In recent years, I’m particularly drawn to titles that address multicultural issues and inclusion. My book TEACHING TOUGH TOPICS has helped to frame the work I do with children’s literature in recent years. I so believe it’s important to introduce literature that helps address DiVERSITY, EQUITY and SOCIAL JUSTICE. The books listed ) in this posting provide some new resources of great books to teach tough topics. Most of these have been publisbhed in 2022/2023. I have included a chapter title from TTT for each of these ten recommended books.

 

> Race and Diverse Cultures (chapter 1)

DREAMERS byAkim Aliu with Greg Anderson Elysee; illus. Karen De la Vega: A Graphic Novel Memoir (2023)

This is a powerful story of racism in the sports world. It is especially engrossing (and infuriating) since it recounts the true story of professional athlete Akim Aliu, a Ukranian Nigerian Canadian who experienced systemic racism at every turn. Presented in graphic format, this memoir tells Akim’s courageous story of being the only Black child in his Ukranian community and the determination of his struggling immigrant parents to build a better life for their two sons in Canada. Akim Aliu’s story is one of resilience, bravery and inspiration as the hockey player never stopped dreaming. A riveting read. Note: in 2020 Akim Aliu, along with six other former NHL players announce thefromation of the Hockey Diversity Alliance whos mission strives to ‘create sustainable change on all levels of hockey.’ 

 

> The Immigrant and Refugee Experience (chapter 2)

WHEN CLOUDS TOUCH US by Thanhha Lai

After a dozen years, award-winning author, Thanbhha Lai preents a sequel to her beautiful story Inside Out and Back Again. Ha is a refugee from Vietnam and settles into a place of belonging in Alabama. One day her Mother announces that the family is moving to Texas and the young girl feels that she is starting all over again to find comfort at home and school. Her mother believes strongly that the sacrifices they nmake today will lead to an easier better future. The free verse format always appeals to me. This book however was somewhat disappointing.  The poetry is beautiful but the narrative is somewhat elliptical and confusing and young adolescent readers might not easily grasp the somewhat stilted thoughts of the main character who likes to think in Vietnamese (based on the author’s own childhood experiences. In the author’s note, Lai writes: “I want to feel how words float through her mind.,,, because Vietamese still swirls inside Ha’s mind two years later (from the original book.?

 

>Indigenous Identities (chapter 3)

REZ DOGS by Joseph Bruchac (2021)

When the Covid strikes, Malian is forced to live with her grandparents on a Wabanaski reservation where granddaughter and grandparents protect each other. Like many young people forced to stay inside during the coronavirus pandemic, Malian fights boredom. It is  generational and cultural stories of Indigenous nations and communities that engage the girl and connect her to family and to her Penacook heritage. Bruchac interweaves past and present stories and cleverly presents a loyal dog character named Malsum (which means ‘wolf’ who is sure to endear many readers. When I ordered this book, I didn’t realize it was in free verse, a format I’m very fond of. This is a terrific book, one of the best of recently published fictional titles that highlights the Indigenous culture and  family experience. Author of over 150 books for adults and children, Joseph Bruchac is a great storyteller. I give Rez Dogs a four star out of four star rating. Highly recommended. 

 

> The Holocaust (chapter 4)

BUT I LIVE (ed. Charlotte Schallie):(2022), Graphic memoir

This is a collection of three Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust. Through interviews  the four child survivors share their memories and provide testimonies of their World War II experiences. Each piece elucidates the powerful stories  and  provides stark images in Holocaust recounting. The graphic novella format  provides a vehicle that documents acts of resistance against forgetting, or denying, transforming memory into accessible, emotional narratives.  This book invites readers to experience and understand personal accounts with deep empathy. 

“A Kind of Resistance” by Miriam Liubiki and David Schaffer

“Thirteen Secrets” by Gilad Seliktar, Nico Kemp, and Rolf Kamp

“But I Live by  Barabara Yelin and Emmie Arbel

 

Mental Challenges (chspter 5) 

THANKS A LOT UNIVERSE, by Chad Lucas

Brian suffers from social anxiety which he secretly calls Super Awkward Weirdo Syndrome (SAWS for short). Early in the novel, we learn that his father is in trouble with the law and has left the family and his mother is hospitalized after overdosing on pills. When Brian and his brother are forced to live with a foster family, Brian’s mental health is further impacted which results in a plot to runaway. All Brian wants is to have things be normal again.  We are introduced to another character named Ezra who proves to be a good friend to Brian, in fact we learn that he has a strong crush on Brian. The novel is written with chapters alternating the stories of  these two basketball-loving, risk-taking, troubled grade 7 tweens. Chad Lucas presents an intruging cast of characters that includes a feisty younger brother, two elderly foster parents, a helpful policeman, a concerned social worker, a caring teacher, an empathetic high school student and yes, a school bully, 

 

> Poverty (chapter 6)

CRENSHAW by Katherine Applegate (2015)

I am a Katherine Applegate fan and  when this recently book fell off my bookshelf, I decided to re-read this compelling novel of a family that has fallen on hard times. Jackson is an endearing character who knows that it is a struggle for his family to pay rent, to acquire food and to survive from day to day, even when being forced to live in their minivan. Applegate cleverly introduces the character of Crenshaw, a large black and white cat, an imaginary cat who supports Jackson as troubles unfold. Applegate cleverly convinces readers and Jackson that Crenshaw is real. An admirable, compassionate, honest story, one of the best novels for middle age readers about the working poor. I’m sure I will revisit this book again. 

 

> Death Loss and Remembrance (chapter 7)

MIXED UP by Gordon Korman (2023)

Reef Moody lost his mother to Covid and is now living with his mother’s best friend. Like any young person would,  he struggles to cope with grief and tries to remember the good times the two  spent together. Theo Metzinger lives on the other side of town and enjoys gardening but does not enjoy living up to his father’s expections.  The novel is presented in alternating chapters between Reef and Moody. Here’s the thing – hang on to your hat – the two boys are trapped in the world of each other’s memories. The memories are real, but they just don’t belong to the ‘right person’.  Gordon Korman is oh-so-clever at giving readers plots that only can be explained in the world of fiction. As the novel unfolds the two boys try to rationalize the phenomenon (it had something to do on the day they were both born). We can rely on Korman to set the characters off on wild adventures and to return to sanity, the two boys plot get things back to normal. This involves a rubber tire, a  building cupola and targeting the right moment that lightning strikes (sort of channelling a Back to the Future storyline. Alone the way we meet a cast of characters: a bully, a teenage delinquent, a popular girl that everyone loves, a high-heeled lady principal, a retired nurse and a gareden-eating rabbit named Jaws. In a way, this is a story about death, loss and remembrance (or lack of remembrance).  This is another funny, nutty, preposterous, poignant, relatable, believable/unbelievable, remarkable story from the unbelievable, remarkable, Gordon Korman.

 

> Gender Identity and Homophobia (chapter 8)

DIFFERENT FOR BOYS by Patrick Ness; illus. Tea Bendix (ages 12+) (2023)

Patrick Ness is the author of a knockout novel entitled A Monster Calls and seeing his name on a book jacket appeals to me.  The title of this book for Young Adolescents invited me to pick up this book about friendship, masculinity and sex, different for boys like Anthony Stevenson who has lots of questions about his sexual identity and the boys he keeps company with. This is an honest powerful story of loneliness and intimacy.7 pages)  Two features that make this short novel (97 pages) is 1. redacted, black-0ut prose (avoiding swear words) and 2) captivating black and white drawings by Tea Blendix that enhance the mood and emotions of the characters.  I highly recommend this title to support boys – and girls, and others – questioning their sexual identities and longings, loyalties and betrayals and the quest to find a place of comfort and satisfied heart when feeling ‘different’.

 

> Bullying (chapter 9)

Many many recent publications of realistic fiction include one or more characters who are bullies. Some of the titles in this posting include: 

DIFFERENT FOR BOYS by Patrick Ness – homophobic bullying

DREAMERS byAkim Aliu – racist slurs in hockey leagues

MIXED UP by Gordon Korman – boy torments his foster brother 

THANKS A LOT UNIVERSE by Chad Lucas – “Bullies are sharks, kiddo. You act all quiet and fragile, they smell it on you,” (p. 79)

 

> Ripples of Kindness (Chapter 10)

THE MOON IS A BALL by Ed Franck; illus. The Tjong-Khing, translated from the Dutch by David Colmer

These nine stories of two  endearing characters, Panda & Squirrel provide young readers with insights into the joys of friendship. Panda & Squirrel stand on the shoulders of Arnold Lobel’s beloved Frog and Toad. What a great friendship those four would make! Each story in The Moon is a Ball invites readers to think about interdependence  (‘I’m never bored when I’m with you’), curiosity (‘I’d like to know where the sun goes to sleep’) play (‘We’ve been thinking together for ages. That’s a fun game, isn’t it?), adventure (‘You just put one paw in front of the other. Then you put the other paw in front of the first one, and so on.’), and loyalty (‘Will you come and sleep in my den, Squirrel? Nice and warm together).  This is a great story collection to read aloud to young people For readers ages 8 to 11, reading these stories  independently, should inspire thoughts  the bonds of friendship and spreading ripples of kindness. 

 

SHOUT OUT: FICTION

CLIMATE CHANGE: Another Tough Topic

MISSING MIKE by Shari Green (free verse novel) (2018)

Mike is an eleven-year old rescue mutt, missing an eye. When Cara and her family are forced to evacuate thier home which is in the path of a wildfire, Mike runs off, and the family is forced to leave him behind. A devastating  story of families who are forced to flee as they enounter the nighmare of burning debris. Besides reconnecting wth her loving dog, Mike, how does Cara and her family face up to loss caused by fire disasters. Will they reconnect with their home and with their loving dog, Mike. Though written in 2018, this book is a WOW! – NOW! – story. 

TWO DEGREES by Alan Gratz (fiction, ages 10-14) (2022)

Author, Alan Gratz has done it again. He’s written another thrilling adventure story – make that THREE amazing stories  – in this novel about characters entrapped in three climate disasters. The book is divided into six parts, plus epilogue. Each part presents a narrative about different characters. This alternating has worked successfully for Gratz before (Refugee; Ground Zero) and in this novel, the author presents grab-your-throat adventures that moves the readers along (I suppose, one could choose to focus on one story at a time). Akira is caught in the wildfires of California; Own and George are threatened by hungry polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba and Natalie is dragged into a massive hurricane which comes crashing through Miami. Each of these characters are swept in the devastating effect of climate change and it is more than their stories of survival that connects them. This is a powerful important novel of our times, helping readers thing about the urgency of the climate crisis and what individuals can do to make a difference. This book, like other Gratz titles, will be widely read. This book should be read. Fasten your seat belts, this is an amazing work of fiction. Amazing! 

WE THE SEA TURTLES: A collection of Island Stories by Michelle Kadarusman (2023)

Michelle Kadarusaman has written some important novels that showcase her knowledge and remarkable talent for writing about the natural world (e.g., The Theory of Hummingbirds; Music for Tigers; Berani). This anthology explores relevant themes like eco-anxiety, natural disaster, and the change people are forced to make when they are uprooted. Kadarusman expertly presents scientific information guided by the sincere environmental concerns that many young people reflect upon. The author takes readers around the world (e.g.,Georgian Bay, Canada; Manhattan, NY; New South Wales, Australia; Komodo Island Indonesia) and describes ‘hot off the press’ narratives of such global issues as flood, fires, pollution and extinction. This is a wonderful blend of fiction and nonfiction writing.  This is an ideal read-aloud source for grade 4 to 6 classrooms.  Great stories is how geography and science should be taught. In the story, Lost on Komodo one character says “Humans need stories to make sense of life.” (p. 62) Today’s readers need stories like the one’s that are featured in We the Sea Turtles and to think hard about Michelle’s message to readers: “we live in a beautiful world and together we can take good care of it.” (author interview, p. 201) Hooray for sea turtles! Hooray for Michelle Kadarusman! Hooray to Pajama Press for this stellar short story collection. I loved it. 

Description by the publisher

“In a collection of nine short stories, children on islands around the world make connections to nature while facing life-changing events. Each child experiences a significant emotional turning point at the same time they encounter a turtle – real or imagined. A prologue tells of a sea turtle that was tracked making an extraordinarily long journey, while an epilogue is written from the turtle’s point of view. Back matter shares information about sea turtles and snapping turtles.”

 

This posting highlights 15 picture book, diverse in theme and topics.

Most have been published in 2023

 

DEAR STREET by Lindsay Zier-Vogel; illus Caroline Bonne-Miller

Alice loves the street she lives on but not everyone in the neighbourhood is happy with the construction, the crowds, the falling leaves, and the snow piles. Although neighbours ‘grumble, grumble, grumble’. Alice choose to write secret “Dear Street…” love notes which she hides for others to find. This is a terrific picture book that celebrates community (and the passing seasons), and shines a bright light on gratitude. The story inspires a response activity where students can write their own letters, hide them and hide it for someone to find and help spread the love about the place where they live. 

THE ENDGAME: The Secret Force of 136 by Catherine Little; illus. Sean Huang

I was very pleased to receive an advanced reading copy of this fine example of Historical Fiction. The synopsis of this title reads as follows: Alex’s imagination takes him to medieval Chinese battlefields as he learns to play Xiangqi (Chinese chess) with his great-grandfather, Tai Gong. In the months that they spend over the chessboard, Alex comes to understand the important strategies that guided Tai Gong and his decisions as he navigated life as a Chinese Canadian in an anti-Asian era in Canada. In the process, Alex learns about the mysterious Force 136 and the sacrifices its members made to show their loyalty to a country that had utterly disregarded them.

While fictional, The Endgame  is based on the true story of a little-known group of Chinese men who fought for Canada during WW2 – a time when they weren’t even allowed to be citizens and the Chinese Exclusion Act, preventing people of Chinese ancestry to enter Canada, was still in effect. This title is  due to be released in the fall of 2023. Highly recommended. 

