Well, here's another couple of pages from my joy journal. I'm so over happiness. American capitalism has so comodified it. Read this book and do what it says or buy this product and you'll be happy. The pursuit of happiness. Don't worry; be happy. That's why I prefer to feel joy. It's spontaneous, not commercialized, not one size fits all. Over the last 24 hours things that have brought me joy have included being outside in the fresh air, bees and butterflies visiting my garden, sturdy little Tobago snuggling with me in bed, talking to Amber on the phone, and getting 2 Halloween shirts at Goodwill and lots of lovely produce at Hannaford. I started it the first semester after the stroke when it was so much harder to do so many things. It helped me be aware of how much joy was in my life despite residual damage. Adding entries and going back to read them is also a source of joy.

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Up In Smoke (YA fiction)

     "'Every time they take one of ours, it's tax season,' Jason continued. 'Time to hit the streets. I'm done with the peaceful marching. I'm robbing and looting from now on and I'll use that bread to build up the neighborhood, on some real Robin Hood type shit.'"

     Cooper, one of the narrators of Nick Brooks' Up In Smoke, is not down with robbing and looting. But he has deep loyalty to Jason who has been like a big brother to him. So when Jason decides to use a protest as a cover for a looting spree Cooper participates very reluctantly. 

     "This all started last weekend, the match that lit the fuse, when a kid named Samir was killed by a plainclothes cop. He was only fourteen, just a couple years younger than me. The craziest part was I knew Samir. He went to my high school and lived around the way. He was a quiet kid, not even a troublemaker like that."

     Mo, the other narrator, is Jason's blood little sister. She and Cooper are long time BFFs who are secretly crushing on each other. She actually organized the protest and is angry that some people are using it as a cover for robbing and looting, making it easy for cops to spin the narrative to suit their purposes. 

     "We froze for a hair of a second because we all knew what that sound was. 

     Gunshots. 

     Everyone erupted into absolute pandemonium, screaming, ducking down, and running every which direction."

     A woman has been shot. Jason is the sole suspect. Cooper and Mo know that the cops are intent on making sure he's convicted. They're equally intent on clearing his name and securing his freedom...

     ...which is going to be super daunting...

     ...especially since Cooper is also intent on keeping Mo in the dark about his role in the looting. 

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday Eugene and I went to Amber and Brian's house for a birthday lunch in their backyard. Brian's mom was there too. The food was delicious, the conversation convivial. A most enjoyable afternoon. The weather was purrrfect--sunny and breezy. The leaves in this part of Maine have really started to turn--more jewel toned reds, yellow, and oranges. Fall foliage is one of the most beautiful seasons in Maine, even though it heralds the grim approach of winter. Today I'm spending as much time as I can outside. My flowers are having a pollinators happy hour.

A great big shout out goes out to Amber and Brian, our family's hosts with the most.

Jules Hathaway 

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That's me at the Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund table yesterday. As you can see the weather was perfect. I got a lot of compliments on my Halloween outfit featuring--of course--a cat. And people were asking me if I'll be in the drag show this year, raving about my last year's performance. It's not even October. This is shaping up to be a most excellent year.

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Let's Move the Needle (adult nonfiction)

     I bet when you think of activism a lot of strategies come to to mind--maybe picketing, getting out the vote, boycotting, marching, and protesting among them. Probably not knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and cross stitch. Shannon Downey, author of Let's Move the Needle: An Activism Handbook for Artists, Crafters, Creatives, and Makers, is out to broaden your definition. Her reasoning is very persuasive. And her her photographs of crafters and crafts are colorful and engaging. 

     I love, love, LOVE what she's doing here. Traditional definitions of activism focus on extroverts who are comfortable getting out on the street and in front of the mic. They are also available to people who have time, resources, and transportation. But we need to engage the larger community and value their contributions to achieve real solidarity. This seems like a viable avenue to doing so.

