Forgetting Tabitha
Adult historical fiction
"I was the first orphan under the stoop that night but by
midnight there were three more. Tommy was the oldest scoundrel and
his nose was crooked from being bashed so many times.
'You just gotta learn how to steal food, or sneak into houses at
night to get warm,' Tommy said, as if breaking the law were no big deal.
'There are other ways a girl could get warm in the big city,'
Karen said, inching her skirt up her leg and giving me a wink..."
Tabitha, protagonist of Julie Dewey's Forgetting Tabitha, is
only ten when her mother dies unexpectedly, leaving her alone in the
world. In pre Civil War New York City poor orphans end up literally
on the street, pushed into getting by by shining shoes, selling
newspapers, begging, stealing, or selling their bodies. The few
institutions for unlucky children are grim places that could have
inspired Dickins.
But there were people who wanted those children to have a
brighter future. The open country was considered far more wholesome
than city slums; adoption or apprenticeship much more propitious than
life on the streets. The orphan trains took the cleaned up children
West, stopping at stations where they are shown off to prospective
parents.
Tabitha, now renamed Mary, travels with trepidation. Cute
infants and toddlers are outright adopted. Older kids like her are
often taken in by people needing low cost hired hands. Who, if
anyone, will take her in? And what about the little boy who won't let
even the nicest people seperate them? What are the chances such an
unlikely will get chosen together?
Read the book and find out.
As affecianados of juvenile and YA fiction know, the Orphan
Train saga constitutes a fascinating chapter in this nation's
history. Now adult adults can discover it for themselves.
On a personal note, the book was scary for me in a personal way. The
mother in it died from an infection stemming from a bad tooth. I was
in the middle of a tooth ache that lasted several days, making me
unable to eat or sleep. Fortunately I was able to clear it up.
A great big shout out goes out to all who are working to bring
universal health care to America. Every year the preventable death
toll from lack of access to medical care dwarfs the fatalities
terrorists inflict on us ever.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Saturday, October 29, 2016
The Mother-Daughter Book Club
The Mother-Daughter Book Club
Parenting
"Books have always been a refuge, a place where we put aside the
routine of the day and step into someone else's story, where we can
laugh, cry, gasp, or wonder at the going-ons without being responsible
for any of it. The story's success doesn't depend on our wisdom or
patience; the main character isn't waiting for us to drive her to
dance class or pick up poster board for a homework assignment.
Books are a great equalizer. You may not have the money to
travel the world, but with a library card as your passport your
horizons for exploration and self-discovery are unlimited."
Shireen Dodson was on summer vacation at Martha's Vineyard.
Concerned that she and her older daughter were having trouble
communicating, she discovered that a close friend was in the same
difficult situation with her daughter. How could the mothers find a
relatively safe common ground with their children? Books! This
epiphany was the inspiration for Dodson's first mother daughter book
club.
The club was a grand success. Mothers and daughters found a
space where they could discover and appreciate each other in new
ways. Girls became friends with peers they might have otherwise
ignored. Daughters grew as readers and leaders. A book evolved from
their experiences. Ten years later The Mother-Daughter Book Club is a
tenth anniversary edition.
This fine book is a must read for any family considering
starting a similar group. There are experience honed instructions on
everything from selecting prospective members to planning book related
activities. Many potential book choices, including book lists from
well loved authors, are mentioned. There are detailed study guides
for fifteen novels. The tone of the writing is lively,
conversational, and empowering. A mom reading The Mother-Daughter
Book Club would probably think, "I can do this!"
On a personal note, I really wish this book had been around when my
daughters were little. I did a lot of reading to them. Those good
times became some of my most treasured parenting memories. If I'd
started a club I would have found other moms with values similar to
mine and not have been so isolated in Veazie.
A great big shout out goes out to the moms and daughters in book clubs
rocking the power of the written word.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Parenting
"Books have always been a refuge, a place where we put aside the
routine of the day and step into someone else's story, where we can
laugh, cry, gasp, or wonder at the going-ons without being responsible
for any of it. The story's success doesn't depend on our wisdom or
patience; the main character isn't waiting for us to drive her to
dance class or pick up poster board for a homework assignment.
Books are a great equalizer. You may not have the money to
travel the world, but with a library card as your passport your
horizons for exploration and self-discovery are unlimited."
Shireen Dodson was on summer vacation at Martha's Vineyard.
Concerned that she and her older daughter were having trouble
communicating, she discovered that a close friend was in the same
difficult situation with her daughter. How could the mothers find a
relatively safe common ground with their children? Books! This
epiphany was the inspiration for Dodson's first mother daughter book
club.
The club was a grand success. Mothers and daughters found a
space where they could discover and appreciate each other in new
ways. Girls became friends with peers they might have otherwise
ignored. Daughters grew as readers and leaders. A book evolved from
their experiences. Ten years later The Mother-Daughter Book Club is a
tenth anniversary edition.
This fine book is a must read for any family considering
starting a similar group. There are experience honed instructions on
everything from selecting prospective members to planning book related
activities. Many potential book choices, including book lists from
well loved authors, are mentioned. There are detailed study guides
for fifteen novels. The tone of the writing is lively,
conversational, and empowering. A mom reading The Mother-Daughter
Book Club would probably think, "I can do this!"
On a personal note, I really wish this book had been around when my
daughters were little. I did a lot of reading to them. Those good
times became some of my most treasured parenting memories. If I'd
started a club I would have found other moms with values similar to
mine and not have been so isolated in Veazie.
A great big shout out goes out to the moms and daughters in book clubs
rocking the power of the written word.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
The Life We Bury
The Life We Bury
Adult Mystery
"'He's an old man,' I said. 'He's's sick and weak and thin as a
whip. It's hard to see him in that stuff you read.'
'When you write about him, make sure you tell the whole story.
Don't just write about the weak old man dying of cancer. Tell them
about the drunken degenerate who burned a fourteen-year-old girl.'
'I made a promise to write the truth,' I said. 'And I will.'"
It turns out that the adult literary world is full of mystery
novels. I assume there's a hefty demand behind this bounteous
supply. Well if you are one of the many coveting well crafted
suspense stories, Allen Eskens' The Life We Bury is a fine selection.
Joe, Eskens' protagonist, has more on his plate than most
undergraduate college students. In addition to keeping up with
classwork and working to pay tuition and keep a roof over his head and
food on the table, he has to monitor his birth family. His younger
brother is on the autism spectrum. His mother, a habitual drunk, is
often unable to properly care for him. As the book opens, she's been
arrested. Although his life doesn't have room for a very frail young
man with a low tolerance for change, often Joe is Jeremy's only hope.
Now Joe has acquired a most unusual major homework assignment.
He has to interview an older person and write her/his biography.
Instead of talking to a grandparent, long time family friend, or a
pillar of the community he has selected a convicted felon who was
released from prison to a nursing home because of terminal pancreatic
cancer. He's very much behind on the assignment, which gives him no
option to choose another subject.
Carl Iverson was convicted of murder in 1980. Allegedly he'd
raped and murdered a teen age neighbor and burned down a shed to
destroy the evidence of his crime. All the evidence seems to point
toward his guilt. Or does it? Additionally he was also a Vietman Vet
who risked his life to save a friend. It's hard for Joe to reconcile
war hero with heartless psychpath.
Perhaps Joe and his friend, Lila, can exonerate Carl before he
dies. There are only two problems:
Late stage cancer doesn't give them an awful lot of time.
Someone is aware of their investigation and willing to use any
means necessary to stop it.
Suspense fans: we've got ourselves a winner.
On a personal note, I got a flu shot last week. Maybe carrying around
a heavy backpack was not such a good idea. That night my arm hurt so
much I hardly got any sleep.
A great big shout out goes out to all who work against sometimes
formidable odds to exonerate innocent people. Thumbs down to the
Supreme Court for deciding that potential proof of innocence should
not stand in the way of the death penalty.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Adult Mystery
"'He's an old man,' I said. 'He's's sick and weak and thin as a
whip. It's hard to see him in that stuff you read.'
'When you write about him, make sure you tell the whole story.
Don't just write about the weak old man dying of cancer. Tell them
about the drunken degenerate who burned a fourteen-year-old girl.'
'I made a promise to write the truth,' I said. 'And I will.'"
It turns out that the adult literary world is full of mystery
novels. I assume there's a hefty demand behind this bounteous
supply. Well if you are one of the many coveting well crafted
suspense stories, Allen Eskens' The Life We Bury is a fine selection.
Joe, Eskens' protagonist, has more on his plate than most
undergraduate college students. In addition to keeping up with
classwork and working to pay tuition and keep a roof over his head and
food on the table, he has to monitor his birth family. His younger
brother is on the autism spectrum. His mother, a habitual drunk, is
often unable to properly care for him. As the book opens, she's been
arrested. Although his life doesn't have room for a very frail young
man with a low tolerance for change, often Joe is Jeremy's only hope.
Now Joe has acquired a most unusual major homework assignment.
He has to interview an older person and write her/his biography.
Instead of talking to a grandparent, long time family friend, or a
pillar of the community he has selected a convicted felon who was
released from prison to a nursing home because of terminal pancreatic
cancer. He's very much behind on the assignment, which gives him no
option to choose another subject.
Carl Iverson was convicted of murder in 1980. Allegedly he'd
raped and murdered a teen age neighbor and burned down a shed to
destroy the evidence of his crime. All the evidence seems to point
toward his guilt. Or does it? Additionally he was also a Vietman Vet
who risked his life to save a friend. It's hard for Joe to reconcile
war hero with heartless psychpath.
Perhaps Joe and his friend, Lila, can exonerate Carl before he
dies. There are only two problems:
Late stage cancer doesn't give them an awful lot of time.
Someone is aware of their investigation and willing to use any
means necessary to stop it.
Suspense fans: we've got ourselves a winner.
On a personal note, I got a flu shot last week. Maybe carrying around
a heavy backpack was not such a good idea. That night my arm hurt so
much I hardly got any sleep.
A great big shout out goes out to all who work against sometimes
formidable odds to exonerate innocent people. Thumbs down to the
Supreme Court for deciding that potential proof of innocence should
not stand in the way of the death penalty.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Friday, October 28, 2016
One Half from the East
One Half from the East
Juvenile fiction
"'You'll be able to do what no other girl can do'
She gets my attention with that one.
'You're lucky to have this chance. Girls would kill to take
your place.'
That is what my mother tells me. She's been chewing her lip for
the past three weeks, thinking about my aunt's suggestion to make me
into a boy...I don't know how people will react to me. I'm not even
sure how I'll react to me."
