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 

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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