Stonewall (juvenile nonfiction)

     When I spotted Rob Sanders' Stonewall: A Building, An Uprising, A Revolution in the children's wing of the Orono Public Library I was totally at a loss for words--something that happens very rarely. Seeing one of the most important events in LGBTQ+ history chronicled in a young reader friendly format was priceless, especially in a time when so many people are working overtime to limit the information and voices our kids have access to.

     Sanders chooses a quite unusual narrator: a pair of buildings that were built in the 1840s as stables. That was when horsepower was literally that and the wagons and carriages they pulled were state of the art transport wise. As  its neighborhood evolves from the wealthy to immigrants and artists of all kinds and automobiles replace horses and carriages it becomes a restaurant in a place very open to diversity of all kinds... 

     ...including by the 60s gays and lesbians. It becomes a gay bar where they can gather.

     "Women and men, young and old, teenagers, transgender people, drag queens, veterans, business people, people of different colors, religions, and cultures, gathered, chatted, laughed, and danced under one roof."

     Unfortunately the police kept making raids--harassing and arresting--until one night people started speaking up and fighting back.

     Jamey Christoph's vivid illustrations really bring the narrative to life.

     Stonewall is a most excellent acquisition for public, school, and family libraries. 

On a purrrsonal note, it's been a good week. Tuesday they didn't have children's garden. But community garden was fun and I got good spinach. Wednesday when I went to the thrift shop I saw the donation bin on the porch was overflowing with bags of donations. I carried all those bags up the stairs with hardly any effort. The ladies were ever so grateful. But I was grateful that I'm now strong enough. When I got to the library the librarians wanted to make sure I talked on camera to a guy who was interviewing people about the library. Well of course. He asked me what is so special about the library. I explained how it's the beating 💓 of the community. He asked me what I like best about it and I had plenty to say. He asked if I was looking forward to the renovation. I said like a kid looks forward to Christmas. I asked him if my speech defect was too evident. He asked what speech defect. I hope he wasn't just being polite. Laurie who runs the library was pleased that he interviewed me. The vigil went well. We got 144 honks. I don't know what I'm doing this weekend beyond having breakfast at Governors. 

A great big shout out goes out to the Orono Public Library community and the man who is documenting the library's specialness.

Jules Hathaway 

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Father's Day

The soon to be famous author 

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Father's Day

Katie talking to Amber and Brian 

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Father's Day

The family in my side yard. 

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Sophie's Gifts (juvenile fiction)

     "'I agree, but I want to wait and see how things go before I join a group of intimidators, especially if you have plans to rile up the KKK,' Dad answered. 'Dorothy never liked my participation in that organization. She and my mother always complained whenever my father and I attended their meetings or joined the marches.'"

     My antennae twitched. The KKK, What is that?

     Mr. Kelloway (minister) sounded agitated now when he spoke. 'Remember, Robert, you are a deacon at First Christian. The congregants won't like it if your daughter runs around with Catholics, and the idea of her using a Rosary is enough to cause you to lose your position in the church.'"

     We tend to associate the KKK with the deep south. Actually in the 1920s, they had a resurgence all over America. In Maine, which is about as far north as you can go from the Mason Dixon Line without crossing over into Canada, they were still a decided presence in the 1930s, the decade in which Shirley Coulter Ericson's Sophie's Gifts is set.

     Ten (almost eleven) year old Protestant Sophie, Ericson's protagonist, is the only child in a very traditional family. Father is the breadwinner. Mom's domain is home and family. When they differ on anything she must defer to his authority. And children must obey adults and never stick their noses into grown people's business. 

     Sophie's very best friend is Evelyn. In most ways they are similar, but...

     "There is one difference between us too. Evelyn attends the Catholic church at the west end of town, and I belong to the Protestant one. Our difference in religion isn't a big deal as far as we are concerned, but that isn't how many people in the community feel. There are way more Protestants in Kittington than Catholics, and some Protestants wish there weren't any Catholics in town; zero. Evelyn and I hadn't figured out why, but we were about to learn more about that."

     After Sophie's grandmother dies Evelyn gives Sophie a beautiful Rosary. Knowing how much it means to her friend, Sophie senses the love and caring behind the gift. Her mother sees things quite differently.

     "It's no good. They aren't just beads. They are used by Catholics, not Protestants. You can't have them. Many of the people in the community have an aversion toward Catholics. They are strongly disliked."

     Her father burns the beautiful beads. He considers her questions defiance. And he tells her that it would be better for everyone if she would play with Protestant children instead of Evelyn. 

    "It makes a difference because I don't think Evelyn gave you the Rosary out of friendship. It was probably her mother's idea. They are trying to influence you, Sophie. Like every other Catholic up and down the road, they want to push their papist ways on to Protestant children. I won't have it."

     Things go from bad to worse when the larger community becomes involved. Sophie eavesdrops when the local minister makes a house call. He wants Sophie's father to visit Evelyn's parents as part of a group intent on keeping the Catholics under control. The owner of the only store in town decides not to sell to Catholics or immigrants. Masked men in white robes and pointy hats make a terrifying night visit to Evelyn's home.

     Evelyn's parents are thinking the town is not a safe place for their family...

     ...meaning Sophie is faced with the prospect of losing her best friend forever. 

     This is a most excellent book for younger readers and for their parents and teachers. Sophie really springs to life as an intelligent, curious child with a passion for fairness and justice. Her narrative is believable and engaging. Ericson creates a real sense of time and place. 

     Sophie's Gifts is a most excellent acquisition for public and school libraries and a great choice for parent/child book clubs. 

On a purrrsonal note, if Sophie was a real flesh and blood child born in the 1950s we would have been inseparable. I was considered a defiant child because of my inconvenient questions and my passion for fairness and justice. In fact the main reason I refused to become confirmed at 11 was the church's insistence that the only route to salvation was through Jesus. I couldn't see a loving God sending Jews and Muslims to Hell for all eternity. 

Unfortunately in the 60s prejudice against Catholics was still very real. In the 1960 presidential race a lot of people felt that Kennedy's religion should disqualify him from running. 

     In fact despite Ericson grounding the narrative beautifully in time and place there is a disturbing sense of timelessness. Many of the things they were saying about Catholics then people today are saying about Muslims. Are we ever going to learn better?

A great big shout out goes out to the "impertinent" children and teens asking inconvenient questions and fervently seeking fairness and justice and those adults who have not been seduced into accepting the status quo, especially those who participate with me in the weekly Orono vigil. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

     

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Father's Day

And yet another yard sale. Father's Day weekend is always when the Veazie town wide yard sale happens. It's why we wisely decided to celebrate one day early. 

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Father's Day

Adam and Katie checked the community center yard sale out.

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