We Are Like The Clouds

We Are Like The Clouds

Children's poetry
"This collection of poems describes the odyssey that thousands
of boys, girls, and young people from El Salvador, Guatamala,
Honduras, and Mexico undertake when they flee their countries because
of extreme poverty and fear of violence. They abandon everything in
hope of a better life."
Jorge Argueta fled El Salvador to escape war in the 1980s. Now
he works with young people in America and El Salvador. Their stories
(i.e., "I am afraid of being by the gangs. I don't know what to do.
My father lives in Los Angeles. If I go I have to go alone. Should I
go or stay?") are the basis of his We Are Like The Clouds, told in
both Spanish and English.
The poems are sparse and evocative. The Talker describes fear
of the mob boss who orders underlings to commit violence. In iPod a
boy wishes a friend luck in reaching America and promises to take care
of his dog. To me the most poignant one is written in the form of a
prayer:
"Santa Toribio,
saint of the immigrants,
show us the way.
Don't let us fall into the hands of the migra,
and never in the hands of the traffickers,
or worse, the minute men.
You who are the good coyote,
protect us, lead us.
Deliver us from all evil. Amen.
Migra is immigration services, people capable of sending immigrants
back to their home countries to start the perilous journey all over
again. Minutemen are armed civilian gangs, capable of great malice
and cruelty.
We Are The Clouds is a must acquire for school and public
libraries. It's a great way to help children understand the vicious
cruelty of "Build a wall! Build a wall!"
On a personal note, Eugene is back from camp. He gave me the most
incredible fuzzy one piece Christmas cat pajamas I've ever seen. I
know what I'm wearing to party New Years Eve!
We did some food shopping. I ran into a good friend from my acting
days. She wanted me to come back. I'm missed. I have to admit I
miss acting BUT grad school and my wonderful job don't allow enough
time. I did appreciate her kind words.
We have us a frozen pizza. That is going to be so yummy for supper!
A great big shout out goes out to Eugene and to my good friends from
my acting years.
jules hathaway


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Women Going For It!

Women Going For It!

Adult nonfiction
As you know if you've been reading this blog long enough, this
past fall I started graduate school just weeks short of my 67th
birthday. I'd taken the time to raise my children. When they were
grown and flown, I learned an inconvenient truth: people with good
jobs don't want to hire someone with a paid employment gap large
enough to drive a hummer through. It looked like I'd have to settle
for big store retail or fast food...
...only I wasn't going to give up on myself any more than I
would have given up on my kids. I searched for a meaningful next step
until I discovered the higher education student development program
that would prepare me for a career doing what makes my heart sing.
Now I'm living the dream: going part time and earning tuition, fees,
and textbooks with a student job in dining services.
I was thrilled beyond measure when I discovered that other women
over fifty are living their dreams. In Women Going For It! Diana
Coleman shares the stories of some pretty incredible women who took
the risks to achieve their goals in a society that expects women to go
quietly into that last good night. You'll meet:
*Claudia who entered seminary at 53 and became an ordained Episcopal
priest at 56;
*Carol who joined a Roller Derby team in her 60's;
*Elizabeth who was 52 when she adopted two foster children;
*Teresa Ann who became a woman at 53;
and 22 other unforgettable women.
But you don't have to settle for reading their amazing stories.
Coleman believes that women of any age have within us the power to
dream big and achieve our dreams. She includes exercises to help us
do just that.
Buy the book for yourself. Buy it for your mom. Buy it for any
older woman you know who's obeying society's mandate to sell herself
short. If enough of us decide it's our right to really live (as
opposed to just existing) before we die, ageism may cease being one of
our society's last accepted prejudices.
On a personal note, I will celebrate New Years Eve my favorite way:
reading near our beautiful tree with a good book, candy, and my
precious Joey cat purring on my lap. Eugene will join us for the ball
drop. I can't begin to imagine what I'll discover and achieve in the
year ahead. I hope you celebrate safely and responsibly and have a
lot to look forward to.
A great big shout out goes out to you, my dear readers.
jules hathaway


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I Am Loved

I Am Loved

Juvenile poetry
"On a rainy day
When I am sitting
In a tree
Looking for a friend
I hope you'll be the one
Holding out your arms
To gently catch
My fall."
Any book Ashley Bryan has a part in creating is a treasure. So
when I spotted his distinctive art I snatched up Nikki Giovanni's I Am
Loved. Of course I was very glad I did.
Giovanni's poems are vivid and evocative. In Leaves (quoted
above) she describes the yearning for a certain person to appear.
(Don't we all feel that way at times?) A tablecloth hopes that when it
can no longer serve its original purpose it will go into a quilt to
keep a child warm. A poem inviting readers to dance is written in a
musical cadance. My favorite asks how there can be no heaven
"When tears comfort
When dreams caress
When you smile
at me"
Bryan's paintings take readers into a fantasy kingdom where beautiful
brown people interact with vivid creatures. My favorites are a solemn
little blue and grey owl and a rainbow winged bird.
What's not to love about I Am Loved? Make sure your library has
a copy.
On a personal note, I have a big mission to accomplish over vaca:
shelf reading the whole children's wing of the Orono Public Library.
That means making sure every book is in its exact Dewey Decimal spot.
Everything from picture books to YA fiction and nonfiction. I have
time to volunteer over break and that chore is going to be my late
Christmas present to the library. Anyway the librarians are very
excited. My dining services manager, Jodi, will be pleased too
because accomplishing this good deed will reflect well on Wells. I
started with picture books and am up to S. I'll keep you posted on my
progress.
I was reading about how not enough people volunteer once the holiday
season is over. I decided I'll try to log at least 100 hours. It
shouldn't be impossible with the library, the community garden, and
Black Bear Exchange knowing where I live. I put in 5 hours so that
makes 95 to go before next Christmas. Jodi will like that.
A great big shout out goes out to the Orono Public Library staff,
volunteers, and patrons.
jules hathaway


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Brotopia

Brotopia

Adult nonfiction
"The unfortunate truth is that right now men's voices dominate
[technology] and we see the results. Popular products from the tech
boom--including violent and sexist video games that a generation of
children has become addicted to--are designed with little or no input
from women. Apple's first version of its highly touted health
application could track your blood-alcohol but not menstruation.
Everything from plus sized smartphones to artificial hearts have been
built to a size better suited to male anatomy...The exclusion of women
matters--not just to job seekers, but to all of us."
There are some really good books coming out on reasons why women
are way underrepresented in tech and what can be done to change
things. Emily Chang's Brotopia: Breaking Up The Boys' Club of
Silicon Valley is (so far) my favorite. It's very readable, even for
people like me who are struggling to catch up in this brave new
world. It's also very thought provoking.
One problem is the incestuous tendency of tech founding fathers,
one of whom believes that women's suffrage has hurt democracy, to
recruit people like themselves from their social networks rather than
casting a wider net. Why bring in a more diverse group that might
slow projects down? In other words, from the beginning this was not
an industry in which women could get the proverbial foot in the door.
The Paypal Mafia described their process as meritocracy. They
took the best and brightest. Chang has a quite different take on the
word. It was coined by Confucius in ancient China. Michael Young, a
British sociologist, sounded a warning note in 1958:
"...he did see grave dangers in the new embrace of meritocracy,
eeirily predicting that in this new world, status would still be
accessible only to a select few: those who has access to an elite
education. As a result, meritocracy would produce a new social
stratification and a new sense of moral exceptionalism."
Chang also goes into detail about how the brotopia lifestyle is
far from ideal or desirable for many women. Many places where
networking and desk making happen are venues in which many women would
not feel comfortable. Sexual harassment is rampant. Widespread
alcohol abuse enables it.
"Many of the women pointed out that declining to drink with the
boys is a double-edged sword. If women don't participate, they're
seen as uptight and not team players. And they miss out on group-
bonding time, which may cost them personal and political capital
within the organization. If they do participate, they're considered
not serious and, worse, risk being sexualized or, worse, as in Holme's
case, even assaulted."
Then there are the demanding hours that are expected of the work
force that make life work balance challenging, epecially after
children come along. Companies that spend gazillions on on site perks
and encourage bringing dogs on campus can't find money or space for
day cares...
If you are interested in bringing more women into tech, Brotopia
is a must read.
On a personal note, I had a totally amazing Christmas. Katie spent
the night in her old bed in the studio, opened gifts with Eugene,
Joey, and me, and spent the morning with us. Adam and Asia dropped
off gifts their cats, Beans and Delilah had purrrrrchased. Smart
kitties. They gave me a cat themed planner book for keeping class,
assignments etc. straight, money toward textbooks, and a snow globe
for my collection. The family all gathered at the event at the in-
laws. What I loved most about the day:
1) Spending time with Eugene and our kids;
2) Katie writing about being proud of how hard I'm working and how
well I'm doing;
3) Tim writing Jules on my card. I Jane hope for his kids and
girlfriend. I think Hell will freeze over before Cheryl and Arlene do;
4) Cuddling with my little friend, Joey cat;
5) Amber giving me home made decorations and donating money in my name.
I won't deny I got spoiled with gifts.
I woke up today very clear headed and ready to do the things I
want to over break. One is getting the house in better shape for when
I'm back in school. To make that fun I start with an area I haven't
tackled in ages. Joey needs a trip to the vet. I have tuition for
next semester to pay. I have a lot of writing I want to do. I have
New Years resolutions made. But you'll have to wait til New Years
Year to see what I've come up with.
A great big shout out goes out to my wonderful spouse, kids, and cat.
jules hathaway


