Library Matters: Realistic Fiction

Showing posts with label Realistic Fiction. Show all posts

#IMWAYR December 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.

Whoot whoot! I accomplished another of my reading goals this week!! I've read 25 books by Canadian Indigenous authors. (I might end up reading more since I have three titles in a pile from the library)

Our house renovations continue. Now that the electrical stuff is dealt with in our main bathroom, my partner is busy mudding and sanding. As soon as this is done I will go in and start painting and get the tile in while he works on the medicine cabinet. If the Gods and Goddesses are with us, we should have it all finished by next week. After this we will clean the house and take a break until after the winter holidays are over.

I've just started making some Christmas placemats to give away for Christmas, (if they turn out.) They are supposed to be a fast project. We shall see.

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

Eric by Shaun Tan

This is a sweet story from Shaun Tan's Tales from Outer Suburbia collection I read it from Netgalley. Now I want to read them all.

It is about a family that hosts a foreign student. Eric, (his real name is too hard for them to pronounce,) is a lovely little character even if he doesn't fit into the family's expectation of normal. Any contrast to their way of knowing the world is attributed to cultural difference. Readers are only aware of Eric's perspective through the images.

I've read this through at least three times and am still struggling to come up with words to explain the aching emotional response I'm left with.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

5 stars

Flamer by Mike Curato

This is heart wrenchingly brilliant! Mike Curato is a well known picture book author and illustrator for the Little Elliot series. He grew up in a Catholic home. This fictional graphic memoir, inspired by his own life, is about coming to accept being queer, for which, according to the church, he would burn in hell.

This book resonated in me for all kinds of reasons. From the cultural references I assume that Aiden would have been about the same age as my sons. I came to love this character as much as I loved my sons' friends. I grew up in a Catholic household so I understand the religious references all too well. I abandoned the church for all kinds of reasons, but for me it was primarily when, as a teen, I discovered feminism. My mother and mother in law used to ask me if I would ever come back to the church. I would respond, "When women become priests and my queer friends can get married in it."

NONFICTION

5 stars

Turtle Island by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathey Lowinger 🍁

This book tells the history of the people in North and Central America centuries before Europeans arrived. Readers learn about these people through the results of different kinds of archaeological research, artwork, myths, oral storytelling and imagining.

It includes different origin tales from across the different regions and peoples. I knew there were a great many different nations living on this land, but I really appreciated learning more about who they were and how they survived. I was fascinated by the canals of the Hohokam who created verdant gardens out in the desert. I had no idea about the city of Cahokia on the Mississippi River. The inhabitants of Cahokia, the largest city north of Mexico, created numerous clay mounds that were used for multiple purposes.

Did you know that the people of Mesoamerica wrote books? When the Spanish arrived they burned whole libraries of them down.

The latter part of the book deals with the tragedies following first contact with Europeans after 1492.

This should be in every school library across the continent.

NOVELS

5 stars

Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend & Gemma Whelan (Narrator)

I adored this book so much. I don't have the self discipline that Shaye has to savour it in small amounts. I devoured it. That said, no sooner did I finish it, I started it all over again.

It feels eerily prescient to our present day circumstances given that Nevermoor is in the middle of a pandemic and that a certain group of citizens face racism.

Jessica Townsend's world building is bloody brilliant. The Gobleian Library is probably not a place I would want to work in, but I sure would love to stay at the Hotel Deucalion.

Now that I'm done I'm left with so many questions careening around in my head. I want desperately to have a conversation with someone about this. What is going on with Ezra Squall? Is he really as evil as Morrigan has been led to believe? Does he have a new strategy to get Morrigan to be his apprentice? With the corruption and manipulation of community leaders, what is the real truth behind what happened a century ago?

If you are looking for a series to give to a kid in your life, look no further.

4 stars

From Me to You by K. A. Holt.

Sometimes I forget how much I adore really good realistic MG fiction. Then I read a title like this, experience the satisfaction of a tale well told, and remember all over again.

Amelia Peabody's older sister died in a tragic boating accident three years earlier than this novel takes place. She's still struggling with grief when she ends with a letter written by her sister outlining her goals and dreams. Amelia decides to accomplish them for her. The goals are pretty ordinary, but in the process of achieving them, Amelia initiates changes in her life. She ends up making new friends, gets to understand her old ones better, and starts on the road to healing.