What was supposed to be a routine trip to the market drastically
changed the lives of Obayda's family. Her father was crippled by a
car bomb, losing his leg. He lost his job as a police officer and
retreated to his room. Desperate for help, the family--father,
mother, and four daughters--moved from the city of Kabul to the
countryside. After awhile the clan begins to resent their neediness.
If only there was a son to work and bring good luck!
In Afghanistan there is a way to acquire a temporary son. By
cutting her hair and wearing masculine attire a girl can become a
backa posh, a girl perceived to be and treated like a boy. It is
expected that she will transition back before puberty hits.
Try to imagine what it would be like to, at the age of ten,
overnight take on the traits and demeanor of a boy convincingly enough
to pass as male. Try to imagine what it's like to, after this brief
window of opportunity, go back to the restrictions of being a girl in
a severely patriarchal society. Better yet, read One Half from the
East and see.
"The bacha posh tradition exists because sons are valued in a
way daughters are not. It exists because there is a perception that
boys are capable of things girls are not. Are these thoughts unique
to Afghanistan? Sadly not at all.
There are many ways to devalue girls. It can be as flagrant as
barring girls from school or forcing them to become brides when they
should be learning how to read. It can be as insidious as jeering
that someone 'throws like a girl' or not blinking when a girl's voice
is interrupted by that of a boy."
Hashimi has written a book along the same lines for adult
readers: The Pearl That Broke Its Shell. Keep your eyes on this
blog. I'll review it as soon as I can get my hands on it. :)
On a personal note, I went to the UMaine Graduate School Open House.
It was super well organized and highly inspiring. Now I am even more
strongly convinced that the program in higher education student
development is my promised land.
A great big shout out goes out to all who worked hard to create such a
welcoming open house for prospective students!
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Juvenile fiction
"'You'll be able to do what no other girl can do'
She gets my attention with that one.
'You're lucky to have this chance. Girls would kill to take
your place.'
That is what my mother tells me. She's been chewing her lip for
the past three weeks, thinking about my aunt's suggestion to make me
into a boy...I don't know how people will react to me. I'm not even
sure how I'll react to me."
What was supposed to be a routine trip to the market drastically
changed the lives of Obayda's family. Her father was crippled by a
car bomb, losing his leg. He lost his job as a police officer and
retreated to his room. Desperate for help, the family--father,
mother, and four daughters--moved from the city of Kabul to the
countryside. After awhile the clan begins to resent their neediness.
If only there was a son to work and bring good luck!
In Afghanistan there is a way to acquire a temporary son. By
cutting her hair and wearing masculine attire a girl can become a
backa posh, a girl perceived to be and treated like a boy. It is
expected that she will transition back before puberty hits.
Try to imagine what it would be like to, at the age of ten,
overnight take on the traits and demeanor of a boy convincingly enough
to pass as male. Try to imagine what it's like to, after this brief
window of opportunity, go back to the restrictions of being a girl in
a severely patriarchal society. Better yet, read One Half from the
East and see.
"The bacha posh tradition exists because sons are valued in a
way daughters are not. It exists because there is a perception that
boys are capable of things girls are not. Are these thoughts unique
to Afghanistan? Sadly not at all.
There are many ways to devalue girls. It can be as flagrant as
barring girls from school or forcing them to become brides when they
should be learning how to read. It can be as insidious as jeering
that someone 'throws like a girl' or not blinking when a girl's voice
is interrupted by that of a boy."
Hashimi has written a book along the same lines for adult
readers: The Pearl That Broke Its Shell. Keep your eyes on this
blog. I'll review it as soon as I can get my hands on it. :)
On a personal note, I went to the UMaine Graduate School Open House.
It was super well organized and highly inspiring. Now I am even more
strongly convinced that the program in higher education student
development is my promised land.
A great big shout out goes out to all who worked hard to create such a
welcoming open house for prospective students!
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
In Praise Of Slowness
In Praise Of Slowness
Adult nonfiction
"So at first glance, the One-Minute Bedtime series sounds almost
too good to be true. Rattle off six or seven "stories," and still
finish inside ten minutes--what could be better? Then, as I begin to
wonder how quickly Amazon can ship me the full set, redemption comes
in the shape of a counter-question: Have I gone completely insane?..."
Carl Honore, London based Canadian journalist, was skimming a
newspaper while waiting in line at an airport when he had an
epiphany. If his beloved son's bedtime storytime had become simply a
task to accomplish as quickly as possible something was not right with
his life. The lives of those around him and, for that matter, the
rest of the world, seemed similarly out of balance.
"In 1982 Larry Dossey, an American physician, coined the term
'time-sickness' to describe the obsessive belief that 'time is getting
away, that there isn't enough of it, and that you must pedal faster
and faster to keep up.' These days the whole world is time sick. We
all belong to the same cult of speed. Standing in that lineup for my
flight home to London, I began to grapple with the questions that lie
at the heart of this book: Why are we always in such a rush? What is
the cure for time-sickness? Is it possible, or even desirable to slow
down?"
In Praise Of Slowness is a must read for anyone who experiences
the symptoms of time-sickness--just about all of us. Honore takes
pains to assure us that he is no Luddite, no computer phobic yearner
from simpler days. He believes that electronics can be tamed from
dictators to servants in the search for control of and balance in our
lives. He shows us that in arenas as diverse as food and education
slow can be very good...
...and very attainable.
In Praise Of Slowness is a must acquire for public and college
libraries and a wise investment for hurried, harried households.
On a personal note, community garden members got together recently to
plant garlic and do last minute winterization. Our fearless leader,
John, had decided to cut down the tomato plants which had grown to
take over the greenhouse instead of having a mess on his hands come
spring. I had a plan. I reminded him no cutting was allowed before I
had harvested all remaining tomatoes. My chum Sam and I achieved both
tasks. We harvested 7 bags of cherry tomatoes, many of which are
ripening on my windowsills in their own due time. We gave John an
early Christmas gift by performing a task he was dreading.
A great big shout out goes out to my Orono Community Garden family,
especially my right hand man, Sam!
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Adult nonfiction
"So at first glance, the One-Minute Bedtime series sounds almost
too good to be true. Rattle off six or seven "stories," and still
finish inside ten minutes--what could be better? Then, as I begin to
wonder how quickly Amazon can ship me the full set, redemption comes
in the shape of a counter-question: Have I gone completely insane?..."
Carl Honore, London based Canadian journalist, was skimming a
newspaper while waiting in line at an airport when he had an
epiphany. If his beloved son's bedtime storytime had become simply a
task to accomplish as quickly as possible something was not right with
his life. The lives of those around him and, for that matter, the
rest of the world, seemed similarly out of balance.
"In 1982 Larry Dossey, an American physician, coined the term
'time-sickness' to describe the obsessive belief that 'time is getting
away, that there isn't enough of it, and that you must pedal faster
and faster to keep up.' These days the whole world is time sick. We
all belong to the same cult of speed. Standing in that lineup for my
flight home to London, I began to grapple with the questions that lie
at the heart of this book: Why are we always in such a rush? What is
the cure for time-sickness? Is it possible, or even desirable to slow
down?"
In Praise Of Slowness is a must read for anyone who experiences
the symptoms of time-sickness--just about all of us. Honore takes
pains to assure us that he is no Luddite, no computer phobic yearner
from simpler days. He believes that electronics can be tamed from
dictators to servants in the search for control of and balance in our
lives. He shows us that in arenas as diverse as food and education
slow can be very good...
...and very attainable.
In Praise Of Slowness is a must acquire for public and college
libraries and a wise investment for hurried, harried households.
On a personal note, community garden members got together recently to
plant garlic and do last minute winterization. Our fearless leader,
John, had decided to cut down the tomato plants which had grown to
take over the greenhouse instead of having a mess on his hands come
spring. I had a plan. I reminded him no cutting was allowed before I
had harvested all remaining tomatoes. My chum Sam and I achieved both
tasks. We harvested 7 bags of cherry tomatoes, many of which are
ripening on my windowsills in their own due time. We gave John an
early Christmas gift by performing a task he was dreading.
A great big shout out goes out to my Orono Community Garden family,
especially my right hand man, Sam!
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Kids to the Rescue
Kids to the Rescue
Juvenile nonfiction
Quite long ago when the Seibert sisters strolled the streets of
Beverly, Massachusetts, the family abode sat on the top of a small
hill. On one side a steep hill bottomed out with a sheer drop off. I
was very slender and light. I could sled down the hill and soar out
thrillingly to a patch of ice. Harriet was much heavier. One day she
saw what I was doing and wanted to try. Even my minimal knowledge of
physics clued me in that that would not turn out well. Harriet would
get hurt. More importantly, I'd be in big trouble because my parents
had this rule that I was not allowed to do anything that would be
dangerous for Harriet to copy.
You can see where this is going. Luckily at the hospital we
learned Harriet would not be paralyzed for life.
I daresay most of us encountered at least one scary medical
emergency in our growing up years. While we can't prevent our
children from having similar experiences, we can empower them with
knowledge so they will know what to do. Maribeth and Darwin Boelts'
Kids to the Rescue: First Aid Techniques for Kids is an invaluable
family resource.
The idea is for kids to acquire the skills before they need to
use them. A wide array of situations ranging from nose bleed and
insect sting to clothing on fire and electric shock are portrayed with
clear illustrations and easy to understand instructions. In each case
the most important action is repeated. Children learn through role
play so that relevant cues will elicit the proper responses.
I sure wish I has this volume on hand for peace of mind back
when my kids were shorter than me. Not surprisingly it's put out by
Parenting Press.
On a personal note, Coming Out Week at UMaine was amazing. My
favorite parts were raising the beautiful rainbow flag and tie dying
tea shirts.
A great big shout out goes out to all who worked hard to make this
event happen.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Juvenile nonfiction
Quite long ago when the Seibert sisters strolled the streets of
Beverly, Massachusetts, the family abode sat on the top of a small
hill. On one side a steep hill bottomed out with a sheer drop off. I
was very slender and light. I could sled down the hill and soar out
thrillingly to a patch of ice. Harriet was much heavier. One day she
saw what I was doing and wanted to try. Even my minimal knowledge of
physics clued me in that that would not turn out well. Harriet would
get hurt. More importantly, I'd be in big trouble because my parents
had this rule that I was not allowed to do anything that would be
dangerous for Harriet to copy.
You can see where this is going. Luckily at the hospital we
learned Harriet would not be paralyzed for life.
I daresay most of us encountered at least one scary medical
emergency in our growing up years. While we can't prevent our
children from having similar experiences, we can empower them with
knowledge so they will know what to do. Maribeth and Darwin Boelts'
Kids to the Rescue: First Aid Techniques for Kids is an invaluable
family resource.