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Together We Rise

Together We Rise

Adult nonfiction
"Where were you on January 21, 2017? If you were like five
million women from Washington D.C. to Dar es Salaam to Seoul, you
marched in towns large and small, on state capitals. You rode buses,
took trains, carpooled with others, scraped together cash to pay the
fare. You made signs, held your children in one hand and a sign in
another. [I did when my kids were little. Precious memories.] You
stood up to tyranny. You raised your voice."
If you watched the women's march or one of its around the world
spin offs--I'm betting even if you attended the event--it all seemed
so smooth. I know I had no clue to all the Herculean work that led up
to the event. Together We Rise gives a detailed chronology of the
"single largest protest in world history" from inspiration to reality
and beyond. Logistics (everything from permits to porta potties)
posed huge challenges. Then there was the whole Internet dimension.
With the diversity of people involved, there were differences that, if
not resolved, could have torpedoed the whole thing.
What did I like best about the book? First of all it was the
photographs. They occupy close to half of the pages. The faces and
body language of subjects are so eloquent. The signs are kick ass.
These are pictures to linger over, not flip through.
Pretty close was the diversity of voices included. This wasn't
the work of just one or a few. A wide range of people shared their
most intimate thoughts. I felt like I was given the privilege of
listening to private conversations.
Did you know that there was a march in Antarctica? The
organizer has trouble registering that march because initially it
required street addresses which didn't exist on thar continent. And
that wasn't the only extreme cold weather place where people
participated. The forty who marched in Unalakleet, Alaska braved a
windchill of -40!
There were two quotes that especially inspired me. One is by a
mother who marched for her child.
"Every parent loves their child and will do anything to protect
them. In my case, I happen to have a transgender child. I know he is
healthier and happier living the gender he identifies with. To take
his rights away in the bathroom, classroom, or work force would be
removing him from society. That I will not accept. For that I
marched and will continue to march."
The other by Gloria Steinem beautifully addresses a dilemma I
find myself in. Many activists in "my" generation take one of two not-
that-helpful positions. A large number are stepping aside entirely,
leaving the whole mess our world is in to our children and grands. I
consider that incredibly irresponsible. Others, still wanting to be
in charge, disrespect younger people. "You're not old enough to
understand." What the bloody Hell? Did they forget how we felt when
we were their ages and older people wrote us off the same way?
I feel that the world is in such a mess we can't afford to have
any generation missing in action in the fight for peace, justice, and
survival. So I love what Steinem had to say:
"At my age, in this still-hierarchical time, people often ask me
if I'm 'passing the torch.' I explain that I'm keeping my torch, thank
you very much--and I'm using it to light the torches of others."
Amen to that!
On a personal note, Eugene and I had a wonderful long dinner with
Amber, Brian, and Katie. We had burgers and fries with cookies for
dessert. Mostly we talked. That time together was precious beyond
measure. Soon Katie will be here to sleep in her bed in the studio
like old days and open gifts with us in the morning.
A great big shout out goes out to my partner, our children, their
significant others, and precious Joey cat.
jules hathaway



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The Red Pencil

The Red Pencil

Juvenile literature
"Finally I am twelve.
Old enough to wear a toob.
As soon as I wake
Mama whispers a birthday wish.
'Blessings for all the years to come, Amira'."
Amira, free verse narrator of Andrea Davis Pinkney's The Red
Pencil, is coming of age. She would like to go to school. Her very
traditional mother is very much against the idea, believing that farm
work and marriage are a woman's true vocation. So maturity comes with
a lot of responsibilities including raking cow poop for fertilizer.
Amira's mother begins to teach her about the Janjaweed, whom she
describes as 'devils on horseback'. She tells her daughter to run if
they are attacked. Soon Amira begins to see fear in the eyes of all
the adults in her life.
One day the Janjaweed attack, shooting people and torching
buildings. Amira's beloved father dies in front of her eyes. Her
special sheep is burned to death.
In a Displaced People's Camp Amira is despairing and mute. Even
her mother's tender coaxing doesn't bring her voice back. It takes a
very special present and the promise it symbolizes.
On a personal note, tis the day before Christmas. Eugene is out with
his brother. It's just Joey and me to home. Joey is napping under
our beautiful tree. I am so lucky he's still in my life. It's been
over 3 1/2 years since the vets operated 4 1/2 hours to save his
precious life. We've treasured every one of those days. This
afternoon Eugene and I will go to Amber and Brian's house for a
special family get together. Katie will sleep over in her bed in the
studio. Then tomorrow is the big day.
A great big shout out goes out to my little friend, Joey Cat, the vets
who recognized his strong will to live and used their skills to buy
him precious time, and the other companion animals who add so much
love and joy to our lives.
jules hathaway


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Not For Sale

Not For Sale

Adult nonfiction
"More than 30 million slaves live in our world today. Girls and
boys, women and men of all ages are forced to toil in the rug-loom
sheds of Nepal, sell their bodies in the brothels of Rome, break rocks
in the quaries of Pakistan, fight wars in the jungles of Africa, and
sew clothes in the garment factories of California.
Go behind the facade in any major town or city in the world
today, and you're likely to find a thriving commerce in human beings.
You may even find slavery in your own backyard."
David Batstone, author of Not For Sale, found slavery in his own
backyard. He and his wife were regulars at an Indian restaurant in
San Francisco. Then a 17-year-old died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The same person owned the apartment complex where she died and a bunch
of businesses including the restaurant. He smuggled adults and
children from India, working them long hours, claiming their wages as
rent, and threatening to report them if they tried to escape.
Batstone, professor of business and social responsibility at the
University of San Francisco and cofounder and president of the Not For
Sale campaign, takes readers all over the world, sharing heartbreaking
stories. The world of child soldiers, for example, is horrifying.
Torn from their families and villages, they are forced to commit acts
of violence such as killing their parents that will make them pariahs
in their tribes. Rape, brutality, and starvation become their new
reality.
Batstone intersperses this content with stories of people who
take incredible risks to rescue slaves, often incurring the wrath of
international gangsters who fond human trafficking very profitable.
In Peru the government decided to "cleanse" Lima of street kids who
began to disappear or be found dead. Lucy Borja was directing an HIV/
AIDS prevention program. One night she invited two terrified boys to
sleep in its office and bring friends. Returning from a party, she
found kids sleeping wall to wall and smaller ones in cupboards. At a
stage in life where people who can afford to are often at least
contemplating retiring she changed her agency and life path to
rescuing children from powerful people in government as well as
traffickers.
Of course most of us can't make this our life's work. But
Batstone believes that the movement has room for all of us. His
explanation of the many ways in which we can get involved is, in my
mind, the most hopeful aspect of the book.
On a personal note, I am sitting near my lovely decorated tree wrapped
in peace, serenity, and joy. I wrapped up the shopping yesterday.
(Even snagged myself 6 shirts--including 2 cat ones--up to Goodwill
cheap.) I cleaned this morning. I am no Susie Homemaker. My heart
is full of joy.
A great big shout out goes out to you, my readers. May you have a
joyous Christmas!
jules hathaway



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January's Sparrow

January's Sparrow

Juvenile literature
Can you imagine this? As a young child you see a loved one
whipped mercilessly for running away. Then you're shaken awake in the
middle of the night by your mother. Your family has no choice but to
take the desperate risk of fleeing. Yup, we're back in the 19th
century plantation South.
That's the plight of Sadie, protagonist of Patricia Polacco's
January's Sparrow. Her parents had overheard plans to auction off her
brothers. She'd probably never see them again. Her mother wasn't
about to let that happen.
Now imagine you have to cross a huge part of the United States
on foot. On foot! You mostly have to travel at night through the
woods. People on horseback with dogs trained to be vicious are
tracking you and your loved ones, greedy for bounty money. Sometimes
you hear the dogs barking.
After walking from Kentucky to Michigan, Sadie and her family
find themselves in a town that is part of the Underground Railroad.
Both blacks and whites in Marshall are against slavery. The family
decides to stay at least a little while. Sadie's parents and one
brother get jobs. She and her other brothers are able to go to
school. They make the honor roll. Sadie gets a new baby sister.
But the family can never be truly safe south of Canada. In the
wee hours of a January morning their worst fears come true when armed
slave catchers break into their home.
Will they be taken back into bondage?
Well you'll have to read the book to see.
Sadie and her family, the Crosswhites, were real people. At a
time when a lot of folks are trying to sanitize and whitewash slavery
their story is a must read.
A lot of folks think slavery was only a bad chapter in America's
history. So not true. We'll look at the modern day plague in our
next review.
On a personal note, what was it I promised I'd reveal? Oh yeah, my
grade. A! I am grad school material for sure. I helped shut down
Wells for vaca. So now I'm out of school and work until next semester.
A great big shout out goes out to my classmates and work family who I
know I'll miss after Christmas.
Joey cat is loving our beautiful tree. Right now he's napping under it.
jules hathaway


