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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Strays

Strays

Adult nonfiction
"Two glowing eyes stared back at them. A soaked, shivering cat
was cowering from the rain. Michael was disappointed--food would have
been better--but something about the way the animal looked disturbed
him. Her stripey white fur was covered with dirt and motor oil. One
of her eyes was swollen, and she had a raw gash on her face. She
looked even more beat up than he was, and she was scared."
Michael King was homeless. A tragedy had caused him to walk
away from his home and life. In Portland, Oregon he was sleeping
rough. He and a friend, Stinson, grabbed the cat, wanting to get her
off a dangerous road, and took her to the UPS loading dock where they
crashed at night. They thought she would just spend the night...
...but the cat, whom they named Tabor, had other ideas. The
next day when Michael returned from panhandling she was waiting for
him. He had a hard enough time meeting his own needs. He wasn't
looking to take on a companion. But he began to look forward to
caring for her.
When Tabor began accompanying Michael and Stinson on their
rounds something amazing happened. People began to give them food and
money.
"Every time they passed a sidewalk cafe or restaurant, people
smiled. It had been a long time since anyone other than another hobo
was happy to see Michael, and most people did their damndest not to
look at him for fear that he might ask them for something. Once he
started walking around with Tabor, though, lots of people wanted to
talk to them or take their pictures..."
One late November morning, waking up with frost on his sleeping
bag, Michael realized it was time to head south for the winter, an
unpredictable trek consisting of taking whatever rides came his way
and sleeping wherever he landed.
"'Taking Tabor on the road south,' Michael said to his friends
as they walked out of the cemetary, 'is a compulsion of the heart.'"...
...not to mention a fascinating story which you won't want to
put down, especially if you're a cat lover.
As I write this in our studio, Joey is draped across my
shoulders like a furry scarf, purring contentedly in my ear.
On a purrrrsonal note, I have today and tomorrow off. Joey cat is
quite pleased to have me home. He's cuddling, purring, and napping in
close proximity to where I work. Tomorrow is the 15th anniversary of
the day he became a very important and precious part of our family.
I had two very memorable recent shifts at work. Friday lunch I did
tables at Hilltop. There were a lot of parents eating with their new
student kids. I was able to use my experience as UMaine mom to assure
them they were leaving their kids in a good place. The moms were
really enthusiastic about me starting school. I think at least one
will follow in my footsteps. A few times I saw Gordon watching me
smiling and nodding. Later I quipped that it's a good think he
doesn't write me up for talking to customers. I'd have blown through
three strikes in one shift. He says I do a good job of it.
Saturday night we had a barbeque to welcome UMaine's new president,
Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy. It was on the mall. The weather was
perfect: sunny with a delightful breeze. The students were psyched!
All of us serving were thrilled. It was were in a real life
promotional video, no touch ups needed. Then, OMG, Dean Dana, was
introducing me to our new pres! She's asked me to keep her updated on
my progress through the program!!! My fellow servers are lucky I
didn't faint on the spot.
A great big shout out and an enthusiastic Black Bear welcome go out to
Dr. Ferrini-Mundy!!! I know there is a lot to learn about a
university. Don't forget that not only those high in the hierarchy,
but a lot of us regular community members are willing to help in any
way we can.
jules hathaway


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Solo

Solo

YA fiction
"Rutherford may not have much time left before
He falls flat on 12:00. Midnight can be so cruel.
Who doesn't feel sorry for his kids
Left answering the hard questions, like
How does it feel
To be the daughter,
To be the son
Of a fallen rock star?"
Blade, narrator of Kwame Alexander's Solo, is that son of a
fallen rock star. His childhood was, shall we say, unusual, much of
it on the road with his father's band. He did alcohol and drugs for
the amusement of the adults in his life. At one point, after tasting
what he thought was powdered sugar, he woke up in the ICU with his
father in handcuffs.
Now he and his sister, Storm, have everything money can buy.
But he'd like to trade his life for someone else's. His mother is
dead. His father, Rutherford, is washed up, seemingly striving for a
come back, but constantly undone by alcohol and drugs. The paparazzi
follows his every move, eager to uncover his spectacular incidents and
failures. Blade often finds very unwanted microphones in his face
each time Rutherford demonstrates how low he can go.
The only bright spot in Blade's life is his beloved girlfriend,
Chapel. The problem is Chapel can't be seen with Blade. Her strict
parents fear that he'll turn out like his father and contaminate her.
As if this isn't enough, there's a family secret that, when
revealed, will shred Blade's sense of identity.
As with Alexander's other fine novels, lively verse, colorful
characters, and intriguing plot combine to create an impossible to put
down narrative.
On a personal note, we are just a hop, skip, and jump away from the
start of fall semester. I did my last volunteering at Orono Public
Library til Christmas break. Where I've been doing that since the
place opened it felt strange. Community Garden is in full bloom. I
had my grad school orientation. The new UMaine president gave a fine
speech. But my favorite part was we had lunch on my turf. Wells
Dining Commons to be exact. I got to tell people where the different
options were. Then when people were settled in I went from table to
table, asking how people were enjoying their dining experience. They
were loving it! I wasn't on the clock but I felt like a hostess
anyway. The supervisors seemed quite pleased to see me with the other
grad students. I was wearing bird cage earrings and Nancy asked me if
I was using the birds to tease the cats on my shirt.
A great big shout out goes out to the other grad students who, like
me, have only just begun.
jules hathaway


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