tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53674919182094521642024-03-19T00:32:05.232-07:00READING FOR SANITY BOOK REVIEWSIt's either this or a straitjacket. MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.comBlogger2487125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-76416855886483299942024-03-18T06:00:00.000-07:002024-03-18T06:44:57.449-07:00Mercury in Retrograde - Paula Froelich<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3d8DSfOugjXNiZV-qEkVcia2s9KAEc3whGxmRIAiyJDO5kmk5fdMCS9N6ghPdpCfzchkJmZFdEAqBovO7LJioSgsf6y2rnMdVyzVNWctySLPRtGMJI8KAzQ5_p1-zqPWZrhfqtwImYZayiq20oE2iF6iwyGVZEoekPSDR3dFZeacNOAIvgqTkfGe968/s538/Screenshot%202023-06-23%20170636.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="345" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3d8DSfOugjXNiZV-qEkVcia2s9KAEc3whGxmRIAiyJDO5kmk5fdMCS9N6ghPdpCfzchkJmZFdEAqBovO7LJioSgsf6y2rnMdVyzVNWctySLPRtGMJI8KAzQ5_p1-zqPWZrhfqtwImYZayiq20oE2iF6iwyGVZEoekPSDR3dFZeacNOAIvgqTkfGe968/w256-h400/Screenshot%202023-06-23%20170636.png" width="256" /></a></div>Summary:</b> <i>When Mercury is in retrograde, the only guarantee is anything that </i>can<i> go wrong, will.</i><div><br /></div><div><u>Penelope Mercury</u>, an intrepid reporter at the <i>New York Telegraph</i>, is inches away from being promoted to her dream job -- covering courtroom drama -- after five years of eccentric and inconsequential stories. But after one spectacularly disastrous day, she is fired instead.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Lena "Lipstick Carcrash" Lippencrass</u> has a pretty fabulous life, even by a socialite's standards, as a top editor at the high fashion magazine Y. But when her always indulgent parents abruptly kick her out of her beloved West Village duplex for refusing to work for the family business, she is forced to confront the reality of what it takes to pay the bills.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Dana Gluck</u>, a workaholic lawyer, had been married for two years to a man who was perfect... on paper. She hoped that her dreams of motherhood would be fulfilled soon. Instead he leaves her for an exchange student /model who, to make matters worse, promptly gets pregnant.</div><div><br /></div><div>When fate conspires to have these three very different women move into the same SoHo apartment building, they soon discover that having their carefully planned lives fall to pieces might be the best thing that could have ever happened to them. <i>(Summary from back of book - Image from scribd.com)</i></div><div><br /><div><b>My Review:</b> Mercury is in retrograde and three different women are having an exceptionally bad day. Penelope Mercury got passed over for a well-deserved promotion in favor of a good-for-nothing coworker. Lena Lippencrass's credit cards just got declined in front of her archnemesis and the biggest gossip in town. Dana Gluck just found out that her philandering (now) ex-husband's girlfriend is expecting the baby that Dana so desperately wanted. And that's really just the tip of the iceberg.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Mercury in Retrograde</i> alternates through the three women's perspectives, and is told in the present with frequent flashbacks into the past to help establish backstory. Astrological horoscopes are sprinkled throughout the book, and often hint at upcoming plot elements. </div><div><br /></div><div>The story is full of quirky, yet loveable protagonists and a few antagonists you'll want to drop kick repeatedly. <i>I'm looking at you Noah, Bitsy, and Trace. </i>I liked how Penelope, Lena, and Dana's stories started to intertwine and eventually connect in surprising ways. They were having such an awful time of things initially, that I was hooked and had to see them work things through. Each character arcs in their own way and it was fun to watch. Lena's journey from spoiled to self-sufficient was a particular favorite. Throw in a light romantic element for each character, a great final message, and a happily-ever-after, and I really enjoyed myself. There were a few drawbacks though....</div><div><br /></div><div>This book was written in 2009 and, along with a large amount of profanity and some crude dialogue, including several derisive words that would be considered offensive now (and, honestly, maybe even then). The R word was used <i>three</i> times by a <i>protagonist</i> in a derogatory way and the term tr*nnie was also used in a way that might be considered offensive to the LGBTQ+ community. I was annoyed by this type of terminology in the novel, but unsure if it was considered acceptable at the time this book was written. Either way, it's worth mentioning. Other than that, the women's perspectives transitioned frequently and I would have liked to sit a little longer in each POV before jumping to the next one. </div><div><br /></div><div>I read <i>Mercury in Retrograde</i> in less than a day and it was easy to do. I was very invested in the lives of these women and wanted them to get the wins that they deserved. The story ends on a rather satisfying note with an uplifting message about being yourself, chasing your dreams, and finding your happily-ever-after. I am hesitant to recommend it to <i>every</i> reader, given all that is listed in the 'sensitive reader' section below, but I think has a certain charm that would look wonderful on the big screen.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Rating:</b> 3.75 Stars</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the Sensitive Reader:</b> Language: If you're sensitive to profanity, this is not your book. There is also some crude language and discussion of sexual matters. Three uses of the word "R*tard" used in a derogatory fashion by a protagonist. Potential Triggers: Sexual harassment in the workplace, fertility issues, prostitution, body image issues/ fat shaming. Intimacy: M/F and M/M romantic relationships are represented. M/F kissing. M/F closed-door sex inferred (wake up together).</div></div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-31443624280064890532024-03-15T06:00:00.000-07:002024-03-15T06:00:00.134-07:00Island Witch - Amanda Jayatissa<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdV1SBBo8ou1b1IwFwUiQhAOk3jmulKKxHz2CGGXlVDjS7kDphjJ9HKinyxl9tXdJUWi-YMNkWCARaSx8MOaU_B1aM4pIeTBWiSfO25PN7UH03kimaiirZsUbnmCqziBQPnJDoJq8lNnYjhPHsk-4pbpi9-MXqBIWhYz4slR5uKWrnlfLTbAQKuGGSdI/s2775/Island%20Witch%20Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="1838" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdV1SBBo8ou1b1IwFwUiQhAOk3jmulKKxHz2CGGXlVDjS7kDphjJ9HKinyxl9tXdJUWi-YMNkWCARaSx8MOaU_B1aM4pIeTBWiSfO25PN7UH03kimaiirZsUbnmCqziBQPnJDoJq8lNnYjhPHsk-4pbpi9-MXqBIWhYz4slR5uKWrnlfLTbAQKuGGSdI/s320/Island%20Witch%20Pic.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><b>Summary</b>: Inspired by Sri Lankan folklore, award-winning author Amanda Jayatissa turns her feverish, Gothic-tinged talents to late 19th century Sri Lanka where the daughter of a traditional demon-priest—relentlessly bullied by peers and accused of witchcraft herself—tries to solve the mysterious attacks that have been terrorizing her coastal village.<p></p><p>Being the daughter of the village Capuwa, or demon-priest, Amara is used to keeping mostly to herself. Influenced by the new religious practices brought in by the British Colonizers, the villagers who once respected her father’s craft have turned on the family. Yet, they all still seem to call on him whenever supernatural disturbances arise.<br /><br />Now someone—or something —is viciously seizing upon men in the jungle. But instead of enlisting Amara’s father’s help, the villages have accused him of carrying out the attacks himself.<br /><br />As she tries to clear her father’s name, Amara finds herself haunted by dreams that eerily predict the dark forces on her island. And she can’t shake the feeling that it’s all connected to the night she was recovering from a strange illness, and woke up, scared and confused, to hear her mother’s frantic No one can find out what happened .<br /><br />Lush, otherworldly, <i>Island Witch </i>is a deliciously creepy and darkly feminist tale about the horrors of moral panic, the violent space between girlhood and adulthood, and what happens when female rage is finally unleashed. (Summary and pic from goodreads.com)<br /><br /><b>My Review</b>: This book had some really great things going for it. First of all, it takes place in Sri Lanka, which I haven't really read about before and it hasn't been on my radar. It sounds so beautiful and lush and mysterious. I've talked before about how much I love Place as a character. I think when done well it really adds to the atmosphere of the story and fleshes it out. I definitely did many google search images for "Sri Lankan" jungle (and I highly recommend you do so as well). The jungle played a large part in this story, both as a mysterious and ominous character, and also as a character that conceals and protects people as needed. </p><p>The second Place that played a character was the water and the beach. This wasn't as much of a thing as the jungle, but it definitely served the classic job of being a cleansing character, among other related things. The beaches in Sri Lanka are also gorgeous, according to the many google images. :)</p><p>I hate to admit that the story itself was interesting, but it wasn't super solid. In fact, it was a little confusing. We pretty much had the same information as the main character, Amara, and she wasn't a really reliable narrator in that she didn't really know what was going on until the very end. Because we were so in the dark the whole time, the big reveal at the end wasn't nearly as satisfying because we didn't have any narrative build-up. The story was slow-moving and although there was a lot of action going on, it all seemed in the periphery. Just like the main character, we as the readers were also confused. However, at the end, we were left behind as Amara made her own transformation and discoveries. I think it was a weird juxtaposition of being so in the story that we didn't have enough knowledge to actually see the story from a macro level, but then also kicked out of the story at the end. </p><p>I think there was a lot of promise in the actual premise of the story, it just didn't flow as smoothly and seamlessly as I had hoped it would. I love a good gothic horror story, and there were definitely elements of that here, but it just didn't make the jump to a quick and approachable story where you can easily immerse yourself in it.</p><p>Although there were some weaknesses, if you enjoy books that explore different cultural myths and retell those myths, this is a book you should check out.</p><p><b>My Rating: 3 Stars</b></p><p><i>For the sensitive reader: There is a scene of non-consensual sex, some violence, and bullying. </i></p>Ashleey Raybackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647938079152053441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-58396906105434943402024-03-13T07:00:00.000-07:002024-03-13T07:00:00.138-07:00The Phone Book: Stay Safe, Be Smart, and Make the World Better with the Powerful Device in Your Hand - Jessica Speer and Lesley Imgart (Illustrator)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn06QzX9u1yDgj4v7JDf4-ph8hml5eUS54funQ3zCY6bC9MaeX-e-SKg-Y_KYOxvuFVAvUMpnejEYt_coBfTdLWuTa69FxKYdAAMXX6sAFmDBIwltpdYfR4Phh2Cda2XesuOECVLkX-8JY_pU1NoYDq2sIRl7rPRKgKK8A0aHSoDgdwx8p7MG053NfZA/s838/Screenshot%202024-02-19%20000723.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="625" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn06QzX9u1yDgj4v7JDf4-ph8hml5eUS54funQ3zCY6bC9MaeX-e-SKg-Y_KYOxvuFVAvUMpnejEYt_coBfTdLWuTa69FxKYdAAMXX6sAFmDBIwltpdYfR4Phh2Cda2XesuOECVLkX-8JY_pU1NoYDq2sIRl7rPRKgKK8A0aHSoDgdwx8p7MG053NfZA/s320/Screenshot%202024-02-19%20000723.png" width="239" /></a></div><b>Summary:</b> The ultimate guide to your phone<div><br /></div><div>So...you got a phone! You can text your friends, play games, and take cool pictures! You have the whole world in your pocket -- power to be used as a force for good or, um, not so good.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fraught with digital drama, cyberbullying, fake stuff, tech addiction, FOMO, and more, the online world can be downright ad, awkward, and nasty. But have no fear -- <u>The Phone Book</u> is here!</div><div><br /></div><div>Packed with research-based explanations, techy tidbits, and real stories from hundreds of teens and preteens, this phone book (the fun kind) explores healthy phone habits and ways to stay safe online. And while you're on your journey, super illustrations, activities, and secret codes reveal the power of your phone and your superpowers to wield it as a force for good.</div><div><br /></div><div>Go forth, be informed, and slay the dark side of technology!<br /><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>(Summary from back of book - Image from pinterest.com - This book was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review)</i></div><div><br /><div><b>My Review: </b> Handing your child a cellphone without giving them the proper training and supervision is like handing them a fully-loaded unsafetied firearm and letting them wave it around in a crowded room. Someone is bound to get hurt. It could be your child. It could be someone else. Either way, it's a recipe for disaster. (There. I said it.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Enter <i>The Phone Book: Stay Safe, Be Smart, and Make the World Better with the Powerful Device in Your Hand</i>, a book that should be required reading for any child who is given access to a mobile device. It was written by Jessica Speer, author of <i><a href="https://www.readingforsanity.com/2021/09/bff-or-nrf-girls-guide-to-happy.html#!" target="_blank">BFF or NRF: A Girls' Guide to Happy Friendships</a></i>, a fabulous book about learning to discern friend from frienemy, and it could not be more timely or relevant to the rising generation, many of whom seem to have been given unfettered access to technology from the womb.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Phone Book</i> is an easy-to-read, user-friendly guide that helps children (and adults) learn how to use their phone in positive, healthy ways and avoid certain telephonic pitfalls. It is aesthetically engaging, well-organized, packed with powerful points, and well-researched (as is evident by the 16 page bibliography at the end). Here is a fraction of what is covered in ten short chapters:</div><div><br /></div><div><div>1 - <u>Why Tech Companies Want You Staring at Your Phone</u> </div><div>🔹How tech companies benefit from keeping you scrolling (Hint: It's advertising dollars.)</div><div>🔹The difference between mind<i>ful</i> and mind<i>less </i>screentime.</div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>2 - <u>Your Digital Footprint (AKA Your Digital Reputation)</u></div><div>🔹What you post, share, and like shapes how people (including future employers) see you.</div><div>🔹Nothing you share in private actually stays private.</div><div><br /></div><div>3 - <u>Detecting Disinformation -- Sleuthing Truth from Lies and Fake Stuff</u></div><div>🔹How to to spot disinformation, misinformation, and other fake stuff online. </div><div>🔹How to be less less susceptible to pfishing and other trickery</div><div><br /></div><div>4 - <u>Social Media - Welcome to Disneyland</u></div><div>🔹The negative (and positive) aspects of social media. </div><div>🔹The difference between social media and real life. </div><div><br /></div><div>5 - <u>FOMO, FOJI, and Text Slang Galore</u></div><div>🔹The meaning behind various slang internet terms</div><div>🔹How to avoid and alleviate FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) </div><div><br /></div><div>6 - <u>Zombie-land - Is Tech Addiction a Thing?</u></div><div>🔹Learn how to identify healthy and unhealthy tech habits</div><div>🔹How to take accountability for their own phone use.</div><div><br /></div><div>7 - <u>Creepy People - Stranger Danger Online</u></div><div>🔹Online 'friends' are not always who they seem to be.</div><div>🔹Practice scenarios that help kids identify deceptive behavior online. </div><div><u><br /></u></div><div>8 - <u>Cyberbullying and Digital Drama, Ugh</u></div><div>🔹How to be a good digital citizen online.</div><div>🔹How to combat cyberbullying with cyberkindness</div><div><br /></div><div>9 - <u>Bonus Activities! Techy Tidbits, Weird Facts, Trivia, and Definitions Revisited</u>!</div><div>🔹Complete artistic challenges, create lists, and write down favorite quotes.</div><div><br /></div><div>10 - <u>You and Your Phone - A Force for Good!</u></div><div>🔹Everyone makes mistakes. Keep trying.