The adults in this novel are realistic individuals who do their best to support the young people in their care. I especially appreciated Amelia's parents who struggle with their own grief, but are there for her when she needs them.

DISCWORLD NOVELS

The Discworld collection is a compendium of mini series set in Pratchett's world. I recently found this image for helping keep track of them all.

4 stars

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett & Nigel Planer (Narrator)

When a secret society conjures up a dragon in Ankh-Morpork, it's up to Vimes and the rest of his City Watch crew to figure out how to get rid of it. In the middle of it, romance blossoms.

I am infatuated with these earlier works of Pratchett. I read Thud (a later book in this mini series) ages ago, but now I'm now looking forward to reading more books about Vimes and the rest of the City Watch.

CURRENTLY

I'm listening to Three Keys by Kelly Yang narrated by Sunny Lu. I'm rereading Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a book club title. I've also got The World of Poo by Terry Pratchett on the go. The other Discworld book I'm into is Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett narrated by Nigel Planer.

UP NEXT

My next audiobook will be A History of My Brief Body by Billy Rae Belcourt. I'm planning to read On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous Ocean Vuong and Leggings Revolt by Monique Polak. I also hope to get to Give and Take by Elly Swartz so I can complete another of my reading goals.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2020: 24/25

#MustReadNFIn2020: 11/12

Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors: 25/25

Books by Canadian Authors: 125/100

Discworld Series 14/41 - two in progress

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 319/333

#IMWAYR March 30, 2020

Hello everyone. I hope you are all doing well and keeping safe. Today I'm sharing two weeks of reading. Somehow I lost track of time last week. I wish I could say it was because I was reading great literature, but really, it was just worry and reading news articles after news article about this pandemic. I am relieved that here in BC where I live there is hope that we might be finally flattening the curve, but I'm worried about all my American friends and acquaintances.

My stress level is heightened by having to move at the end of April and wondering how to make that happen. The universe might be unfolding as it should, but I wish it was a little kinder.

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

A Little House in a Big Place by Alison Acheson & Valeriane Leblond (Illustrator) 🍁

I haven't lived on the prairies, but have visited often enough to appreciate how much this book captures a sense of place. A young girl's main interaction with the world outside her home is watching trains cross the landscape. The bit about watching the train arrive as a dot on the horizon and following it until it disappears again, is gorgeous. Her relationship with the engineer feels authentic. I especially appreciated that when she grows up and leaves home, she heads off on a train.

3 stars

The Moon Watched It All by Shelley Leedahl & Aino Anto (Illustrations) 🍁

This is beautifully written and beautifully illustrated. It's a poignant story of two misfits finding each other. My problem with it is that there is too much text on the pages.

CHAPTER BOOKS

5 stars

Anne Chapter Book Series

These illustrated readers pay homage to the famous Anne of Green Gables. Kallie George's love of the original books is obvious in this series. I am impressed by how rich these are and how authentically they capture the essence of Anne Shirley and her escapades. Abigail Halpin's art is gorgeous. I adore these adaptations and can hardly wait for the next one.

Anne Arrives: Inspired by Anne of Green Gables by Kallie George & Abigail Halpin (Illustrator) 🍁

Thanks to Kallie George, I have fallen in love with Anne and the rest of the characters all over again.

Anne's Kindred Spirits: Inspired by Anne of Green Gables ( #2) by Kallie George & Abigail Halpin (Illustrations) 🍁

This instalment deals with Anne befriending Diana and Marilla's missing broach.

4 stars

Scallywag on the Salish Sea by Sara Cassidy & Mike Deas (Illustrations) 🍁

This charming chapter book is full of rollicking fun. A young lad ends up as kitchen boy on a pirate ship. While cleaning fish he discovers all kinds of jewels and deduces that where this pollock was caught, there must be a treasure. Not only does this book have a multitude of fascinating characters, it's got plenty of action and hilarity before our lad discovers a bit about his past and manages to purchase his freedom. A sequel in the works will entertain us with his further adventures.

5 stars

Just a Kid by Rie Charles 🍁

I really like this. Meerin Hoy is just an ordinary kid who discovers that the city is planning to turn the vacant farmland across from her home into a housing development. She is determined to stop it. Among other things, she starts a petition and writes a letter to the editor to get the the city council and the mayor, who hardly acknowledges her, to change their minds.
This satisfying story about a strong little girl is sure to inspire readers with courage and determination to make necessary changes in their own communities.
It's not easy to get beginning chapter books this appealing, but Rie Charles manages it!

