Quiet Power

Quiet Power

YA nonfiction
"There's a psychological term for people like me. We're called
introverts--and there's no single way to define us. We enjoy the
company of others but also like time alone. We can have great social
skills, and also be private and keep to ourselves. We are observant.
We might listen more than we talk. Being an introvert is about having
a deep inner life and considering that life to be important."
Way back in 2013 I reviewed Susan Cain's Quiet. The author made
a very strong case for the strength and power of introverts in a world
all too enamoured of the glib and loudly charismatic. In her hot-off-
the-press Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths Of Introverts Cain takes
her affirming and empowering message to a younger audience.
It's estimated that one third to one half of middle and high
school students are introverts. That's a lot of observant youngsters
with deep inner lives who tend to be, unfortunately, in institutions
more geared to extroverts. The loud and rowdy tend to be more popular
among their peers. Students who don't have their hands up the second
a question is popped are often pressured to participate more in class.
So how can introverted youngsters survive the wonder years? The
book is a great place to start. Cain breaks student life into
everyday situations such as classroom, athletic fields, the cafeteria,
and home. Within each millieu she provides a lot of insight and
strategies. She uses plenty of examples from her own life and those
of current students. There are even chapters at the end for parents
and teachers.
Quiet Power is a great book for introverts, extroverts, and
ambiverts (folks who have traits of both). It's a must acquire for
school and public libraries and another addition to teacher and
guidance counselor reading lists.
On a personal note, I was so happy to discover the concept of
ambivert. Rather than a midpoint on an imaginary line, it is a
combining in much the same way gender ambidextrous (which I am)
combines traits associated with traditional masculinity and
femininity. People always tell me I'm a straight out extrovert. Only
I value my creative inner life; I observe and listen well and am seen
as someone who really gets others and their creations; I avoid large
events unless they're for good causes; I'd much rather have a small
number of close friends to any kind of popularity; and small talk and
events like Tupperware parties have me fleeing as fast as my feet can
carry me.
A great big shout out goes out to my fellow ambivert, Shane Cushing.
Recently he has run two highly successful events recently: a suicide
prevention/awareness walk and an interfaith day of service.
Two four six eight
Who do we appreciate?
Shane, Shane,
YEAH SHANE!!!
jules hathaway


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Five Lives of our Cat Zook

Five Lives of our Cat Zook

Juvenile fiction
"The vet had patted me on the shoulder and said he understood.
But, as I said, that vet isn't God. He's just a plain old human, who
eats and sleeps and scratches an itch, like everyone else. A human
who really doesn't like being yelled at, and who may not do his very,
very best work when he sees Zook. Because when he sees Zook, he will
think about Zook's owner with the big mouth and feel super annoyed."
Our family cats played a huge role in my children's early
years. They expeienced a lot of love from their faithful companions.
They built precious memories with them. Their first experiences of
loss of loved ones revolved around the deaths of Murray (a ginger and
white tiger) and Sapphire (a dainty Siamese). Many families with
animal companions experience this bittersweetness. Joanne Rocklin's
Five Lives of Our Cat Zook explores this dynamic sensitively.
Zook (short for Zucchini) is a very important member of Oona and
Fred's family. The kids had found him all starving for food and
attention and lured him into their home with a trail of fried
zucchini. Oona had thrown out the tag with Zook's address. Anyone
who would starve a cat and shoot it with a bb gun doesn't deserve a
feline.
Sadly Zook's health has started to decline. His kidneys are
failing. Oona, who is all of ten, reassures Fred, who is only five,
that Zook will get well because cats have nine lives.
But time is not on their side.
The loss of a companion animal is one of the hardest experiences
of many people's childhoods. This poignant and sensitive book is a
school and public library must acquire. Guidance counselors, put it
on your summer reading lists.
On a personal note, Orono Public Library had a spooktacular children's
Halloween party. Crafts, stories, and fortune telling captivated our
younger patrons. The community room with treasured seasonal tv shows
and cider and cookies gave kids a nice place to take breaks. I, of
course, costumed as an organic tomato, was paparazzi.
The evening was extra special for one girl. Living out in the
boonies, she wouldn't get to trick or treat. The party made her
Halloween special.
A great big shout out goes out to the librarians and volunteers who
made the party a night to remember.
jules hathaway


