CassieBash Reads More in ‘24

Hi, all! I’m an academic librarian living in northwest Indiana with wide-ranging interests and limited Internet access at home. Since I do a vast majority of my posts via a smart phone, I usually don’t have much visual interest—and for that I apologize. But my reading interests are all over the place, and most genres are fair game, including those from children’s and YA, mysteries, historical fiction, and my personal favorites of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Romances are my exception. My fiancé owns a used bookstore in Muncie and he’s the romantic of our relationship; I just can’t seem to get interested in straight romances—maybe because I’d rather live it than read it. With nonfiction, I usually stick to medical and forensic topics (I was into epidemiology before COVID spiked interest), botanical and zoological sciences, folklore (particularly fairy tales and funeral customs), and the paranormal, which I don’t often believe but I find the lore fascinating.

This year, I’m hoping to read and rehome (via Muncie’s White Rabbit Used Books) more books from my TBR piles than I bring in. This will be contingent on the following:

1) I avoid going to places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other such thrift stores where books can be had cheaply.

2) I avoid library sales; easier said than done since if I happen to be visiting my fiancé during a Muncie library sale weekend, I will likely end up at the sale if only because Derek will want to go to get stock.

3) I ignore Amazon’s recommendations—or at least don’t order a print and look for an Audible version instead.

If/when we actually get connected to something more powerful than 4G on our little country corner, I might consider a Kindle or Nook.

Well, that’s it for now. Good luck, fellow 75-ers!

Happy reading in 2024, Cassie!

Welcome back, Cassie!

Happy New Year, Cassie!

Thanks, all! Let’s start out 2024 with a bang: a triple-whammy post!

Book 1 is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, expertly read by Tim Curry. This was an Audible book; most everyone is familiar with the story but Curry does it well, differentiating character voices. If you’re a fan of this story looking for a good audio version, this one should at least be a contender.

Book 2 is, I confess, an interlibrary loan— even though I have a ton of my own books to read. I have been working on a training course for library student workers and tutors, and I couldn’t resist the cover. It’s from a children’s science series called Science Comics, and they take a subject and use a graphic novel approach to teach it. This one was cats (see touchstone) and it has a “host”—a domestic feline named Bean, who tells her rags to riches story through the science of cats: their anatomy, basic genetics, domestication, etc. Extremely cute book by Andy Hirsch and great for budding scientists! *Side note: you’re probably going to see more on this series because they have a lot more subjects I’m interested in, including diseases, dogs, crows, weather, etc. This may be a year of many ILLs!*

Book 3 is The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale by Jon Klassen; it’s about a scared girl fleeing some undefined danger in the woods late one day when she comes across a huge house wherein lives a human skull. The girl is scared but the skull soon puts her at ease and they strike up a friendship. But the skull, too, is afraid, since something horrible visits him every night? Can our brave heroine Otilla save them both? The illustrations are not monochromatic but they are a limited palette, of mostly dark shadows with a few lighter elements for contrast. The illustrations have a haunting yet somehow soft look and it fits the story well. The mood isn’t intensely scary—more a muted eerie-ness that gives it a dream-like feel. Maybe not for the most timid of children, but those who like a hint of spookiness will probably be OK. I highly recommend that you read the author’s note about how he came to write the book, because it’s the very essence of folk tales.

So 2024 is off to a strong start. I’m still working on a nonfiction about fairy tales, and I started another nonfiction that will likely get classified as the first disturbing read; it’s on food safety. My fiction is a short story collection of ghost stories suitable for the winter nights around Christmas; they are gentle and full of hope and warmth, much more akin to “A Christmas Carol” than to a Steven King novel. Perfect for reading this weekend as the snow blows and piles up around us.

Hi, Cassie. Glad your reading is getting off to a good start. Stay warm. We haven't had much more snow, but it's currently -1 Fahrenheit, with a -23 chill factor.

My print reading has slowed, but I did just finish the Audible version of Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge, a book of political intrigue, spies and highwaymen, and a temperamental goose. Hardinge creates a believable fantasy world where an orphaned girl, Moses, is thrust into circumstances where she teams up with a charlatan—and both become entangled in the politics of a city run by a mad duke, his cool and calculating sister, and several guilds, all vying for position. All Mosca and her companion Clent want is to make it out of the city alive before their role in the political intrigue becomes deadly. Although it takes place in another world with its own beliefs and habits, this “fantasy” has no magic spells or unusual animals—and it doesn’t need them. In some ways, this is more adventure story than fantasy. The world building is great, the characters excellent. A very fun escape!

