Founding Mother

I went to a book launch party earlier this week for the book Founding Mother, by Laura Kaye and Stephanie Dray.  Set in Revolutionary America, this book follows the life of Abigail Adams, who was the wife of second president John Adams and mother of sixth president, John Quincy Adams.  The book is based upon thousands of hours of research into her papers and letters.  The book was officially released on Tuesday.  

The authors spoke to us about their book, their research, and Abigail Adams.  I learned more about Abigail than I had ever known before in my life.  I am enjoying the book!  It's a good read!

Below are a couple of pictures from the event.

Both photos were taken by Park Books on Main, the sponsor of the event.

Book Review: Mango, Mambo, and Murder

I found this wonderful cozy mystery last week. It's a wonderful series set in Miami.  Miriam Quinones-Smith is a Cuban American Food Anthropologist who moves from New York with her husband to be closer to his family. Within her first month in Miami, she finds herself immersed in a murder mystery that involves not only her best friend, but also a mysterious connection with her husband's family.  Just who is Juliet and what is this mysterious hold she has on everyone?

I really enjoyed reading this story! I love the smart characters, intelligent dialogue, and the quick moving plot.  Having been a young mother struggling to find a crowd to fit into when my kids were young, I identified with Miriam's quest to fit into the social scene. (Granted, she was being pushed into networking... but it was still a story that I could relate to!)

I love that the author has mixed in references to Cuban culture throughout her book.  From teaching her child to be Bi-Lingual, to the food she cooks to the Spanish mixed in throughout the conversations in the book…. There is just so much to appreciate from this Latinx author.

There is also a fascinating sub-plot that tells the story of Miriam's mother-in-law and her relationship with Miriam and the rest of the family. If you have had difficulties getting along with your Mother-in-law, you will relate well to the story. Actually, I think most of us will read that story and think "Wow". And also "I don't want to be that kind of Mother-in-Law in the future." It's a compelling sub-story that makes you think.

This was a fascinating story, with many layers (like ogres and onions!) 

There are two books in the series, and I am looking forward to the third!

Author Website: http://rvreyes.com/

And hey, there are some great recipes in the back of the book for recipes that Miriam made throughout the book.  I'l looking forward to trying the Cuban Style Chicken Fricassee. 

Chapter

I highlight books for older readers on my blog Books for Teens.  I have a few of the books here that I talked about with the kids in 3rd-5th grade. The great thing about chapter books is that they can be enjoyed by older readers as well as read out loud to younger readers. I'm going to attempt a short summary for each of these titles, or else my post would be forever and a day long.  I'm going to highlight the ones that would easily cross over to older readers on my book blog over the next few month.

image: worldcat.org

Fans of Harry Potter will love this book!

Amari Peters finds herself at the Magical Institute studying to be a magician after her brother mysteriously disappears. Convinced that he is alive, Amari looks for clues to her brother's disappearance while studying to be a magician. Shunned by many of the students because of her tremendous power, Amari struggles to find friends that she can trust to help her in her dual quest.

*This is ones of the books I'm having trouble writing only one or two sentences about because I loved the book so much, and there's just so much that I want to say!

image: worldcat.org

 This winner of the 2021 Newberry Award is based upon Korean Folk Lore.

Lily makes a deal with a magical tiger to save her Halmoni. As Lily works to meet the demands of the Tiger, she discovers more about her family's history. An enchanting tale that shows the power of love across generations. 

I'm having trouble containing myself on this post. I'll have a review of the book up on my book blog soon.

 

image: World Cat

 A first person point of view of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster. This compelling story captures the uncertainty that the residents of the areas around Chernobyl felt in the days and weeks surrounding one of the worst nuclear disasters in history.

 Link to my review on my blog is here: The Black Bird Girls

  

Spending the summer on the reservation with his grandmother means no electricity, no running water, and no video games. But Nathan's summer takes an unexpected turn when he finds a sick water monster on his grandmother's farm. Healing the Water Monster involves a journey that has great risks as well as rewards.

Riley Oh is a non-magical person (Saram) who lives with her parents and adopted sister. Her sister hatches a plan to share her magical powers with Riley. But when the plan goes horribly awry, Riley finds that not everything as it seems, and that she, herself is faced with the task of saving her sister.

From Kate DiCamillo comes this wonderful story of a girl named Beatryce who is being sought by an evil king, for she holds the keys to his ability to remain in power forever.

I have a talk about this book on my book blog here.

I reviewed Charlie Hernandez for my book blog a while back. You can find it here.

 

Unless noted otherwise, these images were taken by me, LibraryNut.

Book Review - The Personal Librarian

Belle De La Costa Greene was the Personal Librarian for J.P. Morgan. At a time when career women were rare, she held a job most people could only dream about. She was responsible for purchasing rare manuscripts and books for the Pierpont Morgan Library. Traveling around the world, she used the power of J.P. Morgan's money to acquire rare and one of a kind items that would enhance the standing of her library.