FINNA LIT by Sean Lewis

Dell wants to start his own business one day. The idea of being an entrepreneur excites him. But first, he must learn the basic rules of financial literacy. Using his day-to-day experiences with his family, he tries to explain to his friend Link what he knows about being financially literate. His journey takes him on a series of unique events. This publication helps teachers to unpack the topics of Financial Literacy (Finna Lit); budgeting and entrepreneurship. Hats off to Sean Lewis for this publication. (Sean was a candidate in my Children’s Literature course and this title is a good example of how good books can be used across the curriculum. 

JAO BY A THREAD by Roger Mello; translated by Daniel Hahn

A compact book by award-winning Brazilian illustrator Roger Mello with exquisite art work with finely detailed lace-like images  presented on full-page spreads a limited palette of black, white and red. The opening sentence reads:  “Before he falls asleep, the boy pulls up his blanket: “So it’s just me now,” the thinks, “Alone with myself?”   This is a story of a nighttime journey inspired by the thread of a blanket leading to  midnight kisses, a lullaby, a mountain range, a fishing net, a giant and dreams.  This is beautiful picture book creation, that inspires wondering – and repeated reading. 

IF YOU SEE A BLUEBIRD by Bahram Rahman, Gabrielle Grimard

Ali and his family are safe in their new home, but the young boy has strong wishes to go back to Afghanastan. Although his story has Ali recalling nightime flight, a crowded bus and a flight to immigration, Ali has fond memories of the home he once knew of.  When  Nana spot a bluebird, she suggests that Ali make a wish and though he wishes to return ‘home’ Ali realizes that a home is a place of where families live and love together. This is another great title from Pajama Press by award winning author of The Library Bus and A Sky-Blue Bench.  Inspiring!

MNOOMIN MAAN’GOWING: THE GIFT OF MNOOMIN by Brittany Luby; illus. Joshau Magehi Pawis Steckley; Translated by Mary Ann Corbier.

In the notes written in the afterward we learn that many Anishinabeg agree that ‘wild rice’ is the accurate term for ‘mnoomin’  and that the Anishinabeg might translate the word as ‘spirit berry’. Mnoomin provides shelter to young creatures like fish and ducklings which in turn, feed other creatures like herons and humans.  The story is centred on a young girl’s imaginings that a animals and the environment all had a part to play in bringing the seed into being. The Gift of Mnoomin is presented as a dual language text (Anishinaabemowin and English) accompnaied by vivid images of animals (Pike, Muskrat, Eagle, and Moose as well as  Indigenous men and women. This title is another treasure from  the picture book creators of This is How I Know (Mil maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh).

THE MOON IS A BALL by Ed Franck; illus. The Tjong-Khing, translated from the Dutch by David Colmer

These nine stories of two  endearing characters, Panda & Squirrel provide young readers with insights into the joys of friendship. Panda & Squirrel stand on the shoulders of Arnold Lobel’s beloved Frog and Toad. What a great friendship those four would make! Each story in The Moon is a Ball is ideal for reading aloud inviting young readers to think about interdependence  (‘I’m never bored when I’m with you’), curiosity (‘I’d like to know where the sun goes to sleep’) play (‘We’ve been thinking together for ages. That’s a fun game, isn’t it?), adventure (‘You just put one paw in front of the other. Then you put the other paw in front of the first one, and so on.’), and loyalty (‘Will you come and sleep in my den, Squirrel. Nice and warm together).  High praise for this warm, witty, collection about the bonds of two friends who cant live without each other.

MY MOTHER WAS NANNY by Laura James

The narrator of this story pays tribute to her mother who was a nanny. Mummy was also a , a baker, a maker, a teacher, and a cleaner, a sister and a friend to many. The young girl fondly remembers outings to the Caribbean greengrocer and her mother’s workplaces as well as the conversations. We learn that the book is Laura James’s homage to her childhood in Brooklyn and her admiration of her mummy’s busy busy life in the community -and especially the cherished time she spent with her daughters.  A wonderful  story of family.

ROBOT, UNICORN, QUEEN: Poems for you and me by Shannon Bramer; illus. Irene Luxbacher (poetry)

Poetry collections by Canadian poets have been hard to come by in recent years. Hooray for Groundwood Press for publishing Shannon Bramer’s, (author of Climbing Shadows) newest anthology with poems that are drawn from the imagination, playfulness and observations of childhood. Such topics as practicing piano, sandwiches, sprinklers, swimming, a robot and even lice (yes. a Lice Hotel on my head) will remind many readers of events from their own lives. Hats off to Irene Luxbacher’s colourful ‘poetic’ illustrations presented in magic realism style.

I’m sewing a speckled starling 

in a tree.   this is my new

embroidery. 

SEE IT, DREAM IT, DO IT by Colleen Nelson & Kathie MacIsaac; illus. Scott Ritchie (nonfiction)

The authors provide information about how 25 people found their dream jobs. Each person is given a full-page spread, describing their job, outlining ‘spin-off’ jobs and pro tips.  Some examples include Jeannette Menzies (Ambassador of Canada to Iceland): Lenna Charlie (Heavy equipment technician; Tiago Catarino (youTube Content Creator and Yue Shi (Ballet dancer). Noteworthy is consideration given to people from diverse cultures and diverse genders do dreamsoning all sorts of jobs, helping readers to consider cool career paths and give some consideration of their own dream jobs. This is an informative and engaging nonfiction compilation.

THE SKULL by Jon Klassen (illustrated folktale)

Award-winning author Jon Klassen (I Want My Hat Back, This is Not My Hat, The Rock from The Sky) presents his own version of a traditional folktale. Otilla is a runaway girl (we never really know this background story) and when she comes upon a house in the woods she meets up with a Skull and the two become friends. The Skull warns Otilla about a headless skeleton who is desperate to obtain the Skull.  This adventurous tale is blends humour, creepiness and friendship to provide an entertaining retelling (told in five  parts), accompanied by Klassen’s masterful, rather monochromatic visual interpretations of text. At 101 pages, this title is not presented in a traditional picture book format. Tbis is a terrific read aloud and as I read it, I thought of The Skull as a terrific resource for igniting lessons for a range of comprehension strategies. 

TWENTY QUESTIONS by Mac Barnett; illus. Christian Robinson

This title features 20 questions that inspire wonder and  speculation to find endless answers (e.g., What is this boy hiding behind his back?; What is on the other side of the door? What did the lion give the lamb for her birthday?Questions (some work better than others for me) are presented on full page spreads with vivid, playful artwork by award-winning illustrator, Christian Robinson. A great title to inspire curiosity – and discussion. 

ZANDER STAYS by Maureen Fergus; illus. Scott Ritchie

Zander is a goose who has decided that he isn’t going to fly south for the winter and with this decision he is forced to learn how to survive the harsh winter climate. Encounters with bears, squirrels and bats provide some suggestions but Zander will have to learn on his  teach him to survive the cold and the snow. 

 

SHOUT OUT

Second Story Press publishes literature that is centred on issues of diversity, equity and social justice. Two recent picture book publications are wonderful examples of stories that celebrate multiculturalism and belonging.   

EVERYONE IS WELCOME by Phuong Truong; illus. Christine Wein (2023)

I strongly believe that children’s literature can offer students significant insights into hate and discrimination. Everyone is Welcome is a story of an 8 year old girl (almost 9) who learns stories about her mother who was taunted with anti-asian racial slurs (“Ching chong”) when she was younger and a friend of her grandmother’s, Mrs. Lee,  who was  under attack and pushed onto the road. The girl’s brother has joined the Asian Student Association designed to bring Asians together but also have a goal to help accompany other who feel cared to walk to school. Finally, one of the girl’s friends tells her that he is forbidden to play with her any more since everything that’s happened in the world is the fault of Asians. This is an honest and brave story of Anti-Asian racism. Kudos to author Phuong Truong for a rich story that is centred on community, compassion and caring. This is a absolutely a worthy contribution to titles that invite readers to think about inclusion, where everyone is welcome. Note: Christine Wei’s   colourful illustrations not only compliment the verbal text but present a window and mirror into Asian culture. 

 PHOENIX GETS GREATER by Marty Wilson-Trudeau with Phoenix Wilson; illus. Megan Kyak Monteith (2022)

Phoenix knows that he is different from other boys. He loves pretty fabrics, playing with dolls and dancing around the house – especially shawl dancing like a beautiful butterfly. Although he is taunted by others, his mother and brother are proud of him and give him love and support as Phoenix works towards acceptance of who he is as he learns about Two Spirit/ Niizh Manidoowag people in Anishinaabe culture.  The book is based on the childhood experiences that the author and her son experienced.  This is a very special picture book to bring understanding of Gender identity especially of Indigenous and/or queer youth. It is a very special picture book about acceptance and love. 

When I was a kid, I have fond memories of going to the Wychwood library and checking out biographies , usually bound in orange cloth covers (e.g. Alexander Graham Bell). To this day, I continue to be interested in reading about the lives of others. This posting highlights 15 autobiographies, biographies and memoirs  from the world of the famous, from authors and some unknown heroes. that I’ve recently enjoyed.

 

ALL THE RAGE by Brad Fraser

The subtitle of this book reads: “A Partial Memoir in Two Acts and a Prologue” which provides readers with a structure that Fraser uses to tell the story of his life from birth to 2000.  Brad Fraser is one of Canada’s most important playwrights (Wolfboy, Unidentified Human Remains; Poor Super Man). In the Prologue readers learn about Fraser’s impoverished abusive childhood but in the final two acts of the memoir, we learn about the challenges of getting a play produced, the often critical reception to his work, and coming to terms with financial survival and with living a life of drinking, drugs and sex and love. There is lots of bouts with drinking. There is lots of sexual escapades. There are many travels across the globe. There are many addresses he has lived in. There are many ups and downs of finding love.  Because much of the playwright’s creative work takes place in the 80’s and 90’s , the AIDS epidemic filters through his life and those whom Fraser worked closely with. As a queer man, a queer artist, Brad Fraser is a champion for taking on the establishment and unapologetic about fighting for rights “I will not be disappeared. (p. 338). He may be considered to be a polarizing playwright as his work is staged throughout the world. Like every artist, he has had his ups and downs, but Brad Fraser fights through ‘all the rage’   his life as writer, director, activist shine on the wings of tenacity and talent. In this book Fraser proves himself to be a hero. This memoir ends in 2000. (There are surely more  more struggles and triumphs that continue his story  in the 21st Century.) 

Excerpt

“I make no apologies for my appetites and I make no apologies for the techniques, conscious nor not, I’ve developed for coping with being queer in a straight world and being a truth-teller in a world of liars…. I may not always succeed, but I have never stopped trying.” (p. 337)

GETTING BETTER by Michael Rosen 

Michael Rosen was appointed Children’s Laureate (2007-2009) in the UK and is a renowned poet, performer, and broadcaster. Loss has been a part of Michael Rosen’s life. He has lived with a chronic hypothyroid  illness grieved over the loss of his mother and over the sudden death of his son due to meningitis (meningococcal septicaemia). During the Pandemic, Rosen was in a coma for 40 days and 40 nights, facing death in intensive care for 48 days in a London hospital and then recovering in rehab for three weeks.  Getting Better provides essays of how Michael Rosen, struggled to recover from trauma and grief and helps readers understand how we can find it within ourselves to live well again, during and after dark times.  The subtitle of this book is Life Lessons on Going Under, Getting Over it and Getting Through It.  What a brilliant writer, Michael Rosen is!. What a courageous soul. Michael Rosen  is so grateful for his writing, so grateful for getting through life’s shit that came his way. so grateful for the loving care of family and friends.  He may consider himself to be lucky. We are lucky to have him and his writing, especially for helping us  take a journey on the path to being better, getting better.

IM by Isaac Mizrahi, a memoir

I bought this book when it was first published in 2019 but it was sitting on my shelf. On a recent trip to New York, I found myself sitting in a restaurant at a table opposite where Isaac Mizrahi was sitting. I didn’t approach him but this incident prompted me to take the book off my shelf and get to it. I’m glad I did. I loved it. It was one of my most enjoyable reads this summer. Isaac Mizrahi, fashion designer and celebrity is a force. The recounts of his life growing up in Brooklyn, attending the Yishiva, worried about being fat and knowing that he was gay held my interest. His journey in NY’s performing arts high school, Parson’s school of Design and his entry into the world of fashion by working with the Perry Ellis and Chanel make for a good story of tenacity, resilience, chance and dreams. Along the way we learn of connections to Audrey Hepburn, Barbra Streisand, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey and Anna Wintour. Mizrahi also shares his connections to family with his mother being a major influence and cheerleader for his talents.  When Mr. M tells us about a the people in his life he often writes that they were ‘good friends’. Lucky him to have many friends he could count on. Descriptions of the good life in New York – theatre, restaurants, clubs – hooked me (a bit of envy?). He also discusses his escapades and encounters with gay dudes until he meets the love of his life. Isaac Mizrahi decided to change directions as a fashion star and follows his dreams to be a cabaret performer (he recently was on stage at 54 Below). I was always fascinated by Isaac Mizrahi’s stories that he shares with honesty. I wonder what I would have said to him if I were able to join him at his restaurant table in NY. Do we have anything in common? 

I’M GLAD MY MOM DIED by Jennette McCurdy

I wasn’t familiar with  celebrity Jennette McCurdy (I never watched  the TV show iCarly) but there’s been lots of buzz around this book and the title sure is captivating.  The book recount her entry into stardom under the mighty force of her mother, who makes Mama Rose in the musical Gypsy seem like Mary Poppins. Her mother had dream to make her daughter a tar, no matter the cost (i.e., harassing her for her calorie restricted diets, taking showers with her even when she was a teenager). No wonder McCurdy is glad her mom died (of cancer). But in part two of the book, we read more about the anxiety, shame and self-loathing. She embarks on eating disorders (bulimia) and unhealthy relationships. This was a heartbreaking, tough read (told with humour at times about dealing with the past and embarking on a journey to grow out of being a celebrity, having a tormented youth  and moving forward. Fascinating!

MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE: A story of Life, Death and the NHS by Michael Rosen

Shout out to Chris Ridell’s illustrations that introduce each of the 8 sections.