Did you ever wish you could talk to animals? Marlin Rackham gets his wish in book 5, The Zoo at the Edge of the World by Eric Kahn Gale. This book is a children’s (think upper elementary/tween) fantasy. Marlin lives with his father, Roland, a famous explorer/adventurer who owns the zoo/resort in Guiana, where the last jungle is slowly being cleared for plantations. Roland has sworn to protect the jungle and the animals in his care—including the man-eating black jaguar he captures and exhibits. Up until now, Marlin is overshadowed and bullied by pretty much everyone because he stutters, but after his first encounter with the jaguar, he’s able to understand—and speak perfectly to—birds, mammals, and reptiles. At first, he’s delighted and uses his power to improve the animals’ lives, but a visit from a powerful family who’s buying jungle land for clearing seems to distract his father, who begins making decisions that make Marlin wonder how well he really knows his father.

This book is clean, at least as far as language and sex goes; it doesn’t even have romance, per se. but this book turned dark fast after a certain point, and there were always tones of racial issues, as well as animal, cruelty. Warning: there is animal death and torture. Thus, I can’t say that it’s probably a good read aloud for younger kids. You also have some dark secrets kept by Marlin’s father, and Marlin has to deal with that at the end. But it was a good read (listen), And if you can handle the gritty parts, it actually has some good messages about humane treatment of animals and environmental stewardship.

Hey, Cassie, hope everything is going well for you. Some interesting-sounding reads here.

>9 ronincats: I think you would like Fly by Night and the sequel Fly Trap, which just happens to be book 6. Ever wonder what a city with a split personality would be like? Clent and Mosca find out as they once more get mixed up in city politics and once more (try not to) cross paths with an old enemy (and a frenemy). This time the city is Toll, which divides its population up by day and night names—names given you depending on which goodkin—the world’s deities that each have allotted hours—was the “active” goodkin at your birth. There’s another problem with Toll, too—it lives up to its name. The only way to cross the wide Langfeather River that runs through a deep ravine is through the city, and you must pay both going in and going out. And, of course, Clent and Mosca have only got enough to get in. But there is hope, as Mosca knows of a plot to kidnap the daughter of the mayor, and they’re counting on the mayor giving a reward. But first they have to convince him there is a plot—and Mosca’s night name is not in their favor. Another great story from this author (more by her will be coming up in this year’s reading) and while both stories could be stand-alone, I strongly urge you read them in order, as the first sets up the relationship between Mosca and Clent. Like her first book, there’s several subplots that are important but different to explain quickly; I think that’s one of the strong points of her writing, because whose life doesn’t have subplots? Also, the “chase” scene of multiple versions of the clatterhorse (what the Welsh would call Mari Lwyd) is somehow both comical and creepy.

Book 7 is Firelight and Frost: Haunting Tales for Long Nights, a different collection of supernatural stories by J. T. Croft. Different because each of the stories are more about love and friendship than a haunting or vengeful spirit; with the exception of a couple, the supernatural entities are often kind, sympathetic, and not frightening by any means. Those that do have something sinister about them have a pretty good reason—the entity that visits a lord’s manor every so often at Christmas to judge whether the household shows human warmth and kindness, or the ghost who seeks revenge when wronged. My favorite story was actually the last, where two long-separated soul mates meet some unusual beings who work to reunite them. These are not horror supernatural overall—most of the stories hold that love and friendship is the light in the darkness, overcoming the strongest obstacles. If you want slasher/jump scares/super-creepy atmosphere then this book is as far from what you want in the world of supernatural fiction. If you don’t mind ghosts akin to those in A Christmas Carol, you might want to consider picking this one up.

Almost done with my work read; it’s taking me some time but it’s a scholarly work and those always slow me down. I’ve started an epic trilogy on Audible and now, of course, I need a new fiction read for home. I’m thinking something light and quick, maybe a children’s chapter book.

I just finished book 8–huzzah! Breaking the Magic Spell: Radical Theories of Folk & Fairy Tales is a scholarly work about some of our oldest story genres by Jack Zipes. A collection of essays discussing the social, psychological, and cultural importance of these kinds of works, he focuses mainly on the Germanic but does go a little into modern fairy tales, such as Lucas’s Star Wars and Tolkien’s The Hobbit. My favorite chapter was once again the last, as it focused on childhood development and how fairy and folk tales can guide that development. This is not an easy read but it is thoughtful and I could see how in its day, it may have actually been used in the higher ed classroom in one of those very rare departments, folklore studies. (I’m exceedingly proud that our state has one of less than a dozen institutions offering a folklore degree.). Although I keep telling myself I’m going to one day get a second masters degree in folklore, I think this book is destined to return to Muncie and Derek’s shop. Recommend only to those with an interest in folklore as a societal change agent unbothered by what reads like a collection of peer-reviewed articles.