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Diary Of A Waitress

Diary Of A Waitress

Juvenile historical fiction
"My new life is about to begin. I've been hired. I leave day
after tomorrow for Emporia for training to become a Harvey girl.
Feeling a little woozy--I didn't realize it would happen so fast.
More later. The streetcar to Leavenworth is here.
So excited I can hardly breathe."
Don't feel bad if you don't know what a Harvey girl is. I
didn't until I read Carolyn Meyer's Diary Of A Waitress. Meyer
herself lived on Harvey turf for years before discovering the story.
In the 1870's Fred Harvey, a British immigrant, was a railway
worker. Finding available food horrible, he decided he could do
better. His first depot restaurant was such a success it led to a
restaurant and hotel chain along the line from Kansas City to
California that would thrive for seventy years. A drunk brawl in New
Mexico in 1883 inspired Harvey to hire girls, providing a unique
living and working experience for over 100,000.
Protagonist Kitty has her heart set on college. She plans to
become a journalist. Needless to say, she's not a happy camper when,
after high school graduation as salutarian, she learns that her family
can't afford further education for her. Her older brother, a far from
stellar student with a penchant for partying, however, will be
returning for his junior year. He needs to make his way in the world,
maybe take over the family business. She will settle down with a nice
young man who will provide for her.
Kitty's father has put a good word in for her with a fellow
merchant who needs girls to work in his store. "Selling shoes!
Spending my life trying to please persnickity old women with smelly
feet." Before she has to submit to that grim future she sees an ad in
the newspaper.
"Young women 18 to 30 years of age, of good character, attractive and
intelligent, as waitresses in the Harvey Eating Houses on the Santa Fe
Railroad in the West.
Good wages with room and board furnished.
No experience necessary."
Her mother tried to veto her job choice. She's too young to
leave home. She isn't "that sort of girl." What sort of girl?
Waitresses aren't that far above saloon girls, "the lowest of the
low." She'll ruin her reputation and life (along of those of her
mother). Fortunately her father decides she'll have to learn better
the hard way.
Pack your valise and join Kitty at the depot. You're in for a
pretty exciting ride.
On a personal note, Tuesday was my poster presentation. For two hours
I stood in front of my posters answering a ton of questions. Then we
had the department Christmas party at my prof's house. Good food, a
scintilating crowd, a Yankee swap. It was a wonderful holiday
celebration.
Then Wednesday I was able to use the UMaine Bookstore gift card I got
at the Yankee swap (the most coveted item) to get an adorable puppy
wearing a UMaine sweater.
Today I learned my grade. But you'll have to read my next review to
find out if I bombed out or get to stay in my masters program.
A great big shout out goes out to my fellow students finishing out
their semesters with beat wishes for a wonderful vaca.
jules hathaway


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Wangari's Trees Of Peace

Wangari's Trees Of Peace

Juvenile herstory
"We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the
process heal our own--indeed, to embrace the whole creation in all its
diversity, beauty, and wonder."
Recall awhile back we discovered 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner
Wangari Maathai? I discovered a slightly older book about her. In
Wangari's Trees Of Peace Jeanette Winter combines eloquent text and
vibrant illustrations to fittingly celebrate her life.
I think my favorite aspect of Winter's narrative is its emphasis
on the small scale start and diligent building up of what became a
very large scale operation. Thirty million trees started out as nine
seedlings Wangari planted in her own back yard. The first people she
recruited were women in her village. In America we're so enamoured of
viral anything (except flu) we tend to lose sight of the potential of
small starting real grass roots change. It's what makes difference
making accessible to most of us if we can master the arts of patience
and dilligence.
I started this blog book by book with few people knowing about
it. This is my 1,347 book and my blog gets over 6,000 views a month.
I donate blood pint by pint and am working on my tenth gallon. I'm
attending graduate school part time and already making a difference.
What can you start small and stick with to make a difference in
our beautiful and fragile world?
On a personal note, I'm in the middle of what they say will be a two
day snow storm. The problem: over the weekend I'd finished my
40"x32" poster I have to present tomorrow afternoon.
It's too big for a garbage bag. I covered it with a blanket and
managed to get it in dry. I did my final paper and put it on
blackboard. Then I was confused. Suddenly I had no homework to do
and nowhere I have to be until the poster presentation tomorrow.
Could this be free time? Do I remember how to handle it?
A great big shout out goes out to my classmates who are presenting
their posters. Hopefully we'll all ace that.
jules hathaway



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Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Juvenile biography
You are your kids have probably had fun with super soakers. I
have fond memories of muggy summer day spontaneous wars during my
children's younger years. I also used one to teach my father-in-law
not to smoke in my baby's face. I bet you didn't think of the science
behind the development of this gigantic water pistol. I admit I
didn't. Crhris Barton's Swoosh! schooled me. I think you too will
find it intriguing and a great volume to share with kids in your life.
Inventor Lonnie Johnson started tinkering early in life. He had
challenges including finding space in the small house he shared with
his parents and five siblings. He dazzled his classmates with
homemade rockets. He yearned to become an engineer. Fortunately he
ignored the test results indicating that he would not be a good one.
In 1968 his high school team won first place at the University of
Alabama Science Fair (that had been whites only five years earlier)
with Linux, a robot made of scrap metal.
As a NASA scientist, Johnson worked on very challenging
problems. In his free time he worked in his own lab. One day,
seeking to invent a refrigerator cooling system that wouldn't hurt the
environment, he created a powerful water stream that he envisioned as
the core of a new water gun.
I can't say the rest is history. He still faced plenty of
challenges, especially after he quit his secure day job to invest
himself in his inventing. But he never gave up on himself and his
ideas.
Readers can find a lot more out about how super soakers work.
But Johnson encourages kids to put the books down, shut off the
devices, and start taking things apart to see how they work. That's
how he and a lot of other inventors got started. It's a great way to
engage the hands on learners too often neglected in public schools.
The motivation for the book came from a lunch conversation
Barton had with two Texas librarians. They had been at a seminar
where attendees, when asked to draw a scientist, sketched mostly
whites. He wanted to help send the message that today's scientists
are much more diverse.
Even as he works on his own projects Johnson makes time to
encourage the efforts of tomorrow's scientists and engineers. He
hopes the book will inspire them.
On a personal note, Thursday I had one of the most beautiful holiday
events possible. Wells had our Winterfest. Our dining commons was
transformed into Paris meets Victorian England with fairy lights and
fancy table settings and an ice sculpture sleigh and so much good
food. Our students were treated to a real feast. The hours before
the event were employees only. We put on finishing touches and also
had time to relax and talk and be so proud of what we had achieved
together. Those moments made me so happy to be alive.
A great big shout goes out to my treasured dining services family.
jules hathaway


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Sergeant Reckless

Sergeant Reckless

Juvenile nonfiction
Horses are capable of many amazing things. Patricia McCormick's
Sergeant Reckless is a fine tribute to a mare who earned two purple
hearts and retired from the Marines with full military honors as a
staff sergeant.
Korea was at war, split between North and South. America was
deeply involved. One group of marines was exhausted from carrying
ammo uphill. A mule would lighten the load. Unfortunately there were
none available. There was, however, a scrawny and very hungry mate.
Would such a small horse be able to carry the heavy loads? How
would she react to the noise and chaos of battle. Weren't racehorses
skittish?
You'll have to read the book to see.

ABCs From Space

Juvenile nonfiction
"As a science writer for a website called NASA Earth
Observatory, I spend lots of time making and writing about pictures
that come from satellites flying around Earth. A few years ago, I
noticed a cloud of smoke over Canada that had the shape of a V."
Adam Voiland's ABCs From Space: A Discovered Alphabet is one of
the most beautiful alphabet books I've ever seen. It's also versatile
enough to catch the attention of kids from abecederian through
elementary school and even enchant parents.
Voiland's parents had nurtured his love of the natural world.
Following his letter V discovery, he had not only the curiosity to see
if he could find the rest of the alphabet in satellite images of the
Earth, but the patience to study thousands of pictures. He found the
R especially difficult to locate.
"One of the best parts about the search was that I got to learn
about some of the most fascinating and beautiful places on our
planet. I explored rips in Earth's surface spilling hot lava, clouds
swirling around snowy mountains, fires chewing holes in lush forests,
glaciers slithering domwn icy mountain slopes, and much more."
Older kids can be encouraged to take smart phones or cameras
outside and find alphabets in their own environments. This would have
many benefits. It would get kids outside. It could increase
mindfulness which is much needed in today's fast paced world. It
could fuel curiosity.