Stricken by coronavirus, British writer Michael Rosen hospitalized with an induced coma for six weeks and weeks then spent weeks of rehab and recovery. This is the story of that time period. How does he get to tell remember his experiences, when in a coma? The first part of the book presents transcripts of emails that his devoted wife Emma had written to friends and family reporting her husband’s progress.  Also, a notebook was kept by his bedside where the nurses who provided him with care wrote letters of hope, support and love. h of the book is presented as remarkable prose poems, where Rosen writes about his near-death experience and he many different kinds of love that spurred him on to survival. This is a beautiful beautiful book about the  that life might send our way, the trauma  of death hanging over our heads and the indomitable spirit and care of the National Health Service and especially the important people in our lives that carry us through dark times. This is a book of Health, Hope and Heart.  each with a capital ‘H’.  It is a sobering read that should be put in time capsule paying tribute to the resilience of those who suffered through Covid-19. This poetry memoir (published in 2021) is absolutely at the top of the list favourite reads this year.  You are a hero, Michael Rosen. From the back cover:

A doctor is standing by my bed

asking me if I would sign a piece of paper

which would allow them to put me to sleep pump air into my lungs.

‘Will I wake up?’

“There’s a 50:50 chance.’

‘If I say no?’: I say.

‘Zero.’

And I sign.

THE LIBRARIAN OF AUSCHWITZ: the Graphic novel, based on the book by Antonio Iturbe (ages 12+)

The bestselling novel by Antonio Iturbe tells the story of fourteen-year old Dita who was, along with her mother and father imprisoned in Auschwitz. For Dita, the horrors of the concentration camp were counterbalanced when she was asked to become the librarian of Auschwitz and take charge keep safe, the 8 books that were smuggled past the guards. The books along with real stories told by prisoners educated the children in the camp, even though they discovery of the books in Block 31, the children’s camp would prove to be dangerous, perhaps resulting in execution. Iturbe’s story is based on the true story of Dita Kraus, a Holocaust survivor. This graphic novel adaption synthesized the 400 pages of the original novel by presenting historical facts and  powerful narratives. The strong images  illustrated by Loreto Aroca along with the narrative captions and dialogue match the power of the original novel in presenting another haunting historical account of the Holocaust. Novel: Spanish author, Antonio Iturbe; adapted by Salva Rubio; translated by Lligt Zekulin Thwaites; illustrated by Loreto Aroca.

PAGEBOY by Elliot Page

Elliot Page has a powerful story to tell about being a celebrity about coming out and about transitioning. This memoir takes readers on Page’s journey of discovering himself.  His dreams, desires, anxieties, and pressures are revealed through deep honest reflections. Each chapter seems to be like a therapy session in which Elliot page confronts his family and romantic relationships, as he struggles to conquer the expectations of others and of himself. This is a brave, intimate, story of a tenacious, talented queer person.  Pageboy is not told as a linear autobiography but readers will cheer Page on and worry about his suffocations and celebrate his successes, both personal and professional. Note: at times, paragraphs seem to blend into each other with meandering thoughts and narratives and I would have liked a stronger edit. 

PAUL NEWMAN: The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man: A memoir

In 1986, Paul Newman and his close friend Stewart Stern, embarked on a project to compile an oral history about the famous actor’s life. Throughout the book, transcripts of anecdotes from family and friends provide an additional perspective of how he lived his life. This book is an honest account of a five year project documenting Newman’s early family life, his initiation into the theatre world and his rise to fame as a Hollywood actor (e.g., Hud, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Verdict).  He had two main loves in his life, but it is his marriage to actress Joanne Woodward was a deep relationship that lasted  until his death in 2008 at the age of 83. Reading about his traumatic childhood, the many jobs he had, his insecurities,  his rise to stardom, his drinking and his passion for race car driving is candid and enlightening. Particularly poignant his the way he describes his relationship with his six children. This is a fascinating and revelatory memoir of a sexy, talented, driven celebrity – and philanthropist. 

RUN TOWARDS THE DANGER: Confrontations with a Body of Memory by Sarah Polley (essays)

Let me start by quoting Margaret Atwood who reviewed this book by writing “Fascinating, harrowing, courageous, and deeply felt.”  “Absolutely”, says I.  Run Towards The Danger is a collection of six essays written by the oh-so-talented actor, screenwriter and director, Sarah Polley. Polley digs into her past and  bravely attempts to capture memories and their meanings of those relationships as they appeared in the past and helped to frame the person she has become. The first story of stage fright while playing Alice in Wonderland at the Stratford Festival was a punch in the gut. Other stories of sexual assault,  a troubled childbirth, of being. child actor working under a domineering director, of the aftermath of concussion each punch the gut and hit  the heart. When dealing with her traumatic injury, Sarah Polley was advised by a specialist to ‘run towards the danger’. “In order for my brain to recover from a traumatic injury, I had to retain it to strength by charging towards the very activities that triggered my symptoms. This was  a paradigm shift for me – to greet and welcome the things I had previously voided.” (page 2)

WOW! WOW! WOW! This astonishing book is certain to be at the top of my year end list of favourites. This is a special read. Thank you, Ms. Polley for your storytelling, bravery and courage. ‘Harrowing and courageous’ indeed.

SHY: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green

Mary Rodgers was the daughter of the celebrated songwriter, Richard Rogers. She was also the daughter of a domineering mother. Father and mother were not forthcoming in their love for their daughter. Talented in her own right, Mary worked hard to move out of the shadow of her father’s talents and decided to become a composer herself.  Her musical Once Upon a Mattress, starring Carol Burnett as the ‘shy’ princess in a musical based on the story The Princess and the Pea. Although she is acknowledged for her unique talents as a woman composer, she never (could never) achieve the success that her father had., particularly with his work with Oscar Hammerstein (i.e., Oklahoma, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, The Sound of Music.). Mary Rodgers never gave up and would embark on whatever projects came her way.  Fame did come when she authored the children’s book Freaky Friday.  in this memoir, Mary Rodgers works alongside theatre critic, Jesse Green and pours out stories of family, fame, philanthropy, failed relationships and motherhood. Shy is a fascinating report of the golden age of musical theatre. It is a dynamo account of a dynamo figure respected by many from New York’s entertainment world. (including Stephen Sondheim). Stories are funny, wise, gossipy, candid and delicious making for a remarkable read from “the alarmingly outspoken”, Mary Rodgers.

SPARE by Prince Harry

When you tell people that you are reading Spare, they (many) tend to roll their eyes. But Daniel Pennac, author of the Readers Bill of Rights claims that we have ‘the right to not defend our tastes’. Why do feel I need to defend my reading of this autobiography? Why do folks make such strong judgements about Harry’s book without having read it? Why argue with 3 million+ purchases of this book which the Guinness World Book of Records claims was the fastest nonfiction title ever?  All that being said, I liked the book. I was intrigued. I respected that the Prince now had the chance to tell his story. Granted, kudos must go to the ghostwriter  J. R. Moehringer who listened carefully and then shaped and presented the anecdotes and ‘in-the-head’ thoughts of Prince Harry with clarity. We are definitely given an inside glimpse of the royal family. We absolutely come to recognize that Prince Harry was /is haunted by the death of his mother. We absolutely believe that he is strongly devoted to his wife, Meghan and his children. And there was no doubt (for me) that media and the paps (Paparazzi) haunted the members of the Royal Family and especially interfered with Harry’s happiness. There’s trouble in the Harry’s relationship with father, brother, sister-in-law and many of the Royal staff but this is Harry’s story to tell and I believe his truths and understand why he needed to rebel and remove himself from what was expected of him.  Spoiled? Rebellious? Contentious?  Brave? Loyal? Get into groups and discuss. 

WE SHOULD NOT BE FRIENDS: The story of a friendship by Will Schwalbe

I very much enjoyed reading two recent publications by Will Schwalbe. In this memoir, the author examines the friendship between two improbable friends. Will, a literate gay student,  first met Chris Maxey, a fairly boisterous jock while enrolled in Yale University. The seeds of a friendship were planted in secret society that had been established at the school. Though different in demeanour and interests there was some connection.  The story of this friendship is presented over the decades as Schwalbe and Maxey phoned each other and occasionally met up.  As the two reached their fifties and sixties, the friendship seemed to strengthen as they discussed ambitions, relationships, and health. Maxey’s commitment to establishing an independent school in Eleuthra thra is very much part of the narrative in the final half of the book. This is a story that helps us think about our friendships, the truths we share, the secrets we withhold (“You didn’t ask me!”) and the devotion that can emerge through commitment and trust story also helps readers to think about  encountering possibilities and the need to find  strengths to meet challenges and dreams through our work and our family – and our friendships.

WELCOME TO ST. HELL: My Trans Teen Adventure by Lewis Hancox (graphic memoir) YA 

In this frank graphic autobiographic, Lewis Hancock tells the story of heartbreaking and often funny, journey as a trans male. We are given a first-hand account of what it means to hate your body and be be confused about what to wear, who to snog and how to convince family and friends about what it means to fight for the truth of your gender identity. This is an honest story, a hopeful one that will bring comfort to many who question who they are and who they need to become. In this book, Lewis has a conversation with his younger self (as Lois) surviving hellish years in high school  and college trying to figure out what it means to be ‘normal’. Comic art work is presented in black and white graphic panels. Thank you for sharing your story Lewis. 

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT WAR IS by Yeva Skalietska (Ages 12+)

This diary by a twelve year old Ukrainian girl documents the horrors that she and her grandmother encountered when the city of Kharkiv was suddenly under attacked. The journal begins on February 24, 2022 and records the journey she and her grandmother from sheltering underground, escaping the  Ukraine, passing through Hungary and finally settling in Ireland. Her entries are straightforward tellings of what Skalietska, her neighbours and friends encountered as bombs destroyed her city. Readers learn about the realities of the conflict of the war raging around innocent people. The journal describes long train rides, the experience of in an overcrowded refugee centre as well as the kindness of strangers and the media who helped Yeva and her family forge a new life and dream of returning HOME. 

Prologue

Every knows the word war. But very few people understand what it truly means. You might say that it’s horrible and frightening, but you don’t know the scale of fearit brings. And so, when you suddenly find you have to face it, you feel totally lost, walled in by fright and despair. All of your plans are suddenly interrupted by destruction. Until you’ve been there, you don’t know what war is. 

SHOUT OUT

WHY FATHERS CRY AT NIGHT by Kwame Alexander

This is a memoir presented as a series of love [oems, letters, recipes and remembrances. I am a Kwame Alexander fan and am always eager to buy a new publication by this celebrated Black author of children’s literature. He has received the Caldecott (The Undefeated) and the Newbery awards (The Crossover). (I have a hunch that his new title An American Story is destined for 2023 awards.).He is a poet extraordinaire and with this new book, Alexander presents a non-traditional memoir, sharing the journey of his parents as newlyweds, the ups and downs of his own two marriages, and his relationship with his daughters.  He also provides insights into his writing journey. His connection to the poet (and professor) Nikki Giovanni, is a powerful story. This is a multi-genre presentation of the author’s life and it is one filled with an honest, open heart.  The book jacket blurb announces that the book defines ‘the whirlwind woes and wonders of love.”  In the epilogue to this book, Kwame Alexander informs readers that writing Why Fathers Cry at Night provided him with an artifact that forced hime to have ALL of those hard talks (with father, wife, children). It is obvious that the memoir sparked “difficult and necessary conversations that ultimately make us much better. With our loved ones and with ourselves”. A stellar publication that will be at the top of my list for 2023.

Excerpt from the poem ‘How to Read This Book’ (p. 10)

Let these humble meditations and musings

carry you close, permanent, abreast – a wave.

Go, raise a toast.

Sip

Swallow 

all the words

that hold you

hopefully inspiring

a sea of new ones.

Now trust your heart

and the ocean of sweet possibility

brewing inside. 

 

This posting is a varied collection of grown-up and children literature books that I read throughout July. The eleven titles are a mixed bag of poetry, essays, memoir. fantasy adventure, graphic text, folktale and fiction – and an iconic classic.

 

July 3

 SHOUT OUT!!!! 

THE RED COURT: Shattered Skies, Volume I,  by Matthew Hastie (YA)

This novel was given to me in manuscript edition. It is not yet published but, crossing fingers, it will be released someday so that lovers of fantasy adventures can enjoy this thrilling book. The author is a great storyteller and expertly creates other world characters and plots of good and evil. He cleverly alternates the narratives between chapters featuring 1. Grayson 2. Violet and keeps readers guessing, ‘What happens next?’

Kudos to Matthew Hastie for presenting a wild ride of a book. His ease with language, his invention of contemporary and other worldly characters and his use of sharp dialogue, (and his wit) contribute to mighty fine read.  Rick Riordan must be sitting on Hastie’s  shoulders (Matthew read all is books) and there is no doubt that the twists and turns of Marvel comics (Matthew is addicted to these) have helped shape the action of The Red Court. Matthew Hastie pours his imagination onto the page and offers readers  exciting cinematic events (particularly the many battle scenes), sure to engage readers who love entering a world of  doors that transport to other universes, magical deeds,  bloody combats,  powerful swords, premonitions, dreamscapes, tyrants, elves, dwarves, dragons, minotaurs,  evil parents, friendships – and yes,  romantic relationships!!!

The Red Court is a remarkable accomplishment! 

Here is the back cover synopsis:

When a group of estranged friends reunite five years after the disappearance of one of thei own, they each find themselves on separate paths.

Burdened with guilt, Grayson will stop at nothing to find their lost friend. While Gray finds himself in an otherworldly conflict, Violet and the others uncover a conspiracy that dates back to their towns foundling

As connections form between these two disparate conflicts, it becomes clear that they’re fighting on two sides of the same war. But with their enemies consolidating power, time is running out, and the fate of two worlds hangs in balance. 

DISCLAIMER #1: Fantasy Adventure is not my genre of choice. Also, I’m not usually fond of books that are more than 600 pages. But I really enjoyed this one and I was given honoured to be given the chance read it

DISCLAIMER #2: The author of this book is 23 years old. He is my nephew. How proud I am for the mammoth effort Matthew put into writing this debut title. Amazing! 

Here is the dedication to the book, (which made me weep!)…
“Dedicated to my Uncle Larry, who never let me stop reading!”

