The adorable Squishmallow elephant

Eugene bought me yesterday when he went grocery shopping 🛍. 

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My Friday Goodwill haul

Cat Halloween shirt, Squishmallow hoodie, sequined leggings, and Squishmallow 🦁. 

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The Civil War of Amos Abernathy (juvenile fiction)

     Amos, protagonist of Michael Leali's The Civil War of Amos Abernathy, has for much of his young life has been a volunteer historical reenactor at the Chickaree County Living History Park. As you can probably guess, he's a real history buff. 

     Amos has a most unusual penpal. Much of his narrative is written in the form of letters to Albert D. J. Cashier, a Civil War Union soldier who probably in this century would have identified as trans. Amos is gay. He's beginning to think the park is telling only part of the story. There must have been LGBTQ+ people in the 19th century. He's seriously researching to learn more about them and gain representational inclusion in a space that's become very important to him. 

     Unfortunately there are people who don't want this to happen, including a wealthy, influential person who is threatening to cut off funding for the park if this "inappropriate" content is included. Amos's mom, as director of the park, is caught between her need to keep it solvent and her loyalty to her son.

     As if that's not confusing enough Amos has a crush on a boy, Ben, who is giving confusing and contradicting vibes. 

     Leali was nearly thirty when he finally took his mother's advice: write what you know. He's had the experiences of being afraid to come out (Ben) and being openly gay and proud (Amos). For years he was a young nineteenth century historical reenactor. 

     But to fill out the story he had to do massive amounts of research which also enabled to make up a list of resources for readers who want to learn more.

     Although Amos and the other twentieth century characters are fictional, Albert D. J. Cashier was very real.

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday was the first day of calendar spring. It was warm enough out for me to take a 4 bus Goodwill/Hannaford run. At Goodwill I was so excited to see the stuffed animals on shelves instead of in deep bins. I got a 🦁 Squishmallow, a Halloween 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️ 😺 🐱 😸 shirt, a Squishmallow hoodie, and sequin covered leggings that will be purrrfect for drag or cosplay. At Hannaford I got fruit and veggies. Last night we got a sprinkling of ❄️. It had melted by 10 this morning, but more is on the way. But I'm glad I'm in Maine, not Texas. According to the meteorologists they're having dangerously hot temps in March!?!

A great big shout out goes out to all the Goodwill and Hannaford workers who make shopping there such a good experience. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Veggie Cheerios

This is the box Eugene brought home. When I start eating it I'll give you my opinion. 

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What I'm reading

This is the cover of Hallowed Deadly Seeds, the second book in the Little White Flowers trilogy. It's scheduled to drop in June. Isn't the cover art chilling? Amber and I agree that it really captures the spirit of the narrative. If you're a chiller affecianado you won't want to miss out. If you haven't read the first book, Little White Flowers, read it first. It will really get you familiar with the characterd and their relationships. 

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All the Way Around the Sun (YA fiction)

     Xixi Tian's All the Way Around the Sun is a poignant and engaging narrative about a girl, Stella, grieving the loss of her only brother and feeling alone in her grief. The pressures to keep up her grades and finish her college applications seem both meaningless and overwhelming. 

     Stella and her older brother, Sam, had lived in their native China, being raised by their grandmother, for the first eight years of her life while their parents established themselves in America. When they arrive in America their parents are strangers to them. Sam is the one who can best live up to their great expectations, especially when he is accepted to Harvard...

    ...Where he dies in his dorm his first year...

     ...Nobody is there to help Stella cope with her loss. Her parents don't talk about the family tragedy. They haven't told her grandmother about Sam's death. And just before her second semester of senior year the family moves across the country to California where she doesn't know anyone...

     ...except Alan who was her best friend back in the Midwest until he seemingly ditched her...

     ...Now Stella's parents are pushing her to get her college applications in on time. Unable to take her on a California colleges tour, guess who they enlist to be her escort.

     The truth is Stella is afraid to go to college. Sam did and look what happened. 

On a purrrsonal note, March break is drawing to an end. It's featured marginally to truly crappy weather. Of the excursions I've planned for the week, I should be able to pull off one tomorrow--a field trip to Hannaford with a side trip to Goodwill. I've mostly stayed to home with precious Tobago. I've made two trips to Orono Public Library and visited Amber to pick up my advance readers copy of the second book in her Little White Flowers trilogy which is scheduled to drop this June. Of course I'll review it way before. 

Amusing story: Eugene picked up some groceries after work yesterday. He had these veggie Cheerios. WTF? I expect cereal to be sweet or neutral, not tasting like beets or broccoli. It says it's fruit flavored, just contains veggie powder. I'm willing to try it. I'll let you know what it's like.

Yesterday was drivers' appreciation day on the community connector bus system. For me every day I get on a bus 🚌 is drivers' appreciation 💗 day and I show it with candy.

A great big shout out goes out to all our fabulous, hardworking bus drivers. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Zen gardens

I've always been a fan of miniatures, maybe because when it comes to size I'm way out on the minus tail on the bell shaped curve. I love anything tiny and beautiful--doll house furnishings and food, insects and spiders, advent calendar Squishmallows... So when I discovered zen gardens in '24 I was all in. I've made three so far. I made the first in '24 not that long after the stroke. I made the middle one last semester and added a ceramic duck some tabling sorority women gave me. The third I just now created with miniature shells. I'd acquired little bags full at a yard sale during the pandemic. I have them on my desk. They make me happy. 

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Joy journal

Here are a couple more pages.

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So Many Years (picture book)

     Almost one third of Texans were enslaved until June 19, 1865 when Union Major General Gordon Granger announced the freedom of formerly enslaved people. That day became a day of celebration in Texas. In 2021 Juneteenth finely became a national holiday. 

     Anne Wynter helps children understand how momentous the change was in a series of llustrated contrasts. "How would you eat after so many years of making your meals from scraps? How would you dance after so many years of working through waves of pain?"

     If parents discuss the pictures that accompany the text with their kids it can be quite a learning experience. 

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday when I was running errands it was 🌧. Everywhere I went people were saying, "Thank goodness it isn't ❄️ a sentiment with which I highly concur. Don't get me wrong. We aren't out of the woods yet. We always seem to get more of the white stuff in April. But for now the lawns on my street are snow free with some grass coming up. And the spring equinox is right around the corner. 

A great big shout out goes out to you, my readers with best wishes for a happy St. Patrick's Day.