</div><div>🔹A comprehensive checklist of healthy habits to practice online</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><i>The Phone Book </i>also:</div><div>🔹Encourages readers to think about ways they can limit their screen time (and gives some suggestions)</div></div><div>🔹Encourages readers to use technology in ways that make the world better (with examples).</div><div>🔹Encourages readers to take the necessary steps to safeguard their own privacy and make healthy choices online (with a handy-dandy checklist).</div><div>🔹Defines certain terms, like: clickbait, troll farms, disinformation, misinformation, deepfakes pfishing, sadfishing, nomophobia, and more! Often with examples.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>One of my favorite aspects of <i>The Phone Book</i> is how appealing it is to young readers, regardless of their learning style. It has small sections of informational text written in a casual voice, interspersed with advice from other teens, helpful tips, definitions, codes, weird facts and trivia, techy tidbits, quotes, quizzes, checklists, and creative activities. There is plenty explore and it's definitely <i>not</i> boring.</div><div><br /></div></div><div>I loved that rather than advocating for an all-out ban on phone use or social media, which may not be practical for every family<i>, The Phone Book</i> focuses on making readers aware of certain dangers and then teaching them how to use their phones <i>wisely</i> and for a good cause. I also loved loved <i>LOVED</i> the 'healthy habits' checklists that came at the end of each chapter (and the comprehensive one at the end) which give quick takeaways and action items that children and parents can put into practice.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Phone Book </i>is a must-read and fantastic beginners guide for new phone users, but it's also a great read for those of us who have had our phones for a while and need a little reminding. I wish I had this book when my (now) adult daughters were younger, but starting today it is required reading in our home before any of our younger children have regular access to a cell phone or tablet. If you have any littles in your life with access to a cellphone, I highly recommend getting them this book.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><div><b>My Rating:</b> 5 stars</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the Sensitive Reader:</b> All clear.</div></div></div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-59268889916719666932024-03-11T07:00:00.000-07:002024-03-11T07:00:00.138-07:00Love & Luck - Jenna Evans Welch<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZy9iVt8bU_YIGjw5dR05JQMHwjEBlnOUYGX5IyAq5US0BeJkHnUIylhfwu6ygEMDCy5lulMAU2qMO4eqj3tHZMUatVx9I3qzcyGM-jPzbO2bCSjspjvJeiXJEdmFSv4SRpZuyoFQc3jAYzxO8KPa7aKnZgi7j9l_9olFjDoLccq9ZPbuf2yGUDNquYYM/s629/Screenshot%202023-12-19%20143859.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="415" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZy9iVt8bU_YIGjw5dR05JQMHwjEBlnOUYGX5IyAq5US0BeJkHnUIylhfwu6ygEMDCy5lulMAU2qMO4eqj3tHZMUatVx9I3qzcyGM-jPzbO2bCSjspjvJeiXJEdmFSv4SRpZuyoFQc3jAYzxO8KPa7aKnZgi7j9l_9olFjDoLccq9ZPbuf2yGUDNquYYM/w264-h400/Screenshot%202023-12-19%20143859.png" width="264" /></a></div>St. Patrick' Day 2024 is almost upon us, so I thought a little stroll through Ireland felt timely...</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Summary:</b> I wanted this to be real life, not a detour...<div><br /></div><div>Addie is visiting Ireland for her aunt's over-the-top destination wedding and hoping she can stop thinking about the one horrible thing that left her miserable and heartbroken -- and threatens her future. But her brother, Ian, isn't about to let her forget, and his constant needling leads to arguments and even a fistfight between the two once-inseparable siblings.</div><div><br /></div><div>But when Addie discovers an unusual guidebook, <i>Ireland for the Heartbroken, </i>hidden in the dusty shelves of the hotel library, she's finally able to escape her anxious mind -- and Ian's criticism.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then their travel plans change. Suddenly Addie finds herself on a whirlwind tour of the Emerald Isle, trapped in the world's smallest vehicle with Ian and his admittedly cute, Irish accented friend Rowan. As the trio journeys over breathtaking green hills, past countless castles, and through a number of fairy-tale forests, Addie hopes her guidebook will heal not only her broken heart, but also her shattered relationship with her brother. That is, if they don't get completely lost along the way. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>(Summary from book flap - Image from goodreads.com)</i></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>My Review:</b> <i>Love & Luck</i> is the second book in a trio of 'Girl Abroad' stories written by Jenna Evans Welch -- the first being <i>Love & Gelato</i> and the third, <i>Love & Olives</i>, neither of which I have read. I don't normally read the second book in a series before the first, but as I'd already seen <i>Love & Gelato</i> on Netflix (before I knew it was a book), I figured I could skip ahead and be just fine. Also I'm a sucker for just about any story set in Ireland and didn't want to wait. </div><div><br /></div><div>Addie is fresh off a break-up and somewhat stuck in Ireland for her aunt's destination wedding, when she finds a peculiar guidebook that all-but-guarantees it will heal her broken heart. She's supposed to be headed to Italy to visit a friend, but when plans change Addie makes the best of a bad situation, grabs the guide, and tags along with her brother Ian and his friend Rowan on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the Emerald Isle. Along the way, she and Rowan (who is nursing his own form of heartbreak) use the guidebook to complete a series of tasks designed to help travelers let go of the past, find their true selves, and move forward. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Love & Luck</i> has an uplifting and empowering message of strength, love, and resilience. It was nice to see a YA book that focused more on repairing a familial relationship than seeking out a romantic one. I also enjoyed the 'voice' of the guidebook Addie found, which was insightful and humorous. Above all, I loved that the overall story was -- <i>GASP!</i> -- appropriate for the target age demographic, which feels hard to find these days.</div><div><br /></div><div>While I appreciate the message of the book and I straight up <i>adore </i>the idea of traveling <i>Eat, Pray, Love-</i>style across the Irish countryside, the story and the 'adventures' contained therein didn't quite meet my expectations. The descriptions of the Irish countryside weren't as vivid as I expected and the story didn't feel as monumentally life-changing as I hoped. As far as pace is concerned, it just, sort of, moseyed and I never felt hooked.</div><div><br /></div><div>Long story short, this grand Irish adventure fell short of the mark for me. It scratched the surface of interesting and I loved the concept, but the story didn't have enough depth for me to feel invested. However, I am not the target audience. A younger reader might not be bothered by the shallow(er) storyline and would certainly benefit from the message. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>My Rating: </b>3.5 Stars</div></div><div><br /><b>For the Sensitive Reader:</b> </div><div><u>Language:</u><i> </i>A few instances of profanity. </div><div><u>Sexual Content</u>: A little hand holding (M/F). Some discussion of the dangers of sexting.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-6571485702003798082024-03-08T07:00:00.000-08:002024-03-08T07:00:00.134-08:00She Spoke Too : 14 More Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World - Kathy MacMillan & Manuela Bernardi (Illustrated by Becky Thorns)<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSItpnVNZTlH50LHnwWltxiDvOQ84wmytM5PRuE0VU2ufD3FKLL5I8PzEzA_4882DpjMhh26rM7flpHVdjZyEj-diz5EaOKjJd1CGdOexN3XTMCtS4OnnVIlflQbTnoPDEj2-FG02uak-owRzgBusRux7XZlj4kcToSmK4pSNlaLp0ZH-NUpFTfvIFJI/s2048/431495514_10232891004677833_7659215399593136381_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSItpnVNZTlH50LHnwWltxiDvOQ84wmytM5PRuE0VU2ufD3FKLL5I8PzEzA_4882DpjMhh26rM7flpHVdjZyEj-diz5EaOKjJd1CGdOexN3XTMCtS4OnnVIlflQbTnoPDEj2-FG02uak-owRzgBusRux7XZlj4kcToSmK4pSNlaLp0ZH-NUpFTfvIFJI/w400-h400/431495514_10232891004677833_7659215399593136381_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><b><i>She Spoke Too</i> is a follow-up companion to <i>She Spoke: 14 Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World</i> (<a href="https://www.readingforsanity.com/2022/12/she-spoke-14-women-who-raised-their.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>). Each book can stand alone (but you should definitely read both!)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div>Summary:</b> When the world tells you to stay quiet, do you listen, or do you speak up? In She Spoke Too: 14 More Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World, with the touch of a button readers can hear Mother Jones (Mary Harris Jones), Gerda Weissmann Klein, Patsy Takemoto Mink, Judy Heumann, LaDonna Harris, Antonia Hernández, Dr. Mae Jemison, Jacinda Ardern, Zuzana Čaputová, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Kamala Harris, Maria Ressa, Shamsia Hassani, and Greta Thunberg. Simply press the button featuring each iconic woman to hear her words, or press the button again to turn the sound off.<br />Through succinct profiles, stunning portraits by illustrator Becky Thorns, and the original voices of these international women, She Spoke Too will inspire readers of all ages to share their own truths and change the world. <div><br /></div><div><i>(Summary from Familius.com - Image is mine - This book was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review)</i><br /><br /><b>My Review: </b>Celebrate <b>International Women's Day</b> by reading <i>She Spoke Too, </i>an interactive children's book which highlights the true stories of 14 determined women who used their voices to effect change in the world. Each woman is featured in a two-page spread that includes an illustrated portrait, a mini-bio, quick facts, a compelling quote (with context), and a section called "Your Turn to Speak Up" that encourages young readers to reflect on ways they can speak up to effect change in their own lives. As an added bonus, little fingers can push a matching button on the side of the book that will play a recording of each quote, in the speaker's own voice. Here are the 14 women featured (with an interesting fact about their lives):</div><div><br /></div><div>🔹<u>Mary Harris "Mother" Jones</u> -- An elderly woman who, after a life of hardship and loss, became a fierce advocate for manual laborers. </div><div>🔹<u>Gerda Weissman Klein </u>-- A Jewish Holocaust survivor and winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom who has dedicated her life to teaching tolerance.</div><div>🔹<u>Patsy Takemoto Mink</u> - A Japanese-American woman who opened her own law firm when no one would hire a woman with children and went on to become the first person of color in Congress.</div><div>🔹<u>Judy Heumann</u> - Paralyzed by polio when she was younger, she led a 26-day peaceful protest to fight for the equal rights for people with disabilities.</div><div>🔹<u>Ladonna Harris</u> - An indigenous activist and politician who helped advocate for the needs of the tribes.</div><div>🔹<u>Antonia Hernandez</u> - A woman who immigrated from Mexico, became a teacher, then a lawyer who fought for the rights of underprivileged people.</div><div>🔹<u>Dr. Mae Jemison</u> - A doctor who became an astronaut and the first black woman to travel to space.</div><div>🔹<u>Jacinda Ardern</u> - Elected first to the New Zealand parliament at twenty-eight years old, and then as Prime Minister, she is the 2nd modern world leader to give birth while in office.</div><div>🔹<u>Zuzana Čaputová</u> - With no political experience and a desire to fight corruption, she ran for President of Slovakia and won, becoming the country's first female (and youngest ever) president.</div><div>🔹<u>Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie</u><b> </b>- An author who writes books that feature characters and stories that are often overlooked and underrepresented in literature.</div><div>🔹<u>Kamala Harris</u> - the first woman, first Black person, and first Asian person to become Vice-President of the United States.</div><div>🔹<u>Maria Ressa</u> - A Filipino journalist (and Nobel Peace Prize winner) who established an internet news site that called out corruption in government.</div><div>🔹<u>Shamsia Hassani</u> - An artist who grew up under Taliban rule and uses her skills to paint murals that highlight the repression of women in Afghanistan.</div><div>🔹<u>Greta Thunberg</u> -- a young Swedish woman with autism whose unwavering commitment to environmental causes has inspired many to sit up, pay attention, and get involved.</div><div><br /></div><div>My favorite aspect of this book was the 'Your Turn to Speak Up' sections that encouraged readers to think deeply about the real-life applications of what they have learned. For example, in the 'Your Turn to Speak Up' section physician and astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, she says, <i>"Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination." </i>and the book goes on to ask "<i>If there were no limitations, what path would you like to take in your life?" </i>Questions like these are incredibly important if we hope to raise a generation of forward-thinking leaders. </div><div><br /></div><div>From cover to cover, <i>She Spoke Too</i> is thoughtful, compelling, and well-organized. I loved that the authors' chose to feature women from a diverse array of backgrounds, occupations, ethnicities, abilities, faiths, and countries of origin, so that young readers might more readily see themselves reflected on the page. I can't think of anything better than a book that inspires and empowers children to embrace their full potential and <i>She Spoke Too </i>does just that.</div><div><p><b>My Rating: </b>5 Stars</p><p><b>For the Sensitive Reader: </b>All clear.<br /><br /></p></div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-49345028047194510312024-03-06T01:00:00.000-08:002024-03-06T01:42:57.018-08:00Shield Maiden - Sharon Emmerichs<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eMwMMnzL1A746qd9CxaM-LHMgC-o7ZBZeaf450KYYBmj92GjEow_VtV7zwkrZRmvcl2dHGCyUlH7HfRo1CmBjEi3H0LxLx0X8Gliq3E2PL0EpWH3Q6TxiKzxItJuOvm96yOdScGJcaLtEHM0SXpajxUN8e9nbyECgeAgBRLcBS6kORwfwU0SvT9fBFo/s1440/394623069_889753226086379_4247111554637328584_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eMwMMnzL1A746qd9CxaM-LHMgC-o7ZBZeaf450KYYBmj92GjEow_VtV7zwkrZRmvcl2dHGCyUlH7HfRo1CmBjEi3H0LxLx0X8Gliq3E2PL0EpWH3Q6TxiKzxItJuOvm96yOdScGJcaLtEHM0SXpajxUN8e9nbyECgeAgBRLcBS6kORwfwU0SvT9fBFo/w400-h400/394623069_889753226086379_4247111554637328584_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Summary: </b>All her life, Fryda has longed to be a shield maiden, an honor reserved for Geatland's mightiest warriors. When an accident leaves her tragically injured and unfit for the battlefield, her dreams are dashed -- or so she things. But a strange, unfathomable power is awakening within her, a power that will soon be put to the test.<div><br /></div><div>For when foreign lords and chieftains descend upon Fryda's home to celebrate her uncle King Beowulf's fifty-year reign, she realizes not all their guests come with good intentions. Treachery is afoot, and Fryda must gather her courage to fight for her people...as a queen should -- as a shield maiden would -- and as only Fryda can.</div><div><br /></div><div>But as Fryda's power grows stronger, something ancient hears its call. For buried deep in her gilded lair, a dragon awakens...and Fryda must prove herself once and for all. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>(Summary from back of book - Image is mine - This book was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review)</i><br /><div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Review: </b><i>Shield Maiden </i>is an adult fantasy novel, told from multiple perspectives - a girl, a dragon - a slave - a warrior - and more. It's not so much a retelling of Beowulf as a continuation of it, with shared characters and backstory. I'm not particularly familiar with Beowulf, but I never felt like I was missing out. Readers who are equally unfamiliar with the Beowulf storyline should be just fine.