     There are two parts of the book that particularly impress me. One is chapter 2 that starts with with "Want to change the world? Deal with your shit." It has some wonderful prompts for helping you understand your evolving personal and activist identity. It also has ways of moving beyond your comfort zone. 

     The other is how in the rest of the book the how tos get right down to the basics, making it accessible to people new to activism, and there are plenty of inspiring examples. Rather than a one time read, I see it as a valuable resource like my battered cookbook I got from my mom when I was 12.

     As I read the book I was thinking about a group that developed organically in a short time--Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund. At a hackathon Tamra was one of the students who needed a team and money to bring it from idea to actuality. I was on her team. Through very dedicated leadership it grew substantially in just 2 years. It does fundraisers and distributes the money to UMaine students, faculty, and staff facing financial hardship. So far over $20,000!!! It also does volunteering with community organizations. It benefits not only aid recipients but students who experience the thrill of making a difference. 

     I know reading Let's Move The Needle inspired me to come up with ideas. Maybe it can inspire you too. 

On a purrrsonal note, fortunately after our rainy Thursday the weather cleared up--all blue skies and sunshine--in time for two major UMaine outdoor events that would have been hard to hold indoors. I was paparazzi for both. Friday's was an informational event to raise student awareness of the resources on campus avaliable to help them--everything from SWell (Student Wellness) and the Counseling Center to Financial Aid to Residential Life and so many more. Each group had a table. People who got a stamped passport from every table were entered in a prize drawing. There were also fun foods (snow cones, cotton candy, hot dogs), mocktails,  and games. Very popular. Today  was Family and Friends weekend. So many people and dogs came. The mall was covered with tables, games, demonstrations, vendors, and food trucks--something for everyone. The mood was decidedly festive. There were so many fun pictures to take. Like the dogs and their people, a baby in a stroller, and action shots. At both events I was so happy to be engaged and have my skills valued. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in both events. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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Party of Liars (adult fiction)

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This is Amber giving her author's talk yesterday. She did an awesome job. I am very proud of her.

I am so excited that I can stay home tomorrow and make some progress on my rapidly growing to do list. I just wish it wasn't going to rain. My laundry is really piling up. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Dungeons and Drama (YA fiction)

     I don't know if Shakespeare actually said these words or if they have been attributed to him, but when I read Kristy Boyce's Dungeons and Drama "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we endeavor to deceive!" kept popping into my mind. Deception and its complications (the tangled web) lie at the beating 💓 of the narrative. 

     Two weeks into her junior year (high school) Riley is confronted by her egotistical ex, Paul, the "absolute last person" she wants to see. He claims she's been avoiding him.

     "Um, of course I've been avoiding him. It's just self-preservation to avoid any tool who makes you wipe snot bubbles away while telling you that your talents could be better utilized as part of the stage crew."

     Tired of Paul's attitude, Riley tells him that she's moved on and found someone new. When he asks for names she comes up with Nathan...

     ...which is problematic for several reasons. Their passions (musical theater vs gaming) seem to be totally incompatible. And Nathan is totally smitten with the beautiful Sophia...

     ...which Riley uses to her advantage by persuading him that it will make Sophia see what a total catch he is and get jealous...

     ...But nothing in this narrative is simple. Remember what I said about those tangled webs? If relationship intrigue is your cup of tea you owe it to yourself to read Dungeons and Drama. 

On a purrrsonal note, today was a super exciting one for me. My favorite author who also happens to be my older daughter, Amber, did an author's talk on campus. It was AMAZING!!! The really big room was packed. She gave an excellent, really engaging talk. She got lots of questions which she answered really well. Afterwards people told me I should be proud of her. How could I not? 

A great big shout out goes out to my fabulous author daughter, Amber, and to the people who are buying her book and attending her events. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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 Last week Eugene took me south to spend a magical day with Katie and Adam. And he got me 7 Squishmallows. This weekend he took me for a romantic weekend getaway at camp. We stopped at lots of yard sales and he bought everything I wanted. We had Sunday supper at Applebee's. Next Sunday Amber and Brian are going to throw me a birthday lunch. The family is celebrating 🍾 ❤️ 💕 me and I'm loving it.

