As so many of us who are moving into our sixties and seventies have come to realize when looking in the mirror or facing surgeries or physical limitatAs so many of us who are moving into our sixties and seventies have come to realize when looking in the mirror or facing surgeries or physical limitations have come to realize, we're not eighteen anymore. That doesn't mean that there isn't any joy or changes left in our lives. While society, popular culture, and even modern medicine often seem to relegate older individuals to the sidelines or overmedicate them, that shouldn't be the case. Weaving science, years of experience, personal anecdotes, and literature in an engaging narrative, Louise Aronson makes a strong case for change within the medical profession and within ourselves and those around us. How strange it is that so few others have come to the same conclusions as Aronson has! Reading this book has made me want to rage, rage, rage against those who would relegate the aged and the elderly to the sidelines. A geriatrician, she raises important questions and examines her own initial and subsequent reactions to aging. This is one of those must-reads. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me. Weaving in her own family's history and economic ups and downs with a shocking murder in the Mississippi Delta in 1948, authThis one is a 3.5 for me. Weaving in her own family's history and economic ups and downs with a shocking murder in the Mississippi Delta in 1948, author Beverly Lowry relies on archival information and interviews to try to solve the crime. While Ruth Dickins, daughter of the wealthy white victim, is charged, convicted, and incarcerated for the murder despite her insistence that she saw an unfamiliar Black man in her mother's house, she serves only a handful of her sentence before being released. While the crime itself is shocking, given that the murder weapon was a pair of garden shears, what elevates this particular story is how the author delves into white and economic privilege, racial assumptions, and social status as well as the historical backdrop of the time period as the Jim Crow era was coming to an end. Law enforcement officials' initial willingness to believe Ruth's story of a Black culprit as well as the ways that her husband worked to persuade the state's governors to pardon are add to readers' understanding that justice isn't always particularly just. While I appreciated the book's structure and the parallels with her own family, there were parts of the book that seemed to be unnecessarily long, especially when there is no clear resolution about who killed Idella Thompson. ...more
As other reviewers have said, I will read anything written by Nic Stone. Her books raise important questions and don't provide easy answers, and her cAs other reviewers have said, I will read anything written by Nic Stone. Her books raise important questions and don't provide easy answers, and her characters are complex and relatable. If you haven't read the previous books in this series [Dear Martin and Dear Justyce], definitely check them out first, and of course, if you have read them, you won't want to miss this one since it features some of the characters in the previous books. The protagonist, Jared Christensen, a privileged college white boy who considers himself to be woke although that doesn't stop him from enjoying the advantages his skin color and family wealth afford him, decides to run for Junior Class Council President on a platform calling for equity and inclusion. He has two opponents--John Preston who is vocal in his disgust with representation and quotas and Dylan Coleman, a Black transfer student with a similar agenda to Jared's. Dylan's involvement in the election prompts much soul-searching on the part of Jared, who questions his own commitment to equity and the causes he says he supports even while feeling attracted to Dylan. As an outlet and way of being honest with himself, he writes letters to his friend Manny, who died two years ago. What makes Jared's story so special and worth reading is how his emotions and actions will feel familiar to many readers just like him whose hearts are in the right place but who don't always follow up their intentions with actions. Realizing this will make some of them/us feel quite uncomfortable and guilty, but the book encourages honest, healthy dialogue about his behavior and that of others while also examining the influence of family on the values of their offspring. It's also worth pondering how important winning is and what each of us might do if we had explosive, damaging material in our hands that could help us win an election. While some parts of the book didn't ring true and I wondered about that Constitutional Law class as well as how challenging it must have been for Stone to write about a white character, I also had to confront some of my biases and remind myself that white authors have been writing Black characters for quite some time. Don't hesitate to read this book and then be sure to discuss it with others in and even outside of your circle and comfort zone. ...more
