Terms of Respect (adult nonfiction, particularly relevant to higher education professionals)

     I'm sure you must have heard some of the criticisms of today's higher education: that students are sheltered little snowflakes who insist on being overprotected by trigger warnings and safe spaces; that they're "woke " and intolerant of views that challenge their own unchallenged assumptions; that their "left-wing" professors are indoctrinating them with propaganda; and that colleges and universities themselves are stifling any ideas that aren't "politically correct".

     Christopher L. Eisgruber, President and formerly Provost of Princeton University, begs to disagree. He's not claiming that academia is perfect. He's aware of instances of what he calls mob censorship as in crowds disrupting speeches by people they disagree with. But in Terms of Respect: How Colleges Get Free Speech Right he asserts that in reality institutions of higher education and their students are part of, rather than different from, the rest of America, a nation confronting a serious civic crisis.

     "We divide into distinct, cohesive political groups that not only disagree with but also dislike and distrust one another. We also increasingly communicate through media that privilege provocation and extremity over deliberation and comity. As a result, America's civic discourse has become ruder and more partisan than in the recent past, and we are risk of losing our ability to talk through our differences."

     Drawing on both extensive background research and candid narratives of his and his colleagues experiences of campus controversies, Eisgruber weighs in on topics such as:

*the complex and situational nature of free speech and its potential compatibility with diversity and inclusion;

*the importance of civility rules and professional standards,

*the ways in which what is considered acceptable speech has evolved over time;

*the dangers created by political polarization  and social media, 

*and how free speech can easily be weaponized. 

A unifying message throughout the book is that many concepts are way more complicated than we think and that our conceptualizations may contain implicit bias. There are a few points that I had a little trouble grasping. But the value of the book as a whole made the extra effort feel worthwhile.

     Although he offers no silver bullets to solve the crises and misunderstandings, Eisgruber offers recommendations on how institutions of higher education can better handle the current landscape. Although he doesn't sugarcoat the obstacles standing in the way of transcending today's hostility and intolerance or pretend that it will happen easily or quickly he confirms throughout the book that it is possible and necessary. 

     "We must accept our responsibility to achieve free speech and equality together, for all Americans, now. We must demonstrate unstinting fidelity to both values if we are to vindicate our constitutional ideals and escape the civic crisis manifest on our campuses and in our polity."

       I highly recommend Terms of Respect for higher education professionals. I also recommend it for anyone who is concerned about the current state of affairs on and off campuses. 

On a purrrsonal note, this review has what I think is an interesting back story. I was tracking a higher education relevant book I wanted to review as a Christmas 🎄 gift for the UMaine higher education professors. When I started getting short on time and that book still wasn't in a Minerva library I sought an alternative book. I requested Terms of Respect when it was being processed in one library. 

A great big shout out goes out to Elizabeth Allan, Leah Hakola, and Kathleen Gillon who not only bring discussions of controversial topics into the classroom but model professionalism and commitments to free speech and equality. Their course of studies beautifully prepares grad students for the challenges of student services work in such contentious times. Truly they are a credit to Maine's flagship university. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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My third tattoo

Well here it is!!! Just purrrfect for December, wouldn't you say? I just adore it.

Eugene would have gone to camp yesterday if not for the uncertainty of the weather. It was still iffy last night. There was some mass of something heading straight for Maine. Down Portland way it could be a rain/snow mix. In the Bangor area all snow ❄️ was more likely. When Eugene and I went to Governors for breakfast the only thing in the sky was a gorgeous sunrise 🌅. On the way home I learned that UMaine would close at noon. About eleven it started snowing 🌨. I just heard of a power outage on campus. Yikes! I'm glad I can stay home. I feel bad for Eugene who will have to plow the white stuff. 

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The Last Time We Say Goodbye (YA fiction)

   "The whole thing has warped me, I think. I'm a board left out in the rain, and it's impossible to go back to being straight and undamaged ever again. This is who I am now. 

    The girl whose brother died."

   Many years ago my cousin, Ken, my Uncle Ken's only son, committed suicide in what we tend to think of as the prime of life. He left behind his parents, his three sisters, three very young children, and unanswerable questions. Of all the ways people can die it's one with quite unique challenges for those left behind. The knowing that he/she/they chose and actively carried out a plan to cease living can cause guilt layered over the pain of loss for survivors, especially family members and close friends who feel they should have seen/done something before it was too late.

     If the deceased is a teen chances are good that the bereaved will include siblings who are already faced with the myriad challenges of the transition between child and adulthood and immersed in an environment where peers and teachers usually deal quite awkwardly with the situation. That's the plight of Lexi, narrator of Cynthia Hand's The Last Time We Say Goodbye. 

     Lexi is a dedicated and really smart student in her senior year of high school. Her favorite subject is math. She loves and relies on its predictability, certainty, and proofs. She's shooting for MIT's highly competitive math program. 

     "I was born with numbers on the brain. What I would do, if I could really put this pen to paper and produce something useful, is take my memories, these fleeting, painful moments of my life, and find some way to add and subtract and divide them, insert variables and move them, try to isolate them, to discover their elusive meanings, to translate them from possibilities to certainties."

     Lexi has painful moments that have collectively shattered her world. A few years ago her father broke up her family by divorcing her mother and moving in with the cliche younger woman. She's not sure how to deal with him at very awkward mandatory weekly dinners.

     Then last year right before Christmas her brother, Tyler walked into the garage and shot himself. 

     Lexi misses her only sibling. Her mother is constantly crying and self medicating with alcohol. In fact she's not sure she can leave her mom, even to go to her dream school. Her classmates see her as the sister of the boy who killed him, either smothering her with unwanted sympathy or ignoring her as if suicide was contagious. 

     And Lexi has a secret. Only she knows that the night Tyler died she blew a chance to save his life. 

     Although the narrative is purely fictional Hand lost her younger brother to suicide when she was 20 and he was only 17. That's why it has such a poignant ring of authenticity. 

     A lot of adults don't want to talk to teenagers about suicide. They think it's too morbid for younger people. Some even think they'll put the idea into their head. So a book that addresses the topic openly and candidly is a  much needed breath of fresh air.

On a purrrsonal note, well today was great. I found more books at Orono Public Library. I got my third tattoo. It is totally gorgeous. Everyone who's seen it totally agrees. I got more people engaged in Operation Valentines. It probably will be a great success. And I have leftovers 😋 🤪 🙂 ☺️ to heat up for supper. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be gross--lots of that yucky white stuff. If my Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund meeting is on I have to bus commute in that mess. So I'm hoping for a snow ❄️ day.

A great big shout out goes out to Rob Lucchesi of Black Cats Tattoo in Orono. He's a body artist extraordinaire (as you'll see in tomorrow's picture) and a really kind person. 

Jules Hathaway 

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My accomplishment

OK, I know this is a very basic scarf. But I had to relearn how to knit after the stroke. It took me about 14 months to knit this. I made it for my friend Kevin in his favorite shade of green. I am quite proud of it. 

I'm really into Christmas gift prep. I've wrapped gifts for my 3 kids and 12 of my friends. I'm really enjoying getting ready for the big day.

I cooked the huge turkey Eugene got from work along with corn, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and rolls. Everything was delicious.

Now Eugene and I are binge watching Christmas movies: The Santa Claus 1, 2, and 3 and Home Alone. The Christmas season is the only time I watch much of anything beside the evening news.