Book 9 is You Have Those Wild Eyes Again, Mooch: A New Mutts Treasury by Patrick McDonnell. Mutts is a fun comic strip any pet owner can identify with, as besties cat Mooch and dog Earl do their cat and dog things—eating, playing, sleeping (especially in Mooch’s case), and generally having fun. Interspersed are segments about adopting from shelters, Mooch’s attempts to hold a book club, and famous humanitarian quotes. This is a family comic with a gentle approach; children and adults alike can enjoy a Mutts collection.

Don’t worry—for those who miss my disturbing reads, I’m currently doing an adult title on food safety and a children’s book on bubonic plague. If we get some stormy weather tonight, it also might be a good time to read a bit from my children’s history mystery.

Book 10 is a children’s nonfiction, The Bubonic Plague by Kevin Cunningham. A bit more historical than medical, it’s not nearly as disturbing as the more in-depth adult works on the topic. That’s not to say it doesn’t cover the ache of loss and the more shameful parts of this history (anti-Semitism especially), but it’s not got enough details to cause nightmares—which parents will probably appreciate come bedtime. Suitable for upper elementary and middle school students. Covers the history of Y. pestis—the plague bacteria—from the first plague into its arrival on US soil.

Book 11 is a history mystery for upper elementary/junior high students by Chris Priestley, Death and the Arrow. Tom works for his father as errand boy for the family printing business in 1715 London, and all the talk is about the murders—people listed as having been killed in America turn up dead, an arrow in their chest and a card showing an image of Death holding an arrow in their pocket. Tom is intrigued but doesn’t get involved until his pickpocket friend is killed. A good story for the age group—no romance or sex, no swearing—makes this a possibility for bedtime read-aloud for kids ready for stories without pictures. Enough action and a male protagonist that this is a great read for boys—girls who need a female character to identify with won’t find one here, though.

Book 12 is, I believe, the first truly “disturbing” read this year. While up to this point my food-based disturbing reads have focused on either purposeful adulteration of food products to cheapen it or downright cheat customers (Swindled by Bee Wilson) or it’s been about the origins of ingredients (as in Twinkie, Deconstructed by Steve Ettlinger), this one—Making Supper Safe: One Man’s Quest to Learn the Truth About Food Safety by Ben Hewitt—is about the dangers of our corporatized, opaque modern food systems. While the author admits that raw and local foods can pose a danger, he points out that all the big outbreaks of life-threatening illnesses are tied to the mass-produced, factory farming practices. While he’s admitting that these practices reduce cost, his big argument against modern factory farming systems is that, more and more, our choices about what we eat and where we get it are diminishing, as small family owned farms disappear and more legislation is passed that makes obtaining raw options limited. An interesting look not into what is in the food that can make you sick (OK, there’s a little of that), but rather how the system of production is stacked in favor of something like that getting into our food supply. If you like buying ground beef at the store without wondering how many E. coli bacteria may be teeming inside and how they got there—nope, skip this read. If, however, you have a seemingly zen approach to your food or you simply have an iron stomach, you might give it a chance. And choice, apparently, can include scavenging fresh road kill and dumpster diving—so be forewarned about those topics as well….

Book 13, Owl Puke by Jane Hammerslough may sound disturbing (or maybe just gross), but this children’s nonfiction book about all things owl is really just a small dive to get kids hooked on the natural sciences. This copy was used, so sadly I didn’t get the owl pellet that the touchstone says should come with it, but if I really want to excavate a pellet, they provide a phone and website for ordering your own sterilized pellets. Yup, that’s a thing. Budding ornithologists will love the full color pictures and owl facts, plus activities and a list of the owls in North America.

Oh, crap—the order of award-winning children’s books are here. I’d better start reading…. XD

It’s been so long since I’ve ordered children’s/YA books for a library that I’d forgotten the anticipation of receiving them, the joy of their arrival, and the eagerness to catalog them so I can check them out and read them (reverse order often with picture books). We pulled virtually all youth books from our collection years ago after dropping children’s literature as a course (it wasn’t a requirement for our 2 year education program and no one was taking it as an elective). Now that we are going to a 4 year program, we are starting up the collection again, with Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, and the Carnegie Medal winners, both gold and silver, since 2020. I am awaiting further order instructions from the Education Department, but this will more than hold me for the moment. Most of my 60+ books arrived but some were back ordered, so my first job is seeing which ones are here and which are not. Either way—bliss!!!