Jules Hathaway 

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Joy journal

Here's another couple of pages.

I'm about to head out to the library for a necessary errand. I'm hoping to get there and back before the predicted rain. At least it isn't predicted snow. I'm so over winter!!!

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Neighborhood Watch

Precious Tobago keeping an eye on a suspicious looking truck. Between her and Romeo (a handsome tuxedo outdoor feline 🐈) they keep our street pretty safe.

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Twilight of American Sanity (adult nonfiction)

     Allen Francis, MD begins his prologue to Twilight of American Sanity: A Psychiatrist Analyzes The Age of Trump with a quite fitting quote from Nietzsche: "Insanity in individuals is somewhat rare. But in groups, parties, nations, and epochs, it is the rule." His premise is simple but profound: we have to shift our thinking from what's wrong with our current president to what compelled us to elect him and how to change before it's too late.

     He starts a chapter he calls Confronting the Facts of Life with the following challenge: "Ignorance is not bliss. What you don't know most certainly can hurt you, often in the least expected and most devastating of ways. Compelling evidence indicates that our world is marching blindly into a perfect storm of irreversible catastrophes. Absent urgent corrective action, it will soon be game over for our civilization, with no do-overs allowed."

     And what are these Catastrophes? How about:

*environmental degradation;

*rampant population growth;

*depletion of the world's resources;

*gross inequality;

*unequally distributed medical care;

*too much military aggression;

*racist isolationism;

And *a whole lot more, none of which will be addressed with Trump and his cronies in power.

     The bulk of the book provides an in depth discussions of all the elements that could have played a role in our nation's poor election decision making: biological, evolutionary, psychological, and social and the myths (i.e. American exceptionalism) that could have come into play. This is pretty heavy reading...

     ...especially because Twilight of American Sanity was written during the first Trump regime and things are now so much worse...

     ...But fortunately Frances remains reasonably optimistic and fills us in on things we must do individually and collectively to turn things around before it's too late. 

     This is not an easy or comforting to perused. But for people who grasp the enormity of the crisis and are determined to be part of the solution it's a must read. 

On a purrrsonal note, these days if you're anything like me it's hard to keep up with the news. I've never experienced a more frightening time in my 74 years on this earth. But we must because if we don't, as Francis warns, game over.

A great big shout out goes out to all people who read this book and do their best to follow its advice. 

Jules Hathaway 

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☕️

And my friend Natalie really appreciated her treat.

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Coffee

Yesterday SWell had a popular coffee and energy drink event. Caffeine being taboo for me, I didn't partake. Sadness. But I had fun being paparazzi. My friend Bailey was one of the drink mixers.

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Every Day I Read (adult nonfiction)

     I was about to settle into my bedtime reading. But I was about one hundred pages into Twilight of American Sanity, a nonfiction volume that makes Stephen King's Cujo look like Lassie in contrast. No way was I going to contemplate that level of horror with darkness fallen. I'm too much a fan of nightmare free sleep. So I stuffed that book into my backpack and perused my inter library loan stash where I found the perfect bedtime book: Hwang Bo-Reum's Every Day I Read.

     "I hope to become stronger, to stand firm by my convictions, and to become a more mature person. Someone neither arrogant nor naive. Someone who can be honest about my feelings, yet not let emotions overwhelm me. I want to see the world, to better understand others." 

     That's Bo-Reum's answer to the question: what do I hope to get out of books? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself that question? If not, how about trying? You may be surprised what you discover. It would be a truly awesome ice breaker for a book club.

     Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer To Books is a series of reflections on the experience of reading. What do I want to get out of books?/Why do I read? is one she frequently comes back to, always with a fresh insight. Some of her other topics include:

*reading beyond best sellers;

*visiting the library;

*participating in book clubs;

*choosing books instead of the internet;

*finding life-changing reads:

*reading to suit different moods;

and so many more.

     If I were to choose two adjectives to describe Every Day I Read they would be gentle and engaging. I chose gentle because of the warmth and welcome in her writing. I say engaging because there is something for everyone from the novice wanting to get into reading to the long term bibliophile wishing to think recursively on the reading experience. 

On a purrrsonal note, it's the last day before March break and the UMaine campus is rapidly emptying. There were some pretty cool activities. My favorite was a dinner Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund and Wilson (interfaith) Center put on at Wilson. Dining there is a beautiful experience for people with dietary restrictions. You can see the recipes and know what goes into the food, unlike in restaurants. They served 3 kinds of pasta (an Alfredo, a vegan with lots of colorful veggies, and a kind with peaches) and soup--all homemade!!! Absolutely delicious. 

A great big shout out goes out to my fellow Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund members and the Wilson Center crew.

Jules Hathaway 

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Oldest critters in my collection

The pajama clad bear with a baby bear comes from a mall in Virginia. My beloved Uncle Ken bought it for me in 1986. I visited him after my father died. He said I could pick anything I wanted, thinking I'd choose clothes. I picked something I'd love the rest of my life. It was the last time I saw Uncle Ken. I found the little bear in a Rockport, Massachusetts thrift shop in 1984 for $3. Later that year an antique dealer offered me $300 for him. Of course I just said no.

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The Moon Without Stars (juvenile fiction)

     In her author's note for The Moon Without Stars Chanel Miller says: "Ask any adult if they remember middle school, and you'll realize they're carrying memories that profoundly shaped their sense of self. We can recall that exciting and achy time; enduring small humiliations, strengthening our perspectives, scavenging for bits of confidence, laughing uncontrollably, hurting from rejection, and wondering if who we were becoming was enough."

     The charm of the narrative is that it embodies that time in life marked by new experiences and surroundings when small events take on oversized significance, emotions can shift so suddenly, and misunderstandings and mistakes seem impossible to come back from. It's an Are You, God? It's Me, Margaret. for the twenty-first century. 

     Luna starts middle school content to be in the background with only one friend, Scott, her long time bestie. Then a series of events gives her a chance to bond with the popular girls. She enjoys spending time with her new friends and ditches Scott. When the girls turn against her she's painfully alone. 

     And first menstruation plays a major role. 

     The Moon Without Stars is a wonderful read for girls starting or not far from starting middle school because Luna's experience will be very relatable and engaging, hopefully showing them they're not alone in awkwardness and uncertainty. 