The character of Belle De La Costa Greene is based upon the real person, who worked for the Pierpont Morgan Library until 1948 - for a total of 43 years. What many people do not know about Belle is that she was born Belle Greener. Both of her parents were of mixed race, and Belle was light skinned and passed as white throughout her career. 

While the story in the book is Historic Fiction, the authors did extensive work to make certain that they matched the historic details of her life as closely as possible. The book itself is a fascinating look at race relations in the early 20th century, as well as the inner workings of a private library and the work that goes into acquiring new materials for a collection of historic books. Remember that Belle was a groundbreaker. A career woman in the early 20th century was a rarity. This book delves into the decisions that she had to make on a personal and professional basis. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something to brighten these cold winter days!

Pierpont Morgan Library has become the Morgan Library. You can find their webpage here:

https://www.themorgan.org/

The NPR News Story about this book can be found here:

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/04/1012600661/j-p-morgans-personal-librarian-was-a-black-woman-this-is-her-story

Author Marie Benedict Website: https://www.authormariebenedict.com/the-personal-librarian.html

Author Victoria Christopher Murray Website: https://victoriachristophermurray.com/ 

AACPL Challenge #42- Read a book by 2 authors. 

The House in the Cerulean Sea

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

 

Have you read this wonderful piece of fiction yet? People keep talking about it, and it's been on the best seller list for quite some time. I had to read this book for a workshop I attended last month, and I was enchanted by the book. It turned into a page turner for me. My only complaint about this book? When I finished it, I had to leave the Marsyas Island Orphanage and the Cerulean Sea and come back to my ordinary, every day world.

The house in this book is set across from the mainland in the Cerulean Sea. The house is a home for magical creatures. This home (and others like it) are orphanages meant to train magical creatures. 

Linus Baker works for the Department of Magical Youth, and he oversees the orphanages making certain that everything is up to code and the children are safe. One unexpected day, he is sent to speak with Extremely Upper Management and he is sent to this orphanage to make certain that the children who live there will not inadvertently bring about the end of the world.

What kind of children live there, you ask? Why a sprite, a were-pomeranian, a gnome, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green thing, and the anitichrist.

But the island holds many unexpected secrets. The head of the orphanage, Arthur Parnassus will do anything to keep the children in his care safe. As Arthur explores the orphanage and the island he uncovers many long held secrets. 

At the end of the day, Arthur must decide whether to destroy the orphanage and send the children out into the world or let the kids stay where they are and risk the end of the world.

This fantasy novel of love and acceptance and finding family wherever you are will warm your heart and keep you intrigued until the very last page.

For those of you who've read the book, I have to ask: Don't you wish you were here?

Picture Books on my Mind...

I've been reading through the 201-2018 Nominees for the Maryland Black Eyed Susan Awards. 2 of the 3 books below are from the picture book list - Ada's Violin and Mother Bruce.  Both of them are wonderful books!  I would have a hard time choosing between the 2 books - Mother Bruce is a fun book.  With its bright, bold pictures it would make a great read aloud for a group of children.

Ada's Violin is a poignant tale about the recycled orchestra of Paraguay.  Children who live on the edge of the trash dump have no real future - they will most likely grow up to be trash pickers, like their parents.  Until that magic day when a musician moves into town, sees the potential in the kids, and sets about making real musical instruments from the trash in the dump.  This true story will leave you in awe.

The third book is Amanda Panda quits kindergarten.  Now, it has been years since I myself have taught kindergarten, but this book struck a note with me!  My Dad used to run away from first grade when he was in school.  He'd leave at recess time and walk the two blocks to his older sister's office (she worked in the court house for one of the judges).  She wasn't able to leave until the courts closed for lunch, so Dad would hang out with her for a couple of hours before she could walk him back to school.  Just reading the book made me think of my runaway father!    Alas for Amanda, she can't run to the court house but she does quit her class.  If I were still teaching kindergarten, this book would definitely be in my first week line up - if I didn't read it at the orientation before school starts!

If you're a parent or grandparent of a child getting ready to start kindergarten in the fall, I'd recommend reading this book!  It's a very sweet look at the realities of starting school.


If you're interested in finding out more about the Maryland Black Eyed Susan Awards, follow this link:  http://maslmd.org/about-bes/

For the complete list of nominees for the 2017-2018 school year, follow this link:  http://www.bcpl.info/find-materials/black-eyed-susan-award-2017-2018

Book Review: Outlander Kitchen

Fans of the book and the series will enjoy this nod to traditional Highland Cuisine.  Painstakingly researched, every recipe in this book ties in with some type of food from the books.  The author gives the passage from the book where the food is mentioned, and then writes at least one paragraph going into the historical details of this food, from how it was traditionally made to where to find more traditional ingredients.  She also gives information on acceptable substitutions for foods that our modern taste buds might not appreciate!