Just finished book 14 at lunch—The Horrors of Fox Hollow Farm: Unraveling the History & Hauntings of a Serial Killer’s Home by Richard Estep and with help from Robert Graves, who I presume is still the owner of the estate. This has to be the most unique true crime—or unique paranormal event—book I have read because it is both. While lighter on the true crime segment (about 25-30% of the book), the first part focuses on Herb Baumeister and his penchant for murdering gay men around Indianapolis (oh, and for me it’s also part “local” history, if you can call a city 3 hours from my neck of the Indiana woods “local”). Disturbing because murder is, this isn’t as graphic as some other true crime books—gory details are at a minimum, which is a nice balance for those who find detailed true crime descriptions a bit off-putting. As for the paranormal part—well, I’m a skeptic but I try to keep an open mind. Still, without much physical evidence (no ghost images here) and not much more than personal experiences and some EVPs, it’s difficult for me to say everything is 100% real. I tracked down on YouTube some of these EVPs but as usual, most I couldn’t attribute necessarily to ghosts or spirits—few were understandable and some so faint that I hesitate to even consider anything but background noise. But there were a couple of impressive ones IF they truly could be proven genuine. Unfortunately, some of the modes of investigation are questionable—2 different people claiming psychic abilities said contradicting things (even Mr. Estep admits both can’t be right), and I don’t hold much with some of the equipment they used, as you can have too many false positives with SLS cameras, dowsing rods, spirit boxes, and other unproven tech. But if even a handful of the personal experiences are true, Fox Hollow Farm is definitely intriguing from a paranormal perspective.

Pros: quick read, pacing good, popular nonfiction approach means little jargon and technical explanations that may confuse readers; Estep refreshingly doesn’t claim every little thing as definite paranormal activity, short bibliography in back

Cons: a lot of pseudoscience methods and no tangible evidence in book, some may feel the true crime section is too short/basic

Book 15 was The Snow Pony by Alison Lester. When I first picked this up, I thought it would be a light “girl and her horse” story but about a quarter through it turned pretty dark fast. The Snow Pony is a brumby—a wild horse in Australia. When her father catches her, Dusty tames the scrappy horse only to find she only goes for her. Then drought strikes and the situation worsens for Dusty and her family. With themes of alcohol abuse, family dysfunction, suicide, animal abuse, and rape, I’m calling this a YA rather than a children’s book. Don’t get me wrong—it’s a good read if you don’t mind the darker aspects—and the character growth is good. Teens having to deal with a parent with substance abuse/temper control issues will definitely relate; I was waiting to see how far Dusty’s dad would slide before seeking help, if he ever did.

But if you’re wanting something for a younger, more innocent audience, I suggest my tried and true tween horse trilogy (fuzzi can probably already guess, lol!), the Gypsy series by Sharon Wagner: Gypsy from Nowhere, Gypsy and Nimblefoot, and Gypsy and the Moonstone Stallion (in that order). These 3 books are my horsey comfort reads and are G-rated, mystery crossover genres with enough suspense to keep you reading but without the grittier elements of this one.

>19 CassieBash: OMG, the bells are ringing. I was horse mad as a child (& haven't really grown out of it), & know I owned Gypsy and Nimblefoot. Not sure about the other two. Probably even still have the book somewhere.

>20 ReneeMarie: I received the trilogy as a boxed set probably around 40 years ago. The box is long gone but the books are of course still with me.

>21 CassieBash: Not sure everywhere Mom shopped, but depending on who published it back in the day, mine was probably either from a school order form or was a birthday or Easter or Xmas gift from KMart.

One of my absolute favorite horse books from childhood was The Secret Horse by Marion Holland. That one WAS from a school order form.

Did more investigation & I think I have (or had) the first book, too. But it wasn't a trilogy when I was reading it. And I would've been too old when book 3 finally came out.

>22 ReneeMarie: I think I read that one, too!

>23 ReneeMarie: I have always liked reading youth books; I can enjoy them as much now as when I was growing up. A lot of the chapter books are comfort reads, and I’m often pleased with the complexity and writing of YA novels.

