We Are Not Like Them

     If you're in a book club and you want to step up to tackling racial issues have I got a find for you!  Christine Pride and Jo Piazza's We Are Not Like Them is the rare adult fiction book that manages to embed  sensitive topic in a strong narrative with highly relatable characters.

     Riley and Jen have been friends since early childhood.  Their best friendship has survived drastically different life trajectories.  Now it's going to be strongly tested.  An unarmed Black 14-year-old boy, Justin, has been shot by police officers.  Philadelphia has become a media hot spot.

     Jen is the wife of one of police officers, Kevin, who shot and killed Justin.  He wasn't on the force when they married.  He went off to the Academy when his father had to retire for medical reasons.  Now it feels to Jen that they're being unfairly punished for the actions of other police officers.  After all Kevin isn't a racist.

     Jen is also hoping to carry a baby to term after heart breaking pregnancy losses and costly in vitro fertilization.

     Rylie is a Black television news reporter who has her heart set on becoming an anchor.  She's the lead on the story.  She's had the task of interviewing Justin's grieving mother.  She knows that her own brother is in disproportionate danger of being killed by the police.  There is a gruesome lynching in her family tree.

     She asks herself in anger and frustration, how long are they going to keep killing us?

     Told by Jen and Rylie in alternating chapters, We Are Not Like Them is a truly engaging exploration of close friendship pushed to the brink by tragedy.  A series of penetrating questions at the end of the book increases the potential for meaningful and insightful discussions.

On a purrrsonal note, we had another beautiful UMaine milestone yesterday.  The Career Center's Career Fair was totally in person for the first time since the Great Before!!!  I wanted to see for myself.  So I signed on for volunteer clean up crew.  Only I went early.  I was so impressed!  The place was packed with employers in a wide range of fields looking for Black Bear talent and professionally dressed students being a credit to our school.  When I asked some of the company reps what the experience was like they had nothing but good things to say.  I cleaned up in more ways than one.  People kept giving me bling: pens, notebooks, candy, and all kinds of good stuff including a great duffel bag perfect for trips to camp.  That was fun! (Jules)

Too bad they weren't giving out nip or cat treats.  (Tobago)

A great shout out goes out to the Career Center crew, especially our friend, Kate.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

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