I'm really excited for tomorrow. I'm getting my 3rd tattoo. 

I hope this week that's just starting will be a good one for you.

A great big shout out goes out to my amazing son, Adam, who is starting a new job tomorrow. 

Jules Hathaway 

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We Fell Apart (YA fiction)

     It was quite a few years ago that I borrowed e. lockhart's We Were Liars from the library. Amber was in grad school, Katie was a senior at UMaine, Adam was finishing Bangor High, and I was in my ninth year of school committee and hadn't yet heard of the grad school program that would provide my post parenting salvation.

     It was a grey quite dreary day. I had the flu or something similar and was wisely staying in bed, cuddled up with precious Joey cat. The moment I opened the book I was transported from a central Maine trailer coop to a privately owned Massachusetts island where the rich and famous Sinclair clan summered in castles and beneath a carefully maintained facade damning secrets lurked. Coming to the last page, I hoped that would not be the last I'd hear of the dynasty. 

     I had to wait quite a few years for the reunion. When I got my hands on the sequel the grad school year I thought would be my last was rushing to an end. I'd hung my wind chimes. I read the book outside, nibbling on gourmet chocolates Katie had given me that I'd been saving for just the right book. It lived up to its predecessor and left me again wanting more.

     I took you on this stroll down memory lane to show you how singular those books were. In my 14 years maintaining this blog I've reviewed almost 3,000 books. Those are the only two that I can recall the exact circumstances under which I read them...

     ...So imagine my excitement when We Fell Apart dropped. Thanks to Minerva and inter library loans I got it from Lewiston Public Library as soon as they'd acquired and processed it. Believe me when I say it's a worthy successor.  

     Matilda has survived an unusual childhood and adolescence, raised by a mother who was never been there for her and just went through the motions of parenting...

     ...that is until mommy dearest met a hottie and departed for Mexico, leaving her underage daughter to fend for herself...

     Imagine how Matilda feels when she gets an email from a world famous painter claiming that he is her father and wants to be involved in her life. He invites her to visit her at Hidden Beach and accept one of his paintings. 

     It seems that her mother was a college student when she posed nude for a painting by the famous artist who left her pregnant. Mom tells her she shouldn't accept the invitation. According to her he's not a very nice person. 

     Of course you know she's going. There'd be no book if she stayed home. She arrives at a beachfront castle with four tall turrets in eyesight of a burned down castle on the Sinclair island. It's inhabited by a rather large dog and four humans. There's June, the artist, Kingsley's significant other; Meer, their son and Matilda's half brother; Brock, a former child star, Tatum who drives a cab, and Glum (short for Puddleglum, the canine.

     Kingsley is absent even though he sent Matilda the invitation. None of his housemates know when he'll be back. He evidently comes and goes as he pleases. Only Meer and Glum are really eager for her to stick around. But she's come all this way.

     Right off the bat she notices strange things. June bosses the boys with a set of rules she passes off as suggestions even as she enforces them. Electronics are locked away except for short periods of time. June is dosing people with strange herbal tinctures.

     And why is the home of an artist whose paintings sell for millions in continual fiscal stress?

     And how are Kingsley and his family related to the island Sinclairs?

     Only one way to find out.

     You'll be glad you did.😀😁

On a purrrsonal note, back in 2011 I started this blog for the people who missed reading my book reviews in the Bangor Daily News when they no longer had freelance money and for myself because I missed writing reviews. I didn't want to come across as erudite or witty or cultured. The ambiance I went for was telling a friend about a book I was excited about over coffee. That's why purrrsonal note was there from the first post. (They're what some readers like the most.) Over a decade later it's still the same. I'm getting so much joy out of writing reviews of books I'm excited about in an intimate, personal voice. I feel truly fortunate to have this opportunity. Just to be functionally literate and have access to books and libraries is a privilege denied to so many people. 

A great big shout out goes out to the writers and illustrators of the books I review and the readers of this blog, especially those who have communicated with me. Next year we're going to hit the 3,000 book milestone. Won't that be something?

Jules Hathaway 

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Turkey Day

Well the Thanksgiving dinner was excellent. Cheryl's turkey was moist and tender and the sides were most excellent. Actually she can lay down a mouth watering spread for any occasion. Her pies 🥧 almost had me breaking my diet. It was great spending time with the fam. When we went around the table sharing what we were grateful for everyone had something to be grateful for. 

I hope that your Thanksgiving was special and meaningful. 

Today the high is predicted to be 40 degrees. I'm already outside getting my fresh air and sunshine 🌞. And I'm going to hang my laundry outside. 

I hope you enjoy this page from my joy journal.

Jules Hathaway 

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Two Sides to Every Murder (YA chiller)

     Whether told as books or movies, some of the scariest stories take place for the most part in a single setting--a downright terrifying setting where the protagonists are being pursued by powerful malignant entities. Where any time they might have a ghost of a chance of escape it's snatched away abruptly. Danielle Valentine's Two Sides to Every Murder is a prime example. 

     Imagine this. You're at a camp in the deep woods that was shut down sixteen years ago when it was the scene of some gruesome  murders. The killer dressed as a witch has returned and is methodically stalking you. You saw her take down one victim. You stumbled on the body of another. She's out there in dark waiting to end your life.  

     Olivia's mother, then the director of Camp Lost Lake, went into labor and gave birth at the crime scene. Her much older sister, Andie, has brought the property and is about to transform it into a business. Olivia has discovered that the man who she's been told was her father all her life couldn't possibly be. She believes that the camp might hold clues to her true parentage.

     Reagan is the daughter of the suspected killer. Things weren't too bad until a podcast focused national attention on the cold case, making it necessary for them to go into hiding, giving up any semblance of a normal life. She believes that her mother couldn't possibly have committed the crimes she's accused of. She believes that the evidence that could exonerate is at the camp. 

     Now both girls are trapped in a horrific living nightmare--one they may not survive. 

     If you're a true blue chiller affecianado put Two Sides to Every Murder on your must read list.

On a purrrsonal note, I was up before the sun even thought of rising, 4:08 to be exact. It was the only way I could be sure to get in my exercise biking before the trip to Winterport. The trip in the dark was sort of creepy. I could easily imagine a killer with a bow and arrow 🏹 emerging from the woods wearing a witch mask. We've got quite awhile before the big meal. Fortunately I've packed enough blog work to ignore the TV. 

A great big shout out goes out to my sister-in-law, Cheryl, who will serve up a fine feast to whoever shows up. 

Jules Hathaway 

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My library stash

It's the official first day of UMaine Thanksgiving break. It was full 🌧 early on, but had faded to a barely discernible mist by the time I bussed to downtown Orono. I stopped by the credit union to machine count and deposit a bank full of change in Tobago's savings account. For if she ever needs surgery. I made a huge haul at Orono Public Library. I think I have enough books to survive Thanksgiving. Do you agree? Orono Public Library and inter library loans are quite high whenever I count my blessings which is far more often than once a year. I met with my tattoo artist to plan my 3rd cat tat. Monday at 1:00. I can hardly wait. Then I went to the weekly vigil. We had over a dozen people and got lots of honks.

I was thinking on an old song that said I just want to celebrate another day of living. That's how I'm feeling these days--grateful to be living my dream. 