Historical fiction fans know that there are numerous books set during WWII. While it might seem that all the stories about that era that are possible Historical fiction fans know that there are numerous books set during WWII. While it might seem that all the stories about that era that are possible to be told have already been told, that isn't the case. This one, for instance, covers the period right before Adolf Hitler comes into power in Germany in 1932, moving from Berlin to Paris in 1936, and then to New York City in 1944. The protagonists, three women who are strong in different ways, find their lives connected in a surprising coincidence. All three--one a famous writer from Maine on a cultural program to Germany, another a Jew living in Paris and working at the German Library of Burned Books, and the third, fighting against a Senator's determination to censor the books sent overseas to servicemen fighting in the war--believe in the importance of words and books to offer hope during the most troubling of times. Many readers like me will be unaware of the existence of the two libraries, including the American Library of Nazi-Banned Books in Brooklyn, until reading this story, even though they are familiar with the Nazi book burning. While the events described here occurred decades ago, the plot and attempts to restrict access to books couldn't be timelier, given the recent spate of book challenges and political posturing in the United States. The book held my attention all the way through. ...more
Oh, how I wish our elected officials and those that support building a wall to keep people out of the country would read this book [4.5 for me!]! WellOh, how I wish our elected officials and those that support building a wall to keep people out of the country would read this book [4.5 for me!]! Well-researched and well-written, it follows the journeys of a handful of smugglers in Latin America. The author, an anthropologist, spent seven years getting to know some of the men and women who engage in this particular activity. Not surprisingly, this particular topic [human smuggling] is far more complex than many would have it. The possible solutions are just as complicated and multifaceted and would require worldwide changes since it's typically poverty, violence, environmental disasters, and fears that drive many to leave their homes. Yes, many are seeking a better life, for sure, but often, they're simply hoping to HAVE a life and not be killed, the victim of the violence in their hometowns. The smugglers or coyotes often have been in the same shoes as the individuals who are trying to cross the border into the United States or Mexico. Having failed to make it across the border or having succeeded but then sent back for one reason or another, they try to survive by helping--for a high price--others reach the Promised Land. But the smuggling business has many layers and much cost, even for the smugglers themselves, and no one in this book gets wealthy through this way of making a living. Many are living on the street, along train tracks, even in the jungle, and they come from all over, including Nicaragua and Honduras. The author delves deeply into some of the smugglers' formative years, their relationships, and the dangers they themselves face on a daily basis as well as moments of joy or times when drugs, alcohol and/or sex help them blot out some of the painful memories and reality. Because this is an ethnography, De Leon himself is present in many of the pages and exchanges with his subjects, sharing a laugh or a beer, mourning lost lives and futures, trying to understand, and feeling guilty over certain choices or missed opportunities. The individual stories and experiences are as real as things can get, and readers are likely to be fully invested in the fates of Chino, Flaco, Jesmyn, Kingston, Marina, Papo, and Santos, and feel curious about where they are now. Parts of this account are shocking, and it may be impossible to consider trains, knitting needles, knitting or iguanas the same after reading the book. It's necessary to sit quietly for a few moments after finishing this intense, immersive read, pondering one's own responsibility for the problems the author highlights. The only aspects that were missing for me were inclusive of some of those who truly profit off those migrants and the sometimes-confusing structure of the narrative. But those possible flaws are easy to ignore when faced with these examples of humans striving to survive against all odds. ...more
Senior Noor Khan is less than thrilled when her mother uproots the family, moving them from Chicago to Bayberry, Illinois, after her father abandons tSenior Noor Khan is less than thrilled when her mother uproots the family, moving them from Chicago to Bayberry, Illinois, after her father abandons them. It's a quiet town, very white and conservative, and Noor plans to quietly sleepwalk through the rest of the year even while dealing with her feelings of loss, anger, and confusion over his betrayal. However, when her learns about the restrictive English curriculum and a new book challenge policy, she can't remain silent. Along with new friends Faiz and Juniper, who is queer, and with support from Ms. Clayton, the school librarian, she takes action and speaks out, even reading during outdoor lunch portions of some of the books that have been removed from the library shelves. She's not the first to realize that many of the books being purged are written by queer and BIPOC authors. Before she knows it, Noor is being villainized, by the principal, some classmates, including the best friends of Andrew, a boy that just might have stolen her heart, and members of the Liberty Moms and Dads. And they don't stop with words. The author inserts some of the familiar microaggressions that Muslims like Noor's family or anyone new or different has no doubt encountered, adding to the story's authenticity. There's so much to appreciate about this book--the town's name, a twist on the classic Mayberry RFD of Andy Griffith fame, the librarian's name, the explanation of what Critical Race Theory actually is, the firm reminder of what the First Amendment means and how book banning is actually ant-American as well as how some politicians manage to twist speaking up and speaking out or dissent as being problematic and those of a trouble-maker. But most impressive of all is that this is a YA title about teen activism with the adolescents leading the way when many of the adults around them fail them. Timely, eye-opening, and hopeful, Noor's story is one not to be missed. ...more