On a personal note, the semester is hurtling toward the end. We're in
the final week of classes. Next week is finals week. I don't have
exams, but I will be presenting a poster in the Higher Education and
Student Life Academic Showcase. Talk about scary!
I had a work moment I'd been eagerly awaiting happen last Saturday.
I'd really wanted to train a new student. I'd reviewed in my head all
the necessary information. When I was told I'd been training a new
student in serving I was so ready. And it was even for satisfying
than I'd imagined it would be.
A great big shout out goes out to my fellow students getting their
posters ready and my fellow dining commons student workers, both
newbies and veterans.
jules hathaway



Sent from my iPod

Malala's Magic Pencil

Malala's Magic Pencil

Juvenile herstory
Many adults have read the inspiring story of Malala Yousafzai,
Nobel Peace Prize winning activist for girls' education. Now through
her Malala's Magic Pencil schoolchildren can read her story. This is
fitting as she began her advocacy as a school girl.
Malala used to wish for a magic pencil like a character in a
children's tv show in her native Pakistan. She could use it to make
her wishes and those of her family come true. As she grew older she
wanted a magic pencil to tackle larger problems like war and poverty.
Malala loved school. She felt bad for children who couldn't
attend because their family needed their income to survive. Then her
own education was threatened. Armed men began keeping girls out of
school. Many of her peers complied. In a situation in which many
people, adults as well as children, would have felt helpless she began
to write to tell the rest of the world what was happening.
"When you find your voice, any pencil can be magic."
I like the idea of magic pencils. When I write opinion pieces
for the Bangor Daily News, pen poems that touch people's hearts and
souls, and introduce you, dear readers, to excellent books you might
not otherwise hear about, I feel like I have a little pencil magic
going on.
On a personal note, two more weeks of school and then finals. I had a
totally stunning surprise. I went to Blackboard to read feedback on
two papers that had been graded to incorporate criticisms into the
paper I was working on. I saw e words like excellent and exemplary.
I was stunned. Maybe my pencil magic is working overtime.
We had a history making home football game Saturday. Of course I was
serving brunch to the fans up to Wells.
A great big shout out goes out to the UMaine football Black Bears who
have fought their way from tragedy (death of a teammate in preseason)
to triumph and the coaches who have guided them.
jules hathaway


Sent from my iPod

Looking Like Me

Looking Like Me

Picture book
"I'm a writer
Spinning dramas
That dance across the stage,
A poet weaving mysteries
That live upon the page."
Jeremy, the child portrayed in lively verse in Walter Dean
Myers' Looking Like Me is on a voyage of identity discovery. As he
goes through his day the people he interacts with clue him in on
facets of his complex personality: brother, son, writer, city child,
artist...
Child readers are invited to discover all the things they are.
Classes and groups like scouts could give members a chance to share
their own unique Looking Like Me stories. Words and collage would
make a fun combination. Kids could learn how complex and nuanced
their peers are. What a great way to combat stereotypes and help shy
kids express themselves!
The Juvie Three

Juvenile/YA fiction
"Right now he's not thinking about the fact that he's too young
to hold a license--that he's still got two years to go before he even
qualifies for a learner's permit. He's not even thinking about what
his brother, Reuben, meant when he said that he needed to 'pick
something up' at an electronics game store that closed two hours ago.
Mostly, he's not thinking about the bald guy in the rearview
mirror, sprinting up behind him, waving his arms and yelling 'Hey,
that's my car!'"
Reading these paragraphs from the first page of Gordon Korman's
The Juvie Three, I'm sure you'll be able to predict the scenario won't
end well. It doesn't. Gecko is driving the get away car for Reuben
and his chums who are robbing the games store. Fleeing the cops ends
up in a crash. Gecko ends up in juvie.
But Gecko and two other juvenile convicts are about to catch a
major break. Douglas Healy, a former juvenile delinquint who was able
to turn his life around, has scored a grant to run an experimental
half way house. If Gecko, Arjay, and Terence are able to succeed on a
strict schedule of school and volunteering and follow the rules
they'll earn a fresh start.
You know complications are going to arise. The major one is
Healy developing amnesia as the result of a bad fall. If you guess
the boys will take advantage of this opportunity to take off...
...you couldn't be more wrong. Read the book to see what
happens. You'll be glad you did.
One conversation between Healy and a prison counselor,
Kellerman, really caught my eye. Heally says, "If anyone had paid
this much attention to the kid before he got into trouble, he probably
wouldn't have gotten into trouble." Kellerman agrees, "Nobody ever
lifts a finger to help them until they're in so deep that they can't
be helped." Every day I'd guess tens of thousands of kids end up in
the juvenile justice system because of accumulated unmet needs--food,
shelter, safety, someone to care... Preventing this is not only the
humane thing to do, but cost effective. Keeping a kid behind bars can
cost as much as sending him/her/them to a private university. That
isn't counting the cost to family and community.
Think about that. Even one life is a terrible thing to waste.
On a personal note, I'm on the last day of Thanksgiving break.
Here's how it went. Thanksgiving was a little bit of a let down. My
kids had legit reasons why they couldn't make it to their
grandmother's house. I'd gotten up at 4:00 in the morning and let my
husband drop me off at an ungodly hour with the intention of studying
til they arrived. The in-laws differ widely from me on any issue
controversial enough to be interesting and have no interest in what
I'm working my butt off to achieve. Thank goodness my niece arrived
and I finally had someone to safely talk to! And I reminded myself I
have a lot to be thankful for. The silver lining was 11 hours of
homework with no breaks. Combining that with what I achieved other
days and I'm actually a bit ahead. Keep this up and I may get in a
little bit of social life...if I can remember what it is.
Disappointment, I could find nothing I wanted at Goodwill when I went
to reward myself for being an industrious student. Positive note, I
had a coupon to get a bottle of twisted peppermint lotion free from
Bath & Body Works. The best parts are I got in a lot of play and
cuddle time with my best little buddy Joey cat, I was able to afford
the ingredients to bake snowball cookies and peanut butter cookies for
my work family, and today I have a big old turkey cooking in the
oven. It will provide a feast tonight, meals for Eugene nights I'm on
campus late, and yummy sandwiches to carry in.
A great big shout out goes out to those beings, human and feline, who
give me so much to be thankful for every day of the year.
jules hathaway


Sent from my iPod

The Fire This Time

The Fire This Time

Adult nonfiction
"After George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin on
February 26, 2012, I took to Twitter. I didn't have anywhere else to
go. I wanted to hear what others, black writers and activists, were
thinking about in Sanford, Florida..."
Jesmyn Ward, editor of and contributer to The Fire This Time,
was pregnant then and writing about five men she'd grown up with who
were lost young to violence. She suspected Zimmerman would be
acquitted. Many people were seeing Trayvon as a thug, a hoodlum who
somehow deserved to die. They did not see him as Ward did.
"...Trayvon Martin was a seventeen-year-old child, legally and
biologically, Zimmerman was an adult. An adult shot and killed a child
while the child was walking home from a convenience store where he'd
purchased Skittles and a cold drink. Everything, from Zimmerman
stalking and killing Trayvon to the way Trayvon was tried in the court
of public opinion after his death, seemed insane. How could anyone
look at Trayvon's baby face and not see a child? And not feel an
innate desire to protect, to cherish? How?"
We all benefit from what Ward was inspired to do. She put
together a collection of thought and feeling provoking essays and
poems by contemporary writers on the past, present, and future of race
in America. Among them you'll find:
*Edwidge Danticat providing the epiphany that if third world country
citizens had the collective trauma of African Americans, US law would
give them assylum protection;
*Carol Anderson describing white rage, a resentment that flares up in
retaliation any time blacks make progress. Think the rise of the KKK
in the post Civil War South. With power and privilege unfairly
concentrated in white hands, these outbursts can be cloaked in law and
order respectability like the voter suppression laws enacted after
Obama's election;
and *Garnet Cadogan's revelations about the perils of walking in New
York while being black.
The piece that will stick with me the most was Emily Raboteau's
Know Your Rights! Raboteau starts with a description of a trip to a
bridge she took with her husband and their two chldren. At one point
her hot, thirsty, tired four-year-old threw himself to the ground.
She said that if his defiance continued as he grew it could get him
killed.
Think about it! Overwhelmed little people act out. When one of
mine (back in the day) refused to go further my concern (as a
nondriver) was how to get us home. Other whites worry about being
judged by bystanders. But none of us had/have to link this
developmentally normal behavior with being killed young. Nobody
should have to.
At the end of her introduction Ward wrote, "I hope this book
makes each one of you, dear readers, feel as if we and Baldwin and
Trethewey and Wilkerson and Jeffers and Walters and all the serious,
clear sighted writers here--and that we are composing our story
together. That we are writing an epic wherein black lives carry
worth, wherein black boys can walk to the store and buy candy without
thinking they will die, wherein black girls can have a bad day and be
mouthy without being physically assaulted by a police officer, wherein
cops see twelve-year-old black boys playing with fake guns as silly
kids and not homicidal maniacs, wherein black women can stop to ask
directions without being shot in the face by paranoid white homeowners.
I burn and I hope."
AMEN!
On a personal note, I am at the in-laws' studying through those
long, something like 10, hours before the kids arrive. I can't do
something fun or useful for study breaks or raid the fridge or play
with Joey cat. The only comfy chairs are in the tv room. And the in-
laws call me Emily even though I've asked them not to. I am quite
lonely but looking forward to Amber and Brian getting here and the big
meal.
I had a great experience Tuesday that reinforced my respect for dining
services. The van had collected food from the UMaine dining commons
and delivered it to Black Bear Exchange's food pantry. Lisa needed
people to repackage it and store it in the two huge freezers. I went
over and volunteered after work. I was so happy thinking of the
people and families who will enjoy the pizzas, ham, chicken,
strombolis, fresh veggies, cheese and all the other good stuff. And
the freezers are jam packed.
I hope you, my readers, have a great Thanksgiving with much to be
thankful for.
A great big shout out goes out to my dining services family whom I am
deeply grateful to be a member of and Lisa and the students who run
(and totally rock) Black Bear Exchange.
jules (NOT EMILY) hathaway