And speaking of…remember those children’s books I got back on >17 CassieBash:? Ever have one of those moments at work when you finish up a big job (in my case, emailing students about overdue stuff) before quittin’ time but you don’t have a lot of time left on the clock to get into another deep dive project? That was me yesterday, and I decided I ought to prep some of these books for cataloging by assigning call numbers. I started with the picture books and read as I prepped, so I have a few to add to the count….

Book 16: Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear by conservationist Trang Nguyen is the graphic novel memoirs of the author’s struggles to become a conservationist in Vietnam where people believe only Westerners, and certainly not Vietnamese girls, have the strength to traverse the rainforests and work with wild animals. But Nguyen proved them wrong, helping to rehabilitate an orphaned sun bear cub named Sorya and releasing her back into the wild. Children will love the graphic novel format that shows off Sorya’s antics well. There is information about bear farms, where the animals are penned and kept for bile extraction, so the book can be dark in places and may not be suitable for the youngest children. The story is good though and it’s got a great message about not giving up even when others tell you you’ll fail.

Book 17: Have You Ever seen a Flower? by Shawn Harris is a bit trippy. I love the illustrations—boldly colorful, almost neon hues offset at the beginning by gray scale that represents the city. A girl and her dog leave the city behind to explore the natural world’s beauty through her senses. This fanciful exploration is jarringly interrupted by a thorn prick and blood, with the center spread just two pages of red. The book ends with an analogy of the girl and a flower. I can come up with a few ideas of what the author is trying to convey: flowers, like you, are part of a living web of things that are all entwined, or that we should take time in our busy lives to reflect on nature. You could even argue for reincarnation. Maybe he is making a case for all of that. Regardless, children will love vivid colors that almost seem to glow if nothing else.

Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor would be book 18. While not as splashy with the colors as the last one, it’s still got a pretty bright palette and what child doesn’t like animals? Mel is a young bird who just knows she can fly, and while her horrified siblings watch, Mel takes the plunge. As she falls, numerous animals try to catch her and fail. Things look pretty grim until a surprise twist saves the day. The fun gimmick for this book are the instructions on how to turn the book to get the proper layout—when you see it, you’ll understand. Out of this round, this one is the most lighthearted in tone.

Book 19 is A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart by Zetta Elliott. A young Black teen boy works through his feelings that are “deep down inside”, running the gamut starting with joy as he plays basketball with his friends, only to have to confront darker emotions as a police shooting a Black girl sparks community action. But as he struggles through the darker emotions, he comes out on the other side stronger, finding positive emotions like hope and compassion to help him combat his fear, anger, and sadness. The illustrations are beautifully done and are carefully planned so that even the colors reflect the emotions—bright ones for joy, dark grays and blacks cut through with sections of red and blue for a surreal feel for fear, a variety of neutral ones for peace. Out of this group, this is probably tied with the next as my favorite as far as message—it has such a positive ending. Plus, the boy’s cat follows him around and I had fun looking for it on just about every page.

That makes Outside In by Deborah Underwood book 20 and the last in this round. This book reminds us that no matter how many barriers we put up between ourselves and the natural world, we are always going to be dependent on it and we need to return to the spirit of embracing it rather than trying to shut it out. Gorgeous watercolor paintings are full of splashes and swoops, with colors blending together at times. The artist also created some lines by soaking dried flower stems and thread in ink—a nice touch considering the theme.

I’m sure there will be more soon. These were on the top of the pile so I just grabbed them and went for it.

>24 CassieBash: One thing I see fairly often at the bookstore is adults who get on the case of their children who are choosing books below their reading level.

There didn't seem to be many bookstores around when I was a child, nor many YA authors. Our local library was first one room at a local church & then a small home put to the use.

I still managed to have a college-age reading level by junior high. Mom never policed what I read, which was often whatever she had purchased for herself. So by junior high I was reading John Jakes & Ellis Peters & Anne McCaffrey, etc., etc., etc.

Now, only partly for work, I sometimes read middle-grade fiction or, more rarely, YA. Not much by way of chapter books and almost never picture books, though.

>25 ReneeMarie: Oh, I love Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books!

Considering the nation’s slipping literacy rates and how many students we have that say they hate reading, if I were a parent, I’d just be happy my child _wants_ to read.

I know there was (still is?) a concern with many parents that reading comic books and graphic novels will stunt reading/literacy skills, despite studies showing the opposite and that they can be the things that can sometimes turn reluctant readers into bibliophiles.

