Not For Sale

Not For Sale

Adult nonfiction
"More than 30 million slaves live in our world today. Girls and
boys, women and men of all ages are forced to toil in the rug-loom
sheds of Nepal, sell their bodies in the brothels of Rome, break rocks
in the quaries of Pakistan, fight wars in the jungles of Africa, and
sew clothes in the garment factories of California.
Go behind the facade in any major town or city in the world
today, and you're likely to find a thriving commerce in human beings.
You may even find slavery in your own backyard."
David Batstone, author of Not For Sale, found slavery in his own
backyard. He and his wife were regulars at an Indian restaurant in
San Francisco. Then a 17-year-old died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The same person owned the apartment complex where she died and a bunch
of businesses including the restaurant. He smuggled adults and
children from India, working them long hours, claiming their wages as
rent, and threatening to report them if they tried to escape.
Batstone, professor of business and social responsibility at the
University of San Francisco and cofounder and president of the Not For
Sale campaign, takes readers all over the world, sharing heartbreaking
stories. The world of child soldiers, for example, is horrifying.
Torn from their families and villages, they are forced to commit acts
of violence such as killing their parents that will make them pariahs
in their tribes. Rape, brutality, and starvation become their new
reality.
Batstone intersperses this content with stories of people who
take incredible risks to rescue slaves, often incurring the wrath of
international gangsters who fond human trafficking very profitable.
In Peru the government decided to "cleanse" Lima of street kids who
began to disappear or be found dead. Lucy Borja was directing an HIV/
AIDS prevention program. One night she invited two terrified boys to
sleep in its office and bring friends. Returning from a party, she
found kids sleeping wall to wall and smaller ones in cupboards. At a
stage in life where people who can afford to are often at least
contemplating retiring she changed her agency and life path to
rescuing children from powerful people in government as well as
traffickers.
Of course most of us can't make this our life's work. But
Batstone believes that the movement has room for all of us. His
explanation of the many ways in which we can get involved is, in my
mind, the most hopeful aspect of the book.
On a personal note, I am sitting near my lovely decorated tree wrapped
in peace, serenity, and joy. I wrapped up the shopping yesterday.
(Even snagged myself 6 shirts--including 2 cat ones--up to Goodwill
cheap.) I cleaned this morning. I am no Susie Homemaker. My heart
is full of joy.
A great big shout out goes out to you, my readers. May you have a
joyous Christmas!
jules hathaway



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January's Sparrow

January's Sparrow

Juvenile literature
Can you imagine this? As a young child you see a loved one
whipped mercilessly for running away. Then you're shaken awake in the
middle of the night by your mother. Your family has no choice but to
take the desperate risk of fleeing. Yup, we're back in the 19th
century plantation South.
That's the plight of Sadie, protagonist of Patricia Polacco's
January's Sparrow. Her parents had overheard plans to auction off her
brothers. She'd probably never see them again. Her mother wasn't
about to let that happen.
Now imagine you have to cross a huge part of the United States
on foot. On foot! You mostly have to travel at night through the
woods. People on horseback with dogs trained to be vicious are
tracking you and your loved ones, greedy for bounty money. Sometimes
you hear the dogs barking.
After walking from Kentucky to Michigan, Sadie and her family
find themselves in a town that is part of the Underground Railroad.
Both blacks and whites in Marshall are against slavery. The family
decides to stay at least a little while. Sadie's parents and one
brother get jobs. She and her other brothers are able to go to
school. They make the honor roll. Sadie gets a new baby sister.
But the family can never be truly safe south of Canada. In the
wee hours of a January morning their worst fears come true when armed
slave catchers break into their home.
Will they be taken back into bondage?
Well you'll have to read the book to see.
Sadie and her family, the Crosswhites, were real people. At a
time when a lot of folks are trying to sanitize and whitewash slavery
their story is a must read.
A lot of folks think slavery was only a bad chapter in America's
history. So not true. We'll look at the modern day plague in our
next review.
On a personal note, what was it I promised I'd reveal? Oh yeah, my
grade. A! I am grad school material for sure. I helped shut down
Wells for vaca. So now I'm out of school and work until next semester.
A great big shout out goes out to my classmates and work family who I
know I'll miss after Christmas.
Joey cat is loving our beautiful tree. Right now he's napping under it.
jules hathaway