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The Grove

     Brooks Whitney Phillips' The Grove provides an insightful look into less than beautiful aspects of America's not that wonderful past through the eyes of a young narrator trying to make sense of the world she's been born into. 

     Pip (15) and her sister, Sissy (17), live with their parents in a failing citrus grove. The year is 1960. The family is just getting by. Both parents have problems with alcohol. It fuels her father's explosive anger and her mother's clinical depression. Their marriage is not a happy one. Her mother desperately misses the affluence and status of her growing up years and her father resents her lack of gratitude. 

     "You and I are cut from the same cloth, Pip. You know that, right? But your mama is different. Thinks she deserves some high-and-mighty life. Never happy with the fact she has a roof over her head and shoes on her feet."

     When the girls aren't in school or sleeping they're tied down to unending chores. Their parents consider education a waste of time. There's only one time they have free: the days between Christmas Eve and New Years Day when the traveling carnival is in town and they get to enjoy the rides, fair foods, side shows, and games just like anyone else. 

     This year will be dangerously different. A handsome, self assured, sweet talking sword swallower will successfully woo Sissy and abandon her. Unfortunately before he leaves the seed will be sown for potentially heart breaking tragedy. 

     The Grove would be an excellent choice for a parent-teen book club or in a high school literature or social studies class.

On a purrrsonal note, I am really having a purrrfect birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 weekend. Eugene and I spent the weekend at camp. On our way up we stopped at every yard sale we saw. He bought everything I wanted. We saw a beautiful deer eating apples. We had a really relaxing day at camp and watched a funny movie at night. On our way back we stopped at stores where he kept buying everything I liked including 3 Squishmallows. Last weekend we spent the day in Cape Elizabeth with Katie and Adam. Next Sunday Amber and Brian will have a birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 party. So I am feeling very appreciated and loved.

A great big shout out goes out to my amazing family. They're simply the best!

Jules Hathaway 

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What Happened To Rachel Riley?

     "Photos. Tons of them. Her and Jordan Russell, her and Kaylee Nakamura, her and everyone. It looked like she had a ton of friends! Until May 20, last spring. At the end of seventh grade. That's the last photo. And it's just a selfie of her, smiling at the camera.

     So here's the question I'd like to explore:

     What happened to Rachel Riley?"

     Eating lunch in the East Middle School cafeteria, Anna notices something strange. When the names of the day's birthday girls and boys are announced their friends clap. Even she, the shy new girl, gets some applause. But Rachel Riley's name is met with dead silence. What makes this even stranger is evidence that until recently Rachel was wildly popular. 

     So what happened?

     In her Social Issues class an assignment worth 85% of the grade is a semester long project on an issue "small or large, local or international". Guess what issue Anna chooses. 

     It's not going to be easy. Rachel knows why she's being shunned but refuses to say why. And her classmates don't want to talk about whatever happened. A girl in one Anna's classes tries to warn her: "what she did was really low + she does not deserve your help...Just ignore her that's what we all do."

     Anna's extroverted mom is always nagging her to make more friends. Alienating the rest of the eighth graders won't help 

     And the incident that resulted in Rachel's shunning may be quite a big deal, involving the burning down of a barn used for events.

     It may also be related to something else going on in the background. Boys are playing a game that makes girls very uncomfortable but feel that they should just laugh off the unwelcome attentions.

     What Happened To Rachel Riley? is a most excellent read for younger YA readers. 

On a purrrsonal note, my photography skills are very much in demand on campus by people who want event photos for social media. Yesterday I was paparazzi for a really special dinner, a collaboration between Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund and Wilson Center. It was held outside and had a gorgeous sunset for a grand finale. Today I played that role for a SWell art creating event. (Of course I did some art too). Photography is one of my favorite ways to volunteer. I have more events booked.