</div><div><br /></div><div>In<i> Shield Maiden </i>we meet Fryda -- a young woman who longs to be a shield maiden but is hindered by an injury that keeps her from the fight. As she grows, Fryda begins to exhibit strange powers that she can neither control nor explain. She trains in secret, so that she might be able to prove her worth, but her father pays her little attention, except to express his disappointment, preferring to focus on reforming her brother, Wiglaf, the heir to the manor. Little does he know that treachery is afoot within the castle, betrayal waits around the corner, and deep beneath the earth...a dragon stirs.</div><div><br /></div><div>This story is full of epic battles and dramatic rescues, romance and intrigue, curses, treachery and treasure. Fryda is, quite frankly, a badass heroine -- not because she's great at everything but because she is intelligent, courageous, and never stops trying. She's willing to do what must be done even when it hurts. I loved the disability representation present in her character and the Scandinavian setting of the story. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, specifically Theo, Bryce, and Hild, and loved to <i>hate</i> Wiglaf (he is truly awful). There is a bit of a romantic thread in the story that is also rather enjoyable...to a point.</div><div><br /></div><div>The only aspect of this book that I would 'leave' in a <i>take-it-or-leave-it</i> situation was the moderately graphic on-page sex scene. It's totally skippable -- just flip past 308-311 -- but it felt unnecessary and disappointing because I was hoping to pass this one along to my older teen and now don't feel like I can. Aside from that issue, which I understand is not an issue for every reader, <i>Shield Maiden </i>is a fabulous tale. I would recommend it to lovers of Nordic mythology, Beowulf, and the coming-of-age romantasy genre.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Rating: </b>4.25 Stars</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the Sensitive Reader:</b> Some sensual language in a dream. Kissing (M/F). On-page sex, ranging from brief non graphic (M/F) to moderately graphic (M/F). Some violence and gore.</div></div></div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-26875104405550009282024-03-04T06:00:00.000-08:002024-03-04T06:00:00.189-08:00Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands - Heather Fawcett (Emily Wilde's Series, #2)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzRv9zwF9aiQK47AxERgEK-UmAKdIrLStmubME2D_xpy1f06Zae0-F77JJCpvAb8DHsRtNX0R-aAwhVagWqwKM1ZI-Xnmd019YeedooHfyw4nWz2ar4zGll7pmQgyXPpQxxEkUZVIC_ViE2p4r-jKUFMz2ta6PUnyHew1LEUWw0L_jSEf76nJc45VssQ/s2475/Map%20of%20the%20Otherlands%20Pic.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1650" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzRv9zwF9aiQK47AxERgEK-UmAKdIrLStmubME2D_xpy1f06Zae0-F77JJCpvAb8DHsRtNX0R-aAwhVagWqwKM1ZI-Xnmd019YeedooHfyw4nWz2ar4zGll7pmQgyXPpQxxEkUZVIC_ViE2p4r-jKUFMz2ta6PUnyHew1LEUWw0L_jSEf76nJc45VssQ/w266-h400/Map%20of%20the%20Otherlands%20Pic.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><b>Summary</b>: When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.<br /><br />Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore—she just wrote the world’s first comprehensive of encylopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Folk on her adventures . . . and also from her fellow scholar and former rival, Wendell Bambleby.<br /> <br />Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, and in search of a door back to his realm. So despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage. Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and danger.<br /> <br />And she also has a new project to focus a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by Bambleby’s mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambley’s realm, and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.<br /> <br />But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart. (Summary and pic from goodreads.com)<br /><br /><b>My Review</b>: I was excited that this book came out so close to the time I read the first one. You can read <a href="https://www.readingforsanity.com/2024/01/emily-wildes-encyclopaedia-of-faeries.html" target="_blank">Mindy's review here </a>of <i>Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries. </i><br /><br />I really enjoyed the first book, and I'm happy to report that I enjoyed the second book just as much, if not more. First off, it's worth mentioning that this book has another beautiful cover, which is so fun. I love the artwork and I think everything about it just sets the tone--the font, the colors, etc. It's just a really beautiful, magical looking book for a beautiful, magical story.<br /><br />I think the thing I liked most about this book is that I already knew the characters and knew what to expect. Sometimes I don't remember the characters as well or it takes me a minute to get back into the story, but this time it had been recent enough that I had read it and the characters were memorable enough that it was easy to hop right back in. Also, Emily has a very interesting voice and way of telling the story. It takes some getting used to but I find it endearing and refreshing. If you've ever read the Flavia de Luce series Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Emily kind of reminds me of a grown up Flavia and I LOVE Flavia, and so already I was loving just because of that familiarity.<br /><br /><div>This is a fun story with a lot going on. It has some of the same things that I enjoyed about the last story, but it also expands upon many of those things as well. The adventures abound, and it's fun to read a book that is so cleverly written about a topic like faeries. I loved the worldbuilding that Fawcett has done, and it was enjoyable to see it expanded in this book as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm happy to report that there is another book coming! This book didn't leave on a cliff hanger per se, but a lot happened and there is a lot of ground to cover to continue this story. I'm being intentionally vague here because if you enjoyed the first book you will definitely want to read the second book and see where it goes! </div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Rating: 4 Stars</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><i>For the sensitive reader: There is some light language and some light romance. It is very clean compared to many other fantasy books, especially when faeries are involved. :)</i></div>Ashleey Raybackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647938079152053441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-63766571366800492512024-03-01T06:00:00.000-08:002024-03-01T06:00:00.136-08:00Carnegie's Maid - Marie Benedict<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIGhGHnaJykpRXZhHRIWIJYfVuB-yUdlw66jarsjnJfe66M97HsDTQVhKSUuom-Jy3dzhfx3LlO88iPR05LD1Z8ezj23ci3cG56qBKalkPV2R4JoJxh5IZIyiwdBPYkwaqmH8BK16AMDSCIiV3BkcqN0eUpymE2qjuC5PZcxfNfnhHBNmHe421m1vOFA/s500/Carnegie's%20Maid%20Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIGhGHnaJykpRXZhHRIWIJYfVuB-yUdlw66jarsjnJfe66M97HsDTQVhKSUuom-Jy3dzhfx3LlO88iPR05LD1Z8ezj23ci3cG56qBKalkPV2R4JoJxh5IZIyiwdBPYkwaqmH8BK16AMDSCIiV3BkcqN0eUpymE2qjuC5PZcxfNfnhHBNmHe421m1vOFA/s320/Carnegie's%20Maid%20Pic.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><b>Summary</b>: Clara Kelley is not who they think she is. She's not the experienced Irish maid who was hired to work in one of Pittsburgh's grandest households. She's a poor farmer's daughter with nowhere to go and nothing in her pockets. But the other woman with the same name has vanished, and pretending to be her just might get Clara some money to send back home.<br /><br />If she can keep up the ruse, that is. Serving as a lady's maid in the household of Andrew Carnegie requires skills he doesn't have, answering to an icy mistress who rules her sons and her domain with an iron fist. What Clara does have is a resolve as strong as the steel Pittsburgh is becoming famous for, coupled with an uncanny understanding of business, and Andrew begins to rely on her. But Clara can't let her guard down, not even when Andrew becomes something more than an employer. Revealing her past might ruin her future -- and her family's.<br /><br />With captivating insight and heart, <i>Carnegie's Maid</i> tells the story of one brilliant woman who may have spurred Andrew Carnegie's transformation from ruthless industrialist into the world's first true philanthropist. (Summary and pic from goodreads.com) <br /><br /><b>My Review:</b> Right off the bat I have to tell you that in order to buy into this book at all you have to suspend your disbelief for just a minute at the beginning. I'm going to reveal something here that is revealed in the first few pages of the book, so it is not a surprise for long, but consider yourself warned if you don't want to be spoiled about anything ever. Also, it's on the back of the book so...<br /><br />Anyway. I had a hard time buying that there were two women named Clara Kelley on the ship from Ireland, and that the other one had happened to die, and that the person looking for that Clara Kelley found this Clara Kelley and then...the rest of the book. It's fine, though. Although I found it kind of a lame schtick right off the bat, it became more okay as time went on. It still appeared like a thorn in the side every now and again, and also at some points things got very dicey because of it, but I guess we do a lot of suspended disbelief in reading so I'm just going to let it go this time. I mean, I can't be reading a book about fairies at the same time I'm making this criticism and not call myself on it. So here we are. Just buy into the schtick, and we'll go from there.<br /><br />One of the things I enjoy most about historical fiction books like this is that although there is a novel and story element to it that may not be true, I always enjoy learning the facts that are true. For instance, I didn't know much about Andrew Carnegie, but I feel like I know quite a bit after this. One of my favorite things about historical fiction books is also when history is put into perspective with other history going on at the same time. It's just so interesting to find out what different things were happening at the same time in history. I think it gives a lot of context, and also paints a clearer picture of what was going on during that time and how it relates to other events going on at the time as well.<br /><br />This story was interesting. There is a love story that I didn't find completely plausible, and even after the author's notes I think I can see why she took those very wide liberties, I just don't necessarily buy them. I think there were some very big jumps made with very little evidence, circumstantial or otherwise. <br /><br />I feel like there are eleventy million books with titles similar to this who also explore a historical time and place. I've really enjoyed a lot of them. If you enjoy historical fiction, especially American historical fiction, I think you'll really like this book. <br /><b><br />My Rating: 3.5 Stars</b><br /><br /><i>For the sensitive reader: There is some light language and some really sad scenes of poverty. </i><p></p>Ashleey Raybackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647938079152053441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-34250768264043739722024-02-28T07:00:00.000-08:002024-02-28T07:00:00.139-08:00Kin - Carole Boston Weatherford (Author) & Jeffrey Boston Weatherford (Artist)<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcdpW1CU3J166tXwbBp40-dzSXuCfpaCgSrTxaDhql7wPJhyphenhyphentYOOy4_fLRnK3szFWwM1w_BtmT0wGckXVeNksK9dt2qq8Vp_048_mqLR2qE-KzPNQfYBbbduFQCWT7iWhHa5d6K84MoIk0Uf5igdhYbOsdTuSluO68cj7OqXmBwYHwmRq2vLN9Rk8iAU/s900/kin-9781665913621_xlg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="596" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcdpW1CU3J166tXwbBp40-dzSXuCfpaCgSrTxaDhql7wPJhyphenhyphentYOOy4_fLRnK3szFWwM1w_BtmT0wGckXVeNksK9dt2qq8Vp_048_mqLR2qE-KzPNQfYBbbduFQCWT7iWhHa5d6K84MoIk0Uf5igdhYbOsdTuSluO68cj7OqXmBwYHwmRq2vLN9Rk8iAU/w265-h400/kin-9781665913621_xlg.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>Summary: </b>I call their names: <div><i>Abram Alice Amey Arianna Antiqua</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I call their names:<i> </i></div><div><i>Isaac Jake James Jenny Jim</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Every last one, property of the Lloyds,</div><div>the state's preeminent enslavers.</div><div>Every last one, with a mind of their own</div><div>and a story that ain't yet been told.</div><div>Till now.</div><div><br /></div><div>History is personal.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Kin </i>is personal. In searing poems and stunning art, Carole Boston Weatherford and her son, Jeffrey Boston Weatherford, tell the dedeply moving story of their family tree, a history shaped by enslavement and freedom.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>(Summary taken from book flap - Image from simonandschuster.com)</i></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">My Review:</span> </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
think I should start off this review with a short disclaimer. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Kin:
Rooted in Hope</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is a very personal collection of (mostly) free verse
poetry that centers around the author's search for her own ancestors, who were
stolen from Africa and sold into slavery. It is a Coretta Scott King Honor book
and was voted a Shelf Awareness Best Book for Middle Grade readers. As such, I want to
do it justice, and handle it with the care it deserves, but I am neither a poet
laureate nor a historian. What I <i>am</i> is worried that I don't have the right
words. Bear with me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In <i>Kin</i>, readers will follow the author as she struggles to uncover the roots of her own family tree. In the absence of sufficient personal records, Weatherford's poems conjure the voices of her ancestors and their fellow slaves, imagining what they would say had they ever been allowed to speak their truth. Historical figures like Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, Francis Scott Key also appear, as well as poems from rather surprising perspectives, like that of a plantation owner, a ship, and even a dog. I appreciated hearing from all these different points of view and feel that their inclusion enhanced and deepened my understanding of their experience.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Slavery can be a difficult subject to study and even more difficult to teach to children. We want them to be aware of this aspect of history, but not so traumatized at a young age that they shy away from digging any deeper. <i>Kin</i> does a wonderful job of conveying the cruelty and injustice of slavery in a way that still feels appropriate for young readers, allowing them to sit in the discomfort without overwhelming them with explicit detail or language. Whether students read the entire book or focus on a few poems, I think <i>Kin</i> has the potential to generate some incredible classroom discussions.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the author points out, the Wye plantation is filled with paintings that reflect the faces of previous slave owners, but that there is no similar visual record of those who were forced to work the land, care for the animals, cook the food, and clean the houses, etc. Those faces have vanished, their individual stories often untold. <i>Kin </i></span>brings those stories and faces to the forefront.<i> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of my favorite illustrations features a white child nursing at a black woman's breast, rendered as if seen from the nurse's perspective. It accompanies a poem that talks about the difficulties of dutifully caring for a child who is not her own, while </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">her</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> children are treated like livestock. As a mother, the perspective of the illustration struck me as quite profound. I was being allowed to look down, through her eyes, and think about how I might feel in a similar situation -- a reflection that resonated bone deep.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is one of my favorite poems from the book, inspired by the author's visit to the plantation where her ancestors were enslaved, followed
by a few excerpts from other poems that I found particularly powerful.</span></p>