Thoroughly researched, beautifully photographed and lovingly presented, this cookbook will be a welcome challenge for any seasoned cook who wants to take a trip to the Highlands without ever leaving the comfort of their home!

However, if you're like me, it will inspire you to begin planning a trip to Scotland. A trip that involves a lot of eating.  And several teas.  And maybe a beer or two. 

A Few Good Books

Disclosure Notice: This post contains Affiliate Links.

Oh, how I love to read a good book!  Since shifting over to a public library, I have shifted to reading more children’s literature. I have been focusing mostly on books that were nominated as Black Eyed Susan Nominees for the state of Maryland, as well as several Newberry Award Winners, and one or two that I found on the shelves that either appealed to me or one of the kids roaming through the library recommended as “the best, ever”.   Today, I’m sharing 5 gems.  I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of these books!  

Skullduggery Pleasant

Image: Amazon

Author: Derek Landry

Stephanie Edgely is a young girl who has just inherited as her Uncle’s fortune - including his house.  Upon visiting the house, she is attacked by a mysterious group of magical henchmen.   She is saved by her Uncle’s friend: Skullduggery Pleasant- a walking, talking skeleton who was once a person but reanimated himself after his death so that he could continue to fight the dark evil that first killed him.

As Stephanie finds herself drawn into this mysterious, magical world, she finds that she must learn to protect herself, find a name that will hide her true identity, and navigate a complicated set of rules and even more complex people if she wants to survive in both the hidden, magical world and the “normal” world that you and I inhabit.

This children’s novel combines mystery and magic in a whimsical combination that fans of Harry Potter will appreciate!

Image: Amazon

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Author: Tom Angleberger

What happens when a middle school student makes an origami creation that looks vaguely like Yoda? 

You get a wise advisor who offers students advice on everything from predicting a pop quiz in science class to saving a classmate from soul – crushing embarrassment with some pertinent advice. 

Wait, there’s a twist…..how can such a wise advisor be animated by the goofiest kids in school?

You’ll enjoy the case files of Origami Yoda as each of the kids in the story present their own tales of interaction with Dwight and Yoda. 

Ellie’s Story: A Dog’s Purpose Novel

Image: Amazon

Author: W. Bruce Cameron
This beautiful tale tells the story of a young German Shepherd, Ellie, who is adopted by a man who trains her to play new games and WORK in new and different ways.  As the story unfolds, we discover that Ellie is being trained as a working police dog.  Told from Ellie’s point of view, we follow her as she finds and saves people along with her officer.

Those of you who love dog stories be warned: The dog does NOT die, but you will cry at the beautiful interactions with Ellie and her humans.  I loved this story!

image: Amazon

Fuzzy Mud

Author: Louis Sachar

What could possibly go wrong when two children take a short cut through the woods?  

Well, the school bully could be out to find them.  Determined to teach Marshall a hard lesson, Chad follows them into the woods.  When Tamaya sees her friend is in trouble, she grabs a handful of mud from the ground and throws it at Chad’s face so that they can get away. 

But, there’s something weird about that mud.  It’s fuzzy.  It’s difficult for Tamaya to get it off of her hands.

When she gets home, she discovers that her hands are covered with a weird kind of rash that itches and isn’t going away.  The next morning, the rash has spread and has gotten worse, leaving the skin on her hands gray and covered with a strange kind of gray fluff.  At school, Tamaya is horrified to see her rash getting worse and to discover that Chad has not come to school at all.  Looking at her own hands, she is terrified to think what might have happened to Chad and his face full of mud.  When nobody is looking, she sneaks out of the school and into the woods to search for Chad.  When Marshall discovers that Tamaya is also missing, he too sneaks out of school and sets out in search of Tamaya and Chad.

What Marshall discovers in the woods can threaten the very survival of humanity.  Can a solution be found in time?

The War That Saved my Life

Image: Amazon

Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Ada has been confined to her one room apartment for her entire life.  Her mother has punished her for the evil within that caused her to be born with a club foot.  Without the use of crutches, denied schooling, and forced to crawl around the apartment like an animal, the outside world considers Ada to be an idiot who is incapable of anything.

When her brother Jamie comes home and informs them that the children of London are being evacuated in anticipation of Hitler’s bombing, Ada decides that they are both going to leave the city and get away.

When they arrive in Kent along with the rest of the school children, they are assigned to a woman named Susan Smith.  Susan is appalled with the children she is forced to take in, and even more appalled by the neglect that the children have endured their entire lives.  Grudgingly, she takes the children in, and the children get a new lease on life.