I hope wherever you are tomorrow is somewhere you can be happy. Thank you for reading this blog. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Revolution

     "Gillette and I look out the back window. A police siren wails, then stops. Men with rifles, men with signs, are everywhere on the street, shouting. Someone throws a bottle and it shatters on the building, close to our car. Instinctively I shrink back and Audrey shrieks."

     Recently I purchased a copy of Deborah Wiles' Revolution. But when I started reading it I realized I'd reviewed it fifteen years ago. I decided to reread it anyway. I'm very glad that I did. In my opinion it's more relevant today than it was hot off the press. Although falling under the category of historical fiction, it is remarkably prescient for reasons I promise to explain.

     Twelve-year-old Sunny has been told that Greenwood, Mississippi is being invaded by agitators. In anticipation of the 1964 presidential election organizations were collaborating to send college students to spend the Freedom Summer living with local families to get Blacks registered to vote, teach in freedom schools, provide much needed resources, and protect those who tried to register from violent white retaliation. At first she doesn't understand what all the commotion is about.

     "I still don't understand why the Negroes need the vote and can't have it, why the white people are so upset, why the police are so strange, what the unrest is about, and why the agitators are here."

     And at first she is only bothered by how the unrest messes up her summer as in the swimming pool is closed to everyone to avoid integration. But she's curious and open to new perspectives which is much more than I can say about most of the adult white characters. This makes her story a true coming of age narrative.

     One of the book's true strengths is its use of materials from the 60s to provide a sense of time and place. Placed between chapters are photos, news stories, quotes, and lyrics of protest songs--forming a multifaceted quilt of contextualization.

     So why does it speak to me as it does? Well there's the whole issue of renewed calls for voter restrictions based on the false narrative of widespread voter fraud. And not just in the South. This year in Maine we fortunately defeated question which contained provisions targeting groups powers that be would like disenfranchised. Unfortunately it's when, not if, it will reappear.

     Another reason is the virulence of the hatred voiced by the whites opposed to the changes people of color and their allies were working for. What we're seeing on the part of white supremacist hate groups today is equally horrifying. 

     I'm trying to imagine someone in 2075 writing a similar narrative set in the time we're groping our way through.

     On a purrrsonal note, I made a Goodwill run today. (I didn't get produce at Hannaford because with that big old turkey Eugene got from work the fridge is packed solid.) I really was in luck. I found Christmas cat 🐈 😻 velour leggings with original tags that are a purrrfect match for the velour top Eugene gave me last year, Santa Baby pajamas, really cute kids 10-12 pastel onesie pajamas, and an awesome kit to make an awesome owl picture. I actually got in 2 hours of outside reading. And I jogged to the mailbox and back. I finally feel comfortable running. 

A great big shout out goes out to my wonderful son, Adam. I'm so looking forward to seeing him at Thanksgiving at the in-laws. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Thanksgiving approaching

Campus is rapidly emptying for the much looked forward to Thanksgiving break. Whatever you do on Turkey (or tufu) Day I hope you hope you have a fine time with much to be thankful for. Eugene and I go to the in-laws. I cook our turkey on Friday.

 I have mixed feelings on Thanksgiving. I like the families getting together thing. But the day is based on a seriously flawed premise. The Pilgrims and Indigenous People were not friends unless your definition of amity includes land theft and genocide. Because it's back to back with Black Friday a lot of workers don't get to celebrate with family. Also limiting thankfulness to once a year--what's up with that? I practice gratitude on a regular basis. Last night when Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund prepared and served a meal at a homeless shelter and packed Thanksgiving baskets for families I felt truly blessed to have a lovely warm sheltering home and a full refrigerator and cupboard. 

Jules Hathaway 

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One Of The Boys (YA fiction)

     "Even though I'd spent months mentally preparing for my grand reinstatement into Pageland High's social scene, I still woke up scared shitless on the first day of senior year."

     The narrator of Victoria Zeller's One Of The Boys, Grace, has started a huge transition over the summer from male to female, from solid status as varsity football player with a friend group and girlfriend to uncertainty about where/if she fits in.

      Although she was a very talented kicker, considered headed towards an athletic scholarship at a Division 1 college, although the gridiron sport was a huge part of her life and identity, Grace doesn't see football in her future. But life has other plans for her. When the team loses the first game of the season against a team they should have beat because of a poor performance by their kicker Grace's teammates talk the head coach into reinstating her.

     It's not going to be a bed of roses. A lot of people aren't ready for trans athletes or females in what they consider a male sport. Players on other teams can be very rude. And some of her own teammates make it abundantly clear that they don't want her. 

     That's on top of all the physical, emotional, and social challenges that come with transitioning. 

     Zeller is a trans woman and former player and life long fan of football who started her writing career as a sports journalist. No wonder One Of The Boys has such a ring of authenticity. It combines a highly engaging narrative with an important social justice issue that too many legislators are treating as a way to win conseevative votes at the expense of nonbinary folx.

On a purrrsonal note, my Friday was the greatest! In the afternoon there were cookies to decorate. I was so happy to see that Bailey had bought zero sugar vanilla wafers. They were SO GOOD!!! I advertised the event all over campus and took pictures. In the evening there was a dinner catered by Olive Garden. (I hadn't their food in 15 years.) It was a collaboration between Wilson Center and Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund. After I ate (spaghetti 😋 with meat sauce, grilled chicken, bread sticks--SO GOOD) I took lots of pictures. We had a huge, very happy crowd. Most people knew me. And I participated in the guided discussions. It was a quite spirited meal. I will not wait 15 more years for Olive Garden food!!!

Today BBMAF is helping out at Bangor Area Homeless Shelter. It makes me realize how truly privileged I am to have a roof over my head when so many people don't. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in both Friday events and to Eugene who provides so well for me and precious Tobago cat.

Jules Hathaway 

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My stuff a buddy snowperson

     Isn't she just adorable? The event was just last night and I'm sure was well attended. A number of people stopped by the dinner and showed me their new little friends. They were so happy! Thank you Center for Student Involvement for bringing back this beloved tradition!

     On a more somber note the National Public Radio newsletter reminded me that Wednesday was International Toilet Day, reminding us that something most of us take for granted is aspirational for a lot of the world. According to NPR, 3.4 billion people don't have access to indoor toilets connected to sewer systems which can mean fecal contamination in drinking water. 

     Although this is primarily in global south nations, it's closer to home than you may think. When Eugene and I moved into Greystone in 1990 (two decades before it became a cooperative) the park was on a well. We had an option of buying drinking and cooking water to avoid fecal contamination. An option unavailable to much of the world. But we were some glad when it was transitioned to city water. 

     Additionally 300 million people have no place besides outside to relieve themselves. This can make them vulnerable to scorpions, poisonous snakes, and predatory animals. Girls and women are also endangered by predatory males. 

     Dedicated engineers and environmental scientists are hard at work on solutions to this crisis. Especially with the rate of climate change, it's going to take a whole lot of money to finance their crucial work. If you can afford to and get the chance to donate please do.

Jules Hathaway 

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Gender Rebels (YA nonfiction)

     "Everyone in this book wanted and wants to live life to its fullest. They want to be happy. They want friends. They want to feel successful. They want to feel loved. And to do that they have to live their truth as trans and nonbinary people."

     Unfortunately right now America has lots of people working overtime to deny us (I am most definitely gender fluid and a drag performer) this most basic right. They are trying to push through laws penalizing people who don't accept the gender we were labeled at birth. They are striving to erase our existence by book banning. In this tumultuous period in time Katherine Locke's Gender Rebels is very much needed. 