</div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span>Fruits of Whose Labor?</span></u><span> </span></span></p></div></div></blockquote><div><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></i></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I walk through the barren orangerie,<br />I imagine it when the furnace still functioned,<br />warming the hothouse to force tropical fruit<br />to grow farther from the equator than nature<br />ever intended. Through a wall of windows,<br />the sun fills the room once lined<br />with potted lemon, lime, orange, and banana trees.<br />Unlike my ancestors, also robbed from the tropics,<br />the exotic fruits cannot endure northern winters.<br /><br />Adjacent to the expansive hothouse, a room<br />where the enslaved worker who minded<br />the furnace may have lived with his family.<br />The room was none too shabby for a slave quarter,<br />I am told, by a man who resides in a mansion.<br />No space is ample, I want to say,<br />for those being held against their will.<br />I wonder if my kin worked in the orangerie,<br />whether they ever once tasted lemon --<br />to this day, my favorite flavor.</span></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal">Another moving line from a poem reads (in part): <br /></p><blockquote>If I had a childhood, it was before<br />I could remember...</blockquote>Still another speaks (in part) of the plantation's 'property' ledgers: <br /><blockquote>In swirling penmanship: names, ages,<br />occupations, infirmities, and quality --<br />ranging from one to four with notes<br />such as blind, cripple, past work, or good for nothing --<br />listed alongside horses, cows, pigs,<br />bushels of corn, barrels of tobacco...</blockquote>And finally, the parting line of another poem about (among other things) white privilege: <br /><blockquote>Did any dare, for fairness, call?</blockquote><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Americans often ignore horrible swaths of our own history, preferring instead to focus on the
parts that make us feel keen and comfortable. </span><i>Kin: Rooted in Hope </i><span>shines
a sharp light on the seedy underbelly of our nation's history and lays it bare
for all to see. However, it <i>also</i> highlights our very human desire to know and
understand where we come from and gives a powerful voice to those whose
stories were never told. </span></span>There is simply so much history, wisdom, pain, and passion, woven into these poems. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">I highly recommend them to....well, pretty
much everyone.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span>NOTE</span></u><span>: Personally, I recommend that readers flip to the back and read
the author and illustrator's notes before you dive into the poems. I didn't
read them till the end and I think reading them first would have helped me
understand the ebb and flow of the book more quickly. I also recommend
reading this book in smaller sections, rather than all at once. It will give
you time to mull over what you've read and make the experience more
meaningful. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span>My Rating:</span></b><span> 5 Stars</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><b>For the Sensitive Reader: </b>A few poems make subtle reference to
incidence of mixed race babies born to female slaves (and the white plantation
owner)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-4084546157231181292024-02-26T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-26T06:00:00.169-08:00The President's Hat - Antoine Laurain<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LOHjG-C2rQ3Vaqjuh39LALj86N8yAb00axkMcSFlGxN2FLzOFeoJ6_7X6ksj7U5s3aDfyFsSmTd66RcXxiFVmNv5_2lzfYkgXnTaB8NIbqKFTtxd40oTFl8icE2VI3J5ndgzIwENGEy8SErbQym0I50xW3PXM3fbo9vg3fDQeA6zsQy_kC4lEOUma-4/s606/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20111836.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="392" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LOHjG-C2rQ3Vaqjuh39LALj86N8yAb00axkMcSFlGxN2FLzOFeoJ6_7X6ksj7U5s3aDfyFsSmTd66RcXxiFVmNv5_2lzfYkgXnTaB8NIbqKFTtxd40oTFl8icE2VI3J5ndgzIwENGEy8SErbQym0I50xW3PXM3fbo9vg3fDQeA6zsQy_kC4lEOUma-4/w259-h400/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20111836.png" width="259" /></a></div>Summary: </b>Dining alone in an elegant Parisian brasserie, accountant Daniel Mercier can hardly believe his eyes when President Francois Mitterand sits down to eat at the table next to him.<div><br />Daniel's thrill at being in such close proximity to the most powerful man in the land persists even after he has gone, which is when he discovers that Mitterand's black felt hat has been left behind.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a few moment's soul-searching, Daniel decides to keep the hat as a souvenir of an extraordinary evening. It's a perfect fit, and as he leaves the restaurant Daniel begins to feel somehow...different.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>(Summary from book flap - Image from goodreads.com)</i></div><div><br /><div><b>My Review:</b> Daniel Mercier is gearing up for a sumptuous solo dinner at a local brassiere when President François Mitterand sits down at a nearby table, leaving his hat behind at dinner's end. So begins the charming tale of an extraordinary hat that finds its way to the people who need it most. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>The President's Hat</i> is a deftly woven, character-driven novel set in France during the 1980s. It has the same quiet intensity as Laurain's <i>The Red Notebook</i> (<a href="https://www.readingforsanity.com/2023/09/the-red-notebook-antoine-laurain.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>), and both have a home on my 'favorites' shelf. I thought that the story was going to be about one person's experience with a rather unique hat, but it is so much more than that. It's about the wandering path of a marvelous hat, and how, whether by choice or by chance, it changes the lives of those who happen upon it. I was pleasantly surprised by this perspective and looked forward to each new transition of ownership, just to see what wonders the hat would work. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have never particularly longed to spend time in France -- probably something to do with the general consensus that my presence (as an American) would be unappreciated by the population at large -- and yet the author's use of both setting and sensory detail is so skilled that I was ready to brave French disapproval and book a ticket 18 pages in. I loved the concept of this book, the subtle ways that different perspectives intertwined, and the somewhat surprising epilogue which gives the entire story added depth. </div><div><div><br /></div></div><div>At exactly 200 pages, <i>The President's Hat</i> could easily be read in an afternoon, but it's also the kind of book you might want to savor. I didn't rush myself through it, but took my time with each perspective. Some lives move forward, others come full circle, but all are forever altered by the President's hat. </div><div><br /></div><div>As a final note, I was a bit puzzled by the last line of the book. It in no way ruined the story, but I'm not sure I caught the full meaning. Francois if you're reading this, DM me. We need to talk.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Rating</b>: 4.5 Stars</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the Sensitive Reader:</b> Some hat thievery. An affair is mentioned (M/F). No profanity or sexual situations that I can recall. </div></div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-48721713664657026202024-02-23T07:00:00.001-08:002024-02-23T07:00:00.139-08:00Pride and Protest - Nikki Payne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieW8WhVbwu8EU8zz7A-drRVs8PSR74IMMbSYeYmmVcsi1lollAPSPiD9NmejdRg3M2KREy0gH1HR9AYNNbSlCB7ZftxVNkg-hf0cOM8ssolKMyjttCuqE8BkrU3n8LEImJwpdAQZwoHc68rx7aBL9szgOJtZWbj4D8zWERLCZX7pVUE6_q6KdkvQ2v9Sg/s3300/60751788.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieW8WhVbwu8EU8zz7A-drRVs8PSR74IMMbSYeYmmVcsi1lollAPSPiD9NmejdRg3M2KREy0gH1HR9AYNNbSlCB7ZftxVNkg-hf0cOM8ssolKMyjttCuqE8BkrU3n8LEImJwpdAQZwoHc68rx7aBL9szgOJtZWbj4D8zWERLCZX7pVUE6_q6KdkvQ2v9Sg/w266-h400/60751788.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><b>Summary: </b>A woman goes head-to-head with the CEO of a corporation threatening to destroy her neighborhood in this fresh and modern retelling of <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> by debut author Nikki Payne.<div><br /></div><div>Liza B. -- the only DJ who gives a jam -- wants to take her neighborhood back from the soulless property developer dropping unaffordable condos on every street corner in DC. But her planned protest at a corporate event takes a turn after she mistakes the smoldering-hot CEO for a waiter. When they go toe-to-toe, the sparks fly -- but her impossible-to-ignore family thwarts her every move. Liza wants Dorsey Fitzgerald out of her hood, but she'll settle for getting him out of her head.</div><div><br /></div><div>At first, Dorsey writes of Liza Bennett as more interested in performing outrage than acting on it. As the adopted Filipino son of a wealthy white family, he's always felt a bit out of place and knows a fraud when he sees one. But when Liza's protest results in a viral meme, their lives are turned upside down, and Dorsey comes to realize this irresistible revolutionary is the most real woman he's every met.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>(Summary from back of book - Image from goodreads.com)</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Review:</b> <i>Pride and Protest </i>is a retelling of the Jane Austen classic <i>Pride and
Prejudice</i>, set in modern-day Washington DC. It follows the heroine Liza
Bennett, a college graduate-turned-disc-jockey who is stuck living in a tiny apartment with
her mother and sisters, as she clashes with Dorsey Fitzgerald, the CEO of
Pemberley Development who has plans to gentrify their neighborhood. The two
meet-cute in spectacular fashion and it’s all sparks and self-righteousness
from there.</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Liza and Dorsey completely misjudge each
other – because, of course, they do – and have a palpable romantic chemistry.
It was interesting to watch their interactions play out in slightly different
ways than the original. I thoroughly enjoyed the modernized setting and the many ways the author reimagined the story but still kept familiar nods to the original
intact. <i>Longbourne Garden Apartments. Netherfield Court. LaDeya Bennett. Gigi
Fitzerald</i>. That sort of thing. I also appreciated the diverse representation
and significant socially-relevant themes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Any time I read a <i>Pride and Prejudice </i>retelling,
I hope for a story that has slightly more romantic content than the original. Nothing crazy, mind you. Maybe some heated glances or making out in an quiet alcove -- that sort of thing. Unfortunately, I feel like the 'spice' pendulum swung
a bit too far with <i>Pride and Protest</i>. At least, for my delicate sensibilities. While I could and did skip the sex scenes (and there are several), it was nearly impossible to skip all the innuendo, mental fantasies, and sexually-focused descriptions strewn throughout
the book. The moments were brief, but by the time I realized what I was
reading, it was too late to unread it. </p><p class="MsoNormal">I am really <i>really </i>trying to read books with
more diverse representation, so I didn’t want to give up on the story, but
towards the end I decided to skim, which wasn’t an ideal way to experience the latter half of the book. Consequently, certain ‘key’ moments (the ones that really matter to P &
P fans) felt rushed and just didn’t hit the same. I think Payne did a great job
modernizing the content while keeping the shape of the original, but
ultimately this story wasn’t for me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>My Rating:</b> 3 stars <br /><br /><b>For the Sensitive Reader: </b><br /><u>Language:</u> Profanity off and on throughout. Innuendo, crude language, and sexually explicit dialogue strewn throughout.<br /><u>Sexual content:</u> Kissing (M/F). Several graphic sex scenes (M/F). Readers sensitive to sexual content should approach with caution.<br /></p>
MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-88417184121007887162024-02-21T00:05:00.000-08:002024-02-21T00:05:00.448-08:00BIG - Vashti Harrison<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMpHr6H41QuUTBZ7FQCw4epdBsf_XHUct8DbzXqkd-ONdEMMOW78NcmKlKlTJecU6VP1M0XdEFviLBkgtzdXYTxXh7oig-6il-UBNSIZQ_rbCytSs4zOHI-8jq7pSqqqp9YdLdHM4t1RvK9yMV4vzF6BM3WQ3Di28vVgrLxdmaP0FjZidj03NsS5rJ5U/s1162/big.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMpHr6H41QuUTBZ7FQCw4epdBsf_XHUct8DbzXqkd-ONdEMMOW78NcmKlKlTJecU6VP1M0XdEFviLBkgtzdXYTxXh7oig-6il-UBNSIZQ_rbCytSs4zOHI-8jq7pSqqqp9YdLdHM4t1RvK9yMV4vzF6BM3WQ3Di28vVgrLxdmaP0FjZidj03NsS5rJ5U/w344-h400/big.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><b>Summary: </b>Once there was a girl. She had a big laugh and a big heart and very big dreams.<div><br /></div><div>And it was good. Until it wasn't.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning and bestselling creator Vashti Harrison traces a child's journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being <i>big</i> in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>(Summary from back of book - Image from goodreads.com)</i><br /><br /></div><div><b>My Review:</b> I love Vashti Harrison. She is the bee's knees, as far as I am concerned, and so talented. I have several of her books, including <i>Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History </i>(<a href="https://www.readingforsanity.com/2021/02/little-leaders-bold-women-in-black.html" target="_blank">reviewed here</a>), <i>Little Leaders: Visionary Women Around the World </i>and <i>Little Leaders: Exceptional Men in Black History</i>, and they are some of my favorite non-fiction books for children. <i>BIG</i> is a slight departure from the style found in <i>Little Leaders</i> series, but it carries an equally powerful message. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>BIG </i>is about a young girl who, like many little ones, is praised for being '<i>so </i>big'.... until the world decides that she's '<i>too</i> big.' Being a 'big' girl is no longer seen as a good thing, cheers turn to jeers, and the unkind words of others start to sting and stick. Evocative illustrations show the girl growing larger and larger (fantastically so) as she listens to their teasing and taunts, forced into a box that she keeps outgrowing. One day, the young girl finds her way out of the box and learns to separate the harsh words of others from the truths she knows about herself. She is smart, compassionate, imaginative, creative, good, kind, gentle, sweet, funny and <i>so</i> much more than her size. </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Long story short, <i>BIG</i> is a powerfully written and beautifully rendered book that is likely to resonate with any reader of any body type who has ever been told that their body isn't the 'right' size for the world they inhabit. As such, I recommend it to everyone -- young and old -- who needs to learn to love themselves exactly as-is.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>My Rating:</b> 5 Stars</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the Sensitive Reader:</b> Some bullying.</div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-72056075993478455442024-02-19T07:00:00.000-08:002024-02-19T07:00:00.127-08:00Salting Roses - Lorelle Marinello<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6PUI06uLW6tVJkoD63tayEmRY37pIgK2ETpxyzj5TuOGcn_KOr3MlGmcSBkyLtTWW3hjb8ensE1OFFHQ7JNDdt9hLL6Q_TOHXWQE7UW3HLW6NjpGSSgdiwO6DrknxRG6FrlHzWSFsVBgmqEdCGBhyeyM4Gu0Ra1CFxuBOw03nSvyZpYcJ-gE-Fms/s1523/9780061443749.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1523" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6PUI06uLW6tVJkoD63tayEmRY37pIgK2ETpxyzj5TuOGcn_KOr3MlGmcSBkyLtTWW3hjb8ensE1OFFHQ7JNDdt9hLL6Q_TOHXWQE7UW3HLW6NjpGSSgdiwO6DrknxRG6FrlHzWSFsVBgmqEdCGBhyeyM4Gu0Ra1CFxuBOw03nSvyZpYcJ-gE-Fms/w263-h400/9780061443749.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>Summary:</b> Gracie Lynne Calloway -- once left in a coal bucket on a front porch in a small Alabama town -- discovers on her twenty-fifth birthday that she is the kidnapped daughter of a late New England financier and heiress to a fortune. When the tabloid press and her unwanted greedy relatives descend on her, she has to admit the quiet secure life she's known and loved is gone for good. As Gracie struggles to stabilize her world and come to terms with her new identity, she learns that belonging is not about where you came from but who you are. <i>(Summary from back of book - Image from www.ebay.com)</i><div><div><br /><div><div><b>My Review: </b>What do you do when the family you thought was yours -- isn't? Gracie Lynne Calloway doesn't want the attention that comes her way when it is discovered that she is the long-lost daughter of the late Conrad Hammond and sole heir to his enormous fortune. She'd much rather refuse the money and keep living in Shady Grove with the only family she has ever known, working at the market, and coaching the local kid's baseball team. The news throws the entire town into an uproar, and Gracie is plagued by the media, money-hungry family members, and the (initially) unwelcome attentions of a handsome lawyer hired by the grandmother she never knew she had. </div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><i>Salting Roses</i> is full of small town charm, quirky characters, and found-family dynamics. I loved the quaint country setting, where everyone knows everyone else's business and has zero problem meddling. I also enjoyed several of the secondary characters, especially Artie and Chantel, and loved how the title comes into play within the context of the story.