Saving Grace

Saving Grace

YA novel (2006)
"Why did something so awful happen to our family? We were nice
people who went to church and did everything we were supposed to do.
Doesn't that prove that there's no God? And no point at all in
trying to be so good? I do know one thing: If there is some Great
Creator, CEO of the Universe up there, He or She must be pretty
heartless."
Grace, protagonist of Katherine Spencer's Saving Grace, has lost
her brother, Matt. He died in a car crash. She misses him
desperately. Her mom is constantly at church, volunteering or talking
to the pastor. Her father goes into his home office for long hours
after supper. Don't they remember they have one remaining child?
Grace feels that her good girl rule obeying self died with her
brother. She cuts her hair and wears edgier clothes. When some well
off popular girls invite her to enter their world she finds it
surprisingly to blow off her old friends, lie to them and her parents,
drink alcohol under age, cut classes, and use an emergency credit card
to buy way overpriced clothes.
Matt had been the heart and soul of the band he and his friends
had created. Now there's going to be a memorial concert for him that
will raise money for a homeless shelter. Worse, his band is getting
back together for the event. Grace knows how much he would have
enjoyed this opportunity. It doesn't seem right for them to go on
without him.
On a personal note, as I write this I am in a hotel in Augusta. I'm
here for the two day Maine School Management Association conference.
The clinics are fascinating. My favorites so far have been one on a
farm to school program that gets kids gardening and one on why so many
boys in our schools are disengaged and at risk. I'm talking to
superintendents and school board members from all over the state.
The food is great. And the vendors provide so many freebies it's like
adult trick or treat.
A great big shout out goes out to all who worked so hard to make this
event possible: the presenters, the vendors, and, of course, Connie
and Elaine, who are responsible for running the show.
Julia Emily Hathaway


Sent from my iPod

Vivian Apple Needs A Miracle

Vivian Apple Needs A Miracle

YA fiction
"Thou canst be ransomed from thy wicked ways; thou can embrace
thy Savior as thy Founding Fathers would have wanted...
But fail Him a second time, and you deny yourself the eternal
splendor of His kingdom--you condemn yourself to witnessing the
apocalypse. You will stand on this earth as it tumbles helplessly
into oblivion, and you will hardly notice the planet's dying gasps
because your body will be set upon by beasts of all sizes and shapes..."
YIKES!
The above quote is part of the prologue that sets the stage for
Katie Coyle's Vivian Apple Needs A Miracle, a most worthy sequel to
Vivian Apple At The End Of The World. Vivian and her chums, Harp and
Peter, are surely in need of something of the magnitude of divine
intervention. The rapture was just the beginning of their trials.
Peter has been captured by the Church of America. Vivian and Harp
have been identified as enemies to salvation with a million dollar
(and guaranteed salvation) reward to whomever turns them in.
Vivian's just discovered half sister, Winnie (conceived outside
of marriage and given up for adoption by their mother) is part of a
militia dedicated to taking down the Church of America. They offer
the girls sustinance and protection. The militia is funded by a
wealthy woman named Amanda, a woman who wants the Church of America
headquarters destroyed by force, no matter how many of her soldiers
are killed. Vivian and Harp think it would be better to discredit
them with the truth that the rapture was a total hoax. Not to
mention, they want to rescue Peter.
America is suffering from escalating environmental and societal
cataclysms. People are being tormented by dire threats like the one
quoted above. The church of America is going global and auditioning
actors for a man to play the part of a returning to Earth Jesus, a
Messiah.
If you haven't read the first Vivian Apple book I'd advise you
to start with it and go on to this one. I can guarantee you a roller
coaster reading experience with edge of your seat suspense coupled
with serious moral and ethical questions. I wouldn't have missed it
for a years supply of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.
On a personal note, I had quite a Sunday recently. I had bought a
wonderful beetle costume at the Orono Thrift Shop...just in time for
the blessing of crops and animals service. There were live and
stuffed (toy, not taxidermied) animals, but only mammals and birds. I
went up in my insect attire to represent the smaller and very
important denizens of our world. Then I wore the costume to my
daughter, Amber's awesome Halloween. Her home was decorated inside
and outside with quite a graveyard on her yard. The food was delish.
I especially enjoyed the cupcakes with chocolate tombstones and the
eyeball cookies.
A great big shout out goes out to Pastor Lorna for not having
conniptions when a 5' tall beetle showed up in her sanctuary and Amber
for once again being the hostess with the mostest.
Julia Emily Hathaway