The idea is for kids to acquire the skills before they need to
use them. A wide array of situations ranging from nose bleed and
insect sting to clothing on fire and electric shock are portrayed with
clear illustrations and easy to understand instructions. In each case
the most important action is repeated. Children learn through role
play so that relevant cues will elicit the proper responses.
I sure wish I has this volume on hand for peace of mind back
when my kids were shorter than me. Not surprisingly it's put out by
Parenting Press.
On a personal note, Coming Out Week at UMaine was amazing. My
favorite parts were raising the beautiful rainbow flag and tie dying
tea shirts.
A great big shout out goes out to all who worked hard to make this
event happen.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
The Couple Next Door
The Couple Next Door
Adult Mystery
"Anne is staring. The front door is ajar; it is open about
three inches.
'I know I locked it!' Anne says, her voice shrill.
Marco says tersely, 'Maybe you forgot. You've had a lot to
drink.'
But Anne isn't listening. She's inside and running up the
staircase and down the hall to the baby's room, with Marco right at
her heels.
When she gets to the baby's room and sees the empty crib, she
screams."
Here we are less than a week away from Halloween. Did you think
I'd neglect to recommend a seasonaly scary piece of fiction? Think
again. Shari Lapena's The Couple Next Door is truly spine chilling.
Anne Conti did not want to go to a private dinner next door.
She's struggled with postpartum blues bordering on depression. The
baby sitter has cancelled at the last minute. Even when Marco says
things will be fine if they take the baby monitor (the infant herself
was not included in the invitation), she's not eager to be next door...
...especially when she sees the hostess, a former friend, openly
flirting with Marco who seems to be responding to her unsubtle
charms. When Anne finally persuades Marco to leave the party, they
stumble into every parent's worst nightmare.
Will the baby be discovered dead or alive?
And whodunit?
Anne, in addition to being on meds for depression, has had
disassociative episodes where she loses blocks of time. In one of
them she sent a bully to the hospital.
Anne's parents are the kind of rich that might tempt a
kidnapping for ransom of their only grandchild.
If Anne had hurt or killed little Cora, Marco might have faked a
kidnapping to cover up.
There's the fact that, unbeknownst to Anne, Marco's business is
tanking.
Underneath the middle class veneer of respectability there is a
lot of rot. And meanwhile the clock is ticking for Cora's safe
return. Read this fine thriller...
...if you dare!
This is Lapena's quite propitious suspense debut. I can't wait
to see what she comes up with next.
On a personal note, my daughter Amber put on a fantastically frightful
early Halloween party. Decorations from the graveyard outside to the
eerie fake family portraits were elaborate and creepy. Refreshments
were delish. Amber was the hostess with the mostest. She sure didn't
learn that from me.
A great big shout out (and thanks) go out to Amber and Brian from
perfectly executing this family tradition at a very busy time of the
school year.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Adult Mystery
"Anne is staring. The front door is ajar; it is open about
three inches.
'I know I locked it!' Anne says, her voice shrill.
Marco says tersely, 'Maybe you forgot. You've had a lot to
drink.'
But Anne isn't listening. She's inside and running up the
staircase and down the hall to the baby's room, with Marco right at
her heels.
When she gets to the baby's room and sees the empty crib, she
screams."
Here we are less than a week away from Halloween. Did you think
I'd neglect to recommend a seasonaly scary piece of fiction? Think
again. Shari Lapena's The Couple Next Door is truly spine chilling.
Anne Conti did not want to go to a private dinner next door.
She's struggled with postpartum blues bordering on depression. The
baby sitter has cancelled at the last minute. Even when Marco says
things will be fine if they take the baby monitor (the infant herself
was not included in the invitation), she's not eager to be next door...
...especially when she sees the hostess, a former friend, openly
flirting with Marco who seems to be responding to her unsubtle
charms. When Anne finally persuades Marco to leave the party, they
stumble into every parent's worst nightmare.
Will the baby be discovered dead or alive?
And whodunit?
Anne, in addition to being on meds for depression, has had
disassociative episodes where she loses blocks of time. In one of
them she sent a bully to the hospital.
Anne's parents are the kind of rich that might tempt a
kidnapping for ransom of their only grandchild.
If Anne had hurt or killed little Cora, Marco might have faked a
kidnapping to cover up.
There's the fact that, unbeknownst to Anne, Marco's business is
tanking.
Underneath the middle class veneer of respectability there is a
lot of rot. And meanwhile the clock is ticking for Cora's safe
return. Read this fine thriller...
...if you dare!
This is Lapena's quite propitious suspense debut. I can't wait
to see what she comes up with next.
On a personal note, my daughter Amber put on a fantastically frightful
early Halloween party. Decorations from the graveyard outside to the
eerie fake family portraits were elaborate and creepy. Refreshments
were delish. Amber was the hostess with the mostest. She sure didn't
learn that from me.
A great big shout out (and thanks) go out to Amber and Brian from
perfectly executing this family tradition at a very busy time of the
school year.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Friday, October 21, 2016
Elle & Coach
Elle & Coach
Adult nonfiction
"I left her bedroom in awe. This was no coincidence. This
wasn't some fluke...That dog woke me up to tell me that my daughter
was in danger. And he was right."
I was about halfway through a book on how dogs experience the
world when I spotted a volume on a spectacular example of how a
special dog can add immeasurably to the life of a youngster dealing
with chronic illness. Stefany Shaheen's Elle & Coach is a must read
for dog lovers and affecianados of uplifting narratives.
Shaheen was on a long awaited vacation trip with her husband and
four young children when she became embroiled in one of parents' worst
nightmares. Her oldest child, Elle, just was not herself. She was
behaving differently, losing weight, and having to pee too often. A
trip to the doctor and a urine test revealed a frightening diagnosis:
diabetes.
Shaheen's life became centered around her child's plight. She
had to keep Elle's blood sugars within a narrow range, a role normally
performed automatically by the pancreas. Too much or too little could
lead to medical crisis. Blood tests had to be performed frequently
each day and in the middle of the night. Insulin injections had to be
carefully calculated, taking into account factors ranging from food
and activity level to ambient temperature and hormones. There was
always something new to adjust to.
When she first heard of medic-alert dogs, Shaheen was
skeptical. It seemed an aweful stretch to believe that a canine could
monitor a person's blood sugars. Still she agreed to give it a try
and welcomed into her home and family a creature who changed Elle's
life for the better, even paving a path toward eventual adult
independence.
Even a confirmed cat person like me can find the aaw factor in
Elle & Coach. If you are a dog lover don't deprive yourself of the
chance to read this fine book. It will make your heart sing.
On a personal note, UMaine's Out of the Darkness (suicide awareness
and prevention) walk went really well. I laid a white carnation in
the river in memory of my cousin who killed himself, leaving three
young children behind. There were so many flowers floating together.
I talked to a woman who lost her beloved son. She was telling me how
her life was never again the same. When my son came by with laundry
for me to do I was ever so happy to see his living self.
A great big shout goes out to my chum, Shane, who organized the whole
thing and the exceptional crew who helped him make it something special.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Adult nonfiction
"I left her bedroom in awe. This was no coincidence. This
wasn't some fluke...That dog woke me up to tell me that my daughter
was in danger. And he was right."
I was about halfway through a book on how dogs experience the
world when I spotted a volume on a spectacular example of how a
special dog can add immeasurably to the life of a youngster dealing
with chronic illness. Stefany Shaheen's Elle & Coach is a must read
for dog lovers and affecianados of uplifting narratives.
Shaheen was on a long awaited vacation trip with her husband and
four young children when she became embroiled in one of parents' worst
nightmares. Her oldest child, Elle, just was not herself. She was
behaving differently, losing weight, and having to pee too often. A
trip to the doctor and a urine test revealed a frightening diagnosis:
diabetes.
Shaheen's life became centered around her child's plight. She
had to keep Elle's blood sugars within a narrow range, a role normally
performed automatically by the pancreas. Too much or too little could
lead to medical crisis. Blood tests had to be performed frequently
each day and in the middle of the night. Insulin injections had to be
carefully calculated, taking into account factors ranging from food
and activity level to ambient temperature and hormones. There was
always something new to adjust to.
When she first heard of medic-alert dogs, Shaheen was
skeptical. It seemed an aweful stretch to believe that a canine could
monitor a person's blood sugars. Still she agreed to give it a try
and welcomed into her home and family a creature who changed Elle's
life for the better, even paving a path toward eventual adult
independence.
Even a confirmed cat person like me can find the aaw factor in
Elle & Coach. If you are a dog lover don't deprive yourself of the
chance to read this fine book. It will make your heart sing.
On a personal note, UMaine's Out of the Darkness (suicide awareness
and prevention) walk went really well. I laid a white carnation in
the river in memory of my cousin who killed himself, leaving three
young children behind. There were so many flowers floating together.
I talked to a woman who lost her beloved son. She was telling me how
her life was never again the same. When my son came by with laundry
for me to do I was ever so happy to see his living self.
A great big shout goes out to my chum, Shane, who organized the whole
thing and the exceptional crew who helped him make it something special.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Inside of a Dog
Inside of a Dog
YA nonfiction
"Let your dog use his skills at watching you. Behavior that his
family doesn't like gets no attention, no food--nothing that your dog
wants from you. Good behavior gets it all. And you, watch the dog.
Look for the signs he gives you that he is about to pee, and take him
to a good place to do it. He'll learn from you. That is how the dog-
human group can turn itself into a family."
I know two couples who are bonding with the new arrivals in
their families and experiencing the joys and travails of turning
twosome into trio. There's making an environment safe for beings
lacking in common sense, teaching the meanings of words, sleep
deprivation...
But those cream colored puppies with their big, bright eyes and
waggy tails are so worth it all.
If you've ever been captivated by a canine companion or wondered
what the fluffy critter gazing at you is thinking and feeling
Alexandra Horowitz's Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, And Know
is a must read for you. I'm reviewing the young readers edition.
It's based on the previously published adult book of the same name.
Horowitz teaches college classes in animal behavior and canine
cognition. She also shared her home for seventeen years with a dog
named Pumpernickel (Pump for short). She blends state of the art
research and narrative beautifully. Her Pump stories are particularly
precious.
Harowitz says even our most closely bonded dogs are not little
humans in fur coats. However, neither are they wolf-like wild
varmints. Over centuries they have been changed by the process of
domestication and an evolution under which critters with human-valued
traits were more able to survive and reproduce.
Inside of a Dog is a very worthwhile voyage of discovery for
human readers. It's a passport to learning why dogs do the sometimes
perplexing things they do and how to use their innate wiring to
strengthen the canine-human bond...
...not to mention keeping your favorite shoes from being chewed
up.
