Tobago looking not so happy about all the rain

A Darker Mischief

     Fam, I have just been reading the most delicious chiller and I have to share it with you. I now know that one of my favorite genres has a name: dark academy or something like that. They're those works in which the protagonist learns and must combat a usually secret group working their evil in a privileged elite educational institution. If you, like me, can't get enough of this put Derek Milman's A Darker Mischief on your must read list.

     "Boarding school isn't exactly what I expected. When I learned I'd be leaving my shabby public high school, I got consumed by fantasies about my new life."

     For Cal, Milman's protagonist, the boarding school reality falls far short of the fantasies. What hurts the most is the loneliness. A sophomore transfer, he doesn't fit in with any of the cliques that dominate Essex Academy social life. He feels like an outcast, a lone wolf. 

     One night, walking alone through campus, he sees a group of students dressed to the nines in tuxedoes and gowns and carnival marks. He follows them to an abandoned building...

     ...one of the things that makes the campus different is the sheer number of abandoned buildings it has accrued in its centuries long history...

     ...where these beautiful people are dancing and drinking champagne 🍾. He determines to become part of this group, seeing it as "a gilded path out of desolation."

     Cal begins hearing rumors of a possibly only mythical secret society that recruits freshmen and sophomores. He manages to get an invitation to rush the Society, a prestigious secret society dedicated to the unearthing of campus secrets. After passing some strange and difficult challenges he and Luke, the boy he has a serious crush on, are both accepted...

     ...So the fantasy comes to life?...

     ...Well not exactly. The Society has done some pretty awful things. Possibly even murder. They have ways of covering their misdeeds up. And they know enough of their dark secrets to keep the members in line. Shall we say membership has become a waking nightmare Cal and Luke may not be able to escape from?

On a purrrsonal note, Can you believe I've blown through my stash of library books before New Years Eve? Actually I can. Every Christmas vacation I get so much joy from cat 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️ snuggling and reading 📚 near the Christmas 🎄. Today I'm still in the mama 🐻 🐻‍❄ 🧸 Christmas pajamas Eugene surprised me with yesterday. Tobago is definitely feeling the love. Anyway Orono Public Library is holding a bunch of inter library loans for me. If I can't pick them up tomorrow the earliest is Thursday. But not to worry. I have my stash of books I've purchased or been given for occasions just like this. 

A great big shout out goes out to my best little cat in the world, precious ❤️ Tobago. 

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My Christmas tree. Very eclectic. Very lovely.

This Place Is Still Beautiful (YA fiction)

     "The thing is, a lot of people agree with him! They think me talking publicly about racism is more offensive than an actual hate crime. People would rather I just kept my mouth shut and looked sad. Then they could white knight in and express sympathy without feeling uncomfortable." 

       Sisters Margaret (19) and Annalie (17), co narrators of Xixi Tian's This Place Is Still Beautiful, couldn't possibly be more different. Margaret is the academic achiever and the social justice warrior. In high school she'd made herself known and unpopular for her adherence to see something, say something. She'd been very happy to leave her small Illinois town behind for college in New York City. Annalie, in contrast, loves her town and its customs. She's more average academically, more social and popular with peers. When Margaret graduated high school she no longer felt tarnished by her sister's reputation. 

     The summer after her first year of college Margaret has started a prestigious internship. But when Annalie calls and tells her that a racist slur has been painted on their garage she drops everything to return and get vengeance...

     Only to discover that her mother and sister haven't even called the police. While she wants the ones responsible caught and punished, they want the incident to blow over and be forgotten as soon as possible. 

     It's going to be a very long summer.

     The public opinion too is split, especially when a video of the incident from a doorcam shows up on social media. While some are outraged by the act, others think Margaret should stop playing the race card instead of ruining some boys' bright future over a trivial prank.

     This Place Is Still Beautiful, with its complex and nuanced look at issues and relationships is well suited to the cognitive and emotional development of YA readers.

On a purrrsonal note, I'm having a relaxing vacation after a very hectic semester. I'm starting in on my spring cleaning and getting ready for my hopefully last grad school semester. 