At least you had a library, however small. I was also fortunate to have one in town—though we had limited access as we are 15-20 minute drive from it, and it wouldn’t have been safe to bike there (big highways with lots of truck traffic). It wasn’t until I was a professional librarian that I saw a map of Indiana with the public library districts marked, and there are some serious gaps in service, particularly in the southern third of the state. I’m sure it’s the same in a lot of states, and it’s sad to think of kids growing up without that opportunity.

I should have some upcoming books that may be more your speed—never fear! I’m listening to an adult fantasy trilogy on Audible, and I’m reading a Tolkien, plus if non-disturbing nonfiction is enjoyable, I’m reading about horses and civilization. Yep—plenty of reading going on here!

>26 CassieBash: I might actually take a look at Mel Fell. Pretty sure we stock it.

I'm not sure how long my elementary school had a library, but I think it was there by the time I started first grade. The public library only opened in that church a few years later. It was close enough to walk to, and not far from where the house-library would be.

When I was a...teen? I wrote the village board asking if they could commit to money so the library could move to a larger space since there wasn't enough room to "swing a cat" in the room in the church.

My letter was read at the village board meeting & they did commit to it. I can't remember if I put my name to the letter, but they did know it was from me. One of the board members told my dad -- village president at the time -- "nice letter your daughter wrote." :^)

>27 ReneeMarie: Always a good feeling when you help bring about positive change….

And speaking of positive change (and graphic novels), I’ve got a middle school one for book 21 that dives (a pun!—wait for it….) into segregation, particularly at public pools. Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas is about a modern middle school girl named Bree who moves from NYC to Florida with her dad. She has high hopes of getting into a math-related elective at her new school but unfortunately the only thing open to her is swimming—and she’s never learned how. Fortunately, her older neighbor once was on the very swim team Bree finds herself on and agrees to teach her—and as she does, we learn about segregation and racism from her neighbor’s past experiences. It’s not the overriding message in the book—teamwork and friendship takes the front seat here—but it is woven into those themes and it does form some of the plot framework. Bree has a very real feel to her character—they all do—as she’s plagued with doubts and worries about fitting in, living up to expectations, and whether her best is good enough. Even the adults have some flaws and don’t have all the answers. It’s age appropriate—no cursing and only a hint of romance—but it stays on track throughout focusing on the girl’s swim team members and the rivalry of their competitive school—a private prep school whose swim coach focuses solely on winning. Some great positive messages that transcend skin color—good for any tween to read.

Book 22 is Grayling’s Song by Karen Cushman: Grayling’s mother is the local wise woman—a witch whose magic focuses on healing potions and songs. Grayling, as her daughter, doesn’t feel magical at all—she can’t sing spells or mix herbal balms like her mother. So when a horrible power steals her mother’s grimoire and starts transforming her into a tree, it’s up to the reluctant young girl to find others—if other wise people aren’t rooted as her mother—to reverse the spell. A book about believing in yourself and having courage despite huge odds, “Grayling’s Song” is a gentle middle school fantasy coming of age story.

Book 23 is Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer—less a story and more a series of questions about the natural world framed from the perspective as a boy and girl out exploring the world around them. The questions are whimsical yet poignant from a child’s perspective—for example, is the wind blowing the world’s breath? Is the rain the day’s tears? Do caves have mouths? (Yes, though I don’t think in the way they ponder it….) The collage illustrations are surprisingly detailed and beautiful.

Book 24: We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom is a beautiful, simple story of the Standing Rock protest by indigenous peoples from across the U.S. against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Despite being assured that the pipe wouldn’t leak and damage tribal homelands—well, it’s not the first promise made to Native Americans to be broken. The text and illustrations capture the unity, courage, and dedication of the various tribes—particularly the Ojibwe tribe to which the author belongs, while the illustrator is Alaskan Tlingit.

Book 25 is Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons; youngest child Alan is nervous about their annual family reunion, where everyone shares something heartfelt—a story, a poem, a song—but Alan doesn’t have anything. Can he come up with something in time? What I really liked about this one is how Alan’s older sister helps him out subtly—deflecting potential embarrassment and giving quiet encouragement. It brings home the family concept without beating you over the head with its obviousness.

Big by Vashti Harrison is 26. It follows the story of a small black girl who is kind, good, and dreams big. But as she grows, her larger weight becomes a problem and opens her up to bullying, which makes her feel small inside. But she learns to let go of the hateful words and to accept herself. Definitely read the author’s note, as this book is a message that’s close to her.

