The Glass Girl (YA fiction)

        It started out innocently enough with a drink provided by her beloved grandmother when she was rather young. 

     But 15-year-old Bella, narrator of Kathleen Glasgow's The Glass Girl, has found alcohol to be her refuge. She has a lot to deal with. Her grandmother has just died. Her first realad boyfriend has dumped her. After an acrimonious divorce her parents can't be in the same room without fighting. She can see what it's doing to her little sister. 

     So she uses alcohol 🍸 to take the edge off her feelings. After all doesn't everyone?

     Except her grades are slipping. She's alienating her friends. And after a night of partying she nearly dies of alcohol 🍸 poisoning and goes from hospital to rehab. 

     Bella's narrative reads like she is talking to a trusted best friend. She's vulnerable, likeable, authentic. So I was not surprised to read in the author's note that Bella's experiences mirror her own.

     I would highly recommend The Glass Girl to high school and college student, parents, and professionals who work with teens and young adults. 

On a purrrsonal note I haven't had a drop of alcohol since the night before my stroke--well over a year and don't miss it. I have no more desire to sip one of Eugene's beers than I have to try Tobago's Fancy Feast. Coffee is a whole different story. I can't have it because it raises my blood pressure. It's a daily battle. I crave it every time I smell it. And before you suggest decaf it is nothing like the real thing plus some decafs contain caffeine. I wonder if I will ever stop craving my favorite beverage. 

A great big shout goes out to everyone fighting their substance cravings.

Jules Hathaway 

Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone

Lies Like Wildfire (YA fiction)

     I think it was that dead white male writer, Mr. William Shakespeare, who remarked through one of his characters "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we endeavor to deceive." I believe that Hannah, narrator of Jennifer Lynn Alvarez's Lies Like Wildfire, would agree with the truth of that saying. 

     Hannah has grown up in a small California forest town with MO (Maureen), Luke, and Drummer. Violet has joined them on her summers spent with her grandmother. The friends have been besties since early childhood when they were dubbed the monsters. Now they've just graduated high school. They're enjoying what very well could be their last summer together...

     ...until on an ordinary visit to a favorite lake when a dropped marijuana pipe sparks a wildfire 🔥 that blazes out of control, killing ten people, leaving thousands more homeless, and destroying acres of protected forest in a national park. The others think they should admit to their roles in the fire. After all it resulted from a simple mistake...

     ...but sheriff's daughter Hannah knows better. In a disaster only impact, not intent, will be taken into consideration. If the truth comes out instead of starting college or jobs they'll be starting long prison sentences...

     ...but damage control becomes harder when two of the group become suspects...

     ...and then one of group goes missing after telling the others by text her plans to go to the police with the truth. 

     Readers who love a truly twisty mystery will really enjoy Lies Like Wildfire. And it also could lead to serious discussions of the ethical issues it raises. 

On a purrrsonal note, it was a good Thanksgiving. Katie, Jacob, and Adam came over for the big dinner. It was great seeing them for the first time since September. 

A great big shout out goes out to Katie, Jacob, and Adam. 

Jules Hathaway 

Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone

Searching for Savanna (adult nonfiction)

     "There's a refrain you hear from Native American advocates about this stark invisibility. As the researchers wrote in their report, Indigenous women who are missing or murdered dissappear not just once, but three times: 'in life in the media, in the data.'

     This is the story of one woman in one tribe, but her life and her death illuminate this ongoing crisis and the efforts by Native women to resolve it."

     The above quote consists of the last two paragraphs of the prologue to Mona Gable's Searching For Savanna: The Murder of One Native American Woman and the Violence Against the Many. It neatly sums up the themes of this timely and thought provoking book. 

     Savanna Lafontaine-Greywind was eight months pregnant with a baby girl she had named Haisley Jo. Although close to her family, she was excited about moving in with her boyfriend and embarking on their life together. Like so many first time mothers-to-be she was simultaneously eager to hold her baby and apprehensive about labor. Sounds like many of us, right?

     But that's where the resemblance ends. Instead of the joy of meeting her newborn surrounded by family, friends, flowers, and balloons she vanished. Her mutilated body minus baby was found in a river. Her true crime narrative covers her life and death and the search for answers. 

     And it's so much more. Interspersed through the narrative are chapters on the relative indifference of law enforcement officers and legislators to a tragic national epidemic, and the valiant efforts of Indigenous women to make life less precarious for the girls and women in their families and tribes. 

     If you have a ❤️ for social and racial justice you'll find this poignant and powerful narrative to be a must read. 

On a purrrsonal note, I'm at the in-laws WAY too early (so Eugene can hunt), doing my best to ignore their 📺 and wake up enough, minus the benefit of ☕️ , to get some serious homework out of the way. 

A great big shout out (with wishes for a safe and fabulous Thanksgiving) goes out to my readers.

Jules Hathaway 

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When The Stars Came Home (picture book)

     Moving from a beloved home to an unfamiliar place where you're a stranger can really heartbreaking 💔 for a child or teen. I know that it was for me. It happened nearly six decades ago but I remember it as if it was yesterday--saying goodbye to my friends and my beloved ocean, knowing that in days I'd be starting a new school where I knew nobody. The worst part was having to abandon my beloved animal companions including my ocelot. 

     Ojiig, protagonist of Brittany Luby's When the Stars 🌟 Came Home, is experiencing a similar heartbreak. He misses his grandparents and neighborhood. But most of all he misses seeing the stars 🌟 at night 🌙. 

     His parents try to help. But star 🌟 stickers fall from the ceiling. And a star 🌟 shaped light doesn't twinkle. 

     Can anything make his new place feel like home?

     This beautifully illustrated sensitive book will resonate with kids, especially those who have had to make difficult moves.

On a purrrsonal note, I used to tell my parents that when I had control of my life I'd find my home and never move. They were sure I'd grow out of that idea. I've been in the same county 40 years and the same trailer 34 1/2. I don't think so. 

A great big shout out goes out to the husband, children, and cats who have made this trailer a real home.

Jules Hathaway 

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Re: Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy (YA historical fiction)

Awwwwwwww Jules, this is beautiful! Thank you for featuring our time together. I will do it over and over again.

On Thu, Nov 21, 2024 at 8:42 AM julia.hathaway <julia.hathaway@maine.edu> wrote:

     "Turner Buckminster had lived in Phippsburg, Maine for almost six whole hours.

     He didn't know how much longer he could stand it."

     What the protagonist of Gary Schmidt's Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, is having trouble standing is being the new minister's son in a small judgmental town where people have rigid expectations of him. And it isn't long before he's violating them.

     Malaga Island lies across a small stretch of water from Phippsburg. Originally settled over a century earlier by slaves, it's population has eked out a living peacefully since. The wealthy whites who run Phippsburg have always resented their proximity. Now they're planning to destroy their shanties. The shipbuilding that has fueled the town's prosperity is no longer viable. They see their salvation in luxury tourism. They see the presence of their poor Black neighbors as "a blight on the town's aspirations, a hopeless barrier to its future."

     Turner, coming from a much more liberal Boston, manages to shock the prudish town fathers from day one. He needs a place where he can breathe away from their prying eyes. When he meets vivacious Lizzie Bright and is welcomed by her Malaga community he knows that he's found it. 

   But a storm is brewing and Turner has positioned himself right in the middle. 

     There really was a Malaga Island whosefe inhabitants, both living and dead, were removed and their buildings burned. 

     This highly engaging coming of agee narrative narrative will captivate and enlighten young readers. 

On a purrrsonal note, a few weeks ago I had made Eunice, one of my favorite classmates, and me matching necklaces at a student wellness event. I finally got to deliver it. She loved it and put it on. She treated me to lunch at the Bear's Den and I got to introduce her to Catherine and show her around Student Wellness. That was for sure quality time. 