July 5

BANNED BOOKS: The World’s Most Controversial Books, Past and Present / DK Penguin Random House

Page by page, this book provides a document of controversial, provocative, and revolutionary literature whose publication has been been curtailed at some point in history. An overview and description of titles that have been  is provided in 1-3 pages, with illustration. Some titles include The Canterbury tales, Frankenstein, Ulysses, 1984, The Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird, I Know Why the Caged Bird sings, The Handmaid’s Tale, and more recently The Kite Runner, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and Stamped: Racism, Antiracism. Fascinating (and frustrating) that so many  are banned (the majority of banning occurs in school boards) for obscenities, religion, sexuality, race, politics etc. etc. 

“Restricting access to a book serves only to create. best seller, because everyone wants to read a book that is forbidden.” (Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)

 

July 8

SHOUT OUT

CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. Salinger

“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that write it was a terrific friend of your and you cold call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.” (page 18)

Catcher In the Rye is one of my all-time favourite reads and if stuck on a desert island this would certainly be on of my novels of choice to keep me company. I try to read this book every ten years or so and I admire it as much in my 70’s, as I did when I first read it in my 20’s. I think I love it more now.  J.D. Salinger’s iconic title is not without harsh critics, but for me Holden Caulfield is a hero who examines his inner world and the world around him with acute scrutiny. Judgemental, vulgar at times, alienated, adventurous, Caulfield is filled with angst, rejecting  the superficiality of the ‘phony’ adult world. The book was first published as a novel in 1951 and has been on many lists for best books of the century. Though written for an adult audience, Catcher in the Rye was one of the most popular titles used in schools across North America and ironically one of the most banned/challenged books in school districts (swearing, sexual adventures, drinking, disrespect of adults etc.).  Even though it was written 70 years ago, I would say every generation of adolescents can identify and learn from Holden Caulfield’s funny, observant, critical, anxious, uniqueness as he embarks on a two day episodic adventure in New York city.  Holden’s dream is to protect youth from the fall of innocence (to catch them in the rye). It is a book that inspires ‘getting into groups and discuss’.  There are a multitude of YA novel characters that stand on the shoulders of Holden Caufield and though rich, privileged and white, there is no doubt he is an iconic literary character. I will read this book again. And again. 

 

July 11

THE COVID DIARIES: Spoken word poems & visuals by Robert Pomerhn

Released in 2023 (Highest Hurdle Press), this publication, in magazine-sized format provides,  a “study to postmodern poetry and contemporary art” according to in a letter written by the author. The majority of this collection features collages  in which the juxtaposition of visual images can be considered humourous, strange, mysterious, dark, or filled with pain. These illustrations, after all, represent a diary of a time when the world was confused, fearful, strange, mysterious, dark or  filled with pain.  Viewers can make of these images what they will just as they might when they read Pomerhn’s spoken word poems about a time when the “silent killer” forced the world to wear masks. The poet conjurs up feelings, confusions and realities of a time when we were “spinning out of control on a carousel”(p.71).  Yes, Spoken word poems need to be heard through the ear but reading these poems independently, invites a reader to lift the words off the page and hear the voice of this gifted poet. (“And like the devil  / Tempting Jesus / This upper respiratory disease is Free to come and go as it pleases” p. 46). Pomerhn deserves his personal claim that he is an ‘artistic innovator’.

Note: I was also given a copy of LETTERHEAD, Volume #1 (2007)  a collection of works by poets from across the United States. One section of this volume of selections from  deceased poet Harvey Goldner and visual collage images and rap poems byRobert Pomerhn and a third section includes work by Buffalo Poets. The 131 page volume is an engaging read for poetry lovers  of diverse poetry styles with diverse themes  with such poem titles as ‘The Revenge of Poets’ by Arnold Skemer; ‘Screamo’ byErin Thomas; ‘Suddenly Death Won’t Kill’ and Saran Wrap’  by Robert Pomerhn.  

for further information contact the author: pomerhn.robert@gmail.com

 

July 16

SPARE by Prince Harry

When you tell people that you are reading Spare, they (many) tend to roll their eyes. But Daniel Pennac, author of the Readers Bill of Rights claims that we have ‘the right to not defend our tastes’. Why do feel I need to defend my reading of this autobiography? Why do folks make such strong judgements about Harry’s book without having read it? Why argue with 3 million+ purchases of this book which the Guinness World Book of Records claims was the fastest nonfiction title ever?  All that being said, I liked the book. I was intrigued. I respected that the Prince now had the chance to tell his story. Granted, kudos must go to the ghostwriter  J. R. Moehringer who listened carefully and then shaped and presented the anecdotes and ‘in-the-head’ thoughts of Prince Harry with clarity. We are definitely given an inside glimpse of the royal family. We absolutely come to recognize that Prince Harry was /is haunted by the death of his mother. We absolutely believe that he is strongly devoted to his wife, Meghan and his children. And there was no doubt (for me) that media and the paps (Paparazzi) haunted the members of the Royal Family and especially interfered with Harry’s happiness. There’s trouble in the Harry’s relationship with father, brother, sister-in-law and many of the Royal staff but this is Harry’s story to tell and I believe his truths and understand why he needed to rebel and remove himself from what was expected of him.  Spoiled? Rebellious? Contentious?  Brave? Loyal? Get into groups and discuss. 

 

July 23

OLD GOD’S TIME by Sebastian Barry

Tom Kettle, a recently retired  policeman, has settled into a lean-t0 attached to a castle overlooking the Irish sea. Living alone, seems satisfied to only catch glimpses of his eccentric landlord and a young mother who lives next door. Fond memories of his wife and two children help to pass the days and lift Tom’s soul, until the day two former colleagues tun up hoping that he wil help them solve a decades-old unsolved case.  Tom makes the decision to revisit his life as a detective  and help solve the mysterious killing of a priest. Old God’s Time is more than a detective story. The ghosts of Tom Kettle’s past haunt him and the dark narratives of child abuse, suicide, and murder unfold in dreamlike memory. Sebastian Barry’s writing is exquisite with crafted sentences,  poetic images and disturbing events that stagger the reader*. I found myself reading this novel rather slowly, often pausing to reflect on the protagonist’s mental health and stream of consciousness where things may or not be quite what they seem.. This is the first novel I’ve read by the Irish novelist I’m sure I’ll check out some other of his honoured  titles including  Days Without End, The Secret Scripture and A Long Long Way. 

*Excerpts

“The eternal fight of the solar system between night and day was being waged above him, he supposed, and it was dark as dark could be now, night was winning, but still, it was ridiculously early to be abed.” (p. 142)

“Who will read the liturgy of the dead? God posts you your fate, the envelope is opened and the page blank but everything is written there. He supposed that was true.” (p. 191)

“Never entered her mind to tell the truth. That her brain was boiled cabbage with grief.” (p. 234)

 

July 24

THE SKULL by Jon Klassen (folktale)

Award-winning author Jon Klassen (I Want My Hat Back, This is Not My Hat, The Rock from The Sky) presents his own version of a traditional folktale. Otilla is a runaway girl (we never really know this background story) and when she comes upon a house in the woods she meets up with a Skull and the two become friends. The Skull warns Otilla about a headless skeleton who is desperate to obtain the Skull.  This adventurous tale is blends humour, creepiness and friendship to provide an entertaining retelling (told in five  parts), accompanied by Klassen’s masterful, rather monochromatic visual interpretations of text. A terrific read aloud and as I read it, I thought of The Skull as a terrific resource for igniting lessons for a range of comprehension strategies. 

 

July 25

WELCOME TO ST. HELL: My Trans Teen Adventure by Lewis Hancox (graphic autobiography) YA 

In this frank graphic autobiographic, Lewis Hancock tells the story of heartbreaking and often funny, journey as a trans male. We are given a first-hand account of what it means to hate your body and be be confused about what to wear, who to snog and how to convince family and friends about what it means to fight for the truth of your gender identity. This is an honest story, a hopeful one that will bring comfort to many who question who they are and who they need to become. In this book, Lewis has a conversation with his younger self (as Lois) surviving hellish years in high school  and college trying to figure out what it means to be ‘normal’. Comic art work is presented in black and white graphic panels. Thank you for sharing your story Lewis. 

 

July 26

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT WAR IS by Yeva Skalietska (Ages 12+)

This diary by a twelve year old Ukranian girldocuments the horrors that she and her grandmother encountered when the city of Kharkiv was suddenly under attacked. The journal begins on February 24, 2022 and records the journey she and her grandmother from sheltering underground, escaping the  Ukraine, passing through Hungary and finally settling in Ireland. Her entries are straightforward tellings of what Skalietska, her neighbours and friends encountered as bombs destroyed her city. Readers learn about the realities of the conflict of the war raging around innocent people. The journal describes long train rides, the experience of in an overcrowded refugee centre as well as the kindness of strangers and the media who helped Yeva and her family forge a new life and dream of returning HOME. 

Prologue

Every knows the word war. But very few people understand what it truly means. You might say that it’s horrible and frightening, but you don’t know the scale of fearit brings. And so, when you suddenly find you have to face it, you feel totally lost, walled in by fright and despair. All of your plans are suddenly interrupted by destruction. Until you’ve been there, you don’t know what war is. 

 

July 28

UNCLE OF THE YEAR & Other Debatable Triumphs by Andrew Rannells

Andrew Rannells, is a musical theatre star, a television actor and a writer (Too Much is Not Enough). The 20 personal essays in this collection are drawn from his life as a struggling and successful actor, as a sometimes shaky and sometimes successful boyfriend, as a friend, son, and uncle.  He is a great storyteller letting readers partake in his experiences attending award-shows, going to many auditions, working with therapists,  dating, and going through the process of ‘adulting’. Now at 44 years of age, Rannells tries to make sense of his personal and professional life and reflect on milestones and expectations of what it means to be an adult. Readers are likely to be charmed and entertained by the humour and honesty of this celebrity.  He seems to be a guy you’d want for a best friend – and fun uncle!

 

July 31 

SHOUT OUT

WHY FATHERS CRY AT NIGHT by Kwame Alexander

This is a memoir presented as a series of love [oems, letters, recipes and remembrances. I am a Kwame Alexander fan and am always eager to buy a new publication by this celebrated Black author of children’s literature. He has received the Caldecott (The Undefeated) and the Newbery awards (The Crossover). (I have a hunch that his new title An American Story is destined for 2023 awards.).He is a poet extraordinaire and with this new book, Alexander presents a non-traditional memoir, sharing the journey of his parents as newlyweds, the ups and downs of his own two marriages, and his relationship with his daughters.  He also provides insights into his writing journey. His connection to the poet (and professor) Nikki Giovanni, is a powerful story. This is a multi-genre presentation of the author’s life and it is one filled with an honest, open heart.  The book jacket blurb announces that the book defines ‘the whirlwind woes and wonders of love.”  In the epilogue to this book, Kwame Alexander informs readers that writing Why Fathers Cry at Night provided him with an artifact that forced hime to have ALL of those hard talks (with father, wife, children). It is obvious that the memoir sparked “difficult and necessary conversations that ultimately make us much better. With our loved ones and with ourselves”. A stellar publication that will be at the top of my list for 2023.

Excerpt: How to Read This Book (p. 10)

Let these humble meditations and musings

carry you close, permanent, abreast – a wave.

Go, raise a toast.

Sip

Swallow 

all the words

that hold you

hopefully inspiring

a sea of new ones.

Now trust your heart

and the ocean of sweet possibility

brewing inside. 

This posting highlights TEN TERRIFIC TITLES (most published in 2023) , varied in topics (e.g., surviving war, mental health, coming out, neighbourhood activism, the menstrual cycle, school shootings) varied in settings (e.g., an urban park, farmyards, an elephant sanctuary, a remote island, an urban NY community, a concentration camp) and varied in genre (narrative fiction {middle years and YA} graphic biography, short story),

 

BARNEY THE HORSE: and other tales from the farm by Michael Morpurgo(3 short stories) (ages 7-9)

This book presents three short stories by master storyteller, Michael Morpurgo, who founded a charity, Farms for City Children  that offers urban British young people the opportunity to live and work on a real farm. The story of a missing sheep (and a missing boy), the story of a boy, obsessed with birds, who is in paradise when visits a farm and saves the life a baby swallow, and the story of a young girl who is enamoured with horses and is thrilled when she has the chance take care of a farm horse named Barney are great read-aloud narratives (or ideal for independent readers ages, 7-9). Hooray for ‘Farms for City Children’. Hooray for Mr. Morpurgo!

 

CALLING THE MOON: 16 Period Stories from 16 BIPOC authors by Aida Salazar & Yamile Saied Mendez (Editors) / Short Stories

This is a collection of 16 short stories, each featuring a young adolescent girl’s first experience getting her period. Each of the stories is written by a BIPOC author, thus giving the stories a range of narratives – and celebrations – centred on different cultures (e.g. Cuban, Indigenous, Pakistani, African). For sure,  young girl readers will identify – and learn – from the menstrual experiences of the fictitious characters in these stories. They will likely connect to the physical and emotional self-discovery experiences of these girls whether they are prepared or left in the dark about this important passage into womanhood.  The stories, about 20 pages in length offer engaging narratives of family and friends. Three stories are told in free-verse.

 

JULIA AND THE SHARK by Kiran Millwood Hargrave; illus. Tom de Freston

Julia and her family are spending the summer on a remote island.  Her father is doing work on a lighthouse and her mother, a marine biologist is searching for the Greenland shark, an elusive rare creature that might be older than the trees. At first, Julia isn’t thrilled with this trip but she develops, friendships on the island and finds that it is a place to her love of nature and her  knowledge of the sea. When her mother becomes disappointed and despondent of her quest, Julia is determined to prove that the shark is real. This is a story of family ties, the environment, bullying and mental health.  First perusal of this book with text and illustrations reminded me of the A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness; illus. Jim Kay. The tone of Julia and the Shark is indeed similar to A Monster Calls as a pre-teen deals with the a parent’s failing health. The black and white illustrations (with splashes of yellow) that appear throughout add to the atmosphere and the poetic telling of Julia’s tale. A moving, heartfelt story.