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Diary Of A Waitress

Diary Of A Waitress

Juvenile historical fiction
"My new life is about to begin. I've been hired. I leave day
after tomorrow for Emporia for training to become a Harvey girl.
Feeling a little woozy--I didn't realize it would happen so fast.
More later. The streetcar to Leavenworth is here.
So excited I can hardly breathe."
Don't feel bad if you don't know what a Harvey girl is. I
didn't until I read Carolyn Meyer's Diary Of A Waitress. Meyer
herself lived on Harvey turf for years before discovering the story.
In the 1870's Fred Harvey, a British immigrant, was a railway
worker. Finding available food horrible, he decided he could do
better. His first depot restaurant was such a success it led to a
restaurant and hotel chain along the line from Kansas City to
California that would thrive for seventy years. A drunk brawl in New
Mexico in 1883 inspired Harvey to hire girls, providing a unique
living and working experience for over 100,000.
Protagonist Kitty has her heart set on college. She plans to
become a journalist. Needless to say, she's not a happy camper when,
after high school graduation as salutarian, she learns that her family
can't afford further education for her. Her older brother, a far from
stellar student with a penchant for partying, however, will be
returning for his junior year. He needs to make his way in the world,
maybe take over the family business. She will settle down with a nice
young man who will provide for her.
Kitty's father has put a good word in for her with a fellow
merchant who needs girls to work in his store. "Selling shoes!
Spending my life trying to please persnickity old women with smelly
feet." Before she has to submit to that grim future she sees an ad in
the newspaper.
"Young women 18 to 30 years of age, of good character, attractive and
intelligent, as waitresses in the Harvey Eating Houses on the Santa Fe
Railroad in the West.
Good wages with room and board furnished.
No experience necessary."
Her mother tried to veto her job choice. She's too young to
leave home. She isn't "that sort of girl." What sort of girl?
Waitresses aren't that far above saloon girls, "the lowest of the
low." She'll ruin her reputation and life (along of those of her
mother). Fortunately her father decides she'll have to learn better
the hard way.
Pack your valise and join Kitty at the depot. You're in for a
pretty exciting ride.
On a personal note, Tuesday was my poster presentation. For two hours
I stood in front of my posters answering a ton of questions. Then we
had the department Christmas party at my prof's house. Good food, a
scintilating crowd, a Yankee swap. It was a wonderful holiday
celebration.
Then Wednesday I was able to use the UMaine Bookstore gift card I got
at the Yankee swap (the most coveted item) to get an adorable puppy
wearing a UMaine sweater.
Today I learned my grade. But you'll have to read my next review to
find out if I bombed out or get to stay in my masters program.
A great big shout out goes out to my fellow students finishing out
their semesters with beat wishes for a wonderful vaca.
jules hathaway


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Wangari's Trees Of Peace

Wangari's Trees Of Peace

Juvenile herstory
"We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the
process heal our own--indeed, to embrace the whole creation in all its
diversity, beauty, and wonder."
Recall awhile back we discovered 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner
Wangari Maathai? I discovered a slightly older book about her. In
Wangari's Trees Of Peace Jeanette Winter combines eloquent text and
vibrant illustrations to fittingly celebrate her life.
I think my favorite aspect of Winter's narrative is its emphasis
on the small scale start and diligent building up of what became a
very large scale operation. Thirty million trees started out as nine
seedlings Wangari planted in her own back yard. The first people she
recruited were women in her village. In America we're so enamoured of
viral anything (except flu) we tend to lose sight of the potential of
small starting real grass roots change. It's what makes difference
making accessible to most of us if we can master the arts of patience
and dilligence.
I started this blog book by book with few people knowing about
it. This is my 1,347 book and my blog gets over 6,000 views a month.
I donate blood pint by pint and am working on my tenth gallon. I'm
attending graduate school part time and already making a difference.
What can you start small and stick with to make a difference in
our beautiful and fragile world?
On a personal note, I'm in the middle of what they say will be a two
day snow storm. The problem: over the weekend I'd finished my
40"x32" poster I have to present tomorrow afternoon.
It's too big for a garbage bag. I covered it with a blanket and
managed to get it in dry. I did my final paper and put it on
blackboard. Then I was confused. Suddenly I had no homework to do
and nowhere I have to be until the poster presentation tomorrow.
Could this be free time? Do I remember how to handle it?
A great big shout out goes out to my classmates who are presenting
their posters. Hopefully we'll all ace that.
jules hathaway



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Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Juvenile biography
You are your kids have probably had fun with super soakers. I
have fond memories of muggy summer day spontaneous wars during my
children's younger years. I also used one to teach my father-in-law
not to smoke in my baby's face. I bet you didn't think of the science
behind the development of this gigantic water pistol. I admit I
didn't. Crhris Barton's Swoosh! schooled me. I think you too will
find it intriguing and a great volume to share with kids in your life.
Inventor Lonnie Johnson started tinkering early in life. He had
challenges including finding space in the small house he shared with
his parents and five siblings. He dazzled his classmates with
homemade rockets. He yearned to become an engineer. Fortunately he
ignored the test results indicating that he would not be a good one.
In 1968 his high school team won first place at the University of
Alabama Science Fair (that had been whites only five years earlier)
with Linux, a robot made of scrap metal.
As a NASA scientist, Johnson worked on very challenging
problems. In his free time he worked in his own lab. One day,
seeking to invent a refrigerator cooling system that wouldn't hurt the
environment, he created a powerful water stream that he envisioned as
the core of a new water gun.
I can't say the rest is history. He still faced plenty of
challenges, especially after he quit his secure day job to invest
himself in his inventing. But he never gave up on himself and his
ideas.
Readers can find a lot more out about how super soakers work.
But Johnson encourages kids to put the books down, shut off the
devices, and start taking things apart to see how they work. That's
how he and a lot of other inventors got started. It's a great way to
engage the hands on learners too often neglected in public schools.
The motivation for the book came from a lunch conversation
Barton had with two Texas librarians. They had been at a seminar
where attendees, when asked to draw a scientist, sketched mostly
whites. He wanted to help send the message that today's scientists
are much more diverse.
Even as he works on his own projects Johnson makes time to
encourage the efforts of tomorrow's scientists and engineers. He
hopes the book will inspire them.
On a personal note, Thursday I had one of the most beautiful holiday
events possible. Wells had our Winterfest. Our dining commons was
transformed into Paris meets Victorian England with fairy lights and
fancy table settings and an ice sculpture sleigh and so much good
food. Our students were treated to a real feast. The hours before
the event were employees only. We put on finishing touches and also
had time to relax and talk and be so proud of what we had achieved
together. Those moments made me so happy to be alive.
A great big shout goes out to my treasured dining services family.
jules hathaway