It should be quite a weekend. Eugene and I are going to go to camp overnight tomorrow. And Sunday is my birthday. I hope you have fun weekend plans.

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in both the events. 

Jules Hathaway 

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This is me and my best friend, Lisa Morin, at the blood drive yesterday. We go way back. I met her 15 years ago when she started working at UMaine. As she's done an amazing job building up Black Bear Exchange I've pitched in as a volunteer--sort of a Robin to her Batman. I have learned so much in those years. We love and are big fans of each other's kids. I think two things make our friendship special. We care very much about helping the students have what they need to thrive. And we are our actual for better and worse selves together. No pretenses. In my mind shared passions and honesty are the gold standard of friendship. 

The second day of the blood drive was amazing. Everyone was extremely sociable--much more so than usual. It was like a 7 hour party. We exceeded our goal by 10 units. And nobody fainted. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Harvest House (YA fiction)

     We're on the count down to Halloween-- decorating, pondering costumes, and eagerly anticipating one of the most mystical, magical, and downright unforgettable nights 🌙 ✨️ of the year. Goodwill has laid out the merch. Doughnuts and other goodies come in autumnal flavors. And what better way to get ready for the big night than read some spooky books? Cynthia Leitich's Harvest House. It combines a suspenseful, engaging plot with information about an important social justice issue even many adults haven't wrapped their minds around. 

     Hughie is very aware that Halloween 🎃 is on the way. His father is a go big or go home holiday decorator. I mean dozens of human size skeletons with light up 👀. A little too epic for most households. Also he's a volunteer helping to create a 👻 house appropriate for all ages based on local legends. But it is turning out to be more complicated and stressful than he'd ever imagined. 

     For one thing there's a really scary legend that seems to be happening in real time. It involves a terrifying being that predates on indigenous girls and women. Some girls including his best friend's sister have been having close encounters of the worst kind. Hughie is desperate to find out what's going on before someone he loves becomes a fiend's next victim. 

     Also the woman designing the haunted house is perpetuating racist indigenous women stereotypes. Hughie is trying to remove and replace the microaggressions before they can hurt people he cares about. 

     And show time is quickly approaching. 

On a purrrsonal note, today my best friend, Lisa Morin, and I are obsessed with blood. Nope, we haven't gone the snoozing in coffins and nocturnal neck nipping route. It's the second day of the UMaine Red Cross blood drive. The first day went pretty well. We got a lot of donors including a large proportion of first timers. Nobody fainted. We're hoping for good numbers today.

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated yesterday and will do so today. 

Jules Hathaway 

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This is me and Eugene Sunday. You can see a lighthouse in the background. It's out in the ocean. To get to it you have to steps from huge stone to huge stone for quite a distance. It was tricky footwork. I found it quite exhilarating. It made me feel really alive. 

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Moment of Truth (YA fiction)

     Chances are good that growing up you knew someone who was never as good as an idealized sibling, constantly a disappointment to the parental units, or at least never celebrated. Maybe you were that someone living in the shadows. 

     Can you imagine what it would be like if the idealized sibling was dead--their strengths celebrated, their weaknesses forgotten? That's the plight of Hadley, protagonist of Kasie West's Moment of Truth. She was born after her brother, Eric, died of cancer. His truck is mounted on the front lawn. His illness and death have become the family identity. His mother is pretty much taken up with running fund raisers.

     When Hadley reminds her mother about the swimming awards banquet at her school which turns out to be the same night as an event her mother assures her that her coach will understand if she doesn't show up. 

     "Right. I could just use the my brother is dead card. It worked well. 'He might let me out of it, but I also feel like I need to be there to support my teammates.'

     'And you don't feel like you need to support your family?'"

     Hadley's life centers around competitive swimming, her ticket to college and a chance to escape from a place dominated by Eric's memory. So when a masked serial prankster messes up her timing in a race she's out for vengeance. But unmasking him turns out to much more complicated than she imagined...

