Blood in the Water

     There's only one thing better than locating a hot off the press Tiffany D. Jackson chiller at the library. It's getting your hands on two in the same library visit. When this happened to me last Friday thanks to inter library loan magic you'd better believe I was doing my library happy dance. Reading the books back to back also made me realize how Jackson is versatile across demographics rather than limited to one.

     Blood in the Water, her juvenile offering, dropped very fittingly on the year the movie Jaws turned fifty. It is set in the town featured in that iconic chiller. And in the book great whites are on people's minds even when they're not in the actual ocean. 

     Kaylani's beloved father is in prison, convicted on what she's sure is a false accusation. Getting him released and clearing his name is her number one priority. She's determined to spend her summer studying to pass the entry test for a pre-law camp. "I'll learn what I need to help our lawyer and get us one step closer to freeing Dad."

     So she is not a happy camper when she is sent to spend four weeks with friends of her grandparents and their granddaughters, Logan and Cassie, in their bougie home on Martha's Vineyard. 

     Kaylani's first night with the Watsons the girls sneak out to a beach party. There they witness a heated fight between two boys: Chadwick and Jaden. The next day Chadwick is reported missing...

     ...until his body is located. People are saying that he was a victim of a shark attack. But the evidence doesn't all add up. Suddenly his death is being ruled a homicide. Cassie was the last person to see him alive.

     Kaylani is doing her own investigation and learning some disquieting truths about the Watsons.

     Will she be able to leave the island alive?

     Back to the sharks. Movies like Jaws portray them as bloodthirsty killers. Actually they are more in danger from us than we are from them. We slaughter tens of thousands of them every year in really inhumane ways. If we decimate their population too much it will throw off the balance of nature with really bad consequences. 

On a purrrsonal note, I'm really looking forward to a thrift shop on campus tomorrow. Clothes, shoes, and jewelry. I hope I can find some bargains. 

A great big shout out goes out to the bus drivers without whom it would be much harder for me to get anywhere. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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Another page...

...from my joy journal with all the pretty stickers. 

Eugene played a joke yesterday that really fooled me. He drove off in his truck and then his brother gave him a ride home. I asked him if the truck was in the shop. He said he had to return it because he couldn't afford the payments. That really scared me because we live in rural Maine. Not the extreme part where the moose out umber the people. But public transportation is extremely limited. Today Amber told me that he was just joking. You can't imagine how relieved I am. 

I'm sitting out near my garden. If it doesn't 🌧 I can work outside all day. 

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It's Not Like It's A Secret

     Sana, narrator of Misa Sugiura's It's Not Like It's a Secret, gets a very unwelcome surprise on her 16th birthday. Her mother has taken her out to eat and to a favorite beach. (Her father is away on business). As they are leaving for home she tells Sana that they are about to move to California. Her father has laid down the edict (as always) and her mother has blindly accepted his decision (as always). She believes in the importance of gracefully enduring the unendurable and being unselfish. 

     Probably most 16-year-olds would be less than thrilled with being required to leave their homes and friends in the middle of high school. Not to mention the pressure to blindly accept her fate. But Sana has more reason than most for trepidation. For years she's had reasons to suspect that her father is having an extramarital affair. What if they're moving so he can be closer to the other woman in his life? What if her mother learns about her? What will happen to their family?

     When she starts school in California she's quickly taken in by a tight knit group of fellow Asian Americans. She begins to feel a real sense of belonging. But when she tries to integrate a Hispanic girl, Jamie, into the group there's suspicion the on the part of both the Asian Americans and Hispanics.

     Not to mention that Sana has no idea how either group will react to her more than liking Jamie.

     It's Not Like It's a Secret is a nuanced take on complicated intersectional relationships and tough issues, perfect for the more mature YA reader.

On a purrrsonal note, there was a spectacular sunrise this morning when Eugene and I were enjoying our Governors breakfast. The day started out spectacularly cold but seems to be warming up. Hopefully I'll get in outside time. I've gone two weeks getting in my exercise every day. Which has been boring AF because almost all involved stationary biking. I so miss actually getting somewhere, seeing scenery, feeling the wind...paradise lost.

A great big shout out goes out to the fabulous chefs and servers at Governors. Check the place out if you're in Old Town, Maine. 

Jules Hathaway 

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What We Wish For (YA fiction)

     "Will she ever get better? Or is this all she is? A sad alcoholic who's only going through the motions? A miserable woman who wants to die because she thinks I'll be better off without her? I want my mom back. More than anything else in the world I want her back."

     In our country there are a lot of children of alcoholics and drug addicts who don't have it easy. They have to grow up much too fast. At a life stage where they deserve to be sheltered and protected they're parenting grown ass adults. They can both love a parent dearly,  desperately wanting them to get better, and deeply resent their bad decisions and the consequences. 

     Layla, narrator of Melody Maysonet's What We Wish For, is living in a shelter when we meet her. Her single parent mother, Shauna, has managed to lose her job and their home. They're sharing a small, dreary room and eating in a communal dining room. 

     The shelter is having a financial crisis. According to Shauna's case worker she isn't making sufficient progress toward employment. She has ten days to get a job or they'll be evicted. Layla is terrified. 

     "Have you thought about what will happen? Because I have. You and me wandering the streets with our stuff in a garbage bag, nowhere to shower, nowhere to go to the bathroom. And when we get hungry what are we going to do?"

     What actually happens is even scarier. Shauna overdoses on heroin and is rushed to the hospital. Layla can't stay in the shelter alone. 

     Shauna has a sister, Tanya, with whom she's lost touch. She's married to an egotistical image-is-everything jerk who is running for mayor of the town they all live in. It could destroy his chances of being elected if the media learns about the plight of his sister-in- law and niece. So he offers to pay for Shauna to go to a fancy rehab. While she's there Layla can stay with his family...

     ...they're mad affluent. But living there is no walk in the park for Layla. Her uncle is a cruel, egotistical man who considers Shauna and Layla a burden. What if he breaks his promises. What if Shauna can't handle rehab? What if she can't handle life when she gets out?

     Maysonet based the narrative on her own life experiences: of being really poor as a teen and being an alcoholic as an adult. 

     "I did emerge into a happier place, but not before alcoholism brought me to my knees. I almost lost myself, but even in the throes of my addiction, I had hope that life would get better, that I would get better."

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday I'd put up flyers for Amber's event in Bangor. Today I distributed a lot more at UMaine. People are really getting excited about it, especially people who have seen her talk before. I was glad to get home early. I lucked out at the library--I got TWO Tiffany Jackson books including her latest one. And I lucked out on the weather. It's warm enough for me to spend the afternoon outside reading near my beautiful flowers. 

A great big shout out goes out to all the people who are helping me publicize Amber's event. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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My treasures

Today I went to Bangor to put up posters for Amber's event. While I was in the city I stopped in at Goodwill and got these finds. (BTW if you're stumped for Halloween costumes or decor your local Goodwill is the place to look.) It was really cold 🥶 out. When I got home I made chamomile tea. I so miss the days I could have had hot cocoa with marshmallows or hot spiced cider or even tea with sugar!

