Running Out of Time

1 Comment

by Margaret Peterson Haddix
ages: 8-12
First sentence: “The light woke Jessie, though it was just a glimmer downstairs.”
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!

Jessie is a thirteen-year-old girl living in the village of Clifton, Indiana in the year 1840. She’s curious, loves doing dares, and is pretty much happy with her life. Until a diphtheria epidemic breaks out in her village, and her mother, concerned, breaks some news to Jessie: it’s all a hoax. The year is really 1996, the village is a tourist attraction (where the tourists are hidden); the adults were in on the “gimmick”, and were supposed to tell their children when they turned 12. However, things have made a turn for the worse, and the owner’s “men” have people terrified of leaving, or even spilling the secret. Since her mother feels that letting children die as part of a gimmick is unethical — which isn’t the only unethical decision adults make in this book — she asks Jessie to brave the real world and get some modern medicine to help. Jessie has no choice: she has to go, even though the thought of it terrifies her.

The dichotomy between the modern world and the life Jessie has known is, of course, fascinating. Jessie has to figure out most of the things we take for granted: light bulbs, toilets, refrigerators. But there’s also a tension: the palpable feeling that someone is out to get her, even if you don’t know fully the reason why. But that’s where the book fails. Haddix sets up the conflict, and makes Jessie quite awe-struck at what the modern world has to offer. But when resolving all the conflicts, addressing the unethical behavior of the adults, she completely falls apart. Part of it is age group: you can’t address the craziness of Jessie’s father — who truly believes it’s 1840 — or the unethical behavior of the man who set up the village in the first place in a middle grade book. And so, Haddix just ends the story. There is an interesting promise for the future, but no actual, real resolution.

What I found myself most interested in, though, is the mother: what were her motivations for going along with the father? What did she think of all this? Did she ever want to leave? Why did she stick with it for as long as she did?

Maybe, someday, Haddix will tell that story.

The Wide-Awake Princess

5 Comments

by E. D. Baker
ages: 8-11
First sentence: “‘We can’t let it happen again,’ Queen Karolina said.”
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!
Review copy sent to me by the publisher.

In a world where everyone royal is enhanced by magic — handsomer, prettier, better — Princess Annabelle (Annie to her friends) stands out. She doesn’t have any magic. In fact, no magic will work on her, and the longer she’s around, the less potent others magic becomes. So, she’s not exactly welcomed by her parents, or her sister Gwendolyn who, they say, is the most prettiest princess in all the kingdoms.

So, when Gwendolyn pricks her finger on a spindle and puts the entire castle to sleep, it’s up to Annie and one of the king’s guards, Liam (who was out running an errand when the spell hit), to find Gwendolyn’s true love and bring him back to the castle to wake her up.

One of the most charming things about this book was the myriad of fairy tales it breezes through: there’s Sleeping Beauty, of course, but also Hansel and Gretel, Rose Red, Princess and the Pea, Rapunzel, as well as a host of others that I’m sure I missed. The more one knows about fairy tales, the more fun this book is. That’s not to say that it isn’t fun on its own: Annie is a plucky character, and there is more than one instance where she manages to get out of scrapes (no damsel in distress in this book!) or into humorous situations because of her non-magic status. There’s no real bad characters, and sure, the romance that blossoms is to be expected, and the dialogue is a bit stilted, and… but, you know, it works. It’s charming, it’s light, it’s fun, it’s a fairy tale with some clever twists.

And, really, it’s quite delightful.

Armchair BEA: Why You Should be a Professional

15 Comments

When I went to sign up for today’s topics, this one popped out at me. Partially because no one else had tackled this subject, but also the idea of ethics and professionalism appeal to me. It’s very important, I think, to remember that even while we’re doing this for ourselves, we’re not alone in this vast Internet void.

Yes, we’re just bloggers. Yes, we get looked down upon by the “professional” media. No, we’re not paid (most of us). And no, we’re technically not professionals. But, that said, here are five good reasons why we should act professionally.

1. Because we’re not alone: when I first started blogging, I figured I’d just be putting it out there for myself and maybe a few friends and family. I never dreamed I’d have readers. I’m sure those starting blogs today aren’t that naive, but still. It’s good to remember that there are people following what you say. And, as a result, you should be professional about what you write. That’s not to say you can’t talk about your family, your kids, your life outside of books… but, there is a line that you should. not. cross. There is such a thing as too much information. (That’s not to say you can’t be chatty, you can. Just don’t be crude.)