I'd seen this title [4.5 for me!] in my feed several times, and after watching the Netflix movie, which is quite a bit different from the book, I knewI'd seen this title [4.5 for me!] in my feed several times, and after watching the Netflix movie, which is quite a bit different from the book, I knew I needed to read it. I finished it feeling blown away by the writing and fascinated by its subject, Robert Peace, and am continuing to mull over several questions about poverty, potential, the environment, choices--and it can certainly be argued that while Peace made several poor choices, it can also be argued that these were forced choices and that his options were narrower than they might have been, given his circumstances. How does someone navigate two very different worlds like the poor New Jersey neighborhood into which he was born and the privileged, decidedly white world of Yale into which he was granted access? What is lost and gained by trying to live in both worlds? Is that even possible? What responsibilities does a place like Yale in its Ivy League splendor and glittering possibility have to students like Rob? How could he have been saved from his early death? Relying on 300 hours of interviews recorded with those who knew Rob as well as his own memories from their time as Yale roommates, the author paints Rob as brilliant, troubled, entertaining, and caring, and yet, at times, lost. It's impossible to read this story and not mourn his loss and shake one's head over all that brilliance and potential and consider what might have been as well as what our own lives might have been like had we been dealt the cards Robert Peace was handed. What would we have done? How would we have coped? Even though Rob died in 2011, almost a decade and a half ago, his loss still hurts, and Hobbs's book reminds us that this life mattered. This is a book that necessitates sitting quietly for a few moments of reflection after reading it. ...more
As can probably be proven from my bookshelves, I love biographies and memoirs, and as soon as I saw this one, I knew that I would simply have to read As can probably be proven from my bookshelves, I love biographies and memoirs, and as soon as I saw this one, I knew that I would simply have to read it. I am of the generation that remembers when journalists and broadcasters were respected and unbiased, and I can certainly recall watching Connie Chung in her various roles at CBS, including anchoring the nightly news, and being impressed with how polished she was. This book highlights some of the sparkling and disappointing moments during her long career, offering just enough details to intrigue readers and allowing her personality to come through. One of the notable aspects of the book in addition to how it gives readers glimpses into news reporters and what goes on behind the scenes is how grateful Chung is. Throughout the narrative, she constantly acknowledges those who proceeded her, paving the way for her to become the first Asian to anchor a United States news program. She shares details about her parents' move from China to the U.S., the racism and sexism she faced, and her struggles with fertility. Surprisingly, she exhibits a keen, self-deprecating type of humor, a humbleness, and keen insight into the broadcasting and political world that make her story unique and worth reading. While I wish she had delved more deeply into how she sees news and reporting changing over the past couple of decades, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir. I gained a whole new appreciation for her husband, Maury Povich, as well. ...more
Interestingly vibrant illustrations, created with watercolor and digital techniques, and strong, reflective text, showcase the possibilities art and cInterestingly vibrant illustrations, created with watercolor and digital techniques, and strong, reflective text, showcase the possibilities art and creativity have to change the world. Focusing on the efforts of Corita Kent, a Catholic nun whose work consisted of a combination of words and images and who encouraged her art students to break the rules, this picture book biography [3.5 for me!] profiles someone not often, if ever, mentioned in history books. And yet, this artist was quite influential. Since she was working during a historical period when the Catholic church and mainstream society was changing, she became a part of the revolution. Although she eventually left the church, she continued to use her own art to highlight issues, encourage change, and offer hope to others. It's impossible to read her story, examine the illustrations, and consider her impact without feeling inspired and energized to carry on her work. The book's title fits its contents perfectly since it's abundantly clear that Corita Kent put her whole heart into her work. Add this title to a collection of artists' biographies as well as one devoted to activists or individuals who have made a difference....more