On a personal note, at UMaine Student Women's Association did a great
job educating people about the Hyde Amendment which has been around
forty years too long. They did tabling culminating in an ice cream
party. They made beautiful art work out of flying birds many people
colored.
A great big shout out goes out to Student Women's Association's fine
educational and advocacy work.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
YA nonfiction
"Let your dog use his skills at watching you. Behavior that his
family doesn't like gets no attention, no food--nothing that your dog
wants from you. Good behavior gets it all. And you, watch the dog.
Look for the signs he gives you that he is about to pee, and take him
to a good place to do it. He'll learn from you. That is how the dog-
human group can turn itself into a family."
I know two couples who are bonding with the new arrivals in
their families and experiencing the joys and travails of turning
twosome into trio. There's making an environment safe for beings
lacking in common sense, teaching the meanings of words, sleep
deprivation...
But those cream colored puppies with their big, bright eyes and
waggy tails are so worth it all.
If you've ever been captivated by a canine companion or wondered
what the fluffy critter gazing at you is thinking and feeling
Alexandra Horowitz's Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, And Know
is a must read for you. I'm reviewing the young readers edition.
It's based on the previously published adult book of the same name.
Horowitz teaches college classes in animal behavior and canine
cognition. She also shared her home for seventeen years with a dog
named Pumpernickel (Pump for short). She blends state of the art
research and narrative beautifully. Her Pump stories are particularly
precious.
Harowitz says even our most closely bonded dogs are not little
humans in fur coats. However, neither are they wolf-like wild
varmints. Over centuries they have been changed by the process of
domestication and an evolution under which critters with human-valued
traits were more able to survive and reproduce.
Inside of a Dog is a very worthwhile voyage of discovery for
human readers. It's a passport to learning why dogs do the sometimes
perplexing things they do and how to use their innate wiring to
strengthen the canine-human bond...
...not to mention keeping your favorite shoes from being chewed
up.
On a personal note, at UMaine Student Women's Association did a great
job educating people about the Hyde Amendment which has been around
forty years too long. They did tabling culminating in an ice cream
party. They made beautiful art work out of flying birds many people
colored.
A great big shout out goes out to Student Women's Association's fine
educational and advocacy work.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
The Gender Creative Child
The Gender Creative Child
Parenting
When I was a child thoughts on gender identity hadn't changed
much since Genesis. You were male or female from the moment of birth
to your burial. (When a child arrived with ambiguous genitals a
surgeon was called in right off to correct the situation and prepare
the infant to fit into the one of two acceptable boxes). When
children felt they were born into wrong gendered bodies or dressed or
behaved in other gendered ways that was necessary-to-correct
pathology. Thank goodness many of us have come a long way since
then. Diane Ehrensaft's The Gender Creative Child gives great advice
for parenting beyond binary children in a world where too many people
have not gotten the memo.
Ehrensaft, who is a college professor and clinical psychologist,
has ushered many gender creative children and their families through
their journeys of discovery. She discusses many issues of concern to
parents wanting to know who their seemingly nonbinary offspring are
including;
*the range of non CIS gender kids including many who are not
transgender either;
*factors that may enter into their gender questioning and identifying;
*ways of telling if a child's nonconformity is a passing stage or
insistent and persistent;
*three paradigms treatment has been undertaken under,
and *the range of medical treatments from hormone blockers to surgery.
Ehrensaft's voice is conversational, respectful, and
comprehensible--even when she deals with the intricacies of hormones
and surgery. I would highly recommend her book for parents, teachers,
and others who love gender questioning youngsters. I believe The
Gender Creative Child is a must acquire for public and high school and
college libraries.
On a personal note, I never except in infancy made a good CIS female.
While Barbie dolls given to me by a babysitter, concerned that I was
in danger of never catching a guy, gathered dust I bounced between
performing at recitals in frilly dresses and emulating Huck Finn in my
spare time. Puberty made no difference. Make up and hair styling
seemed a waste of time. I much preferred outdoor recreation to
shopping. When I won my first drag show people said I did a good job
moving like a man. That was how I stood and moved in regular life.
Still I never fit transgender either. I loved being pregnant and
being a mother. When I learned about gender fluidity, in my sixties,
I finally felt like the happy ending ugly duckling. I love the even
more precise term I discovered in this book, gender ambidextrous.
That is me for sure!
A great big shout out goes out to all the fine folks who are allies to
and advocates for gender creative children, teens, and even late
blooming adults.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Parenting
When I was a child thoughts on gender identity hadn't changed
much since Genesis. You were male or female from the moment of birth
to your burial. (When a child arrived with ambiguous genitals a
surgeon was called in right off to correct the situation and prepare
the infant to fit into the one of two acceptable boxes). When
children felt they were born into wrong gendered bodies or dressed or
behaved in other gendered ways that was necessary-to-correct
pathology. Thank goodness many of us have come a long way since
then. Diane Ehrensaft's The Gender Creative Child gives great advice
for parenting beyond binary children in a world where too many people
have not gotten the memo.
Ehrensaft, who is a college professor and clinical psychologist,
has ushered many gender creative children and their families through
their journeys of discovery. She discusses many issues of concern to
parents wanting to know who their seemingly nonbinary offspring are
including;
*the range of non CIS gender kids including many who are not
transgender either;
*factors that may enter into their gender questioning and identifying;
*ways of telling if a child's nonconformity is a passing stage or
insistent and persistent;
*three paradigms treatment has been undertaken under,
and *the range of medical treatments from hormone blockers to surgery.
Ehrensaft's voice is conversational, respectful, and
comprehensible--even when she deals with the intricacies of hormones
and surgery. I would highly recommend her book for parents, teachers,
and others who love gender questioning youngsters. I believe The
Gender Creative Child is a must acquire for public and high school and
college libraries.
On a personal note, I never except in infancy made a good CIS female.
While Barbie dolls given to me by a babysitter, concerned that I was
in danger of never catching a guy, gathered dust I bounced between
performing at recitals in frilly dresses and emulating Huck Finn in my
spare time. Puberty made no difference. Make up and hair styling
seemed a waste of time. I much preferred outdoor recreation to
shopping. When I won my first drag show people said I did a good job
moving like a man. That was how I stood and moved in regular life.
Still I never fit transgender either. I loved being pregnant and
being a mother. When I learned about gender fluidity, in my sixties,
I finally felt like the happy ending ugly duckling. I love the even
more precise term I discovered in this book, gender ambidextrous.
That is me for sure!
A great big shout out goes out to all the fine folks who are allies to
and advocates for gender creative children, teens, and even late
blooming adults.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Little Princes
Little Princes
Adult nonfiction
"I left Little Princes (orphanage) with a traditional Nepali
leaving ceremony. Farid had come back from the hospital for a few
hours to see me off with the other volunteers. The children, one by
one, placed a red tikka on my forehead, gave me flowers, and bade me a
safe journey. As each of the eighteen children approached, each asked
if it was true that I was coming back next year. I confirmed it again
and again. Some of the volunteers looked skeptical. Farid only smiled.
I meant it. I would be back for them."
Like many other young adults, Conor Grennan, author of Little
Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal,
decided to spend a year travelling--in his case, around the world.
After eight years working he was burnt out and badly in need of a
change. He discovered quickly that the people in his life felt this
to be a self indulgent waste of money he should be saving for
parenting or retirement. To win them over he signed up to volunteer
with orphans in Nepal, one of the world's most impoverished nations.
Little did he know what was in store for him. He had no clue
that he would:
*come to care deeply for the children he was put in charge of and be
unable to move on from his experience;
*Open up his own children's home in Nepal;
*and go on extremely perilous journeys into the dangerous, civil war
torn mountains to locate these children's parents because...
...surprise, surprise...
...most of them and so many others were not orphans.
Traffickers had promised their impoverished parents they would take
them where they would receive food, shelter, and education, taken
large sums of money for doing so, and abandoned them.
This poignant adult coming of age novel is a great read. It is
not only a moving testimony to the ability of human evolution beyond
the point where developmental psychologists would have us believe
identity is set in stone, but a chance to learn about a fascinating
and complex country most of us can't even locate on a map.
On a personal note, I have a beautiful pair of beaded earrings from
Nepal. The organization that sells the jewelery enables very poor
people in that country to bring in money to improve the lives of their
families and communities. This empowerment gives them the confidence
needed for leadership and problem solving.
A great big shout out goes out to all who go all out to improve the
lives of the poorest of the poor.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Adult nonfiction
"I left Little Princes (orphanage) with a traditional Nepali
leaving ceremony. Farid had come back from the hospital for a few
hours to see me off with the other volunteers. The children, one by
one, placed a red tikka on my forehead, gave me flowers, and bade me a
safe journey. As each of the eighteen children approached, each asked
if it was true that I was coming back next year. I confirmed it again
and again. Some of the volunteers looked skeptical. Farid only smiled.
I meant it. I would be back for them."
Like many other young adults, Conor Grennan, author of Little
Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal,
decided to spend a year travelling--in his case, around the world.
After eight years working he was burnt out and badly in need of a
change. He discovered quickly that the people in his life felt this
to be a self indulgent waste of money he should be saving for
parenting or retirement. To win them over he signed up to volunteer
with orphans in Nepal, one of the world's most impoverished nations.
Little did he know what was in store for him. He had no clue
that he would:
*come to care deeply for the children he was put in charge of and be
unable to move on from his experience;
*Open up his own children's home in Nepal;
*and go on extremely perilous journeys into the dangerous, civil war
torn mountains to locate these children's parents because...
...surprise, surprise...
...most of them and so many others were not orphans.
Traffickers had promised their impoverished parents they would take
them where they would receive food, shelter, and education, taken
large sums of money for doing so, and abandoned them.
This poignant adult coming of age novel is a great read. It is
not only a moving testimony to the ability of human evolution beyond
the point where developmental psychologists would have us believe
identity is set in stone, but a chance to learn about a fascinating
and complex country most of us can't even locate on a map.
On a personal note, I have a beautiful pair of beaded earrings from
Nepal. The organization that sells the jewelery enables very poor
people in that country to bring in money to improve the lives of their
families and communities. This empowerment gives them the confidence
needed for leadership and problem solving.
A great big shout out goes out to all who go all out to improve the
lives of the poorest of the poor.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Fwd: Enrique's Journey
Sent from my iPod
Begin forwarded message:
From: Julia Hathaway <beaniebabylover@gmail.com>
Date: October 11, 2016 2:29:11 PM EDT
To: "beaniebabylover.fireworks@blogger.com" <beaniebabylover.fireworks@blogger.com>
Subject: Enrique's Journey
Enrique's Journey
Adult/YA (unfortunately) nonfiction
"Black rats and a pig root around in a ravine where the children play.