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Sisters in the Wind (YA fiction)

     "The ultimate survival game is for girls to survive into adulthood. For the prey to avoid the predators. It's a wry thought that turns somber when I remember my sister. 

     Some girls don't survive."

     If you've read Angeline Boulley's previous books, Fire Keeper's Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed, reading her latest, Sisters in the Wind, may feel like returning to a place you've stepped away from and returned to. The characters and their community are portrayed so vividly and intimately througout these volumes they step off the page and into your mind and ❤️. In her writing Boulley displays these superpowers: the abilities to create a captivating plot and characters who spring vividly to life, to introduce readers like me to a way of life quite different from ours, and to make us care about the issues that white society created and likes to ignore. 

     For the first years of her life Lucy had lived a quiet life with her father who claimed that her mother had signed away her parental rights. On her 11th birthday she learns that he has colorectal cancer. When surgeries and chemotherapy don't seem to be working he dates and then marries a woman who adopts her. After his death things don't go well. She ends up in the foster care system in some seriously horrific placements. 

     In 2009 Lucy is out of the system, living independently and working at a diner. One day a stranger, Jamie, asking her questions sets off alarms. She decides it's time to vacate her apartment and leave town. Only the next day at work she's caught in an explosion...

     ...and wakes up in a hospital bed. She's seriously injured--in no shape to flee anywhere. Jamie and a woman named Daunis seem to be in charge of her. In the hospital at least one of them is always around. And when she's well enough to leave all three end up in a hotel suite. 

     "The bomb [at the diner] was meant to show how far they'll go to get what they want. Before they try again, I need to be long gone."

     The text segues between the time after the explosion where danger becomes more and more imminent and Lucy's earlier experiences in the system which provide clues to why she is peril. The transitions are seamless. In the post bomb present tension builds relentlessly to the point where Lucy sneaks away to resolve the situation, putting herself and others in serious danger.

     "An Indian tribe cannot survive without future generations; therefore, Indian children are a tribe's most precious resource. But there are other resources that some non-Natives deem more valuable. I wrote Sisters in the Wind because the Indian Child Welfare Act, or ICWA, is under attack and--SPOILER ALERT--the battle has nothing to do with the best interests of Indian children."

     This law was enacted to keep Indian families intact. It privileged tribal sovereignty over state law. Those who want to undermine it want tribal sovereignty overridden, so they can have unlimited access to natural resources such as minerals on tribal lands. 

     This rich, nuanced, and thought provoking narrative is an excellent read for mature YA readers and the college crowd. It could be very helpful in the curriculum of social justice courses.

On a purrrsonal note, last night 🌙 was the end of season Orono Community Garden potluck dinner. The food and company were superb. I'll really miss our little corner of paradise during the frigid Maine winter. 

A great big shout out goes out to the 2025 Orono Community Garden crew. Despite raids by deer, groundhogs, we raised and distributed over 1,000 pounds of good organic veggies. Way to go, team!!!

Jules Hathaway 

     

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When We Were Monsters (YA chiller)

     "As readers, we like to put ourselves in the shoes of the characters we read about, to ask ourselves what we might do in the same situations. I think it's normal to be fascinated by the darker side of humanity. As with true crime stories, it can be riveting to delve into the events and circumstances that might turn a good person into a monster or, at the very least, make them commit monstrous acts. And to ask ourselves, Could this be me? Am I capable of this too?"

     These words in Jennifer Niven's Acknowledgements in her When We Were Monsters explore some of the reasons why this sophisticated and perfectly executed chiller is so impossible to put down from the very first paragraphs:

"The day before we kill Meredith Graffam is calm and blue. Like Massachusetts in summer after the rain. The scent of earth and flowers and fresh, clean air. Just a perfect sunlit day.

     None of us will walk into the forest that night planning to commit murder. It's easy when you're surrounded by beauty and opulence and acres of privilege, to convince yourself that life will always be as rose-colored as this and nothing can go wrong."

     The us are eight students at an elite Massachusetts private school, Brighton and Howe, who have been selected for Jan Term Visiting Artist series, an annual tradition held between fall and spring semesters. For several weeks they will be sequestered in the sprawling (and properly eerie) mansion of the school's founders, set apart from the school by a dark and dismal forest. At the end of those weeks one of them will win a $15,000 scholarship and a chance to have their work produced and/or published. Talk about your high stakes competition! Meredith Graffam is the visiting artist, a woman equally well known for her work and for the controversies surrounding her. 

     The first full day of the program there's a troubling incident. The students and Graffam are standing outside on a cliff overlooking the ocean. She tells them that anyone who doesn't jump in the frigid water will be sent home. It's not the last time she'll put them in serious danger. Meanwhile she manipulates them into sharing their deepest secrets and vulnerabilities. 

      And she's kicking people out. It's not long until half the students are gone, Graffam is acting increasingly and menacingly strange, the teens are learning that she's not being truthful with them, they're cut off from the rest of the world...

     ...and there's this big old blizzard, predicted to be the storm of the century, closing in.

     If you're drawn to dark academia, you like chillers set in eerie sprawling mansions surrounded by ominous forests, and you can handle real suspense put When We Were Monsters on your Halloween reading list. You wouldn't want to miss out on a real treat.

On a purrrsonal note, it's another gorgeous day in Penobscot County, Maine. The predicted rain is holding off. I get to work outside near my flowers. I will so miss them during the long, frigid, desolate winter. Today is the Community Garden volunteers pot luck dinner. That should be bittersweet. Fun but another reminder of the upcoming encroachment of winter. 

I was really pissed off today 😤 when I read a political article that said we should not vote for Janet Mills because she's 79. I can remember when candidates were considered being unfit for office because of factors like gender, race, and religion. A lot of people voted against Kennedy because he was Catholic. Ageism, sadly, is still accepted, often unseen. There are legit reasons not to vote for someone: disagreement with their policies and stands on key issues; evidence of criminal and/or unethical conduct, and evidence of severe mental and physical health issues such as Alzheimers. Age per se should not be any more of a factor than gender, race/ethnicity race/ethnicity, or religion. 

Jules Hathaway 

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These are my treasures from the crafts fair. I took the picture with the jar's fairy lights ✨️ on. Aren't they precious? The only sad note was the pastry tables with the most luscious looking goodies that I totally coveted. Sadly the diet from Hell is a life sentence with no possibility of parole, no time off for good behavior. I found out something about the people in the Mediterranean who we're supposed to emulate because they have these peasant diets and live forever. They're all surrounded by people eating the same boring food. They grew up on it. They're not surrounded by what they long for and can no longer have. It's not like that in 21st century Maine. 

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Messy Perfect (YA fiction)

      Cassie, protagonist of Tanya Boteju's Messy Perfect, seems to be the perfect Catholic high school student. She follows all the rules, exceeds academically, plays sports, and volunteers...

     ...well she has one aspect of her identity that she keeps it to herself...

     At the beginning of her junior school year a person from Cassie's past unexpectedly shows up. For years she and Ben were best friends creating their own little world. One day their classmates caught them doing something they considered sketchy. Cassie reacted fearfully, throwing Ben under the bus and quickly regretting it. Ben was enrolled in an elite ballet academy, presumably up through high school...