Although seventh grader Katie is still at the heart of this humorous, timely graphic novel series, the talented cats that live near her--all 217 of thAlthough seventh grader Katie is still at the heart of this humorous, timely graphic novel series, the talented cats that live near her--all 217 of them--add the purr-fect touch to the plot. Readers like me will be looking closely at each page to locate one of those well-trained felines and learn what its special skills are. It could be that one is a Military Expert, Architecture, Remix Specialist or in charge of Publicity. In this, the fourth book in the series, Katie and the Mousestress, who is also Cheesy Justice, become concerned that a horse carriage company now has a monopoly on this tourist attraction and is keeping the horses in crowded conditions. Investigation leads to SlimBuilds, a company that seems intent on filling all the space between apartment buildings with more structures, blocking the sun. It's fun to watch Katie gain confidence and build bonds with her skating crew. There are several subplots that add interest to the book while hinting at various stories yet to be told. The artwork fits the storyline and characters perfectly, both depicting seventh grade and friend and family dynamics and all their ups and downs perfectly. I'll look forward to the next installment in this unique and empowering series that's all about girl power. ...more
A companion novel to Life After Life, this one, which focuses on Teddy, Ursula Todd's younger brother and bomber pilot during WII. It's just as good aA companion novel to Life After Life, this one, which focuses on Teddy, Ursula Todd's younger brother and bomber pilot during WII. It's just as good as the previous one since it features cameos from various members of the Todd family as well as the next two generations. There is quite a lot of description of his flying missions and his fondness for nature. In some ways, Teddy is quite extraordinary and even a hero, but in others he will remind readers of themselves and some of their own family members. Most notably, as happens so often, Teddy's life doesn't turn out the way he might have hoped and expected. It's so clear that he and everyone else, no matter how privileged or without privilege, has dreams and ambitions, but what happens when those dreams evaporate or seem out of reach through no fault of one's own? So much happened during the twentieth century, and the author has given readers a window seat into one ordinary man's journey through the decades. As I read this one, I felt incredibly sad about Teddy's relationship with his daughter, Viola, who never really bonded with him or her own two children, but I also felt grateful that Teddy had a strong relationship with her offspring. The book contains so many well developed, interesting characters that it's likely some readers will feel bereft when they reach those final pages. ...more
Although reviews about this historical novel [4.5 for me!] are mixed with some readers considering the whole thing boring and others falling in love wAlthough reviews about this historical novel [4.5 for me!] are mixed with some readers considering the whole thing boring and others falling in love with the characters, I have to side with the positives. Just like the movie, Sliding Doors, does in pondering what might happen if a character chose one sort of life or another, only far more complex because there are many options and fates on offering here, this book follows Ursula Todd, born in the midst of a snowstorm in 1910, as she dies, lives again, dies again, lives again. Jumping back and forth in time, touching on WWI and WWII, the book offers so many possible fates for Ursula, including being raped, meeting Hitler, marrying a physically and emotionally abusive man, and helping to rescue survivors or dig out those who have died during the bombings of WWII, as to leave readers positively dizzy. In the opening pages, death is described as "darkness fell," which seems to me the perfect way to describe it. Ursula herself, in whatever iteration, could be one of us, and it fascinated me to note how she was portrayed over the years. Often, though, just as I came to care about her, the story shifted, and she was gone, only to appear somewhere else or at some other time. As much as Ursula is the centerpiece of this story, there are also reflective passages about various topics, including war, relationships, personalities, and being able to see into the future, that add an interesting layer to an already intense and original premise. All of the characters, especially members of Ursula's family, are complex and well-drawn, and even though I spent a great deal of time with them, I wanted to know more. And goodness, who isn't fascinated by the thought of what might have been or those paths not taken? This book offers glimpses into several fates. ...more