 

THE LIBRARIAN OF AUSCHWITZ: the Graphic novel, based on the book b Antonio Iturbe (ages 12+)

The bestselling novel by Antonio Iturbe tells the storof fourteen-year old Dita who was, along with her mother and father imprisoned in Auschwitz. For Dita, the horrors of the concentration camp were counterbalanced when she was asked to become the librarian of Auschwitz and take charge keep safe, the 8 books that were smuggled past the guards. The books along with real stories told by prisoners educated the children in the camp, even though they discovery of the books in Block 31, the children’s camp would prove to be dangerous, perhaps resulting in execution. Iturbe’s story is based on the true story of Dita Kraus, a Holocaust survivor. This graphic novel adaption synthesized the 400 pages of the original novel by presenting historical facts and  powerful narratives. The strong images  illustrated by Loreto Aroca along with the narrative captions and dialogue match the power of the original novel in presenting another haunting historical account of the Holocaust. Novel: Spanish author, Antonio Iturbe; adapted by Salva Rubio; translated by Lligt Zekulin Thwaites; illustrated by Loreto Aroca.

 

THE ONE AND ONLY RUBY by Katherine Applegate

We first met Ruby, the young elephant and her friends Ivan, the silverback gorilla and Bob the mutt and now she is part of an elephant herd at the  sanctuary.  Ruby’s tusks are starting to sprout and there will be a celebration, called ‘Tuskday’ to mark this right of passage.  Ruby is not happy about the event, knowing that elephant tusks can bring . For a large portion of this novel, Applegate has has Ruby  recount  her early story of live on the  African savanna and her separation from family.   Not only does the award-winning author weave in information about elephant populations, (“An elephant alone is not an elephant”, but she offers another brilliant anthropomorphic narrative that invites readers to reflect on the questions: “What gifts did the world give you today?” “What gifts did you give the world?”  The format of the book is presented with generous white space paragraphing and appealing black and white illustrations helping to make this another  ‘winner’ from the one and only Katherine Applegate.  I loved this book!

 

TIME OUT by Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner with Carlyn Greenwald (ages 12+)

Barclay Elliot, basketball hero,  wakes up on his 16th birthday and is excited about his decision to announce that he is gay during the school pep rally. A brave thing indeed. But coming out sets off a challenging journey for Barclay, particularly when forces him to quit his school basketball team. Homophobia abounds from teammates and within the community of Chitwood, Georgia. Barclay struggles with family and friendships as well as the loss of his grandfather who was so much a part of his life. Barclay’s life gets purpose when  participates in a mission to join his good friend, Amy, in a voting rights group. He also meets up with handsome Christopher who is writing a news report of Barclay, uncovering some truths that Barclay keeps hidden.  Barclay must always make choices about being faithful to himself, his community, his friends and his team. But basketball is part of his soul and one of his strongest decisions is whether to re-join the team despite the antagonism (homophobia) from bully players. Time Out is absolutely a worthwhile contribution to titles that deal with the complexities of coming out which will support teenagers to make decisions about their announcing to the world of being a game. It is also a strong story of  being a part of a team. A great YA read!

 

THE UMBRELLA HOUSE by Colleen Nelson

This is a story for middle age readers about gentrification. The setting is the East Village in New York. A real estate mogul wants to tear down the six-story apartment building known as Umbrella House. It was once the residence of squatters who needed a place to live and a group of dedicated individuals turned the building into a home of eighteen units. Roxy and Scout, best friends, now reside in the building and when they learn what is going to happen they take action to save the building. When they hear of a contest inviting young people to create a documentary for a local news station, they work together to gather stories from residents, neighbours, and artists who can help them with their mission. Roxy is one determined activist who  bravely voices her opinion at a City Council meeting and Scout is a talented photographer who can bring artful vision to the cause. Yes, The Umbrella House is a story about gentrification, but it is a mighty story of community (note; the word UNITY is in community), of  a strong friendship and an account how young people can take action for what they believe in. It is also a story about the power of art. Nelson presents a fast-paced narrative with strong caring characters.

 

SIMON SORT OF SAYS by Erin Bow

Simon O’Keefe is dealing with trauma – he was the only survivor in a school shooting. His mother (an undertaker) and his father (a Catholic deacon) have moved the family to Grin and Bear It Nebraska, a place where the Internet is banned, a place where Simon hopes to keep his past a secret (which is more or less kept hidden for the first 100 or so pages of the novel).  Filtered throughout the book, the author presents funny incidents which counterbalance the horrific story that Simon hides. A screaming peacock, chaos with alpacas,  goats giving birth, a drunken dog, a tornado, a Jesus squirrel, a loving service dog, a lost cadaver and a plot to listen for signs of life from alien creatures in space all add to the comedy this intriguing story. Award-winning (Plain Kate) author Erin Bow is a great storyteller, with  sharp insights into science, relationships and the heart.

 

WHO OWNS THE CLOUDS? by Mario Brassard; illus. Gerard Dubois (ages 12+)

This book when published in French, was the winner of the Governor Generals’ Literary Award. This fairly short graphic memoir has now been translated into English. It is the heart-squeezing story of  young girl named Lisa who’s childhood memories of being caught in the web of war have overcome her. The dreams that Lina has blur the lines of the reality of imminent war. Clouds serve as metaphors for her painful remembrances as well as dreams for a better future. This is a story of trauma, healing and hope. The monochromatic illustrations add to the sombre mood of the narrative. Spots of scarlet red and robin-egg blue skies occasionally interrupt Gerard Dubois’s evocative black and tan art work. Who Owns the Clouds? is a special Canadian publication, worthy of its award recognition.

 

SHOUT OUT

THE EYES & THE IMPOSSIBLE by Dave Eggers

In this novel, readers accompany Johannes, a free dog, a fast  (very fast) dog, a brave, philosophical, loyal dog,  on his day to day adventures in an enormous urban park by the sea.  Johanne is ‘the eyes’ that sees all around him.. He is entranced (and enters) the mysterious new building the humans have built; he has rescued an infant from drowning, he is captured by a group of scheming humans (he escapes). He is dedicated to his bird, raccoon and squirrel friends (i.e., ‘The Assistant Eyes’) who join in his escapades. When the dog encounters a herd of ever-hungry goats, he is enamoured with the friendship of a female goat who is different from the others. Johannes is especially worried about the three ancient bison who are fenced in and along with his companions, he embarks on a scheme to set the bisons free on a  journey to the main-land beyond the park. Shout out to the richly coloured landscape paintings that appear throughout the book, each a classic work of art in which illustrator Shawn Harris added Johannes to each scene. This is a mighty fine publication for readers young and old, destined to be a classic sitting alongside other titles of animal heroes. A gem!

 

 

 

The ten titles listed in this posting include FICTION (4) and NONFICTION (4), a graphic biography (1)  and SHORT STORIES (1) and a shout out to my new professional release, Stop the Hate for Goodness Sake. from Pembroke Publishers. Most of these titles were published in 2023.

 

NONFICTION

 

THE BEST STRANGERS IN THE WORLD by Ari Shapiro

Because i don’t listen to NPR, I wasn’t familiar with Ari Shapiro, who is the host of the flagship news program All Things Considered. I recently attended a concert entitled Och and Oy where Shapiro and his buddy Alan Cumming and was entertained by his singing talent, his stories and his joyous connection with Mr. Cumming and with the audience. This book of essays intrigues as Mr. Shapiro recounts stories of coming out as a gay man, of his marriage to his partner, of his singing with Pink Martini. Much of the book is centred on his investigation of international news stories travelling around the world to dig into stories of war-torn countries, political protests, the plight of refugees etc.  The subtitle of this book is “Stories from a Life Spent Listening’.  What a life Ari Shapiro has lead/ leads! What a treasure he is for listening and for patiently and bravely discovering and sharing truths.  Reading this book provides readers entry into the world of activism, humanity, and healthy relationships.

WE SHOULD NOT BE FRIENDS: The story of a friendship by Will Schwalbe

I very much enjoyed reading two recent publications by Will Schwalbe. In this memoir, the author examines the friendship between two improbable friends. Will, a literate gay student,  first met Chris Maxey, a fairly boisterous jock while enrolled in Yale University. The seeds of a friendship were planted in secret society that had been established at the school. Though different in demeanour and interests there was some connection.  The story of this friendship is presented over the decades as Schwalbe and Maxey phoned each other and occasionally met up.  As the two reached their fifties and sixties, the friendship seemed to strengthen as they discussed ambitions, relationships, and health. Maxey’s commitment to establishing an independent school in Eleuthra thra is very much part of the narrative in the final half of the book. This is a story that helps us think about our friendships, the truths we share, the secrets we withhold (“You didn’t ask me!”) and the devotion that can emerge through commitment and trust story also helps readers to think about  encountering possibilities and the need to find  strengths to meet challenges and dreams through our work and our family – and our friendships.

 

Two stellar biographical titles by Michael Rosen (see SHOUT OUT)

MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE: A story of Life, Death and the NHS by Michael Rosen

GETTING BETTER by Michael Rosen (2023)

 

FICTION

IN MEMORIAM by Alice Wynn

The first part of this book is set in an idyllic boarding English boarding school. We learn of  the close friendship between Henry Gaunt and Sidney Ellwood.  When Gaunt becomes overwhelmed with his infatuation with the poetic Ellwood, he enlists in the army. The novel immerses readers in the horrific events of World War I. Ellwood eventually follows and the two men find solace with each other even though they are surrounded by death and fear that they could be next.  Alice Wynn has done a remarkable job of researching and vividly and cinematically portraying wartime. Moreover, she takes us deep into the hearts of two men in love with each other. For its story of forbidden love, the novel reminded me of John Boyne’s wonderful book The Absolutist and for its wretching images of combat, I was reminded of the recent  German film All Quiet on The Western Front. There have been many stories about the First World War (Michael Morpurgo’s books are treasured narratives for young people (e.g., War Horse; Private Peaceful). In Memoriam is gut-wretching, heartbreaking, brutal and poetic. In Memoriam is a  stellar contribution of wartime sagas.

THE LIBRARIAN OF AUSCHWITZ: the Graphic novel, based on the book by Antonio Iturbe (ages 12+)

The Librarian of Auschwitz is a bestselling novel by Spanish author, Antonio Iturbe, and for those who admired this book, a new graphic novel verson has been created. Iturbe tells the y fourteen-year0old Dita who was, along with her mother and father imprisoned in Auschwitz. For Dita, the horrors of the concentration camp were counterbalanced when she was asked to become the librarian of Auschwitz and take charge keep safe, the 8 books that were smuggled past the guards. The books along with real stories told by prisoners educated the children in the camp, even though they discovery of the books in Block 31, the children’s camp would prove to be dangerous, perhaps resulting in execution. Iturbe’s story is based on the true story of Dita Kraus, a Holocaust survivor. This graphic novel adaption synthesized the 400 pages of the original novel by presenting historical facts and  powerful narratives. The strong images  illustrated by Loreto Aroca along with the narrative captions and dialogue match the power of the original novel in presenting another haunting historical account of the Holocaust. Novel: An

LOVE LIDA by Mark Hyatt

Poor Leda. He is so unhappy with life. He relies on the kindness of strangers (older gay men, divorced women)  who feed and cloth him, helping him  to escape from complete homelessness.  And he is unfortunately obsessed with Daniel, who as a man of the Lord, will never love Leda. The setting is 1960’s London. Coffee houses, house parties, and outdoor trysts abound. This book is a curiosity. I feel that the story , thought set in Soho (pre-dating the Sexual Offences of Act of 1967) could have been written by any generation of gay men in the past 60 years. It was written in 1988 but only now published to give readers insights into queer London and the vagabond life of one working class chap who seems to get through life day by day but has little hope for what life has dealt him. (“I turn my head for dreams and lost sunsets and my own fears.” / “My head is beating like a clock, going around in continuous circles.” / “I live sheerly for myself, and not for other people’s thoughts.” The novel likely autobiographical. The author, Mark Hyatt committed suicide in 1972.

OPEN THROAT by Henry Hoke

Here is the opening line of book blurb: “A queer and dangerously hungry mountain lion lives in the drought-devastated land under the Hollywood sign. Opening line of the novel “I’ve never eaten a person  but today I might.”.   Readers who embark on the journey with this rather short (156 pages) novel are in for a strange, poetic novel told from the point of view of yes, a queer mountain lion who overhears hiker conversations, protects those in a homeless encampment, who early in the narrative observes an S&M encounter and later witnesses two men having sex.  in lion. Mountain lion craftily observes ‘ellay’ (L.A.) life, with citizens who complain of  therapy, gender identity and the spreading of fire. Having read many children’s novels, I am ‘in tune’ with – and very much admire -novels with anthrapromorphic voices (Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White),  Abel’s Island William Steig, The One and Only Ivan trilogy (Katherine Applegate) and the wonderful 2023 release, The Eyes for the Impossible by David Eggers.  I was prepared and intrigued to read this new  highly praised review . However, I can’t seem to join in the rave comments received for Hoke’s book (‘unwilling to put down’, ‘my favourite book of the century so far’, ‘an instant class classic’, ‘a bloody masterpiece’, ‘fantastical’. But there’s no doubt that Open Throat is inventive and animal witness to the behaviour of humans. I loved the free verse style.  (practically every sentence gets a stand alone stanza). I loved the brevity of chapters. I was intrigued with the atmosphere, the feral views of life. At the same time, I was sometimes puzzled by events and not completely in tune with the observations and commentary of ‘ellay’ life, even if it was from the point of view of a gay mountain lion.

THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Early in the 20th century Belle de Costa Greene is hired by JP Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts and artwork to by displayed in the Pierpont Morgan Library. Her talents and wisdom have taken her to galleries and auctions in New York, Paris and Italy  as she builds a remarkable worLd-class collection for the remarkable, powerful JP Morgan. Belle quickly becomes immersed in New York City Society and her journey over the years shows her impeccable taste and negotiating skills as the decades unfold. However, Belle’s secret as a Black American women who was forced to hide her true identity and passer  as a white woman is fascinating. At all times, through her encounters with family, friends and ‘the rich’ as well as an impassioned love story with a married man. Belle remains steadfast and faithful as Morgan’s personal librariaN. This is a wonderful, compelling  piece of historical nonfiction. It has inspired me to make a visit to the Morgan library on my next trip to New York.