     ...But now he's back and totally ignoring Cassie whose guilt has been rekindled. 

     Cassie's Catholic high is very repressed about sex talk beyond wait until marriage, of course to a person of the "opposite sex". In contrast the public high school across the street celebrates the full range of gender identities and sexual orientations. 

     Thinking Ben is gay and in need of a safe place, Cassie works with students of the other school to create an underground gay-straight alliance. Unexpectedly she finds her people in this group. 

     But Cassie's new commitments make it hard for her for to keep up with the perfection expected by her parents and school. Some of her activities run afoul of her school's conduct code. And she's strongly attracted to someone they would never approve of. 

     Messy Perfect is a sensitive exploration of the intersectionality of religion and sexuality and a timely reminder of the toxicity of expectations of perfection. 

On a purrrsonal note, today Eugene and I had breakfast at Governors. Then we went on a road trip. The foliage was gorgeous and we saw deers and turkeys. Eugene got us subs for lunch. I got roast chicken because it's less bad for me than steak. But it's so dry and bland. After lunch I walked to a crafts sale. I splurged a little. I got a Halloween decorated jar with fairy lights, 2 Halloween bracelets, and 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️ 😺 🐱 😸 earrings. There was one stall of pastries that looked SO GOOD!!! I really coveted them. Sadly the diet from Hell is a life sentence. Right now I'm reading and writing outside near my gorgeous 🌼 🌸 🌻 🌹 🏵. 

A great big shout out goes out to Eugene. 

Jules Hathaway 

   

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Hatchet Girls (YA chiller)

     "'Even these woods.' Mariella gestured around them. 'People were slaughtered here, again and again, going all the way back to the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. Probably before then too.'

     ...Mariella pulled her legs to her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around them, hugging herself. She couldn't put it off much longer. The whispers, the eyes, they were needy. Hungry. 'The Bridgewater Triangle's not just ghost stories. The history's real. It's like a dark energy hovers over this place. This town.'"

     When I was a child this morbid jump rope song was playground popular, at least in Massachusetts. 

Lizzie Borden took an axe 

And gave her mother forty whacks.

When she saw what she had done 

She gave her mother forty-one. 

     To be fair Lizzie was acquitted of the gruesome 1892 murder of her father, a prominent businessman, and her stepmother. The case (which is still unsolved) gained national interest and drew much attention to the town of Fall River, Massachusetts. Even in those pre internet, pre social media days it went viral.  

     In Diana Rodriguez Wallach's Hatchet Girls it looks like history is repeating itself. At the mansion of one of Fall River's most prominent businessman police find the man and his wife hacked up. Their daughter's boyfriend, Vik, is found on the premises covered in blood and holding a gore coated axe. Pretty open and shut case...

     ...or maybe not. Tessa, Vik's sister, is sure he did not do the crime. She knows that he doesn't have it in him. And when she visits him in jail he isn't acting like himself. Not to mention: "But there was another fouler stench, one that had entered with Vik. It wasn't his sweat, his feet, or even his breath; those were a familiar fog in Tessa's life. No, Vik currently reeked of mulch freshly dumped in the garden, heavily enough to trigger a gag reflex."

     There are things the police have no way of knowing. Mariella, the victims' daughter, had all too often witnessed her father beating her mother. But there was no way financially that they could leave--he'd made sure of that.

     But since she'd drunk a foul tasting tea with unknown ingredients (never advisable) she'd been experiencing vile smells and tastes, been assaulted by grotesque beings, and been reassured by disembodied voices that daddy dearest would taken care of...

     ...if she just did everything they tell her to. 

     The spine-tingling suspense of Hatchet Girls comes from a superb blend of dark history and legend, human nature, and the supernatural, making it a perfect Halloween season read for chiller affecianados.

On a purrrsonal note, this is pretty idyllic for me as far as days go. Perfect Fall weather. I could hang my laundry outside and bring it in smelling of fresh air and sunshine. I've been out since early morning. My gorgeous flowers 💐 are hosting pollinator happy hour. I had a really awesome book to review and another to start reading. Tobago is being her sweet self. 

A great big shout out goes out to the precious pollinators and the best little cat in the world. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

 

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I Am Not Jessica Chen (YA fiction)

     Do (or did) you have a relative you are (or were) constantly nagged to be like? The one who always left you in the dust academically, athleticly, socially, or all of the above with better looks thrown in? If so you'll find yourself rooting for Jenna, protagonist of Ann Liang's I Am Not Jessica Chen. 

     Jenna and golden girl Jessica are first cousins. The families get together frequently. Jessica's parents often have something new to brag on. Just before a family get together at Jessica's house Jenna gets the heartbreaking news that she's been rejected by Harvard and is afraid to tell her parents...

     ...leaving them to learn in the worst possible place. Jessica, of course, has been accepted by Harvard and all the other Ivies she's applied to. On the surface they're nothing but happy for their niece...

     ...but back it's all blame and shame on their only child whom they've burdened with all their expectations...

     ...You can hardly blame Jenna for wishing on a shooting 🌠 to become her cousin...

     ...Jenna wakes up in--holy shades of Freaky Friday--Jessica's body the next morning. Becoming the golden girl seems like a pretty good deal at first. But Jenna quickly learns how impossible it is to live up to the world's expectations of Jessica...

     ...also Jenna has seemingly disappeared. Everyone including her parents is forgetting she ever existed...

     ...What if Jenna wants to go back to being herself and it's just not possible?

On a purrrsonal note, I'm probably about halfway through the summer to winter clothes swap. It will take awhile to finish because I'm not missing out on any chance to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine with my beautiful flowers. 

A great big shout out goes out to UMaine students, staff, and faculty with best wishes for a refreshing October break. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Libertad

     As I recently revealed, in the past fourteen years I've reviewed over 2,900 books. With that much experience I tend to be pretty confident about my skill set...

     ...but every now and then I encounter a book that is so powerful, so evocative, so rich and nuanced I wonder if I have the words to do it justice. Bessie Flores Zaldivar's Libertad is most definitely one of those. It has ❤️ and soul. It brings to life both a city, Tegucigalpa in Honduras, that most American readers know nothing about and a protagonist, Libertad, coming of age --finishing high school and trying to envision her life after graduation. It's a story of love, of family, of community and tradition, of sexuality, and of the struggle to survive under a cruel and oppressive right wing government. 

     2017 is an election year. Juan Orlando has been president since he came to power in a 2008 coup. Even though it's forbidden by the Honduran constitution he is gunning for another term in office. The opposition is not expecting a fair election. But they don't plan on giving up without a fight. 

     The president is sending the Military Police into major cities. There are videos of them beating protesters and firing rubber bullets. One day they fire real bullets into a group of students at the university where Libertad's older brother,  Maynor, is enrolled, killing three. That night there is no mention of the incident on TV news.

     Libertad begins writing political poetry and posting it anonymously on social media. She gets a lot of support for putting in words what many people feel. But of course there are haters.