     "This is a book full of people who have experienced pain and discrimination in hopes that one day someone like them won't have to experience any pain and discrimination."

     The thirty individuals profiled make up a diverse and fascinating cast. They were born across an over 2,000 year time span bookended by Callon of Epidaurus (250 BCE) and Jazz Jennings (2000) in a variety of continents. They made their mark in diverse endeavors. They include:

*Chevaliar D'eon (1728-1810) lived as a man, spying and fighting in wars. Returning to France at forty-nine she declared herself to be a woman and lived and dressed as one the rest  of her life. 

*Dr. James Barry (1789-1865) was birth named Margaret Anne. He assumed a male gender identity to be able to attend medical school. As a doctor in the British Army, he saw the connection between poor sanitation and illness. No one discovered his secret until his death.

*Coccinelle (1931-2006) was the first French trans woman to publicly get gender affirmation surgery. 

*Ben Barres (1945-2007) discovered the role of glial cells and became the first transgender scientist to get elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

*and so many courageous trail blazers.

     There are also explanations of terms such as two-spirit, drag queen, and gender dysphoria. 

     Gender Rebels is a great acquisition for high school and public libraries. 

On a purrrsonal note, I couldn't go back to sleep after Tobago woke me up like I usually do because of too much excitement. First of all there's so much to look forward to today. Yesterday was fine. I got my stuff a buddy snowperson a day early and advertised that event on campus. Bailey gave me a ride home, stopping at Orono Public Library to pick up my inter library loans. I actually had two blissful 😊 hours to read outside near my flowers 💐. My Valentines Day project is really picking up momentum. (More on that another day). Today there are two special events. In the afternoon there's cookies and compliments. Bailey has promised sugar free cookies 🍪 😋 so I don't have to just say no. Tonight will be a dinner at the commuter lounge catered by Olive Garden. It will be the first time in 15 years I'll have Olive Garden food. Eugene doesn't much care for it so we never go. Who could ask for more?

A great big shout out goes out to all who will be participating in today's events and my Valentines Project. 

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Jules Hathaway 

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The Red Cross had really cool gifts for donors and volunteers. The theme was Pac-Man. There were nice warm socks and balls that transformed into figurines. I also included the Christmas 🎄 cat mug I bought for myself because its so darn cute!!! Can you believe it cost only a quarter?

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Why Does Everything Have To Be About Race? (Adult nonfiction)

     I remember a brief shining evening in 2008. I was one of campaign volunteers going door to door, calling lists of strangers, subsisting on whatever was in the kitchen--a nutritionist's nightmare--to get Obama elected. We were standing around election night, quite fatigued, watching the election results trickle in. Then the electric moment when we learned that America had elected its first president of color. Surely things are going to be better...

     ...except it so didn't happen. There were some changes, both for the better and the worse, but a post racial nation never emerged from the mire of American politics...

     ...but there was now pressure to act like it had. Sure things were bad in the past, the narrative goes, but we've just elected a Black president. Therefore, we're in post racial nirvana. So get with the program and stop kvetching already. Some people actually believed it...

     ...but others with a vested interest,  in status quo maintenance, like a certain president,  pushed the story with a vengeance.

     If, like me, you're really angry at all this bullshit being served up as gospel truth you're going to really appreciate Keith Boykin's Why Does Everything Have To Be About Race? Boykin clearly delineates twenty-five reasons in five categories that it has to be.

     In his first category, Erasing Black History, he explains why "Critical race theory is not indoctrinating kids to be 'woke'". It's aabout the misunderstood concept that has conservatives like Florida's Ron DeSantis banning books, white washing curriculum, and legislating what can and can't be discussed in classrooms.   

     In his second, Centering white victimhood, in White Americans still benefit from the legacy of slavery, he delineates all the ways in which the imbalances that started with the institution of involuntary servitude have been perpetuated and magnified through the centuries. 

     In his third, Denying Black Oppression, he gives all the reasons why complying with the police is not sufficient to protect Blacks. Why Black parents have to have the talk with their kids while white parents can blithely assure their sons and daughters that Mr. Policeman is their friend. 

     In his fourth, myths of Black inferiority, he shatters the illusion, fostered by the welfare queen stereotype, that more Blacks than whites are on welfare.

     In his fifth, Rebranding Racism he analyzes why countering Black Lives Matter with All Lives Matter or Blue Lives Matter is just plain wrong.  

     And he deftly dissects twenty other areas of racial misinformation currently making the rounds. If you want resources to counter the racist bullshit you're probably encountering Why Does Everything Have To Be About Race is a for sure must read. 

On a purrrsonal note, today was the successful second day of the blood drive. I don't know the numbers yet, but we got good donors and excellent volunteers. The mood was upbeat. Nobody fainted either day. What more could one ask for? Before the drive I hit the Orono Thrift Shop. Mostly for Christmas 🎄 gifts. But I'm keeping the cat Christmas mug I found for myself.

Oh, yeah, the great reveal I promised yesterday. I will be able to get my third cat tattoo before Christmas break. I can hardly wait  

A great big shout out goes out to everyone who contributed to making the blood drive a great success and the super volunteers who run Orono Thrift Shop.

Jules Hathaway 

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Blood Drive

Today was the first day of the UMaine November red cross blood drive. Of course I ran canteen. We had pizza, snacks, fruit, cookies, and a fun crafts project for our wonderful donors who had a really good time as you can see in this picture. One of the volunteers I supervised knows me from when she was in high school and I had my Upward Bound internship. It was a wonderful day. Looking forward to tomorrow. 

I got some exciting news. If you're lucky I'll share it tomorrow.

Jules Hathaway 

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If You Can Hear This (YA mystery)

     Moving with her father from San Francisco to the small town of Wild Pines at the start of her junior year is a bit of culture shock for Posey, narrator of Faith Gardner's If You Can Hear This. She'd been deeply engaged with her old school's paper, even winning a prestigious journalism award. Wild Pines High doesn't have a newspaper or journalism classes. It does have an AV Club...

     ...which was founded mere months ago. When Posey goes to the first meeting of the year she's in for a rude awakening. Her fellow club members are far from welcoming. They just want to watch documentaries and reject her attempts to get them organized--even an ice breaker activity. It would take quite a bit to jolt them out of their state of inertia...

     ...as in shocking news on the third day of school when Ms. Moses, the beloved club advisor doesn't show up to teach her classes. The cops don't do anything to find clues to her disappearance. The principal prevents the club from putting up missing person posters. The town doesn't seem to give a damn.

     There are three theories regarding the teacher's disappearance. 1) She was murdered--possibly by her husband. 2) She committed suicide. 3) She took off for parts unknown with no plans to return. 

     The AV Club members are determined to locate Ms. Moses. They're investigating, using social media to glean clues. They're actually pulling together, functioning as a team...

      ...and learning some of their town's dirty little secrets...

     ...but with time ticking away are they too late to make a difference and save someone they care deeply about?

On a purrrsonal note, I had the most wonderful time yesterday. Katie, Jacob, Adam, Eugene, and I gathered at Amber, and Brian's house for lunch. Brian prepared delicious corn 🌽 chowder (with whole kernel corn--creamed corn is an abomination) and grilled cheese sandwiches. We sat around and talked. It was such a joy being together as a family.

A great big shout out goes out to my incredible family. 