A great big shout out and best wishes for a safe and joyous New Year's Eve goes out to my readers. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Tobago on Christmas enjoying a new catnip toy.

In Nightfall

     It's Christmas morning. Eugene and I are with our kids at Amber and Brian's place unwrapping gifts 🎁. Amber hands me a large one and I'm all excited. She knows how much I love the offerings of Once Upon a Book Club. They pair most excellent YA selections with gifts that are items mentioned in the narratives. (You might want to check them out. www.onceuponabookclub.com). And the featured book looks really good.

    That evening after all the festivities I start reading In Nightfall and realize that Amber chose well. The spooky ambiance quickly envelopes me. I am not just reading about the small town of Nightfall, Oregon. I am there.

     Probably Theo and Marcos shouldn't have thrown that out of control party. They were on the verge of having their dad's place to themselves for the summer. But now he feels that he can't trust them. Their mom's place isn't an option. So now they're driving cross country from sunny Arizona to the rainy coast, destination: Nightfall, Oregon--population 846 souls to the home of a grandmother they've never met.

     Nonna's house is sorta eerie, especially Theo's assigned room populated by creepy looking porcelain dolls. And when the siblings tell their dad that they're going to check out the town Nonna insists that they don't stay out after dark and don't talk to strangers. 

     Needless to say, they break both rules that night, being quickly drawn into the teen social scene. They're accepted by a trio of strikingly beautiful girls and invited to a beach bonfire the next night. The summer seems more promising than they anticipated. 

     But there are these red flags: an ominous painting, sinister chapters in the town's history, the fact that the creators of a horror podcast are in town investigating. 

     Maybe Theo and Marcos should have listened to Nonna. 

On a purrrsonal note, Christmas 🎄 was really wonderful. In addition to unwrapping gifts and brunch at Amber and Brian's there was the traditional party at the in-laws. What really made my Christmas was spending special time with my kids. Maine winter weather being what it is, that's something I can't take for granted. 

A great big shout out goes out to Eugene,  our kids, and their significant others. 

Jules Hathaway 

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It Sounds Like This

     Frenemy is by far one of the best newly coined words of this century. I instinctively knew the meaning the first time I heard it. I think we all did, probably because so many of us have had to deal with one. 

     This is definitely the case for Yasmin, protagonist of Anna Meriano's It Sounds Like This. She and Sofia are band geeks and supposedly best friends. But even before the incident there's something about their relationship with Sofia getting in a dig whenever she can and Yasmin rationalizing it.

     Yasmin doesn't go to the party right before the beginning of the school year. But when she sees a video of Andy, Sofia's boyfriend, harassing a first year student, she does the right thing and reports him. He's suspended from school for two weeks and from marching band for the whole season. Unfortunately since the video also shows underage drinking almost all the band's low brass section meets the same fate...

     ...And you can't have a competitive marching without a low brass section...

     ...Yasmin is a team player. Second only to Sofia in the flute section, she relinqishes the spot to take up the sousaphone she nicknames the Dragon. Only learning a new instrument and carrying thirty extra pounds in marching formations are not the only challenges she faces. Her just assembled section has to become a cohesive unit...

     Meanwhile Sofia is ramping up the meanness and taking it to social media. And Yasmin is still in forgive and move on mode.

     It Sounds Like This is the rare book that works issues we don't discuss enough into a narrative with a strong plot line and believable characters. I strongly recommend it for school and public libraries. 

On a purrrsonal note, it's Christmas. In a few minutes Eugene and I will unwrap gifts 🎁 with the kids and then go to his family's party.

A great big shout out goes out to our wonderful kids!

Jules Hathaway 

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The Mary Shelley Club

         "This game used to be candy. A sugary addictive treat. Now there was only the sour aftertaste and the seeping knowledge of just how bad for you it was. The excitement that had eclipsed everything before was eroding, eaten away by what we were doing."

     Rachel Chavez, narrator of Goldy Moldavsky's The Mary Shelley Club,  had been home alone that night. She'd heard footsteps downstairs. It was two masked men. One ran away.

     The other didn't. 