Freed from the constraints of London, the children thrive.

But what happens when the war intrudes on their new lives?  Will their mother allow them to continue to live in Kent?  Will the townspeople ever come to accept the transplants from London?

Book Review: I Am Malala

Disclaimer Notice:  This post contains Affiliate Links.
Everyone has heard the story of Malala by now.  At the age of 15, she survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban.  She was shot point blank in the head while sitting in her school bus.  This was in an attempt to silence a very vocal voice of protest against the Taliban and their policies that kept women and young girls from getting an education.

But did you know that Malala's voice was not the only one in the family that was raised in protest against the Taliban?  Malala's father was also on the Taliban's hit list.  Not only did he run a school for girls, he was a very vocal critic of the Taliban and their policies that impoverished the people and encouraged a culture of ignorance and hatred.

Malala shares the story of her family - from her father's struggle to gain an education and share that opportunity with others through the rise of the Taliban, and the effect the Taliban had on the politics of what had previously been a very peaceful community.

I was enchanted by Malala's tale.  She doesn't dwell on her near death experience.  Instead, she spends most of her time explaining the politics of Pakistan, sharing her love of her homeland, and describing the ins and outs of U.S. Politics on the rise of alternative political parties.

This is a fascinating, well written story that should be required reading for us all.  The courage of one young girl - and her family - to stand up for what is right is inspiring. 

The Dinosaur Hunter's Handbook

Note: This post contains Affiliate Links.

image: Amazon

The perfect book for the dinosaur enthusiast!  The Dinosaur Hunter's Handbook reads much like a field guide for birds!  50 dinosaurs are highlighted in this book.  Each entry contains a full color illustration of the dinosaur, location where they lived, a pronunciation guide, their habitat, their preferred food - and a timeline of when they lived!

I found this book recently at the public library and I was enchanted.  Filled with facts that reflect the most current research about dinosaurs, and full colored pictures that capture the might and majesty of these ancient animals, the imagination of everyone who picks up the book will be grabbed!  I had visions of taking this book and any resident children in my life to my closest museum so that we could look up information about the dinosaurs while we were looking at the models and skeletons in the museum.  Too bad I don't have any resident little people in my family!

This book is recommended for students in grades 2 and up, but I could honestly see a younger child devouring this book while sitting in Mom or Dad's lap as they read the book aloud.

The introduction to the book includes detailed information about dinosaurs and their times, as well as what our earth looked like at that time. 

Happy Towel Day!

This post contains Affiliate Links to my Amazon Account.  Purchases made through this link will support this blog.

Douglas Adam's book "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" was a cult classic back in the day.  I adored the book - along with millions of others.  The tale wrapped golden nuggets of truth in a wonderful coating of silly, slightly off kilter events and random stories.


If you're not familiar with the book, Arthur Dent awakens one morning to find that his house has been scheduled for demolition by the highway board.  They sent him notice about the hearings to condemn his house, but the mail was never seen.  His friend Ford arrives on the scene and instead of helping him resolve the situation, he pulls him off to the local bar, gets a couple of shots of alcohol into him and then tells him that the entire earth is scheduled for demolition for the creation of an inter-spatial highway, and that notice has been sitting in a filing room for years and nobody had filed any objections, and today was the day of demolition.

As Arthur attempts to wrap his mind around this news, the giant space bulldozers appear in the sky over England.

Ford has found a solution, though.  It turns out that he is a contributor to the book "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy".  He has traveled across the galaxy hitchhiking through space on various freighters and pleasure craft.  He has "arranged" a ride with one of the arriving space ships.  He and Arthur are whisked away from the planet just before the first push from the space bulldozers.

Arthur is given a tiny little book to help him figure out what in the world has just happened.  It is entitled "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy", and emblazoned on the cover are the very comforting words "Don't Panic".

Does Arthur panic?  Can he adapt?  Where does this wild and madcap adventure take him next?

You really need to read the book and find out!


So, back to the towel...  It's best described in Douglas Adams' own words from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:


A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value -- you can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapours; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a mini raft down the slow heavy river Moth; wet it for use in hand-tohand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or to avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (a mindboggingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you -- daft as a bush, but very ravenous); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough. 

More importantly, a towel has immense psychological value. For some reason, if a strag (strag: non-hitchhiker) discovers that a hitchhiker has his towel with him, he will automatically assume that he is also in possession of a toothbrush, face flannel, soap, tin of biscuits, flask, compass, map, ball of string, gnat spray, wet weather gear, space suit etc., etc. Furthermore, the strag will then happily lend the hitchhiker any of these or a dozen other items that the hitchhiker might accidentally have "lost". What the strag will think is that any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is is clearly a man to be reckoned with.


So, my friends.... do you know where your towel is?