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, I had a difficult time connecting with the story or staying interested as it moved (slowly) along. The plot felt a little messy and seemed to be solely about whether Gracie would take the money and/or become romantically involved with the lawyer. I wanted more meat to the story. The overall theme seems to be about letting go of past hurts, finding a home, and embracing who you are. While that message was memorable, the story itself is fairly forgettable. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Rating: </b>3 Stars</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the Sensitive Reader: </b>Profanity sprinkled throughout. Both romantic leads tend to mentally admire each others...er...phyiscal attributes. Some kissing/making out (M/F) and nudity, partially described. Intimacy is PG-13 to closed door.</div></div></div><div><br /></div></div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-8313388214646138762024-02-16T00:05:00.000-08:002024-02-16T00:05:00.127-08:00Night Wherever We Go - Tracey Rose Peyton<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6wLwV9RUNjVziTbZ03-DdMA2zwPUco1_828b_T6f_QcWBZGlwDvI84fV-dKwuo35XabDMUjgGH3pdebxEIbRnQEtGJ8MUba2TFgA1jDOavlJ19GrvLsjav-8z7_VPaQHcOMuLHLn_MODOKVekmO-MXovmADqxl8kShc3BcFvVLTdlkWAQJgVS5K4yCc/s385/Night%20Wherever%20We%20Go%20Pic.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6wLwV9RUNjVziTbZ03-DdMA2zwPUco1_828b_T6f_QcWBZGlwDvI84fV-dKwuo35XabDMUjgGH3pdebxEIbRnQEtGJ8MUba2TFgA1jDOavlJ19GrvLsjav-8z7_VPaQHcOMuLHLn_MODOKVekmO-MXovmADqxl8kShc3BcFvVLTdlkWAQJgVS5K4yCc/s320/Night%20Wherever%20We%20Go%20Pic.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><b>Summary</b>: On a struggling Texas plantation, six enslaved women slip from their sleeping quarters and gather in the woods under the cover of night. The Lucys—as they call the plantation owners, after Lucifer himself—have decided to turn around the farm’s bleak financial prospects by making the women bear children. They have hired a “stockman” to impregnate them. But the women are determined to protect themselves.<br /><br />Now each of the six faces a choice. Nan, the doctoring woman, has brought a sack of cotton root clippings that can stave off children when chewed daily. If they all take part, the Lucys may give up and send the stockman away. But a pregnancy for any of them will only encourage the Lucys further. And should their plan be discovered, the consequences will be severe.<br /><br />Visceral and arresting, <i>Night Wherever We Go</i> illuminates each woman’s individual trials and desires while painting a subversive portrait of collective defiance. Unflinching in her portrayal of America’s gravest injustices, while also deeply attentive to the transcendence, love, and solidarity of women whose interior lives have been underexplored, Tracey Rose Peyton creates a story of unforgettable power. (Summary and pic from goodreads.com)<br /><br /><b>My Review</b>: In honor of Black History Month in February, I have been trying to read books written by Black authors, and have done this learn more about Black history and Black stories.<br /><br />This story was gut-wrenching. I have read many stories of enslaved people over the years, and I think that two things are happening 1) I'm becoming more sensitive to the issues that these people faced. It's terrible, it's unforgivable, it's extremely difficult to even imagine. 2) The literature surrounding the topic of enslaved people has become more pervasive, accessible, and honest. Yes, there have always been people telling the truth and educating us, but now that the conversation has been expanded and progressed, it has also allowed the literature to expand and explore other stories that may not have surfaced before.<br /><br />There were things I really appreciated about this book. It definitely had an atmosphere--the desperation of the Lucys was palpable, and that made the enslaved women's situation feel more precarious. In addition, I appreciated the use of "we" when the women were discussed together. I thought that was really interesting, and created a sense of community not only among the women who were enslaved, but the people in their orbits as well. It created a strong sense of community between the enslaved people from different plantations, but also created a clearer delineation between the owners and the people who were enslaved. It was an interesting dichotomy and further highlighted the tragedy and complications of it all.<br /><br />There are a few things I wanted from this book that I didn't get. First of all, I would have liked to have the women more fleshed out. Some of them I barely even knew their names, and I would have been interested in their stories. I think there was a missed opportunity there. Also, the story was interesting overall but I wanted more from it. I wanted more to happen so that I knew why the story went where it did. Also, I think there was just more story to tell. The book wasn't very long so I think that it could have had more information overall in it.<br /><br />If you are wanting to read more stories of Black History from Black voices, or just want to learn more, this is a great book. It is well-written and beautiful.<br /><br /><b>My Rating: 3 Stars</b><br /><br /><i>For the sensitive reader: This book is difficult in that there is rape, violence, and enslaved people. </i>Ashleey Raybackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647938079152053441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-79771726085532813092024-02-14T00:05:00.000-08:002024-02-14T00:09:24.815-08:00The Skin I'm In - Sharon G. Flake <p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGfaG3qMQLClJS-66whyOVn2mV3ecJzWhTWfCgcTvlSqyaAINfBjShONyMnZnbgeE0zFvAAD2oNbMm_A8dc_XuaZGp91Nru-YcRQqh6hGkBzAmm4gXQL35-bvLFRFlR9QFLEbn1oqXnNyh30saB3LvFCKr8O4HKv37gR97Lo_WSzDnbvcanCb4hDl1lg/s534/Screenshot%202024-01-17%20195020.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="357" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGfaG3qMQLClJS-66whyOVn2mV3ecJzWhTWfCgcTvlSqyaAINfBjShONyMnZnbgeE0zFvAAD2oNbMm_A8dc_XuaZGp91Nru-YcRQqh6hGkBzAmm4gXQL35-bvLFRFlR9QFLEbn1oqXnNyh30saB3LvFCKr8O4HKv37gR97Lo_WSzDnbvcanCb4hDl1lg/w268-h400/Screenshot%202024-01-17%20195020.png" width="268" /></a></b></div><b><div><b>This might seem like an odd choice for Valentine's Day, but given that it's about a young girl learning to LOVE the skin she is in, I think it's rather fitting.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div>Summary:</b> Maleeka suffers every day from the taunts of other kids in her class. If they're not getting at her about her homemade clothes or her good grades, it's about her dark skin.<p></p><p>When a new teacher, whose face is blotched with a startling white patch, shows up at their school, Maleeka can see there is bound to be trouble for her, too. But the new teacher's attitude surprises Maleeka. Miss Saunders loves the skin she's in. Can Meleeka learn to do the same?</p><p><i>(Summary from back of book - Image from goodreads.com)</i></p><p><b>My Review:</b> Maleeka is always getting picked on at school, for everything from her less-than-high-quality homemade clothes to the deep hue of her blue-black skin. Even the other Black kids say she is too dark. Her 'friend' Charlese lends her more attractive clothes in exchange for finished homework, but even that doesn't spare her from getting teased. When the new middle school teacher Miss Saunders, with her calm, confident manner, arrives Maleeka just knows there is going to be trouble. How Miss Saunders can be<i> so</i> confident with that bright white mark splashed across her face is a mystery to Maleeka? And what will she do when she learns of Char's horrible plan to 'prank' Miss Saunders?</p><p><i>The Skin I'm In </i>is told in the stunning, captivating voice of a young woman struggling to know herself and find contentment in her own (beautiful, dark) skin. She is a strong, imperfect character who is still trying to figure things out, often swayed by her frienemies, and -- like most people -- doesn't always do the right thing. In this way, she felt authentic.</p><p>Maleeka's story really drives home the importance of compassionate teachers who challenge, encourage, and inspire their students. It also shows both toxic and healthy relationships, effectively modeling who to be, who <i>not</i> to be, and what it means to be the person in between who's pulled in both directions. It also broaches the subject of colorism, which may occur in communities of color, wherein people with a lighter skin tone are considered more attractive and desirable than those with a darker skin tone. </p><p>This book doesn't really 'do' sunshine and rainbows, so there are some unpleasant elements (like self-esteem issues, poverty, grief, bullying, vandalism, etc.) that readers will have to contend with, but all contribute to the greater lesson. Several characters really channel the 'Mean Girls' spirit, which would be a good springboard for discussions on qualities of a true friend. It also shows how difficult it can be to extract oneself from a toxic relationship.</p><p>Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book (which I think showcase the message of the book rather well): </p><p></p><blockquote><p><i>'I deserve better than for people to treat me any old way they want. But saying that is one thing, making it happen is something else."</i></p><p><i>"...you got to see yourself with your own eyes. That's the only way you gonna know who you really are." </i></p><p><i> "Liking myself didn't come overnight,...I took a lot of wrong turns to find out who I really was. You will too.... It takes a long time to accept yourself for who you are. To see the poetry in your walk,...To look in the mirror and like what you see, even when it doesn't look like anybody else's idea of beauty."</i></p></blockquote><p></p><p>Honestly, I can't believe I waited so long to read <i>The Skin I'm In</i>. I've had it forever, but it got lost in the stacks, I guess. Better late than never! It's a quick read at 171 pages, and easily read in a day (or even an afternoon). The story is meant for readers age 10-13, but is sure to appeal to anyone who has ever felt different or somehow 'less than' because they didn't 'fit' in the way someone else thought they should. It has a meaningful message for all, but it might resonate a bit more strongly within the BIPOC community, given the prejudice they often face. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a little help learning to love the skin they are in.</p><p><b>My Rating: </b>5 Stars</p><p><b>For the Sensitive Reader:</b> Several children smoke cigarettes. Bullying and racism (portrayed negatively). Grief over loss of a family member. MC is attacked by two boys who try to kiss her (non-graphic but she is shaken up)</p>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-83677476343466883232024-02-12T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-12T06:00:00.131-08:00Don't Touch My Hair - Sharee Miller<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhESAoC6DNMO2G2z8KWA4b7YIE2I0cEH3Qsjz0Kp7fGaSvR4Y2bSYaI_zhiTsti4rSxV5BzFSgD3hO_yIQJOGMiF0Bt3T-8RjgA06n77kcctoz1FAzCcEp1NJU4TtWScOG73xxC7LJEUWhUv5qIA3mufhF-C6IJKeXB3_jvER9lvpOZjrKpyzM1Cx7Sk/s750/Don't%20Touch%20My%20Hair%20Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="586" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhESAoC6DNMO2G2z8KWA4b7YIE2I0cEH3Qsjz0Kp7fGaSvR4Y2bSYaI_zhiTsti4rSxV5BzFSgD3hO_yIQJOGMiF0Bt3T-8RjgA06n77kcctoz1FAzCcEp1NJU4TtWScOG73xxC7LJEUWhUv5qIA3mufhF-C6IJKeXB3_jvER9lvpOZjrKpyzM1Cx7Sk/s320/Don't%20Touch%20My%20Hair%20Pic.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><b>Summary</b>: An entertaining picture book that teaches the importance of asking for permission first as a young girl attempts to escape the curious hands that want to touch her hair.<p></p><p>It seems that wherever Aria goes, someone wants to touch her hair. In the street, strangers reach for her fluffy curls; and even under the sea, in the jungle, and in space, she’s chased by a mermaid, monkeys, and poked by aliens…until, finally, Aria has had enough!<br /><br />Author-illustrator Sharee Miller takes the tradition of appreciation of black hair to a new, fresh, level as she doesn’t seek to convince or remind young readers that their curls are beautiful–she simply acknowledges black beauty while telling a fun, imaginative story. (Summary and pic from goodreads.com)<br /><br /><b>My Review</b>: In recognition of Black History Month, I've been trying to read books from Black authors about a variety of Black experiences. I felt like I should also include my children in this as well, and so I was excited to see this book available at my library. My 3rd grade daughter had actually heard it in class already, and she was excited to see it again.</p><p>The first thing about this book is that the pictures are really bright and beautiful. There were lots of fun environments in the book, too. My daughter loved the mermaids and my sons loved the dragons and the castles. I mean, who doesn't love both of those things? Also, the girl's hair, which we learned from the afterword from the author, was drawn in colored pencil, which was a different medium than the rest of the drawings. It made her hair look beautiful, and my daughter especially loved how the focus was on her hair and how pretty it looked. </p><p>Although this book definitely celebrates Black hair and Black beauty, it was a really good teaching moment for my kids in learning boundaries with both asking to touch and being okay saying no when other people as to touch them or their things. It's important to teach consent early on and often. After we read the book we had a short and sweet discussion about this again, and I felt like it provided a great segue for that.</p><p>Many children's picture books get wordy and extensive and lose the youngest kids in the audience. Not this book. It was short, it had beautiful pictures, and it got the point across easily and obviously without being too heavy-handed. </p><p><b>My Rating: 4 Stars</b></p><p><i>For the sensitive reader: This book is clean. </i></p>Ashleey Raybackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647938079152053441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-25531547903682447372024-02-09T00:30:00.000-08:002024-02-12T01:03:02.600-08:00Two New Years - Richard Ho and Lynn Scurfield (Illustrator)<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hxB-PkUI6P1XwoysKCllDajHvEgOPIv4myfdb5kEEMoVBe5TKlF0kZoSfyZFQ2iZyxcttQQTnDcAbnriFw1LqD7WaZ8B25fyz8bXLNxDpT57iN9ZXTSJbcsazI5O9LG5qVJUU09KsDpBdoeM2OTqmyvXBpyYhvWL7U5FciAl82XyYzxTsNJLsQF4YfA/s1440/426723953_960654742329560_2216497415530297066_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hxB-PkUI6P1XwoysKCllDajHvEgOPIv4myfdb5kEEMoVBe5TKlF0kZoSfyZFQ2iZyxcttQQTnDcAbnriFw1LqD7WaZ8B25fyz8bXLNxDpT57iN9ZXTSJbcsazI5O9LG5qVJUU09KsDpBdoeM2OTqmyvXBpyYhvWL7U5FciAl82XyYzxTsNJLsQF4YfA/w400-h400/426723953_960654742329560_2216497415530297066_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In 2024, the LUNAR NEW YEAR begins February 10th. We thought it only fitting that we feature this book, which touches on the holiday as it is celebrated by a beautifully blended family.</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Summary: </b><i>One family. Two New Years.</i><div><br /></div><div>For this multicultural family, inspired by the author's own, two New Years mean twice as much to celebrate! In the fall, Rosh Hashanah offers an opportunity to dip apples in honey, cast away mistakes, and lift voices in song at the synagogue. In the spring, Lunar New Year brings a chance to eat dumplings, watch dragon dances, and release glowing lanterns that light up the sky.</div><div><br /></div><div>With joyful prose and luminous illustrations, Richard Ho and Lynn Scurfield invite readers of all background to experience the beauty of two New Year traditions, paying homage to the practices that make each unique while illuminating the values of abundance, family, and hope that they share.