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Most Wanted

Most Wanted

Adult mystery
"Christine finished her task and glanced at the TV, then did a
double-take at the screen. It showed a young blond man in a rumpled
jacket, his hands handcuffed behind his back as he was escorted to a
police cruiser. A cop put a hand on the man's head to press him into
the backseat, then the man glanced up with round blue eyes.
Christine felt her heart stop.
She recognized those eyes.
She would know that face anywhere.
The serial killer was their donor, Donor 3319."
I think few would disagree that scientific discoveries are
arriving at the speed of greased lightning as the inconceivable
becomes the possible and the possible becomes the commonplace. But is
what we can do always what we should do or what we'd want to do if we
knew its unintended consequences? In her riveting Most Wanted, Lisa
Scottoline explores this question within the context of a riveting
mystery.
Christine is finally contentedly pregnant. She and hubby Marcus
have suffered the heartbreak of being unable to conceive a child. An
anonymous sperm donor became the solution to their problem; a donor
with genetic traits they highly value. Teacher Christine has decided
to become a stay at home mom. She is helping clean up from a shower
thrown by her colleagues...
...when a news story on the television catches her eye and
shatters her serenity. Neither Christine's doctor nor the sperm bank
will give her the information to tell her if the serial killer and her
donor are one and the same. Marcus hires a lawyer to sue to get the
information. He's afraid that the child of a psychopath might be
wired dangerously similarly. He may even be contemplating abortion.
Frightened by the way her husband is acting, Christine takes
matters into her own hands. Against Marcus' wishes she's doing things
she never dreamed she would: interviewing a serial killer in a
maximum security prison, visiting crime scenes... If her baby's
genetic father is innocent she wants to find out.
The stakes are quite high. Her marriage is on shaky ground...
...not to mention her life.
Fans of Lisa Scottoline's work, suspense story affecianados, and
ethics ponderers...put this fine novel on your most wanted list.
You'll be glad you did.
On a personal note, the Friday before Halloween we had ourselves a
fine coffee house up to Wilson Center. We drew a full house for an
evening of music, poetry, story telling, and comedy. I read four of
my poems. The whole thing was the cat's pajamas.
A great big shout goes out to the audience, my fellow performers, and
our awesome master of ceremonies, Dylan.
jules hathaway



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Lucky Strikes

Lucky Strikes

Juvenile fiction
"Well, Earl's face started to crumple, and then the rest of him
crumpled, too. Janey set by the stove, wailing and clawing at her
head. I tried to think of all the things a grown-up'd say. She's
with God now...She's gone to a better place...We'll meet her on the
other side. They just sounded sour on my tongue. I couldn't even say
'She's at peace,' 'cause when I thought back on how she'd looked--in
that very, very last moment--there waren't a lick of peace in her."
The plucky kids left alone in the world with only their wits to
survive and stay out of the evil grasp of the foster care system is a
mainstay of juvenile literature. Louis Bayard's Lucky Strikes is one
of the best examples of this subgenre that I have encountered in my
reading life. Set in small town Depression America and narrated in
vernacular, it's very hard to put down.
The reader plunges right into the story. "Mama died hard, you
should know that.". The next morning Amelia must get her younger
siblings to help her bury their mom. She tells them they are going to
carry on as a family. She will run the family gas station. Janie
will learn how to cook, sew, and sew. Earl will get ready for college.
The little family faces two major challenges. Predictably the
first comes in the form of a social worker, Miss Wand, who suspects
that there isn't a responsible adult on the premises. Amelia has
cleaned up a hobo who literally fell off a truck and promised him room
and board in exchange for playing the role of her dad. (Her siblings'
father is in prison). Miss Wand holds out for documentation.
An even more dangerous challenge comes in the form of Harley
Blevins, a forerunner of today's 1%. The owner of a chain of Standard
Oil gas stations, he is determined to capture his rival's one
independent station for his petroempire. He'll stop at nothing to
acquire the object of his obsession.
Any child or adult who roots for the underdog and enjoys a
lively tale will find Lucky Strikes a good choice for an autumn read.
On a personal note, the day I woke up at 4:00 reflecting on mortality,
was also the day I had been looking forward to for weeks. I took the
bus to Portland where I met up with Katie and Jacob. We did shopping
including visiting two Goodwills. I got me some mighty fine things
including a musical Dreamsickles snow globe that plays "When You Wish
Upon A Star." We had lunch with Ann (Jacob's mom) whom I felt like I
already knew through all our letters. Then we chilled at the
apartment with my grand cat Archie, short for Archibald.
A great big shout out goes out to Katie, Jacob, Ann, and Archie.
You're simply the best!
jules hathaway


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Just Joking 6

Just Joking 6

Juvenile humor
In the middle of the most bizarre and scary election in my
entire life I needed a laugh. So when I saw Just Joking 6 in the
Orono Public Library juvenile section I snapped it up.
The Just Joking series is in a whole other category from run of
the mill juvenile joke books. It's put out by National Geographic
Kids. This is a real guarantee of quality content. The photos,
particularly the animal ones, are worth the price of the book.
Intriguing animal tidbit facts are woven into the material. You
learn, for instance, that red foxes are nocturnal hunters because of
excellent night vision and that certain turtles can go a year without
food or drink.
The jokes and tongue twisters are irrisistable. Do you know an
egg's favorite horror movie, computers' preferred snacks, or what cats
put on their iPods?
Check out the book and see.
If you have a child who would enjoy the volume...
...Christmas is coming up faster than we'd like to think.
On a personal note, the night after the celebration of Paul's life I
woke up with an epiphany and couldn't go back to sleep. I was
thinking how much more meaningful it felt than church memorial
services I've been to. I think it's in large part due to people
making eye contact rather than sitting in pews and staring at backs of
heads. For that reason plus the fact that most of my loved ones are
not practicing Christians I'm opting for them to set up a non church
event. They can have people mingle and nosh, a slide show with music
and pictures of my life, my kids reminiscing, a reading of a little of
my poetry, and people sharing memories. Too cool. I am going to plan
it out and put it in writing to make things easier for my loved ones
who I assume will be sad. Don't get me wrong. I want to live as long
as I'm in the game.
A great big shout out goes out to my loved ones whom I hope to have a
lot more time to spend with, but I never take for granted.
jules hathaway