2. Because a blog can lead to something more: think of it not just as a hobby, but a part-time volunteer job. It can go on resumes. It can be used to springboard into something else. It doesn’t have to, but make sure that your blog is some place you would be proud to show to a stranger.

3. Because we’re all adults (mostly) here: disagreements: fine. We all disagree. There are issues that need to be discussed. But name-calling, back-biting, dissing, whatever you want to call it… is not. acceptable. It’s okay to be honest. But be nice about being honest. And that goes for the comments, too.

4. Because no one likes a liar: This goes for the ethical side of things. My personal policy is: if I don’t intend to (eventually) review it, I don’t accept it. Which is why I’ve been trying to slow down accepting ARCs. I’m finding I can’t get to as many as I once did, or I’m not as interested in getting to them. But, whatever the reason is: if I accept a review copy, I feel obligated to read it. That may not be your policy. But, whatever your policy is, state it, and then stick by it.

5. Because the world is a happier place when we’re all acting like professionals and are ethical in our dealings with each other. Enough said.

Crossing Stones

2 Comments

by Helen Frost
ages: 14+
First sentence: “You’d better straighten out your mind, Young Lady!”
Support your local independent bookstores: buy it there!

Muriel Jorgensen is living a pretty ordinary life in late-1917’s Michigan. She’s about to graduate from high school, and she’s not terribly thrilled with President Wilson’s decision to enter into World War I. Her friend (and possible beau) Frank has decided to join the army, to go serve in France. And then her younger brother Ollie sneaks away to join up, also. What is Muriel to do, especially when she wants to do something, but everyone tells her that girls can’t do much of anything, except cook, clean, and have babies. Thankfully, there’s Aunt Vera and the suffrage movement to help Muriel figure things out.

That sounds trite, but this novel is anything but. Helen Frost has a way with words, yes — it’s a novel in verse, and Frost finds ways to do things with form that make the novel beautiful to look at as well as read — but it’s more than that. She’s written about a time in American history that I don’t think we talk about much anymore. There’s incredible relevance though: the impact of war, both on the boys who served as well as their families and communities. It’s a very pacifist book; the implicit message is that there is no such thing as a “good” war. Or, at the very least, all war has negative consequences. Combined with that is Muriel’s desire to speak out against the war, to find a way to express her opinion, which is difficult, considering there is no outlet for women at that time. Enter the suffrage movement, and the impact that it had on this country (women didn’t get the right to vote until 1920? Really? If I knew that, I’d forgotten.). There were brave women; not just the leaders of the movement, but the individuals out there trying to make a difference. But, most of all, this book is a moving story, powerful in its simplicity.

Another reason to really love novels in verse (and Helen Frost).

Library Loot 2010-19

3 Comments

Oh, hooray! The library construction is DONE and everything is all sparkling brand-new (ish). I don’t have to wait in line for my holds, and they have a very nice self-checkout system, which K LOVED. She likes being useful… Though I do have to admit I’ll miss chatting with the librarians. At any rate, we finally have a full week’s loot!

Oh, and don’t forget to check out the Armchair BEA interviews today!

Picture Books:
Today I Will Fly!, by Mo Willems
There Is a Bird On Your Head!, by Mo Willems
Otis, by Loren Long
The Hallelujah Flight, by Phil Bildner/Illus. by John Holyfield
The Red Scarf, by Anne Vileneuve
One Red Apple, by Harriet Ziefert/Illus. by Karla Gudeon
A Beach Tail, by Karen Lynn Williams/Illus. by Floyd Cooper

Audio Books:
Blubber, by Judy Blume (Read by Halley Feiffer)
Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh (Read by Anne Bobby)

Adult Fiction:
Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman (Yes, I’ve read it. So has M. But Hubby wanted to read it, and has time for it now.)