     On election day it seems that a miracle might happen. The left's candidate is ahead with over half the  votes counted. But in the wee hours there is a country wide power outage. When the electricity comes back on the incumbent is ahead. 

     "It was clear, then, that he was going to win. But he had already won, hadn't he? He had won before we even walked to the voting center that morning."

     A massive of protesters goes to the building where the votes are being counted. The military police arrive. Some protesters are killed...

     ...including Libertad's beloved brother, Maynor. Now she's left with quite a dilemma. Her school has been encouraging her to apply to out of nation colleges. She wants to live in a country where people aren't killed for speaking their minds. Maybe leaving her family, friends, and nation is the only way to do that. 

     Libertad has a lot of subject matter that might trigger some readers. But I believe that it's a deeply engaging and thought provoking narrative, perfect for older YA readers and their college siblings. It would be a great curriculum addition for classes on topics like social justice and a valuable acquisition for high school and public libraries. 

On a purrrsonal note, reading Libertad I saw so many similarities to America now: a president gunning for an additional term that his nation's constitution forbids, brutal assaults on peaceful protesters, armed military sent into liberal cities...creepy! 

A great big shout out goes out to Zaldivar for her poignant, powerful, and thought provoking narrative and to my daughter, Amber, for letting me run this review by her before posting it. 

Jules Hathaway 

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The Lilies

     Imagine having to relive the worst experience of your life in a time loop that returns you violently to the beginning for the slightest mistake. Every time this happens the memory degrades a little every time which means that...

     ...you may never escape and get back to your regular life. That's the nightmare the four narrators of Quinn Diacon-Furtado's The Lilies are entangled in. They're students at Archwell Academy, an elite private school with a reputation for setting their students up for enviable futures, the kind most people can only dream of...

     ...unless, of course, they disappear. Which they sometimes do. You see Archwell has an exclusive secret society, The Lilies. Charlotte has vanished without a trace right after her induction into this group. 

     Seeking shelter from a possible active shooter on their campus, the four girls lock themselves into a very strange large closet that contains many Lilies artifacts. This is where they become trapped in the time loop...

     ...which seems centered on the night of Charlotte's disappearance.

     If you need a spooky 👻 season chiller you couldn't do better than The Lilies. 

On a purrrsonal note, Diane gave me a ride to cash 💸 in my bottles and cans. $47.65 worth which is a great haul. That cleared enough of my shed enough so I could start putting up my summer clothes and taking out my winter wardrobe. It was a grey rainy day. I was really missing the days when eating was fun instead of a dismal chore.

A great big shout out goes out to Diane.

Jules Hathaway 

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I'm guessing that you are curious about my tattoos look like. Aren't they awesome? They're named Sunshine and Midnight. They're like little talismans. They make me feel more confident and competent, badass, smart, creative, and fearless--like I can take on the world or at least this corner of it. I can hardly wait to get my next. A 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️ 😺 🐱 😸 of course. 

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An Impossible Thing To Say (YA fiction)

     Have you ever been in a situation where you couldn't find the words for what you want to say? That happened to me big time in my teen years. I was going to study abroad and stay with a family for a summer. I had chosen England because...English-speaking. At the last minute I was switched to Mexico. My foreign language was French. So suddenly I was in a country where my grasp of the language was nonexistent. From my inability to ask my host family where the bathroom was on arrival to my saying si to my Mexican boyfriend and learning the next morning that we were engaged to be married (obviously we didn't) it was quite challenging at times.

     It was those experiences my mind flashed back to when I read Arya Shahi's An Impossible Thing To Say. Omid, Shahi's narrator, speaks two languages and feels inadequate in both. When his grandparents move from Iran to join their extended family he struggles with Farsi. But in school he doesn't feel competent in English, especially when he's around a girl he might more than like. 

     Shortly after his grandparents' arrival 9/11 happens. That night Omid hears his parents discussing the implications for their family. Although it is rarely alluded to after that, it subtly hovers in the background, like when his mother has an encounter with a racist, like when his father's store windows are constantly being broken. 

     But Omid is about to make a life altering discovery. When the girl he likes and his best friend introduce him to rap he falls in love with its meter and rhythms. Could this be the language in which he's not only competent but fluent?

On a purrrsonal note, we're having another lovely autumn day in central Maine. In a few minutes I'll take the bus to Orono to get my second tattoo. A 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️ 😺 🐱 😸 one of course.

A great big shout out goes out to the people who gave me the birthday money with which I'm paying for this body art.

Jules Hathaway 

     

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The Short Life & Curious Death of Free Speech in America (adult nonfiction)

          "The First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech is rooted in the belief that in a competition of ideas, good ideas generally crowd out bad ideas. It assumes that people are basically rational and skilled in recognizing the better argument when they hear it. And it presupposes that dialogue is dominated by real people with an interest in ideas, not by corporations and wealthy individuals hiding behind PACs and other creations, using trickery, appeals to base prejudice, and outright lies to gather gullible people to their side in the interest of commerce."

      Somewhere in high school we learned that free speech is one of our rights as citizens, a hallmark of American democracy. Or is it? Journalist Ellis Cose has studied this concept across decades of our nation's history. In The Short Life and Curious Death of Free Speech in America he shows us how our concept may be way off the mark. What we learned or remember may be inaccurate. But, more importantly, everything about the world has changed so much in the centuries since the First Amendment was news it may need serious updating. Consider the impact of technology. 

     "Also, our approach to freedom of speech was crafted at a time when no one imagined dialogue would be dominated by the likes of Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and other apps that specialize in bursts of short, superficial communication." 

     Then there's the role of money. The gap between the wealthy and the rest us has grown obscenely huge since the eighteenth century. And now that corporations have the same rights as people the wealthy and their politicians dominate the narrative to the detriment of everyone else. 

     And there's the increasing polarization between groups in which parties (say the Republicans and the Democrats) believe that people on the other side are not only wrong on an issue, but are dangerously evil. Scientific knowledge is considered just another opinion. Hate speech and white supremecy are normalized.

     Cose doesn't gift readers with a feel good solutions chapter, probably since the issue is so complex. But that does not absolve us of the duty to do our best to create a free speech that takes into account all the ways in which our nation and world have changed and works for the marginalized and not just the marginalizers.

On a purrrsonal note, it is another picture perfect Maine autumn day. Eugene and I went on a leaf peeping road trip. The foliage is gorgeous, the reds and yellows especially vibrant. At a yard sale we found me an adorable Squishmallow dog.

MILESTONE: This is the 2,900th book I have reviewed since I started this blog in August 2011. I believe I can hit 3,000 in 2026 barring unforseen circumstances.

Oh, yeah, I've scheduled my second tattoo for tomorrow, bankrolled by birthday money. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Two Truths and a Lionel (YA fiction)

     I think we can agree that social media is a double edged sword. I wouldn't deny it does good. People who are isolated, say LGBTQ teens in conservative religious places, can find acceptance and community. But it can also be a quickly changing wild, wild, west of bullying and sexting and anonymity facilitated meanness. Lionel, narrator of Brian Wasson's Two Truths and a Lionel, certainly gets taken for a roller coaster ride. 