On a purrrsonal note, before I went from elementary school to junior high my world fell apart. My sister, Harriet, became severely brain damaged from spinal meningitis. My parents' marriage became even more dysfunctional. My mom became totally invested in getting Harriet back to normal. I became invisible in my own home. A week or so before I started high school we moved to a much bigger city. I had to give up not only my home, my ocean, my community, and my friends 💔 😢, but my beloved animal companions including my ocelot. Not good transitions. 

Yesterday the weather was gorgeous. At least in the 50s with abundant sunshine. I was able to work outside in shorts and a tee shirt 👕. First time this year. I saw my first spider, a cute, tiny yellow one. And some of my last year's flowers are trying to bloom again. 

A great big shout out goes out to my readers. I'm sure many of you are as eager for spring as I am.

Jules Hathaway 

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New dress

This is the new dress I wore for an event last week. Isn't it gorgeous? I wore a sweater with it because it's still winter.

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Tattoo

Well here it is. I think it's a beauty. Rob does such good work! 

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Fake Skating (YA romance)

     If you're in need or want of an engaging YA romance that will keep you in suspense because there are a lot of twists and you really care about whether the protagonists get together in the end you can't do better than Lynn Painter's Fake Skating. It's about a boy and a girl individually dealing with really stressful life circumstances. 

     Alec, nicknamed Zeus, is his school and town's great ice hockey 🏒 hope. The sport reigns supreme there. For all the times the Southview Packers have made playoffs they've never gone all the way. Everyone is counting on Zeus to provide the skills and the magic. It's his senior year. 

     He also feels that he's the only one who can pull his family out of the financial crisis they're in through no fault of their own. They're deep in medical debt from a car accident his father was in. His father can't work. Alec feels that making pro hockey is the only way they can pay off the debt and become financially stable. He is hiding a serious shoulder injury for fear it could derail his career.

     Dani has been a military brat, having to move frequently because of her father's career. Formerly outgoing, she was bullied in ninth grade and now is cynical and cautious, focusing on keeping schoolmates at a distance so they can't hurt her. Her parents have divorced. She and her mother have moved to the town her mother grew up in. 

     Until they were twelve Dani and her mother spent time in that town every summer. Dani and Alec were inseparable best friends...

     ...but a lot has happened in the intervening years. They both have changed a lot. And each feels betrayed by the other. Circumstances make it expeditious for them to fake a romance. After awhile they both want it to be real...

     ...But there is someone determined to prevent that from happening. 

     I was riding my exercise bike when I got near the end of the book. I was so unable to put the book down even though it meant extra cycling. That's how engaging Fake Skating is.

On a purrrsonal note, I feel so energized now that we're back on daylight savings time as of yesterday. Seeing it stay light out longer was so beautiful!!! Today temps are supposed to get into the 50s. Whole lotta snow gonna melt. Having lived in New England my whole life, I'm under no delusion that it's smooth sailing from now till next autumn. At least one more storm is guaranteed. But I enjoy the spring adjacent preview of coming attractions. 

Today I will get my fourth tattoo. Can't wait to share a picture with you.

A great big shout out goes out to the Canadian province that is now going with year round daylight savings time. Setting a great example for the rest of us.

Jules Hathaway 

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Engaged in lively discourse

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The authors and moderator

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Bittersweet (picture book)

     Christy Mandin's Bittersweet, based on true history, is a super book, having the power to  give younger readers and listeners insights into not only not so ancient world history but the evils of the times we're living in. 

     World War II had just ended. It must not seemed like that to the children of Berlin. Much of their city was in rubble. And many of the necessities of life were very hard to get...

     ...including food...

     ...Germany had been split up like a pie between the conquering nations. Berlin itself was split between East and West with blockages preventing food from being delivered by motor vehicles, trains, and boats to West Berlin. 

     The countries in charge of West Berlin de cided to fly food in. One of the pilots conducting this vital mission, a man named Gail, spoke to a bunch of kids. He had only two sticks of gum to share with them. But he promised them a surprise. He and his fellow pilots used their ration books to buy as much candy as possible. They dropped it from planes, using hankies as parachutes...

     ...They were violating military rules by flying secret missions...

    ...But when they were caught Gail was in for a real surprise. 

     In her author's note Mandin reminds readers that, "Unfortunately, this story isn't ancient history. In many places around the world today, from Palestine to Yemen, Ukraine to Israel, Myanmar to South Sudan, children are caught in the crossfires of conflicts they did not create. They face hunger, fear, displacement, and trauma on a scale that echoes the darkest chapters of history."

     In writing Bittersweet she was expressing her hope that the children of today can grow up to create a more just, compassionate world than the one we live in today...

     ...which is why it's a most excellent acquisition for public, school, and family libraries. 

On a purrrsonal note, Amber had a most excellent event Thursday night. Ampersand is a beautiful indie store in downtown Orono that sells the most wonderful array of products. It's legendary here. It's survived the pandemic and many less major crises such as, if I remember correctly, a flooded basement. The event was a book talk featuring four women authors (in honor of women's history month) and wine 🍷 tasting. The setting was perfect for intimacy. The hostessing was wonderful. Maddy from Orono Public Library, who was the moderator, asked open ended questions that elicited thoughtful, candid answers from the authors who also spoke spontaneously to each other. For a book loving future author it was purrrfect. And I got a lot of useful information, especially when the authors answered my question: what was the biggest obstacle you encountered in the road to getting published and how did you surmount it? I left so inspired and confident that I can follow in Amber's footsteps. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who facilitated and participated in that most excellent event. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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Fun times

This is my friend Catherine concentrating on playing Jenga. I think it's one of the best candid shots I have of her. Between the puzzles, games, and refreshments a lot of people had a really good time. 

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Fun times

This is my favorite picture from the Wednesday event. They are deservedly proud of their accomplishment. That puzzle had very tiny pieces. Seeing such diligence in real life is totally inspiring to me.

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The Dog Who Saved The Bees 🐝 (picture bees)

     We know dogs 🐕 can do really amazing things. They can help people with disabilities lead fulfilling, productive lives. They can locate avalanche survivors trapped under the snow. They can detect minute amounts of bad stuff like illegal drugs. They can locate people who go missing. 

     And when I read Stephanie Gibeault's The Dog Who Saved The Bees I learned another super power canine companions have. They can be trained to detect foulbrood, a highly contagious, fatal bee disease with no cure.

     Cybil was the apiary inspector for the Maryland Department of Agriculture. She had to inspect every shipped all over the country before they left the state...

     ...Shall we say that's an awful lot of hives? She heard that a trained sniffer dog would be a big help...