Jules Hathaway 

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A big snowflake

Last summer I saw it in a yard sale. Eugene could walk right by it. But I was unable to. It's rather large for a ❄️ reaching my waist. I asked the guy selling it to plug it in. The complex ever evolving light patterns took my breath away. And it was only $3.00. I just HAD TO HAVE IT. So Eugene bought it. I had no idea where I'd put it. But I couldn't pass on the opportunity. Last night, since we're into winter weather, I set it up in my studio. It's hard to photograph because the colors change so fast. And it's more breathtaking with the room lights off. But this picture can give you some idea. 

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Playin' Hard (YA romance)

     High school relationships can be challenging because of physical, hormonal, and emotional changes, increased responsibilities in and out of school, and the need to chart the next life phase, whether or not higher education is involved. They can be further complicated by the expectations laid on teens by parents and by society. That's the plight of the co narrators of Whitney D. Grandson's Playin' Hard. 

     DeAndre's father is a basketball legend, the winner of not one, but five, championship rings and determined that all of his sons follow in his footsteps. He's been training them for this destiny since early childhood. Nothing is to come before athletics: not friends, not romance, not even academics. He's the only parent in the house. The boys' mother ditched them when they were quite young. 

     Cree, whose mother died in childbirth, is the only child of a very disengaged and distant father and his second wife. He is, however obsessed with her weight, fearing that she will lose too much. He's always nagging her to cut down on the dancing that is both a passion and a safe space for her. She yearns for him to understand how much it means to her and take an interest. 

     "At Moorehead High School the Baller's Club was the cause of many female meltdowns. The club consisted of four boys who played on either the basketball or the football team. Tremaine Dickinson was one of them, along with Marcus Hamilton, Chris Casey, and DeAndre Parker. Together they went through girls like they went through Jordans."

     The boys are as well known for their one night stands off the field as they are for their athletic prowess on it. They exude attitudes of toxic masculinity and entitlement. For this reason Cree and her bestie, Troiann, have avoided the group like COVID. Then Cree says something in class that intrigues DeAndre. He wants her as a friend, perhaps even more. 

     The road to potential love is rarely smooth. In this case it's punctuated with more potholes that Maine in February. Can two teens prevail against really steep odds? If you're anything like me you'll really be rooting for them.

On a purrrsonal note, I finally had a chance to attend fiber arts club for the second time this semester. They're really nice, super talented people. I usually have a conflict with my paparazzi responsibilities or I'd go more often. I'm working on a scarf that I started well over a year ago. I lost my Knitting skills because of the stroke and had to relearn them. The quality is back but not the speed. 

A great big shout out goes out to UMaine's skilled and convivial Fiber Arts Club and those of who enjoy knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, and all the other fiber arts.

Jules Hathaway 

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The star of the dirty coffee event greeting guests like the purrrfect hostess.

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Grand Theft and a Little Death (YA chiller)

     If you're anything like me you've read at least one book that leaves you frustrated, not because it's so lackluster, but because it's so good. The characters and their narrative have come alive so vividly you want to know what happens next. Usually you don't find out.  But if you're really lucky the author creates a sequel that is as good as the first.

     A few years ago my older daughter, Amber, who knows my taste in books as well as I do, gave me a copy of Kylee Awiech's Soon-to-be Dead Boys. For me it was love at first sight.

     Since the age of thirteen Ellie, Awiech's protagonist,  has had a vocation to be a detective. (Something I can relate to having felt the same calling after falling hard for the Nancy Drew series). She's climbed through the ranks of Pathfinders, an organization to interest youth in law enforcement careers. She knows her calling creeps many people out. Even her long term bestie, Anika, has misgivings. But she's committed. 

     There have been these purple papers showing up around school listing boys behaving badly with female classmates. And the writers aren't just naming names. They're promising vengeance. On a pathfinders exercise she discovers of the named boys floating in the river. And he isn't the only one to meet up with the grim reaper. 

     Toward the end of the book Ellie voices thoughts that stuck with me because they're highly perceptive and unfortunately too relevant in today's world. "But what are we supposed to do when it seems there's no system of justice to step in either. There are so many stories of boys getting away with assault and everyone worrying that punishing them at all will ruin their lives."

     The idea that someone has to take action when those officially designated to do so are asleep at the wheel is as much  a unifying theme between Soon-to-be Dead Boys and Grand Theft and a Little Death (also gifted to me by Amber) as the cast of Ellie's family, friends, and colleagues. The they again is the police. Stolen cars have been showing up with alarming regularity in front of Sophie's grandmother's house. The police are taking notes.  Nothing else. Their questioning is really stressing the older woman out. Sophie is desperate for someone to do something. She goes to school with Ellie. 

     Ellie is still recovering from the trauma of her first case. And she's having a hard time actualizing the upcoming transition from high school to college or work. She feels like everyone else knows what they're doing. She dreads the breakup of her friend group. And she's having bad panic attacks at the worst possible times.

     But all that won't stop her from getting involved. She's able to connect the thefts with an app developed by a classmate and two alums of her school. Digging deeper she learns that there's a mob connection. And she's probably on their snuff list.

     The relatable characters and roller coaster ride of a plot aren't the only strengths of this most excellent book. The realistic and relatable portrayal of Ellie's panic attacks can really help people who also have or have struggled with them to not feel shame and hopelessness. I know from personal how overwhelming they can be. 

     If you're a chiller affecianado with a desire for justice you need to put both books on your to read list.

     Kylee, any chance you're working on another sequel? If so, I'm really looking forward to reading and reviewing. 

On a purrrsonal note, I made a productive Goodwill/Hannaford run. At Hannaford I got grapefruits and frozen corn and broccoli (nutrition) and Fancy Feast entrees for my best little 🐈 😻 in the world, Tobago. At Goodwill I found a Squishmallow gnome and a Squishmallow tee shirt my size. You know I love my Squishmallows.

A great big shout out to Kylee Awiech for her most excellent writing. 

Jules Hathaway 

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A wonderful day

It started off this haul at Orono Thrift Shop. I especially love the silver sneakers. At campus I publicized and was paparazzi for a dirty soda event. A sweet Dalmatian was a special guest. Catherine saved all the soda cans for me to cash in for precious Tobago. I was given a really yummy turkey sandwich and sides box lunch which was good because I left my lunch at home. Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund meeting went really well. Bailey and Cam gave me a ride home where Eugene had just returned from 3 days at camp. Red letter day.

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Why I Love Horror (adult nonfiction)

     Back in my undergraduate years (Gordon College class of '83) one evening some friends of mine and I were enjoying a horror movie marathon. Some Japanese students were studying diligently in a nearby room. Every time they heard screaming they burst in, valiantly determined to save us from whatever danger we were confronting. About the third time one thought to ask why we insisted on watching movies that frightened us so much. None of us could give a coherent answer. What indeed draws some people to that genre of books and movies? I was clueless--just knew I loved me some Stephen King. My girls followed in my footsteps, cutting their teeth on R. L. Stine before moving on up to Maine's own horrormeister. Why was that the predominant genre of our read alouds? I was still clueless.

     Over forty years later and the proud mother of a published horror author (Amber, Little. White Flowers) I found enlightenment in Why I Love Horror, an anthology of essays by top adult scary story authors on their whys behind their callings edited by librarian extraordinaire Becky Siegel Spratford. 