Sent from my iPod

When They Call You A Terrorist

When They Call You A Terrorist

Adult nonfiction
"Like many of the people who embody our movement, I have lived
my life between the twin terrors of poverty and the police. Coming of
age in the drug war climate that was ratcheted up by Ronald Reagan and
then Bill Clinton, the neighborhood where I lived and loved and the
neighborhoods where many of the members of Black Lives Matter have
lived and loved were designated were designated war zones and the
enemy was us."
If I can get you to read one more book in 2018, make it When
They Call You A Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Aisha Bandele.
It introduced me to a nightmare world I've never entered or even
really imagined. It is so WRONG that even today in the 21st century
legions of our fellow human beings are being born into this world and
crippled or killed by it.
I remember how innocuous Nixon's war on drugs was made to sound
when it was accelerated by Reagan. Drugs are killing our children,
our families, and our communities. If we lock up the pushers of these
poisons and the remorseless tide of (black) superpredators, our kids
will be cleaner and safer. To a lot of people this all seemed
eminently reasonable and benign...
...except that it wasn't. Racism in America and American
leadership hasn't gone away. It's just become more covert, evolved to
not offend modern sensibilities. If you can't use the N word, make
blacks seem threateningly different.
At least some of the people at the top knew what they were
doing. One of Tricky Dick Nixon's top advisors, quoted in the book,
said, "We knew we couldn't make it illegal to be...black, but by
getting the public to associate the...blacks with heroin...and then
criminalizing [them] heavily, we could disrupt [their] communities.
Did we know we were lying? Of course we did."
Of course we did. And we're finding new ways to embody this
prejudice by preying on people's fears. Take the rising number of
school shootings. The shooters are usually from financially well off
families as white as me. But the reaction has been to turn low-income
black schools into militarized zones patrolled by armed (often with
military calibar weapons) officers. These officers, whose funding
often siphons money from already inadequately funded educational and
community services, end up treating growing children as potential
suspects and arresting many for normal kid behaviors. Can we say
school to jail pipeline?
Patrisse grew up in ground zero in the wars on drugs and gangs.
Her mother patched together as many as three jobs, working sixteen
hours a day, to afford the basics. The only local grocery store was a
7-Eleven. There were no after school programs, basketball courts,
playgrounds, or even green spaces. Streets and alleys were the only
places for kids to congregate and spend time together.
These streets and alleys were where the police (ever present in
cars and helicopters) violently harassed kids who often were doing
nothing to warrant suspicion. Patrisse was still a child when she saw
her preteen and just teen older brothers thrown around and half
stripped by those allegedly there to serve and protect.
Ironically Patrisse encountered drugs and their users and
sellers when she was sent to a white middle school without police or
metal detectors. Kids came to school high and smoked on campus. A
friend's brother could have garbage bags of weed without fearing arrest.
And that's just the first couple of chapters. Make sure you
read the book. If you know people who are trying to dilute Black
Lives Matter into All Lives Matter or Blue Lives Matter, recommend it
to them.
On a personal note, Penobscot County had our first sticking snow. We
had two wonderful events at Wells Dining Commons. Thursday we gave
our students an early Thanksgiving feast of turkey, salmon, and all
the trimmings. They sure were ready to celebrate. I had so much fun
serving them and seeing their excitement. Saturday brunch had a big
turn out thanks to an open house and a major home football game. I
served and then cleaned tables. I saw how our Wells team really came
together, especially the folks in the dishroom who were hampered by
machine break downs. People really enjoyed their dining experience.
Just about everybody on the UMaine campus is looking forward to our
five day Thanksgiving break.
Great big shout outs go out to my husband and all the others who
pulled all nighters plowing to make streets safe for commuters, my
awesome dining services family, our UMaine Black Bears football who
won the big game, and my fellow students to whom I wish safe travel
and much to be thankful for.
Tomorrow my class has a field trip to a nearby college. I surely hope
it includes a peek at their dining services.
jules hathaway



Sent from my iPod

Clay Water Brick

Clay Water Brick

Adult nonfiction
"Patrick didn't have much. As a boy, he lost most of his family
when a militant rebel group attacked his village in northern Uganda.
He and his younger brother fled the only home that they had ever known
and fled south. Patrick was unsure where they would end up, but after
weeks of traveling they settled in a village near the Uganda-Kenya
border, where they came across some distant cousins. They wanted to
be as close as they could to family--any family at all.
Patrick and his brother had no home, no money, not even shoes on
their feet. They were young, orphaned, uneducated, homeless, and
hungry."
Growing up, Jessica Jackley, author of Clay Water Brick,
believed that Jesus wanted her to help the poor. She began raising
money and sending it to charities. After awhile she became daunted by
the size of the task and disconnected from the people she wanted to
help by layers of bureaucracy.
As a college graduate, Jackley wanted to become a high ranking
officer in a non profit. She had no clue how to get there. Then she
attendee a lecture by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank and
a microfinance pioneer who would win the Nobel Peace Prize. He
changed the course of her life.
"This turned my understanding of poverty on its head. The
people Yunus spoke of were not just sad faces on a brochure,
synonymous with the issue of poverty itself...The environments into
which these individuals had been born were the problem, environments
that denied them access to the proper tools to thrive. These were not
weak, helpless people. These were people who were capable, tenacious,
and resourceful...These were entrepreneurs."
Clay Water Brick weaves two fascinating narrative threads
together seamlessly. One is the quite intimate (warts and all) story
of Jackley and her organization. The other is the colorful lives of
third world entrepreneurs including:
*Patrick who, with no other resources than the ground beneath his
feet, became a brick maker,
*Katherine, who switched from selling vegetables to selling fish when
she discovered a big demand in her village,
and *Zica, a hairdresser who, when she discovered that the products
available didn't do much for people with tightly curled or frizzy
hair, set out to concoct better ones in her kitchen.
Whether or not you have any desire to become a microfinancier or
entropreneur, I believe you'll enjoy and be inspired by Clay Water
Brick. Jackley concludes the book with these powerful words:
"...Dream--and then choose to believe in your own potential and help
create the future you're dreaming of."
That's why I'm in graduate school.
On a personal note, school, work, home, sleep, and commuting make up
my days. We're less than two weeks from Thanksgiving break which I
hope to use to get well ahead on my rest of the semester work. I also
plan to bake a huge batch of snowball cookies for my work family. We
saw snow yesterday.
Saturday at work I was assigned to do deli. The problem: at brunch
almost nobody wants sandwiches. I hate standing still while everyone
else works. So how could I get the person who assigned me to change
and think it was his idea? I started asking "Is it 2:00 (when deli
shuts down) yet?" when he walked by. It only took 45 minutes. Can I
help it that my work ethic is hyperactive?
A great big shout out goes out to the LGBTQ community for putting on
Gay Thanksgiving, my beloved husband for not having a heart attack,
and my work family for being totally awesome.
jules hathaway


Sent from my iPod

And Still I Rise

And Still I Rise

Adult nonfiction
A lot of people see black history in neat little files with tabs
like slavery days and the civil rights era. That's why Henry Louis
Gates Jr. and Kevin M. Burke's And Still I Stand should be in every
public library and many homes in this nation.
The written companion to a PBS series, And Still I rise delivers
fifty years of black history falling between the waning years of the
civil rights movement and the second term of Obama's presidency:
1965-2015. It's a year by year who's who and what's what of important
events and personalities in politics, scholarship, music, sports,
literature, and the arts. Plenty of amazing photographs should bring
back memories. This in itself should be more than enough
justification for buying and enjoying the book.
"Put another way, it is a book that illuminates the world that
the Civil Rights Movement birthed and enabled, and that its legacy
sustained--from affirmative action to the integration of our nation's
universities, from the ascent of numerous black mayors in numerous
cities to the development of black capitalism and the phenominal rise
of the black middle class, from the domination of popular culture by
black artists and performers to the rise of black access to and
leadership in any number of fields once closed to the many millions of
descendents of slaves."
But if you read it more deeply than a casual skim it also raises
disturbing questions:
*Why do the police still harass and shoot so many unarmed blacks?
*Why are blacks so overrepeesented in our nation's schools?
*Why are America's schools regressing back to separate and anything
but equal?
*Why, while some blacks make amazing progress, are others stuck in
depressed neighborhoods that are devoid of meaningful jobs and hope
and too often the dumping grounds for toxic substances?
*Why are some whites so determined to undermine any progress that
blacks make?
They all build up to the most central question: what can we be
doing now that someone writing a similar book fifty years from now
won't have to balance amazing strides forward with so many setbacks?
On a personal note, Halloween was bittersweet. It was mostly great.
I had a wonderful costume: Tinkerbelle Gone Bad complete with black
wings with skulls and crossbones. I even had a song:
The name is Tink.
I know what you think
That I'm a sweet and innocent fairy.
Oh, what the Hell?
I ditched the Belle
So let's get down and get scary.
Homework? Too much work.
Classes? I passes.
The campus police?
I'm who they want to bust
For my franchise in fairy dust."
I had fun rocking my costume. I even got to wear it to work. I had
people take pictures of me with the decorations at the union. And i
got lots of goodies at the campus trick or treat. The sad part was
Eugene had made up lovely bags of candy and, for the first time in 28
years, no kids came trick or treating. I had me an adventure last
night. I worked brunch at Wells and then studied at Fogler Library.
When I left to catch the bus the wind was roaring like an oncoming
freight train. It knocked me down a short flight of stairs and I weigh
114. When I got to Veazie there were no street or houselights. I
thought I'd stumble home in pitch black. But an eerie yellow light
lit the woods path and trailer park. It was like right before the
alien space ship appears. At home I did homework by lantern light.
Today I learned nearly 80,000 homes lost power.
A great big shout out goes out to my Wells colleagues who worked in
costume, all who made Halloween at the Union a real treat, my
wonderful husband who is off at camp for vaca, and the dearest little
cat in the world,
Joey aka Senor Fuzzygato.
jules hathaway