     ...and she might uncover some inconvenient truths about her feelings about the absent brother who's overshadowed her since birth. 

     Moment of Truth is a perfect blend of lively and breezy with raw and poignant. 

On a purrrsonal note, yesterday I had the most awesome early birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 celebration! I'd told my family what I really wanted the most was to visit Katie in her new house. Eugene and I drove up early and spent the day with Katie and Adam. We did a lot of walking in scenic locations. We had a picnic lunch at a beach. We hung out in Katie and Jacob's beautiful new home. We went to a Goodwill where Eugene bought me a cat shirt and 7 Squishmallows. In other words it was an absolutely purrrfect day.

A great big shout out goes out to Eugene, Katie, Adam, and the Goodwill store that had so many gorgeous Squishmallows.

Jules Hathaway 

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A Hummingbird On My Balcony (picture book)

     Did you know that August is the beginning of hummingbird migration season. Don't feel bad if you didn't know.  I just found out this morning. Most North American hummingbird species fly south on arduous journeys in which they may fly 20 hours without stopping. 

     So that makes it and September perfect for reading Isabelle Groc's A Hummingbird On My Balcony. It's a sweet story about a boy named Noah who moves into a new 22nd floor apartment. One day he discovers a jewel colored hummingbird building a nest on his balcony. He watches her lay two jellybean size eggs and nurture the hatchlings until they are big enough to leave the nest.

     The photos are gorgeous. The narrative is interspersed with amazing facts about these diminuative acrobats of the air. Kids who live in hummingbird habitats can learn ways to  create safe homes for them. Now wouldn't that be a great family project?

On a purrrsonal note, I spent an hour and a half hiking in the Veazie Forest which is conveniently right behind my trailer coop. I was glad I was in jeans and a hoodie. Some parts of the trail were quite overgrown with thorny vegetation. So it was quite the adventure. I'm sure it was good for my health.

A great big shout out goes out to the people who financed and built the Veazie Forest. 

Jules Hathaway 

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Today I had the chance to paint records. That's my all time favorite art project. Student Wellness (UMaine) provided the materials and snacks and Gwyn and Bailey ran the show. I was the paparazzi. A lot of people came and created some masterpieces and had a really fun time. Kudos to SWell for providing such a wonderful opportunity for relaxation and fun. Great job Gwyn and Bailey!

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All Nighter (YA fiction)

    If you (like me) are a fan of bad ass unpredictable adventures you'll love Cecilia Vinesse's All Nighter. If you (again like me) like well developed, relatable characters you'll love the book. Personally I don't think there's anything not to love in this story of two sworn enemies who must cooperate for one truly unforgettable night to achieve urgent goals. 

     Autumn is a straight A, class valedictorian, accepted to the college of her choice, over achieving nerd. She completes her assignments to specs well before they're due and always has her hand up in class. 

     "In Tara's eighteen years of life, she's encountered a boatload of Autumn Povitskys, usually lurking in the front rows of classrooms armed with sharpened pencils and judgmental expressions, ready to loathe Tara with every holier-than-thou fiber of their future-Ivy-League  beings."

     Tara is most definitely Autumn's polar opposite. While Autumn has her college plans all set up, Tara considers her high school years a prison sentence. She forgets to turn in homework and behaves impulsively in class to the annoyance of teachers. And as for the rules that are all important to Autumn...

     ...needless to say the girls are sworn enemies. But on prom night of their senior year they need each other's help. Autumn needs a fake ID to attend a college event. Tara's a pro at creating them. Tara has an essay due at 7:00 the next morning. If she doesn't turn it in on time she can forget about graduating with her class. She most definitely doesn't want to attend summer school or repeat her senior year. With Autumn's coaching she can pull it off.