At dinnertime, the mothers count out three tortillas for each child. If there are no tortillas, they try to fill their children's bellies with a glass of water with a teaspoon of sugar mixed in."
In the most obscene and vicious election year of my life so far we're hearing a lot of condemnation of undocumented immigrants. They come to America to take advantage of our welfare system and live la dolce vita off our tax money. Simultaneously they take the jobs we need. They bring in drugs and make our crime rates soar. They impose a burden on our educational, medical, and penal systems.
The purveyers of those sound bites would almost certainly never read Sonia Nazario's Enrique's Journey. It behooves the rest of us to, however. This eloquent book simultaneously puts a human face on a complex plight and uses a young man's narrative to lead to greater understanding. I know I learned a great deal.
Many of us picture Central American and Mexican undocumented immigrants as males who send home money earned in the States. A lot these days are mothers (Hispanic mothers for whom family is of prime importance) driven by poverty to a very cruel Sophie's choice: to leave their beloved children with relatives and send the money that will give them a chance to survive or to risk starving together. They usually know full well that odds are high they will perish in the attempt. But they see no other choice.
This was the plight of Lourdes, Enrique's mother. Despite scrubbing laundry in a stream, selling food and used clothes door to door, and vending small items on the sidewalk she could scarcely feed her children (Enrique and his sister)-- mind afford school supplies as basic as pencils. How will they complete grade school? There was only place she could think of where she could earn the money they desperately needed. When Enrique was five she started the journey North.
Children in their teens and younger, striving to rejoin the mothers who left them, make another ever growing migrant stream. Enrique was one of those youngsters. Left with his father, he was sent to his grandmother when his dad started a new family. That was only the first time he was passed on. He was one of those child vendors scrambling to earn a few centavos. (Other children scavenged at a dump amid filth and medical waste). An uncle who took him in after his grandmother decided he was more than she could handle was killed. He believed that if he could just be together with his mother again his life would finally get better.
What he and other children went through is best captured in the phrase Hell on Earth. I can't describe it vividly enough. You have to read the book. Not all survived and many lost limbs falling under the wheels of trains they were riding on top of. Some of the people who robbed, beat, and took advantage of them were police. Imagine, as I did, that these were our children.
If humanitarian instincts and/or religious teachings aren't enough to motivate you to do something, ask yourself these questions:
Whose trade pacts make it impossible for so many Mexicans and Central Americans to survive in their homes?
Whose country destabilizes nations by selling arms and propping up dictators?
Whose citizens enrich gangs by providing the demand in the drug supply/demand equation?
That's all I have to say.
At the moment.
On a personal note, I read this book to get ready for a presentation by a graduate student who has seen first hand the cruelty that is inflicted on people trying to cross the border. Can you believe some people even slash bottles of water that are meant to keep them from dying of thirst? How can anyone be that heartless?
A great big shout out goes out to those who do their best to help undocumented immigrants.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Enrique's Journey
Enrique's Journey
Adult/YA (unfortunately) nonfiction
"Black rats and a pig root around in a ravine where the children
play.
At dinnertime, the mothers count out three tortillas for each
child. If there are no tortillas, they try to fill their children's
bellies with a glass of water with a teaspoon of sugar mixed in."
In the most obscene and vicious election year of my life so far
we're hearing a lot of condemnation of undocumented immigrants. They
come to America to take advantage of our welfare system and live la
dolce vita off our tax money. Simultaneously they take the jobs we
need. They bring in drugs and make our crime rates soar. They impose
a burden on our educational, medical, and penal systems.
The purveyers of those sound bites would almost certainly never
read Sonia Nazario's Enrique's Journey. It behooves the rest of us
to, however. This eloquent book simultaneously puts a human face on a
complex plight and uses a young man's narrative to lead to greater
understanding. I know I learned a great deal.
Many of us picture Central American and Mexican undocumented
immigrants as males who send home money earned in the States. A lot
these days are mothers (Hispanic mothers for whom family is of prime
importance) driven by poverty to a very cruel Sophie's choice: to
leave their beloved children with relatives and send the money that
will give them a chance to survive or to risk starving together. They
usually know full well that odds are high they will perish in the
attempt. But they see no other choice.
This was the plight of Lourdes, Enrique's mother. Despite
scrubbing laundry in a stream, selling food and used clothes door to
door, and vending small items on the sidewalk she could scarcely feed
her children (Enrique and his sister)-- mind afford school supplies as
basic as pencils. How will they complete grade school? There was only
place she could think of where she could earn the money they
desperately needed. When Enrique was five she started the journey
North.
Children in their teens and younger, striving to rejoin the
mothers who left them, make another ever growing migrant stream.
Enrique was one of those youngsters. Left with his father, he was
sent to his grandmother when his dad started a new family. That was
only the first time he was passed on. He was one of those child
vendors scrambling to earn a few centavos. (Other children scavenged
at a dump amid filth and medical waste). An uncle who took him in
after his grandmother decided he was more than she could handle was
killed. He believed that if he could just be together with his mother
again his life would finally get better.
What he and other children went through is best captured in the
phrase Hell on Earth. I can't describe it vividly enough. You have
to read the book. Not all survived and many lost limbs falling under
the wheels of trains they were riding on top of. Some of the people
who robbed, beat, and took advantage of them were police. Imagine, as
I did, that these were our children.
If humanitarian instincts and/or religious teachings aren't
enough to motivate you to do something, ask yourself these questions:
Whose trade pacts make it impossible for so many Mexicans and Central
Americans to survive in their homes?
Whose country destabilizes nations by selling arms and propping up
dictators?
Whose citizens enrich gangs by providing the demand in the drug supply/
demand equation?
That's all I have to say.
At the moment.
On a personal note, I read this book to get ready for a presentation
by a graduate student who has seen first hand the cruelty that is
inflicted on people trying to cross the border. Can you believe some
people even slash bottles of water that are meant to keep them from
dying of thirst? How can anyone be that heartless?
A great big shout out goes out to those who do their best to help
undocumented immigrants.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Adult/YA (unfortunately) nonfiction
"Black rats and a pig root around in a ravine where the children
play.
At dinnertime, the mothers count out three tortillas for each
child. If there are no tortillas, they try to fill their children's
bellies with a glass of water with a teaspoon of sugar mixed in."
In the most obscene and vicious election year of my life so far
we're hearing a lot of condemnation of undocumented immigrants. They
come to America to take advantage of our welfare system and live la
dolce vita off our tax money. Simultaneously they take the jobs we
need. They bring in drugs and make our crime rates soar. They impose
a burden on our educational, medical, and penal systems.
The purveyers of those sound bites would almost certainly never
read Sonia Nazario's Enrique's Journey. It behooves the rest of us
to, however. This eloquent book simultaneously puts a human face on a
complex plight and uses a young man's narrative to lead to greater
understanding. I know I learned a great deal.
Many of us picture Central American and Mexican undocumented
immigrants as males who send home money earned in the States. A lot
these days are mothers (Hispanic mothers for whom family is of prime
importance) driven by poverty to a very cruel Sophie's choice: to
leave their beloved children with relatives and send the money that
will give them a chance to survive or to risk starving together. They
usually know full well that odds are high they will perish in the
attempt. But they see no other choice.
This was the plight of Lourdes, Enrique's mother. Despite
scrubbing laundry in a stream, selling food and used clothes door to
door, and vending small items on the sidewalk she could scarcely feed
her children (Enrique and his sister)-- mind afford school supplies as
basic as pencils. How will they complete grade school? There was only
place she could think of where she could earn the money they
desperately needed. When Enrique was five she started the journey
North.
Children in their teens and younger, striving to rejoin the
mothers who left them, make another ever growing migrant stream.
Enrique was one of those youngsters. Left with his father, he was
sent to his grandmother when his dad started a new family. That was
only the first time he was passed on. He was one of those child
vendors scrambling to earn a few centavos. (Other children scavenged
at a dump amid filth and medical waste). An uncle who took him in
after his grandmother decided he was more than she could handle was
killed. He believed that if he could just be together with his mother
again his life would finally get better.
What he and other children went through is best captured in the
phrase Hell on Earth. I can't describe it vividly enough. You have
to read the book. Not all survived and many lost limbs falling under
the wheels of trains they were riding on top of. Some of the people
who robbed, beat, and took advantage of them were police. Imagine, as
I did, that these were our children.
If humanitarian instincts and/or religious teachings aren't
enough to motivate you to do something, ask yourself these questions:
Whose trade pacts make it impossible for so many Mexicans and Central
Americans to survive in their homes?
Whose country destabilizes nations by selling arms and propping up
dictators?
Whose citizens enrich gangs by providing the demand in the drug supply/
demand equation?
That's all I have to say.
At the moment.
On a personal note, I read this book to get ready for a presentation
by a graduate student who has seen first hand the cruelty that is
inflicted on people trying to cross the border. Can you believe some
people even slash bottles of water that are meant to keep them from
dying of thirst? How can anyone be that heartless?
A great big shout out goes out to those who do their best to help
undocumented immigrants.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Monday, October 10, 2016
Thunder Boy Jr.
Thunder Boy Jr.
Picture book
"I love my dad but
I don't want to be exactly like him.
I love my dad but
I want to be mostly myself."
Sherman Alexie's Thunder Boy Jr. is a treat for all kids and
parents not exactly thrilled about being named after a same gender
parent.
The protagonist was given his name at birth by his dad, the
original Thunder Boy. His mom had wanted him to be Sam. He very much
wishes she'd had her way. As much as he loves his father, whom he
considers awesome, he wants a name of his own.
It turns out, however, his father is not totally clueless. He
comes up with a solution that delights them both.
On a personal note, I've always had a tolerate/hate relationship with
the name Julia. When my mother and I lived in the same home I hated
being little Julia or Julie. I went through so many nicknames, trying
them on for size. The more I grew into myself the less Julia fit.
Finally I have come up with Jules which I adore. Some people in my
generation act like I'm killing a cute kitten. Julia is such a pretty
name. They can have it. It will take so long to adjust. I notice
they don't have this problem when someone gets married. On the other
hand my student friends know exactly where I'm coming from. I want to
be called Jules because that is who I am.
A great big shout out goes out to all who have struggled with birth
names that aren't good fits.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Picture book
"I love my dad but
I don't want to be exactly like him.
I love my dad but
I want to be mostly myself."
Sherman Alexie's Thunder Boy Jr. is a treat for all kids and
parents not exactly thrilled about being named after a same gender
parent.
The protagonist was given his name at birth by his dad, the
original Thunder Boy. His mom had wanted him to be Sam. He very much
wishes she'd had her way. As much as he loves his father, whom he
considers awesome, he wants a name of his own.