SEVEN EMPTY HOUSES by Samanta Schweblin (short stories)

Translated from the Spanish version, Seven Empty Houses,  issmall collection of short stories. Actually 6 of the stories are fairly short (10-20 pages) One story, “Breath from the Depths” is 82 pages, is about a cantankerous senior citizen named Lola who is difficulty breathing and severe back problems. Dealing with grief, and a pesky neighbour, Lola patiently preparing for and, and awaiting death). In “It Happens All the Time in This House” a woman tosses her dead son’s clothing into her neighbour’s yard and sends her husband to retrieve them. One character says ‘the whole things is ‘nutso’. ‘Nutso’ can be used to describe elements in each of Schweblin’s stories. In None of That a woman drives around her neighbourhood, rearranging furniture and plants at her whim (“None of That”). In “Parents and Children” a woman brings her children and new love interest to visit her ex-husband’s grandparents who enjoy frolicking around nude in their backyard.  Nutso. Cukoo. Strange. Each story presents a slanted sense of reality whether it involves a fight, a vision, trespassing, a death plan, when in truth, nearly everyone has a story about the bizarre behaviours of others. The world is nutso. I found these stories to be both weird and believable, humourous but sad. Seven Empty Houses is an anthology about belonging and the strange connections we have with others. A gem!

 

SHOUT OUT

MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE: A story of Life, Death and the NHS by Michael Rosen

Shout out to Chris Ridell’s illustrations that introduce each of the 8 sections.

Stricken by coronavirus, British writer Michael Rosen hospitalized with an induced coma for six weeks and weeks then spent weeks of rehab and recovery. This is the story of that time period. How does he get to tell remember his experiences, when in a coma? The first part of the book presents transcripts of emails that his devoted wife Emma had written to friends and family reporting her husband’s progress.  Also, a notebook was kept by his bedside where the nurses who provided him with care wrote letters of hope, support and love. h of the book is presented as remarkable prose poems, where Rosen writes about his near-death experience and he many different kinds of love that spurred him on to survival. This is a beautiful beautiful book about the  that life might send our way, the trauma  of death hanging over our heads and the indomitable spirit and care of the National Health Service and especially the important people in our lives that carry us through dark times. This is a book of Health, Hope and Heart.  each with a capital ‘H’.  It is a sobering read that should be put in time capsule paying tribute to the resilience of those who suffered through Covid-19. This poetry memoir (published in 2021) is absolutely at the top of the list favourite reads this year.  You are a hero, Michael Rosen. From the back cover:

A doctor is standing by my bed

asking me if I would sign a piece of paper

which would allow them to put me to sleep pump air into my lungs.

‘Will I wake up?’

“There’s a 50:50 chance.’

‘If I say no?’: I say.

‘Zero.’

And I sign.

GETTING BETTER by Michael Rosen 

Michael Rosen was appointed Children’s Laureate (2007-2009) in the UK and is a renowned poet, performer, and broadcaster. Loss has been a part of Michael Rosen’s life. He has lived with a chronic hypothyroid  illness grieved over the loss of his mother and over the sudden death of his son due to meningitis (meningococcal septicaemia). During the Pandemic, Rosen was in a coma for 40 days and 40 nights, facing death in intensive care for 48 days in a London hospital and then recovering in rehab for three weeks.  Getting Better provides essays of how Michael Rosen, struggled to recover from trauma and grief and helps readers understand how we can find it within ourselves to live well again, during and after dark times.  The subtitle of this book is Life Lessons on Going Under, Getting Over it and Getting Through It.  What a brilliant writer, Michael Rosen is!. What a courageous soul. Michael Rosen  is so grateful for his writing, so grateful for getting through life’s shit that came his way. so grateful for the loving care of family and friends.  He may consider himself to be lucky. We are lucky to have him and his writing, especially for helping us  take a journey on the path to being better, getting better.

 

SHOUT OUT! SHOUT OUT!

STOP THE HATE FOR GOODNESS SAKE by Andrew B. Campbell and Larry Swartz (professinal resource)

The topics and issues in these new picture books are varied: the friendship of a bear and a bird; a naked little boy who enjoys wearing his mother’s make-up, a fantasy alphabet; the life of a dung beetle. A shout out also goes to four publications from PLUMLEAF PRESS, each rich in narrative and illustration. 

 

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE MOON: A book of bedtime poetry and art by editors Alison Baverstock, Matt Cunningham, Annette Roeder  (poetry)

This is an exquisite collection of poetry and paintings. It’s a curiosity too for it is labeled a book of bedtime poetry and art. Whose bedtime I ask? This book, first published in Germany, is intended, I believe for adult to read to child before bedtime. Great that poetry gets into the ears of children and reading two or three poems before bedtime provide comfort, curiosity and perhaps send young people off to dreamland. But these poems, for the most part, do not seem to be intended for children, even though they are intended as read-alouds and the listener will ‘get out of the poems, whatever, they get out of the  Who am I to say what young readers will ‘get from the words of Ted Hughes, Robert Browning, Lord Alfred Tennyson, William Wordsworth and Walt Whitman about 1/4 of the book feature the names of familiar names for those who are poetry afficinados. eThe book is organized into six sections each with a title (e.g., Twilight, Dreamland, Moonlight Menagerie, Creepy Crawlie and Things That Go Bump Into the Night.The words, poem images and themes are quite sophisticated and do not seem accessible. I would say there would be few children who would respond to these poems without conversation and ‘analysis’. And who wants analysis before bedtime? The editors, however, have done a WOW! job of choosing art works to match the verbal text (sometimes literal matches, sometimes not).  Taking the children to an art gallery is a fantastic thing, and the art in this book (e.g., Henry Rousseau, Paul Klee, Georgia O’Keefe, Vincent Van Gogh, are some of the more familiar names),  beautifully reproduced, is certainly, page by page, a wonderful journey into landscapes, portraits, still life etc. Together, poems and arts, make for a staggering, rich collection of words and images.  For me, this was a wonderful bedtime book… but I’m over 70 years old. Am exquisite publication.  

BEAR AND BIRD: THE PICNIC AND OTHER STORIES by Jarv

Standing on the shoulders of Frog and Toad, and George and Martha, and Piggie and Elephant, Bear and Bird are two friends who understand each other, amuse each other, and are devoted to one another. There are four short stories in this  warms-the-heart chapter book each describing an amusing adventure and tale of the friendship bond between bear and bird (Bear forgets to pack items for a picnic outing; Bird pretends that he didn’t know (The Picnic): Bird gets trapped in a flower and Bear rescues him (The Flower); Bird discovers thatBear has more of an artistic talent than she does, but bear diplomatically shows his appreciation (The Painting): Their friendship is tested when Bird discovers that Bear would rather snuggle up with a blanked he named Suzie (The Blanket). Kindness abounds!   

COMMUNITY SOUP by Alma Fullerton 2013/2032

In a school garden in Kenya, Aa group fo children work together to harvest the vegetables they have grown in order to make a soup they will share with the community.  Unfortunately, mischievous goats cause chaos when they invade the garden. The narrative is modelled on the nursery rhyme. ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’. Fullerton’s paper collage illustrations are remarkable throughout. This new edition of the book, originally released in 2013, contains aded pages and discussion questions. 

EVERYTHING & EVERYWHERE by Marc Martin

This book intrigued me because of its full-page spreads of places around the world.  I was interested in seeing how places I’ve been to have been represented (New York City,  Reykjavik, Rio De Janeiro) but is also a great inspiration to visit places cities I’d love to visit someday (Tokyo, The Galapagos Islands, Alice Springs. This is a terrific travelogue book with detailed illustrations and labelled information about people, places, and natural life to discover around the world.  A  fantastic non-fiction picture book!

FRED GETS DRESSED by Peter Brown

Little Fred likes to run around the house naked. Left on his own to get dressed, Fred tries on his father’s clothes but they don’t seem to fit.  He has no trouble putting on his mother’s blouse, scarf and pair of shoes. With loving support and encouragement from Mom, Fred learns to apply makeup and do his hair. An amusing and heartfelt story about discovering who you are and being accepted for your choices. This is  terrific book to sit the shelf alongside other  gender identity titles.  (e.g.,Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress; Julian the Mermaid)

THE IMAGINARY ALPHABET by Sylvie Daigneault

 I love alphabet books. I love books that celebrate words. I love books with illustrations that enrich curiosity, wonder and imagination. this is a triple crown winner for me.  On one side of the page we see an alphabet letter adorned with visual images (‘C’  features cactus, ‘L’ features lemons) and each letter is accompanied with playful alliterative sentences. On the right hand page, Daigneault ‘illustrates’ the whimsical sentence in addition to a number of pictures that start with the same letter as the one featured in the large illustrations.  At the conclusion of this book there is a sit of about 300 words that have been ‘hidden’ throughout. 26 letters. 26 whimsical alliteratuve descriptions to accompany the letters. 300 words and one glorious trip to an art gallery with Sylvia Daigneault’s exquisite, fantastical illustrations. This is a WOW! of a book (to be released in September 2023 from Pajama Press.

G = Grumpy Gorillas Guarding the Garden Gate. Can you spot the gargoyles, gerbils, giraffe, gravel ground and gold hidden in the picture?

REMEMBER by Joy Harjo; illus. Michaela Goade

U.S. poet laureate, Joy Harjo is a member of the Mvskoke Nation. Michaela Goode is a Caldecott Medalist winner (We Are Water Protectors). This beautiful publication encourages readers to think about their place in the world they are born into. Poetic words and staggering paintings connect together to help us remember on how everyone on Earth is connected. Wow!

Remember you are all people and all people are you.

STEVE THE DUNG BEETLE ON A ROLL by Susan R. Stoltz; illus Melissa Bailey

Steve the dung beetle is on a mission to roll a ball of poo home and meets a cast of animal characters  (a giraffe, a warthog, a lion, a hyena) who each ask, “Why are you rolling that ball of poo?” A story about POO will likely appeal to many young readers and as they join in Steve’s journey they will learn some interesting facts about this fascinating insect as well as information about environmental uses of dung. 

What is the dung beetle’s favourite number?

Number 2

SHOUT OUT

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A RIVER by Danielle Daniel; illus. Josee Bisaillon

I’m very fond of Danielle Daniel’s book Sometimes I Feel Like a River and was thrilled to get this companion text in which the author and illustrator, through simple poems and lively colourful illustrations celebrate the natural world of moon, rain, forest clouds, ocean and mountain that  are made for us. Each spread helps reader to think about the beauty of the world that surround us.  Author’s note: “We are connected to the natural world through our biology, our ancestors and our hearts. 

Sometimes I feel like a mountain,

mighty and strong.

I reach for the sky with ice-covered peaks

as silvery mist brushes past me. 

 

SHOUT OUT

FOUR splendid CANADIAN titles  PLUMLEAF PRESS

 

I AM NOT A GHOST: The Canadian Pacific Railway by David Bouchard with Zhong Yang HUang; Illus. Sean Huang

This is a beautiful beautiful publication with a rich narrative and rich pictorial images that illuminate a period in Canadian and Chinese history.  The story (collaboratively written by David Bouchard and Zhong Yang Huang) is told in the voice of an elderly Chinese grandfather recounting (to his granddaughter) his countrymen’s legacy as builders of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Perhaps an unknown piece of history is the fact that the Indigenous people helped Chinese newcomers to survive life-threatening conditions. This picture book is a testimony to the roots that are part of our identity and culture and the essential need to pass  stories on to future generations. I Am Not a Ghost is a historical account of racism, a tribute to the courage and tenacity of Chinese immigrants from 100 years ago, a story of forgiveness and a story of never forgetting. Such stories help readers to understand the past and support us in moving forward to combat obstacles that we encounter. As far as picture books go, this is a work of art in words and illustrations. 

This book is vital  “as a starting point for gathering your own knowledge of the history of Chinese Canadians. Make it a doorway to opening up new perspectives on how we must all remember and share our stories.”

from the Foreword by Dr. Brandt C. Louise, ninth Chancellor of Simon Fraser University.

Special note: The book includes a two page spread of Historical notes, summarizing the harrowing plight of Chinese workers who were about three-quarters of the workforce on the CPR>

 

ROUND & ROUND THE GARDEN Nursery Rhymes and Songs; illus. Olivia Skelhorne-Gross

This  collection of sixteen classic and contemporary rhymes can sit proudly on the poetry shelf of treasured nursery rhyme anthologies.  Some selections include Itsy Bitsy Spider, Hickory Dickory Dock  Zoom Zoom Zoom Sippity Sippity Sup. Exquisite hand-embroidered illustrations accompany each of the verses. WOW!  This is a gift of a book. This is book to give as a gift. 

TWELVE IN A RACE by Catherine Little; illus. Sae Kimura

This story provides a background narrative to how the Chinese zodiac came to be.  Twelve animals answer the emperor’s call to participate in  the Emperor’s great race. Each spread, through rhyming couplet describes the animals characteristics (e.g. “Rabbit was fourth so gentle and kind, Blown forward by strong winds that came from behind.” Each full page spreads beautifully capture the animals in action and the environment they race through. The Chinese translation of the animal name is bonus. This book brilliantly blends elements of folktale, rhyme, ordinal numbers, adventure and information. I love this book! (PS. I am an OX, what Chinese Zodiac animal are you?

WATER LOVE by Natalie Hodgson & Rajean Willis; illus. Sahle Robinson

Imagine that a young Black girl who loves water is told that swimming is not a Black Sport. This book is told in spoken word helping readers to consider ways to overcome discrimination, stereotyping and peer pressure.

“Black fear of water

our ancestors on slave ships

chained, suffered, thrown off

legacy of generational injury”

The ten titles listed below are recent purchases of fiction and nonfiction titles for middle years’ readers.  These titles were published in 2023 (except for 1).

 

FREEWATER by Amina Luqman-Dawson (2022)

Freewater is the winner of the Newbery Medal 2023. There are many fine pieces of historical fiction that deal with the plight of slavery and the escape to the North (e.g., Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis; The Gospel Truth by Caroline Pignat) but Luqman-Dawson has done remarkable research to tell the story of those who lived deep in the swamps, societies created by formerly enslaved people and some freeborn children. The author has presented a rich cast of characters who lived in the mythical maroon community of Freewater.  Homer and his sister have fled the Southern Plantation and are determined to be reunited with their mother who remains a slave; Sanzi is a brave freeborn citizen of Freewater who, Nora, a daughter of the plantation owner, wants to fight for justice even through the social events of her sister’s wedding. The chapter titles help to organize the different points of view of stories of enslavement.  This wouldn’t have been my choice of Newbery winner, but having said that, this adventurous debut novel is a rich contribution to stories of courage and survival of Black slaves. 