A great big shout out goes out to Eunice. 

Jules Hathaway 

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--

Eunice Opare (she/her)

Graduate Assistant, Higher Education Programs 

Honors Academic Advising Intern | Schedule an appointment 

337A Merrill Hall | 153 Estabrooke Hall for Honors Advising sessions

University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469

Phone: +1 (207) 735-9024

Higher Education (M.Ed) | LinkedIn | Instagram

Living and working within the homelands of the Wabanaki Tribal Nations

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy (YA historical fiction)

     "Turner Buckminster had lived in Phippsburg, Maine for almost six whole hours.

     He didn't know how much longer he could stand it."

     What the protagonist of Gary Schmidt's Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, is having trouble standing is being the new minister's son in a small judgmental town where people have rigid expectations of him. And it isn't long before he's violating them.

     Malaga Island lies across a small stretch of water from Phippsburg. Originally settled over a century earlier by slaves, it's population has eked out a living peacefully since. The wealthy whites who run Phippsburg have always resented their proximity. Now they're planning to destroy their shanties. The shipbuilding that has fueled the town's prosperity is no longer viable. They see their salvation in luxury tourism. They see the presence of their poor Black neighbors as "a blight on the town's aspirations, a hopeless barrier to its future."

     Turner, coming from a much more liberal Boston, manages to shock the prudish town fathers from day one. He needs a place where he can breathe away from their prying eyes. When he meets vivacious Lizzie Bright and is welcomed by her Malaga community he knows that he's found it. 

   But a storm is brewing and Turner has positioned himself right in the middle. 

     There really was a Malaga Island whosefe inhabitants, both living and dead, were removed and their buildings burned. 

     This highly engaging coming of agee narrative narrative will captivate and enlighten young readers. 

On a purrrsonal note, a few weeks ago I had made Eunice, one of my favorite classmates, and me matching necklaces at a student wellness event. I finally got to deliver it. She loved it and put it on. She treated me to lunch at the Bear's Den and I got to introduce her to Catherine and show her around Student Wellness. That was for sure quality time. 

A great big shout out goes out to Eunice. 

Jules Hathaway 

Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone

Orbiting Jupiter

     After recently reading and reviewing Gary Schmidt's Jupiter Rising I decided to reread the original narrative, Orbiting Jupiter. I'm sure glad I did. It's the kind of book that's just as captivating the second time around. I certainly didn't want you to miss out. 

     Jack, Schmidt's narrator, lives with his parents on a small New England farm. His daily chores include milking the cows 🐄. As the story begins he gets a foster brother. 

     Joseph is coming into a town where people gossip and are quick to condemn. While he's bullied by peers many of the adults don't do  much better. But Jack and his parents win Joseph's trust and learn the complex truth. 

     At thirteen Joseph is father to a baby, Jupiter. Her mother died in childbirth. She's in the foster care system. Joseph will do anything to get her back into his life.

     Told from the perspective of a sixth grader, Orbiting Jupiter is highly engaging. Schmidt's simple evocative language makes the characters and their world spring vividly to life.

On a purrrsonal note, I got my second piece of the semester into the Maine Campus, the UMaine newspaper. It's about Thanksgiving--how in our capitalist society too many people don't get to enjoy it with their families. You can bet I'm proud.

A great big shout out goes out to my editor and our readers.

Jules Hathaway 

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Everything We Never Said (YA fiction)

     A couple of years ago the dining commons where I had a student job played retro music. One day when I was cleaning tables a decidedly stalkerish number by Police came on. I was astounded by how many female students thought it was romantic and beautiful. 

     In reality jealousy, control issues, and anger management problems make for a toxic brew that often can be mistaken for devotion. Sloan Harlow's Everything We Never Said gives teens a good exposure to this too often taboo topic  in the context of an engaging contemporary narrative. 

     Ella, Hayley, and Sawyer, Hayley's boyfriend, were virtually inseparable until Hayley's death in a car accident. Ella was driving.

     Now it's September and a greatly changed Hayley is back in school dealing with the awkward concern of her friends and teachers. Hayley's mother is moving and can't bring herself to clean out her dead daughter's room. Ella's insists that she do it. In the process she finds Hayley's diary. 

     At first things are awkward between Ella and Sawyer, especially they feel a more than friends attraction. And when they move in that direction things get complicated. Hayley notices flashes of what seems like irrational anger and jealousy. 

     And reading Hayley's diary she learns of similar experiences...

     But the truth is more sinister than she could imagine. 

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday was going to be an all homework day. And it was until after supper when Eugene put Grease on. He doesn't really like musicals. So when he put on one of my all time movies...

     ...it was a fun study break.

A great big shout out goes out to Eugene. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Such Charming Liars (YA fiction)

     Karen McManus had always wanted to write a heist book. She wasn't sure she could make it work in her genre. Lucky for us she persevered. Such Charming Liars is a real treat for her many fans and for everyone who loves a truly twisty mystery. 

     Kat and Liam, the book's two narrators were stepsiblings for 48 hours back in their preschool days thanks to an ill fate Vegas wedding after which they went their separate ways, not imagining that they would meet up again in their teens at the ultra ritzy 80th birthday festivities of the patriarch of a filthy rich clan.

     Kat's mother, Jamie, is a jewel thief. She's going to infiltrate the compound, posing as a caterer, to steal an expensive necklace owned by one of the celebrant's granddaughters,  Annalise, and replace it with a replica. When she unexpectedly becomes ill Kat takes her place.

     Liam's father, Luke, is a scam artist who takes advantage of women. He's attending the affair as the boyfriend of the beautiful Annalise. He has a ring 💍 in his pocket and ill intent in his heart. 

     But things don't go as either scheming parent envisioned. When the family and guests are about to eat the birthday 🎂 a shot rings out. Annalise's brother, Parker, is found dead with the fake necklace in his pocket. 

     And that's when things get complicated. 

     If you're in the mood for a truly suspenseful tale with a plethora of unexpected twists make sure to get your hands on Such Charming Liars. 

On a purrrsonal note, last Friday I had an amazing evening. A family movie, How To Train Your Dragon, was showing on campus. I was sure I couldn't stay for it because it went beyond bus hours. But Catherine said she could give me a ride home. It was the first real movie I'd gone to in over two years. It was a really spellbinding flick. And there was lots of popcorn 🍿 😋 and a whole table of my favorite kinds of candy 🍬 😋. It was a dream come true. 

A great big shout out goes out to Catherine. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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Kareem Between

     As we move toward a second Trump presidency Shifa Saltagi Safadi's Kareem Between, showing the human dimensions of the tragedies caused by his first regime, is a timely read for the juvenile readers in our lives.

     Middle school is not going well for Kareem. His best friend has just moved away, leaving him alone to navigate places like the cafeteria. He messed up at football tryouts. He basically lives for football. He's doing all the homework of a classmate, the coach's son, who has promised to get him on the spring squad. He's been put in charge of helping Fadi, a new immigrant, adapt to school. 

"Fadi's accent 

is going to make him stick out 

at school 

             like a soccer player 

on a football field. 

If I hang out

with Fadi,

it'll be a huge penalty."

     But a much larger problem looms on the horizon. His mother has to return to Syria temporarily. She plans to bring her parents to America. Her father needs heart surgery. She's bringing medicine that will make him strong enough to travel. 

     But his health will not be the only challenge the family faces. He who I shall not name has just been installed in the Oval Office and signed xenophobic Executive Order 13769.

     Kareem Between, told in free verse, will resonate with kids who have ever felt that they don't fit in. Football fans will enjoy the NFL facts scattered through the book. 