It turns out, however, his father is not totally clueless. He
comes up with a solution that delights them both.
On a personal note, I've always had a tolerate/hate relationship with
the name Julia. When my mother and I lived in the same home I hated
being little Julia or Julie. I went through so many nicknames, trying
them on for size. The more I grew into myself the less Julia fit.
Finally I have come up with Jules which I adore. Some people in my
generation act like I'm killing a cute kitten. Julia is such a pretty
name. They can have it. It will take so long to adjust. I notice
they don't have this problem when someone gets married. On the other
hand my student friends know exactly where I'm coming from. I want to
be called Jules because that is who I am.
A great big shout out goes out to all who have struggled with birth
names that aren't good fits.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
My Brother Charlie
My Brother Charlie
Picture book
Adults can find autism hard to understand. Imagine how
confusing it might be to a young child...especially if the person with
the diagnosis is a sibling. Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth
Peete's My Brother Charlie is a great resource for such children.
Twins Callie and Charlie have been together from the moment of
conception. They share many things like brown eyes and a fondness for
hot chocolate. But in one way they're very different. Charlie has
autism.
Charlie has many strengths. He's good with animals. He swims
like a fish. He shows concern when people are hurt. But sometimes he
withdraws into himself or does dangerous things without realizing they
aren't safe.
Callie is a very human narrator who describes a wealth of
feelings and perceptions including frustration that Charlie ruins the
best playdates.
This an excellent book for young relatives of people with autism
and a must acquire for school and public libraries.
On a personal note, feelings can be very complicated for children and
adults with siblings who think and feel differently. I know that from
personal experience.
A great big shout out goes out to people growing up with siblings with
autism in a world that isn't always accepting or understanding.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Picture book
Adults can find autism hard to understand. Imagine how
confusing it might be to a young child...especially if the person with
the diagnosis is a sibling. Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth
Peete's My Brother Charlie is a great resource for such children.
Twins Callie and Charlie have been together from the moment of
conception. They share many things like brown eyes and a fondness for
hot chocolate. But in one way they're very different. Charlie has
autism.
Charlie has many strengths. He's good with animals. He swims
like a fish. He shows concern when people are hurt. But sometimes he
withdraws into himself or does dangerous things without realizing they
aren't safe.
Callie is a very human narrator who describes a wealth of
feelings and perceptions including frustration that Charlie ruins the
best playdates.
This an excellent book for young relatives of people with autism
and a must acquire for school and public libraries.
On a personal note, feelings can be very complicated for children and
adults with siblings who think and feel differently. I know that from
personal experience.
A great big shout out goes out to people growing up with siblings with
autism in a world that isn't always accepting or understanding.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Sad, the Dog
Sad, the Dog
Picture book
Sandy Fussell's Sad, the Dog is a lovely little story with a
very big message.
It's a story of a little dog, an unwanted Christmas gift, whose
people never get around to naming him. They're always finding fault
with his doggy behaviors. One day they move, leaving him behind with
no one to fill his bowl.
Is it all over for our canine protagonist? Nope. Fate has
something great in store for him. Parents and children will love this
heart warming read aloud.
Sadly even people with high hopes of canine companionship often
return dogs when the match is not as perfect as they expected it to
be. Their ex dogs and other potential puppy pals are at shelters
eagerly awaiting forever families...
...and adopt a shelter dog month is the perfect time to enrich
your life with a canine companion.
On a personal note, I just met Shelley and John Jemmison's too cute
for words caramel puppy.
A great big shout out goes put to this twosome turned trio.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Picture book
Sandy Fussell's Sad, the Dog is a lovely little story with a
very big message.
It's a story of a little dog, an unwanted Christmas gift, whose
people never get around to naming him. They're always finding fault
with his doggy behaviors. One day they move, leaving him behind with
no one to fill his bowl.
Is it all over for our canine protagonist? Nope. Fate has
something great in store for him. Parents and children will love this
heart warming read aloud.
Sadly even people with high hopes of canine companionship often
return dogs when the match is not as perfect as they expected it to
be. Their ex dogs and other potential puppy pals are at shelters
eagerly awaiting forever families...
...and adopt a shelter dog month is the perfect time to enrich
your life with a canine companion.
On a personal note, I just met Shelley and John Jemmison's too cute
for words caramel puppy.
A great big shout out goes put to this twosome turned trio.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Wild Ideas
Wild Ideas
Picture book
"All around you, creatures seek solutions.
Pigeons procrastinate.
Bees calculate.
Elephants innovate.
Bears keep count."
We all run into problems. No matter how educated we get, our
best plans (and sonetimes daily routines) contain unforseen snags.
Sometimes our attempted solutions get us nowhere fast. What can we do?
In her Wild Ideas: Let Nature Inspire Your Thinking Elin Kelsey
encourages readers to look to other species for ideas. The book is
full of scientist studied examples of animal innovation. Did you know
that:
*chimpanzees use leaves in drinking;
*otters crack crabshells with rocks;
*and humpback whales can trap fish in bubble nets?
Readers are urged to appreciate the innovations of the animal
world and, when faced with problems, to let their own imaginations run
wild.
On a personal note, UMaine is on October break. I'm using the time
and ideal weather to make progress on shed cleaning.
A great big shout out goes out to students taking a well deserved rest.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Picture book
"All around you, creatures seek solutions.
Pigeons procrastinate.
Bees calculate.
Elephants innovate.
Bears keep count."
We all run into problems. No matter how educated we get, our
best plans (and sonetimes daily routines) contain unforseen snags.
Sometimes our attempted solutions get us nowhere fast. What can we do?
In her Wild Ideas: Let Nature Inspire Your Thinking Elin Kelsey
encourages readers to look to other species for ideas. The book is
full of scientist studied examples of animal innovation. Did you know
that:
*chimpanzees use leaves in drinking;
*otters crack crabshells with rocks;
*and humpback whales can trap fish in bubble nets?
Readers are urged to appreciate the innovations of the animal
world and, when faced with problems, to let their own imaginations run
wild.
On a personal note, UMaine is on October break. I'm using the time
and ideal weather to make progress on shed cleaning.
A great big shout out goes out to students taking a well deserved rest.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Saturday, October 8, 2016
My Facebook for Seniors
My Facebook for Seniors
Reference
If you are looking for a guide to navigating the social media
world, Michael Millers My Facebook for Seniors is a good place to
start. The book begins at the most basic step--signing up and getting
started. It goes on to give guidance on just about every situation
imaginable. The language is very novice friendly. A very detailed
index makes it a very good resource for answering specific questions.
The book has another really good aspect to it. In addition to
techniques it gives advice on stuff like what is good (major life
events, interesting thoughts) and bad (inflamatory opinions, anything
that could be used in a court of law) to share. A number of the no
nos could lead to identity theft, home break ins when you're off on
vacation, or stalking. Read the section very carefully.
Basically this is a very good book with a very bad title. The
language we use effects the ways we perceive ourselves and others. We
already live in a very ageist society where anyone who has passed his/
her 50th birthday is portrayed as dangerously inept when confronted
with electronics. We don't need this prejudice constantly
reinforced. How about an updated version being titled My Facebook for
Newbies or My Facebook for The Uninitiated? It would be more accurate
and less demeaning.
On a personal note, I was overjoyed to get an unexpected visit from my
son today. With his busy schedule it is quite a treat to get to chat
with him.
A great big shout out goes out to my son and his sisters of whom I am
very proud.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Reference
If you are looking for a guide to navigating the social media
world, Michael Millers My Facebook for Seniors is a good place to
start. The book begins at the most basic step--signing up and getting
started. It goes on to give guidance on just about every situation
imaginable. The language is very novice friendly. A very detailed
index makes it a very good resource for answering specific questions.
The book has another really good aspect to it. In addition to
techniques it gives advice on stuff like what is good (major life
events, interesting thoughts) and bad (inflamatory opinions, anything
that could be used in a court of law) to share. A number of the no
nos could lead to identity theft, home break ins when you're off on
vacation, or stalking. Read the section very carefully.
Basically this is a very good book with a very bad title. The
language we use effects the ways we perceive ourselves and others. We
already live in a very ageist society where anyone who has passed his/
her 50th birthday is portrayed as dangerously inept when confronted
with electronics. We don't need this prejudice constantly
reinforced. How about an updated version being titled My Facebook for
Newbies or My Facebook for The Uninitiated? It would be more accurate
and less demeaning.
On a personal note, I was overjoyed to get an unexpected visit from my
son today. With his busy schedule it is quite a treat to get to chat
with him.
A great big shout out goes out to my son and his sisters of whom I am
very proud.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
The Artful Bird
The Artful Bird
Adult crafts
Are you fascinated by birds? Do you enjoy making distinctive
creations to personalize your home or give to favorite people? Do
compliments from friends and family members who CAN'T BELIEVE you made
it yourself put a smile on your face? If so, you will really enjoy
Abigail Patner Glassenberg's The Artful Bird. This is a slightly
older book. Libraries (possibly inter library loan) are your best bet
for getting your hands on it.
The birds are crafted with mostly simple tools, many of which
you'll have on hand. Materials probably won't cost you a lot,
particularly if you create and shop with friends and family members.
An introduction brings newbies up to speed on materials, tools, and
techniques. Then you get to the fun part: the projects:
*Wrens gaze through a window;
*a fluffy chick looks like it just hatched from an egg;
*a woodpecker digs for tasty insects and grubs;
*a pink flamingo peeks between its long, skinny legs...
There are sixteen patterns in all. The crows would fit really well
into Halloween (coming right up) decorations. Even the lowly gull is
endowed with grace and beauty.
Glassenberg transitioned from middle school teacher to
professional crafter following the birth of her baby. She started out
following patterns. Gradually, as she developed skills and
confidence, she started to design her own projects. This is a route
she encourages readers to take.
On a personal note, Friday night I had a surreal experience. I was to
speak to the audience of an outdoor showing of The Jungle Book about
Real Food Challenge. I thought out what I was going to say. I was
there in plenty of time. The techie guys set up the movie. A Monster
rep dropped off a bunch of free samples. They and I were the only
ones who showed up.
I guess there were plenty of other activities going on.
A great big shout out goes out to the techie guys who did a grand job
of set up. They even produced a huge inflatable screen.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Adult crafts
Are you fascinated by birds? Do you enjoy making distinctive
creations to personalize your home or give to favorite people? Do
compliments from friends and family members who CAN'T BELIEVE you made
it yourself put a smile on your face? If so, you will really enjoy
Abigail Patner Glassenberg's The Artful Bird. This is a slightly
older book. Libraries (possibly inter library loan) are your best bet
for getting your hands on it.