NOTE; secret communities like the ‘Freewater ‘were known as ‘maroon communities and the people who resided in them as ‘maroons’. Tbis novel tory is drawn from the history of the Great Dismal Swamp and the enslaved souls who found refuge within its confines.

 

THE IN-BETWEEN: A memoir in verse by Katie Van Heidrich

This is a heartfelt (and often a heartbreaking story) about a young adolescent girl who is caught in between two homes when her parent get divorced. Her mother is out of a job and strives to keep her family together and do her best for her three children. But for Katie, being forced to live in a cramped hotel room is a harsh reality. Her father, now remarried, has good intentions about caring for his children but Katie, Josh and Haley hope that he could do better. That this story is based on true incidents in the author’s life make this story particularly poignant. The free verse style and journal notes enrich this reflective stance of Katie Van Heidrich’s, memoir. Reading the author’s bio (she graduated from Brown University, was a fifth-grade teacher, and is an assistant principal today) make The In-Between a special story of perseverance, resilience and hope.

 

THE MANY ASSASSINATIONS OF  SAMIR THE SELLER OF DREAMS by Daniel Nayeri (historical fiction)

OVERVIEW

MONKEY: a 12 year old orphan who joins a caravan of traders and becomes servant to SAMIR

SAMIR: a corrupt swindler who lives on lies and dreams, a huckster trade merchant whose dealings arouse anger in every village he’s passed through

A COLLECTION OF MURDERERS (as listed in the book jacket) a Viking berserker, a Rogue legion, a Persian mystic, a Bedouin clan, A Mongolian gunner, a Chinese ablutionist and a mythic terrifying killer known as ‘Cid”

SETTING: The Silk Road which Nayeri in the Afterward describes as “the most magical place I can imagine. I have dreamed of it for most of my life.

THE PLOT: attempted assassinations on Samir and Monkey and how they survived them

I was quite eager to read this novel, since I was knocked out by Nayeri’s award-winning autobiographical book Everything Sad is Untrue: A true story. The Many Assassinations the Seller of Dreams reveals the author’s storytelling potential, but alas, the narrative didn’t grab me (and with al of Monkey’s and Samir’s adventures, and escapes from assassinations, it should have. This book is recommended for Middle Age readers and I have a bit of a problem with that. Not that there won’t be some keen readers of this age group who will be drawn to this expansive, rather exotic tale.but I think it it’s appeal is  for a narrow audience of 9-14 year olds.  I myself was wowed by the way Daniel tells a story but found alas I wasn’t as intrigued in the Silk Road adventures as I hoped to be. 

 

ON AIR WITH ZOE WASHINGTON by Janae Marks

Eighth grade student, Zoe Washington is a fighter. Zoe Washington is determined to fulfill her dreams and is committed to finding ways to accomplish her goals. One character says of Zoe “You can do anything you put your mind to. You have the power to make change.”When we first met Zoe in the book From The Desk of Zoe Washington she put forth a mighty effort and succeeded to get her biological father exonerated from prison for a crime he didn’t commit. . In this sequel, Zoe dreams of becoming a baker of renowned, opening a restaurant with Marcus, of having a successful podcast (“On Air With Zoe Washington”)  to bring the struggles of the exoneree experience to light and raising $30 000 on Kickstarter fundraiser so that Marcus can open up a food truck.  Knowing that what Zoe wants, Zoe gets doesn’t make the ending of this novel a surprise. How this ‘take action’ teenager gets there is the fun of the book as readers cheer her on. 

 

PENGUIN DAYS by Sara Leach; illus. Rebecca Bender (chapter book/ grades 2-4)

This book is one of the titles in a series by Sara Leach (Slug Days; Duck Days) that features the endearing character of Luaren who lives with Autism Spectrum Disorder and is mostly comfortable with routines. Her social skills are sometimes lacking but she is forthright and honest even when she has trouble  understanding the jokes that people tell.   In this story, she is assigned the role of flower girl in her aunt’s wedding. A scratchy dress, meeting strange cousins and an encounter with cows add to her stress, but Lauren strives to control her anxieties and make the most of adventures that come her way.  Young readers may see themselves or come to understand the thought porcesseces and behaviour of this young girl with ASD.  This chapter book was first published in 2018 but the paperback version was released in 2023.

 

THIRST by Varsha Bajaj

The world of poverty in Mumbai India is at the centre of this story about a young girl named Minni who is thirsty for clean water for her family, thirsty for a good education, and thirsty for justice to thr water mafia who are stealing water from ls, pipelines and tankers and are getting away the crime by bribing authorities. Narrative events that include caring for her sick mother, working as a maid for a rich family, preparing roti properly, winning a scholarship to a computer class and following the school rules are likely to engage readers who will cheer on this heroic young teenager. 

The author writes that “a staggering 784 million people world-wide live without basic access to clean water.” With Thirst, Varsha Basha encourages readers to learn more about the water situation and equitable water distribution in India and across the globe.  

 

SHOUT OUT

YOU ARE HERE: Connecting Flights edited by Ellen Oh (Short Stories)

In the past few years, I’ve been collecting titles that deal with Anti-Asian racism.  The Front Desk series by Kelly Yang, Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee, and the Many Meanings of Meilan by Andrea Wang are particularly noteworthy. The newly released collection of short stories by 12 Asian authors, drawing from their own experiences, is worthy of a shout out. The setting is a crowded Chicago airport, where due to weather conditions, flights have been cancelled. Each story is centred on a character, who are themselves distinctly American,  awaiting departure to visit family (mostly to their parent’s homeland). We meet a Grandma who is held up in security when she tries to bring through a can of her husband’s ashes in a tin to take to Taiwan (Pink Lady whispers loudly, “Just our luck that we’d get stuck behind these people. They slow everything down). , a boy who is challenged with bringing his electric guitar through security (“Look there’s no way he plays guitar… Maybe piano.. or like violin. But not guitar.” ) Each story ignites with an incident of racism that encourages the characters to think about their identities, their heritage and what action they would take to confront racist comments. What should these young people do when they hear such gut-wrenching comments as “Nobody can hear you through those filthy masks”; ” Why is your Mom Chinese?… No, she’s Filipino; “If dude’s family is so broke, then how’d they even get to the United States? They stow away on a ship or something?; “Go back to where you came from.”These young adolescents have been advised by parents “Don;t make a scene. Don’t bring undue attention. Don’t cause trouble.” (p. 224) but how can the world change if we don’t disrupt, or confront racism. Editor Ellen Oh does a fantastic chop of interweaving the narratives of characters  from one story emerge in other stories. Stellar. 

 

SHOUT OUT

SUPERPOWER?: The Wearable-Tech Revolution by Elaine Kachala; illus. Belle Wuthrich

This is an engaging, informative book that provides middle years’ readers with everything they need and want to know about wearable technology a phenomenon that  in recent years has improved the lives of Canadians and  how such inventions Brain Computer Interfaces (BCs) and Virtual Reality (VR)I as have changed the way we live. The author effectively outlines ethical questions surrounding technology and the importance of responsible design. The resource also gives focus to Steve Mann, the Canadian inventor who started the field of wearable computing.  Kachala reminds us that “technology is moving faster now that at any time in history” and young readers are sure to be fascinated – and well-informed – about wearable technology that’s on, in, or attached to the body.  Some wow facts are presented under such headings as “Helping People with Disabilities”; “Skin Interfaces”; “Fashion + Tech” and “Mind-Melding”. 

This is a terrific terrific specimen of a nonfiction title. Text features include  Table of Contents, appealing chapter organization of main ideas, colourful illustrations, an abundance of photographs accompanied by brief informative text, Clear headings and Subheadings (in coloured font); a glossary, and Text Boxes (i.e., “Text Bytes” and  “Move Slow + Think Human”)

Superpower? The Wearable-Tech Revolution is a new title in the Orca Think nonfiction series presenting issues that inspire curiosity, raise questions, and inspire action for a better future. Some titles include: Finding Home: The Journey of Immigrants and Refugees; Shelter: Homelessness in our Community and Fresh Air, Clean Water: or Right to a Healthy Environment.

 

 >>> SHOUT OUT <<<

THE WINDEBY PUZZLE by Lois Lowry

Inspired by the true discovery of a two-thousand year old Windey bog body in Northern Germany, award-winning author Lois Lowry transports readers into the Iron Age World with both facts and fiction to explain the what happened – and what might have happened – in the bogs. The unique hybrid format of this book is astonishing. In sections entitled HISTORY, the author presents fascinating research that inspired her to write two short novellas. Estrild’s Story, tells of a strong character who is determined to become the first girl warrior in her village and Varick’s Story relates the story of an orphan boy with a twisted back and a sharp mind . Each section  of the book is prefaced with  vivid black and white illustrations and photographs at the back of the book provide further information about this period in time.  Especially noteworthy is Lois Lowry’s reflection on how and why she came to write this book and her metathoughts (“Part of me is a storyteller…” / “I could have selected…”/ “I had to guess at possibilities…”/”Isn’t it interesting that the word history can be wrenched apart to become ‘his story’? (or hers?)…

         There is a saying that when people die, they continue to live as long as someone remembers them. I would add: “and tells              their story.” (p. 186)

Lois Lowry has written some fantastic books (Number the Stars, The Giver) and is a two-time Newbery Medal Winner. The Windeby Puzzle is the best of the best and I vote for a third medal honour for this special author. I love this book!

This posting presents fiction and nonfiction titles  for middle years readers that are matched up in pairs because they can be connected by theme, content, or genre. 

 

GOING GRAPHIC x 2:  13 year old boys goes on a school trip to Europe

A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING by Dan Santat

Picture book author and illustrator of novels ,Dan Santat (After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again); The Adventures of Beekle The Unimaginary Friend (Caldecott Medal, 2015) takes a journey into his past in this graphic memoir depicting his life as awkward eighth gradel student.  The story is an artful recollection of a 17 day school day trip to Europe where encounters many firsts: drinking Fanta, eating Fondu, going to a nightclub and a venture into first love. Told with humour and heart, this autobiography will be enjoyed by middle readers who can identify with being teased, with trying to fit in, and with having their world open up as they take baby steps and giant steps into the passage of growing up. 

SCHOOL TRIP by Jerry Craft

Jerry Craft is a terrific graphic novelists. He is the author of New Kid (2020 Newbery Medal winner) and has since written two companion titles, Class Act and School Trip where we meet middle-school students who attend Riverdale Academy Day School. In this third book, Jordan Banks and a group of school mates go a school trip to Paris, France, where they navigate the sounds (and tastes) of this magnifique European city. The thirteen to fourteen year old boys and girls also find themselves navigating their friendships, worries and  class and race differences that they encountered back home. Jordon, the main protagonist of Craft’s series hopes that this trip will help him figure out WHO he is, and what he REALLY wants. He has just received admission to an art school and needs to decide whether he will pursue the dream of becoming an artist even though it means he will be the ‘new kid’ once again. I particularly like the black and white chapter interludes that cover such topics as ‘Tips for Not Shaking Hands’ ‘Airplane Etiquette’; and ‘Attack of Thumb-downers’.  For discerning graphic readers, there’s sure to be a laugh found within every spread. This is another great story that illuminates the awkwardness and concerns of being a middle-age student. Formidable! P.S. Thanks to Mr. Craft for including my birthday date (hidden in a billboard sign). 

 

FICTION x2: British Authors

THE CATS WE MEET ALONG THE WAY by Nadia Mikail (ages 12+)

Not satisfied with her family’s lifestyle or the prospect’s that await, her, June leaves her family home. But when news that the end of the world is imminent, June’s sister, seventeen-year old Aisha embarks on a journey through Malaysia in a campervan accompanied by her mother, Aisha’s boyfriend, his parents and a cat named Fleabag, to reunite with her sister. Though there is the calamity of the world ending in nine months time, this is not a typical  ‘dystopia’ science fiction story. The narrative by debut author, Nadia Mikails is a stirring account of grief, loss and healing.

THE NIGHT BUS HERO by Onjali Q. Rauf

British author, Onjali Q. Rauf (The Boy at the Back of the Bus) has written a story that connects the menace of a mean bully with the plight of homelessness. Told from the bully’s point of view, we learn of Hector’s mean tricks he plays on others (extortion); stealing the trolley of a homeless man. Hector seems to have no remorse until the day he gets caught in the mission to find out who is stealing items from some important monuments in London (the fountain in Piccadilly Square, Paddington Bear’s statue). In the later part of the story Hector seems to be ‘turning around’ after volunteering in a soup kitchen and after listening to the background stories of homeless characters. A wild adventure plot unfolds when Hector and the homeless Thomas embark on solving the thief problem. A rather engaging story where a bully becomes a hero but, more importantly, an eye-opener for readers to reflect upon the plight of the homeless and perhaps take action to find out more of homeless people in their own communities.

Both authors’ books have been recognized by Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize: The Cats We Meet Along the Way  by Nadia Mikail(2023); The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf(2019)

 

FICTION x2: British author, Katherine Rundell

THE GOOD THIEVES by Katherine Rundell

Rundell is a great storyteller who wraps the readers up in mystery and adventure and imagination. The setting is 1920’s in Manhattan. Vita is the central character of this story who learns that her grandfather’s mansion has been taken from him. To get justice, Vita is fiercely determined to fight a powerful real estate tycoon.  She is joined by a pickpocket and some circus friends who  get caught in a web of escapades, escaping danger chapter by chapter as they move closer to solving the mystery of a hidden jewel and get back what rightfully belongs to Vita’s grandfather. A compelling read. 