On a purrrsonal note, we're speeding towards winter a little too quickly. We may be seeing the white stuff before the end of the semester. And since the time change darkness falls too early. 

A great big shout out goes out to my fellow bus commuters.

Jules Hathaway 

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Liar's Beach

         After months of working long hours at a grocery store Linden, protagonist of Katie Cotugno's Liar's Beach, is more than ready for a break. He's more than ready to accept his boarding school roommate's invitation to spend the end of the summer at his family's posh summer place, more than ready for a taste of luxury living...

     ...Not so ready to find an unconscious man bleeding from a head wound in the family's sleeping pool the morning after a parentless party. 

     After a few perfunctory questions the investigating police officers leave. They don't question an obvious lie--that the teens hadn't been drinking. Nobody is taken in to the station. And despite the fact that a minimum of questioning would reveal plenty of motive and opportunity on the part of family members they leave the clan alone. 

     The family goes on with the narrative that it was all a terrible (or maybe not so terrible) accident. Despite some misgivings Linden is going along with the the narrative...

     ...until Holiday's unexpected arrival on the island. She and Linden had been best friends until they drifted apart. She's sure there's more sinister going on. And she easily talks Linden into a very risky investigation. 

     Fans of Karen McManus and Maureen Johnson and anyone who enjoys a truly twisty mystery will find Liar's Beach a delightful treat.

On a purrrsonal note, recently I spent a delightful afternoon with Catherine and her roommates. We explored Goodwill looking for bargains. I found a really big (read unaffordable first hand) pink Squishmallow unicorn 🦄 whom I named Catherine. We stopped at Sweet Frog for fro yo with toppings. Then we did a little more shopping. It was such a blissful 😊 ☺️ break from internship research. 

A great big shout out goes out to Catherine and her roommates.

Jules Hathaway 

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They Came For The Schools (adult nonfiction)

     I served on a school board for 11 years, many of them as vice chair, not that long ago. Other than the annual budget fights and the governor's ill advised consolidation mandate things went smoothly. Despite taking a controversial stand on the issue, I was only vilified in one email. In fact when I had decided to not run for reelection following the vote to withdraw from RSU 26 the people who had talked me into changing my mind had battled me all that year on it. "We may not agree on everything, but no one in Veazie cares more about our kids and families than you do."

     That's in contrast to the community portrayed in Mike Hixenbaugh's They Came For The Schools: One Town's Fight Over Race And Identity, And The New War For America's Classrooms. Hixenbaugh spent three years reporting on Southlake, a small Texas town, during a time when its reputation for academic excellence was becoming overshadowed by its reputation for conservative backlash to progress. 

     The controversy began in 2018 when eight Southlake students posted a racist video on social media. Parents demanded to know what the high school was going to do to punish the students and make sure similar incidents didn't happen in the future. Administrators felt it was just kids making poor decisions...

     ...until a special meeting the school board called for community feedback where many parents described racist incidents their children had experienced. The taunts expressed in the video were indicative of an undercurrent of racism running through the whole school system. 

     The school committee tried to change things for the better. They put out a call for community members--parents, students, teachers--to be part of a committee to study the climate and make recommendations. At the first meeting one member asked the others, "Are you ready for what's going to happen after we try to get this done?" only to be asked, "What could go wrong?"

     Plenty it seems. Nothing was being to deter white students from using the N word with abandon. When a Black girl heard the slur and went to the principal he advised her to not let something like that take her joy. And in 2020 when the modest recommendations were announced they were met with hostility. 

     And this was just the beginning. 

     They Came For The Schools is not an easy read for people who care about American schools' book banning, curriculum white washing, and failing to protect children from marginalized groups. But it's a necessary and important one. Actions like those portrayed in the book are going on all over this nation. And there's a certain governor with his eyes on the oval office who plans to turn America into a larger version of his state.

On a purrrsonal note, last Saturday I went out for the afternoon with friends. We explored Goodwill. I found a really big unicorn squishmallow. And we had a sweet treat at Sweet Frog. Their fro yo and toppings are so good! It was such a wonderful break from homework!

A great big shout out goes out to the friends I had a wonderful afternoon with. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy (YA graphic novel)

     Alix lives to play ice hockey. She's the star of her team and looking forward to the Canada National Women's U-18 Team's summer camp. 

     There's one major league problem. Alix's mean girl team captain, Lindsay, is constantly bullying her behind their coach's back. And her teammates are afraid to see something say something, not wanting to be Lindsay's next target. 

     So when Lindsay goes too far and Alix punches her the coach, not comprehending the history behind the punch, takes Alix off the ice and tells her she's reconsidering recommending her for the camp. Alix's mom is reconsidering her participation in such a violent sport.

     Alix knows she has to get a handle on her reactions to provocation. So she chooses Ezra, a classmate who deals calmly with bullying, to teach her how. 

     When Alix gets to know Ezra well she learns that his life is more complicated than she'd imagined. 

     Perhaps they can be there for each other. 

     The only thing I didn't like that throughout it is that nothing is done to hold the bullies accountable for the harm they do to their peers.

On a purrrsonal note, I'm in a state of shock from the election results. I have no clue how we'll survive a second Trump presidency. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who will be endangered by his executive decisions and actions. 

Jules Hathaway 

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The New Girl (juvenile graphic novel)

     Imagine that you and your family are leaving the country you've so far grown up in, moving away from extended family and friends, and crossing the ocean to a place where they speak a different language. As you're waiting for the plane you get your first period. And your mother shares the news with the family members who are seeing you off. 

     What would be a nightmare for just about any 12-year-old girl is the real life experience of Lia, narrator of Cassandra Calin's The New Girl. Canada 🇨🇦 is very different from Romania. School is super challenging because of language. The scribbles teachers speak in are like the bwa bwa bwa bwa of the adults in Charlie Brown holiday specials. And to make the first day of school even worse her pesky little brother had an awesome time and already has weekend plans with friends. 

     But then things start getting better. Lia starts making friends, begins to understand French, and gets the chance to use her art skills on the school magazine. 

     Middle grade readers, especially those who have experienced challenging moves, will find The New Girl, based on Calin's experiences, truly engaging. It's a perfect blend of text and graphics. The characters' body language and facial expressions are outstanding. 

On a purrrsonal note, the book brought back memories for me. When I was in high school I was signed up for a study abroad program where I'd stay with a family. At the last minute I was changed from England to Mexico despite not knowing a word of Spanish. If I live to 100 I'll never forget my first night experience of sitting in my family's living room, terrified of having an accident because I didn't know how to ask where the bathroom was. I solved the problem by drawing a picture of a toilet with a question Mark. And I ended up having a really good study abroad experience.

A great big shout out goes out to all who experience moves between nations. 

Jules Hathaway 

 

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Everything We Never Had (YA fiction)

     Randy Ribay's latest novel is by far his finest. Everything We Never Had is a rich and complex narrative built on the relationships of the four adolescent boys in a Filipino American family with their fathers and their historical circumstances. 

     In 1930 sixteen-year-old Francisco, newly arrived in California, is earning a living picking apples. He wants to send money home to help his family but can barely cover his own expenses. He misses his family and fears the mobs of whites that roam at night beating and sometimes killing Filipinos.

     In 1965 Emil (16) is going to school and working in his Aunt Carmen's cafe. He wants to be nothing like his father, Francisco, who has become a labor organizer. A fan of capitalism and rugged individualism, he's determined to climb the ladder to success.

     In 1983 Chris is at odds with his father, Emil, over football. He feels that it's the one thing he can do really well. But Emil sees it as a distraction from academics and pulls him off the team. 