The birds are crafted with mostly simple tools, many of which
you'll have on hand. Materials probably won't cost you a lot,
particularly if you create and shop with friends and family members.
An introduction brings newbies up to speed on materials, tools, and
techniques. Then you get to the fun part: the projects:
*Wrens gaze through a window;
*a fluffy chick looks like it just hatched from an egg;
*a woodpecker digs for tasty insects and grubs;
*a pink flamingo peeks between its long, skinny legs...
There are sixteen patterns in all. The crows would fit really well
into Halloween (coming right up) decorations. Even the lowly gull is
endowed with grace and beauty.
Glassenberg transitioned from middle school teacher to
professional crafter following the birth of her baby. She started out
following patterns. Gradually, as she developed skills and
confidence, she started to design her own projects. This is a route
she encourages readers to take.
On a personal note, Friday night I had a surreal experience. I was to
speak to the audience of an outdoor showing of The Jungle Book about
Real Food Challenge. I thought out what I was going to say. I was
there in plenty of time. The techie guys set up the movie. A Monster
rep dropped off a bunch of free samples. They and I were the only
ones who showed up.
I guess there were plenty of other activities going on.
A great big shout out goes out to the techie guys who did a grand job
of set up. They even produced a huge inflatable screen.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Can We Help?
Can We Help?
Picture book
Kids want to engage in the world of work they see parents and
other significant people involved in. Whether dad is doing the dishes
or mom is working on the family car, "Can I
help?" is a very frequent question.
George Ancona's Can We Help? takes children's inherent altruism
a step further by showing they can contribute meaningfully to
communities as well as families. You see children knitting hats and
scarves for homeless people, growing produce in a community garden,
helping deliver hot meals, working with service dogs, and doing other
acts of caring. The pictures are really inspiring.
This is not a book to just read and set aside. Parents,
teachers, and youth group organizers can use it as a springboard to
discussing ways of involvement in line with community needs and
children's interests. There is a world of potential out there!!!
On a personal note, after a summer break my two choirs are starting up
again. Singing in choir is by far my favorite part of summer worship.
A great big shout out goes out to my two church choir families.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Picture book
Kids want to engage in the world of work they see parents and
other significant people involved in. Whether dad is doing the dishes
or mom is working on the family car, "Can I
help?" is a very frequent question.
George Ancona's Can We Help? takes children's inherent altruism
a step further by showing they can contribute meaningfully to
communities as well as families. You see children knitting hats and
scarves for homeless people, growing produce in a community garden,
helping deliver hot meals, working with service dogs, and doing other
acts of caring. The pictures are really inspiring.
This is not a book to just read and set aside. Parents,
teachers, and youth group organizers can use it as a springboard to
discussing ways of involvement in line with community needs and
children's interests. There is a world of potential out there!!!
On a personal note, after a summer break my two choirs are starting up
again. Singing in choir is by far my favorite part of summer worship.
A great big shout out goes out to my two church choir families.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Goyangi Means Cat
Goyangi Means Cat
Picture book
Imagine, as a very young child, coming from Korea to the United
States to live with your adoptive family. You know no English and
your new parents know very little Korean. You miss your friends.
Everything is different--even the food!
That is the plight of Soo Min, the protagonist of Christine
McDonnell's Goyangi Means Cat. A lot in her life is confusing and
scary. The family goyangi, cat, provides security and comfort.
Imagine how she feels the day goyangi gets out of their
apartment and is lost in a big city.
Written by the mother of two Korean-born children, Goyangi Means
Cat draws the reader into the world of one of our littlest immigrants.
On a personal note, my goyangi, Joey, has finally discovered what his
cat hut is for. I tried luring him in with toys, cat candy, and
catnip. Then one day when my mind was elsewhere I saw a little face
looking out at me.
A great big shout out goes out to the cats (and dogs) who add so much
to our lives.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Picture book
Imagine, as a very young child, coming from Korea to the United
States to live with your adoptive family. You know no English and
your new parents know very little Korean. You miss your friends.
Everything is different--even the food!
That is the plight of Soo Min, the protagonist of Christine
McDonnell's Goyangi Means Cat. A lot in her life is confusing and
scary. The family goyangi, cat, provides security and comfort.
Imagine how she feels the day goyangi gets out of their
apartment and is lost in a big city.
Written by the mother of two Korean-born children, Goyangi Means
Cat draws the reader into the world of one of our littlest immigrants.
On a personal note, my goyangi, Joey, has finally discovered what his
cat hut is for. I tried luring him in with toys, cat candy, and
catnip. Then one day when my mind was elsewhere I saw a little face
looking out at me.
A great big shout out goes out to the cats (and dogs) who add so much
to our lives.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Following Papa's Song
Following Papa's Song
Picture book
Recall awhile back I reviewed a beautiful picture book called
Meet Me at the Moon about the love between a mother elephant and her
little one. I was recently shelf reading the picture books in the
Orono Public Library--basically making sure each book is in the right
place--when I discovered a slightly older book by the same author. Her
art work is so distinctive I could recognize it instantly.
Gianna Marino's Following Papa's Song is built around the love
between a migrating whale father and child. Little Blue is full of
questions. Is it time? How will we know which way to go? When I am
big, Papa, will I still hear your song?
As they travel Little Blue asks what lies below that they can't
see. His father tells him of a magical world. Not surprisingly he
slips away to explore. The domain lives up to his expectations. But
suddenly he realizes he is alone in a vast ocean.
Maybe it's time to listen.
Marino's vivid, colorful pictures have a texture like that of
ocean water. They are a perfect accompaniment to a tender love story.
On a personal note, autumn is evident in Penobscot County. Days are
shorter. Night temps are dropping toward frost. The leaves are
turning vivid shades of red, orange, and yellow.
A great big shout out goes out to our back in school students. God
willing, next fall I will be one of them.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Picture book
Recall awhile back I reviewed a beautiful picture book called
Meet Me at the Moon about the love between a mother elephant and her
little one. I was recently shelf reading the picture books in the
Orono Public Library--basically making sure each book is in the right
place--when I discovered a slightly older book by the same author. Her
art work is so distinctive I could recognize it instantly.
Gianna Marino's Following Papa's Song is built around the love
between a migrating whale father and child. Little Blue is full of
questions. Is it time? How will we know which way to go? When I am
big, Papa, will I still hear your song?
As they travel Little Blue asks what lies below that they can't
see. His father tells him of a magical world. Not surprisingly he
slips away to explore. The domain lives up to his expectations. But
suddenly he realizes he is alone in a vast ocean.
Maybe it's time to listen.
Marino's vivid, colorful pictures have a texture like that of
ocean water. They are a perfect accompaniment to a tender love story.
On a personal note, autumn is evident in Penobscot County. Days are
shorter. Night temps are dropping toward frost. The leaves are
turning vivid shades of red, orange, and yellow.
A great big shout out goes out to our back in school students. God
willing, next fall I will be one of them.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
King For A Day
King For A Day
Picture book
The most wonderful picture books are combinations of the novel
and the familiar. Rukhsana Khan's King For A Day beautifully contains
both elements. Emotions familiar to Everychild build identification
with Malik, a Pakastani participant in a spring kite festival.
Children on rooftops compete to be king of Basant. It's a
series of individual skirmishes in which children manuever their kites
to cut the strings on rivals. (Fallen kites are collected for use the
next year).
You don't have to imagine the spectacle of all the soaring
kites. Christiane Kromer's collages beautifully show both vista and
texture. You have to touch the pages to remind yourself they are not
three dimensional.
Malik is determined to win. He is especially intent on
defeating the bully next door who has hit him and thrown stones at his
sister. With his small, agile kite, Falcon, he takes on the bully's
huge expensive kite which he has nicknamed Goliath.
Now if I were a teacher I Would Acquire King For A Day and save
it for spring. Unlike kids of my day, most of today's children
fortunate enough to be introduced to kite flying use commercially made
toys. A clever teacher will easily be able to incorporate many
aspects of curriculum (language arts, writing, math, science, art,
physical exercise...) into a fun and captivating unit by enabling
students to...
...go fly a kite.
On a personal note, I am engaged in the long overdue reorganization of
my storage shed. This involves a lot of thinning out of stuff I
thought I'd need. When it is done I will be able to store more stuff
from the house and get the house better organized.
Just don't ask me why.
A great big shout goes out to my friend, David's son, also David, who
is walking. What a big boy!
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Picture book
The most wonderful picture books are combinations of the novel
and the familiar. Rukhsana Khan's King For A Day beautifully contains
both elements. Emotions familiar to Everychild build identification
with Malik, a Pakastani participant in a spring kite festival.
Children on rooftops compete to be king of Basant. It's a
series of individual skirmishes in which children manuever their kites
to cut the strings on rivals. (Fallen kites are collected for use the
next year).
You don't have to imagine the spectacle of all the soaring
kites. Christiane Kromer's collages beautifully show both vista and
texture. You have to touch the pages to remind yourself they are not
three dimensional.
Malik is determined to win. He is especially intent on
defeating the bully next door who has hit him and thrown stones at his
sister. With his small, agile kite, Falcon, he takes on the bully's
huge expensive kite which he has nicknamed Goliath.
Now if I were a teacher I Would Acquire King For A Day and save
it for spring. Unlike kids of my day, most of today's children
fortunate enough to be introduced to kite flying use commercially made
toys. A clever teacher will easily be able to incorporate many
aspects of curriculum (language arts, writing, math, science, art,
physical exercise...) into a fun and captivating unit by enabling
students to...
...go fly a kite.
On a personal note, I am engaged in the long overdue reorganization of
my storage shed. This involves a lot of thinning out of stuff I
thought I'd need. When it is done I will be able to store more stuff
from the house and get the house better organized.
Just don't ask me why.
A great big shout goes out to my friend, David's son, also David, who
is walking. What a big boy!
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
The Way to School
The Way to School
Picture book
In Penobscot County, Maine children tend to walk to school, be
driven in cars or trucks, or ride those ubiquitous yellow buses. Of
the world's children who are fortunate enough to receive a formal
education (Too many still are left out) modes of transportation are
often not as simple. Rosemary McCarney's The Way to School shows
readers some of the challenging and dangerous ways children navigate
the path to educational opportunity.
This is a book in which photographs fittingly steal the show.
Text is appropriately sparse. You see children crossing bamboo poles
and a single wire over bodies of water, riding a water buffalo or
donkey, climbing very high cliffs by ladder and paddling boats. There
are also pictures of children who are unable to attend school because
of poverty or natural disasters.
The Way to School is a must purchase for school and public
libraries. It can be wonderful for starting discussions among children
above the traditional picture book demographics. Why are so many of
the world's children unable to get educations? Why is this a tragedy
for society as individuals? What can be done to change this
situation? School children can be very altruistic when it comes to
peers in other countries.