     ...But Mack, the dog she rescued from an abusive situation, proves to be impulsive and distractable. Can she possibly get him to focus enough to learn the skills necessary to pass the test?

     Mack is a gorgeous protagonist. The Dog Who Saved The Bees is sure to be a hit with dog loving kids.

     And it's so important for kids to know and care about and be invested in bees, considering their crucial role in food production and how endangered they are. This book could inspire some future entomologists.

Yesterday I was paparazzi for a really cool event that involved puzzles, games, fresh hot popcorn 🍿 😋 machine popcorn 🍿, 🍬 🍫 🍭, and soda. It drew a lot of people. Maybe the irresistible popcorn 🍿 aroma wafting through the union. I got lots of cool pictures. One couple put together an incredibly complex puzzle with tiny pieces. (In contrast my residually damaged brain 🧠 froze up on a simpler 300 piece puzzle because too many pieces were solid color background.) I insisted they get a prize.) I knew the candy and soda were off limits. I read the nutrition information for machine popcorn. It made me so sad. It's really hard to photograph an event where you can't eat or drink anything, especially when an enticing aroma is everywhere. 

I've got two major events to look forward to. Tonight my older daughter will be on a panel of authors at a local store. Tomorrow is a date yourself event catered by Olive Garden. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in yesterday's event. 

Jules Hathaway 

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❄️

I'll be the first to admit that ❄️ can be beautiful and very photo worthy, especially whenever 🌳 are involved. And I like playing in the ❄️ with friends. Sledding and ❄️ sculpture are the cat's pajamas. It's the difficult commute that makes me winter weary. It ❄️ ed AGAIN last night and Eugene had to go out and plow a little after midnight. Fortunately he got home in time to give me a ride to campus. I have an event to be paparazzi for. I'm SUPER EXCITED for the event I'll be photographing Friday. It'll be catered by Olive Garden!!!

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The Lobster Lady (juvenile biography)

     Virginia Oliver is a truly memorable person. Young readers can meet her in Alexandra D. Heinrichs' The Lobster Lady. 

     In coastal Maine harvesting lobsters for a living is a multi generational tradition for many families. It isn't easy, safe, or predictable. But those who accept the challenges and solitude on the sea wouldn't want any other vocation. 

    That's how it was for Virginia. She was born in 1920 at her grandparents' house in Rockland. As a young child she became able to participate, hauling lobsters with her older brother. Can you believe she could solo pilot a boat on the Atlantic Ocean when she was only eight? And that was back when lobster harvesting was for the most part males only. 

     She married at seventeen and raised four children. She worked other jobs. But when the call of the sea became too strong to ignore she joined her husband on his lobster 🦞 boat. At 102 she was lobstering with her son with no intention of retiring. 

     It's a lively, intriguing narrative in its own right. But I see a very strong science connection. Climate change and related environmental damage and overfishing are making 🦞 harvesting an increasingly precarious profession. For kids in coastal states who want to learn more it can make what for too many of us is an an abstraction--nothing to do with me--a clear and tangible reality that they can help fight.

     Virginia is a real inspiration to me. I'll try my best to still be helping my beloved undergraduates survive and thrive and know that their lives have meaning when I'm 102.

On a purrrsonal note,  I owe my readers an apology for not posting for three days. I wasn't being lazy. I had a problem with my smartphone that was beyond my expertise level so I had to wait to see my best friend, Lisa Morin, for tech help. It took her about ten minutes. 

I hope you had a good weekend. I did despite my lack of electronic access. Eugene was up at camp where he did some 🧊 fishing 🎣. I was very happy to stay home with precious Tobago. Although I love to go to camp in warm weather, in winter weather I become much too fond of indoor plumbing. 

A great big shout out goes out to my best friend Lisa Morin who has bailed me out of plenty of tech crises and has been a really good friend for 16 years. 

Jules Hathaway 

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By

Cool gear

These are the sneakers I scored for an incredibly low price at Orono Thrift Shop. Aren't they gorgeous? I plan to premiere them on campus when the snow ❄️ stops--hopefully before graduation. I'm really longing for spring. 

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Want To Go Private? (YA fiction)

     As she is about to begin her freshman year Abby, protagonist of Sarah Darer Littman's Want To Go Private?, is scared. Her long time bestie, Faith, is excited. "I mean, come on, Abby. We're starting high school tomorrow. It'll be so much better than middle school." But Abby isn't buying that.

     "I'm scared that things are going to change but I'm just as scared that they're going to be the same. I'm just one big lump of not being able to sleep at night, sick to my stomach, wish the summer would last forever, scared."

     High school is the portal to a world of adventure, exciting experiences, and new friendships for Faith. There's a new chum, Grace, a fun new club to belong to, and even a boy with the potential to maybe be more than a friend. She really wants Abby to join her...

     ...but Abby, yearning for things to go back to the way they were, feels abandoned and betrayed. And home is not exactly a refuge. Her father is hardly ever home. When he's present he nags her about grades and future plans. Her mother is present and on her case. Her little sister is always stepping on her last nerve. 

     When she meets Luke online he feels like the soul mate, the person who finally understands her, who takes her side against everyone else, who makes her feel beautiful and wanted. Sure he has a jealous streak. Sure he gets her to do things she's not comfortable about. Sure her grades are plunging...

     ...but he loves her, doesn't he?

     Want To Go Private is truly a relevant cautionary tale for these turbulent times.

On a purrrsonal note, Abby and I went to Harvest Moon Deli for lunch. Then I showed her around the Orono Public Library which she was very impressed by. She also met and now adores Tobago. We first got to know each other at Governors where she works and Eugene and I are regulars. When we noticed we had a lot in common we decided to get together. We both had a great time. 

People need good friends along the whole life span. Some feel that making friends as adults is impossible. True it's easier in the preK to college years of easy proximity and education commonality. What it means for adults is a need for more intentionality and being open to meeting kindred souls in a variety of contexts and settings. Maybe not so easy, but it's well the effort. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Ban This Book (juvenile fiction)

     "I swallowed hard. 'Are you crazy, Mrs. Jones? Me, get up in front of a bunch of adults and tell them why that book is my favorite book?...I can't do that!"

     That's what I wanted to say.

     Instead what I said was, 'Okay. '"

     Self censorship is Amy Annie's default mode at school and at the too small home she shares with her parents and two extremely aggravating little sisters. Alexis, who she has to share a room with, is ballet obsessed. Angelina believes she is a horse. Their working parents, not wanting to deal with sibling drama, expect her to give in whenever there's a fight. She lies about going to after school clubs so she can have alone time in the school library, the only place where she can get away from her stressful siblings...