     The girls' reluctant agreement sounds straightforward in theory. In reality it's anything but. The situations they find themselves in rival Alice In Wonderland for surrealism. 

     So do yourself a favor and join them for a series of most exciting adventures. 

On a purrrsonal note, you'd probably peg me as an Autumn. I was the student who completed the assignments early, did extra reading, and was quite good at class participation. But I was not big on rules, especially those I disagreed with. And when there was fun to be had I was big on spontaneity. Sometimes rule breaking was involved. Like sneaking into a boy's room to fill his bed with water balloons or running another boy's underwear up the Gordon College flagpole. Actually I am still big on adventure which I can't get enough of living in small-town Maine and not being able to drive. When I read about the girls' escapades I felt like I was missing out. Some day.

But today I have most excellent news to share. I went for my annual checkup. I'm perfect weight (96), pulse (76), BMI (20), and have the BP of a teenager (120/68). Pretty good for someone less than two weeks away from my 74th birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊. 

A great big shout out goes out to Vinesse for creating such a wonderful narrative. 

Jules Hathaway 

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This is my Goodwill haul from yesterday. Pretty awesome, right. I wore the dress today and got lots of compliments. Between the fruits I bought at Hannaford and the veggies I scored at community garden I'm in produce heaven.

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Not My Problem (YA fiction)

     Aideen, protagonist of Ciara Smyth's Not My Problem, is the student who manages to step on the last nerve of many teachers. She rarely does her homework assignments. She routinely gets out of gym on the basis of highly improbable illnesses. She's minimally engaged in anything to do with her education. But when asked about her home life she insists that everything's fine...

     ...even though nothing is further from the truth. Her family is a hot mess. She is the result of her mother's affair with a married man--one who doesn't have the decency to vanish and stay lost. He keeps Aideen and her mom his dirty little secret, staging periodic visits which leave her alcoholic mother in seriously bad shape and Aideen needing to pull her out of her spiral and handle the basics like not starving...

     ...but she has no one to help. The school would call in social workers which could lead to foster care...

     ...Also Aideen's only real friend, Holly, seems to be ditching her for another girl.

     ...with all that uncertainty and precariousness is it any wonder that she doesn't have the bandwidth for trigonometry?

    One day Aideen finds her nemesis, overscheduled Meabh, throwing a tantrum. She's afraid that one slip will lead to her "lying in the gutter, a needle sticking out of her arm and a glazed expression on her face." Aideen finds an unorthodox way to buy her breathing space. 

     It's only the beginning. Other students begin asking her to solve their problems. Only that necessitates seriously risky business like breaking and entering and kidnapping.

     How long can Aideen keep walking the tightrope her life has become before it breaks?

On a purrrsonal note, I'm having really good days. Saturday I tabled for Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund with Catherine and other friends. Sunday Eugene and I went on a road trip and found garage sale bargains. Today I went on a Goodwill/Hannaford run and found a gorgeous dress, an adorable Squishmallow, and of course yummy fruits and veggies. Hannaford produce rocks!!!

A great big shout out goes out to the Hannaford produce workers.

Jules Hathaway 

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More pages from my joy journal

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Eliza, from Scratch

     I think many of us know/knew high school students like Eliza, teens who are focused on academic achievement and competition and filling in all the right boxes to get into an elite university to the exclusion of just about anything else. So you'll probably understand her total panic when she learns of a class change the first day of senior year. Instead of AP Physics she's been placed in Culinary Arts. It's a non weighted class, so even if she gets all A's someone taking all weighted classes could knock her down in class rank. When her guidance counselor tells her to not be afraid of taking it easy she thinks:

     "Now is not the time to take things easy, I want to say. I can take things easy when I have a college acceptance in hand and have given my salutatorian speech at graduation to a room of weepy eyes and all the work I've invested throughout the last three years has finally turned into something real."

     Actually in culinary Eliza is in a totally new situation. She's behind all her classmates, especially the obnoxious know-it-all Wesley with whom she's paired for a semester long group project.