Before reading this detailed, thoroughly researched book, I had a little more knowledge of the current and historical background of Palestine, thanks Before reading this detailed, thoroughly researched book, I had a little more knowledge of the current and historical background of Palestine, thanks to The Shepherd's Granddaughter by Anne Laurel Carter (a Notable Book for a Global Society selection) and a doctoral student from Palestine who was in a couple of my courses. But this book added so much to what I thought I knew about conditions there and the ongoing conflict over land there. Given the recent events in the Middle East and student protests, this book couldn't be more timely or eye-opening. The author does exactly what the title promises, exploring one life-changing day in the life of a Palestinian father whose young son is killed in a bus crash in 2012 on Jaba Road on the outskirts of Jerusalem. (I had to look this event up online in order to know when the tragedy occurred since I don't recall the year being mentioned in the book.) The accident and its aftermath as the father, Abed Salama, searches for his son. But his concerns are heightened by the fact that he is Palestinian and on the wrong side of the wall that separates parts of Jerusalem. The author effectively describes his frustration with the red tape that threatens to drown him and others in a similar situation and the ache of losing his son, but he also points the finger of guilt at those he holds culpable, not just the truck driver, the bus driver, the inadequate road, the lack of emergency services, the wall itself, and the inadequate school system that prompted parents to send their children to West Bank schools that were poorly supervised. While much of the book focuses on this one day when everything changed for one man, the narrative also covers wider territory, including the various efforts to divide the territory and placate both sides. At times, it attempts to do too much, resulting in a dizzying transition from one person to the next and various time frames. Still, this book is undeniably important, I daresay essential, reading and may change some minds about Palestine and Israel. ...more
Although this is a murder mystery with plenty of details about the victim and its perpetrators as well as those who most likely planned the crime, it'Although this is a murder mystery with plenty of details about the victim and its perpetrators as well as those who most likely planned the crime, it's so much more than that. Readers will be curious as to who killed Vivian Gordon and left her body in a Bronx park in 1931, but they'll also want to know why she died and more about her. She seems to have associated with some rather untrustworthy types and been guilty herself of more than a few scams, but life for a woman alone in a large city such as New York wasn't easy back then, and the fact that she gave her heart to someone who betrayed her is not surprising. But Vivian also kept diaries and accounts of the money she loaned to others, evidence that would lead to the downfall of several influential politicians and Tammany Hall, the organization that seemed to rule New York City. The fact that she was poised to give evidence to an anti-corruption investigation into police corruption in the city added to the newsworthiness of her death. With engaging prose, details that take readers back in time to Prohibition, and descriptions of various political heavyweights, including FDR, governor and future President, Jimmy Walker, mayor of the city, and Samuel Seabury, who presided over the investigation into corruption by the city's elected officials, the author provides so many details about the city and the legal cases that readers will find it hard to believe they are living through 2024 when they emerge from the book. This is a true tale of power, betrayal, lost innocence, evil, and the impact one woman had on those with more power and influence than she ever dreamed of having. As the author writes in the Epilogue, "her spirit is woven into the history of her adopted city, one small forgotten thread in the glorious tapestry of New York City" (p. 303). Pieces of history such as hers should not be left in the margins, and this well-written and thoughtful book brings a measure of justice to her family and memory. ...more
While this YA book covers several important topics, including the broken justice system, families dealing with incarcerated family members both while While this YA book covers several important topics, including the broken justice system, families dealing with incarcerated family members both while they are in prison and after they are released, the death penalty, and interracial relationships, among others, the writing could be stronger, some of the secondary characters developed more, and the conclusion stronger. Covering similar territory as Dear Martin, The Hate U Give, When You Look Like Us, and When They See Us, all of which are more literary, the book will have high teen appeal as it features a relatable protagonist in Tracy Beaumont and scenarios regarding the police with which some will be familiar. An aspiring journalist, Tracy has been writing weekly letters to the Innocence Project for seven years, the amount of time her father has been incarcerated and on Death Row for murder in Texas. While she waits for a response, she leads workshops familiarizing community members with their rights and how to behave when dealing with law enforcement. As her father runs out of time before executed, her track star brother, Jamal, is also accused of murder. Tracy's dogged determination and refusal to remain silent and let things take their course is admirable, and most readers will wish they had someone like her by their side. But some parts of the story are rather murky and improbable, and Angela, the victim, appears so briefly that it's hard to care about her fate, much less know much about her. Maybe that's okay since this isn't her story, but it detracts from the fullness of the narrative. Nevertheless, even with these possible flaws, the book raises important questions and will prompt deep conversations. ...more