     In the Introduction Sadie Hartmann welcomes readers "...to this gathering of voices--a kaleidoscope of perspectives from some of the finest writers in the realm of horror. A collection of essays penned by masters of the macabre, revealing their unique path that has led them here, to this way station; a place designed for you to rest from the calling of your stack of unread horror books and enjoy this time of refreshment and unity."

     Brian Keene (Brian Keene's Giant-Size Man-Thing) was a kid in the early 70s. The parents at that time had lived through the turbulent 60s and many were withdrawing into drugs and alcohol or depression and anxiety. A number of his friends were abused, and he knew what went on behind closed doors. 

     His first encounter with horror, The Man-Thing--led him to an epiphany: the grotesque looking shambling being is not always the monster. Rather it can be the normal looking person in authority committing horrific acts covertly. Mr. Policeman is not always our friend. 

     He reminds us that demand increases for horror books and movies in times of national or international turmoil. Faced with school shootings, environmental degradation, climate change, a Trump presidency..."There is a safety and comfort in curling up with make-believe monsters so that we can tune out the very real monsters all around us, if only for a little while."

     Tananarive Due (My Road to Horror) started on that path at eight when she shared a room with a great-grandmother on an oxygen machine that hissed loudly through the night. She realized that she'd eventually get older and die.

     "Meeting mortality up close in my great-grandmother's bedroom--really understanding, perhaps from photos around the house, that she had once been a little girl just like me and that one day I would be an old woman just like her--changed my life forever."

     Jennifer McMahon grew up feeling like an outsider-- dressing differently, having different desires, and having a decidedly different family configuration than her peers. She yearned to become a monster. She actually tried to become a werewolf at the age of eight.  Fortunately she discovered that creating the horror narrative without the physical transformation gave her what she needed.

     "Horror has given me a place where I am not the perpetual outsider, the freaky Monster Girl; a place where I recognize myself in the monsters, the heroes, and everyone in between."

     And there are so many more rich, diverse, complex  narratives on the theme. In the last paragraph of the Introduction Hartmann tells readers:

     "So, whether you are a lifelong devotee of horror or a curious newcomer, I welcome you to lay your bags down at this way station and stay awhile. May these essays deepen your appreciation for the genre and illuminate the power of stories to scare, surprise, and sustain us. Let's love the dark even more--not for its own sake, but for the way it requires us to turn on a light to help us see ourselves and each other."

On a purrrsonal note, today is Veterans Day. I confess to be ambivalent about it. I respect the veterans, many of whom lost their lives or came back from over there with severe disabilities. I don't want the day used to pimp used cars and other merch. I am not, however, respecting those who made the decisions that put them in harm's way. Of all the years America has been a nation there have precious few without a war--declared or otherwise--going on. And those in my lifetime, Vietnam for example, have been wars of aggression. There were NO WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION in Afghanistan and there's evidence that we knew that. We expect our kindergarteners to use their words, not their fists. Don't we deserve for the people we elect to the highest offices to use their diplomacy not their weapons? And isn't it interesting how often it's war hawks who try to cut funding for veterans' services. 

A great big shout out goes out to our veterans and their families.

Jules Hathaway 

     

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A night to remember

Last night was the pay what you can community dinner to benefit Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund and Orono Food Pantry. The most excellent food was made by volunteers. The people who run the thrift shop had rounded up a truly eclectic collection of bowls people got to keep. I got a Hello Kitty one. We got lots of people from both UMaine and Orono. What was awesome was that people were really mingling and not just sticking with their besties. Busting the town/gown barrier. Whole lot of peeps asking when we'll do it again. YASSS!!! And we netted $500 for the worthy organizations. Of course I was the paparazzi. I live for nights 🌙 ✨️ like that.

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Pretty Girl County

    "You have the pretty girls like Reya with the all-expenses-paid lifestyle. Their parents are doctors, judges, and business owners, and they are happy to foot the bill for luxury cars and rotating designer wardrobes. It's all tiny golf club sets as toddlers, diamond earrings in middle school, and fancy cars on sixteenth birthdays. An after-school job? For what?!

     As you might have guessed, I do not fall into that category. Instead, I'm standing here at the bus stop, in this blazing heat, because my parents share our one family car and I need to get to work."

     Lisa Morin and I have been besties for about fifteen years. I met her when she arrived at UMaine to start her job. I knew from our first meeting that I wanted to be her friend. We bonded over mutual interests like ending campus student food insecurity. One year she took me to an international conference on the subject. We got to know and love each other's kids. When I had the stroke she was there for me and when I got my degree she was for sure celebrating 🍾. 

     Why this trip down memory lane? Our friendship ❤️ is a story of how beautiful and life affirming a deep for better or worse friendship can be. It gets me mad when society celebrates romance and denigrates friendship. We say just friendship like it's nothing. What I like best about Anita Wilson's Pretty Girl County is that it centers around female friendship. No matter what romances are struggling or thriving the focus is on co narrators Reya and Sommer.

     The girls grew up together closely bonded in a poorer town. They were in and out of each other's homes, doing everything together, sharing hopes and dreams as their parents struggled to provide them with better lives. Reya's mom, by putting herself through law school, is able to move herself and her daughter into a mansion in a much more affluent and prestigious town. Despite attending the same school the girls pretty much lose touch. 

     In their senior year closing in on graduation Reya is in crisis mode. Her life long dream has been to get into Fashion Institute of Technology--"the Dior of fashion design programs"--for a way to get into her dream career. Sadly she's been waitlisted. In order to beat out the others on the list, she's directing and providing the garments for the school's annual fashion show...

     ...which is far from turning into the shining success she needs. Someone suggests she recruit Sommer, whose skill set is just what she needs, to be on Team Reya...

     ...Sommer, feeling betrayed and abandoned, is far from enthusiastic about the prospect. And she's having her own crises. Not only is she trying desperately to afford her dream school, Spelman, but things are about to get more precarious for her family. Her father's beloved bookstore is in the path of gentrification and slated to be demolished...

     ...unless someone with the prestige and connections of Reya's mother...

     ...so can the girls put aside hurts and suspicions to help each other? Can this friendship be saved?

     Only one way to find out.

On a purrrsonal note, the sunrise this morning was so gorgeous it almost took my breath away. Vibrant luminous shades of apricot and rose stretched across the horizon while above pink clouds drifted across a pale blue sky. It was particularly striking when Eugene and I crossed the bridge and saw everything reflected upside down in the river. Particularly vivid sunrises are one of the very few up sides to winter. 

A great big shout out goes out to you, with hopes that you too had a good start to your day. 

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Me and Da Queen

Yesterday Bailey had a sock puppet making event. I was paparazzi. And of course I made a puppet. The challenge for me was that everyone was using hot glue guns. Given my still lagging fine motor skills--not such a good idea. So I used fabric paint. Da Queen came out as awesome as all the others. It was a really special time. People were taking great care with (and great pride in) their creations and having fun. We were using really basic materials. But each puppet had a distinct personality. I'm wearing my new banned books tee shirt and my new free jeans with the extra side pockets. In my opinion, a very good look. Today I'm seeing blue skies. There is barely any wind. I think I'll be able to work outside nearly all day near my still gorgeous flowers. 

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Some Mistakes Were Made (YA fiction)

     "'The same way most things change. So slowly you don't know it's happening.' She smiles wide and passes me the picture...'Life is just a series of small choices, and you can only see the one in front of you, but it leads you to the next and the next. Eventually you've ended up somewhere you don't even recognize.'"