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Sergeant Reckless

Sergeant Reckless

Juvenile nonfiction
Horses are capable of many amazing things. Patricia McCormick's
Sergeant Reckless is a fine tribute to a mare who earned two purple
hearts and retired from the Marines with full military honors as a
staff sergeant.
Korea was at war, split between North and South. America was
deeply involved. One group of marines was exhausted from carrying
ammo uphill. A mule would lighten the load. Unfortunately there were
none available. There was, however, a scrawny and very hungry mate.
Would such a small horse be able to carry the heavy loads? How
would she react to the noise and chaos of battle. Weren't racehorses
skittish?
You'll have to read the book to see.

ABCs From Space

Juvenile nonfiction
"As a science writer for a website called NASA Earth
Observatory, I spend lots of time making and writing about pictures
that come from satellites flying around Earth. A few years ago, I
noticed a cloud of smoke over Canada that had the shape of a V."
Adam Voiland's ABCs From Space: A Discovered Alphabet is one of
the most beautiful alphabet books I've ever seen. It's also versatile
enough to catch the attention of kids from abecederian through
elementary school and even enchant parents.
Voiland's parents had nurtured his love of the natural world.
Following his letter V discovery, he had not only the curiosity to see
if he could find the rest of the alphabet in satellite images of the
Earth, but the patience to study thousands of pictures. He found the
R especially difficult to locate.
"One of the best parts about the search was that I got to learn
about some of the most fascinating and beautiful places on our
planet. I explored rips in Earth's surface spilling hot lava, clouds
swirling around snowy mountains, fires chewing holes in lush forests,
glaciers slithering domwn icy mountain slopes, and much more."
Older kids can be encouraged to take smart phones or cameras
outside and find alphabets in their own environments. This would have
many benefits. It would get kids outside. It could increase
mindfulness which is much needed in today's fast paced world. It
could fuel curiosity.

On a personal note, the semester is hurtling toward the end. We're in
the final week of classes. Next week is finals week. I don't have
exams, but I will be presenting a poster in the Higher Education and
Student Life Academic Showcase. Talk about scary!
I had a work moment I'd been eagerly awaiting happen last Saturday.
I'd really wanted to train a new student. I'd reviewed in my head all
the necessary information. When I was told I'd been training a new
student in serving I was so ready. And it was even for satisfying
than I'd imagined it would be.
A great big shout out goes out to my fellow students getting their
posters ready and my fellow dining commons student workers, both
newbies and veterans.
jules hathaway



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Malala's Magic Pencil

Malala's Magic Pencil

Juvenile herstory
Many adults have read the inspiring story of Malala Yousafzai,
Nobel Peace Prize winning activist for girls' education. Now through
her Malala's Magic Pencil schoolchildren can read her story. This is
fitting as she began her advocacy as a school girl.
Malala used to wish for a magic pencil like a character in a
children's tv show in her native Pakistan. She could use it to make
her wishes and those of her family come true. As she grew older she
wanted a magic pencil to tackle larger problems like war and poverty.
Malala loved school. She felt bad for children who couldn't
attend because their family needed their income to survive. Then her
own education was threatened. Armed men began keeping girls out of
school. Many of her peers complied. In a situation in which many
people, adults as well as children, would have felt helpless she began
to write to tell the rest of the world what was happening.
"When you find your voice, any pencil can be magic."
I like the idea of magic pencils. When I write opinion pieces
for the Bangor Daily News, pen poems that touch people's hearts and
souls, and introduce you, dear readers, to excellent books you might
not otherwise hear about, I feel like I have a little pencil magic
going on.
On a personal note, two more weeks of school and then finals. I had a
totally stunning surprise. I went to Blackboard to read feedback on
two papers that had been graded to incorporate criticisms into the
paper I was working on. I saw e words like excellent and exemplary.
I was stunned. Maybe my pencil magic is working overtime.
We had a history making home football game Saturday. Of course I was
serving brunch to the fans up to Wells.
A great big shout out goes out to the UMaine football Black Bears who
have fought their way from tragedy (death of a teammate in preseason)
to triumph and the coaches who have guided them.
jules hathaway


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