     In 2020 as the pandemic is making itself known and Enzo is struggling to keep his anxiety under control Chris announces that Emil is coming to live with them. Enzo is not happy about giving up his room for an indefinite period of time. And, knowing about their adversarial relationship, he wonders if his father and grandfather can live under the same roof without one killing the other. 

     It's no wonder Ribay could create such engaging characters and relationships. In his thanks to his son he says, "Every day you make me think deeply about the kind of father and human I want to be, a process that was the driving force behind this narrative."

On a purrrsonal note, the Saturday after Halloween was super fun 😁. Catherine and went to Culturefest and the Union Take Over, both on campus. The latter was an alcohol 🍸 free Halloween celebration. The 2nd floor of the Union was decorated super spooky. There were so many fun activities! I volunteered helping Gwyn in the boo basket room by telling people the rules. I got to fill my own basket with Halloween cat socks, squishies, a cute little ghost, and, of course, candy. SO MUCH FUN!!!

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Re: Better Than We Left It

Jules,

It was entirely our privilege to hear you present. You are such a light and where you go there is light. I am deeply privileged to know you. 

Love, 

Anila 

On Fri, Oct 25, 2024 at 4:03 PM julia.hathaway <julia.hathaway@maine.edu> wrote:

     These days kids and teens are coming of age in a real life dystopia they can't wake up from. School has become a place where they could be mowed down by someone with a grudge and military grade weapons. For those who aren't white it could be a gateway to jail and a foreclosed future. Many of their families are just one disaster from homelessness. For many having the bare necessities is purely aspirational. Having a parent jailed could leave them trapped in the foster care system. And there's this climate change crisis.

     They're painfully aware of the precarious nature of life on Earth--certainly more aware than many, if not most adults. And they're trying desperately to turn things around only to be met with belittling disrespect from adults who believe they can't grasp and care about grown up issues--they must being used by adults with agendas.

     Is it any wonder that anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses are so on the rise in this demographic?

     With winter holidays on the way I have a perfect gift suggestion for any youth (including traditional college age) activists or potential youth activists in your life, especially those who are wondering how they can make a difference. Frederick and Porsche Joseph's Better Than We Found: Conversations to Help Save The  World. It analyzes sixteen of the world's dire crises. Unlike many supposedly similar books for adults it isn't an offering up of simple and superficial panaceas. The Josephs and their guest writers dig deep, blending cogent analysis with back story and truly stirring and engaging narratives. 

     And gifting the book could be only the beginning. You and you family (or youth group or Sunday school class etc.) Could pick an issue to discuss and do something about. And a copy of Better Than We Left It would be a most excellent gift for your local public or school library.

On a purrrsonal note, I had a truly peak experience yesterday. As a favor to a classmate, I led a lunch & learn: an interactive presentation on ageism. We had great attendance. People were deeply engaged and offering wonderful insights. We were learning together. And the lunch was delicious.

A great big shout out goes out to all who attended  and the UMaine diversity and inclusion people who hosted and publicized the event and provided the delicious food. They make me proud to be a UMaine Black Bear. 

Jules Hathaway 

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--

Anila Karunakar
My Pronouns: she, her, hers
| Empathy| Positivity| Developer| Individualization| Connectedness

Director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion

Multicultural Student Center, Rainbow Resource Center, and 

the Intersectional Feminist Resource Center

5748 Memorial Union
Room 310

University of Maine
Orono, ME  04469
PH: 207.581.1437

Fax: 207.581.4215

anila.karunakar@maine.edu

https://umaine.edu/diversity-and-inclusion/

The path from dreams to success does exist. May you have the vision to find it, the courage to get on to it, and the perseverance to follow it.
Kalpana Chawla (First Indian American to fly into space and was on the Space Shuttle Columbia)

The University of Maine recognizes that it is located on Marsh Island in the homeland of Penobscot people, where issues of water and territorial rights, and encroachment upon sacred sites, are ongoing. Penobscot homeland is connected to the other Wabanaki Tribal Nations—the Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, and Micmac—through kinship, alliances, and diplomacy. The University also recognizes that the Penobscot Nation and the other Wabanaki Tribal Nations are distinct, sovereign, legal and political entities with their own powers of self-governance and self-determination. 

Jupiter Rising (YA fiction)

     When Jack's father has to put down their family's horse he says "Let's not lose anything else." Later Jack, protagonist of Gary D. Schmidt's Jupiter Rising, learns the heartbreaking meaning of that cryptic sentence. 

     Jack was devastated by the death of his foster brother, Joseph. When his parents were able to foster Joseph's toddler daughter, Jupiter, with an eye toward adopting her  he felt "Like there was a reason to breathe again, even if it still did hurt." And everything is looking promising for the adoption...

     ...until Jupiter's maternal grandparents, a couple with deep pockets for legal talent and an expectation of getting their way seek custody. Unfortunately they are blood relatives.

     Meanwhile Jack has been given a running partner even though he has no cross country ambitions. Coach thinks he has the talent to make jv and varsity when, not if, he develops it. When he's paired with adversary Jay Perkins neither of them is a happy camper. 

     But things gradually change, brokered by Jupiter's obvious love for both boys. So when the family has gone to court and are waiting for the judge's decision and Jack sees Jay in the hospital unconscious, the victim of a hit and run...

     ...How much loss can an eighth grade boy endure and keep on breathing?

     Schmidt has an excellent ability to wax eloquent with the most ordinary of words and enable the reader to see the world through his protagonist's eyes. I'm going to reread some of his earlier work, especially the prequel to this book, Orbiting Jupiter. 

On a purrrsonal note, I had a spectacular Halloween. I got to wear my dragon costume to school and got so many compliments. The temps got into the 70s which is rare in Maine so close to November. I got to study outside near my still beautiful flowers. The trick or treaters were delighted when I handed out candy in costume. 

A great big shout out goes out to all my fellow Halloween celebrants. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Stealing Little Moon (YA Nonfiction)

     It is only recently that Americans and Canadians have learned the truth about a dark chapter in their national histories. Whites had stolen Indigenous people's lands, often making them walk hundreds of miles to the reservations they were forced into. In the late 19th century they came up with a new way to destroy Indigenous culture: they would kill the Indian to save the man. 

     Very young children were stolen their families and tribes and taken to Indian boarding schools. Upon arrival they were stripped of their identities. Their hair was cut, their names were changed to white ones, and they had to wear white people clothes. And speak only English. They were punished severely if they spoke their native languages or practiced the customs and religions they'd been nurtured in. Life in these schools was brutal and too often short. Due to malnutrition, poor or nonexistent medical care, overwork, and torture many ended up in unmarked graves. Many of those who survived suffered from their trauma for the rest of their lives. 

     Dan Sasuweh Jones, author of Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy Of The American Indian Boarding Schools, tells their stories from a unique perspective. Beginning with his grandmother who was stolen when she was only four, three generations of his family were educated at Chilocco Indian Agricultural School. Through their experiences and those of their peers Jones illuminates how the school changed and failed to change over the decades. 

     While documenting how they were mistreated, Jones pays tribute to their strength and courage. And it's an important 📖 for younger readers who still don't learn about them in school. 

On a purrrsonal note, Sunday I went on a road trip with Eugene. It gave me a chance to enjoy the vivid Maine foliage. And Eugene bought me two new Squishmallows.

A great big shout out goes out to Eugene. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Cramm This Book (YA Nonfiction)

     You gotta read a book that starts with "I was twelve years old when I decided I needed to change the world."

     It was the 2016 presidential election that provided preteen Olivia Seltzer with this epiphany. Before, although she'd watched the news with her parents she'd never felt that what she saw directly impacted her. Overnight she lost this sense of safety and security. 