     In this paragraph in her Some Mistakes Were Made Kristen Dwyer neatly sums up the gist of the book. For the most part the narrative revolves around the small incremental decisions of the characters and the reactions of those around them, just like our lives so often do.

      Ellis has the kind of home life that might have you wondering where Children's Protective Services were. Her father is in and out of prison. Her mother takes off for long stretches of time. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase home alone. In contrast, Easton and his brothers live a charmed life with highly engaged parents. Their mother, Sandry, is especially protective of her boys. When Ellis is drawn into their fold it's no wonder she prefers their home to hers--especially because she and Easton become so close...

     ...but when you first meet Ellis she's thousands of miles away from home, graduating from a California high school. She's been forced to go away for her senior year by Sandry after some pretty bad decisions on her part. She's pretty much relegated that family to her past...

     ...when they invite, actually pretty much demand that she come home to help prepare for Sandry's gala fiftyth birthday party. She goes even though she's not sure she really wants to. 

     Dwyer makes great use of alternating time-lines to gradually reveal both the choices on Ellis' part that led Sandry to send her away and the attempts at reconciliation and their consequences on her return. For readers who prefer narratives centered on the relationships of well meaning but far from perfect people it is a most excellent choice for a read.

On a purrrsonal note, I had a most excellent Wednesday. A Christian organization on campus was having a clothes giveaway. I scored a top and 2 perfect fit pairs of jeans, one with 4 side pockets. At Orono Thrift I scored an awesome banned books tee 👕 , a book, a fancy hair ornament, and a critter. In the afternoon I was paparazzi for fondue and friends at the Wade Center on campus. The fondue was great. I let myself drizzle a little chocolate over strawberries 🍓 😋. First chocolate in months. There were beads so I made a necklace. So much fun.

A great big shout out goes out to all the people who created the events. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Another page from my joy journal

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Celebrity Nation (adult nonfiction)

     Have you ever, like me, felt that our nation's obsession with celebrities has gotten way out of hand? A lot of people know more about influencers (at least about the carefully curated images they post) than they know about their neighbors or even family. A lot of us listen to actors and models over trained experts on scientific matters such as climate change and vaccines. We even went and elected a reality show host president. If, like me, you find yourself wondering what's up with that you'll really want to read Landon Y. Jones' Celebrity Nation.

     Jones, former editor of People magazine, starts by drawing a crucial distinction between a hero and a celebrity. He defines a hero as "a person (of any gender identity) of great dreams and great deeds who takes great risks and endures sacrifices to lead others into the future. A hero's fame cannot be manufactured; it is hard earned."

     In contrast celebrities can easily be manufactured. Especially in the ascendancy of social media they can be known simply for being known. And with AI they don't even need to be human. 

     Starting with the ancient Greeks, Jones describes the history of the contrasting roles of hero and celebrity and the ascendancy (and danger) of the latter. What I found most alarming was the shift from the good of the community to self absorption and the need for constant adoration. 

     If you are wondering what is going on in our increasingly celebrity obsessed nation Celebrity Nation is an excellent addition to your to read 📚 pile.

On a purrrsonal note, of course Tuesday I got out and voted. In Maine we had two important questions. Question one was an initiative to restrict who could vote by steps like requiring documents many people don't have access to. It would selectively disenfranchise people likely to vote Democrat. Question 2 was about restricting access to guns by people who there's reason to suspect might use them against an ex or in an active shooter incident. I was thrilled to learn that 1 lost and 2 won by huge margins. This election wasn't a shitsttorm like last year's. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who did their civic duty and 🗳. Democracy is not a spectator sport. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Me At trunk or treat before the kids arrived

See how Catherine had the whole Snoopy Halloween thing going on?

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Please Pay Attention (juvenile fiction in verse)

     Survivors of traumatic events like school shootings can feel a complex blend of emotions for a long time. The reactions of significant others can further complicate the process. In Please Pay Attention Jamie Sumner sensitively and poignantly portrays the journey of a young survivor from terror to hope. 

     Bea is a sixth grader who changes her hair color whenever her mother, Max, who is also her school nurse lets her. She loves her little, the kindergartener she's been paired with. She gets in trouble for drawing on her desk. She hates standardized tests. And because she has cerebral palsy she uses a wheelchair...

     ...which means that when her class hears the shots and the teacher tells them to move she can't. She later learns that the teacher was one of the victims. 

     Afterwards she has nightmares. Fearful of sleeping in her room she beds down on the porch at night. She experiences survivors guilt.

     But help, in the form of equestrian therapy, is on the horizon.

     Sumner's choice of free verse, cutting out excess verbiage, gets right to the heart of a preteen who has lived through what no child should have to experience. 

     She was inspired to write Please Pay Attention by the death of one of her friends, the head of the school, in a school shooting. It reflects not only her grief, but her anger that gun laws haven't been changed enough...

      ..."School should be a space safe from the dangers of the outside world, where children can learn and open their minds to ideas that will shape them into the future leaders of this society. They should not have to be vigilant for the best place to shelter from an active shooter."...

      ...and her determination to fight for stricter gun laws.

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday was full of special moments. Eugene and I had breakfast at Governors. You know I love me some Governors food. When Eugene and I went grocery shopping 🛍 🛒 he popped a big 🐸 Squishmallow into the child's seat of the cart. You know who that was for. Later he took me to Goodwill. I found not only what I needed (a black top and leggings for my tonight's performance) but really cool surprises: a cute cat shirt, a denim jacket to decorate, a little  🐧 Squishmallow with a 🎅 hat, and the most purrrfect baby winter pajamas featuring snowflakes, elaborate cocoa cup people wearing scarves or earnmuffs and topped with whipped cream or marshmallows, and 💕 made out of smiling marshmallows. I wore them last night and they were as comfy as they are adorable. The best surprise, though, was an afternoon so sunny 🌞 and warm I could spend it outside near my 💐. The one thing I did not like was turning the clock back. Now it gets dark too damn early.

A great big shout out goes out to the one and only Eugene.

Jules Hathaway 

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Co splay

A Halloween tradition of mine is having my picture taken with the fine blow up creatures that show up every October in the Union at UMaine to give Black Bear Nation true spooky season vibes. As you can see I'm having fun rocking my homemade Squishmallow costume. Check out the tag. Kudos and big thanks to the folks responsible for setting up and maintaining the otherworldly menagerie. BTW don't forget to set your clocks back 

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The Burning Season (juvenile fiction in verse)

     Twelve-year-old Opal, narrator of Caroline Starr Rose's The Burning Season, lives with her mother and grandmother in a fire tower in the Gila National Forest. Their entire living space is about the size of a small bedroom. There's no privacy. The bathroom is an outhouse on the ground. It's a lifestyle of austerity and precarity. 

     And for the family it's a vocation, one growing increasingly rare in today's technological world. Her grandmother and mother are lookouts, as was her great aunt. Opal has just begun training for this challenging work. During the fire season (between April and August) they must be constantly vigilant every waking moment, scanning a large of forest for fires and summoning help to contain or extinguish them before they get out of control. 

    It's an existence that gives a whole new meaning to minimalism. Since that one room contains professional equipment as well as personal possessions, the latter must only be basic essentials. Since they're in a wilderness area roads, motorized vehicles (except fire trucks), and electricity are forbidden. Shopping trips are few and far between and only for necessities. 