Sent from my iPod

Vivian Apple At The End Of The World

Vivian Apple At The End Of The World

YA fiction
In my undergraduate years at Gordon College (a Christian college
in Massachusetts) a number of my classmates were avid fans of rapture
films. Those movies gave me nightmares. They were shown from the
perspective of the all seeing narrator and were quite explicit end
times visions.
Katie Coyle's take on the subject is quite a different take.
It's written from the perspective of someone who has been left behind
in a terrifying new world. And the Church of America, the megasect in
control, is a really creepy blend of fundamentalist Christianity,
sexism, and patriotism. Jesus is proud to an American. America is
blessed over all other nations because of capitalism. Women who fall
outside of moral standards are to burn forever. God so loved the
world that He sent us...
...guns.
Vivian Apple's parents had joined the Church of America the
Sunday after her sixteenth birthday. It had come as quite a
surprise. "...Their going after years of not going struck me as a
strange and personal thing, like the sex I'd only recently come to
understand they'd at one point had...". They had tried to convert
her. At the same time they had made careful preparations for if they
were swooped up and she wasn't ...("'Now this should last you for the
six months between the Rapture and the apocalypse,' my mother said,
stocking our cabinets with cans of soup and tuna, 'but the real
trouble will be keeping it out of the looters. And the
hellhounds.'")...
Vivian returns to an empty house after a Rapture's Eve party.
Her parents aren't there to scold her for her transgressions. They
don't answer their cell phones. There are two jagged holes in their
bedroom ceiling.
Many of the people who assumed they were among the saved are
still on Earth. They've been told that in six months they will have a
second chance. The path to salvation will be narrow and may be
clogged by sinners. Needless to say, life is far from safe for those
who live outside their belief system. Vivian's best friend, Harp's,
brother, Raj, is shot for being gay.
Staying put is not a great option. Even if the end times are
only months away Vivian, Harp, and Peter, a young man who may have
Church of America connections, set off on a quest for answers and
family members. What if those allegedly raptured are alive and hidden?
The only thing I disliked about the book was its very cliff-
hanging ending. I'm now caught up in the very worthy sequel, Vivian
Apple Needs A Miracle. It will be the subject of my next review.
On a personal note, October Orono Arts Cafe was amazing as always. We
had low attendence, but great camaraderie. People tried things they
weren't quite sure of, stepped out of their comfort zones, accepted
each others' offerings with great appreciation. I read five poems and
danced when Redman performed. Arts Cafe is like the classic
children's story, Stone Soup. When each of us offers up what she or
he has to share, we end up with a feast for mind, soul, and heart.
A great big shout out goes out to my Orono Arts Cafe family.
Julia Emily Hathaway






