've started reading, with my eyes, Ellie, Engineer by Jackson Pearce. I've also begun reading The Bee Book, a DK title by numerous authors to learn more about beekeeping before the final workshop next Sunday.

UP NEXT

I plan to start Thousand Star Hotel by Bao Phi when I'm finished This Accident of Being Lost. I'll listen to whatever comes available next. I picked up We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and didn't realize it was such a tiny book so that won't take long. I'm hoping to start Oil's Deep State: How the petroleum industry undermines democracy and stops action on global warming - in Alberta and Ottaway by Kevin Taft, but doubt I will get to it next week. In theory both of these are books for our next book club meeting.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2018 8/25

#MustReadNFIn2018 2/12

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 4/25 1 in process

Goodreads Reading Challenge 96/333