     And it's a very isolated experience, lacking the interactions most of us have with friends, classmates, coworkers, neighbors, and extended family. 

"'Make a wish,' Mom says. 

I shut my eyes and blow out the flame.

Seventh grade at La Plata Middle. 

I want that more than anything."

     Opal is homeschooled. She yearns to go to a real school with a library, a science lab, clubs, and kids who can become friends. There's a family offering to take her in for the school year. Her mother and grandmother say she's not ready. Maybe in two years...

    ...which can seem like an eternity when you're twelve. 

     Opal is keeping a huge secret from the adults in her life. She's terrified of fire. And she is about to face a high stakes challenge.  Her mother is long overdue from a shopping trip. Her grandmother has left the tower. When Opal sets out and finds her injured grandmother she spots a lightning 🌩 strike fire that could kill her if Opal doesn't get it contained. 

     Rose's choice of narrative in verse is brilliant, especially as the action and suspense pick up. The reader is not slowed down by a paragraphs format and superfluous words.

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday was Halloween. I didn't want it to be what I couldn't have namely CANDY! So I decided to aim for having such an awesome, eye catching, original, one of a kind costume peeps would be amazed by it. Easy peasy. People love Squishmallows. There are to my knowledge no Squishmallow costumes or instructions for making them. So I went the DIY route. I started with a deer with a flower headdress onesie costume/pajamas I'd scored for free at Clean Sweep and paired it with gold kids glitter boots ($3.00 yard sale) and a home made tag. Everywhere I went people were astounded by my creativity and originality. My other goal was to have pure, unadulterated, spontaneous fun. I had plenty of that at the downtown Orono Trunk Or Treat. Catherine had her ride all decked out Snoopy and Great Pumpkin themed. The kiddies were loving the vibe. We had so many little ones the Town of Orono had to supplement our candy 🍬 so we wouldn't run out. I was handing out candy. Bailey was keeping count. Catherine was refilling my candy bucket. We had everyone from anxious toddlers to high schoolers. They were loving my costume just like the undergraduates. I gave candy to 733 happy kids. It was a truly enchanted evening. Today the power has gone out. If I'm really maybe it'll stay out long enough for me not to have to cook supper 🙃. 

A great big shout out to the town of Orono for putting on such a special event, Catherine and Bailey, and all the other peeps who decorated their rides and dished out 🍬. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Chaos Theory (YA fiction)

     It's a sunny afternoon in Penobscot County--a precious rarity this far into autumn. When I got home not long after noon I just dropped my backpack and my bag of Orono Thrift Shop treasures and sat in an outside chair near my beautiful flowers 💐 😍 and started reading. I dread the thought of going in to cook supper. Gonna put that off as long as I can.

     You know how the ancient Greeks had this thing I think called a pantheon where their gods resided? I have my own little pantheon of the absolute BEST published authors. I think we all know that one of them is my daughter, Amber, whose Little White Flowers dropped last summer. Tiffany D. Jackson is for sure up there. And the very talented and versatile Nic Stone, whose work I've been reviewing since her debut novel is another resident. Thanks to the miracle of Minerva and inter library loans I scored her Chaos Theory--a very unusual YA romance.  

     "But I just like...man, I wish more people would take the time to consider what it would be like to live with a brain that works like mine. To have your own mind tell you you're not worth the air you breathe. Do you have any idea what it's like to feel like you're the queen of the universe one minute, and a waste of molecules the next?"

     Co narrator Shelbi is extremely vulnerable and wary of getting hurt. She has physical scars from self injury and a bipolar diagnosis. She's experienced hospitalizations and medication adjustments. Now she doesn't want to let anyone get too close.

     Co narrator Andy has a problem with alcohol. Drinking way too much is how he copes with the stresses in his life: the pressures from his up-for-election politician mother to behave in ways that fit her narrative, his parents' strained relationship, and guilt over the death of his beloved three-year-old sister.

     At one point as they're getting to know one another Shelbi has Andy sign a friendship agreement with six clauses he has to agree to.The sixth thing he has to promise is not to fall in love with her.

     "I'm settled in who I am and how my brain works, but in my experience, people can get weird. Especially when those kind of feelings get involved."

     But as their friendship evolves and they have to deal with really difficult crises not going beyond gets pretty hard...and not just for him. Readers who are anything like me will find themselves really rooting for these flawed but fabulous teens. 

     Stone wrote Chaos Theory to combat the misinformation and stigma surrounding mental illness. In her quite unusual Author's Note she has a really perceptive and comprehensive Mental Health Advocate Agreement for readers to sign. It covers serious misunderstandings and microaggressions and could get some long overdue conversations started. 

On a purrrsonal note, now it's Halloween. I'm up on campus where peeps are loving on my one of a kind Squishmallow costumes. I paired up a deer onesie costume onesie costume/pajamas with gold glitter boots and a home made tag. I was tabling this morning. And later I will be handing out candy at the Orono Trunk Or Treat with my besties Catherine and Bailey. However you celebrate, I wish you a safe and happy Halloween!!!

A great big shout out goes out to all who are helping create precious Halloween memories ✨️ for kids and families. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

     

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The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly (YA chiller)

     "I wrote The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly from a place of frustration, sadness, and anger. While Autumn Casterly's story is fictional, her circumstances are all too real. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network's website, one in six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime; however, out of 1,000 rapes, 995 rapists will walk free and never serve a day in jail. We have a serious problem in this country, and it's not okay."

     It would have been easy for Meredith Tate to channel these strong emotions into a work so heavy handed, so didactic that it would scare off her target demographic. She most definitely did not. Her characters are relatable, their relationships believable. The plot is engaging and suspenseful. It's like being on a mile high roller coaster climbing toward the top and the plunge.

     At the center of the plot is the problematic relationship between two incompatible sisters. Sophomore Ivy is the rule following good girl of the family. She and her friends play board games for fun. She's never been kissed, never tasted beer. Senior Autumn is a consummate party girl who pushes boundaries and pills at peer social gatherings. She's the one the administrators think of immediately when shenanigans happen at her school. Needless to say Autumn does not seek Ivy out...

     ...until things go horribly wrong. She's brutally beaten and tied up in a shed. Critically injured, she is able to somehow leave her body for periods of time and follow Ivy, trying to convey her plight before it's too late...

     ...because her captors are beginning to wonder if keeping her alive is too risky. 

     In Tate's dedication she writes: 

"And especially 

To all the survivors who are 

shut down 

gaslighted 

silenced

slut-shamed 

blamed

and called liars".

She wants us all to believe and support survivors and fight for a world in which girls and women aren't considered prey with a year round hunting season. 

On a purrrsonal note, as we head towards the dark months of winter it's a fitting time to contemplate ways we can contribute to creating this brighter, better world. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who believe and support survivors, especially in communities where they're in the minority. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Boo bucket event

It was a really fun event--a collaboration between Student Wellness, Commuter Lounge, and Title IX. The biggest table in the Wade Center was set up with all kinds of goodies. This is just a small sample. The dear little teddy bears were as tall as my pinky finger. There were also facial masks, lip balm, stickers galore, fidget toys, key chains, Halloween socks, and, of course, candy. People could fill cute Halloween bags. Cooperative Extension had a separate table with all the ingredients for healthy trail mix. It was a huge success with well over 100 very happy people filling bags. I was paparazzi for the groups. And I also made up an awesome goodie bag. SO MUCH FUN!

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