Sent from my iPod

Six Months Later

Six Months Later

YA/adult fiction
"As in November 10? No. I read it once and then again. A
bunch of other calls are all from November too. I glance up,
panicked, finding a calendar on the wall and a flyer for a winter
dance that should be eight months away.
The evidence hits me like icy darts, needling me toward the
impossible truth. I've been asleep for six months. A coma or
something. Somehow I've missed six months of my life."
Chloe, protagonist of Natalie D. Richards' Six Months Later,
wakes up at night in a school room with no memory of where she's been
or what she's done. Somehow she has to pick up the strands of her
life, even basic stuff like her senior year class schedule. And she
has to do this without anyone discovering the gaps in her memory. She
doesn't want to be the object of pity and subject of gossip she was
when she had to cope with panic attacks earlier in her high school
career.
Time loss, however, is not the only aspect of her life that has
Chloe confused. In the lost six months she's seemingly become the
polar opposite of her former self. An indifferent student has become
a scholastic superstar. The boy she had a total crush on is now the
devoted boyfriend she wants to keep at arm's length. She's attracted
irresistably to a classmate she'd formerly written off as a juvenile
delinquent. While she's become super popular at school, her long term
best friend won't speak to her.
Could all this change be connected to an SAT study group she
participated in over the summer? Could it be a cover up for something
truly sinister?
Fans of Lisa Scottoline and Jodi Picoult and all others who
enjoy a suspenseful mystery will find Six Months Later to be simply
irresistable.
On a personal note, I got a whole new perspective on Homecoming
yesterday. Dining services had been getting ready--getting people
psyched for treats like hot wings (good and spicy hot) and
individually icing hundreds of football cookies. I worked brunch.
People were lined up and stampeded in when we opened the doors. And
they kept coming. I heard in one hour 200 people entered. After I
finished serving I went to cleaning tables. People were still
arriving. I had to manuver like our football players to get to the
tables. That day in Wells was one wild ride.
A great big shout out goes out to my team mates who were going above
and beyond to make the event a success, Anna and Simon who were
keeping the troops rallied, and Michael who was acing team leader. I
couldn't possibly be more proud to be part of the family.
jules hathaway


Sent from my iPod

The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give

YA/adult fiction
"Khalil doesn't move. He doesn't utter a word. He doesn't even
look at me. His body stiffens, and he's gone. I hope he sees God.
Someone else screams.
I blink through my tears. Officer One Fifteen [badge number]
yells at me, pointing the same gun he killed my friend with."
Can you imagine seeing a friend who has broken no laws shot in
cold blood by a police officer? This is a plight too many black
Americans have been put in. It's also the episode that starts off
Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give, a fine debut novel that humanizes and
hopefully stirs compassion for people most of us only catch glimpses
of in news stories.
Khalil was Starr's best friend when they were little kids. Now
he's dead. People are angry that another black boy has been slain by
someone mandated to serve and protect. There is little to no trust
that a grand jury will indict the officer involved. In Starr's
neighborhood anger explodes into protests and rioting.
When Starr was ten she saw another good friend killed in a drive
by. Her parents had enrolled her in a mostly white private school.
To fit in both her worlds she has to switch between two personas.
"...Williamson Starr doesn't use slang--if a rapper would say
it, she doesn't say it, even if her white friends do. Slang makes
them cool. Slamg makes her 'hood.' Williamson Starr holds her tongue
when people piss her off so nobody will think she's the 'angry black
girl.' Williamson Starr is approachable. No stank-eyes, side-eyes,
none of that. Williamson Starr is nonconfrontational. Basically
Williamson Starr doesn't give anyone a reason to call her ghetto."
A number of Starr's rich, white classmates see Khalil as a
thug: a drug dealer and gang banger. One thinks the cop did
civilized society a favor by pulling the trigger.
How will the neighborhood in which Starr's family lives and her
father has a store react if the grand jury refuses to indict the cop?
Read the book and see.
I was happy to learn that Thomas has a second novel coming out.
I'll be sure to read and review it.
On a personal note, my life continues to revolve around school
and work. I did enjoy some of the Coming Out Week events. I attended
the Rainbow Resource Room open house and tea party, shared my story of
coming out as gender fluid at the first ever Coming Out Monologues,
tie dyed tee shirts for myself and my top supervisors, and stuffed a
darling moose and dressed them (my moose is gender fluid like me) in a
UMaine shirt. I got my flu shot. I discovered a little free library
that had three books I was very eager to read. I could trade three
others for them.
Great big shout outs go out to all who made Coming Out Week sensational.
jules hathaway


Sent from my iPod

On a personal note, last night when I posted my review I forgot to add one. That's grad school for you. It continues to be quite the challenge, mostly because of how far behind I am on computer skills. My first class when I learned how extensively embedded they are in the curriculum I felt like I'd run into a brick wall. You know how it is with walls you can't climb. You have to give up or find a sharp instrument and start chipping away. I'm persistant in chipping and finding people to help. I'm beginning to see daylight. I did go to two parties Saturday. The first was my daughter Amber's Alice In Halloweenland party. As always it was ghoulishly perfect. (If you need some ideas on making your Halloween party memorable, check out her crafts blog: http://amberscraftaweek.blogspot.com)

On a personal note, last night when I posted my review I forgot to add
one. That's grad school for you. It continues to be quite the
challenge, mostly because of how far behind I am on computer skills.
My first class when I learned how extensively embedded they are in the
curriculum I felt like I'd run into a brick wall. You know how it is
with walls you can't climb. You have to give up or find a sharp
instrument and start chipping away. I'm persistant in chipping and
finding people to help. I'm beginning to see daylight. I did go to
two parties Saturday. The first was my daughter Amber's Alice In
Halloweenland party. As always it was ghoulishly perfect. (If you
need some ideas on making your Halloween party memorable, check out
her crafts blog: http://amberscraftaweek.blogspot.com)
It was wonderful seeing all my kids. After that I went to the
community garden volunteers supper. I once again got the longest
standing and most social gardener award. It was an evening of fine
food and fellowship.
Great big shout outs go out my family, my community garden family, and
all who are helping me tear down the wall.
jules hathaway




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Bunk 9's Guide To Growing Up

Bunk 9's Guide To Growing Up

Juvenile/YA nonfiction
"But take it from us: while there are a whole lot of changes
that happen on the road to womanhood, they're all leading somewhere
completely wonderful. (And once you get the hang of it, tampons
aren't scary at all.) So that's where the BOOK comes in. We're here
to walk you through the process, head to toe, all of these changes
called puberty. And while we're at it, we'll throw in some tips and
advice on how to take care of yourself now that you're growing older,
so that you'll not only survive puberty; you'll completely, totally,
100 percent own it."
If there was a book I wish had been around when I was a late
blooming pre teen or, even more, when I had daughters, it's Bunk 9's
Guide To Growing Up. It is, by far, the most comprehensive book about
puberty I've ever read. I've read many more than the average blogger
or human being.
[As told to] author Adah Nuchi gets the need for peer connection
for girls in and approaching the first great gendered life change.
She got almost all her info in a camp setting. She created the
fictional Camp Silver Moon to pass this knowledge on.
Bunk 9, a group of 16-year-old counselors in training, recreates
the summer when they were twelve and at all different stages in the
process. Readers will get to know them as individuals, quirks and all
from Briana "social butterfly*night owl*raccoonaphobe" to Lea
"chocolate connoisseur*foreign correspondent*ropes course avoider".
Chapters correspond to weeks at camp. The first four cover the
stages of puberty; the last three revolve around comprehensive topics:
boys, health, and feelings. Much of the text is told in a collective
narrative.
"The summer we were twelve may have been our fourth one at Camp
Silver Moon, but it was clear from the moment the camp bus pulled into
the parking lot that this summer WOULD BE DIFFERENT..."
But there are plenty of individual comments in colorful asides.
Meg Hunt's illustrations give the book the comfortable coziness
of popular series books for this age group. Think Dork Diaries. In
addition to pictures of the girls and a rather menacing looking
raccoon, there are stickers and other cool things.
If you are a parent or significant person in the life of a girl
entering or about to start puberty, run, don't walk, to your local
bookstore to pick up Bunk 9's Guide To Growing Up. Read it before
passing it on. Make sure your public library has a copy.
What I want to know is when someone will put out a similar book
on that other big gendered life change called menopause. Much of
what's around now looks like you'd need a PhD in endocrinology to get
it.
You know I'm right.
On a personal note,