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Booked

Booked

YA fiction
I made a great library discovery. Kwame Alexander's Booked is
perfect for the young men we mistakenly label reluctant readers.
Sports are woven into the plot. The format of free form verse not
only can be much more appealing than pages dense with solid print, but
allows for the no frills directness many boys think and speak in.

"The expression 'to nip something in the bud'
Is an example of what, Nicholas?

Uh to nip it in the butt
Is an example of
How to get slapped by a girl, you reply,
As confused
As a chameleon
In a bag
Of gummy worms,
Which sends
Almost everyone
In class
Into fits
Of contagious snickering.

Everone except
Ms. Hardwick."

Nicholas (also you--the story is narrated in second person)
lives in what he calls a prison of words. His father is a word
obsessed linguistics professor who has him reading through the whole
dictionary. He has come to hate words, resenting his dad's demands
for verbal perfection. He's also not at all fond of Mrs. Hardwick's
honors English class where he specializes in pretending to listen. He
likes spending time with his best friend, Coby. He lives for and is
very good at playing soccer.
One night at supper there is too much quiet around the table.
Nicholas knows something isn't right. Sure enough his father calls
him into the living room. His parents have a big announcement: they
are going their separate ways.

"For the rest of the week
your head aches
your stomach's a wreck
your parents are clueless
you fall asleep in class
you fail the math test
you're too scared to talk to April
and you're trapped
in a cage of misery
with freedom
nowhere in sight.

If not for soccer,
what'd be the point?"

Soccer, however, is not always the safe refuge Nicholas needs it
to be. And there are other complications in his life including twin
bullies who have it in for him.
This fast paced coming-of-age narrative is a must acquire for
public, middle school, and high school libraries. It will resonate
with many YA readers struggling to deal with the less than great hands
life is dealing them.
On a personal note, I attended the celebration of Paul Lucey's
life. It was amazing. First people had a chance to look at pictures
and special objects from Paul's life. There were sandwiches and
pastries and beverages. Then when the program started family and
friends were sitting around tables, a much better arrangement than in
pews. His daughter Gloria shared memories. His granddaughter read
one of the short stories he had written. Then people who wanted to
could share memories. I had written something. I was thrilled to see
how many people who had stories to share. It was a very fitting
celebration of a man who added so much to people's lives just by being
himself.
A great big shout out goes out to Paul's daughter, Gloria. She put a
lot of care and thought into the celebration of her father's life.
And she was so gracious and welcoming--even with people she had never
met in person. Like me. She is surely her father's daughter.
jules hathaway



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Hold Still

Hold Still

YA fiction
"Mom says Ingrid's name and I start to hum, not the melody to a
song, just one drawn-out note. I know it makes me seem crazy, I know
it won't make anything change, but it's better than crying, it's
better than screaming, it's better than listening to what they tell me."
Caitlin, protagonist of Nina LaCour's Hold Still, has a lot to
deal with. Her best friend has committed suicide. After a summer
screening out her concerned but seemingless parents, she must return
to school without her best friend. The photography teacher who has
been a mentor to Ingrid and Caitlin, from whom Caitlin had expected
understanding and support, is cold and distant.
One day, looking for a remote, Caitlin reaches under her bed.
She makes an unexpected find: Ingrid's personal journal. Was it
kicked there by mistake? Was it left there for her to find?
"For some reason, I feel afraid. It's like I'm split down the
middle and one half of me wants to open it more than I've ever wanted
to do anything. The other half of me is so scared I can't stop
shaking."
The book gives her a glimpse at the Ingrid her best friend hid
from the rest of the world. It portrays a girl who, despite
psychiatric help and meds, deserately sought a reason to live but
increasingly succumbed to despair. The final page is a letter to
Caitlin.
Sadly suicide is all too common for young people. A lot of high
school kids lose friends and family this way. Hold Still, with its
poignant portrayal of a girl struggling to cope with this needless
loss of her best friend, is a must have for public and middle and high
school libraries. Teachers and guidance counselors--put this fine
book on your summer reading list.
On a personal note, I lost a very good friend recently. Paul was in
my writing class. He always sat beside me. He was an humble,
thoughtful man--a nonegenarian who lived more fully that many people
years away from AARP membership eligibility. I really miss him. I
will always treasure the shell, coral, sea star, hardened volcano
lava, and sarong he brought me back from a trip to Hawaii.
A great big shout out goes out to Paul. He touched many peoples lives
for the better.
jules hathaway



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