     ...Which is why her favorite book is From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler. The protagonists run away together and spend nights in a museum...

     ...So imagine how she feels when it's one of the books pulled off the shelves arbitrarily (and in total disregard of official rules) because a group of parents thought they were inappropriate and the school board went along. She and her friends create the Banned Books Locker Library, covertly giving her schoolmates access to the banned volumes...

     ...when the school principal shuts it down Amy Annie and her friends have to take even more drastic action. 

     Although Alan Gratz's Ban This Book is fiction all the books listed were banned in real life. And the crisis is much more dire than when it dropped during the first Trump regime. It's necessary for adults and children to understand all that is at stake and fight for people's right to access the books they need.

     I can't overstate the importance of fighting for people's right to read diverse and inclusive books and books on controversial topics and libraries' right to carry them. I do my little bit in my blog by reviewing as many as I can get my hands on. 

On a purrrsonal note, I had quite a fun Wednesday. I found treasures at Orono Thrift Shop: really awesome kids gold and silver practically new sneakers 👟, 2 books for my emergency stash so I can have books to review when I run out of Inter library loans, a really gorgeous binder for when I print out my second manuscript, 2 holiday hand soaps (winter berry and orange spice), and dozens of cute erasers. All for only $6!!! I picked up some books at the library and arranged for them to have the launch party when Amber's second book drops in June. I was in the weekly vigil. We held signs and waved, getting honks from a lot of passing cars. It was snowing, but gently drifting flakes, not the gale driven blasts we had Monday. One thing I was really proud of: the thrift shop's donations bins were full. Before the stroke I'd lugged the stuff to the second floor. Yesterday for the first time since the stroke I was able to. Go, me!!!

A great big shout out goes out to my wonderful younger daughter, Katie, who celebrated her birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 yesterday with her boyfriend, Jacob, and their beautiful creamsicle colored cat, Archie. Such a sweet family. I am truly blessed to have Katie for a daughter. I hope her year ahead will be one of friendship and travel and wonderful surprises. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Bonus picture

I couldn't help taking a picture of this undergraduate making and selling pancakes for his group's service project. Volunteering is a fundamental part of the Black Bear Nation mission. 

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Winter carnival

And the shirts were totally the cat's pajamas. Note the roaring 20s theme. No doubt James, Tristin, and the gang went all out to make winter carnival truly fun and memorable. 

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Winter carnival

The bumper cars were also pretty popular. 

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Dread Detention (juvenile chiller)

"There aren't many many worse things than being in school, but being in school on a Saturday is one of them."

     Angelo, narrator of Jennifer Killick's Dread Detention, has no clue how horrific this Saturday detention is going to get. Breakfast Club meets Goosebumps in this truly Stine worthy chiller for younger readers.

     The four rule breakers who have been commanded to attend a Saturday Back on Track session (a consequence, not a punishment) are not exactly compatible companions. Angelo is disengaged, attending classes only often enough to keep the school from calling home. Even with his parents working all the time, needing him to care for his brother, the family is destitute. With college not an option, why bother? Naira, on the other hand, is a perfectionist over achiever willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals. Impulsive Gus, who seems immune to larger society's rules, is "unpredictable as a dog in a field of squirrels. Like walking chaos." Hallie is an angry social justice activist "There are unauthorized pins on her sweatshirt declaring her pride in being vegetarian, an LGBTQ+ ally, and a welcomer of refugees."

     Things quickly go downhill. Just as the supervising teacher has zipped their phones into his fanny pack they hear a scream. Looking for it's source, they discover that one of the five school pigs is missing. It's not long before Mr. C. is also missing. The groundskeeper's wife is doing bizarre things to a chicken while humming The Itsy Bitsy Spider. 

     And when they see Mr. C. He's being dragged underground by an malevolent unseen being. 

     So now our protagonists are locked on the campus with malevolent beings seen and unseen seemingly hunting them, no access to a phone to call for help, and nobody likely to miss them for hours. It will take real cooperation for them to get out alive...

     ...But given their personalities, not so likely to happen.  

     R. L. Stine fans of all ages will relish Dread Detention. 

On a purrrsonal note, last night was Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund's monthly cook & clean at the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter. Taylor is always the head chef and planner. He has the ability to create beautiful wholesome meals out of inexpensive ingredients. He plans for these meals with the same care he would plan a family reunion. These meals not only fill bellies, but affirm worth and dignity. I was unhoused for a short time in my much younger years. The only thing the shelter served up was a bologna sandwich on white bread and a cup of coffee. Yes, even for breakfast. Anyway last night we served up a pasta and veggies Alfredo 😋 entree and apple crisp from scratch. People's faces really lit up when they saw the dessert. Today we're in the calm before the storm. We've been warned that we are about to be slammed by an epic blizzard. UMaine is shutting down at 11:00. I'm staying home in my pajamas with precious Tobago. 

A great big shout out goes out to Taylor (whom I wish I could get elected president) and my BBMAF family (who would make a Great Supreme Court).

Jules Hathaway 

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Winter carnival

The horses were very gentle. They seemed to enjoy the attention. 

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Winter carnival

The horse drawn wagon was the big hit of winter carnival. It was so much fun! 

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The Nantucket Inn (adult fiction)

     Pamela Kelley's The Nantucket Inn is the third and last of the books I won in the summer reading challenge. Like the others it's one I never would have picked on my own but really enjoyed. Those sneaky librarians--always trying to expand our reading genres. Don't tell them this--but it worked. I'm still much more interested in YA fiction. But I won't be as quick to skip over adult offerings. 

     Lisa, Kelley's protagonist, is experiencing a life crisis of the worst kind. 

     "They'd been married for just over thirty-three years when Brian learned he had stage four colon cancer. Six months later, he was gone. That was almost a year and a half ago and when she'd finally been able to push aside her grief long enough to look at the bills, she'd been shocked at the state of their account."

     It turns out that Brian's gambling addiction was much worse than anyone knew. Before his death he stopped paying insurance premiums and drained the retirement savings account. There's very little in the savings account. Lisa lacks the job experience and skills to land anything that would pay enough to stay in Nantucket. She's reluctantly deciding to move off island...