GRAPHIC NOVELS

4 stars

Shadow Island by Nancy Deas, Mike Deas 🍁

This book is targeted for readers from grade two to grade four. They are going to love it. It's got four kids breaking rules and discovering that strange monster like creatures exist. The children are sure that their PE teacher has nefarious designs on these animals so they rescue them and escape to a nearby island where they hope the creatures will be safe. They are wrong on so many levels.
The west coast rain forest setting is wonderfully illustrated. I liked the way the children are portrayed as a diverse collection of friends. We only get hints at all of their characters, but I'm sure they will become richer as the series progresses. The book is full of action and excitement. My only complaint is in how Ms Grundle, the PE teacher is drawn. Her features were just too wicked witch for me and distracted from the rest of the story.

NOVELS

5 stars

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

In case you haven't noticed, Angie Thomas sure can write. I was worried sick about what kind of messes Brianna “Bri” Jackson was getting into. There were numerous times when I wanted to shake her and shout, "Girl, what are you doing?" (Yes, I was invested in her.) What she's doing is trying to help her family get out of poverty. I appreciated how much I learned about rap, and getting stuck in a hole that you can't get out of.

5 stars

False Value (Rivers of London #8) by Ben Aaronovitch & Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Narrator)

I was a bit confused in the beginning of this and kept wondering if I was listening to the same part again. (I probably was) Soon I was all sorted out and loving it. I adored the references to Ada Lovelace, Charles Babbage and his thinking machines, and how it all ended up being connected to the development of artificial intelligence. Peter Grant is right on his game in this one - dealing with upcoming fatherhood, a nefarious tech company, and all kinds of subterfuge in his new role.
There is a delightful and fascinating interview with both of these contributors at the end of this audiobook. I love this so much that I have taken to listening to it again late at night when I can't sleep.

3.5 stars

Swing by Kwame Alexander & Mary Rand Hess

It was pure joy to listen to this as an audiobook. I loved the characters. The friendship between Noah, Swing and Sam is realistic. I adored all the jazz references!
I'm not the target audience so it's not a big deal that the love angst stuff just irritated me.
The ending, well that ending had me in tears.

4 stars

Nevers by Sara Cassidy 🍁

I wasn't sure about this book at first. I read the prologue and first bit to a group of grade 5/6's. Only one of the eight wanted me to continue. After I read a bit more by myself, I couldn't put it down.
The story is set in post revolutionary France. Fourteen year old Odette looks after her helpless mother, Annaline, who seems to be a curse for her husbands. All five or six of them have died in bizarre accidents. After fleeing from a recent disaster they end up in the town of Nevers where they settle in. Odette works hard to get them established and hopes they have found a place to stay. Soon she has a new friend in Nicoise. Together they try to solve a mystery from the past.
This has such a rich cast of characters - M. Gustave who wants to be a chicken, the aging Mme. Genevieve who wants to be an inventor, and even a donkey who talks latin at night. In spite of how hard Odette works to make a life for her and her mother, this book is full of whimsy and delight. Fans of Kate DiCamillo's The Magician's Elephant will love this. I'm sure if I had continued reading to that aforementioned group of students they would have become as mesmerized as I was.

5 stars

The Mostly True Story of Pudding Tat, Adventuring Cat by Caroline Adderson & Stacy Innerst (Illustrations) 🍁

Pudding Tat, an albino cat, was born on a farm in rural Ontario in 1901. Although he was almost blind, he ended up travelling around the world. He couldn't have done it without Flea in his ear. They have many adventures and meet all kinds of interesting people. Even when the characters are not real, they are composites of people who lived at the time.
Pudding Tat begins his adventuring by going over Niagra Falls with Annie Edson Taylor. He's at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York when President William McKinley is assassinated. Musical geniuses, Gus Edwards and Vincent P. Bryan befriend him.
These are just the beginnings of Pudding Tat and Flea's many experiences. As readers learn about some major historic events, they are entertained by the humour in the duo’s relationship. Flea provides much of the comic relief to Pudding Tat’s straight man.
After reading this, I wished I were still teaching grades 3/4. I would love to do this as a read aloud and then have the students do mini research projects based on the many fascinating events and characters in the book.
I enjoyed the illustrations for each new chapter. My only quibble is that I don’t think the cover does the book credit.