That’s it for today—I’m still working on my nonfiction and my epic audiobook trilogy, with under 20 hours to go. Whew! I’m sure to have more picture books to add in a day or two.

Books 27-31, in no particular order:

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford is a child’s introduction to the building up of an affluent African American community on the outskirts of Tulsa, Oklahoma and its destruction at the hands of a white mob. The injustice of many innocent people losing their lives and property is amplified by the fact that the police did nothing and the mob kept firefighters from putting out the fires the mob started in Black neighborhoods and businesses. The title of the book comes from how the incident was swept under the rug, going uninvestigated until over 70 years after the tragedy happened. But the book ends on a positive note, an illustration of peoples of many races joined together around the Hope statue located in the city’s Reconciliation Park. The author notes provide more information as well as the personal reasons she wrote the book.

An American Story by Kwame Alexander takes a unique approach to introducing the American slave trade, as the author uses a back-and-forth dialogue between a teacher and her students. This is a good way to start a discussion that may be hard for some teachers and parents to address. Like “Unspeakable” above, it ends with a message of hope.

How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford is a child’s biography of how a young Black girl overcame several obstacles including segregation and racial injustice, to go on to the National Spelling Bee. Extremely smart, dedicated, and hardworking, MacNolia lost only because the white judges chose to give her a word that wasn’t on the official list. Though she lost, no one could say she hadn’t competed and beat out several white competitors. An afterward tells more of her story.

Watercress by Andrea Wang tells the story of a Chinese American girl whose parents stop alongside a ditch to gather wild watercress. She’s ashamed to eat the plants gathered out of the mud until her mother tells her about the famine she and her family experienced in China, and she comes to understand her parents’ perspective.

Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris is a fun romp about the adventures of a group of animals brought together by a river and an old log. Each animal brings something to the adventure, the illustrations are incredibly cute and fun, and the hardback edition at least has maps of the river on the inside cover—one “pre-adventure” and one “post-adventure”. Unlike the others in this round that can be used as a discussion point for deep social issues, this can be a purely for fun romp—although you can easily work in a discussion on making new friends if you like.

OK, got more to catalog and more to buy, so that’s it this time around. These are all award winners of either silver or gold—I believe the first 3 are Coretta Scott King, the others Caldecott. There are some Newbery’s in the piles but because those are longer, I’ll come back to them after I’ve finished the current lunch read here at work.

Numbers 32, 33, & 34 is the compiled audio version of the Loom Saga, comprised of The Alchemists of Loom, The Dragons of Nova, and The Rebels of Gold by Elise Kova—even though the audiobook was the combined trilogy, and even though for brevity and non-spoiler purposes I’m reviewing the overarching plot, I’m counting each individual book, as they were originally published individually. This is the epic and classic fantasy premise of a stifled world ruled by an aristocratic dictatorial society. Loom is the lower world—literally—populated by downtrodden humans who never see the sun due to a perpetual layer of clouds called “The God’s Line”, while above this line are floating islands where the three houses of humanoid “dragons” live, enjoying the sunlight, fresh air, and the finer things in life. But Loom has only recently been discovered and conquered by the dragons, and even though the last rebellion attempt failed, there are events unfolding that may give Loom a fighting chance. Enter our three protagonists: Ari the thief and a master of the Riveters Guild (think engineers), a young lady named Florence who was training to be a Raven (think logistics) but who illegally leaves that guild to learn at Ari’s hands and to become a Revolver (weapons specialist). And then there’s Cvareh, a blue-skinned dragon from one of the three remaining dragon houses left (House Shin). Between the three of them, they just might pull off a rebellion and destroy the power of House Roc and free Loom—if they can learn to work together and unite dragons and humans.

Except for a detailed and, in my mind, an entirely too-long sex scene or two interrupting the plot, this book is a fast-paced rush of political intrigue and scheming, world and character crafting, and plenty of bloodshed and fighting.

Yes, I’m still alive. Just had a few setbacks and busy times that have kept me from posting. Also, unfortunately, also kept me from reading quite as much as I would like. Still, I have several to add:

Book 35: Horse: How the Horse Has Shaped Civilization by J. Edward Chamberlin. A nonfiction Quick Look at how horses changed human society, especially in war and agriculture (and especially war). Parts of it were a bit too anthropomorphic for me in relation to the theme (either wax poetic about the horse as a spiritual being and create conjectured stories about how domestication happened or stick with neutral-narrated facts—don’t cram both into the same paragraph and muddy waters), it spent far too much time with how the horse made warfare possible (which admittedly could be a book in its own right). I wouldn’t have minded much but it seemed like just when the author is settling down to talk about something like agriculture or the evolution of tack, he’s off on war topics again. I get it—we humans are greedy and we go to war at the drop of a hat to take others’ resources but it got to be a bit much. If I had wanted a history of the horse in war I’d have gotten a book specific to that. Society and civilization is (I hope) more than an endless string of battles. I’ll be sending this along to Derek’s.