     Lionel idolizes his recently deceased grandfather, the swashbuckling hero of many a movie. But it seems that the movie star genes for standing out in a crowd weren't exactly passed down. He's a pretty much run-of-the mill in his small town high school...

     ...until one day the pet store he and his ex best friend who now loathes him are in catches on fire. A video makes it look like he saved a man's life. Social media catches on and spreads his heroism through his school and way beyond. With fame come all kinds of perks. And his crush, a social media influencer, seems suddenly attainable. 

      But it's not smooth sailing for Lionel. He knows that he isn't the hero he's widely portrayed as. What will happen when the truth gets out? What does he stand to lose when the social media that has put him on a pedestal just as vigorously kicks him off?

On a purrrsonal note, today was a picture perfect New England autumn day. It started out crisp and warmed enough for me to change into shorts. I celebrated the weather great good fortune by staying out from after breakfast until darkness fell in the evening. I really enjoyed seeing the pollinators having happy hour at my lovely garden. 

A great big shout out goes out to Eugene who is due back tonight from a 3 day camping trip with his brother. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Rules for Being a Girl

     My good friend Bailey is a Social Work graduate student who is kind enough to give me rides to and from school which is a huge help, especially in the winter. Today she gave me a ride home with a stop at the library to pick up some books for me to review. We were talking about sexual relationships that are against the law and unethical, especially when they involve power imbalances. We started off in the realm of literature but quickly segued to real life. She told me about professionals in her field losing jobs for inappropriate relationships with clients. 

     I told her about an experience I had in high school. During a unit on swimming my gym teacher touched me aggressively under my bathing suit and told me to keep it our little secret. I was afraid that he'd touch other girls so I did report him only to be told I was a "vicious little liar trying to ruin a good man's reputation."...

     ...I was 14. I hadn't even had my first period...

     ...As parents we want to believe these things don't happen...

     ...but they do. So how do parents bring up a subject many teens often don't want to discuss with adults? Candace Bushnell and Katie Cotugno provide a most excellent resource in their Rules for Being a Girl. It provides teens with much needed information in the context of a truly engaging narrative. It's a book I would have given my daughters if they weren't adults. 

    Marin is an excellent student whose goals are to get into Brown University and become an investigative journalist. As the very engaged and conscientious co-editor of the school paper, she practically lives in the office, having frequent personal conversations with the faculty advisor, Bex (Mr. Beckett).

     Bex starts off slow. He gives Marin a ride home one night so she won't have to wait for her mother to pick her up. He tells her that she probably shouldn't tell anybody. Another night he brings her to his apartment, ostensibly to pick up a book he wants to lend her. When he kisses her she fortunately leaves before things escalate even more.

     At first Marin isn't sure she should do anything. Maybe she did lead him on. When she does report him nothing happens. In fact it's suggested that she misinterpreted things. And Bex gets downright vindictive. 

     The title of the book alludes to another not discussed enough issue Marin encounters in school: the way girls are micromanaged by stuff like dress codes (wouldn't want them to distract the boy from their studies) and male peers are left alone.

     It's a book I wish had been around when I was 14. It's an excellent introduction to feminism and social justice for teens of all genders.

On a purrrsonal note, I had a great day today. It was First Friday Bagels. I had my favorite sweet cinnamon. Bailey ran a jewelry making workshop which was much enjoyed by all who participated. I took the pictures and made a necklace with really cute beads. I got home in time to read outside near my 💐 🌹 🌸 🏵 🌼.

A great big shout out goes out to Bailey who is a really good friend and someday, as a social worker, will be a real help to her clients and a credit to her profession. 

Jules Hathaway 

    

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The Castle School (for Troubled Teens)

      "'This is a school for girls going through a rough patch. Girls whose parents...' Mom pauses, then closes her mouth. Her dark brown eyes are bright with tears, even though she's the one choosing to send me away. 

     In my head I fill in the rest of Mom's sentence: girls whose parents can't handle them anymore...Girls whose parents think there's something wrong with them, so they send them away, hoping for a fix."

    Moira, narrator of Alyssa Sheinmel's The Castle School (for Troubled Girls), has lost her best (and actually only) friend. At first they thought Nathan's brain tumor would be curable. He'd lose his hair. He might have to repeat a grade. But he'd be okay. But nothing worked. And she was there for him until people wouldn't let her.

     After his death nothing seemed to matter to her. She cut school as she'd done when Nathan was confined to home or hospitalized. She visited his grave in the middle of the night. She increasingly fought with her desperate to find a solution mother. 

     The school she gets sent to, the Castle School, is in a real castle. She and the eleven other students (the term patients is taboo) must follow really strict rules. They aren't even allowed to know what time or day it is. What passes for education is a farce. Students can do the school work or not. It's not like they're getting grades.

     They're supposed to be helped by group and individual therapy, building a peer community, fresh Maine air, organic food, and being stuck in the middle of nowhere...

     ...Or are they?...

     ...Hearing faint music Moira investigates. The lock on her window is broken, allowing her to sneak out without attracting attention. A little way through the woods she finds an identical castle housing a dozen boy students (not patients). But they have fewer rules and more comfortable living space.

     What the heck is going on? Could it be some kind of covert research on treatment methods? Rather than patients or students, could the teens be guinea pigs?

     Although I recommend this book I agree with the content warning: This book contains depictions of mental illness, included but not limited to addiction, anorexia, self-harm, and trichotillomania.

On a purrrsonal note when I was eleven I refused to be confirmed because I had some issues with religion, the biggest being the idea that the only way to salvation was through Jesus. I had Jewish and Muslim friends. I didn't plan on ever being confirmed. But then a youth pastor who I loved was dying of a brain tumor. I knew the one gift I could give her was getting confirmed before she died. So I did and it meant so much to her. To this day I have no regrets. I think God understands. 

I've got some bad news. You'll be seeing fewer reviews, at least for awhile. My "smart"phone somehow lost all the reviews I'd saved in drafts--about twenty which were all inter library loans. So I have to send away for these books to rewrite them. Sorry about that. Technology is a decidedly mixed blessing. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Well, here's another couple of pages from my joy journal. I'm so over happiness. American capitalism has so comodified it. Read this book and do what it says or buy this product and you'll be happy. The pursuit of happiness. Don't worry; be happy. That's why I prefer to feel joy. It's spontaneous, not commercialized, not one size fits all. Over the last 24 hours things that have brought me joy have included being outside in the fresh air, bees and butterflies visiting my garden, sturdy little Tobago snuggling with me in bed, talking to Amber on the phone, and getting 2 Halloween shirts at Goodwill and lots of lovely produce at Hannaford. I started it the first semester after the stroke when it was so much harder to do so many things. It helped me be aware of how much joy was in my life despite residual damage. Adding entries and going back to read them is also a source of joy.

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Up In Smoke (YA fiction)

     "'Every time they take one of ours, it's tax season,' Jason continued. 'Time to hit the streets. I'm done with the peaceful marching. I'm robbing and looting from now on and I'll use that bread to build up the neighborhood, on some real Robin Hood type shit.'"