     ...until a friend suggests that she turn her beautiful seaside home into a B & B. Her carpenter son, Chase, is willing to do the necessary renovations...

     ...only Lisa doesn't know the first thing about creating and running a B & B--not even if her neighborhood is zoned to allow one...

     ...Meanwhile her three daughters are experiencing crises of their own. Kate, a Boston based writer and the only one to leave the island, returns home after getting fired and catching her fiance in their bed with another woman the same day. Kristen, Kate's twin, kicks out her lover when she realizes he is not going to divorce his wife. And Abby, the youngest, leaves her workaholic husband, only to discover that she's pregnant with the baby they had tried so hard to conceive. 

     Although The Nantucket Inn is a good read as a stand alone, this slightly older book is the first in a series. The newer books will be real treats for fans of the Hodges family who want to know what happens next.

On a purrrsonal note, we've had yet another snow ❄️ storm. Eugene was called out to plow about midnight. He's still out there. It could have been worse. If it had hit earlier it could have really messed up the UMaine Winter Carnival, one of the BIG events of the semester. I'm sure I'm not the only one who breathed a sigh of relief at the optimal weather. My favorite part was riding around in a wagon drawn by two fine horses. There were also bumper cars, bonfires, and so much more. The free shirts were the 🐈's pajamas. I was paparazzi for that and a healthy snacks 😋 indoor event. Catherine gave me a ride home. We finally dropped off the huge card for the bus drivers. The guy we handed it to loved and said the drivers will too. Just goes to show how special Operation Valentine is. 

A great big shout out goes out to winter carnival participants, Eugene and the other blizzard battlers, and the Bangor area's awesome bus 🚌 drivers. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Archie

This handsome feline fellow is Katie and Jacob's rescue ❤️ 🐈. He's every bit as sweet natured and loveable as he is handsome. Also very smart. He has very thick soft fur. And he's the star of a modern day love ❤️ story. When he was in a shelter down south he got shipped to Maine to ease the overcrowding. There he got adopted by my younger daughter and her boyfriend. He's been living his best life ever since. There are a lot of loveable companion animals like precious Archie and my sweet Tobago in shelters all across this nation. Could one of them be your purrrfect new best friend?

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A Danger To The Minds Of Young Girls (adult nonfiction)

     "Our youth are in danger...Vile books and papers are branding-irons heated in the fires of hell, and used by Satan to sear the highest life of the soul. " Anthony Comstock. 

    It is very fitting that Adam Morgan's A Danger To The Minds Of Young Girls: Margaret C. Anderson, Book Bans, And The Fight To Modernize Literature was published in 2025. Although about a century separate the events Morgan wrote about and today it seems sadly that in some ways not all that much has changed. 

     "Margaret Caroline Anderson wasn't proud of her origin story. 'I came from nowhere, out of nothing, into nothing,' she liked to think, as if she had sprouted--full-grown and motherless--from the forehead of Zeus like Athena. In reality, Margaret was born on November 24, 1886, in a city she would resent for the rest of her life." 

     Anderson was a rebel from the start. She was constantly locking horns with her proper bourgeois middle class housewife mother who was trying to raise her three daughters to follow in her footsteps. She found an escape in reading. As soon as she could she escaped to Chicago where she pursued a colorful and unconventional lifestyle...

     ...and started a magazine, the Little Review, which would bring her into escalating conflict with the patriarchy and its tools...

     ...in the form of the New York Society for Suppression of Vice, founded by Anthony Comstock who passed on the torch [literally--the bros were into book burning] to Anderson's nemesis, John Saxton Sumner...

     ...who would put her on trial in 1921--portraying her as a danger to the minds of young girls--for her serial publication of James Joyce's Ulysses. 

     Morgan brings the time, the players, and the events and issues vividly to life. A Danger To The Minds Of Young Girls is an excellent read for feminist scholars and for those like myself who see chilling echoes of this not too distant past in today's wave of censorship purportedly to protect the minds and psyches of young white children. 

On a purrrsonal note, today in an online newsletter I was reading about people being arrested and being put in solitary confinement for being in possession of writings considered dangerous by those in power. Despite our nation's enshrinement of free speech, its history is riddled with periods of censorship, and not just in wartime. While the 1920s are popularly seen as the era of flappers, bootleg gin, speakeasies, and gangsters, the bigger picture was one of widespread fundamentalism, white supremecy (the KKK went mainstream), and massive censorship. It was followed by the McCarthy Era when people were encouraged to spy on each other and possessing the wrong reading matter ruined careers and lives. In this century following 9/11 we had the government trying to get librarians to turn over patron reading lists. Given the current political climate I'm pretty sure that our rights to write and read what we want and need are in increasing jeopardy. We can't just take them for granted. 

A great big shout out goes out to our courageous librarians who refused to turn over those reading lists. In large and small ways they defend our rights to read controversial books even as they are targeted by  book censors, banners, and burners. We owe them our loyalty, support, and heart felt gratitude. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Snow ❄️ Girl

Well I can put her out on the next porch to brighten things up until the next storm. 

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Joy journal

Well here's another couple of pages. I hope you enjoy seeing what made me happy. 

It's supposed to be another relatively warm day. So I'm heading to campus in a couple of hours. 

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And Don't Look Back (YA chiller)

     "Eyes gleam in dark, and Harlow throws herself backward before she puts the face and the voice together, before she understands it's her mom shaking her awake...

     There isn't time for her to think. There never is. It doesn't matter: they've done this so many times now that Harlow is an expert at packing without thinking too much."

     As far back as Harlow (17) can remember it's always been her and her mother against the world. Or at least the mysterious being they flee every few months. Although she has begun to suspect that her mom is paranoid, whenever Cora says it's time to go she speed packs her few possessions and gets in the car, ready to head off into the night to the next town where she'll have to assume a new name and identity and not let anyone get too close. 

     But this night is different. A truck smashes into their car. Her dying mother tells her about a safety deposit box in a nearby bank. 

     "'Just go,' her mother rasps. 'It has. Everything you need. You have to go now. Listen to me. Keep running. Don't ever stop. And don't look back. Just go."

      When Harlow opens the safe deposit box she finds a huge wad of cash, a bundle of fake IDs, a will, life insurance papers, a deed to a house in the possession of a Cora Kennedy, a newspaper clipping about the disappearance of an Eve Kennedy whose three daughters remain hopeful that she'll be found, and old photographs of three teenage girls, one of whom Harlow recognizes as her mother. 