YA Fiction:
The Cup of the World, by John Dickinson
Skunk Girl, by Sheba Karim
Finnikin of the Rock, by Melina Marchetta
Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs, by Ron Koertge

Non-Fiction:
Mysterious Messages: A History of Codes and Ciphers, by Gary Blackwood
Raucous Royals: Test your Royal Wits: Crack Codes, Solve Mysteries, and Deduce WhichRoyal Rumors are True, by Carlyn Beccia
A Kid’s Guide to Native American History, by Yvonne Wakim Dennis and Arlene Hirschfelder

The roundup is either at Adventures of an Intrepid Reader or A Striped Armchair. Obligatory FTC note: the links are provided through my Amazon Associates account. If you click through and actually purchase one of these books, I’ll get a teeny, tiny payment. But, since no one ever does, and it’s SO much easier using the associates account to put up these links, I’m going to keep doing it.

10 Questions for Suey

11 Comments

Woot! For Armchair BEA today, I get to interview one of my favorite bloggers (and on my wish list to meet, next time I’m in Utah): Suey of It’s All About Books. I have no idea when I discovered her blog (years ago), or even what drew me to her (possibly good writing, fun reviews, and a similar taste in books), but if you’re not following her blog, you should be.

Me: What do you enjoy about reading? What keeps you picking up the next book?
Suey: First and foremost, I love the stories… and the characters. I love traveling to new places, both real and not. But I also love seeing what authors can do with words. Some of them completely blow me away with their word manipulation ability, so I love that experience, just enjoying the language itself. I keep coming back, and will never stop reading because there’s just so much out there to read! And the thought of experiencing that perfect wonderful story makes me keep on reading.

Me: What do you enjoy most about blogging?
Suey: I really enjoy the creative outlet that it is for me. Then there’s the obvious book discussion and sharing of a passion that is so fun. Discovering and being part of a huge community of other passionate readers has been a bonus, something I truly didn’t expect when I started, even though I was already participating in online bookish communities. It really is a rewarding and fun hobby.

Me: Are you a buyer or a borrower? Why?
Suey: My first response is that I am equally both. But then I looked back on the numbers and here’s what I found from the past three years. In 2007 I borrowed (from the library of course) 60 and 40 came from my own (bought or gift) pile. In 2008 it was 51 borrowed and 49 from my own pile. This past year in 2009 it switched to 35 borrowed and 52 from my own pile. So it appears I’m borrowing less and buying more! I think this is because I’m going to more author signings, and discovering more local authors whose books I feel the need to buy (thereby putting my money where my mouth is!) Also, it could be that I’m buying more because I got a little job and I can “spend my own money!”

Me: What do you do with your time when you’re not reading or blogging?
Suey: In between reading and blogging you can find me doing mom things… boring mom things. Cooking dinner, driving kids here and there, trying to keep the dishes clean and the floor bearable, washing and folding clothes, and a lot of worrying (about homework, graduation, college applications, dances, summer jobs, making kids practice for lessons, getting money paid where it’s needed, not forgetting all the stuff there is to remember!) So basically… all the normal stuff. I also work 12 hours a week at the library up in the Administration office where I help the Admin. Secretary. I also watch TV, as most of you know, but usually while I’m doing something else like folding clothes (or blogging!) Some shows I do watch live and just sit and enjoy. Before blogging, I used to scrapbook a little and quilt a little. But I haven’t done either one of those things in a long time!

Me: Sounds a lot like me! So, if you were at BEA, what would you most likely be doing?
Suey: I would be going to lots of panel discussions because I find them way too much fun. I would be getting books and having them signed by lots of authors. I would be networking with other bloggers and having fun with all the meet-ups. I would hopefully come home with a list of new-to-me authors to love, and bloggers too actually. Also, hopefully I would do a little promoting of the blog and come home feeling all pumped up to keep it going. The other thing I’d most likely be doing is having many many anxiety attacks while I try to overcome nervousness at doing all the above mentioned things! I would seriously not do well going to BEA on my own.

Me: I can totally empathize; I want to go, but it would be completely overwhelming. Ok, lighting round:
A favorite place to read?
On the couch in my living room.

A favorite author?
Markus Zusak remains my current favorite… even though he is making me crazy by not having a new book come out!

(I’m not surprised surprised; I was guessing either him or John Green!) A favorite blog?
Besides yours? 🙂 Dang, I have too many to pick just one. A fairly recent new favorite is Amused by Books.