     Cooper, one of the narrators of Nick Brooks' Up In Smoke, is not down with robbing and looting. But he has deep loyalty to Jason who has been like a big brother to him. So when Jason decides to use a protest as a cover for a looting spree Cooper participates very reluctantly. 

     "This all started last weekend, the match that lit the fuse, when a kid named Samir was killed by a plainclothes cop. He was only fourteen, just a couple years younger than me. The craziest part was I knew Samir. He went to my high school and lived around the way. He was a quiet kid, not even a troublemaker like that."

     Mo, the other narrator, is Jason's blood little sister. She and Cooper are long time BFFs who are secretly crushing on each other. She actually organized the protest and is angry that some people are using it as a cover for robbing and looting, making it easy for cops to spin the narrative to suit their purposes. 

     "We froze for a hair of a second because we all knew what that sound was. 

     Gunshots. 

     Everyone erupted into absolute pandemonium, screaming, ducking down, and running every which direction."

     A woman has been shot. Jason is the sole suspect. Cooper and Mo know that the cops are intent on making sure he's convicted. They're equally intent on clearing his name and securing his freedom...

     ...which is going to be super daunting...

     ...especially since Cooper is also intent on keeping Mo in the dark about his role in the looting. 

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday Eugene and I went to Amber and Brian's house for a birthday lunch in their backyard. Brian's mom was there too. The food was delicious, the conversation convivial. A most enjoyable afternoon. The weather was purrrfect--sunny and breezy. The leaves in this part of Maine have really started to turn--more jewel toned reds, yellow, and oranges. Fall foliage is one of the most beautiful seasons in Maine, even though it heralds the grim approach of winter. Today I'm spending as much time as I can outside. My flowers are having a pollinators happy hour.

A great big shout out goes out to Amber and Brian, our family's hosts with the most.

Jules Hathaway 

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That's me at the Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund table yesterday. As you can see the weather was perfect. I got a lot of compliments on my Halloween outfit featuring--of course--a cat. And people were asking me if I'll be in the drag show this year, raving about my last year's performance. It's not even October. This is shaping up to be a most excellent year.

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Let's Move the Needle (adult nonfiction)

     I bet when you think of activism a lot of strategies come to to mind--maybe picketing, getting out the vote, boycotting, marching, and protesting among them. Probably not knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and cross stitch. Shannon Downey, author of Let's Move the Needle: An Activism Handbook for Artists, Crafters, Creatives, and Makers, is out to broaden your definition. Her reasoning is very persuasive. And her her photographs of crafters and crafts are colorful and engaging. 

     I love, love, LOVE what she's doing here. Traditional definitions of activism focus on extroverts who are comfortable getting out on the street and in front of the mic. They are also available to people who have time, resources, and transportation. But we need to engage the larger community and value their contributions to achieve real solidarity. This seems like a viable avenue to doing so.

     There are two parts of the book that particularly impress me. One is chapter 2 that starts with with "Want to change the world? Deal with your shit." It has some wonderful prompts for helping you understand your evolving personal and activist identity. It also has ways of moving beyond your comfort zone. 

     The other is how in the rest of the book the how tos get right down to the basics, making it accessible to people new to activism, and there are plenty of inspiring examples. Rather than a one time read, I see it as a valuable resource like my battered cookbook I got from my mom when I was 12.

     As I read the book I was thinking about a group that developed organically in a short time--Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund. At a hackathon Tamra was one of the students who needed a team and money to bring it from idea to actuality. I was on her team. Through very dedicated leadership it grew substantially in just 2 years. It does fundraisers and distributes the money to UMaine students, faculty, and staff facing financial hardship. So far over $20,000!!! It also does volunteering with community organizations. It benefits not only aid recipients but students who experience the thrill of making a difference. 

     I know reading Let's Move The Needle inspired me to come up with ideas. Maybe it can inspire you too. 

On a purrrsonal note, fortunately after our rainy Thursday the weather cleared up--all blue skies and sunshine--in time for two major UMaine outdoor events that would have been hard to hold indoors. I was paparazzi for both. Friday's was an informational event to raise student awareness of the resources on campus avaliable to help them--everything from SWell (Student Wellness) and the Counseling Center to Financial Aid to Residential Life and so many more. Each group had a table. People who got a stamped passport from every table were entered in a prize drawing. There were also fun foods (snow cones, cotton candy, hot dogs), mocktails,  and games. Very popular. Today  was Family and Friends weekend. So many people and dogs came. The mall was covered with tables, games, demonstrations, vendors, and food trucks--something for everyone. The mood was decidedly festive. There were so many fun pictures to take. Like the dogs and their people, a baby in a stroller, and action shots. At both events I was so happy to be engaged and have my skills valued. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in both events. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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Party of Liars (adult fiction)

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This is Amber giving her author's talk yesterday. She did an awesome job. I am very proud of her.

I am so excited that I can stay home tomorrow and make some progress on my rapidly growing to do list. I just wish it wasn't going to rain. My laundry is really piling up. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Dungeons and Drama (YA fiction)

     I don't know if Shakespeare actually said these words or if they have been attributed to him, but when I read Kristy Boyce's Dungeons and Drama "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we endeavor to deceive!" kept popping into my mind. Deception and its complications (the tangled web) lie at the beating 💓 of the narrative. 

     Two weeks into her junior year (high school) Riley is confronted by her egotistical ex, Paul, the "absolute last person" she wants to see. He claims she's been avoiding him.

     "Um, of course I've been avoiding him. It's just self-preservation to avoid any tool who makes you wipe snot bubbles away while telling you that your talents could be better utilized as part of the stage crew."

     Tired of Paul's attitude, Riley tells him that she's moved on and found someone new. When he asks for names she comes up with Nathan...

     ...which is problematic for several reasons. Their passions (musical theater vs gaming) seem to be totally incompatible. And Nathan is totally smitten with the beautiful Sophia...

     ...which Riley uses to her advantage by persuading him that it will make Sophia see what a total catch he is and get jealous...

     ...But nothing in this narrative is simple. Remember what I said about those tangled webs? If relationship intrigue is your cup of tea you owe it to yourself to read Dungeons and Drama. 

On a purrrsonal note, today was a super exciting one for me. My favorite author who also happens to be my older daughter, Amber, did an author's talk on campus. It was AMAZING!!! The really big room was packed. She gave an excellent, really engaging talk. She got lots of questions which she answered really well. Afterwards people told me I should be proud of her. How could I not? 

A great big shout out goes out to my fabulous author daughter, Amber, and to the people who are buying her book and attending her events. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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 Last week Eugene took me south to spend a magical day with Katie and Adam. And he got me 7 Squishmallows. This weekend he took me for a romantic weekend getaway at camp. We stopped at lots of yard sales and he bought everything I wanted. We had Sunday supper at Applebee's. Next Sunday Amber and Brian are going to throw me a birthday lunch. The family is celebrating 🍾 ❤️ 💕 me and I'm loving it.

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The Grove

     Brooks Whitney Phillips' The Grove provides an insightful look into less than beautiful aspects of America's not that wonderful past through the eyes of a young narrator trying to make sense of the world she's been born into. 