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>(Summary from book flap - Image is mine)</i></div><div><br /><div><b>My Review: </b>In <i>Two New Years</i>, a young family of Asian descent and Jewish faith honors the beliefs and traditions of both cultures in their home, including the Jewish New Year (<i>Rosh Hashanah) </i>and Lunar New Year. This is achieved through text and illustrations that reflect the differences and similarities between the two holidays, including certain customs, beliefs, meals, and others ways they choose to celebrate. There is also a visual glossary at the end which goes more in depth on certain subjects.</div><div><br /></div><div>From a design standpoint, I enjoyed the vivid watercolor illustrations, which subtly and seamlessly intertwine Jewish and Chinese designs, symbolizing the blending of cultural traditions, and especially loved the illustrations that highlighted the importance of family, togetherness, and new beginnings in <i>both </i>cultures. I also appreciated the visual juxtaposition of the two holidays, which allows young readers to compare the two celebrations side-by-side. For example, the illustration on one page shows a meal served at Rosh Hashanah (which may include fish, pomegranates, challah, apples dipped in honey, etc.) and the opposite page shows a meal served during the Lunar New Year (fish, sweet rice balls, long noodles, dumplings), etc.) Readers can also visit the previously-mentioned visual glossary to learn even more about the foods and what they symbolize. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>Young readers who are unfamiliar with these two cultures are sure to be fascinated with the ways in which other cultures celebrate the New Year, while readers who have lived one or both of these experiences will be delighted to see their own cultural traditions reflected on the page. As an adult, my favorite part of the book was the visual glossary, which dove a little deeper into the specific beliefs and traditions of both Jewish and Chinese people in regards to the New Year. </div><div><br /></div></div><div><div>According to the author's note, <i>Two New Years </i>was inspired by Richard Ho's own life experiences as a Jewish Chinese-American. As a convert to the Jewish faith in his adult life, Ho made a conscious choice to embrace both Jewish and Chinese cultural traditions and to raise his children to celebrate and honor both aspects of their heritage. In practice, he found that they aligned more than expected. <i>Two New Years </i>is a beautiful representation of his efforts, and wonderful way for readers, young and old, to learn about these two <i>seemingly</i> disparate groups and how they celebrate the New Year. </div><div><br /></div></div><div><b>My Rating: </b>4.25 Stars</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the Sensitive Reader:</b> All clear.</div></div></div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-73745041760639347812024-02-07T07:00:00.002-08:002024-02-12T00:54:55.037-08:00Instructions for Dancing - Nicola Yoon<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaU-vc73IYoxOnnfjLEZZQdOw4s0Xh6e_QjeUvtT99RqhkA5m_kyKYHukMRjCx68i2_7iBqFuZtzxDSgL3GJl5OVAlIIwU8VfFpV6kK4IuRuP-6QnqLPyeHOqMvlJi6ZRZj5tk8pUYwayw822j45qKggjFjq0bIAYsmQaAGcKzdIQLfIttPlXmRSXSIs/s1440/426149576_959656355762732_227769603399882768_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaU-vc73IYoxOnnfjLEZZQdOw4s0Xh6e_QjeUvtT99RqhkA5m_kyKYHukMRjCx68i2_7iBqFuZtzxDSgL3GJl5OVAlIIwU8VfFpV6kK4IuRuP-6QnqLPyeHOqMvlJi6ZRZj5tk8pUYwayw822j45qKggjFjq0bIAYsmQaAGcKzdIQLfIttPlXmRSXSIs/w400-h400/426149576_959656355762732_227769603399882768_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Summary:</b> Evie Thomas doesn't believe in love anymore. Especially after the strangest thing occurs one otherwise ordinary afternoon: She witnesses a couple kiss and is overcome with a vision of how their romance began...and how it will end. After all, even the greatest love stories end with a broken heart, eventually.<div><br /></div><div>As Evie tries to understand why this is happening, she finds herself at La Brea Dance studio, learning to waltz, fox-trot, and tango with a boy named X. X is all that Evie is not: adventurous, passionate, daring. His philosophy is to say yes to everything -- including entering a ballroom dance competition with a girl he's only just met.</div><div><br /></div><div>Falling for X is definitely not what Evie had in mind. if her visions of heartbreak have taught her anything, it's that no one escapes love unscathed. But as she and X dance around and toward each other, Evie is forced to question all she thought she knew about life and love. In the end, is love worth the risk? </div><div><br /></div><div><i>(Summary from book flap - Image is mine)</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Review: </b><i>Love never lasts -- </i>That is what Evie Thomas believes after seeing something that shatters her soul, so she's donating every last one of her favorite romance novels to a local LFL and giving up on love. Then Evie starts having strange visions of other people's relationships -- from adorable meet-cute to break-up and all the highlights in between. Romance is <i>not</i> real, so what is the point of these bizarre 'sneak-peeks?' And yet, when Evie meets a boy named X at her local dance studio there is something about his 'can-do' approach to life that makes her want to lean in, but how can Evie embrace new beginnings when she sees endings everywhere she looks?</div><div><br /></div><div><div>My favorite part of <i>Instructions for Dancing</i> was <i>how</i> the author, Nicola Yoon, chose to tell the story. Some of the chapters were written in the standard style that we are used to in most books (regular sentences, paragraphs, etc.), while other chapters were entirely composed of text message conversations, relationship 'vignettes,' lists of favorite romantic genres, song lyrics, etc. I thought this was a fun way to shake things up a bit and tell the story in a way that deviates from the norm. As an aside, I also loved that X is a supportive, non-toxic love interest. YA literature needs more men like him.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The one thing that bothered me about the story was that Evie didn't seem particularly concerned about <i>how </i>or <i>why</i> she started to have these bizarre visions. She just accepted them as this odd thing that was happening, but didn't really try to figure it out, which felt disingenuous. I mean, if I started having visions of the past, present, and future, I'd be going to the doctor and having my head examined! Evie's just like, maybe I should take dance lessons? I liked the vision element and all it brought to the story, but I just thought it was odd that she wasn't freaking out more.</div><div><br /></div><div>When readers open a book, they always bring something to the table that is outside of the author's control. They come with moods, expectations, and triggers that can affect their enjoyment of the book. Right now, I'm having a hard time connecting with books. Life is super hectic and I'm still suffering from a substantial book hangover (Thanks <i>Lessons in Chemistry!</i>). As such, I didn't feel fully invested while I was reading this book. It could be the writing or it could be me. Unfortunately, there is no way for me to tell. Let's just blame me to be on the safe side.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, I thought <i>Instructions for Dancing</i> was an okay one-time read with a moving, albeit bittersweet, ending. I appreciated the concept, format, diverse characters, and overall message, but I just didn't love this book enough to warrant passing it along to my daughters or recommending it to younger teens. However, I do think that many readers will enjoy the story and certain readers may relate to some of the situations that Evie faces in the story, specifically those related to divorce and infidelity.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Rating:</b> 3.75 Stars</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the Sensitive Reader: </b></div><div><u>Language:</u> Twenty to thirty instances of profanity, including several religious exclamations, some innuendo and brief, non-graphic discussion of sexual matters. </div><div><u>Sexual Content</u>: Some kissing (M/F and F/F, non-graphic), making out (M/F, non-graphic), butt-grabbing (M/F, inferred), and implied intimacy (M/F)</div><div><u>Representation</u>: M/F and F/F romantic relationships represented, with M/F as the focal relationship. M/M mentioned in passing. </div><div><u>Other</u>: Teen drinking, Death of a loved one, Divorce, Infidelity</div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-16319860362101777372024-02-05T00:05:00.000-08:002024-02-05T01:07:52.487-08:00Within These Wicked Walls - Lauren Blackwood<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUOuRPEPKga9WqOnIj0WeY0-pLpRr5bqYqa4VcqA8LYsz8P9qAVIKhRhhSUZaUnOQGGIZmnj-yl2P1jfAjxAKVpXQgubWSf5zd82q46qd_yfkwYTP6mC7U00PJi0NjwXXtZf65hcG5NdF5CMhvrhoNAoBYNDokPI4y-h4RFsale0nFK7WUraAy0WbI-s/s512/Within%20These%20Wicked%20Walls%20Pic.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="332" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUOuRPEPKga9WqOnIj0WeY0-pLpRr5bqYqa4VcqA8LYsz8P9qAVIKhRhhSUZaUnOQGGIZmnj-yl2P1jfAjxAKVpXQgubWSf5zd82q46qd_yfkwYTP6mC7U00PJi0NjwXXtZf65hcG5NdF5CMhvrhoNAoBYNDokPI4y-h4RFsale0nFK7WUraAy0WbI-s/s320/Within%20These%20Wicked%20Walls%20Pic.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><b>Summary</b>: What the heart desires, the house destroys...Andromeda is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, Andromeda quickly realizes this is a job like no other, with horrifying manifestations at every turn, and that Magnus is hiding far more than she has been trained for. Death is the most likely outcome if she stays, but leaving Magnus to live out his curse alone isn’t an option. Evil may roam the castle’s halls, but so does a burning desire.<br /><br />Kiersten White meets Tomi Adeyemi in this Ethiopian-inspired debut fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre. (Summary and pic from goodreads.com)<br /><br /><b>My Review</b>: I’m of two minds about this book. On the one hand, it’s got a totally cool and creepy haunted house, which is always a good way to endear a book to me. If I pick up a book and have been promised spooky, it had better deliver. This book definitely delivered on that front. The house was super creepy, and it had some really cool and interesting elements to it that I thought were fresh ideas and definitely perpetuated the creepy house and horror feel of the story. All good things, of course. I loved where it took place, too. It had an Ethiopian backdrop, with mixed cultures living side by side. The haunted house itself seemed to be English or at least English-inspired, and the person who lived there English as well. I wish I had had more background on all of this because that would have made the story even more interesting.<br /><br />And here comes my first complaint—the mentor of the main character was actually a lot more interesting than the protagonist herself. He had what appeared to be a fascinating backstory, and what we did learn of him throughout the story, I kind of wish I were reading about him. It’s like the author had a story that included characters, and she decided to choose a character, but chose the wrong one. Andromeda just wasn’t as interesting as Jember, Andromeda’s mentor. Andromeda didn’t have as interesting of a backstory, nor was she as interesting as a character. If nothing else, I think that Blackwood should write a really cool companion novel that is a prequel to this story. Jember was a deeper, richer, character, and had a lot more to share than we were able to see. <br /><br />Having this story about exorcists was a new twist on the classic genre of ghost fighters, vampire hunters, mystical creature tracker-downers, etc. You get my drift. Demons are something I’ve read about, and of course there are those kinds of ghost hunters who fight off demons, but having exorcists take on the demon was a fresh take. Also, I thought the way to get rid of the demons was cool. I won’t give away too much, but etching runes onto discs was interesting and something different than I feel like I’ve read about before. I really thought what Blackwood did with the magical exorcism was cool.<br /><br />My main problem with this book, and it was a big one, is that I just couldn’t stand the love interest. He is a whiny, wimpy, weird, and uninteresting love interest. Also, the love story was completely unbelievable. Here there is a pompous dude, who has a demon inside him, BTW, who kills people he loves, and yet everyone around him is kind of flippant towards him about it. Why did Andromeda fall for this person? I don’t know. They didn’t have anything in common, they didn’t seem to have any really interesting conversations other than just some flirtations here and there because he was just flirty with everybody since he's locked in a house by himself, and it all felt very juvenile and bratty to me. Here’s a rich boy who has a house and he basically gets what he wants so he ends up with a poor and somewhat tortured person who comes from an abusive background and so maybe she doesn’t care about such things? I dunno. I just found it really unbelievable. They didn’t seem to have any chemistry, and all their professions of undying love just seemed juvenile and ridiculous. Also, I hated what it led to happening in the end. Purely hated it. In fact, I think it ruined the whole thing. I’m being vague here, but he wasn’t worth the sacrifice. I was just always wondering if I had missed something between the two characters that would have led to them getting together other than they were the only seemingly young people in a house full of old people, some of which were dead. Also, there’s a scorned fiancée who of course was easily dismissed. I don’t know. It just seemed so unbelievable and forced, and in fact it really made me question whether I should give this book 2.5 stars instead of three. <br /><br />This book was meant to be a retelling of Jane Eyre. I’m not sure if it was? It didn’t seem so to me, except for, now looking back, maybe that’s why the British-feeling castle and people were plopped in the middle of Ethiopia? I don’t know. I wasn’t judging the story by whether it was Jane Eyre or not, but looking back, like I said, I don’t know. That doesn’t really factor into my rating. <br /><br />If you like good, creepy stories with cool haunted houses, and are less jaded than me in the love interest department, you should check out this book. <br /><br /><b>My Rating: 3 Stars </b><br /><br /><i>For the sensitive reader: There are some serious issues of abuse that I think could be triggering, especially people who are triggered by parental abuse.</i><p></p>Ashleey Raybackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647938079152053441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-12133861972428727212024-02-02T00:15:00.000-08:002024-02-02T00:39:43.767-08:00Coretta's Journey: The Life and Times of Coretta Scott King - Alice Faye Duncan and R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator)<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTMPaOKF4wSeqcgu0tB5FGaMn5dBIqZc7EP5wEBE37CtNOEGAHFBnGPxnsoyg5kXswuofDdeR-z8_jLIOrfL3BXQLGvc1FsdcwyrzOb8WrPCKf0LmPozQYFdTQE6GcDp_RAeCtiPFBemxOVHJ2o6naWKIbs981-LcVeyzaKTnxiG9NB8bzpAh9zrvUz0/s430/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20232211.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="429" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTMPaOKF4wSeqcgu0tB5FGaMn5dBIqZc7EP5wEBE37CtNOEGAHFBnGPxnsoyg5kXswuofDdeR-z8_jLIOrfL3BXQLGvc1FsdcwyrzOb8WrPCKf0LmPozQYFdTQE6GcDp_RAeCtiPFBemxOVHJ2o6naWKIbs981-LcVeyzaKTnxiG9NB8bzpAh9zrvUz0/s320/Screenshot%202024-01-11%20232211.png" width="319" /></a></div>Summary:</b> Most people known Coretta Scott King as the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,<div>the civil rights leader. Coretta's march on freedom's road made her a great leader too. Alice Faye Duncan blends poetry and prose to follow Coretta from a challenging childhood in segregated Alabama, to music training in Boston, to her brave years as a wife, mother, and activist fighting for equal rights and her husband's legacy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Coretta's journey was dangerous, daring, and determined. As captured in R. Gregory Christie's powerful illustrations, her path was also a cosmic and colorful one, inspired by love and justice.</div><div><br /></div><div>Follow Coretta's courageous journey as she emerges from the shadows and steps into the light.