     Eliza thinks she's in for a semester from hell.

But she may be mistaken. Maybe she can acquire valuable skills. Maybe the regular (non AP) students are worth knowing and being friends with...

     ...and maybe, just maybe, Wesley is not as obnoxious as he seems to be.

On a purrrsonal note, I had the heady experience of something I've intuited being confirmed by science. And it has a name: post-traumatic growth aka that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger. The trauma was the stroke nearly two years ago. I never would have chosen to have one. But I've experienced far more cognitive and emotional growth than I would have otherwise. The article I read said certain conditions make post-traumatic growth more likely:

1) finances. Eugene and I aren't rich, but we're managing. 

2) emotional support. Between family, friends, and the UMaine, Orono, and Greystone communities I have been surrounded by love ❤️ and support. 

3) self efficacy and a sense that one's life has meaning and purpose. I have them in spades.

I'm really proud of my growth in the past two years and eager to see how much I'll grow in the third. 

A great big shout out goes out to all who have contributed to my growth. 

Jules Hathaway 

Jules Hathaway 

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My grand prize

Isn't it AWESOME? If you look closely at the bag you'll see all these Harry Potter symbols. And one of the pins has a reading cat. Totally purrrfect. It's Orono Festival Day. I'm supposed to table with Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund. Gonna pack and start walking. Do something fun today if you get the chance.

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This Could Be Forever (YA romance)

    

     Ebony LaDelle's This Could Be Forever is a quite suspenseful and relatable YA romance.  You know what I mean. You really want the protagonists to fight their way to happy ever after and there are strong obstacles in the way. But it's also much more, offering fascinating insights into a culture many of us know little about. 

     It starts when Deja, who is visiting the college she's going to attend, steps into the tattoo shop where Raja (who also will be a first year student there) works. The sparks are there. Even though they don't exchange digits you just know it isn't the last they'll see of each other. If only it was that easy.

     Raja's devout Hindu parents have their hearts 💕 set on him becoming an engineer. Not exactly compatible with his dreams of being a tattoo artist and opening his own shop. Even though he isn't going out of state for college they're angry that he's moved out of the family home into a studio apartment of his own. They're determined to set him up with an arranged marriage to a proper caste Hindu girl from Nepal...

     ...most definitely not a Black Christian American. But they aren't the only ones with reservations about the relationship. Deja's family hails from North Carolina where they experience plenty of racism. Her parents want her to be respected and loved, something they fear Raja's family will be incapable of. 

     But while the parents on both sides are acting apprehensive and sometimes cringe worthy Deja and Raja are finding allies in siblings and cousins. Will love conquer all?...

     ...only one way to find out. 

On a purrrsonal note, I am having an absolutely purrrfect Friday. It started on campus with first Friday bagels. My bestie Catherine toasted me a perfect sweet cinnamon one. (If she ever gets tired of anthropology she'd have a future with Bagel Central.) I saw so many friends who love my tattoo. I went to the fiber arts club which I know I'll enjoy. And best of all I got an email 📧 saying I WON ONE OF THE GRAND PRIZES in the Orono Public Library summer ☀️ reading challenge. Luckily Catherine, who was giving me a ride home, was agreeable to stopping at the library on the way. 

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Today is simply gorgeous here in Penobscot County, Maine: sunny 🌞 but not too hot. Flowers are very much in bloom with trees just starting to show the colors that will attract legions of leaf 🍃 peepers. Yesterday was great. It was Organizational Fair at Black Bear Nation. I was tabling with Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund. We were looking for new members and raising money. Our dunk tank was quite popular. I was envying the guys getting dunked. It was pretty hot out. Today I did a Goodwill run and found these simply irresistible cuties. Saturday is Orono Festival Day. I'll be tabling with BBMAF again. And (unless they're 🌧 out) there will be FIREWORKS 🎆! 

I hope you have something fun planned for your weekend. 