     Talking to her peers she realized that very few of them read or watched traditional news, probably because it wasn't written with younger people in mind. She saw this as a very real problem. 

     "Every day, something happens in the world that impacts countless lives. And if we don't know about these things, we're doing a serious disservice to the people who most need our help."

     She began writing newsletters translating current events into generationally friendly language. Pretty soon she was reaching millions of people from over one hundred countries, many of whom were getting involved in issues that matter. And then she recognized another problem. Traditional media, writing for older people, presumes a historic background that younger people lack. And you can't understand today's events without grasping their history.

     So Seltzer, then seventeen, wrote Cramm This Book: So You Know WTF Is Going On In The World Today, a book I totally recommend for its target demographic and those beyond who don't want to be bored. Frankly I love the way Seltzer talks and I think you will too.

     Cramm This Book is divided is divided into four sections: The Isms and The Phobias  (irrational fears and biases taken to the extreme), The Wars (World War II and the conflicts it set the stage for), The Movements (from women's suffrage to Me Too and Black Lives Matter), and The Disasters (like those out of control hurricanes and wildlifes). Each chapter combines a deep dig into a major  issue with rich historical background. And although issues have their own chapters they aren't siloed due to Seltzer's grasp of intersectionality. 

     Seltzer hopes her book "forces you (readers) to reckon with not only the state of the world today, but also how and why it came to be this way. I hope it empowers you and inspires you to take the future into your own hands. 

     And, above all, I hope it gives you the insight you need to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself--and to dismantle or improve the systems that have allowed so many of our worst prejudices to continue to thrive and to impact the  forces that have caused such devastation to occur."

     Amen to that!!!

On a purrrsonal note, Olivia Seltzer would have approved of what I did Saturday. I'm a member of Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund. We raise money to help UMaine students with expenses they can't afford. We did a yard/crafts sale that raised funds as well as awareness. It was a gorgeous autumn day. We had lots of people. I got a chance to hang out with my good friend Catherine. I got some great bargains. And one vendor who gave BBMAF 50% of her profits gave me a beautiful pair of 🐢 earrings. When I got 🏡 it was warm enough to read outside near my 🌼 🌸 🌻 🌹. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

     

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Better Than We Left It

     These days kids and teens are coming of age in a real life dystopia they can't wake up from. School has become a place where they could be mowed down by someone with a grudge and military grade weapons. For those who aren't white it could be a gateway to jail and a foreclosed future. Many of their families are just one disaster from homelessness. For many having the bare necessities is purely aspirational. Having a parent jailed could leave them trapped in the foster care system. And there's this climate change crisis.

     They're painfully aware of the precarious nature of life on Earth--certainly more aware than many, if not most adults. And they're trying desperately to turn things around only to be met with belittling disrespect from adults who believe they can't grasp and care about grown up issues--they must being used by adults with agendas.

     Is it any wonder that anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses are so on the rise in this demographic?

     With winter holidays on the way I have a perfect gift suggestion for any youth (including traditional college age) activists or potential youth activists in your life, especially those who are wondering how they can make a difference. Frederick and Porsche Joseph's Better Than We Found: Conversations to Help Save The  World. It analyzes sixteen of the world's dire crises. Unlike many supposedly similar books for adults it isn't an offering up of simple and superficial panaceas. The Josephs and their guest writers dig deep, blending cogent analysis with back story and truly stirring and engaging narratives. 

     And gifting the book could be only the beginning. You and you family (or youth group or Sunday school class etc.) Could pick an issue to discuss and do something about. And a copy of Better Than We Left It would be a most excellent gift for your local public or school library.

On a purrrsonal note, I had a truly peak experience yesterday. As a favor to a classmate, I led a lunch & learn: an interactive presentation on ageism. We had great attendance. People were deeply engaged and offering wonderful insights. We were learning together. And the lunch was delicious.

A great big shout out goes out to all who attended  and the UMaine diversity and inclusion people who hosted and publicized the event and provided the delicious food. They make me proud to be a UMaine Black Bear. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Flooded: Requiem For Johnston

     In case you haven't heard about the Johnstown Flood of 1889, it's another example of the greed of the wealthy extracting a terrible cost on the poor.

     In the middle of the 19th century an artificial lake was created on the side of a mountain towering over Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Eventually it was purchased by wealthy businessmen and an exclusive private retreat was built around it. Its waters were held back by an earthen dam badly in need of repairs...

     ...which were never made even though they had been told that if the dam gave way the unleashed waters would wipe out Johnstown...

     ...and May 31, 1889 that's what happened. A huge wall of water capable of uprooting trees and carrying houses and railroad cars swept down on the doomed town...

     ...and, of course, those whose greed and negligence were responsible for the tragedy were not held accountable. 

     Flooded: Requiem For Johnstown, narrated in free verse by an ensemble cast, is divided into three acts. In the first readers became intimately acquainted with the six young people who are featured in the narrative. In the second they see that horrific night through their eyes. In the third they experience the aftermath as told by both the living and the dead.

     I think this book should be widely read and discussed. It's a truly engaging and thought provoking narrative. And it shows that in the over a century between then and now the wealthy and powerful have not improved. Only today their greed and indifference to the plight of everyone else, especially marginalized communities, is creating the exponentially larger tragedy of climate change. And unless the rest of us find a way to stop it the whole precious world will become collateral damage. 

On a purrrsonal note, I have now read and reviewed 2,700 books on this blog in the 13 years I've been keeping it. I wonder how long it will take to get to 2,800.

A great big shout out goes out to the readers for whom I put in the work of keeping it up and the gifted and talented writers whose books 📚 I review. 

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Everything I Learned About Racism I Learned In School (YA Nonfiction)

     Ask an educator what students will learn in their years in school and you'll hear mentions of academics, life and work skills, character, civic participation, appreciation of literature, team work, and critical thinking. They probably won't mention the less desirable things kids are exposed to in their years of formal education. 

     But Tiffany Jewell reveals an inconvenient educational truth in Everything I Learned About Racism I Learned In School. As a Black, biracial child and teen she lived with an enormous elephant in the classroom--the racism that is built into so many American schools. 

     "This book is my journey through the public-school system. It includes some of my memories and some research, some facts, and some information. This book is me trying to make sense of the time I spent in school, from my first days of preschool through my college graduation. 

     This book is my coming to terms with the fact that just about everything I learned about racism I learned in school."

     Interspersed with her narrative are childhood memories of other people of color. 

*Emmanuel and his friends had their backpacks publicly searched when a white student stole some candy.

*August tells how in his school Black kids late to class were sent to the office while equally late white kids were let into the classroom. 

*On Lorena's first day of high school she and her classmates were told that half of them wouldn't make it to graduation. 

     This eloquent and indicating book is perfect for YA readers who are making great developmental strides in their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. Don't be surprised if they make discoveries about the racism in their own schools. 

On a purrrsonal note I had a really beautiful weekend even though I spent it doing frustrating internship homework. The weather was sunny and the temps hit 70s. I got to hang my clothes outside. And I took my work outside near my flowers 💐 which are still lovely. I had a rare and beautiful experience. Over the couse of Saturday I got to see a magenta flower unfurl from bud to blossom. 

A great big shout out to my beautiful flowers which have provided me with so much joy through the summer and early autumn. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Forever Is Now (YA fiction)

     Mariama J. Lockington started writing Forever Is Now in June 2020. It was when we'd learned that even asymptomatic people could be carriers of a deadly contagion but a vaccine was nowhere in sight. It was when a science denying president turned a global pandemic into a political football, framing effective precautions such as masking as threatening people's constitutional rights. It was when righteous anger at documented egregious police killing of unarmed Blacks led to massive protests.