Proceeds from the sale of the book go to Plan International's
Because I am a Girl Fund.
On a personal note, we just had out first pizza party of the academic
year at Rainbow Resource Center. They are much anticipated and enjoyed.
A great big shout goes out to my Rainbow Resource Center family and
our amazing new graduate assistant, Crissi.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Picture book
In Penobscot County, Maine children tend to walk to school, be
driven in cars or trucks, or ride those ubiquitous yellow buses. Of
the world's children who are fortunate enough to receive a formal
education (Too many still are left out) modes of transportation are
often not as simple. Rosemary McCarney's The Way to School shows
readers some of the challenging and dangerous ways children navigate
the path to educational opportunity.
This is a book in which photographs fittingly steal the show.
Text is appropriately sparse. You see children crossing bamboo poles
and a single wire over bodies of water, riding a water buffalo or
donkey, climbing very high cliffs by ladder and paddling boats. There
are also pictures of children who are unable to attend school because
of poverty or natural disasters.
The Way to School is a must purchase for school and public
libraries. It can be wonderful for starting discussions among children
above the traditional picture book demographics. Why are so many of
the world's children unable to get educations? Why is this a tragedy
for society as individuals? What can be done to change this
situation? School children can be very altruistic when it comes to
peers in other countries.
Proceeds from the sale of the book go to Plan International's
Because I am a Girl Fund.
On a personal note, we just had out first pizza party of the academic
year at Rainbow Resource Center. They are much anticipated and enjoyed.
A great big shout goes out to my Rainbow Resource Center family and
our amazing new graduate assistant, Crissi.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Making Refuge
Making Refuge
Adult nonfiction
"Even though the myth of free cars seems ridiculous, rumors are
rampant that the government gives Somalis free cars as well as
vouchers for cars, car repairs, and gas, and blogs are full of
comments asking why Somalis have cars if they are refugees and receive
welfare. Reports in the paper of car accidents involving Somalis
always provoke a slew of comments that they should not be allowed to
drive at all."
One of the many sour notes of the most despicable presidential
election of my lifetime to date is one candidate's fanning the flames
of prejudice against immigrants. When flesh and blood humans are
likened to potentially poisoned skittles which voters are urged to
reject, in a nation where nearly all of us have distant or close
immigrant roots, something is not right. It is also very perverse how
lower level government officials (including a certain New England
governor) characterize immigrants as opportunists running to America
to live la dolce vida financed by undeserved welfare benefits.
So who are twenty-first century immigrants? What would entice
people to leave the known and familiar for a dangerous and uncertain
journey to a place with a different language, strange customs, and
(particularly in states like Maine) a frigid climate)? Of course one
can't generalize with such a large and diverse group of people. But
Catherine Besteman's Making Refuge: Somali Bantu Refugees And
Lewiston, Maine gives an in depth portrayal of one group of newcomers
and the challenges they faced both before and after their journey.
What makes Besteman's work especially insightful is that she had
actually studied them in Somalia in 1988 before their troubles and
displacement.
Far from the easy trek Governor LePage and his fellow
neoliberals portray, the Somali Bantus survived experiences that would
give Stephen King nightmares in their native villages and in refugee
camps. America provided its own daunting challenges including an
unknown language, an age based educational system that set many
children and teens up for failure, and an individualist, consumerist
way of life in direct contrast to their more communal life style. Add
in a system that treats them as problems to be solved rather than
humans with the desire and ability to direct their own lives and a
great deal of fear and prejudice on the part of the populace. You
have a pretty volatile mixture.
I know I learned a lot from reading this book. I found out how
naive I was about refugee camps. I'd known they were places of danger
and deprivation. But I'd believed they existed to protect vulnerable
people. Little did I know they are run by the rich countries and
their NGOs to control their movements, keeping them contained or
repatriating them, with an eye toward Not In My Back Yard. This is
especially pernicious since often government destabilization is thanks
to policies or arms sales on the part of these same rich countries.
One of the most heartbreaking things I read involved the final
screening before the trip to America. Screening was done with an eye
toward weeding out the nondeserving. Many families were split up. As
a parent I can't imagine having to decide whether to take some of my
children to safety and leave others behind or to keep the family
together under horrific conditions.
Making Refuge will not be everyone's cup of tea. The level of
scholarship (Duke University Press) will be daunting to many. But if
you have the interest and persistence to stick with it, it is a very
timely and enlightening read.
On a personal note, I have been thinking about the custom of folding
1000 paper cranes to make a heartfelt wish come true. The deep desire
of my heart is to get into the UMaine higher education student
development program. But cranes are devilishly hard to fold. Plus I
have no idea where I'd put all those birds. So my idea is to make it
up to 1000 books I've reviewed in my blog. I've almost made it up to
900 in a little over five years.
A great shout out goes out to immigrants and those who reach out to
welcome them.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Adult nonfiction
"Even though the myth of free cars seems ridiculous, rumors are
rampant that the government gives Somalis free cars as well as
vouchers for cars, car repairs, and gas, and blogs are full of
comments asking why Somalis have cars if they are refugees and receive
welfare. Reports in the paper of car accidents involving Somalis
always provoke a slew of comments that they should not be allowed to
drive at all."
One of the many sour notes of the most despicable presidential
election of my lifetime to date is one candidate's fanning the flames
of prejudice against immigrants. When flesh and blood humans are
likened to potentially poisoned skittles which voters are urged to
reject, in a nation where nearly all of us have distant or close
immigrant roots, something is not right. It is also very perverse how
lower level government officials (including a certain New England
governor) characterize immigrants as opportunists running to America
to live la dolce vida financed by undeserved welfare benefits.
So who are twenty-first century immigrants? What would entice
people to leave the known and familiar for a dangerous and uncertain
journey to a place with a different language, strange customs, and
(particularly in states like Maine) a frigid climate)? Of course one
can't generalize with such a large and diverse group of people. But
Catherine Besteman's Making Refuge: Somali Bantu Refugees And
Lewiston, Maine gives an in depth portrayal of one group of newcomers
and the challenges they faced both before and after their journey.
What makes Besteman's work especially insightful is that she had
actually studied them in Somalia in 1988 before their troubles and
displacement.
Far from the easy trek Governor LePage and his fellow
neoliberals portray, the Somali Bantus survived experiences that would
give Stephen King nightmares in their native villages and in refugee
camps. America provided its own daunting challenges including an
unknown language, an age based educational system that set many
children and teens up for failure, and an individualist, consumerist
way of life in direct contrast to their more communal life style. Add
in a system that treats them as problems to be solved rather than
humans with the desire and ability to direct their own lives and a
great deal of fear and prejudice on the part of the populace. You
have a pretty volatile mixture.
I know I learned a lot from reading this book. I found out how
naive I was about refugee camps. I'd known they were places of danger
and deprivation. But I'd believed they existed to protect vulnerable
people. Little did I know they are run by the rich countries and
their NGOs to control their movements, keeping them contained or
repatriating them, with an eye toward Not In My Back Yard. This is
especially pernicious since often government destabilization is thanks
to policies or arms sales on the part of these same rich countries.
One of the most heartbreaking things I read involved the final
screening before the trip to America. Screening was done with an eye
toward weeding out the nondeserving. Many families were split up. As
a parent I can't imagine having to decide whether to take some of my
children to safety and leave others behind or to keep the family
together under horrific conditions.
Making Refuge will not be everyone's cup of tea. The level of
scholarship (Duke University Press) will be daunting to many. But if
you have the interest and persistence to stick with it, it is a very
timely and enlightening read.
On a personal note, I have been thinking about the custom of folding
1000 paper cranes to make a heartfelt wish come true. The deep desire
of my heart is to get into the UMaine higher education student
development program. But cranes are devilishly hard to fold. Plus I
have no idea where I'd put all those birds. So my idea is to make it
up to 1000 books I've reviewed in my blog. I've almost made it up to
900 in a little over five years.
A great shout out goes out to immigrants and those who reach out to
welcome them.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns
Picture book
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors is a
newer book by Hena Khan. Like her Night of the Moon, it introduces
concepts from Islam to young readers/listeners within the context of a
beautifully illustrated picture book. Each two page spread covers one
facet of this ancient and fascinating religion and its cultural
practices.
A girl writes with an ink pen. An alert observer will see that
she is writing from right to left rather than left to right as we do.
The opposite page shows her work.
"Black is the ink
I use to draw
the Arabic letters
that spell Allah."
The essence of Islam is monotheism. There is only one God, Allah.
A girl looks admiringly at a pair of intricately decorated hands.
"Orange is the color of my henna designs.
They cover my hands in leafy vines."
This is a very beautiful and intimate girls' and womens' custom. I
have had my hands done by Muslim friends. If you ever get the
opportunity to experience this do not pass it up.
Although this is a picture book, it can be used in deeper ways
than read alouds. Parents and older children can seek out more
information on aspects of Islam they find in intriguing. Children who
practice other religions, say Christianity or Judaism, can be
encouraged to write and illustrate their own color books. I think
I'll pass the idea on to some Sunday school teachers.
On a personal note, our latest Wilson Center Wednesday was a very
reflective evening. We talked in small groups about various aspects
of dealing with change. Discussion was spirited and thoughtful.
A great big shout out goes out to my Wilson Center family.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Picture book
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors is a
newer book by Hena Khan. Like her Night of the Moon, it introduces
concepts from Islam to young readers/listeners within the context of a
beautifully illustrated picture book. Each two page spread covers one
facet of this ancient and fascinating religion and its cultural
practices.
A girl writes with an ink pen. An alert observer will see that
she is writing from right to left rather than left to right as we do.
The opposite page shows her work.
"Black is the ink
I use to draw
the Arabic letters
that spell Allah."
The essence of Islam is monotheism. There is only one God, Allah.
A girl looks admiringly at a pair of intricately decorated hands.
"Orange is the color of my henna designs.
They cover my hands in leafy vines."
This is a very beautiful and intimate girls' and womens' custom. I
have had my hands done by Muslim friends. If you ever get the
opportunity to experience this do not pass it up.
Although this is a picture book, it can be used in deeper ways
than read alouds. Parents and older children can seek out more
information on aspects of Islam they find in intriguing. Children who
practice other religions, say Christianity or Judaism, can be
encouraged to write and illustrate their own color books. I think
I'll pass the idea on to some Sunday school teachers.
On a personal note, our latest Wilson Center Wednesday was a very
reflective evening. We talked in small groups about various aspects
of dealing with change. Discussion was spirited and thoughtful.
A great big shout out goes out to my Wilson Center family.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
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