      "Now there is a missing mother, and two sisters whose existence her mother never even hinted at, and a place that it seems her mom set off from first, so many years ago. It's the most she's ever had to go on."

      Hoping that she'll be able to finally get answers to the questions that have haunted her for most of her life, Harlow drives to Crescent Ridge, moves into the little house in the woods, and starts asking questions...

      ...which is risky business. Mom was not paranoid. An evil person is honing in on her location...

     ...and this time she may not be able to escape. 

     Hard core chiller affecianados will find And Don't Look Back to be a real treat.

On a purrrsonal note, here in Central Maine the high temperatures are predicted to be in the high 30s. Compared to what they've been recently it feels like a heat wave. Since I'm working at home one more day unless weather goes rapidly downhill I'll supplement my stationery biking with a mid day outside walk. I've been thinking of something safe to eat on nights when I serve Eugene stuff like pork that is a little less plain than sugarless yogurt. My kids are all vegetarians. I was one for ten years until I was having trouble donating blood because of low iron but iron pills upset my stomach. Anyway I mentioned to Amber that now that I'm not donating (I quit after giving 10 gallons) bean based veggie meats might be an option. She sent me info. This looks very promising. I'll see what local stores have when I go on my self designed nutrition field trip. 

I'm also thinking of the research I did awhile ago on entomorphagy which is insect eating which is practiced in much of the world. Insects have more vitamins and protein than beef or pork and are much more environment friendly. And in my opinion insects taste just fine. 

A great big shout out goes out to Amber who provides me with lots of good information. 

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Goodwill finds

These are the Goodwill finds from the road trip Eugene and I went on. Aren't they awesome? Squishmallow Squad shirts are really hard to find. And the dress is a purrrfect fit.

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Valentines Day flowers

These are the flowers Eugene gave me. Aren't they beautiful? As you can see they add a much-needed touch of spring to the winter landscape. 

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Street Cats & Where To Find Them (adult nonfiction)

     Fellow feline fanciers get ready. Have I got a book for you: Jeff Bogle's Street Cats & Where To Find Them: The Most Feline-Friendly Cities and Attractions Around the World. Here's the information you need to plan a truly memorable vaca. Or, if you're like me, daydream about someday being able to afford such a vacation. 

     Now mind you, Bogle did not start out as a friend of felines. He grew up without a ginger or a tuxedo in his home. His parents were always spreading anti cat propaganda. (He would eventually manage to convert his mother to the joys of cat parenting.) When at the age of twenty-four he was told he would have to temporarily take in a feline he was sure it would ruin his life...

     ...Needless to say it didn't...

     ..."Four hours later, Kitt was on my lap kneading biscuits into my doughy body. Roughly four hours and two seconds later, I was an unabashed cat dad who wondered, What in the hell was wrong with my parents? Biscuits in your neck, sleeping on your chest, and purring into your shoulder--what's not to love, Dad?"

     Now Bogle is a travel writer, earning his living and some pretty awesome perks doing what most of us pay to do or want to be able to afford to pay to do. His mobility and his unabashed fondness for felines combine to make Street Cats & Where To Find Them something special. He takes readers to almost two dozen locations around the world--from Chile to Iceland, from Japan to Puerto Rico--introducing us to the defining features of the place, its foods, and the felines who frequent it, and sharing GORGEOUS PICTURES of those felines. For each location he gives the basics--like where to stay, where to eat, how to get around. He also has a section on cat cafés, museums, festivals...

     But he realizes that there are a lot of street cats not as fortunate as those that live out their best lives in cafés and other shops or have their needs met by groups of dedicated volunteers. He knows that for all too many street cats existence is a frightening, exhausting struggle for survival. He fills readers in on the many organizations through which we can help these forgotten felines. 

     I am personally grateful to Bogle for affirming a concept I've intuited since the precious 16 years when Joey cat--short for Joseph Jacob Hathaway--was my beloved cat companion. The soul cat. Don't get me wrong. I've loved all my cats. And you know I adore Tobago. But Bogle affirms what I believe--that there can be the one soul cat. And if she or he becomes part of your life you are blessed beyond measure. At Veazie Vet the doctors frequently remarked that we were one of the most tightly bonded cat-human pairs they'd ever seen. 

     Anyway, if you're a fellow feline fancier I recommend that you get Street Cats & Where To Find Them. But don't stash it on a shelf and forget it. Give it prime space on your coffee table or other central location. You'll be able to flip through those gorgeous photos whenever you want. And you'll impress your cat loving friends and family members with your most excellent taste.

Well I had a simply dreamy Valentines Day. Eugene had given me flowers 💐 the night before. I woke up to find a beautiful sentimental card at my place at the table. He took me to Governors for breakfast and dinner. We went for a road trip, stopping at 2 Goodwills. He paid for the stuff I couldn't resist including a Squishmallow and a Squishmallow Squad shirt. Tobago gave me sweet snuggles and was delighted with her special treat: a tuna Fancy Feast entrée. Our house was lit with love. 

A great big shout out goes out to Eugene and precious Tobago. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

     

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Scholastic Book Fair

It was going on all last week at UMaine. I think that's great. It's a really top notch brand I love to see associated with UMaine. Well I was so darn busy with the Blood drive and career fair and Operation Valentine and my paparazzi duties I didn't get a chance to check it out til Thursday afternoon. I wasn't planning on buying anything. But when I saw the Squishmallow sticker book (if you've read this blog for awhile you know I'm obsessed with Squishmallows) I just had to have it. Then I found a couple of other items I liked. I decided to get myself a Valentines 💝 gift. I love the person I am. It's a good thing because of all my friends I'm the only one I'm spending a lifetime with. I hope you can love ❤️ or at like the person you are. Do something nice for yourself today. 

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The Fall of Iris Henley (YA chiller)

       "DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU 

It is so easy to ruin someone's life. To take away everything that matters to them. Their friends. Their family. Their reputation. Even their future. 

     All it takes is fourteen days. A few strokes of the keyboard. A storm of whispers. And just like that, it all crumbles.

     Trust me. I know. 

     Because it happened to me. And if you're not careful, it could happen to you too."

     The first page of Jennifer Graham's The Fall of Iris Henley (due to drop February '26) has to be one of the best crafted chiller introductions ever. It's simple, direct, personal, and highly effective. I can't imagine reading those paragraphs and putting the book down. And the rest of the book lives up nicely to its promise.