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Poverty And Hunger

Poverty And Hunger

Juvenile nonfiction
When I was a child trying to leave the supper table without
touching the Lima beans, Mom or Dad would remind me of the starving
children in Africa to guilt me into cleaning my plate. I bet many of
you had similar experiences. It was a go to tactic for decades. I
think you'll agree that while it succeeded short term (the Lima beans
or liver disappeared) it didn't exactly lead to empathy.
Children are capable of empathy and wanting to help at really
early ages. An attitude of gratitude for what they have, compassion
for those in need, and a burning desire to help are some of the best
gifts we can cultivate in our kids in a world where too many of their
peers, not only in third world countries, but in the United States
live and sometimes die in dire poverty.
But how?
Books can be quite valuable in this endeavor. Poverty And
Hunger by Louise Spilsbury and Hanane Kai is a good introduction to
these topics. The text is to the point, but not intimidating.
Children are given ways to help those in need and a list of books and
websites to learn more.
The pictures beautifully compliment the text. On the first two
page spread where poverty is defined, for example, you see an adult
and child napping on a sofa surrounded by the comforts of home while
through a window you catch a glimpse of an adult and child sleeping
rough (homeless). Plants wither in parched soil. A little girl
drinks water that is far from clean.
And then there's the cat. On nearly every page there's an
orange cat with striped tail and paws. Getting younger kids to find
the cat from page to page is a good way to help them to learn to focus
on illustrations.
I have only one beef with the book. It leads children to think
that it's only kids in other countries living in poverty. There are
growing numbers right here in the United States, the world's richest
nation.
On a personal note, UMaine is on October Break. A lot of us are doing
our jobs and beaucoup studying. I sure am! Last week dining services
had a very special dinner: a celebration of all things Maine cuisine--
everything from crab cakes through baked beans and brown bread to
needhams.
A great big shout out goes out to my fellow studying and recreating
students and the awesome chefs who make every meal a celebration.
Jules Hathaway


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Just Like Us! Birds

Just Like Us! Birds

Juvenile nonfiction
Bridget Heos' latest book is for the birds.
Literally.
Just Like Us! Birds explores the similarities between human and
avian behaviors. Birds engage in courtship and offer gifts to attract
mates. OK, we're more stirred by candy or flowers while an Arctic
tern is attracted by a dead fish. But both lead to mating, which
requires a home or a nest. Then there are those newly born or hatched
critters with their special dietary needs. Fish puke, anyone?
Did you know that parent birds change baby bird diapers?
Heos' text is enlivened by David Clark's very amusing
illustrations and some very cute photographs.
You and your kids may not see our feathered friends in quite the
same way after reading the book.
On a personal note, it's been another week of school, work, sleep,
home and family, and commuting. My social life was donating blood
Tuesday and then volunteering in the canteen. I was very excited
about that. I'd had to not take iron pills. They now make my stomach
hurt. But thanks to the chefs at Wells I had a good iron count. I'm
getting less scared of computers. Now when I'm stumped, instead of
"Oh, crap! I'm screwed!" I try to think what I can do and then (if
I'm still stumped) who can help me.
A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in the blood
drive, the fabulous Wells chefs, and the Commuter Lounge peeps for
their very generous pancake party. I had two blueberry pancakes with
maple syrup and whipped cream.
jules hathaway


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Fault Lines In The Constitution

Fault Lines In The Constitution

YA nonfiction
I was thrilled when I saw Cynthia and Sandford Levinson's Fault
Lines In The Constitution. According to the Levinsons, many of the
issues we struggle with in the 21st Century are the unintended
consequences of decisions made back in 1787 when harried citizens
considered and often clashed over complex issues in their quest to
create a new form of government with liberty and justice for all.
Come along for the ride. Be prepared to cover lots of territory.
Chapters are structured in a novel way. Each starts by
describing a relatively recent problem. A look back to 1787 examines
its roots. There's a comparison with ways states and other countries
have different ideas and a return to the original situation. Topics
covered include voting rights, gerrymandering, the Electoral College,
presidential vetoes, emergency rights suspensions, and other hot
button issues.
My favorite chapter is the one in which the Levinsons grade the
Constitution on the basis of the goals stated in the Preamble. The
grades are pretty mediocre. That chapter is followed by one on
avenues for improvement.
The Levinsons have this to say to readers:
"You can take part. In fact, you can help get the conversation
started. When you hear people say that they don't trust the
government or that the government doesn't seem to be able to fix big
problems like immigration--tell them it's the Constitution's fault!
Then explain how, banding together, we can repair it. That would make
us a true union."
On a personal note, it's beginning to feel like Autumn in Penobscot
County, Maine. Graduate school is intense, especially since my
computer skills are so in need of upgrading. Luckily I have people to
help me. My life is taken up by school and homework, my job, sleep,
house/hubby/cat care, and commuting. Things will be more sane when
I'm more computer savvy. I did have a great birthday. I worked lunch
and supper shifts. My coworkers sang happy birthday to me. They all
signed a card. We had a new dessert: little orange filled chocolate
cream puffs drizzled with ganache. That's the best birthday cake ever!
A great big shout out goes out to my friends who are helping me learn
skills, my dining services family who help me from feeling
overwhelmed, and the best homework helping, stress busting cat ever.
Joey now aka Senor Fuzzygato.



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So You Want To Talk About Race

So You Want To Talk About Race

Adult nonfiction
"...The most common definitions of racism (in my own summation)
are as follows: (1) Racism is any prejudice against someone because
of their race. Or (2) Racism is any prejudice against someone because
of their race, when these views are reinforced by systems of power..."
In So You Want To Talk About Racism Ijeoma Oluo (quoted above)
shows that the difference between the two definitions is more than the
matter of a few added words. It makes a world of difference in how
whites (the we I'm part of) define and deal with the problem. Seeing
prejudice as purely a matter of individuals puts us in a world of bad
people and good people. Bad people burn crosses, throw rocks through
windows, and post hate filled content on the Internet. Good people
don't. So if you don't have a white robe in your closet and you
confront or try to win over racist relatives over Thanksgiving turkey
you're off the hook and can bask in your goodness. The second
definition makes life a lot more complex. We have to realize that
since slave traders started kidnapping and selling blacks there has
been a lot of financial gain in keeping non white people in "their"
place and demonizing them to justify this practice. That racist
relative? Let's call him Officer Smith. He grew up in a racist
society. He received a very white washed education. His police
department sees blacks (especially hoodie wearing teenage boys) as
dangerous thugs. So even if you overwhelm him with facts and logic or
win his heart you haven't done a damn thing to change the system that
shaped him. In this context our goodness or badness is irrelevant and
our making this all about us and our feelings a dangerous
distraction. Only one thing matters. Are we doing all we can to
learn and share the truth about and totally dismantle the whole damn
system?
I love the book. It is truth telling at its best. If you, like
me, are one of the whites who want to help dismantle the deadly system
of oppression from which we undeservedly benefit you need to buy the
book, not just borrow it once. Refer to it often.
One reason to do so is it makes comprehensible a lot of topics
that are bandied around in conversation, generally generating more
heat than light. Privilege is a key one. Having unearned privilege
does not make you a bad person. Sure, realizing our achievements
aren't all about hard work and talent invalidates the concept that
life in America is fair and just. Well, it isn't. Privilege and hard
work are not mutually exclusive. Students in AP classes work hard for
their grades. However, they are also fortunate enough to have these
classes offered, afford the considerable end of year exam fee, and
have access to the materials and human resources they need and the
time and quiet space to study. Examining privilege is not only
enlightening, but a way to discover how you can leverage it to make
change. The privilege of having a blog gives me a chance to make
readers aware of important books about racism and/or by nonwhite
authors. The privilege of regular space for opinion pieces in a
newspaper read by tens of thousands gives me a chance to keep
explaining white privilege and its total wrongness.
"The possibilities of where you can leverage your privilege to
make real, measurable change toward a better eirjf are endless. Every
day you are given opportunities to make the world better by making
yourself a little uncomfortable and asking, 'Who doesn't have the same
freedom or opportunity I'm enjoying now?' These daily interactions are
how systems of oppression are maintained, but with awareness they can
be how we tear these systems down."
If that isn't empowering, I don't know what is. Some of the
other topics covered include police brutality, intersectionality, and
microaggressions.
As important as talking honestly about racism is, it must be
coupled with action. Oluo realizes that such a complex system may
seem too big to tackle. There are, however, many manageable steps we
can take. She gives us plenty of practical ideas. So I'm closing
this review with yet another quote.
"All around the country people are effecting real change with
small actions. Change that improves the lives of people of color in
their towns and cities and weakens an oppressive system. Racial
oppression starts in our homes, our offices, our cities and our
states, and it can end there as well. So start talking, not just
probems, but solutions. We can do this, together."
On a personal note, I'll be working, struggling with schoolwork,
keeping up with the cooking/cleaning/laundry stuff. My birthday is
Friday. I'll be working lunch and supper shifts. My birthday dinner
will be divine.
Great big shout outs go out to my school friends who are helping me
with computer stuff and the amazing people at work who are teaching me
so much! You are all the cat's pajamas!


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Now Or Never!

Now Or Never!