Sent from my iPod

Island Treasures

Island Treasures

Juvenile biography
These days it can be hard for children and even some parents to
imagine any life other than a hectic, electronics dominated
existence. That is why Alma Flor Ada's Island Treasures: Growing Up
in Cuba is a must read. Consider it a literary breather or siesta.
Island Treasures is a set of narratives Ada gleaned from the
experiences of her childhood and family legends passed down in the
oral tradition. She brings to life a world in which:
*a fallen tree could provide children with a play place, transformed
by imagination into a pirate ship, a castle, a camp in the jungle, or
a covered wagon;
*many foods such as milk, breads, vegetables, and sweets were
purchased fresh from travelling vendors rather than picked up in big
box stores;
*fiestas with their colorful parades were eagerly awaited community
wide celebrations;
*families made much of their own fun by activities such as making and
flying kites together...
The stories are an exquisite blend of the particular and
universal. Ada grew up in a very unique, colorful clan. But she
viewed life through the lenses of Everychild. Broken Wings is the
story of Medardito, a daring uncle who never outgrew his need for
adventure. When he learned to fly and purchased an airplane the
family, for the most part, was very much against this activity. Ada,
however, was excited. "I felt both pride and joy that he would dare
to defy everyone and everything, including the force of gravity that
keeps us all tied to the earth." Sadly when he died in a plane crash
she felt overwhelmed with guilt. "Of course, I had never believed
that flying was as dangerous as everyone else seemed to think. But
why had I not seen it? How could I have wanted him to fly when it was
going to cause such pain?"
Island Treasures brings together stories she wrote to keep
treasured memories alive and honor loved ones. Over a course of
fifteen years previous books containing some of these events have
inspired reader responses that delight her.
"Many of you have written to tell me that the attention these
stories give to the simple details of daily life has helped you value
things previously taken for granted. Others have written to say that
these stories moved you to a greater appreciation of your own
families. And I am delighted whenever I hear that some of you have
begun to write about your own lives!"
If there is a finer mandate for reading a book I can't imagine it!
On a personal note, I am looking forward to Halloween and the party we
will hold in the children's wing of the Orono Public Library. For
over a week now clients have been finding costumes generously donated
by the Orono Thrift Shop. I helped a girl find a unicorn costume she
thought was the bee's knees. I, myself, acquired wonderful new
butterfly finery. Recently I met a little boy, new to our library
family, who adores Bob the Builder, as my son did at his age. This
brought back memories of one of my most memorable Halloweens when Adam
was five. He was too sick to go trick or treating of even care. That
night I went out with the girls, dressed as Bob the Builder,
collecting for him. People learning that he was home sick gave me
insane amounts of candy. One man dumped a bowl full into my bag.
When I returned with all the loot Adam said, "Thanks, Mom," and fell
asleep. Bet Ada would enjoy that story!
A great big shout out goes out to all who will devote a lot of time
and energy to giving the kids a fine Halloween party and to the very
generous volunteers who run the thrift shop!
Julia Emily Hathaway


Sent from my iPod

Eden West

Eden West

YA fiction
I have a great fondness for cult dystopias, particularly ones
with apocalyptic overtones. So I was delighted to have the chance to
read Pete Hautman's Eden West. This fine book combines excellent plot
and believable characters with riveting ethical and moral questions.
"I know that the World is a terrible place, filled with wild
animals and evil men and wicked women. I know that the Beast stalks
the streets of the cities, and the canyons and footpaths beyond, and
that only the strongest and wisest of men can resist his seductive
ways. I know that the End Days are coming."
Jacob has lived in the walled in community called Nodd for most
of his young life, ever since his parents gave up their worldly
possessions so the family could join the Grace. They are among the
few who will ascend to Paradise at the End Days while the terrible
wrath of an angry God descends upon the rest of humanity. He
considers himself quite fortunate that he will be spared the horrors
and pain. He can't imagine leading any other kind of life...
...until he meets some outsiders. First there's Tobias, a teen
who reluctantly enters with his mother and pregnant sister, unwilling
to adapt to a lifestyle he considers bizarre. Then there's Lynna, a
very pretty girl who lives on the neighboring ranch. When she manages
to entice him to cross the fence and introduces him to stuff like soda
and modern appliances (and desire) he finds himself quite conflicted.
Part of him fears he has strayed far enough to burn in Hell for all
eternity; the seemingly stronger part of him wants to stray further.
A severe winter tests the whole community. A rogue wolf
slaughters their sheep. Babies are still born. People defect to the
outside world. Daily, it seems, the Grace are beset by tests of their
faith.
Describing the book, Hautman said, "Faith, family, and love are
among the great forces that drive us as human beings. Eden West is
about what might happen when those forces come into conflict within
the pressure-cooker culture of an isolated community."
It's a premise beautifully explored in an unforgettable coming
of age story.
On a personal note, great things are happening in the Veazie Community
School. We have a new principal, Matt Cyr, with enthusiasm for
creating new programs to meet needs and building ties with the
community. Kristen and her PTO posse provided an excellent start of
school year spaghetti dinner and show. Heather Wilmot came all the way
from Wiscasset to do a presentation on the kind of visioning team I'd
like to get going in Veazie.
Great big shout outs go out to Matt, the Veazie Community School PTO,
and Heather.
Julia Emily Hathaway