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A Pair Of Nature Picture Books

     Jordan Zwetchkenbaum's My Pollinator Garden gives young readers and listeners a up close and personal look at the many critters who carry pollen from one plant 🌼 🌸 to another so they can make seeds. We tend to think of bees in this role. But wasps, flies, butterflies 🦋, humming birds, and even bats play a part in this important activity. 

     With many pollinators endangered kids and families can help protect them by planting special pollinators. This fine book gives advice on getting into this important and rewarding hobby. It has a great bibliography for kids who want to read more on the subject. 

     

     Kirsten Pendreigh's When a Tree Falls: Nurse Logs and Their Incredible Forest Power gives young readers and listeners a bird's eye view of the life cycle of a tree. 

     As a tree grows it shelters a number of forest creatures. But what happens when it falls?

     It becomes a nurse log nurturing and sheltering a wide variety of flora and fauna in many important ways...

     ...including a brand new tree.

     Maine is full of forests with fallen trees. A good family activity would be to read When a Tree Falls and then go into the woods to examine nurse logs in real life.

On a purrrsonal note, the budding gardeners who tend the plants in the Orono Public Library's Children's Garden are big time pollinator fans and avid students of nature. Those kids are terrific!!! I'm so enjoying getting to know them as I photograph them for the library's social media. Yesterday it was really hot out and some of the kids were resting in the shade. They discovered my backpack and were playing with the Keychain critters. They really liked them. I promised them that next Tuesday I'll bring in a bag of critters they can keep. They're so excited!!! That will be so much fun!!!

A great big shout out goes out to our young gardeners, parent volunteers, library staff, and the library itself which is such a vital part of the Orono community. 

Jules Hathaway 

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A Gift from Eugene

Eugene came home from work and gave me these collector's porcelain dolls last week. They are really nice ones and a gift from the love of my life. But what's best is they take me down memory lane to when Amber and I both collected them. My very creative horror story writer author has transformed some of hers into entities that are Stephen King level eerie, especially in dim light. But I think the creepiest porcelain dolls are a lot of the antique ones. They look malevolent, like they're waiting for Nightfall to do something sinister. I think, they gave these to kids?

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Run Like A Girl (YA fiction)

     Amaka Egbe seamlessly embedded key issues in her Run Like A Girl: family dysfunction, sexism in sports, peer drama, and the less than wonderful aspects of social media. Fortunately they never overpower the plot or the protagonist. 

     Dera has her life planned out. She's a standout track star who plans to use her stats to get a full ride to a college with an elite program. Her ultimate goal, which she passionately longs for, is to run in the Olympics.  

     Midway through her junior year Dera's world implodes. Her parents have been divorced for most of her life. Her father is, in every sense of the word, a cold, distant stranger. When her mother has to send her to live with him because of money problems she's suddenly living with a very curt, judgemental, dismissive stranger...

     ...in a whole different school system. She's had to leave her close friends to start over again in a high school that is far from welcoming--especially when she goes after and earns a spot on the boys' track team...

     ...well there is no girls' track team. And Dera isn't about to give up on her Olympic dreams.

     As if those challenges aren't enough social media adds its own kind of shitstorm.

     If a strong willed girl striving to survive in a very challenging environment she never expected to be thrown into is your kind of read you're going to love Run Like A Girl. 

On a purrrsonal note, I have just gotten home from a purrrfect relaxing long weekend at camp with Eugene. I did get in some walking. Sunday night we watched a great nerds triumph over bullying jocks movie. But mostly I read outside on the porch.

But we have to take Labor Day very seriously. It's much more than a long weekend. Far too many workers and their families are homeless and hungry due to inadequate wages. Too many are ruthlessly exploited. Too many are killed or seriously injured due to unsafe conditions. If the current administration has its way things will only get worse. Can you say child labor?

A great big shout out goes out to all who observe the true spirit of Labor Day by fighting for workers' rights. 

Jules Hathaway 

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