NONFICTION

4 stars

The World Around Us Series is geared towards students aged five to eight. Each book has a similar layout. They begin with a page introducing the topic. After that they are formatted with a question or statement on one page and the response on the next. Each page has a sidebar that extends the answer. I especially appreciated the illustrations in them. Some are photographs and others are art. Diversity of all kinds is represented in them. The back matter contains a note from the author explaining her personal connections to the specific topic. There is also a page of additional resources.
While these are geared for younger readers, they can be used with older readers as well. I think they would make brilliant nonfiction mentor text!
I would purchase the whole series if I was still in the library.

Under Our Clothes: Our First Talk about Our Bodies by Jillian Roberts & Jane Heinrichs (Illustrations) 🍁

This begins by addressing and confirming our rights to boundaries for our own bodies. It includes advice about what to do if someone ignores these. I like that it acknowledges that different people have different ideas about their own bodies and what they are comfortable with. The latter part addresses body image, body shaming and self esteem. This section emphasizes the differences in our bodies and the impact social mores have on how we feel about ourselves. A small bit introduces the idea of transgendered peoples' need to use gender neutral bathrooms.
I have a few quibbles with this - just because it tends to oversimplify some things, but I still think this is a good introduction for younger readers. It will be also be a good fit with existing abuse prevention programs.

On the Internet: Our First Talk about Online Safety by Jillian Roberts & Jane Heinrichs (Illustrations) 🍁

This book begins with a simple explanation of what the internet is and proceeds into a conversation about boundaries for its use. It discusses online bullying and the problems with retracting what you post. It addresses safety issues with respect to online friendships. Like the other books in the series, it focuses on the importance of telling a trusted adult if something makes you uncomfortable. It also acknowledges that the internet can be used as a learning tool and as a way to do good in the world. The back matter contains a note from the author and a page of additional resources.
The checklist for how to comport oneself while online is one that older students and adults should follow.

On the Playground: Our First Talk about Prejudice by Jillian Roberts & Jane Heinrichs (Illustrations) 🍁

This continues with the same layout and format as in the other books in the series. It acknowledges the different feelings felt by different people when teasing and bullying take place on the playground. It begins by naming this as harassment and connects it to prejudice. Motive for this behaviour is connected to fear of difference that can be passed down from generation to generation. It highlights that we are all equally important no matter how we are different. A Sidebar explains diversity. I appreciate the section that talks about individuals can do to help others. "The key to respect and acceptance is understanding. Take time to learn about the many diverse people in the world around us." To get us started, another sidebar introduces reader to Sophi Kamlish, a Paralympic athlete.

CURRENTLY

I'm listening to The Wicked King by Holly Black. With my eyes I'm reading Finding Cooper by Stacey Matson and Making Friends with Billy Wong by Augusta Scattergood.

UP NEXT

The Atomic Girls by Janet Beard is lined up to be my next audiobook. Other than that, I will continue pulling out books from the boxes and see what happens.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2020: 4/25 1 in progress

#MustReadNFIn2020: 3/12

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors: 9/25

100 books by Canadian Authors: 61/100

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 130/333

#IMWAYR October 21, 2019

#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.

My partner and I went off for a few days to our home in the Okanagan Valley. On our way we discovered that a cousin of mine had died and his funeral was on the following Saturday. We decided to stick around for that. Besides lazing around, baking, eating and reading, I got all the windows washed and vacuumed and dusted the basement. Then on Saturday we travelled east with another cousin and his wife to the service, a three hour drive from there and another three hours back. Early Sunday we got up, tidied the house, and headed back to Vancouver. We sure are glad to be back with our grandkids!

Today is a big day here in Canada as we are voting to elect a new federal government. Not only to I have to get out early and vote, I have to pick up and prepare food for book club at my place at 1:30. I'm also booked to go and help get out the vote for the candidate of my choice after that. All this means that I will try and read everyone's post later this week. Keep your fingers crossed that we will end up with a progressive government.

Titles with a 🍁indicate this is a Canadian Author.

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

RECENT BLOG POSTS

Poetry Friday October 11, 2019

PICTURE BOOKS

5 stars

The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc & Claudia Zoe Bedrick (Translator) 🍁

A lion finds a wounded bird. He nurses it back to health. The next spring the bird flies off with the rest of it's flock. The lion, missing the bird, goes on with his life waiting and hoping. While this book is about friendship, it also reminded me about parenting. It's nearly wordless. The illustrations are breathtaking. Dubuc is the queen of how to use empty space. She reveals so much emotion and story in her images. I'm not even sure it needs the sparse text that's there.