Sent from my iPod

The Porcupine Of Truth

The Porcupine Of Truth

YA fiction
If your tastes in literature run to the quest, the voyage of
discovery, Bill Konigsberg's The Porcupine Of Truth will be just your
cup of tea.
Carson, Konigsberg's protagonist, has been uprooted from New
York City to Billings, Montana. His estranged alcoholic father is
terminally ill. He and his mother are moving in to help with his
medical care. His counselor mother treats him more like a client than
a son. His father is frighteningly unpredictable.
Aisha is the lesbian daughter of a rigidly religious man.
Although she's been a daddy's girl all her life, when he discovered
her sexual orientation he kicked her out of the house. Carson
convinces her to live with him in his basement room.
Carson's father has been grieving being abandoned by his own
father when he was very young. Carson and Aisha find evidence that
his grandfather may still be alive. What if they can locate him and
enable a reconciliation before his father dies?
As for the porcupine...
...you'll just to have to read the book.
On a personal note, the UMaine Muslim Student Association put on a
magnificent Eid celebration for everyone. The food was delish. The
music was beautiful and evocative. The slides were fascinating. One
of the woman henna painted an intricate flower on my hand.
A great big shout out goes out to those students who so graciously
shared their beloved traditions. Way to make the world a little
smaller.
Julia Emily Hathaway



Sent from my iPod

Save Me

Save Me

Adult fiction
I highly recommend Lisa Scottoline's Save Me. What I don't
recommend is reading it late at night when you're home alone (like I
did). The beautifully crafted suspense makes every normally ignorable
sound--the furnace coming on, the house settling--quite startling. If
you want to be caught up in a story that is gripping and scary because
of human nature, not vampires, sparkly or otherwise, this fine book
will be your cup of tea.
Save Me brings to life one of a parent's worst nightmares: what
if the instinctive saving of your own child in a horrific situation
makes you seem guilty of neglecting other people's children. Rose,
Scottoline's protagonist, has become a lunch mother. Her daughter,
Melly, is bullied by classmate, Amanda, because of a prominent facial
port wine birthmark. Rose wants to see for herself what's going on.
Right before the children are to go out to recess Amanda does
something that causes Melly to flee the room. Rose keeps Amanda and
two other girls in the cafeteria to try to talk to them. Suddenly the
kitchen explodes, turning the immediate area into a flaming inferno.
Terrifying hours later Amanda is in intenive care fighting for her
life and Rose is facing civil and criminal charges. Her family could
lose their home. She could go to jail.
Fortunately Rose is savvy enough to know when things do not add
up and brave enough to investigate. Her research gives her insight
into a horrifying web of crime and corruption. Now her life is in
danger. People in high places have sanctioned murder and wouldn't
hesitate to do so again.
On a personal note, last weekend was a walking weekend for me.
Saturday I participated in Paws on Parade as part of Team Veazie Vet.
It was great to be part of such an amazing pack and meet so many sweet
natured dogs. Alpha vet Dave Cloutier provided coffee and scads of
scrumptious pastries to invigorate the people on his team. In total
the walk raised something like $65,000.
Then Sunday was the Out of the Darkness walk for suicide prevention at
UMaine. I think there were over 600 people. We walked to downtown
Orono and back after hearing the stories of people who had lost loved
ones to suicide or faced the temptation. At the end, as the book of
remembrance--names of lost loved ones and those who miss them--was
read aloud we placed white carnations in the river. It was a poignant
and dignified moment.
I was very lucky to be able to participate in both. We were all lucky
to have perfect autumn weather rather than the downpour of Biblical
proportions Wednesday we could still see reminders of.
A great big shout out goes out to all who put in a lot of hard work to
organize and publicize both events.
Julia Emily Hathaway