     In other words it wasn't a good time to be Black and have generalized anxiety disorder and suffer panic attacks. Lockington tells readers: "My insomnia was at its worst, my disordered thinking at an all-time high...I, like so many of us, was not okay, and I wasn't sure if I would ever be. So, as I have  often done in times of turmoil, I turned to writing to make sense of everything, to find some peace, some hope--and out came Sadie's story."

     In one day at the beginning of her summer vacation Sadie has two traumatic experiences. Her girlfriend tells that she wants to go back to being just friends. Then at a normally peaceful lake they both witness police racism and brutality. A Black woman has just saved a white woman's dog from drowning. The white woman has called the police, accusing the black woman of attempting to steal her dog. Although it's the white woman who escalates the incident with physical violence, it's the Black woman who is tackled, handcuffed, and carted off to jail. 

"No doubt, this will be all over social media 

and the news by five o'clock. 

     Another incident. 

     Another one of us 

          hurt."

     Evan, Sadie's long time ride-or-die, is going to a protest. She intends to go with him. But when she tries to descend the nine steps between her front door she's paralyzed, unable to move. 

     Sadie has become unable to leave her house. She has to pass up on her dream summer internship. 

"Nothing about this summer is turning out 

     the way I expected:

No girlfriend. 

     No internship. 

No life."

     Sadie isn't even sure she will be able to return to school when fall rolls around. But she isn't giving up. And her journey will be truly engaging--especially for the many teens coping with anxiety. 

On a purrrsonal note, I'm really looking forward to tonight. All month UMaine has been raising awareness about domestic violence. Tonight's the March Against Domestic Violence. My Amber and her husband, Brian, will be participating. I'll have a chance to spend quality time with them for a cause that really matters to all of us. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who will be participating. 

Jules Hathaway 

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The Truth About White Lies (YA fiction)

     When we speak about white lies we usually mean minor untruths, often uttered for benign reasons: I don't mind (when you really do); you look great (when she/he/they really doesn't)...  In The Truth About White Lies Olivia A. Cole gives the phrase a whole new sinister meaning.

     "With her grandmother's heart and arms too weak to lift the soil, Shania had come to help bury the dog. 

     'I think under the sycamore is best," Gram said. 'Or maybe by the willow. What do you think?'"

    Her grandmother has just told Shania we all are liars when she slumps over. An ambulance 🚑 takes her away. She never comes back. The thing she was going to tell Shania she takes to the grave.

     Months later Shania and her mother have moved from the small town she grew up in to Shh rapidly gentrifying city. She's entering Bard Academy, a snobby, exclusive private school. (Shania BTW is white). She's quite surprised when Catherine, the ultra popular (the whole school snaps "like piranhas" the words she invents) sister of the Bard golden boy, Prescott. She's even more surprised when Prescott takes a romantic interest in her.

     Shania has a part time job in Pauli's, a doughnut 🍩 shop, one of the last older stores that haven't been taken over by trendy establishments. A regular customer hopes it won't succumb. 

     "Somebody said something about some kinda designer donuts 🍩 today. Green-tea doughnuts 🍩 and bourbon this and that. Paulie's keeps it simple, and there ain't nothing wrong with that."

     Gentrification isn't the only alarming trend in the business district. Someone has been killng cats and escalates to the unsheltered population. Shania doesn't want to believe that Prescott is the killer. 

    And she may have some racist skeletons in her own family closet. Including dear old Gram.

    The Truth About White Lies is based on Cole's own "wake-up moment". A tenth grade teacher had heard her say something about reverse racism and explained why that was an imssibility. The authenticity she brings to the novel makes it well worth reading.

On a purrrsonal note, sorry about it being over a week since my last post. The week, including October "Break", was mostly spent on my laptop searching for the student conduct directors of American 4 years and universities to send my survey (for my internship research) to. I did find 447. My next possibly insurmountable hurdle is finding someone on campus with the ability and time to help me use Qualtrix to translate my written survey into an online survey and send it out.

A great big shout out goes out to the conduct directors who will hopefully respond to the surveys instead of deleting them. That is if I ever get them sent out. If by some miracle I pass this internship, which I need to to graduate 🎓 in May, I will get my first tattoo. A 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️ 😺 🐱 😸 of course. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Never Enough

     One day when I called the mother of one of Amber's classmates to arrange a play date. She gasped in horror. "You let Amber play? I'd expect that of the ignorant moms. But you have a college education. You should know better."

     The girls were in first grade. 

     That was in the '90s. As Jennifer Breheny Wallace tells us in Never Enough, things today are a lot worse. The pressures kids face to outperform the peers from when they're barely out of diapers have devastating consequences. "Recent national surveys of young people have shown alarming increases in the prevalence of certain mental health challenges--in 2019, one in three high school students and half of female students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, an overall increase of 40 percent from 2009."

     Good grades aren't enough. They have to beat out all their peers. Sports aren't enough. They have to make travel teams. Hobbies and personalities have to be curated to capture a spot in an elite university. 

     This kind of pressure coming from parents is particularly toxic because the home is where kids and teens need to feel unconditionally loved and supported. When this love feels transactional--contingent on meeting high standards--they can feel that they don't matter. 

     Try to imagine for a moment how you would feel if your love from your significant other was contingent on you always meeting high standards? 

     Wallace says that adults need to put an end to toxic achievement pressures. She provides a lot of good ideas. Never Enough is an important read for parents, teachers, and anyone else who loves and works with young people. 

On a purrrsonal note, I'm in my program to earn a degree that will qualify me to work with college undergraduates in student services. One of the best things I do is show them how much they matter. But I never anticipated how they would reciprocate until I had a stroke last fall. They were really scared. And when I returned to campus they surrounded me with love and support. Because they matter immensely to me I matter immensely to them. 

A great big shout out goes out to my precious undergrads.

Jules Hathaway 

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Briarcliffe Prep

        Flirting and getting a taste of romance are very important experiences for teens--sometimes awkward or embarrassing, but often forming cherished memories. However,  not all relationships they enter into are benign. More than we'd like to think become psychologically, physically, and sexually abusive. Victims often doubt the harm--especially if partners appear remorseful and promise never again. They may be embarrassed. Friends and family members take sides. And now that their peers have Smartphones and no hesitation about filming and posting a private nightmare can evolve into trial by social media. Too few YA novels shine a light on teen dating violence and abusive relationships. Brianna Peppins' Briarcliff Prep is a brilliant exception. 

     Avi is a first year student at Briarcliff Prep an all girl Historically Black Boarding School. It and its brother school, Preston Academy, are family traditions. In fact between the two schools she has three older siblings on campus. She's counting on her beloved fourth year sister, Belle, to help her adjust.

    There's a lot to adjust to. She's sharing a room with someone who isn't family. There's unexpected competition for the spot on the school paper she has her heart set on. A very annoying rival is making it too personal. She is very much not ready for Algebra II. And there never seems to be enough time to do everything she has to, something I can really relate to.

     But she's hit it off really well with her roommate. The two have become part of a tight best friends group. A cute boy offers to help her with math. He may have more than friends potential. 

     Belle seems to be joined at the hip with Logan, a super popular Preston athlete. They're one of their schools' golden couples. But after overhearing a heated argument and seeing evidence of abuse Avi becomes concerned and tries to extricate her from what she can see is a dangerous relationship. 

     Belle has no desire to be saved and tells Avi to stay out of her business. As their relationship crumbles Avi is faced with a terrible decision: should she step back to save their sisterhood, risking Belle's safety, or she persist, knowing the price she might have to pay?