     Pip (15) and her sister, Sissy (17), live with their parents in a failing citrus grove. The year is 1960. The family is just getting by. Both parents have problems with alcohol. It fuels her father's explosive anger and her mother's clinical depression. Their marriage is not a happy one. Her mother desperately misses the affluence and status of her growing up years and her father resents her lack of gratitude. 

     "You and I are cut from the same cloth, Pip. You know that, right? But your mama is different. Thinks she deserves some high-and-mighty life. Never happy with the fact she has a roof over her head and shoes on her feet."

     When the girls aren't in school or sleeping they're tied down to unending chores. Their parents consider education a waste of time. There's only one time they have free: the days between Christmas Eve and New Years Day when the traveling carnival is in town and they get to enjoy the rides, fair foods, side shows, and games just like anyone else. 

     This year will be dangerously different. A handsome, self assured, sweet talking sword swallower will successfully woo Sissy and abandon her. Unfortunately before he leaves the seed will be sown for potentially heart breaking tragedy. 

     The Grove would be an excellent choice for a parent-teen book club or in a high school literature or social studies class.

On a purrrsonal note, I am really having a purrrfect birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 weekend. Eugene and I spent the weekend at camp. On our way up we stopped at every yard sale we saw. He bought everything I wanted. We saw a beautiful deer eating apples. We had a really relaxing day at camp and watched a funny movie at night. On our way back we stopped at stores where he kept buying everything I liked including 3 Squishmallows. Last weekend we spent the day in Cape Elizabeth with Katie and Adam. Next Sunday Amber and Brian will have a birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 party. So I am feeling very appreciated and loved.

A great big shout out goes out to my amazing family. They're simply the best!

Jules Hathaway 

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What Happened To Rachel Riley?

     "Photos. Tons of them. Her and Jordan Russell, her and Kaylee Nakamura, her and everyone. It looked like she had a ton of friends! Until May 20, last spring. At the end of seventh grade. That's the last photo. And it's just a selfie of her, smiling at the camera.

     So here's the question I'd like to explore:

     What happened to Rachel Riley?"

     Eating lunch in the East Middle School cafeteria, Anna notices something strange. When the names of the day's birthday girls and boys are announced their friends clap. Even she, the shy new girl, gets some applause. But Rachel Riley's name is met with dead silence. What makes this even stranger is evidence that until recently Rachel was wildly popular. 

     So what happened?

     In her Social Issues class an assignment worth 85% of the grade is a semester long project on an issue "small or large, local or international". Guess what issue Anna chooses. 

     It's not going to be easy. Rachel knows why she's being shunned but refuses to say why. And her classmates don't want to talk about whatever happened. A girl in one Anna's classes tries to warn her: "what she did was really low + she does not deserve your help...Just ignore her that's what we all do."

     Anna's extroverted mom is always nagging her to make more friends. Alienating the rest of the eighth graders won't help 

     And the incident that resulted in Rachel's shunning may be quite a big deal, involving the burning down of a barn used for events.

     It may also be related to something else going on in the background. Boys are playing a game that makes girls very uncomfortable but feel that they should just laugh off the unwelcome attentions.

     What Happened To Rachel Riley? is a most excellent read for younger YA readers. 

On a purrrsonal note, my photography skills are very much in demand on campus by people who want event photos for social media. Yesterday I was paparazzi for a really special dinner, a collaboration between Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund and Wilson Center. It was held outside and had a gorgeous sunset for a grand finale. Today I played that role for a SWell art creating event. (Of course I did some art too). Photography is one of my favorite ways to volunteer. I have more events booked.

It should be quite a weekend. Eugene and I are going to go to camp overnight tomorrow. And Sunday is my birthday. I hope you have fun weekend plans.

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in both the events. 

Jules Hathaway 

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This is me and my best friend, Lisa Morin, at the blood drive yesterday. We go way back. I met her 15 years ago when she started working at UMaine. As she's done an amazing job building up Black Bear Exchange I've pitched in as a volunteer--sort of a Robin to her Batman. I have learned so much in those years. We love and are big fans of each other's kids. I think two things make our friendship special. We care very much about helping the students have what they need to thrive. And we are our actual for better and worse selves together. No pretenses. In my mind shared passions and honesty are the gold standard of friendship. 

The second day of the blood drive was amazing. Everyone was extremely sociable--much more so than usual. It was like a 7 hour party. We exceeded our goal by 10 units. And nobody fainted. 

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

Jules Hathaway 

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Harvest House (YA fiction)

     We're on the count down to Halloween-- decorating, pondering costumes, and eagerly anticipating one of the most mystical, magical, and downright unforgettable nights 🌙 ✨️ of the year. Goodwill has laid out the merch. Doughnuts and other goodies come in autumnal flavors. And what better way to get ready for the big night than read some spooky books? Cynthia Leitich's Harvest House. It combines a suspenseful, engaging plot with information about an important social justice issue even many adults haven't wrapped their minds around. 

     Hughie is very aware that Halloween 🎃 is on the way. His father is a go big or go home holiday decorator. I mean dozens of human size skeletons with light up 👀. A little too epic for most households. Also he's a volunteer helping to create a 👻 house appropriate for all ages based on local legends. But it is turning out to be more complicated and stressful than he'd ever imagined. 

     For one thing there's a really scary legend that seems to be happening in real time. It involves a terrifying being that predates on indigenous girls and women. Some girls including his best friend's sister have been having close encounters of the worst kind. Hughie is desperate to find out what's going on before someone he loves becomes a fiend's next victim. 

     Also the woman designing the haunted house is perpetuating racist indigenous women stereotypes. Hughie is trying to remove and replace the microaggressions before they can hurt people he cares about. 

     And show time is quickly approaching. 

On a purrrsonal note, today my best friend, Lisa Morin, and I are obsessed with blood. Nope, we haven't gone the snoozing in coffins and nocturnal neck nipping route. It's the second day of the UMaine Red Cross blood drive. The first day went pretty well. We got a lot of donors including a large proportion of first timers. Nobody fainted. We're hoping for good numbers today.

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated yesterday and will do so today. 

Jules Hathaway 

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This is me and Eugene Sunday. You can see a lighthouse in the background. It's out in the ocean. To get to it you have to steps from huge stone to huge stone for quite a distance. It was tricky footwork. I found it quite exhilarating. It made me feel really alive. 

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Moment of Truth (YA fiction)

     Chances are good that growing up you knew someone who was never as good as an idealized sibling, constantly a disappointment to the parental units, or at least never celebrated. Maybe you were that someone living in the shadows. 

     Can you imagine what it would be like if the idealized sibling was dead--their strengths celebrated, their weaknesses forgotten? That's the plight of Hadley, protagonist of Kasie West's Moment of Truth. She was born after her brother, Eric, died of cancer. His truck is mounted on the front lawn. His illness and death have become the family identity. His mother is pretty much taken up with running fund raisers.

     When Hadley reminds her mother about the swimming awards banquet at her school which turns out to be the same night as an event her mother assures her that her coach will understand if she doesn't show up. 