ROOFTOPPERS by Katherine Rundell

Rooftoppers is the winner of several book awards, including Waterstones Children’ Book award and Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. In the  opening pages of the book readers meet Sophie, survivor of a shipwreck floating in a cello case in the English Channel. She is rescued by an eccentric bachelor who gives her a unique cultural and literary education, much to the who threaten to send Sophie to an orphanage. Charles and Sophie, escape to Paris. When Sophie encounters a group of orphaned children who survive atop Parisian rooftops, she sets off an adventure hoping to fulfill her dream of being  reunited with her mother whom all believe to be dead. Nighttime rooftop adventures fill the last part of the story  that will engage readers who enjoy magical narratives. (I preferred reading about her life in London the early part of the novel). “Never ignore the possible” is Sophie’s mantra in life” that spurs her – and readers -on. Shout Out to Terry Fan’s spot ‘circular’  illustrations that introduce each chapter. 

 

FICTION x2: Robot Characters

ROBODOG by David Walliams; illus. Adam Stower

Another year, another great release from bestselling author David Walliams who hasn’t yet lost his sense of humour or sense of mischief. This is yet another wild ride with the Walliams and Stower team with the invention of Robodog, the newest recruit at the Police Dog School, the perfect hero for helping police solve crimes in the town of Bedlam, one of the most dangerous places on earth filled with villains, i.e. cat villains, Velma (a dog-hating feline who belongs to the chief of police and her partner), Slash (the most terrifying), Codger (the oldest) and Pavarotti (the biggest). 

THE SUPERTEACHER PROJECT by Gordon Korman

Mr. Aidact has been assigned to teach at Brightling Middle School and students are wowed by his talents to remember song lyrics and trivia as well as his skill at coaching the girls’ field hockey team. Teachers at the school admire him because he takes over bus, detention and cafeteria duties.  Oliver Zahn, renowned rule-breaker and spitball champion becomes suspicious of Mr. Aidact’s background and when they learn that he is a robot, he and his sidekick, Nathan Popova, embark on a mission to protect this popular teacher, especially when the parent community is up in arms and want to get rid of him. Once again, Mr. Korman presents a plot filled with hi-jinx, mischief and the world of middle age students. The narratives of each chapter are presented through alternating voices. Another super read from the superauthor, Gordon Korman. 

 

SHOUT OUT x 2

BIG TREE by Brian Selznick

Big Tree is a big book. At 525 pages, it may seem to be a daunting read for middle-age readers. However, in Brian Selznick’s masterful style, the story is mostly told through black and white graphite pencil illustrations  Even some of the verbal passages are less than 1/4 page, some being only one-sentence in length.  Imagine a story told about two brave seeds. Louise and her brother, Merwin hope to settle down one day and become trees. A forest fire forces the two seed siblings to be separated from their mother and they are catapulted into a world of the unknown where they encounter, dinosaurs, meteors and volcanoes. Will they ever find a place to take root, settle down, and grow into trees? Will these two wee sycamore seeds be the salvation of the natural world from the Cretaceous Age into the future? As with other Selznick stories (The Invention of Hugo Cabret; Wonderstruck) text and visuals work together to tell a story. A captivating read filled with science, planet protection,  anthropomorphic heroes, and hope. WOW!

FINALLY SEEN by Kelly Yang

Lina Gao has been living in Beijing under her grandmother’s care. Her parents and younger sister have been living in California and have finally made plans for reunite with Lina. Although she will miss the special times she had with her grandmother, Lina is excited to be living in the United States. Kelly Yang coneys the trials of being an ELL student, the hardships of being an immigrant family who struggle to pay the rent, the challenges of being teased and confronting racism. But Lina is resilient and eagerly joins in her mother’s plans to establish a worthwhile business of selling bath bombs. She slowly discovers the hard work life of her father who helps out on a local farm with hopes of getting a green card. Kelly Yang’s gives her characters (and her readers) and optimistic outlook on life, even though living the American Dream may be but a dream. As one caring teacher tells Lina, “Your dreams matter. You Matter. Never forget that.” (p, 181).

“You’re the daughter of first-generation immigrants. Your blood is made of iron will and determination. Your backbone is uildt from the sacrifices and impossible decisions of all those who walked before you.” (p. 235)

I first encountered Kelly Yang’s talents with Front Desk and though I’m not usually fond of reading sequels, I continued to be enamoured with her engaging style and her depiction of Asian American identities in the Front Desk series. I was aggravated to read that her book Front Desk was getting banned in some school districts because it was considered ‘divisive’.  Are you kidding me? (The issue of conquering book banning is beautifully conveyed in this new novel ) I was surprised (and very pleased) to discover a new 2013 release. It seems that I just finished reading New From Here and Room to Dream. Prolific she is too. Kelly Yang is the amongst the best of the best contemporary authors for middle-age readers. Her books need to be read! 

 

 

Here is a list of ten titles, various genres, recently read by Dr. Larry

 

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE MOON: A book of bedtime poetry and art by editors Alison Baverstock, Matt Cunningham, Annette Roeder  (poetry)

This is an exquisite collection of poetry and paintings. It’s a curiosity too for it is labeled a book of bedtime poetry and art. Whose bedtime I ask? This book, first published in Germany, is intended, I believe for adult to read to child before bedtime. Great that poetry gets into the ears of children and reading two or three poems before bedtime provide comfort, curiosity and perhaps send young people off to dreamland. But these poems, for the most part, do not seem to be intended for children, even though they are intended as read-alouds and the listener will ‘get out of the poems, whatever, they get out of the  Who am I to say what young readers will ‘get from the words of Ted Hughes, Robert Browning, Lord Alfred Tennyson, William Wordsworth and Walt Whitman about 1/4 of the book feature the names of familiar names for those who are poetry afficianodos. eThe book is organized into six sections each with a title (e.g., Twilight, Dreamland, Moonlight Menagerie, Creepy Crawlie and Things That Go Bump Into the Night.The words, poem images and themes are quite sophisticated and do not seem accessible. I would say there would be few children who would respond to these poems without conversation and ‘analysis’. And who wants analysis before bedtime? The editors, however, have done a WOW! job of choosing art works to match the verbal text (sometimes literal matches, sometimes not).  Taking the children to an art gallery is a fantastic thing, and the art in this book (e.g., Henry Rousseau, Paul Klee, Georgia O’Keefe, Vincent Van Gogh, are some of the more familiary names),  beautifully reproduced, is certainly, page by page, a wonderful journey into landscapes, portraits, still life etc. Together, poems and arts, make for a staggering, rich collection of words and images.  For me, this was a wonderful bedtime book… but I’m over 70 years old. Am exquisite publication.  

BIRDS by John Moir (paintings)

A gallery of 100 British bird paintings (1/ page) accompanied by latin names and succinct bits of fascinating information.  I was familiar with some of the names (Barn Owl; Buzzard; Cukoo; Greenfinch, Puffin, Raven), but was glad to meet some new feathered friends (Crested Tit; Hawfinch, Lapwing, Redshank, Wheatear).  Exquisite!!!

Kestrel: Falco tinnunculus: a kestrel’s eyes can see ultra-violent light. This enables them to pick out the shining yellow urine trails left by mice and voles, so they can track and kill them more effectively. 

 

DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver (fiction)

Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, this is the story of an orphaned boy who has met his shares of troubled times but  seems to carry on being  after passed from home to home, being forced into child labour and struggling at school.  Like, Charles Dickens, David Copperfield, Copperhead is a survivor of poverty. I was on vacation and started reading  this Oprah’s Book Club Selection (2022) and was rather enjoying the book.  I like books with young characters and what a character Demon Copperhead is.  However, after 300 pages I was in a slump and lost interest. I put the book aside and though I don’t often do this, I returned to finish the novel that I once put down.  I’m not good with 500+ page books but I really admired Kingsolver’s style and ended up finishing the book.  The last part of the book deals with heavy addiction and disastrous love and I found myself cheering Demon on to a better life. 

 

THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE by Willian Strunk Jr. and E.B. White (nonfiction)

“If those who have studied the art of writing are in accord on any one point, it is this: Teh surc, est way to arouse and hold the readers attention is by being specific, definite, and concrete.” (p. 28)

I was reading an article the other day and mention was made of this seminal book, first published in 1935, that has been read by multitudes of English majors and journalists. ‘Why hadn’t I read it before?’ I asked myself and decided to get myself a copy consider how I might write better. .  There are 5 chapters, each providing information and a guide to being a better writer: Elementary Rules of Usage; Elementary Principles of Composition; A Few Matters of Form; Words and Expressions Commonly Misused; and An Approach to Style with a List of Reminders. There are  things I think I do right but this book has advised me that  there are things I needed to pay better attention to. (Damn those commas!).  The test of this book depends on how I apply Strunk’s Elements of Style to whatever writing I embark upon in the future.The book is offers great advice, and is a great guide worthy of its popularity for decades and decades.  I’m glad I finally got around to reading this treasure. (I’m sure I’ve made a dozen boo-boo’s in this paragraph alone.)

 

I’M TOO YOUNG TO BE 70 (and other delusions) by Judith Viorst (poems)

Judith Viorst’s claim to fame (one of them) is the picture book Alexander and the Terrific Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. She has written a series of slim, illustrated poetry volumes for adults celebrating life each decade (e.g. It’s Hard to be Hip Over 30; How Did I Get to be 40?) and most recently (Nearing 90). I’m too young to be 70 are humorous and sometimes tocuhing poems exploring this stage of life. The book is divided into sections that include such headings as: Still Married, The Children and Grandchildren, The Rest of It. Some poem titles include ‘As Time Goes By’,,’Body Heat, ‘They May be Middle Aged, But They’re Still My Children’, and ‘Still Dieting After All These Years’ and Too Young to be Seventy’. Judith Viorst  was born on February 2, 1931 (92 years old). 

In the life that I’m living I’m / Too young to be seventy. The woman I see in the mirror is not the real me./ When I elevate my chin, When I stick my stomach in, When I throw my shoulders back,/ When I tighten all that’s slack,/ I can’t be any more than/ Sixty-one. And a half?

 

KIMBERLY AKIMBO by David Lindsay-Abaire (script)

Kimberly has a lot to contend with: an alcoholic father who stinks at fulfilling fatherly duties, a pregnant mother who is a hypochondriac and a crazy aunt who’s a scam artist with a new plan that involves a stolen mailbox and forging cheques. Most of all, Kimberly has a rare genetic condition that causes her body to age faster than it should thus giving her the appearance of an elderly woman. This play was first in 2001 and then opened in New York in 2003.  Kimberly Akimbo has now evolved into a terrific musical which moved from Off-Broadway to Broadway in 2022. The comedy of the original script remains now woven into a great score. A staggering performance by Victoria Clark as the ‘teenage’ Kimberly  makes this a production worth seeing. 

 

LETTERS FROM MAX: A poet, a teacher, a friendship by Sarah Ruhl & Max Ritvom (epistolary nonfiction)

Playwright, Sarah Ruhl and Max Ritvo first met when he became a student in her playwriting course at Yale University. Over the course of four years, student and teacher exchanged letters and poems. Ritvo, a brilliant poet, and Ruhl a brilliant playwright support and mentor each other as they discuss their work and their outlook on life.  Max Ritvo bravely battles cancer and the written exchanges are honest and direct as the two ‘teachers’  write about life, love and the writer’s craft.  The conversational letters take us into a triumphant journey that intertwines heart and mind, art and mentorship. It matters not that the meanings of Ruhl’s and Ritvo’s  overwhelmed (confused) me. Letters from Max is moving account of a poet, a teacher, a friendship.

 

MOUTH TO MOUTH by Antoine Wilson (fiction)

Jeff Cook meets up with an old acquaintance and they chat together in an airport lounge while waiting for a delayed flight. . Actually, Jeff does all the talking as he describes a harrowing event where he once saved the life of a swimmer. Jeff has kept his heroism a secret -up until now. Jeff recounts his experiences of living in LA, of pursuing the man who’s life resuscitated, of joining a renowned art gallery owned by Francis Arsenault (the man who  almost drowned) and of his growing relationship with Chloe, who turns about to be the daughter of said Francis. Much of the book takes us into the life of an art gallery operations and shenanigans.  I should have liked this book more than I did because I like short books (178 pages) with short chapters and apparently it was one of Barack Obama’s favourite books of 2022. An intriguing, sort-of-athriller read, but not a favourite of mine. 

 

OLD BABES IN THE WOODS by Margaret Atwood (short stories)
I haven’t read Atwood titles in a long while and was intrigued to read her new collection of short stories. I usually tend to read short stories in chronological order and as always, some are better than others. This happened while I read through these 15 titles. Lengths of stories varied from 8 to 20 pages.. And one or two didn’t reallhold my interest. I gave up halfway through ‘Metempsychosis’ (something about a snail and the journey of the soul . The book is divided into three parts. Part One introduces a seniors couple named Tig and Nell and Part Three ends with 4 stories under the heading Nell and Tig. The stories I liked best were Tig and Nell selections when characters looked back on life and contemplate the future. (‘Wooden Box’; ‘Old Babes in the Wood)’.’ First Aid’ was rather funny and quite educational (about first aid techniques). “My Evil Mother’ tells the story of a relationship between daughter and a witch (not a typo) of a mother. And oh-so-clever Atwell presents an interview with George Orwell (‘The Dead Interview’). Did I like this collection of short stories?…not always. but wow! can that woman write!

 

THIS OTHER EDEN by Paul Harding (fiction)

My friend and I were browsing in a bookstore and the sales clerk suggested that I read this book which he considered ‘the best book of the year’. The intriguing title, the beautiful cover and the fact that the author, Paul Harding is the winner of a Pulitzer Prize (Tinkers) – plus the fact that it was only 220 pages – intrigued me. My friend bought me a copy. Based on true events, the story takes place at the beginning of the twentieth century. The settling is Apple Island a small fishing enclave off the coast of Maine where a small group of black, white and mulatto citizens meagerly survive from day to day. At one point in the story, officials come to ‘cleanse’ the island by evicting the residents from their homes, sending a group to the school for the feeble-minded. Harding’s writing about generations, about daily chores, about art, about religion, and about racism, justice and  humanity is rather exquisite.  Well, not the best book of the year of me, but it’s wonderful to read wonderful writing. “The smells of his paints and the spirits on his hands and in the rough clothes and the sweat on his skin swirled in her nose and behind her eyes and through the tight space inside her head between her brain and skull, but she was not afraid.” (p.137)