     Peppins tackles a challenging topic within the context of relatable characters in a dynamic setting that will engage teen readers. I sure hope this perceptive and talented writer is hard at work on her second book!

On a purrrsonal note, I won't be posting as frequently for awhile. My current internship has turned out to be a lot more challenging than I thought it would be. I'm falling behind and there never seems to be enough time for everything. 

A great big shout out goes out to Peppins for her gorgeous and truly engaging debut novel. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Growing Up In Public

     When I was a child social media was not even envisioned. Pictures were taken with cameras and shared in person or by mail. Recipients were usually relatives. A total humiliation was having a parent show a cool friend or love interest a bare bottom baby picture. We may have thought we didn't have enough privacy, but we had nothing to complain about compared to today's kids. In Growing Up in Public Devorah Heitner, PhD, clues parents in on the virtual world they inhabit. 

     Heitner knows that parents have major concerns about their offspring having access to social media. They might post something embarrassing that would blow the child's or family's carefully curated image. They could  post something that gets them canceled, in trouble with their school or law enforcement, and, further down the road, denied admission to a good college or a job they have their ❤️ set on. And what about those adult predators who pretend to be peers in able to use and harm them.

     Heitner doesn't pretend these worst case scenarios never happen. They do, although to a much lesser extent than parents are led to believe. She gets why many parents try to make sure incidents never happen by instilling fear of consequences and clamping down on access.

     But she doesn't recommend those tactics. As they grow up kids are learning who they are and what they stand for. Rather than focusing on keeping them out of trouble she thinks parents would do best to help kids develop character, become their authentic selves, and really understand concepts such as boundaries and consent. 

     And she also candidly discusses the many ways in which the parent(s) can be the problem such as oversharing on a parenting blog. 

     I'd recommend Growing Up in Public to parents and professionals who have concerns about children and teens and social media. It's comprehensive and well organized. And it makes a nice balance between theory and narrative. 

On a purrrsonal note, last weekend was awesome. Friday Eugene took me to the fireworks in Old Town. They were spectacular!!! Saturday was UMaine's Friends and Family weekend. It was well attended and enjoyed by human and canine guests and their student hosts. I volunteered mostly greeting people and answering questions, petting dogs, and helping my chums, Kevin and Gwen, with the student wellness table. Volunteers were treated to lunch and snacks. And I was given a food truck voucher which I spent on ice cream 🍦.

A great big shout out goes out to all participants in Saturday's event and, of course, my one and only Eugene. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Force of Nature

"In school we learned the earth 

was once covered in water. 

Imagine!

Ocean water covering 

everything--

our field, our woods, 

our orchard!

Someday, I want to visit 

the ocean and meet all

the wonderful creatures 

who live there!"

     Even in today's world there are kids who can peel their eyes from the ubiquitous devices to marvel at an eagle in flight, a shy yearling deer nibbling foliage, or a butterfly 🦋 emerging from its cocoon; who are more likely to Google reptile life cycles than trending fashions; who are saddened and angered by humankind's destruction of the natural world 🌎. Ann E. Berg's Force of Nature is a perfect read for them. 

    The book, narrated in free verse, vividly and eloquently celebrates Rachel Carson. Younger readers meet the child who early on was captivated by nature's wonders, who roamed the woods after school with her dog, who worried about pollution:

"The pungent smell

of smoke 

and rotten eggs 

mixes with the musky scent

of late summer 

and I worry about 

my feathered friends

and favorite creatures 

breathing this foul odor. 

Why must the progress of man 

interfere with the beauty of nature?"

Who grew into the college student who changed her major to biology in a time when there were few jobs for women in what was considered men's work and the woman who spoke out against powerful industries about the harm they were doing to nature. 

     Perhaps the best part of the book is Sophie Blackwell's simple but elegant drawings of the plants and animals that Carson studied scattered throughout the book. My favorites are the butterflies 🦋 and birds. 

     I am delighted by the rising number of younger naturalists who are rising up to fight powerful people and industries for the future of our beautiful planet and its non human denizens and, in doing so, carrying on Carson's mission. 

On a purrrsonal note, on the autumnal equinox we 🥳 🎉 🎊 🍾 my 73rd birthday 🎂. The UMaine International Student Association and my family threw me parties and my friend, Mazie, treated me to Sweet Frog 🐸 froyo 🍨. We were celebrating that the stroke didn't kill me or my ability to follow my dreams. And I've come so far!!!

Jules Hathaway 

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Any Way You Look

     Like many of us, Maleeha Siddiqui, author of Any Way You Look, was aware that our society lets boys and men get away with totally unacceptable behaviors and comments. Then she read Barbara Dee's Maybe He Just Likes You (Recall I reviewed it a few years ago.) and realized that sexual harassment narratives have a place in juvenile fiction. That was also when hijab wearing had become political. Some wanted to mandate it while others wanted to ban it. But nobody was consulting Muslim women. 

     "Ainy's story was born from these two ideas coming together: a story about a girl who must find a way to stand up for herself when she starts getting unwanted attention from a boy who doesn't know when to quit, as well as my attempt to remind people that hijab is a part of a very personal spiritual journey."

     Ainy is sure the summer after sixth grade will be awesome. She'll be hanging out with her best friend, Safiya, and working in her mother's new store, maybe even convincing her mom that she has what it takes to become a professional fashion designer. 

     There's one fly in the ointment. A classmate, Yasir, has been behaving increasingly inappropriately toward Ainy. She would like to tell him to get lost. But the situation is complicated. Her father is overseas taking care of her ill grandmother which makes her mother the sole support of the family. Yasir's mother is a vindictive woman who thinks her son can do no wrong. And her order for eight elaborate bridesmaids' dresses feels essential to the family's financial survival. 

     No matter how hard Ainy tries to stay away from Yasir, even sacrificing the summer fun she's been so looking forward to, he always finds her. She's heard that guys are less attracted to hijab wearing women. Although she's been waiting for the time that feels right, maybe making the transition will repulse Yasir enough that he will leave her alone. 

     In her author's note Siddiqui tells us "Though this is a work of fiction, many of the uncomfortable situations, conversations, and comments Ainy is subjected to throughout the book or either drawn from my own personal experience or the experiences of people I know." She hopes that Any Way You Look will help empower readers in similar situations to speak up and seek help.

On a purrrsonal note, the second day of the blood drive, back in mid September, was as good as the first. In all the Red Cross harvested 110 pints and nobody fainted. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Calling the Moon

     When I was a teen women and girls didn't menstruate--at least in the books available in the Beverly Public Library juvenile section. Judy Blume's taboo busting Are You there, God? It's Me, Margaret. was still in the future when it's discussing a perfectly normal bodily function would enrage the censors. 

     Although the 60s are now considered a liberal, if not decadent, decade, some taboos, including the one on menstrual talk, were still alive and well. We didn't get our periods. Aunt Flo came to visit. We could get out of gym class just by asking because gym teachers did not want to know. Only female parents were considered capable of buying pads and tampons at the drug store. My freshman health class did a whole unit on the cycle that alluded to the sloughing off of the uterine lining and never mentioned the words menstruation and period. 

     Things are considerably better today. Dads can buy menstrual products. Menstruators are considered capable of running laps and shooting baskets while hosting Aunt Flo. The word menstruators indicates a beyond the binary awareness. And there are wonderful taboo busting books in the juvenile and YA sections of public libraries. 

     My favorite by far is Calling the Moon: 16 Period stories from BIPOC Authors, edited by Aida Salazar and Yamile Saied Mendez. Salazar was frustrated by a lack of diversity in the genre. "So not only did we have few fictional stories about menstruation, but we also have not heard from Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color on this topic almost at all. This inspired me to create a space for some of the most powerful and beloved middle grade authors writing today to share some previously untold stories from our diverse communities."