5 stars

Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed & Anoosha Syed (Illustrator)

This is a delightful story about friendship, cooking, and trying new things. Anoosha Syed's bright art highlights a community very much like the one I live in. On top of that, there is a recipe at the back of the book.
Guess what we are having for dinner tomorrow?

4 stars

I'm Worried (I'm Bored! #3) by Michael Ian Black & Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Illustrator)

While there are some humorous aspects to this book, ultimately it's a serious book about dealing with anxiety. While I doubt anxious children will suddenly recover from their worrying after reading this book, it might help them realize they are not alone. What it does well is provide an opportunity for building empathy and understanding in others.
Debbie Ridpath Ohi is Canadian. 🍁

NOVELS

4 stars

Tree of Dreams by Laura Resau

I appreciated so much about this book. There is a lot going on. It begins with a betrayal between two best friends. Our protagonist, Coco, and her mother own El Corazón, a chocolate shop that is losing money and will soon have to close. She enters a contest to win a trip to the Amazon where she plans to track down a special mother tree and find a treasure. Leo de la Cueva, her former best friend, also enters the contest. It's a tie so both of them, their mothers, and their elderly landlord take off on a journey into Ecuador. They end up to a remote Huaorani village in the heart of the Amazon. There Coco discovers that there are many different kinds of treasures.
Young readers will appreciate this story of redemption and forgiveness while they learn what devastation of the rainforest means to indigenous people. They will also learn a lot about chocolate making and how it makes everything better! I especially loved the magical realism aspects to the story that integrates science and wonder.

5 stars

Are You Ready to Hatch An Unusual Chicken? by Kelly Jones & Katie Kath (illustrator)

The first book in the series made me want to own my own flock of chickens. Living in the city makes that difficult. Upon finishing this one, I’m seriously contemplating moving to the country just so I too can be a poultry farmer.
In this book Sophie learns how to hatch unusual chickens. For the rest of us, it’s a lesson in how to hatch regular ones. It turns out that one of her chicks has truly unusual powers. Will Sophie get to keep it after a visit from the unusual poultry inspector? Read the book and find out!

4 stars

A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying by Kelley Armstrong & Xavière Daumarie (Illustrator) 🍁

This is an action packed novel full of monster fighting and narrow escapes. Rowan, queen elect turned monster hunter, doesn't always think things through. This lands her into all kinds of trouble. If she is to take on the mantle of the Royal Monster Hunter, she going to have to kill a gryphon. Luckily she manages to find friends in unlikely places to help her.
I was ok with all the monster chasing, subterfuge and betrayal, but nearly stopped reading when monster spiders entered the story. Why did their have to be spiders? I pretty much skipped that section.
This is the first in a series but comes to a satisfying conclusion none the less.
I couldn't help but make connections to Tamora Pierce's Alanna series, only this one is for a younger crowd.

4 stars

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett & Hope Davis (Narrator)

I was nervous about this adult novel. As soon as I started listening I realized I had started it before. I must have picked it up, started it, and then left it. I'm not sure I would have continued with it this time except I had a lot of work to do and this was the only audiobook I had to listen to.
Somehow, I became fascinated with this dysfunctional family. I couldn't stop listening.
It's the story of a divorce and six step siblings who learn to get along with, and even love one another. There are a lot of characters - some of them seemingly despicable. Yet Ann Patchett fills them all with humanity and tenderness. These are not caricatures. These are people - children and adults dealing with their circumstances and surviving.

5 stars

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin & Scott Brick (Narrator)

This is another adult novel. It celebrates the treasures and pleasures of being a reader. It’s loaded with romance, mystery, and even parenting tips. It highlights that we are made up of stories. It’s about love in all its many facets.
“There is only one word that matters.... We are what we love.. We are that we love.”
My eyes leaked a bit.

NON FICTION

4 stars

After Life: Ways We Think about Death by Merrie-Ellen Wilcox 🍁

This is an appropriate middle grade resource for learning about death. It's certainly an interesting read. It provides a broad spectrum of information about many aspects of dying, death and grief. I like the multicultural nature of the book. I liked the layout. You could read it cover to cover, or just browse through it reading a section that interests you. It includes ample captioned photographs, diagrams, side bars, and fact boxes. The headings are highlighted in different colours. A life expectancy map shows where people have the longest life span. A chart shows what happens to a body after death. The back matter contains a resources list, a glossary and an index.
My only quibble is not so much that the font is small, although for my eyes it is, but that often text on photographs blends in making it challenging to read.
I would definitely purchase this one for my elementary or middle school library.