     A year later Rachel and her mom have moved to give her a fresh start. She's going to--you guessed it--a private school for super rich kids. She's pretty inconspicuous until she manages to piss off an elite mean girl, Lux, at a party in an abandoned house, going from unknown to pariah.

     Now Rachel is a huge horror movie fan. At a showing of Evil Dead II she meets Freddie who inadvertently tips her off to a group of pranksters in the school. It turns out that he's a member of the ultra secret Mary Shelley Club. They watch horror movies and play games--ones that turn ordinary life events into revenge ops. The members take turns planning and orchestrating. 

      Rachel finds participating in her first game--one in which a bully is humiliated--exhilarating and affirming. 

     "If I was a monster, then so was everyone else in this club. And for once I didn't feel like such a freak.

     We could be monsters together."

     But then someone is seriously hurt in one game. And the next turns deadly. 

     If you enjoy twisty chillers built around the evil that can lurk in the human heart and soul you owe it to yourself to read The Mary Shelley Club. 

On a purrrsonal note, it's Christmas Eve morning. The snow ❄️ is coming down. Eugene is out plowing. I'm praying that the white stuff will stop in time for it to be safe for my kids to drive up. Without them it just wouldn't feel feel like Christmas. 

A great big shout out goes out to Eugene and all the other blizzard battlers. 

Jules Hathaway 

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This is our oversized but lovely Christmas tree photographed from my favorite vantage point--snuggling on the sofa with Tobago and a good book.

Violent Advents

     During my childhood Advent was a special time of the year. As our devout Episcopal parents observed all the seasonal rites Harriet and I behaved well enough to stay on the nice list, helped bake and decorate cookies and trim the tree, sent our lists to Santa, and waited forever for the big day. Eugene and I made sure our children had similar experiences except much less religion. We really enjoyed watching the seasonal TV programs together. 

     Violent Advents: A Christmas Horror Anthology puts a whole different spin on the season. It's a literary Advent calendar. Only each day instead of opening a door and receiving a small candy 🍬 or miniature toy you get transported to realms where everything traditionally merry and bright becomes gruesome and malevolent. These are holiday stories you won't want the kids to get their hands on. 

*In There's Gnome Place like Home for the Holidays an ugly ornament with homicidal intentions hidden in a bag of glittery decorations comes to menacing life. Maybe  Belle and Nicole shouldn't have waited till the last minute to do their Christmas decor shopping. 

*A tree decoration also figures prominently in The Ornament. Fifteen years ago at an extended family holiday gathering Jenna had slain her mother and grandmother, supposedly told to do so by a malevolent entity trapped in a silver ball. Now the family has gathered, Jenna is back, and the silver ball has been unpacked. Is history going to repeat itself?

*Have you put your tree up yet? Most of us have nothing to worry about beyond our season's beloved symbol being knocked over by a rambunctious dog or climbing cat. Certainly not being devoured by it.

*Two of my favorites are A Slay Ride, With Skeletal Remains and Emuki. In the former a man who takes his neighbor's car for a Christmas Eve joy ride learns that he's made a very bad mistake. In the latter a little girl comes face to face with with the entity who punishes children who open their presents 🎁 early.

     And there are so many more genre gems. If you're a true chiller lover you'll find Violent Advents to be the literary equivalent of a box of the really good gourmet Christmas chocolates. Mmm mmm good. 

On a purrrsonal note, we had snow ❄️ last night. Now that the stage is set for a white Christmas I don't want to see a flake until next Thursday. Christmas just doesn't feel like Christmas unless I can see my kids.

A great big shout out goes out to all the very talented writers who contributed to this most excellent anthology. 

     And here's another really good reason to buy a copy: all royalties go to the British Heart Foundation and the American Heart Association. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Me on the last day of school. Can you tell I'm psyched for vacation?

The Dare (YA chiller)

     If I'm in the mood for a chiller with a complex and well scripted plot and lots of twists that keeps up the suspense from beginning til end one of my favorite authors is Natasha Preston. The Dare definitely doesn't disappoint. 

"Senior pranks are a rite of passage. Sometimes they're fun and sometimes they're killer. 