Book 36 is Canyons by Gary Paulsen who is best known for his boy against the wilderness novellas, but did you know he occasionally forayed into the supernatural? Brennan is a teen boy living with his mom, whose newest boyfriend takes them hiking. This is how Brennan ends up with a human skull with a bullet hole in it (most of the skull I should say—no lower jaw and a goodly portion of the back is gone). Through flashbacks and Brendan’s research (as well as what appears to be a psychic connection from beyond the grave), we find out who the skull was—and what Brennan needs to do. This novella is part mystery, part adventure, with a smidgin of light horror thrown in. Enjoyable but not enough for a place on my shelves—going to Derek’s for rehoming—it should find one.

Book 37: The Emperor’s Ostrich by Julie Berry is about a spoiled soon-to-be-king who doesn’t know how to care for himself, let alone a kingdom. So a pair of ancestor-spirits step in—one to teach the emperor a lesson and one who’s trying to keep the first one’s plan from going too far. With the help of his faithful ostrich and its cow friend, a milkmaid and the boy who’s trying to help her out of her “distress”, the emperor may learn a thing or two and actually get to rule—if the trio of noblemen taking advantage of the situation don’t do away with them all first. This audiobook version (CD format, purchased used) was well read and the gentle story had a nostalgic feel—the author herself calls it a “love letter to Lloyd Alexander”. On the fence about keeping it which means that, for the moment, it stays on the shelves.

I feel like I’m missing one…I really should try to not let things get so far behind. Well, I can add it if I remember it later.

Book 38: Finished an audiobook yesterday: House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo. Xander is a teen boy with a loving family—mom, dad, a little brother and sister—but he’s frustrated when his family moves to a small town and buys a house in a deep woods that’s got a checkered past. The house is strange, with sounds that distort and seem to come from odd places, and later his brother finds a closet that teleports you to a locker in the town’s school. But things get really dangerous when a strange man starts showing up in the house, leading the boys to a hidden area of the house with rooms that take you through space and time. Part adventure, part horror, this story is a cliff hanger but it seems like it would be a good choice for boys in upper elementary and junior high. There’s danger and mystery but no sex or bad language (certainly no f bombs) but there is some violence and bloodshed. Just be aware that the story is obviously a to be continued. The concept of space/time travel via hidden rooms is intriguing and I wonder who the strange man is, so I may have to keep my eyes open for the sequel.

Book 39 is an audio of The Doctors Blackwell by Janice P. Nimura is a biography drawing from not just secondary but also primary sources (mostly correspondence) detailing the lives of Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell, who both worked hard to open the doors and pave the way for women to be doctors. At a time when the closest “approved” medical job for women was midwifery, Elizabeth Blackwell entered medicine, being educated among male students, receiving her diploma and becoming America’s first woman doctor. Later followed by her younger sister Emily (who in some ways had a harder time being accepted), they helped establish not only women doctors in a time when women were just beginning to become nurses (Florence Nightingale was a contemporary), but also to help raise up women’s health care issues. The book starts with the Blackwell family’s transition from England to America, documents the sisters’ respective journeys and accomplishments and finishes with their respective final acts—Elizabeth returning to England and Emily remaining in America to see the fruits of their struggles. Despite being abolitionists and believing in educational equality, the Blackwell were, perhaps surprisingly, not huge supporters of the women’s rights movement. While Emily did believe that women should practice the medical profession, Elizabeth always saw women as being teachers of medicine and home practitioners—taking care of sick husbands and children as well as themselves. Her dream, established with Emily, was to found a women’s medical college. But Emily remained a practitioner, working at the college and at a medical center and dispensary for poor women and children in New York (which operated independently until the early 1980s), practicing there until retirement. Without the push from the Blackwell sisters, it’s difficult to say when it would have been acceptable for a woman to become a doctor in America. Not the best reader in my opinion but passable—and the narrative, full of quoted correspondence, was good enough to keep me going to the end. This should be of interest to any woman in or going into the medical profession, but should also be of interest to those fans of women’s rights and American history in general.