4 stars

Undocumented: A Worker's Fight by Duncan Tonatiuh

This is a book that needs to be shared again and again with people of all ages. It tells the story of one undocumented worker in the United States and introduces readers to others. The author's note at the end provides additional information.
I worry about the accordion fold format of the book. Published in the ancient Mixtec codex that represents this worker's background, I fear for it's durability in a school library. I also found some of the font difficult to read against the background.

CURRENTLY

I've just started listening to Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett. I'm in the middle of The Ghost Collector by Allison Mills. I've barely finished What the Eagle Sees by Eldon Yellowhorn, a Netgalley title, and will be writing a blog post about it this week. I made no progress on The Creativity Project by Colby Sharp or The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago because I left them in Vancouver. Sigh...

UP NEXT

I'm trying to decide between Wherever She Goes by Kelley Armstrong, and Wicked Fox by Kat Cho. Laurie Hnatiuk has recommended I read the scary novel, Button Hill, by Canadian author, Michael Bradford. I did check out a digital copy from my library, but I'm still trying to dig up enough courage to start it.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2018 23/25
#MustReadNFIn2018 11/12 - one in progress
25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 22/25 - two in progress
25 books by Canadian Authors 74/25
Big Book Reading Challenge 10/4
Goodreads Reading Challenge 338/333

#IMWAYR Septermber 23, 2019

I am trying hard to get on top of all the Netgalley titles I signed up to read and review. When I go to the site I am like a kid in a toy store at Christmas time. I want to read scores of them so I sign up for too many. I'm left trying to figure out how I am ever going to get to all of them. On top of this, a couple of days ago I got an email that Gae Polisner's new book, Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me, is available to read. Of course I squealed in delight and added it to my list.

We are here at our Oliver home to attend the funeral of one of my Uncles today. It's a sad, but wonderful time as he had a rich and rewarding life. I am looking forward to connecting with my cousins and other family friends. I will do my best to respond to everyone's blog posts this week, but can't guarantee how that will work out. We are heading home on Tuesday to celebrate my son's birthday and then I work the rest of the week.

BLOG POSTS LAST WEEK

The House at the End of the Road by Kari Rust

Just Lucky by Melanie Florence

Poetry Friday September 20, 2019

PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

The Toy Brother by William Steig

I needed a picture book to teach the basics of a story - setting, characters, and problem. (The classroom teacher had left one of those paper cubes to fill out.) The gender norms in this are a bit dated, but it’s still a classic full of all kinds of weirdness and humour. It fit my need perfectly. Magnus Bede is an apothecary. When he and his wife, Eutilda, are away, his older son, Yorick, ends up disobeying him and while experimenting in the lab, shrinks himself. The younger son, Charles, finally has Yorick’s undivided attention, but It looks like Yorrick might be stuck that way forever! Don't you just adore these names!

4 stars

The Bus Ride by Marianne Dubuc

Marianne Dubuc is brilliant. Her books make me think hard, but this one was uniquely intriguing. A lot is going on in this little girl's journey to her grandmother's house. I loved that she ended up making friends with the wolf. I must have gone through the book four times before making the connection between the newspaper and and what was happening on the bus.
Marianne Dubuc is Canadian. 🍁

4 stars

Lucy and Company by Marianne Dubuc

I’m automatically hooked by any book that has a map on the opening pages, so I was already disposed to love this one. It turned out to be enchanting even without the map.
It's composed of three short stories perfect for beginning readers.
In the first we are introduced to the characters. Lucy climbs a tree to have her snack. She is soon joined by Marcel, the mouse, Henry, a rabbit, Dot, the turtle, and Adrian, a snail. They discover that sharing snacks is fun.
The Treasure Map ends up in with a birthday party for Henry.
In The Hatchlings, Adrian discovers eggs. When they hatch into little chicks, they follow him but when he can’t keep them warm, the group snuggle the little chicks into Anton the bear’s fur.
Marianne Dubuc is Canadian. 🍁

5 stars

The House at the End of the Road by Kari Rust

Old people are pretty cool characters in Kari Rust's The House at the End of the Road. Some of us already know this, but you can't have too many reminders of how important relationships between the oldest and the youngest of us are. This book is a hybrid - a cross between a graphic novel and a picture book.
Kari Rust is a Canadian author from my city. 🍁