*blush* Thanks for the compliment! A favorite genre?
I really do love fantasy, both YA and the “big people” kind.

And five books you think everyone should read?
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Isn’t she lovely? Thanks so much, Suey!

Armchair BEA: Author Signings

12 Comments

If I ever went to one…

I would want to go to a signing for John Green, Shannon Hale, Mo Willems, Jackson Pearce, Rick Riordan, Sarah Beth Durst, Scott Westerfield, Beth Kephart, among others.

I would probably take one or more of my daughters, since they love the above authors as much as I do.

I would hope I’d say something intelligent, or witty, or at least memorable, and not dissolve into a puddle of giggles. (Which, honestly, could very well happen.)

I would also wish for a hug, but probably not get one. I would get a picture, though.

I would also hope that, if it’s someone my very cool friends loved and they hadn’t had the chance to see them yet, I’d be wonderful enough to get a book signed for them.

Kind of like what my friends (and very cool sister did for me):

(Okay, don’t know why it’s loading sidways today…)

And then I would treasure them always. 🙂

If there was any author you could meet, who would it be? Or, if you’ve been to a signing, what’s the best one you’ve been to?

Griffin and Sabine

2 Comments

An Extraordinary Correspondence; Sabine’s Notebook and The Golden Mean
by Nick Bantock
ages: adult
First sentence (of the first one): “Griffin Moss, It’s good to get in touch with you at last.”
Support your local independent bookstore, buy it there!

A few weeks ago I was in a reading slump, and I sent out a plea for book ideas on Facebook (and Twitter, and here…). An old friend from high school responded, asking whether or not I’ve read the Griffin and Sabine letters. I hadn’t (hadn’t even heard of them), and so I stuck them on hold at the library.

And, wow! Oh, man, wow! Weird, wild and wonderful, these are books to peruse and savor even though reading one will take you less than an hour. They tell the story of a correspondence, via postcard and letter, between two artists: Griffin, living in London, and Sabine, living in the Solomon Islands. There’s a connection between the two: Sabine can “see” Griffin’s art (it’s a one way street; Grifiin has no idea who Sabine is), and sets about connecting with him. As the books go on, you learn more about Sabine and Griffin, and their relationship become ever more weird and complex. They are bound never to meet: is it because they’re in parallel universes? Is it because they are two sides of the same personality? Who is writing these letters? What is going on? It’s a mystery, and one that is never truly solved.

What really is wonderful about these books, though, is the format. The art — both on the cards and letters as well as the doodles in the margins — is amazing; detailed in some parts, simplistic, reflecting the text in the letters as well as the mood of the writers. But, beyond that, it’s the simple fact of reading the letters — letters! Not texts, not emails; who sends letters anymore? — of opening the envelopes, and removing the letters; of deciphering the handwriting, that gives these books a sense of intimacy, a peek into the lives of two characters in a way that a simple narrative wouldn’t. It’s quite amazing.

I’m just glad I discovered them now, and not back when I would have had to wait for the next book to come out!

French Milk

5 Comments

by Lucy Knisley
ages: 16+
First sentence: “My last night in Chicago for six weeks, and unseasonably warm for December.”
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!

This slim travel memoir/graphic novel is about Lucy’s trip to Paris with her mother the semester before she graduates from college. It’s very much a young adult book; Lucy’s trying to figure out her future, dealing with rejections and insecurities about what path to take, and so it, at times, becomes highly angst-ridden. The book is best the times when Lucy lets her ego go, and she sits back and enjoys what Paris has to offer. The food! The art! The architecture! The history! The people!

The trip is in January, and so the book has a very winter feel. But even with that, it’s a joyful experience. Told through drawings and pictures, Lucy captures Paris in a way I’ve never read before. The only thing it lacked, I think, was a sense of smell. I saw what she saw, I felt what she felt, but I wanted to smell it all as well. It was a touristy book, but she also went off the beaten path, discovering shops and markets and museums that your average tourist wouldn’t have the time. (In other words: I’d love to have the opportunity to be this kind of tourist!)

Mostly, though, what this book made me do is long to be in Europe again. The pace of life, the sensibilities, the food… I’m just a European at heart, I guess. And this book tapped into that for me. And I really enjoyed that.