Although this debut novel raises questions that aren't really answered, maybe that's the point. There is no hard and fast response to how to fill the Although this debut novel raises questions that aren't really answered, maybe that's the point. There is no hard and fast response to how to fill the hole or the void that so many of us experience, whether that be the characters in this novel or those of us reading the book. Some of us try to fill our emptiness with work, food, drugs, booze, relationships, wealth, even faith. But still there often seems to be an ache or a wish for more or something different, perhaps more meaningful than whatever is in our lives presently. Is it possible that there is more meaning in death than life? The book's twenty-seven-year-old protagonist, Cyrus Shams, is lost and searching for something. Born in Iran, he has completed a lackluster college career, dabbles in writing poetry, and dreams of writing a book about martyrs, perhaps even becoming one himself. When a friend tells him about an artist in New York City who is dying of cancer and doing so as part of a museum installation during which she chats with museum goers individually about death and dying, he travels there from Indiana with his best friend, Zee. What he learns when he meets her and then afterward shakes him to the core. Some readers will find the novel's jumps from one character to another and into different time periods and places annoying, but I liked those and found that they allowed for reflection and further character development as well as back story. A straightforward narrative wouldn't have done justice to the book's topic. The poetry, hallucinations, and snippets of reports about the investigation into the shooting of an Iranian passenger plane by the U.S. all add layers to the main story and give it depth and some historical context. As others have said, the writing is moving, funny, introspective, and intense. The multilayered characters and their stories will stay with readers for quite some time. As I finished the book and considered its merits, I reminded myself that life often is short, and it is important to savor all the sweetness, including strawberries and ice cream, that it has to offer, and try to extend that sweetness to others. Ultimately, maybe that's the point. ...more
Sometimes troubled times require shocking actions to awaken those around us. And sometimes those actions can change the lives of those who are close tSometimes troubled times require shocking actions to awaken those around us. And sometimes those actions can change the lives of those who are close to the activist. In the case of this YA novel, set in 1969 Czechoslovakia, it is seventeen-year-old Pavol Bartos who sets himself on fire in Prague because he sees only a bleak future for himself and others like him. His death prompts the others in his circle--his pregnant girlfriend Lida and his two friends, Stepan, who is gay, and Tomas, who finds the rules of everyday socialization confusing, to question their next steps and possible futures. While Pavel appears only briefly in the story, his influence is far-reaching, and readers learn more about his character, background, and ambitions through the eyes of his friends. The characters, even Lida's father, Ondrej, are particularly well drawn, complex, and relatable, and their paths forward aren't always smooth, easy or predictable. Moving back and forth in time so that it's clear what has led to some of these decisions, including the reprisals meted out to those who don't obey the harsh rules of the current regime as well as the rewards for walking the party line, the story is fast paced, deeply engaging, and informative. For anyone coming of age in 1969 in the United States, it will bring back some memories of that time period, but for those coming of age today, the story is particularly timely. Questions about repression of certain music and literature and whether it is more effective to try to fight the system from within in order to make a change or leave and start a new life are raised by this well-researched, nuanced, and important book. Teen readers will care deeply about the characters, perhaps relating to one of them, and wonder what they might have done in similar circumstances. ...more
Seventh-grader Efren Nava's life is completely disrupted after his mother is unexpectedly deported to Mexico. Suddenly, much of the responsibility forSeventh-grader Efren Nava's life is completely disrupted after his mother is unexpectedly deported to Mexico. Suddenly, much of the responsibility for his two siblings, Max and Mia, falls on him since his father must work two jobs in order to find a way to bring Ama back. This middle-grade book cuts right to the heart of the problems and politics surrounding immigration, deportation, and ICE. With ups and downs, hopeful moments and disappointments, it describes in heartbreaking detail just how hard it is to navigate a world that is suddenly turned upside down and how it isn't easy to know whom to trust. Efren's once predictable life becomes a rollercoaster, and he begins to struggle with school, something he never had problems with before. He's tired, preoccupied, and confused but finds allies in some unlikely places. When he himself goes on a rescue mission to bring money to Alma in Tijuana, he also comes to