GRAPHIC NOVELS

4 stars

Operatic by Kyo Maclear

I sure wish I had had a music teacher like Mr. K. He introduces his students to a gamut of musical genres and encourages them to find a song that is them - one they feel at home in. His room has an empty desk. In other classrooms the desk would have been removed but in here it is moved to a corner, but still there reminding students of Luka and what happened to him.
Charlie (Charlotte), the protagonist, has some solid friends and a crush on one of her classmates, Emile. She wonders and worries about Luka. When she is exposed to the art of Maria Callas, Charlie discovers the song and music that becomes 'home' to her. Inspired by Callas' story, she begins to make changes in her own life.
The art is gorgeous. Different time periods and different places are offset in different colours. The yellowish background is connected to school and home. The blue background refers to the past. The sections in red deal with the life and times of Maria Callas.
I appreciate the diversity in this book. It's there in the ethnicity and gender norms of the students and in the music. I love that Maria Callas is featured in a graphic novel for teens. I learned a lot about her and so will middle grade and high school readers.
Kyo Maclear is Canadian. 🍁

4 stars

Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer

I wish I hadn’t waited so long to get to this book, but at least I don’t have to wait forever for the sequel.
I appreciate that the book begins with a quick graphic recap of The Lunar Chronicles so I was reminded of the backstory.
At this time, Iko is now on earth tracking down and rounding up renegade Lunar wolf soldiers who are wreaking havoc on Earth. One of them has become an alpha leader and plans to force Queen Cinder to return them to their previous state.
I appreciated the tension between Kinney and Iko and can hardly wait to find out what happens next!

NOVELS

4 stars

Just Lucky by Melanie Florence

Just Lucky is a brilliant book that looks at the life of an indigenous teen who has to cope with a grandmother with Alzheimers and a series of foster homes. I cried, more than once.
Melanie Florence is Indigenous Canadian. 🍁

5 stars

Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt

Cricket comes to America in this book. It comes by way of August Paul Bowles-Fitzpatrick, Butler extraordinaire, to Marysville, New York and the family of Carter Jones. Butler is there for them when the family need him most. This is especially true for Carter, who is coming of age against a backdrop of all kinds of family hardships.
I laughed. I cried. I loved this book.

"Make good decisions and remember who loves you."
I looked at him. "I thought it was 'remember who you are.'"
The Butler looked back at me. "It is the very same thing," he said...
"We are what we love, young Master Carter."

4 stars

Glass Houses by Louise Penny

Gamache is now head of the Sûreté du Québec. Acknowledging that they have lost the war on drugs, Gamache and a few trusted senior officers come up with a plan to take on the main crime syndicate in that province. It doesn't take long for them to realize that the murder of the cobrador visiting Three Pines intersects with their plans.
If you read this, make sure to read the author notes at the end of the book.
Louise Penny is Canadian. 🍁

POETRY

4 stars

Our Familiar Hunger by Laisha Rosnau

These profound poems provide an overview of immigration from the Ukraine area to Canada. The poems from earlier times tell of the hardships women endured and how those experiences are manifest in later generations. They connected me to my ethnically German great grandmothers who also immigrated to the Canadian prairies from the Odessa region in the early 1900's. The poems of recent emigration from the area are heartbreaking stories of desperation and different variations of sexual slavery. I can't help but acknowledge that had my ancestors not made that journey, I could have been one of them.
Laisha Rosnau is Canadian. 🍁

CURRENTLY

On my device I'm reading Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo and The Squatchicorns by Ellen Potter. I'm still reading This Was Logging by Ralph W. Andrews, and have started The Creativity Project by Colby Sharp. The poetry I'm in the middle of is Rooster Summer by Robert Heidbreder. I've just started Strangers by David Robertson. I'm listening to The Next Great Paulie Fink.

UP NEXT

I plan to get to more of my Netgalley titles but also have a pile of books from my local library. I'm hoping to read The Very Very Far North by Dan Bar-el, What the Eagle Sees by Eldon Yellowhorn and After Life: Ways We Think About Death by Merrie-Ellen Wilcox.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2018 22/25 - one in progress

#MustReadNFIn2018 11/12

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 19/25 - one in progress

25 books by Canadian Authors 58/25

Big Book Reading Challenge 10/4

Goodreads Reading Challenge 299/333