     "Right. I could just use the my brother is dead card. It worked well. 'He might let me out of it, but I also feel like I need to be there to support my teammates.'

     'And you don't feel like you need to support your family?'"

     Hadley's life centers around competitive swimming, her ticket to college and a chance to escape from a place dominated by Eric's memory. So when a masked serial prankster messes up her timing in a race she's out for vengeance. But unmasking him turns out to much more complicated than she imagined...

     ...and she might uncover some inconvenient truths about her feelings about the absent brother who's overshadowed her since birth. 

     Moment of Truth is a perfect blend of lively and breezy with raw and poignant. 

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday I had the most awesome early birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 celebration! I'd told my family what I really wanted the most was to visit Katie in her new house. Eugene and I drove up early and spent the day with Katie and Adam. We did a lot of walking in scenic locations. We had a picnic lunch at a beach. We hung out in Katie and Jacob's beautiful new home. We went to a Goodwill where Eugene bought me a cat shirt and 7 Squishmallows. In other words it was an absolutely purrrfect day.

A great big shout out goes out to Eugene, Katie, Adam, and the Goodwill store that had so many gorgeous Squishmallows.

Jules Hathaway 

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A Hummingbird On My Balcony (picture book)

     Did you know that August is the beginning of hummingbird migration season. Don't feel bad if you didn't know.  I just found out this morning. Most North American hummingbird species fly south on arduous journeys in which they may fly 20 hours without stopping. 

     So that makes it and September perfect for reading Isabelle Groc's A Hummingbird On My Balcony. It's a sweet story about a boy named Noah who moves into a new 22nd floor apartment. One day he discovers a jewel colored hummingbird building a nest on his balcony. He watches her lay two jellybean size eggs and nurture the hatchlings until they are big enough to leave the nest.

     The photos are gorgeous. The narrative is interspersed with amazing facts about these diminuative acrobats of the air. Kids who live in hummingbird habitats can learn ways to  create safe homes for them. Now wouldn't that be a great family project?

On a purrrsonal note, I spent an hour and a half hiking in the Veazie Forest which is conveniently right behind my trailer coop. I was glad I was in jeans and a hoodie. Some parts of the trail were quite overgrown with thorny vegetation. So it was quite the adventure. I'm sure it was good for my health.

A great big shout out goes out to the people who financed and built the Veazie Forest. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Today I had the chance to paint records. That's my all time favorite art project. Student Wellness (UMaine) provided the materials and snacks and Gwyn and Bailey ran the show. I was the paparazzi. A lot of people came and created some masterpieces and had a really fun time. Kudos to SWell for providing such a wonderful opportunity for relaxation and fun. Great job Gwyn and Bailey!

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All Nighter (YA fiction)

    If you (like me) are a fan of bad ass unpredictable adventures you'll love Cecilia Vinesse's All Nighter. If you (again like me) like well developed, relatable characters you'll love the book. Personally I don't think there's anything not to love in this story of two sworn enemies who must cooperate for one truly unforgettable night to achieve urgent goals. 

     Autumn is a straight A, class valedictorian, accepted to the college of her choice, over achieving nerd. She completes her assignments to specs well before they're due and always has her hand up in class. 

     "In Tara's eighteen years of life, she's encountered a boatload of Autumn Povitskys, usually lurking in the front rows of classrooms armed with sharpened pencils and judgmental expressions, ready to loathe Tara with every holier-than-thou fiber of their future-Ivy-League  beings."

     Tara is most definitely Autumn's polar opposite. While Autumn has her college plans all set up, Tara considers her high school years a prison sentence. She forgets to turn in homework and behaves impulsively in class to the annoyance of teachers. And as for the rules that are all important to Autumn...

     ...needless to say the girls are sworn enemies. But on prom night of their senior year they need each other's help. Autumn needs a fake ID to attend a college event. Tara's a pro at creating them. Tara has an essay due at 7:00 the next morning. If she doesn't turn it in on time she can forget about graduating with her class. She most definitely doesn't want to attend summer school or repeat her senior year. With Autumn's coaching she can pull it off.

     The girls' reluctant agreement sounds straightforward in theory. In reality it's anything but. The situations they find themselves in rival Alice In Wonderland for surrealism. 

     So do yourself a favor and join them for a series of most exciting adventures. 

On a purrrsonal note, you'd probably peg me as an Autumn. I was the student who completed the assignments early, did extra reading, and was quite good at class participation. But I was not big on rules, especially those I disagreed with. And when there was fun to be had I was big on spontaneity. Sometimes rule breaking was involved. Like sneaking into a boy's room to fill his bed with water balloons or running another boy's underwear up the Gordon College flagpole. Actually I am still big on adventure which I can't get enough of living in small-town Maine and not being able to drive. When I read about the girls' escapades I felt like I was missing out. Some day.

But today I have most excellent news to share. I went for my annual checkup. I'm perfect weight (96), pulse (76), BMI (20), and have the BP of a teenager (120/68). Pretty good for someone less than two weeks away from my 74th birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊. 

A great big shout out goes out to Vinesse for creating such a wonderful narrative. 

Jules Hathaway 

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This is my Goodwill haul from yesterday. Pretty awesome, right. I wore the dress today and got lots of compliments. Between the fruits I bought at Hannaford and the veggies I scored at community garden I'm in produce heaven.

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Not My Problem (YA fiction)

     Aideen, protagonist of Ciara Smyth's Not My Problem, is the student who manages to step on the last nerve of many teachers. She rarely does her homework assignments. She routinely gets out of gym on the basis of highly improbable illnesses. She's minimally engaged in anything to do with her education. But when asked about her home life she insists that everything's fine...

     ...even though nothing is further from the truth. Her family is a hot mess. She is the result of her mother's affair with a married man--one who doesn't have the decency to vanish and stay lost. He keeps Aideen and her mom his dirty little secret, staging periodic visits which leave her alcoholic mother in seriously bad shape and Aideen needing to pull her out of her spiral and handle the basics like not starving...

     ...but she has no one to help. The school would call in social workers which could lead to foster care...

     ...Also Aideen's only real friend, Holly, seems to be ditching her for another girl.

     ...with all that uncertainty and precariousness is it any wonder that she doesn't have the bandwidth for trigonometry?

    One day Aideen finds her nemesis, overscheduled Meabh, throwing a tantrum. She's afraid that one slip will lead to her "lying in the gutter, a needle sticking out of her arm and a glazed expression on her face." Aideen finds an unorthodox way to buy her breathing space. 

     It's only the beginning. Other students begin asking her to solve their problems. Only that necessitates seriously risky business like breaking and entering and kidnapping.

     How long can Aideen keep walking the tightrope her life has become before it breaks?

On a purrrsonal note, I'm having really good days. Saturday I tabled for Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund with Catherine and other friends. Sunday Eugene and I went on a road trip and found garage sale bargains. Today I went on a Goodwill/Hannaford run and found a gorgeous dress, an adorable Squishmallow, and of course yummy fruits and veggies. Hannaford produce rocks!!!

A great big shout out goes out to the Hannaford produce workers.

Jules Hathaway 

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More pages from my joy journal

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