     They're the last dumb thing you do in high school before you get to do a whole bunch of dumb things in college. 

     But if you go to my school, they can stop your college dreams dead."

     Marley, Preston's narrator, really looked forward to senior pranks as a sophomore. Now as a senior she views them with dread. They've morphed from juvenile to expulsion and arrest worthy deeds. And he who issues the dares does not take no for an answer. 

     Marley and her besties--Atlas, Jessie, and Luce--pass their first dare, stealing a watch from a recluse's home just fine. Their next dare is to drive blind (without lights) at night down a treacherous road. They hit something. At first they think it's a deer or maybe a bear. But it's a very dead human being. 

     The friends panic. If the truth gets out they will end up in prison instead of college. They bury the body and swear each other to secrecy. 

     But Marley senses that her friends are drawing away from her, keeping secrets. Could they be setting her up to take the fall so they can safely go on with their lives?

On a purrrsonal note, my daughter, Amber has just given me a copy of the the latest book she has a story in. Violent Advents: A Christmas Horror Anthology looks quite promising. Just not now with darkness fallen and a storm on the way.

A great big shout out goes out to the talented writers who keep us supplied with chillers.

Jules Hathaway 

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Happy holidays from Jules and Tobago (best little cat in the world)

The Big Reveal (YA fiction)

     Jen Larson's The Big Reveal is an expose of the misogyny and fat shaming so prevalent in our society set in a highly engaging coming of age narrative. 

     Addie is a full figured teen ballet dancer. Although she's very talented and dedicated there are people who don't think that she belongs in ballet because she's full figured. But Addie isn't listening to the haters. She's applied for a highly competitive summer program for aspiring professional dancers. And she's accepted...

     ...which turns out to be a hollow victory because the scholarship money she needs isn't forthcoming. Her mother advises her to just forget about it. Her school besties 💓 are determined to help her come up with the cash. They help her create a series of secret burlesque by invitation only shows which are a huge success...

     ...until someone clues the administration in and the friends are busted. Now they have to appear before the honor board on an immoral conduct charge...

     ...even though the boys soccer team faced no consequences for celebrating a victory by streaking across the quad. 

     Addie is a spirited narrator with a highly engaging persona and a story that can lead to meaningful discussions of issues we don't talk about nearly enough. It's a powerful acquisition for school and public libraries. 

On a purrrsonal note, my winter break began today. Almost a month with no homework!!!

A great big shout out goes out to my fellow Black Bears.

Jules Hathaway 

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How We Fall Apart/They're Watching You (YA chillers)

     If you like your chillers set in bastions of privilege, deceit, and treachery--elite private schools; if you want the suspense high and the stakes higher, after you read my two latest recommendations you'll be putting me on your bestie list.

     Sinclair Prep, the setting of Katie Zhao's How We Fall Apart, can claim to be number one on a number of fronts: debate championships, standardized test scores, university acceptance rates. They accept a very competitive or driven by parental pressure student body. 

     Jamie was the top student, a ruthless single minded competitor. The few times someone bested her something happened to them, leaving her triumphant. She was the girl everyone feared and envied...until at a school function the program is interrupted by a rogue slide: "I will end you. Jamie Ruan. Mark my words." And Jamie disappears.

     Jamie had four best friends: Akil, Krystal, Alexander, and Nancy, the narrator. They are quite alarmed when an entity called 

The Proctor makes the following post on the school's gossip app:

"Jamie has four former friends. Each friend has a secret. One day, Jamie goes missing. Which friend is guilty and deserves punishment?

a) the one who sunk the lowest to get highest 

b) the one who ruined a girl three years ago 

c) the one hiding a criminal 

d) the one who traded conscience for grades 

     The clock is ticking. The Proctor is going to reveal their secrets one by one, potentially destroying their lives, unless the friends can stop them. 

     Chelsea Ichaso's They're Watching You is only for the hard core chiller affecianado. Unless you can deal with gruesome ancient rites, human sacrifice, and an underground labyrinth of deadly chambers I wouldn't open the book. But if you can...

     ...I've found you a new favorite. 