     It is a rich collection by authors who know how to touch the developing minds and hearts of younger readers. The characters are vulnerable and honest kids caught in situations that will resonate with and engage them. 

     As they enjoy some really good writing they will have the opportunity to learn and grow and bond. Mendez says, "I hope this collection of stories will soon become of many and that it will open the doors to allow for more information so that as a society, we can normalize this cycle in life that is natural and sacred. It can also be a challenging time in life, but if we have the tools to understand what is happening not only in our bodies but also in our minds and emotions we may have the opportunity to connect with others going through the same experiences."

     I learned so much about the variety of ways in which different cultures treat this coming of age experience. I was especially enthralled by those that see it as an occasion for celebration. 

On a purrrsonal note, when I was in junior high I was considered a tomboy. I actually was nonbinary in a binary world. My mother was pushing me to take more interest in grooming and acting more feminine. She even put me in modeling school. To me my first period would mean I could no longer be myself. I was a late menstruator. One day when I had not started I saw that she had written the date of my first period on a form. But she was big on honesty. When I pointed out the lie she said it was so people wouldn't know there was something wrong with me. It was our little secret.

A great big shout out goes out to Salazar, Mendez, and the talented writers who contributed to their anthology.

Jules Hathaway 

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Coming of Age in 2020

     I'm sure we all have distinct memories of 2020,  a year that ushered in a global pandemic just as we were on the verge of spring and looking forward to summer. Some of us lost family members and friends. Some of us lost jobs or, if deemed essential workers, had to work in increasing hazardous workplaces, at risk of carrying deadly contagion home to our loved ones. Some of us had to juggle work with the teaching of children who were learning on zoom instead of in the classroom. 

     When the initial optimism that things would be back to normal in weeks or at least months we were encouraged by historians to keep some kind of record of our experiences for posterity or at least kids and grandkids. Some people wondered what artifacts teenagers might be creating and provided them with a space to share in whatever format they felt most comfortable. They received over 5,500 submissions, from which they chose 161 ranging from from poetry, journal entries, photos and paintings to recipes and Lego sculptures.

     "The result is this book, in which every contribution, whether heartbreaking, hopeful, fierce, or funny, offers a glimpse into a different life. A girl in Alaska doodles 'raw emotions' in her diary. A boy in upstate New York photographs quarantine life on his family farm. Two friends in California have an awkward conversation in a Zoom breakout room. A boy in Minneapolis reflects on community after the murder of George Floyd. A girl in Brooklyn describes her terror as she and her family got sick."

    In this deeply authentic collection readers will find narratives of loneliness and despair, but also of hope and determination. It offers rare insight into the lives of teens struggling to survive and make meaning of a global catastrophe in a time of climate crises and political drama. I found it to be an amazing and insightful read. I think you will too. What I like most about it is that it shows that the stories of "average" people who aren't celebs or social media influencers are darn good reading and matter immensely. 

     I'd especially recommend Coming of Age in 2020 to higher education professionals, especially faculty and student services people. It gives real insight into the students we're serving now. 

On a purrrsonal note, I have a huge binder filled with pandemic poetry entitled Coronavirus Chronicles: What You Write When Your Muses Are A Pathogenic Microorganism and the Pandemic It Spawned.

A great big shout out goes out to the teens who contributed to this most excellent anthology. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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That Librarian

     Fam, it's time to shelve that image too many of us have of librarians as cardigan wearing severely coiffed beings tiptoeing around their domains in sensible shoes to shush anyone speaking above a whisper. The truth is that in this century they're some of the most bad ass defenders of our access to diverse, inclusive books that reflect our diversity of identities, needs, and interests. Even when they're opposed by powerful people who use all kinds of nasty tactics to remove books that have BIPOC or LGBTQ+ authors or characters, question our nation's seriously whitewashed history, or provide factual sexual information for children and teens who might not encounter it at home or in school and who slander and harass their librarian defenders relentlessly. Even when it takes a terrible toll on them. Amanda Jones is one such librarian. Her That Librarian is a must read for anyone who underestimates what today's librarians are up against. 

     At the time that her life altering experience took place Jones was a well respected librarian working at the same middle school she attended as a child and meaningfully engaged with her community. She had received prestigious professional awards. In fact she'd been the 2021 School Library Journal National Librarian of the Year. She was President of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians. 

     So what did she do to incur the hatred of her her local censors? She spoke in the part of a library board meeting reserved for public comment. And she didn't say anything inflammatory--just explained the need for public libraries to serve the book needs of the entire community and the already in place official book challenge process. 

     A few days later she found herself in the middle of a shitsttorm. She discovered a vicious social media campaign to ruin her reputation. She even got death threats:

"Amanda, you are indoctrinating our children with perversion + pedophilia grooming. Your evil agenda is getting print + national coverage. Congrats. Continue with your LGBT agenda on our children cause we gunna put ur fat evil commie PEDO azz in the dirt very soon bitch."

     And the cyberbullying became increasingly cruel and the threats more credible (we know where where you live) as time went on. Jones became increasingly terrified that she, a family member, a colleague, or one of the children she loved teaching would be harmed or worse by the unbalanced individuals making the threats. This fear took a huge toll on her physical and mental health. And the legal system took the side of her tormentors. 

     Jones didn't give up. She knew that legions of fellow librarians were being similarly persecuted by the book banners. She heroically persisted in any way she could in combating book censorship. She gives lots of good advice on how regular citizens can give much needed aid and support.

     So who should read That Librarian? Everyone who believes in the importance of the freedom to read diverse, inclusive, and truth telling books. 

On a purrrsonal note, in my early childhood when I was rewarded for grocery shopping good behavior with a trip to the Beverly (Massachusetts) Public Library where I could check out the maximum number of books the characters in nearly all the books on the shelves in the juvenile/teen section were white, middle class, hetero, CIS, male if they were doing anything adventurous. Presumably authors were too. There were rumors of a collection of "bad" books being locked up behind the main check out desk. I believe that this is the period of library "greatness" the censors want to return us to. We can't let that happen!!!

A great big shout out goes out to Amanda Jones and the other librarians who are our champions in the fight for freedom to read. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Sweeping Up The Heart (juvenile fiction)

     Amelia, protagonist of Kevin Henkes' Sweeping Up The Heart, lost her mother when she was so young that she has no memories of her. Since she has no siblings it's just her and her father.

     "It was the beginning of spring break. She should have been happy, excited to be free of the curse of seventh grade for a week, but she felt a nagging disappointment in general, and sharp pinpricks of anger specifically directed toward her father."

     This was one of the rare years that Amelia's spring break coincides with her father's. All her classmates are going somewhere fun. But her father doesn't like to travel, so she's stuck at home. And her best (actually only) friend is living in Paris for a year. 

     But when Amelia goes to the clay studio that she considers a second home she meets a boy her age, Casey, the owner's nephew. Despite her initial trepidation she begins to really like him. He has his struggles too, desperately trying to keep his parents from divorcing. 

     Amelia and Casey have been making up stories about the strangers they see. One day he tells her a woman is her mother somehow come back to life. 

     The characters of Amelia and Casey will be quite appealing to kids, especially those who face similar challenges. 

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday was the first day of the UMaine Red Cross blood drive. Of course I ran canteen. There were a few hours we had no volunteers. Lisa, who runs the whole thing, came down and helped me. Having this time with her, given our busy schedules, was wonderful. And our undergrad donors were very impressed that we're long term best friends. 

A great big shout out goes out to my incomparable bestie, the one and only Lisa Morin. 

Jules Hathaway 

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