appreciate just how good his family has it back home even though they live in a tiny apartment and don't have a lot of material things. All he wants is his mother's arms around him and the comfort and safety she provides. Intense, immersive, and timely, Efren's story just might open some hearts and minds to the border crisis and immigration as well as some of the flaws in the system. Most notably, though, is the concept of seeds of hope that is planted within the novel, that others might try to get rid of a group of individuals, to bury them, but failing to realize that they are seeds and will grow and sprout, coming to life again. The exact quote is "Nos quisieron enterrer, pero no sabian que eramos semillas" or "They tried to bury us...but they didn't know we were seeds" (p. 30). Surely, Efren's story will plant seeds of hope or awareness among its readers, who will finish the book wishing that there were a more positive outcome for Efren and others like him. This would be a great book to share before discussing challenging topics such as immigration. (A side note: Although I loved the description, plot, topic, characters, I wish that the proofreader had been more thorough. There were several places where quotation marks were misplaced, and when Efren and his father head to the border in his truck, the vehicle is first referred to as a truck and later as they return, as a car. I suppose that might be okay since both are vehicles, but the distinction was distracting to me.)...more
While I can see this book's value since it covers territory about which most youngsters--not to mention older readers--won't know very much [the SpaniWhile I can see this book's value since it covers territory about which most youngsters--not to mention older readers--won't know very much [the Spanish Civil War], it left me wanting more. I appreciated how the story is told from the point of view of two siblings, one seven and one nine, living in Spain when Franco came into power in 1936, and anyone who opposed him was in danger, the narrative seems rather detached and didn't have the emotional impact that might be expected. There are passages about being hungry, having to be secretive, and worrying about their father who has fled the country that were interesting but not developed enough for me. And even when the family joins their father in Venezuela, the description is minimal and lacks detail and emotional depth. I wish there had been more explication and exploration of emotions. Perhaps the artwork, created with charcoal, pastel, and colored pencil, some full-page artwork, some double-page spreads, and some spot art, adds much-needed emotional resonance. The idea of being different-on the "wrong" side politically in this case is an important consideration, especially in today's charged political climate, and might have been developed further. I'm not sure how many fourth, fifth, or sixth graders will be enticed by this one....more
I've read several Jodi Picoult books and have enjoyed some of them more than others. Several readers seem to like her plot twists, but when that comesI've read several Jodi Picoult books and have enjoyed some of them more than others. Several readers seem to like her plot twists, but when that comes to be expected from an author, it ends up being boring [at least for me}. Still, she is a skilled storyteller, one who often tackles hard topics, revealing their complexity, and creating unforgettable characters, many of them strong women. In this, her latest offering [4.5 for me] Picoult explores yet another controversial topic--Who wrote the plays and poems that are now attributed to William Shakespeare? While many scholars will passionately defend the Bard's reputation and dispute any notion that he wasn't the sole writer, Picoult relies on her own research and that of other scholars to make open-minded readers question this attribution. Instead, she introduces readers to Emiia Bassano, a ward of English aristocrats, highly educated, but a pawn in the games played by men and her family. Although she becomes the mistress of the Lord Chamberlain at a tender age, which is bad enough, later, her life takes a turn for the worse, and she ends up selling some of her writing to Shakespeare. Along the way, she brushes elbows with various Elizabethan literary denizens, including Kit Marlowe and Samuel Johnson. She also falls in love with a man that she can never have. Picoult weaves in several lines from Shakepeare plays through the conversations Emilia has with others and her own thoughts. There's a second narrative strand too, this one focusing on a would-be playwright, Melina Green, who has found it impossible to get her plays produced, partly because of the subject matter but also because she's a woman and not taken seriously. She writes a play about Emilia, who was her ancestor, and persuades her best friend, Andre, to pretend to be its author. All sorts of complications ensue. Being familiar with the works attributed to Shakespeare will add to the delights of reading this one, and I liked both stories although the Emilia one fascinated me the most because of its incredible descriptions, detail, and the possibilities it raises about forgotten or overlooked voices, many of them women, and how a reputation can be built from almost nothing. Readers expecting Picoult's usual fare may not enjoy this one, but I embraced it fully, wishing to know more about Emilia and feeling unsure about the perhaps undeserved accolades surrounding Shakespeare. ...more