"It's one of those nights I used to love. One of those nights with a packed stadium, where the football arcs like a rocket against the sky and the lights feel like a halo around all of us. Where everyone glows a little, even the kids, even the teachers and parents, all their faces painted green and gold. 

     Everyone glows a little. But we glow brightest of all."

     The we Iris is alluding to is her cheer squad. This sport is a major part of her life and identity. She works diligently on perfecting her skills at summer cheer camp as well as during the school year. She's tight with her teammates, especially her besties, Hayden and Sophie. She loves performing at the games.

     Iris hasn't had things easy. The previous spring her football player boyfriend, Rocky, was found dead in a run down cabin. He and a girl, Lynette, who he was cheating with died by gun shot wounds. Rocky was found holding the gun. Their deaths were considered a murder-suicide.

     Now it's October. The football season is underway. Homecoming is on the horizon and life is just starting to feel normal when Iris, attending a party with her friends, sees a post claiming that she shot Rocky and Lynette as revenge for infidelity. 

     Hayden and Sophie tell Iris not to take it to seriously. They think it's just a troll. She's just supposed to pretend nothing is going on and ignore the comments. 

     But there's an awful lot of them, many quite nasty. And soon there are in person and phone aggressions. School becomes hostile territory. Her locker is vandalized. And the police who originally called the deaths a murder/suicide are following Iris around, hinting that they might reopen the investigation. 

     Iris wonders when/if she'll get her life back.

     As a roller coaster ride of a chiller with twists galore and a very relatable narrator, The Fall of Iris Henley is a most excellent read for mystery loving teens and adults. But, dealing with a form of bullying all too many teens are victimized by and all too many adults ignore, it's so much more. I consider it a most worthwhile acquisition for public, high school, and college libraries. 

On a purrrsonal note, I'm looking forward to a three day weekend because I'm tired. I'm looking forward to spending most of it working on my sequel manuscript. I'm also looking forward to Valentines Day. I have a gift card to Eugene's favorite store, a homemade Valentines card, and lots of chocolates for Eugene. I'm going to lay them out after he goes to bed tonight so he'll see them first thing in the morning. Remember Valentines Day isn't just about romance. It can be about celebrating 🍾 family, friends, and that best little cat, dog, rabbit, iguana or other companion animal in the world. I'm gonna surprise precious Tobago with a Fancy Feast entree. And you don't need to splurge on expensive stuff like jewelry. My favorite Valentines Day card from Eugene in nearly 37 years of marriage was one he made when we were starting out on a very tight budget.

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

Jules Hathaway 

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Free stuff

This is all the excellent free merch the company reps gave me at the career fair yesterday. So much I had to sort it on the living room floor. Everyone I talked to (and I really enjoyed the conversations) wanted to give me stuff. Some of them had a over two hour each way drive in crappy Maine winter weather to represent at Maine's flagship University. They considered it well worth the slog. They were having a great time. They were highly impressed with the quality and potential of UMaine students as potential employees. The job hunting students were excited and enthusiastic, really rocking the business cas looks, some quite individual. The career center deserves a lot of credit for pulling together such a top notch professional event. 

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The valentine

This is the Valentines card the donors and volunteers created for the Red Cross nurses. Isn't it special? Both creators and recipients were really happy. Operation Valentine is the cat's pajamas!!!

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Family Reunion (adult fiction)

     Families can be complicated--especially when you're going beyond the nuclear to take in grands, in-laws, and aunts and uncles. I never had that experience growing up. Except for very rarely seeing my Uncle Ken and his clan the fam was strictly 2 adults, 2 kids. I was in high school before I learned what in-laws were. When I married Eugene the biggest adjustment was joining a clan with a large and growing family tree. I wasn't sure how or even if I fit in.

     The complexities and conflicts of extended family lie at the heart of Nancy Thayer's Family Reunion. It's centered on a grandmother, Eleanor, and a granddaughter, Ari, who are spend an unforgettable summer together.

     When Eleanor brings her family together to celebrate her seventeenth birthday she has decidedly mixed feelings. 

"They were all coming. Her son, her daughter and son-in-law, her granddaughter. For a moment, she was breathless. Also slightly unsettled. When the family was here for Christmas, Alicia constantly batted away at Eleanor like a cat with a toy mouse, trying to make Eleanor agree to sell the house. 

     This house."

     The house is the magnificent but needing a lot of repairs summer home that has been the family's forever. Eleanor and her mother had been cradle babies there. Eleanor had become a year round resident after her husband died. She loves the house with it's history, familiarity, and prime ocean views.

     Her daughter, Alicia, is intent on her mother moving to a nice assisted living community even though Eleanor is quite healthy and capable. She thinks her current situation is unsafe. She also very much covets her share of the money from the sale.

     Ari has just graduated from college. She has also broken off her engagement just months before her intended marriage. Her very materialistic mother, Alicia of course, is furious at her for turning down such a prime catch. 

     "As worried as she was, Ari was also angry. Did her mother expect her to marry a man she didn't love? And her mother was ashamed of her...

     Too bad Peter (ex fiance) couldn't marry Ari's mom. They'd make a perfect match."

    Ari decides to spend the summer between college and graduate school with Eleanor and her cat, Shadow, to get a break and a job. She becomes a counselor at a day camp for kids whose parents have to work and would otherwise have to leave them home alone. She and Eleanor really enjoy living together...

     ...but these unexpected challenges keep popping up. Ari finds out that she should have been more careful with birth control just as she's entering a really good relationship. Evidence of her father's infidelity turns up...

     ...and there's still the ongoing battle about the house and Eleanor's future. 

     Fans of family centered adult realistic fiction will find a real treasure in Family Reunion. 

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday and today I ran the canteen for the UMaine Red Cross Blood Drive. It was one of our best. I think between the two days we got 125 units. Noone fainted. People really enjoyed their time in the canteen. And donors and volunteers created a huge Valentines Card for the Red Cross  nurses. Today I also spent 2 hours making the rounds of the big career fair. The career center always wants me to. I enjoyed talking to the company reps. And I collected two huge bags of free merch. Someone wants to give me really cool stuff I'm not gonna say no unless I have ethical issues with their company. But with those heavy bags and my heavy backpack 🎒 I was struggling to cross campus. Suddenly a boy was offering to help me. He took my bags and backpack 🎒 and walked me all the way to the Blood drive. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in the Blood drive and the career fair and my knight in shiny denim, the very kind boy who escorted me across campus. 

Jules Hathaway 

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