     Maren's roommate, Polly, has gone missing. The police have stopped looking for her, convinced that she's run away, needing a respite from academic pressures. Polly's parents, too, believe that. But Maren refuses to. A junior, she'd roomed with Polly since year one. And right before her disappearance she'd noticed some alarming changes in her behavior. So she's trying to solve the mystery of Polly's disappearance. 

     Going through Polly's possessions in an attempt to find clues, Maren finds an invitation to the top secret Gamemaster's Society. She decides to try to get in. Someone in the group might know where her friend is.

     But when Maren is initiated into the society she discovers a hidden realm of privilege, power, cruelty, and evil. She'd better find Polly before the ritual that will require a human sacrifice. 

     Either of these high suspense narratives would make a purrrfect 🎁 for a YA chiller lover. 

On a purrrsonal note, I'm done with homework for this semester. Last night was Academic Showcase (which I aced) and my program's lovely Christmas 🎄 party.

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

Jules Hathaway 

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Prepped (YA fiction)

     Can you imagine growing in a survivalist community whose motto is "Always be prepared for the worst day of your life."? That's the plight of Becca, narrator of Bethany Mangle's Prepped. She and her parents and little sister, Katie, live in one founded by her grandparents. Financial priorities are assigned to equipment to survive catastrophes as opposed to say food and shoes. Dangerous disaster drills are routine for anyone over 13. Marriages are arranged for genetic diversity. After all after an unspecified global catastrophe they are supposed to repopulate the world.

     Becca wants no part of this dystopia obsessed community. Unlike most of the community's kids who are homeschooled, she goes to a public high school. She catches poignant glimpses of the world she'd like to belong to. She's applied to her dream college and has been accepted with a generous financial aid package. 

     But her father has been killed in a car accident. Her mother is showing no signs of grief. In fact the whole community seems to be acting stranger than usual. 

     Becca has always protected Katie. How can she abandon her?

On a purrrsonal note, my sister never lived in that kind of community. But she belonged to fundamentalist churches that looked forward to the rapture like kindergarten kids look forward to Christmas. I fail to see the appeal.

A great big shout out goes out to the students at UMaine and other fine colleges and universities who are finishing papers and cramming for finals. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Undue Burden

     What would a woman carrying a baby with possibly life threatening heart defects, a woman whose pregnancy threatened her own life, and a fourteen-year-old girl pregnant by incest have in common?

     You'll find the answer in Shefali Luthra's Undue Burden: Life and Death Decisions in Post-Roe America. It takes an in depth look at the desperate circumstances so many of our fellow citizens are placed in and those of us capable of becoming pregnant can find ourselves in in a post Dobbs nation. It's a lot more complicated than abortion being legal in some states and not in others.

     Although going to another state can sound good in theory, it often is difficult at best in real life. The expense of a long drive or flight and hotel stay, in addition to the costs of the procedure itself can put abortion out of the realm of possibility for all but the relatively well off, leaving poor and working class women and women of color especially at risk. For undocumented women crossing a state line would put them at risk of being discovered and deported. 

     Women in destination states, those with liberal abortion laws, are also at heightened risk with influxes of pregnant people coupled with the limited number of practitioners making many go further into their pregnancies, substantially increasing the risk and cost of the procedure. 

     And you don't have to be seeking an abortion to be affected with ob-gyns understandably reluctant to take on high risk pregnancies and miscarriage management. 

     And that's just the tip the iceberg. If you have the potential to become pregnant or love someone who does consider putting Undue Burden on your to read list.

On a purrrsonal note, three years after the birth of my younger daughter I was pregnant with a fetus without a heartbeat. After weeks of  bleeding I came down with chills and fever--an infection that could have killed me if terminating my nonviable pregnancy had not been an option.

A great big shout out goes out to the people fighting the bans and restrictions. 

Jules Hathaway 

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We Still Belong (juvenile fiction)

     Did you ever have a day when you expected things to go well only to experience the opposite, a day when your feelings cycled between sadness, frustration, and embarrassment? If so (and haven't we all?) You'll relate to Wesley, the narrator of Christine Day's We Still Belong. 