YA nonfiction
"The growing number of casualties, however, began to chip away
at white attitudes. In 1862 a New York corporal, in a letter to his
sister, wrote 'We don't want to fight side by side with the
nigger...We think we are too superior [a] race. But a year later, in
a show of twisted logic and misspellings, a battle-hardened soldier
wrote his mother, 'i would a little rather see a nigers head blowed of
than a white mans.'"
When the Civil War started it was a white men's battle. As
you'll learn in Anthony Shepard's Now Or Never!, a lot of people had
serious reservations about enlisting African Americans. What if they
weren't disciplined enough for the military? What if they used their
guns to avenge past injustices? What if changing the relative status
of the races subverted the constitution?
Enough people died on the battlefield and from illness and
injuries that black soldiers became necessary to defeat the South.
They had things a lot worse than their white peers. They were mowed
down in near suicide missions while whites were given safer
assignments. (Recall during World War II Japanese American regiments
met a similar fate?) If captured by Confederates, they were often
killed rather than taken prisoner. They encountered prejudice on the
part of fellow soldiers. And the army, after promising equal wages,
did its best to short change them.
Told primarily through the experiences of two soldier
journalists, George Stephens and James Henry Gooding, Now Or Never!
gives readers an up close and personal look at the dangers black
soldiers faced and the sacrifices they made from induction through
prison camp to the Confederate surrender and Lincoln's assassination.
In Now Or Never! Shepard translates extensive research into
lively narrative and brings a little known chapter in Civil War
history alive for younger readers.
On a personal note, ...is going wonderfully. I'm learning so much in
dining services. The past week alone I learned how to make four kinds
of hot sandwiches and how to keep up quality without stressing out
even in the lunch rush. Friday my opinion piece came out in the
Bangor Daily News. It was about what dining services is doing to help
solve pressing social problems. As for next week...


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Speaking Our Truth

Speaking Our Truth

Juvenile/YA/adult nonfiction
"In this book, we are embarking on a journey of reconciliation.
This isn't a read-and-do-nothing kind of book. It is an active
exploration of Canada's collective history, our present, and our
future. It's about how we grow as individuals, as families, and as a
country..."
Imagine at a very young age, say 5, being taken away from your
home and family to a bleak institution where you are often hungry,
food may be maggoty, classmates die, you have to dress differently and
speak a different language, and you may be abused verbally,
emotionally, physically, and sexually. If you are a parent, imagine
not being able to protect your children from such a fate. This is the
bleak reality that Canada's indiginous peoples had to survive for far
too many decades.
It's also the reality that underlies Monique Gray Smith's
Speaking Our Truth. Smith teaches younger readers about a chapter of
Canada's history often skipped or skimmed over in school curriculums.
Smith shows the devastating effects of boarding schools on children,
families, communities, and the passing on of culture. Fortunately,
she is also able to write about a process of reconciliation which
acknowledges past wrongs and seeks ways of atonement and healing.
Speaking Our Truth is a lively book beautifully formatted for
its target audience (although also valuable for adults unaware of this
tragedy--which also happened in the United States). Photographs are
plentiful. More general information is enlivened by personal
narratives. Readers are encouraged to think by reflection questions
scattered through the book such as:
*How would you feel if the RCMP showed up at your house and took you
away to a school far from your home?
*How would you feel if you were told you could no longer speak your
own language?
And *What do you think happened to families, communities, and the
Nation when children were taken away to residential school?
A wonderful range of activities children will find appealing and
online resources and books for indepth study enhance the book's power
and usefulness.
Speaking Our Truth is an important read for youngsters, adults,
and families on both sides of the border.
On a personal note, the last week has been wild for me. I am
struggling with my first grad school class. It's not the coursework,
but the computer expertise I'm behind in and the fact that there is a
direct and positive correlation between my screen time and my seizure
proneness. Work, on the other hand...see next review.


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The Lies They Tell

The Lies They Tell

YA/adult fiction
Recall how thrilled I was with Gillian French's debut novel,
Grit? French dared to expose the hypocricy of a society that claims
to be classless, full of opportunity for all, while making it harder
for folks not born with the proverbial silver spoon and then blaming
the challenges they face on lack of intelligence and laziness rather
than, say, poverty wage jobs and lack of affordable housing. Her
Darcy Prentiss had come back to a summer job of blueberry raking for
lack of a better option. She certainly held her own in a town where
the social elite wrote her off as trailer park trash. That was the
book I wish had been around when my own trailer park (in a snobby
town) kids were teens.
Recall I was waiting to see what French would come up with
next? The Lies They Tell is well worth the wait. French ushers
readers into the world of the the ultrarich who summer in coastal
resort towns and the folks who wait on them and clean for them, a
group they fail to see as human individuals or even sentient beings.
On a close to Christmas snowy evening Pearl Haskins had been
waiting tables at the Tenney's Harbor Country Club. The Garrison
family had been seated in her section.
"Tristan Garrison was absent; Pearl noted it as surely as
everyone else in the dining room. Whispers had been circulating
around the club for a week: the Garrisons were opening their Tenney's
Harbor home for the holidays, a first. Now one of their remarkable
children was missing."
That night Pearl had had a hard time falling asleep. She'd
kissed her best friend/crush, Reese, under peer pressure. He'd gone
on to leave with her rival. She was sure she'd made a total fool of
herself.
"At the same time, on the other side of Tenney's Harbor, the
Garrisons were burning in their beds."
The body of the story starts six months later. They have been
hard ones for Pearl. Her father had been in the gatekeeper's cottage
the night of the fire. Rumors flew that it happened on his watch
because he was drunk. Many of his clients have dropped him. His
battle with the bottle seems to be a losing one.
Tristan has returned to the island for the summer, shunned by
former family friends and acquaintances who wonder why he's back.
Despite his credible alibi for the night of the fire, he's under a
cloud of suspicion. People suspect that, in regard to the deaths of
his parents and siblings, he's not so innocent.
One of Tristan's wingmen, Bridges, takes a quite unlikely
interest in Pearl, drawing her into his ritzy social scene. She learns
that the Garrisons were not the picture perfect family people had
perceived. Perhaps daughter Cassidy had known the killer's identity.
Maybe she'd left a clue before her untimely demise. What will happen
to Pearl if she gets too close to the truth?
Not to mention, how will her being seen with the rich boys of
summer effect her relationship with Reese? Will her father see her
chumming around those who have used and abused year round residents
seemingly forever as an ultimate betrayal?
The Lies They Tell combines a spell binding mystery with a
distinctive and memorable voice. It's number one on my top ten picks
from my summer reading.
I've discovered that French has another book in print (which
I've ordered by ILL) and one coming out next year. And she lived just
a few towns away! Who knows? Maybe before other reviews of her work
I can leverage my blog to get to actually talk to her. A girl can
only dream...
...and do what it takes to make her dream come true.
On a personal note, the weather is becoming delightful--not so hot and
muggy. It's so good to see friends I haven't seen all summer. I got
to decorate a white coffee mug at UMaine. I chose silver, purple, and
two shades pink nail polish. A girl put them in water. Then I
swirled the water and dunked the mug. It came out beautiful.
Everyone agreed--even Anna. I love those UMaine surprises!
jules hathaway




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Ask Me No Questions

Ask Me No Questions

Juvenile/YA fiction
"We drive as if in a dream.
Up I-95, past the Triborough Bridge, chunks of black ice
floating in the East River. Me and Aisha hunched in the back, a green
airline bag wedged between us filled with Ma's luchis and spiced
potatoes. Abba in the front, clutching the steering wheel, Ma hunched
against the rattling door."
Nadira, protagonist of Marina Budhos' Ask Me No Questions, and
her family are fleeing to what they hope will be safety. Emigrants
from Bangladesh, they had stayed in New York after their passports
expired, hoping to find a way to acquire citizenship. After 9/11
their lives became precarious. Violence and deportations leave them
feeling they have no alternative to seeking assylum in Canada.
Only Canada, overwhelmed by people in their plight seeking
refuge, turns them away. Recrossing the border, they are stopped for
expired visas. Abba is jailed. Ma decides to stay near him in a
church run shelter. The girls are sent back to live with relatives,
attend school, and act as though nothing in their lives is amiss.
Will they ever again be together as a family? Read the book and
see.
On a personal note, work continues well. Last night before I started
serving Anna asked me to plate desserts for serving. I did fine with
eclairs, but not as well with delicate chocolate chiffon pies. Anna
did not get mad. She said, "We are learning from our mistakes." (Note
we and our instead of you and your. The difference seemingly small
words can make is amazing.)
jules hathaway


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Geek Girl Rising

Geek Girl Rising

Adult Herstory
"As mothers to young daughters obsessed with musical.ly,
Minecraft, and messaging their friends, we embarked on this project to
better understand why the number of women working in technology has
been on a steady decline since the 1980s and what can be done to
reverse the trend. While the media focussed on sexism and the
exclusive boys' club in Silicon Valley as the culprits keeping women
out, we uncovered a different story: a powerful grass roots movement
of women entrepreneurs and technologists who were not asking for
permission from Silicon Valley--or anyone--to take part in the digital
revolution. Those are the stories we decided to share in this book."
They are amazing stories. Heather Cabot and Samantha Walravens'
Geek Girl Rising: Inside The Sisterhood Shaking Up Tech is a who's who
of trailblazers in the industry. Readers will learn about dozens of
women like:
*Debbie Sterling, creator of GoldieBlox, a toy line developed to
interest girls in engineering;
*Kathryn Minshaw, CEO of The Muse, an on-line job search for millenials;
and *Kristina Montague, co-founder and partner of the JumpFund, a
company run by women that invests in women-founded cutting edge
businesses.
These pioneers explore areas like work-life balance and interesting
younger girls in the varied and fascinating realm of technology.
Although highly informative, Geek Girl Rising is not jargon
laden or mystifying. You don't have to be tech savvy to understand
and enjoy it.
On a personal note, UMaine has just finished the first week of
classes. I have yet to attend my class which meets Mondays on account
of Labor Day. I did get to be overwhelmed with information at Higher
Ed masters orientation. It was good. But a little scary.
jules hathaway


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