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Summary from book flap - Image from target.com - This book was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Review: </b>Most people know the story of MLK Jr. but do you know the story of his wife, Coretta Scott King? </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Did you know that she loved music and was an amazing singer?</li><li>Did you know that before she was grown both her family home and family business were intentionally destroyed by white men?</li><li>Did you know that she didn't <i>want </i>to go on a date with a certain young Baptist preacher?</li><li>Did you know that her conversation with JFK helped get her husband released from prison? </li><li>Did you know that <i>she</i> is the primary reason that Martin Luther King Jr. is a federal holiday?</li></ul><div>Sadly, I didn't know any of those things before I read this book. Thankfully, now I do.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Coretta's Journey: The Life and Times of Coretta Scott King</i> is a collection of poetry written by Alice Fay Duncan that tells Coretta's story. Using several different styles of poetry, Duncan walks the reader through the various stages of her life, focusing on her emotions, goals, struggles, and passions, and of course her life before, during, and after her marriage to Martin Luther King, Jr.</div><div><br /></div><div>This book is recommended for ages 7-10, but it can be enjoyed and appreciated by readers far older than that. Case and point: Me. I'm ashamed to admit that, prior to reading this book, most of what I knew about Coretta Scott King was directly related to her husband, Martin Luther King Jr. I loved getting to know the Coretta that existed before she met her husband. This book paints an honest picture of her personality (she's a bit of a spitfire), her childhood, where she felt the sting of racial injustice; her adolescence, where she excelled in her education and set goals for her future; and beyond. I was equally interested to learn about Coretta's courtship, marriage, and life with Martin Luther King, Jr. and appreciated her perspective and passions (which sometimes differed from Martin's). There was just so much that I didn't know about Coretta Scott King prior to reading this book, and I feel more informed and somehow closer to her having read it.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Coretta's Journey</i> filled me with newfound admiration for Coretta Scott King and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about such a marvelous woman.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Rating: </b>4.25 Stars</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the Sensitive Reader:</b> All clear.</div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-62186905809787743252024-01-31T07:00:00.000-08:002024-02-12T00:57:06.379-08:00Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries - Heather Fawcett<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlZROrcQUEhjj0yaoAkV_2mWjTvm4HKsRdPNJtP66F7eRYiY_-QCmSZ6EO0drjwfSi4q6bH-wu29tDHjhxVLsx1VNTdOeL_zsDpUfFMlRvVIPnhzFofynpudRwGQS9EGe_3k2Xc6ZZmR8El-btoTSB8THcbGmotwG0Sy3dAmKHMLPtM5IFJfser7NYss/s843/4yvzee693i4pqju58kt82dymy74j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlZROrcQUEhjj0yaoAkV_2mWjTvm4HKsRdPNJtP66F7eRYiY_-QCmSZ6EO0drjwfSi4q6bH-wu29tDHjhxVLsx1VNTdOeL_zsDpUfFMlRvVIPnhzFofynpudRwGQS9EGe_3k2Xc6ZZmR8El-btoTSB8THcbGmotwG0Sy3dAmKHMLPtM5IFJfser7NYss/w400-h400/4yvzee693i4pqju58kt82dymy74j.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Summary:</b> A curmudgeonly professor journey to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark magic, friendship, and love, in this heartwarming and enchanting fantasy.<div><br /><b></b><div>Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is a genius scholar who is writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. And Emily lives for her work: She emphatically prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.</div><div><br />So when she arrives in a hardscrabble village in the far north, Emily wishes only to focus on her studies. She certainly doesn't have time for another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, muddle Emily's research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.</div><div><br /></div><div>But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the the secrets of the Hidden Ones -- the most elusive of all faeries -- lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she must unlock the greatest mystery of all -- her own heart. <i>(Summary from back of book - Image is mine)</i></div><div><br /><div><b>My Review: </b>Emily Wilde has traveled to the furthest reaches of Ljosland to study the often evasive fae folk who live there, document her findings, and finally win the respect of her male colleagues back in London. She expects to spend a great deal of time traipsing through the hills and vales in search of her quarry, but she does not expect is having to win the support of the local villagers, nor does she anticipate the untimely arrival of her professional rival, dryadologist Wendell Bambleby. As village children begin to disappear in a land where the human world intertwines with the mysterious faerie realms, Emily must tread carefully with the fae or risk her very life and the lives of the townspeople she has come to admire. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Emily's Wilde's Encylopaedia of Faeries </i>is a light-hearted historical fantasy with a dash of humor, a wild, beautiful setting, and sweet slow-burn romance. I loved the format of this book, which is a bit of a departure from your standard text block. It reads like a field journal, with a first-person narrative, dated entries, and footnotes. Emily's perspective comprises <i>most </i>of the book and I could hear her voice quite clearly in my head. I loved that her character was determined to continue her research/field work at a time when a woman doing so would have been considered an oddity, and adored the feminist threads that ran throughout the book. I <u>especially</u> appreciated that the story was relatively clean (see sensitive reader section for specific details), which allows me to recommend it more readily to a broader audience.</div><div><br /></div><div>Despite the many things that I enjoyed about this book, there were a few aspects that fell flat for me. While Emily is ambitions, determined and focused on her goals, Wendell Bambleby comes across as foppish, lazy, and a bit ridiculous. With the least attractive name known to man or fae, he makes for a rather lackluster romantic lead, and although he has a few endearing moments and arcs a bit toward the end, I'm not sure if it was enough to redeem him in my eyes. Not yet, anyway. That having been said, I might like the audiobook version of Wendell better, because at least listening to the audiobook I'd get to swoon over his Irish accent.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I approached the end I realized there might be more to the story than this one book and, sure enough, there is a sequel -- <i>Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands</i> -- that just released. I was a little disappointed this wasn't a stand alone, but it was still fairly entertaining and ends well enough that you won't want to throw the book across the room. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Rating: </b>4 Stars</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the Sensitive Reader:</b> <u>Language:</u> A few instances of profanity (maybe a handful). <u>Violence</u>: Some fantasy violence, and gore. <u>Sexual Content</u>: Two kisses (One M/F and one F/F. Briefly mentioned. </div><div><br /></div></div></div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-74909294454376113252024-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-29T07:38:24.971-08:00Markets: A World to Discover - Josep Sucarrats, Illustrated by Miranda Sofroniou<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7RENcXCXJb2vaPq77JmkLQ4WhNSyJnt9BhX_sp1vx8VXDHJszk4iQI8dLE97FJ8uKao34u2XkCKvwW6cfkcsgqegp-gaQPG62OyVdu_gVlxb3PBZF0RDZjTtnkbWgvvGOzvWqkLiV4JrARsosGtGZoKOwIiTTX_0Ft1ELiBjRxJcI_z57oiz7ivBshA/s843/423715578_10232650531146145_4943167677687048731_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7RENcXCXJb2vaPq77JmkLQ4WhNSyJnt9BhX_sp1vx8VXDHJszk4iQI8dLE97FJ8uKao34u2XkCKvwW6cfkcsgqegp-gaQPG62OyVdu_gVlxb3PBZF0RDZjTtnkbWgvvGOzvWqkLiV4JrARsosGtGZoKOwIiTTX_0Ft1ELiBjRxJcI_z57oiz7ivBshA/w400-h400/423715578_10232650531146145_4943167677687048731_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b>Today's post is a 2-for-1. Ashley and I both received a free copy of <i>Markets: A World to Discover</i> in exchange for an honest review, and we have each reviewed it separately below.</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Summary</b>: Close your eyes and imagine the intoxicating smell of spices, fish, and exotic flowers. Welcome to the market! You might shop at a grocery store, but that's not where most of the world gets its food. Markets is a gorgeously illustrated exploration of what has been the heart of civilization for thousands of years. Find out how markets got started, where food comes from, how people pay, and other fascinating treasures hidden among the stalls. Along the way, visit some of earth's most famous markets and bazaars in Asia, Africa, Europe, and beyond, from the indoor to the outdoor to the floating (and all included on a convenient map at the back)! Written by Josep Sucarrats, a Catalan gastronomic writer, and with a foreword by Ferran Adrià, a three-star Michelin chef and former head of elBulli (one of the world's top restaurants), Markets is a cultural field trip led by passionate experts who care as much about where food comes from as food itself. (Summary from Goodreads - Cover image is mine - Interior images are from amazon.com)</div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pa8w2erK_aFgEIL_sb4QDkEQ-_xr30bmicXmFedr0yq3sZtmhwnNBcc-Yoynt1QJrDSzpJvj-GPGi0orFtf77wIxE6hneYKXnbswj5ISm8ldRsHpCWh5IR-FYVQadxLFtdEIoFHpMbkdQb9tVzZ909i2XdNRcLJYUREbCjdE8btDouCjl8lDL41UMrM/s1449/Screenshot%202024-01-29%20072558.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="1449" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pa8w2erK_aFgEIL_sb4QDkEQ-_xr30bmicXmFedr0yq3sZtmhwnNBcc-Yoynt1QJrDSzpJvj-GPGi0orFtf77wIxE6hneYKXnbswj5ISm8ldRsHpCWh5IR-FYVQadxLFtdEIoFHpMbkdQb9tVzZ909i2XdNRcLJYUREbCjdE8btDouCjl8lDL41UMrM/w584-h257/Screenshot%202024-01-29%20072558.png" width="584" /></a></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div>MINDY'S REVIEW: </b><i>Markets: A World to Discover </i>is a colorful exploration of the world's bustling and extensive market system. From the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, which boasts 58 streets and 4,000 shops, to the floating market of Damnoen Saduak in Thailand of southeast Asia, where goods are sold from boat to boat, readers will get a glimpse of some of the most famous markets in the world and throughout history.<p></p><div><i>Markets</i> is 48 pages long and aimed at readers age 8-11. It mentions approximately 50 different markets with a map at the back that shows each of their locations and explores a variety of topics, including:</div><div><ul><li>The different types of markets </li><li>What goods are sold at market </li><li>The origins of certain foods</li><li>What happens at markets (besides shopping!)</li><li>Why markets are important </li><li>How people pay for things </li><li>The different types of people you find at markets</li></ul></div><div><i>Markets</i> is fun to explore, visually engaging, and filled with beautiful renderings of famous markets. Showcasing goods that range from familiar to foreign, each page is a riot of color, and holds a plethora of information about the market system. Vibrant illustrations accompany a few paragraphs of relevant text on each page, so that even readers who don't technically 'read' will find plenty to explore. I also love the historical aspects of the text, which talks about markets from long ago -- like the Greek agoras, the Aztec tianguis, the sacred path 'markets' of the Australian Aborigines, and more. Oh, and it has lovely endpapers too, and you know how I feel about those! </div><div><div><br /></div></div>Markets are more than just places to buy food -- they are often the heart of a community, a place to exchange more than just goods and services, but information and ideas as well. They often vary with the season, and help us eat locally and sustainably. I came away from this book with a far better understanding of the global market system and a long list of markets that I would love to visit someday, like the Tsukiji Tokyo fish market and the San Pedro de Cuzco Central Market in Peru, as well as the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, the floating market of Damnoen Saduak in Thailand, and more! I appreciated the time I got to spend with this book. It definitely made me want to hop on a plane and get lost in a bustling market on the other side of the world.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFIllbEIVWGnOBudofd1Ufnh-nYKHdPAE2WPHARLgH6v7XNQXVyoFl9PJq8cb2xLgS2-OMo20_CDK2v1MzZmJR6EuWXzdtNphY5IlpjfWoQkKoXV1MFWCa8eQGrEIOniiLNMdO5EEYi2fqWAddXQttH5oXtlKbfi-K3EzKQmHlY12qnS0RgIz_rik8Ko/s1449/Screenshot%202024-01-29%20072657.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1449" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFIllbEIVWGnOBudofd1Ufnh-nYKHdPAE2WPHARLgH6v7XNQXVyoFl9PJq8cb2xLgS2-OMo20_CDK2v1MzZmJR6EuWXzdtNphY5IlpjfWoQkKoXV1MFWCa8eQGrEIOniiLNMdO5EEYi2fqWAddXQttH5oXtlKbfi-K3EzKQmHlY12qnS0RgIz_rik8Ko/w608-h268/Screenshot%202024-01-29%20072657.png" width="608" /></a></div><br /></div><div><b>ASHLEY'S REVIEW: </b>When I pick books out to read to my kids, I feel like I am drawn to things that I know I am interested in, and therefore I often know quite a bit about the topic. I obviously don't know everything, but if I chose it, I probably at least know something. This was my thinking when I chose this book. The author is obviously legit and knows what he's talking about in relation to food, the illustrations were gorgeous, and it sounded like an interesting take on something I was already familiar with. All of that was true, but it turned out to be so much more. </div><div><p>I was excited to read this to my kids, and in particular my seven-year-old. He is able to sit and listen and process for a long time. I am so happy that he was the chosen comrade for this because we both really enjoyed it a lot. I have to admit--although I knew some of the information here and there, much of it was new to me, and even if it wasn't new to me on its own, the way it was presented made me think about it in an interesting way that I hadn't before. I found myself constantly being like, "Oh, yeah, cool." It was a surprisingly interesting journey that we both enjoyed, and I came away knowing a lot more than I thought I would have learned from reading a children's book. </p><p>That being said, this is not one of those quick "five minutes before bedtime" situations. No. This is a book that has a lot of information, lots of different things to read about it, and it was not one that we tackled in one sitting. There are big paragraphs of words and information, and it was a bit much for him to tackle by himself, even though he is a pretty good reader for a first grader. However, we very much enjoyed reading about it together, looking over the pictures, and learning a lot. I think my 11-year-old, who is interested in world cultures, would probably enjoy this a lot and also be able to read it on his own. </p><p>I enjoyed this book a lot, and I think my son did as well. If you have a kid who is curious about the world around him, especially in regard to the world outside of their small sphere, this is a great book. It was really educational, both with historic and current facts, and the pictures were beautiful. Seriously, I loved the art so much. It really added to the feel of the book, and my son even enjoyed just looking through the pictures. They were bright and beautiful and the style was really interesting.<b> </b></p></div><div><b>OUR RATING:</b> We both gave this book a solid 4 Stars.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>FOR THE SENSITIVE READER</b>: All clear.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ74Q-cqnFIm0WSslfsYMrUZSTol2UGnjO2yLkTRY2mGdb0uoGvwWUx2J1uu0Sp0P0Y8hM_JUYpELfYuid9gTy6aOdILsnXBxr3uKZHEGEptF0I0GAjB-XlO3X5rri4znMD0vr5IwR9KILr5D4FXL3htK7j5_qeuLAwXKZZvH8VPvvWC7p5AKA8j1qoDk/s1448/Screenshot%202024-01-29%20072739.