     Seventh grader Wesley is up early on a Monday,  homework all done, with a lot to look forward to. She's about to see her first piece published in her school paper. Her English teacher acknowledges the work of students who get published in it. And she's put a lot of time and effort into making an invitation to her school dance for a special boy. 

     Only the other students don't seem to notice her piece and her teacher doesn't mention it. And she learns via social media that Ryan is going with someone else. 

     But the day isn't over. Wesley is about to get her chance to shine and learn that she and her voice matter immensely.

On a purrrsonal note, today at UMaine we got to make zen gardens. I still have mine from last year. So I made one for Catherine. 

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

Jules Hathaway 

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Spilled Ink (YA fiction)

     The last time he whose name I will not mention was sworn in as president there was a surge in hate crimes and white supremacist and xenophobic violence and disregard of the humanity of marginalized peoples. As we approach his second term in office I don't expect any better. That's why books 📚 like Nadia Hashimi's Spilled Ink that speak the truth are precious gems and so timely.

     Yalda, Hashimi's narrator, and Yusuf are 17-year-old twins. Their town has seen an influx of refugees of color. Many residents have gone out of their way to provide their new neighbors with shelter, food, and clothing and help them adapt to life in a strange new country while others have been not so nice. 

     Yusuf has his heart set on being a musician. He's really thrilled when his band gets it's

 biggest gig ever. Unfortunately a member of another band makes uncalled for racist comments. When Yusuf tries to stand up against the hate speech tempers flare in person and online. People stop eating at the twins' family's restaurant. 

     One night Yusuf goes missing. His family finds his battered, unconscious body beneath a broken balcony. He either fell or was pushed. 

     In her author's note Hashimi tells readers: "Yalda and Yusuf are imagined characters who inhabit a fictional world. But buried in their story are the hard truths that inspired Spilled Ink--the reality that hate and fear cause immense harm to people, property, and communities."

On a purrrsonal note, last Thursday was the clothes swap that was my idea. It went really well. And I have the stats from the blood drive: 99 pints; 17 new donors; no one fainted.

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in both events, especially 😀 🙌 👏 👍 our new donors. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Not Like Other Girls

     "This is a book about a friend breakup between two teenage girls and how navigating that loss is so distinctly devastating. This is a book about first love. It's a book about being seventeen and restless in your hometown. It's a book about privilege and power and entitlement. 

     It's a book about sexual assault."

     Often when girls and women have been raped they don't realize it. We've been told that rapists are sketchy strangers, not people who we know and trust. We've been told if we didn't wear this, go there, do that nothing could happen. So if something does it's on us. But unrecognized sexual assault can really traumatize victims as we'll see in Meredith Adamo's Not Like Other Girls. 

     Starting her senior year, Jo, Adamo's narrator,  is being shunned by most of her peers. It's because of the six nude photos of her someone sent around. At school she's way behind in her work and on some kind of academic probation. She has only one goal--getting the fuck out of high school.

     She's stunned when her former best friend and now nemesis, Maddie, covertly approaches her in tears asking her for help. She thinks she's in trouble. They agree to meet up later...

    ...only Maddie is a no show and not just for their appointment. She is gone. The media is camped out on the high school lawn. Everyone is speculating that she's been kidnapped, maybe killed. Or probably she's run away after being rejected by her dream college--the only one she applied to.

     None of this rings true to Jo. She's decided she's going to find Maddie not realizing what dirt she's going to discover or how dangerous her quest is going to be...

     ...or that she'll have to remember a horrible thing Maddie's older brother did to her when she was only fifteen. 

     Not Like Other Girls is a truly twisty mystery and so much more. I highly recommend it not only for the YA crowd, but for college undergrads. 

     Adamo herself was sexually assaulted without realizing it. She hopes that Jo's story will help sexual violence survivors feel less alone. 

On a purrrsonal note, Tuesday and Wednesday we had the UMaine Red Cross blood drive. I ran the canteen as usual. It went really well. We had 99 successful donations including 17 first time donors. 

A great big shout out goes out to all participants. 

     

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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 

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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 

Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone

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 

Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone

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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