Sent from my iPod

Rumble

Rumble

YA fiction
After two mosques had been brurned in the United States Ellen
Hopkins posted a message on Facebook. "'We all serve one Creator',
meaning Christians, Jews, Muslims and, in fact all human beings. I
was prepared for a negative backlash, but not for the comment that
came from a sixteen-year-old girl.
'It's awfully arrogant of you to think we have to believe in
anything,' she said. 'I happen to be an atheist.'"
This provided the inspiration for Rumble.
Matt, Hopkins' protagonist, sees life as "...a few years on this sad,
devolving planet."
"...If you're really fortunate, the good
Outweighs the bad. In my eighteen years
all I've seen is shit tipping the scales."
Matt was the result of unprotected sex that resulted in his
father shot gun marrying. His dad has never really forgotten his one
true love. His parents' relationship has him wondering why marriage
makes people hate each other. And his father was cruelly judgemental
of his deceased younger brother.
Matt's girlfriend, Hayden, is changing a lot. Nothing he does
or says seems right in her presence. It could have something to do
with the fundamentalist Christian group that has become very important
in her life.
"There is no God, no benevolent ruler of the earth, no Grand
Poobah of countless universes. Because if there was, there would be
no warring or genocide in his name; those created 'in his image' would
be born enlightened, no genuflecting or tithing required; and my
little brother would still be fishing or playing volleyball instead of
fertilizing cemetary vegetation..."
Matt's atheism is not the only thing that stands in the way of
him accepting Hayden's new companions. Some of them were the ones who
tormented his gay younger brother to the point where Luke saw no
alternative to taking his own life.
This poignant coming of age story is difficult reading at times,
but really worthwhile. Put it on the summer reading list for parents,
teachers, guidance counselors and all others who work with young
people. Keep it on the library shelves to speak to kids who need to
know they're not alone.
On a personal note, Luke, the little brother, had taken his life
because of relentless bullying on the part of peers and father. An
event I went to recently and one I will be involved in Sunday are rays
of light in this regard. In Bangor there was a walk against all kinds
of violence including bullying. After stirring speeches and music we
walked around downtown. Most people carried signs. I blew bubbles.
This Sunday I will participate in Out Of Darkness, a suicide
prevention walk up to UMaine.
A great big shout out goes out to the fine folks who organize the
events and other similar ones. They take a lot of work.
Julia Emily Hathaway



Sent from my iPod

Tilt

Tilt

YA fiction
In Triangles Ellen Hopkins brought us into the lives and crises
of three women whose lives are intimately intertwined. Of course,
since all had children, this novel provided intriguing glimpses of
these fascinating young people. I know I'm not the only reader who
wanted to get to know the next generation better. Fortunately in Tilt
Hopkins depicts that same time period from the perspectives of three
of the offspring.
Mikayla is the daughter of Holly, the stay-at-home mom who is
acting on her newfound restlessness in ways that aren't always
conducive to family wellbeing. After months of largely covert
romance, about to start her high school senior year, she discovers
that she's pregnant. Her baby daddy who she adores has no intention
whatsoever of parenting. She has to choose between him and the baby.
Meanwhile she is perplexed by her mother's behavior which involves
more staying out late and coming home wasted.
"Do I worry about her? Definately.
Will I discuss it with her? No freaking
way. Because she's my mother, forty

years old and able to make decisions
For herself. But I really have to
wonder.
Why hasn't my father noticed?"
Shane, Marissa's son, is hoping to get a car for his sixteenth
birthday. He needs to sometimes get out of his house, away from the
stink of reek of dirty diapers and rubbing hall, away from the
inexorable downward spiral of his four-year-old sister who will never
walk or sit on her own.
"...the most vicious thing of all about
spinal
muscular atrophy is the disease lets her
think.

Lets her feel. Lets her attempt
communication...
Trapped inside that useless body is a
beautiful spirit."
As if that isn't enough to cope with, he is the gay son of a very
homophobic father. And the love of his life is HIV positive.
Harley, Andrea's only child, is in a state of transition. Her
rarely seen father is moving back into her nieghborhood and life,
complete with a girlfriend and her handsome son. She's a late bloomer
who gets caught up in dangerous situations when she tries to catch up
with her peers.
Although Triangles is pegged adult and Tilt YA and either could be
read as a stand alone, I would not recommend that. Anyone who is
mature enough to handle Tilt can go a baby step further. And I can't
see anyone who gets caught up in Triangles not wanting to view that
period of time from another perspective. I'd say whichever volume you
start with, you're in for the literary equivalent of dark chocolate
with caramel and sea salt.
On a personal note, my birthday got turned into an over a week long
celebration this year. Friday the 18th I went out to lunch at Family
Dog (my favorite restaurant) with Amber, Brian, and Adam. Monday the
21st, the actual day, I had cake with my Rainbow Resource Room chums.
The next day I had cake with my writing class. Then Sunday the 26th
was the family party up to Winterport. Katie came up from Portland.
It was wonderful to see her. I got to meet her boyfriend for the
first time. :)
Who could ask for more?
A great big shout out and thanks go out to all who made my birthday so
special this year.
Julia Emily Hathaway



Sent from my iPod