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1448" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ74Q-cqnFIm0WSslfsYMrUZSTol2UGnjO2yLkTRY2mGdb0uoGvwWUx2J1uu0Sp0P0Y8hM_JUYpELfYuid9gTy6aOdILsnXBxr3uKZHEGEptF0I0GAjB-XlO3X5rri4znMD0vr5IwR9KILr5D4FXL3htK7j5_qeuLAwXKZZvH8VPvvWC7p5AKA8j1qoDk/w616-h272/Screenshot%202024-01-29%20072739.png" width="616" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Ashleey Raybackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647938079152053441noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-52522228234036445422024-01-26T00:05:00.000-08:002024-02-12T01:06:33.569-08:00The Honey Jar: An Armenian's Escape to Freedom - Joan Schoettler<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg998s63cZrzFwE47dH8jYWNLE5RuxF0n4qxgfk9mRCXlMHYZGSdq8lpgaNvNji3b87lKWuM09Vzn3Bq8sQFdUIOzunQMh45hQDYKGvznpx7rGEm4BLtzxKq1INebBHLuJ6s1TVqiPqocckeKCtNesv9yrdTtF8Mgv64nWg2KBghHwW3Zvs7lcEKSoiW6g/s1440/421576199_950837809977920_439461438507313329_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg998s63cZrzFwE47dH8jYWNLE5RuxF0n4qxgfk9mRCXlMHYZGSdq8lpgaNvNji3b87lKWuM09Vzn3Bq8sQFdUIOzunQMh45hQDYKGvznpx7rGEm4BLtzxKq1INebBHLuJ6s1TVqiPqocckeKCtNesv9yrdTtF8Mgv64nWg2KBghHwW3Zvs7lcEKSoiW6g/w400-h400/421576199_950837809977920_439461438507313329_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Summary:</b> In 1920, eight-year-old Bedros fled Armenia with his young sisters, grandmother, and uncle to escape the Turkish soldiers invading their town. But in the confusion, Bedros lost sight of the adults and was left alone to protect his siblings. Told in verse, suspenseful and heartrending, <i>The Honey Jar</i> depicts a journey from desperation to freedom, anchored in Bedros's promise to return to his native land and to find the one he left behind. His story will touch the hearts of families everywhere, especially those who have experienced the longing for a new life.<div><br /></div><div><i>(Summary from back of book - Image is mine - This book was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review)</i><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>My Review: </b><i>The Honey Jar</i> tells a heartbreaking story of hope and resilience in the face of incredible hardship, as seen through the eyes of a young Armenian boy. I knew it was going to be an emotional read from the very first page, still unnumbered, which pretty much sucked the air out of the room. It read, <i>"I gave my sister away. She was two. I was not yet nine."</i> </div><div><br /></div><div>Eight-year-old Bedros lived an idyllic life with his father, mother, and three sisters until the day the Turkish soldiers came and forced them from their home, stole their horses, and helped themselves to his mama's honey. Bedros' mother was too ill to leave, so she and papa must stay behind while Bedros, his sisters, Uncle, and cousins, whispered tear-soaked goodbyes and fled ahead of the advancing troops, taking only what they could wear, carry, or push in their cart, including Mama's precious jar of honey. Their journey to safety is long and fraught with peril as supplies run low and family is separated from one another. And yet, along the way there is hope and kindness.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><i>The Honey Jar</i> is inspired by a true story and told in easy-to-understand free verse in short sections that are perfect for young chapter book readers. It conveys the story of one small boy and his family as they try to find safety, but on a much larger scale it shines a light on the struggles of every refugee who has ever been forced from their homes. While the story focuses on the horror and hardships that many face, it also showcases the kindness of strangers who reach out to help those in need. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>There really wasn't anything I didn't like about this book. If pressed, I'd say that there is some violence which might bother some readers but, quite frankly, it <i>should</i>. It would be hard to tell this story with any amount of accuracy <i>without</i> touching on the violence inflicted on refugees. In this case, I feel that it was written in a way that was age-appropriate and as non-graphic as it could be while still conveying the peril, fear, and loss than many refugees feel every day. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Honey Jar</i> is a poignant story about love, loss, forgiveness, and family that will awaken young hearts to the refugee crisis and cultivate compassion for their plight. Though the story may have some troubling moments for younger readers, it also has an ending that brought hopeful, happy tears to my eyes. I recommend this book for all readers, young and old, who want to increase their understanding of the refugee experience. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Rating: </b>5 Stars</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the Sensitive Reader: </b>Tragic and perilous themes, including the plight of the refugee, genocide. Violence, non-graphic but still difficult. </div></div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-90614416123653731182024-01-24T00:05:00.000-08:002024-01-24T00:05:00.138-08:00Dearest New York: A Love Letter to the Big Apple - Deirdre Gartner<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG90eBverh9ykQMKaPAsfLQeN_-s3sOS7yFGtDBd7KIBPr9QKTrvvMlZUoP_MxK7DGuCmQh9HwrCUPbUr_nn4Yxg_19rVenmfa-BKjnOAuhzMVE0-Na2fwzXCDrPSpt-9Tkd5oiXxQi3VEMuysDKm6QLbV54tKlUVhd7IUvdVEz2jf5-x4tUi7a_VUOsM/s960/397542930_10232214136876561_8703115015451366164_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG90eBverh9ykQMKaPAsfLQeN_-s3sOS7yFGtDBd7KIBPr9QKTrvvMlZUoP_MxK7DGuCmQh9HwrCUPbUr_nn4Yxg_19rVenmfa-BKjnOAuhzMVE0-Na2fwzXCDrPSpt-9Tkd5oiXxQi3VEMuysDKm6QLbV54tKlUVhd7IUvdVEz2jf5-x4tUi7a_VUOsM/w400-h400/397542930_10232214136876561_8703115015451366164_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Summary:</b> Authored by Native New Yorker, Deirdre Gartner, this compendium of starkly rich and uniquely personal images is her love letter to the city. She dedicates this book to all those who dream of the New York City that was and will always be. Packed with photos, illustrations , and guides to both the classic and off-the-beat architectural wonders, cafes, shops, and sundry hidden gems, <i>Dearest New York</i> reminds us of the vibrant spirit, elasticity, and resiliency that is New York City. <div><br /></div><div><i>(Summary from back of book - Image is mine - This book was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review)</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>My Review: </b> Have you ever wanted to visit New York City but felt a little overwhelmed at the prospect of going it alone, wondering where to go and what to do in the land of so many choices? I know I have. Deirdre Gartner, author of <i>Dearest New York </i>was born and raised in New York City, so she knows all the best haunts. She's even created <a href="https://girlintheyellowtaxinyc.com/" target="_blank">Girl in the Yellow Taxi NYC</a>, a website that provides custom itineraries and curated travel guides for those who want to visit the city but need a little help planning their day. Gartner's book, <i>Dearest New York </i>isn't really a travel guide <i>per se</i> (though it can certainly be used that way), but it<i> is </i>an exquisite homage to the city of her birth filled with beautiful photographs, expert recommendations, specialized lists, and tips for appreciating all the city has to offer.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Dearest New York</i> is relatively small for a coffee-table book (7.5"x7.5"), but that makes it easy to flip through and perfectly portable for traipsing around town. It's divided into several sections, specific to certain areas in NYC, including: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Upper East Side</li><li>Central Park</li><li>The Upper West Side</li><li>Midtown</li><li>Chelsea</li><li>The Village (Greenwich & the West Village)</li><li>The East Village/Lower East Side</li><li>Soho/Nolita/Tribeca</li><li>Lower Manhattan</li></ul>There's also a special section featuring 'Gems of New York,' that explores the New York flower district, art in public transportation, and New York City during the holidays. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Dearest New York </i>is comprised primarily of vibrant photographs and beautiful watercolor illustrations that showcase the unique aesthetics of each area, but the author also dedicates a few pages of each section to the history of the specific area, descriptions of the buildings and culture there, as well as the author's recommendations for things to see and do when in those neighborhoods. Visitors to the Big Apple have no hope of covering all the sights in a day, but <i>Dearest New York</i> might help narrow your focus and help you decide where best to spend your time. As such, it would make a lovely gift for anyone who is planning to visit or anyone new to the city.</div><div><br /></div><div>Gartner has created an exceptional photographic tour that showcases the magical energy of Midtown, the revitalized aesthetic of once-industrialized Chelsea, the sprawling greenery of Central Park, and so much more. It was fascinating to read about the history of the different areas in the city. Gartner's words were brief (never dry), but they helped give a sense of the evolution of the city over time. I also enjoyed the little interludes of text between the gorgeous photographs and watercolors, where the author would share lists of her favorite coffee shops, <u>bookstores</u>, eateries, and boutiques. It felt like I was on the receiving end of a personal tour led by an enthusiastic guide. My favorite parts of the text were what I would call her 'Perfect Day' sections, where she'd outline a loose itinerary for anyone visiting that area of the city and suggesting ways to make the most of their day. Personally, I think it would be incredibly fun to recreate some of these days in <i>Eat, Pray, Love </i>style. #goals</div><div><br /></div><div><div><i>Dearest New York </i>is a perfectly composed love letter to the city that never sleeps. I honestly couldn't find anything I didn't like about it. From what I can see in the book, NYC is a bustling, thriving metropolis, each area bursting with its own unique culture, sense of creativity, and a comforting kind of chaos. I am sure that there is a seedier side of the city that remains unshown, but there are probably a gajillion books already dedicated to that purpose, and I loved walking with Gartner on the sunnier side of things. </div><div><br /></div></div><div>In the opening pages of <i>Dearest New York, </i>Gartner expresses her desire to capture 'the unique essence and beauty' of New York City, and its safe to say she succeeded, because I can certainly see why the people who live there seem to love it so much. If you are even <i>thinking </i>about visiting the Big Apple, a quick dive into this book will almost definitely convince you to go, and if you already live there, you'll probably still find something to explore in another neck of the woods...or maybe even something new in your own. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and PS. <i>Thank you Deirdre Garner, for teaching me what Soho, Nolita, and Tribeca actually stand for! I feel empowered with new knowledge!</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Rating: </b>4.5 Stars</div><div><br /></div><div><b>For the Sensitive Reader:</b> All clear.</div>MindySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122081120154598894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367491918209452164.post-10209516574482040062024-01-22T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-22T06:00:00.252-08:00After the Forest - Kell Woods<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuA9t9ZNOq9keTAC3GwvOmzwAfFtf8Y2fGB-PqtgG98A-nv1mnQ7E29C_tthstOTUgY8AhqVjQHvBFB12P7PgJHu087BGEnxLkmkIphaLOOx1Vmf9wIkKz2qi-MkMnnEZxDSDzK5JFQg6cAzGzXizRbIqqX1MI45v-be_vFtYjCccpjquN3mqEsuIzzI/s2550/After%20the%20Forest%20Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuA9t9ZNOq9keTAC3GwvOmzwAfFtf8Y2fGB-PqtgG98A-nv1mnQ7E29C_tthstOTUgY8AhqVjQHvBFB12P7PgJHu087BGEnxLkmkIphaLOOx1Vmf9wIkKz2qi-MkMnnEZxDSDzK5JFQg6cAzGzXizRbIqqX1MI45v-be_vFtYjCccpjquN3mqEsuIzzI/s320/After%20the%20Forest%20Pic.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><b>Summary</b>: Ginger. Honey. Cinnamon. Flour. A drop of blood to bind its power.1650: The Black Forest, Wurttemberg.<br /><br />Fifteen years after the witch in the gingerbread house, Greta and Hans are struggling to get by. Their mother and stepmother are long dead, Hans is deeply in debt from gambling, and the countryside lies in ruin, its people recovering in the aftermath of a brutal war. Greta has a secret, the witch's grimoire, secreted away and whispering in her ear, and the recipe inside that makes the most sinfully delicious - and addictive - gingerbread.<br /><br />As long as she can bake, Greta can keep her small family afloat. But in a village full of superstition, Greta and her intoxicating gingerbread is a source of ever-growing suspicion and vicious gossip.<br /><br />And now, dark magic is returning to the woods and Greta's own powers - magic she is still trying to understand - may be the only thing that can save her ... If it doesn't kill her first.<br /><br />A stunning meld of love story, fairytale, magic and history, by an exciting debut Australian voice - perfect for fans of Naomi Novik, Bridget Collins and Kate Forsyth. (Summary and pic from goodreads.com)<br /><br /><b>My Review</b>: I have read many a retelling of fairytales of late, especially because that’s a really popular thing right now and there are lots of options. Some of them are YA and tamer, and some of them skew more adult, which is always interesting because it’s easy to associate fairytales with children seeing as there are juggernaut companies pumping out movies of fairytales. The interesting thing about fairytales is that the real stories are so much scarier than their softened-up cartoon versions. Happy endings are hard to come by, and when they do come by, it’s often at a price.<p></p><p>I enjoyed this retelling. First of all, it’s one that isn’t right on the tip of your tongue, at least not for me. Hansel and Gretel is a fairytale I’ve heard of, but I haven’t read any retellings. Cinderella? Beauty and the Beast? Snow White? I’ve read at least a couple of each of those, and there are many others similar to it that I have read as well. This story was interesting because it takes place after the fairytale. It’s a retelling in that it expands past the original story, but it uses the original story as the starting point and goes on from there. I loved that. Even my kids, who kept reading the title and asking about it, were really interested in what might happen to Hansel and Gretel as they’ve grown.<br /><br />This book had a lot of cool atmospheric things going on. The forest, the cottage, the townspeople, the gingerbread all played a role in this story. There were some unexpected characters as well, who were fun additions to the story, and I think did a really good job at fleshing out what happened. It felt like historical fiction, but the way that Kells told the story it felt realistic and had that delicious underpinning of magic that comes from a culture far removed from ours where magic was just part of everyday life, and the stories that we call folklore were real life. <br /><br />One of the things that I liked most about this story is that it did a lot of fleshing out of the backstory. I have often complained about how authors will have created such a deep and nuanced world in their mind that they forget that the reader wasn’t along for the whole journey and therefore might be lost. That was not the case with this story. Woods did an excellent job of painting the world and letting us into the mechanics of the magic. There were several different kinds of magic at play, and yet they coexisted well and meshed in a way that felt like a rich historical and cultural context. It felt like what I think fairytales should feel like—an ancient way of understanding life and your surroundings at a time when technology and access to the rest of the world would have been limited. I assume that at some point in the future, reading about what we as a society think and do now would feel like this. <br /><br />This is definitely an adult book. There are some adult themes, as well as some scary and horror things that happen. It’s a well-told expansion of Hansel and Gretel (with some trappings of Snow White and the Huntsman) and I think that if you’ve enjoyed the retelling of fairytales genre, you’ll really like this one as well. <br /><br /><b>My Rating: 4 Stars </b><br /><br /><i>For the sensitive reader: There is some language, but it is sparse. There is some violence. There are suggestions of sex, but it is very tame. I would rate this PG/PG-13.</i></p>Ashleey Raybackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647938079152053441noreply@blogger.com0