A Founding Mother

*Trigger Warning - breast cancer, surgery, see below* 

Set in Revolutionary America, A Founding Mother is the story of Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams (second president of the United States) and mother of John Quincy Adams (sixth president of the United States.)

Abigail was a frequent correspondent with her husband.  Due to his commitments, they ended up being separated for what amounted to twelve years of their early marriage.  Because Abigail wrote so frequently to John about life, the farm, and the happenings of the day in Braintree, Massachusetts, and because someone in her family held onto her correspondence, we have a unique view of the Revolutionary War and life in and around the times that changed the world.  The authors spent a lot of time reading through the letters of Abigail Adams, and visited the historic sites related to her before they sat down to write this book.  

The result in an engaging story that captures the spirit of a very fiesty young woman who raised children in one of the most remarkable moments in World History.  Their reliance on primary sources elevates this story to something that is a bit more than "historical fiction" and is closer to "historic fact".  I believe that they have done a great job of capturing the voice of Abigail and putting it into the pages of a modern book.

I really enjoyed this book!

If you're looking for a great book to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, this book is the place to start.  

Trigger Warning-

There is a chapter where Abigail's adult daughter Nabby is diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  In an absolutely true story, the authors use Abigail's notes to describe an 18th century mastectomy.  It's a vivid account.  And hours after reading it, the description is still haunting me.  I couldn't sleep last night thinking about it.  I had breast cancer last year, and the description of what Nabby went through is haunting me. It is difficult to read. Do I think that it is important to hear this story?  YES. Do I think it helps to understand the Adams family? YES.  I feel that this is crucial to the story line.  

Book Talking

  I'm going to spend a few minutes talking about my life as a librarian here.  I'm also going to copy this post onto my blog "Books for Teens". Believe me, it's all related.

One of the most important parts of my job is getting kids fired up about reading.  As a person, I want to live in a well educated society. I want the kids we raise to be smart, intelligent critical thinkers who are capable of making inferences, drawing conclusions, and making great leaps and discoveries that will benefit all of mankind.  All of that begins with the library. My professional/personal philosophy is that kids spend 9-10 months a year being taught how to read. The summer should be all about parents helping their kids to love reading. 

How do we do this? We encourage our children to find books that they enjoy reading. Whatever those books may be.  Whether they are above or below grade level doesn't matter. If the kids are tearing through a pile of books that you think may be "too easy" for them, they are increasing their fluency and comprehension. Those skills are critical for school success come fall. When they finish the current series that they are working their way through, they will find another series.

As one of my teachers says "Life is too short to read books you don't love. If you don't like the one you're reading, find another one."  

I spent the last week of May and the first week of June talking with the kids at our schools about summer reading. I introduced them to books that I love and that I think will appeal to them. I talked about the summer reading program at our library. And I encouraged them to come in and find books that they love. 

I talked with the elementary grades.  Children in grades K-5. 

I want to share the books that I found with you.  I think they're awesome, and I hope you will love them as much as I do.

I wanted to post this today, on Monday. Each day this week, I'm going to post a different list.

If you have favorites that you feel belongs in each category, feel free to add them in the comments!

 

It's What to Read!

I've read a lot - and I mean A LOT of excellent books this summer.  I wanted to share them with you!  In no particular order, here are my favorite reads of the summer!


Hope Never Dies
by Andrew Shaffer
In this amazing book written in the style of a Carolyn Keene Nancy Drew novel, Former Vice President Joe Biden is lamenting the end of 8 grade years and the dissolution of his wonderful Bromance with Barack Obama.  The suspicious demise of his favorite Amtrak conductor leads Joe to find out more.  As he begins to investigate the circumstances of Finn's death, he finds an unexpected partner in Barack Obama and his Secret Service guard, Steve.  The jokes roll nonstop, the plot is solid, and the Bromance continues unabated.  It's a great read for those who appreciate satire.




The Parker Inheritance
by Varian Johnson

This children's book is appropriate for children of all ages.

In 2007, a mysterious letter is sent to 4 people in the city of Lambert, South Carolina.  The letter gives clues to a hidden treasure that will help the people of Lambert.  There's just one catch - the letter is written with a bunch of clues, and the recipients must unscramble the clues in order to find the treasure.  After the City Manager digs up the tennis courts, the hunt is called off, the letters are destroyed, and all is forgotten.  Or is it?

Abigail Caldwell, the former City Manager leaves the letter in a box in her attic for her granddaughter, Candice, to find when she gets older.  Ten years later, in 2017, Candice discovers the letter and begins the hunt to find the treasure.  While on the hunt, Candice and her friend Brandon discover the tense racial history of Lambert. 

As the hunt continues, Candice discovers more about her life, the world around her, and her family.  But will she and Brandon find the treasure before time runs out?

*Remember this book.  I think it's going to be an award winner.

The Invisible Library 
by Genevive Cogman
There exists an interdimensional library.  The great authors exist across all dimensions.  But, not all works exist in every dimension.  The library collects manuscripts and books that are unique to each dimension.  The librarians are the individuals charged with collecting these books and bringing them back to the library.  Complicating their tasks are Dragons and Fey, who exist across all dimensions and work towards their own purposes - sometimes working with the Librarians, and sometimes actively working against them.

Irene and her assistant Kai have been sent to this particular dimension to retrieve a copy of a book that exists only in this dimension.  Unexpected obstacles are thrown in their way by the Fey and another, unknown entity.  As Kai and Irene race against time, can they find the missing text before their unknown adversary?



The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century
by Kirk Johnson



This true crime novel was NOT what I was expecting when I picked up the book.  In 2007, Edwin Rist, a Flautist with a promising concert career ahead of him broke into the Tring Museum in Great Britain and stole priceless birds - many of these specimens are not extinct - that were collected by Alfred Russell Wallace in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Edwin then very carefully dissected his stolen birds and sold them on the internet to Classic Fly Tiers - people who were desperate for authentic feathers to make their Victorian Fishing Lures more appealing.

Johnson carefully traces the history of the birds, and of the theft of the birds and the recovery of some of the priceless treasure.  I found myself using all of my sluthing skills, garnered after hours of watching NCIS.  The resolution of this story will haunt you.  You will find yourself going back again and again, attempting to figure out what, if anything, you missed.  This book is a must read.

Fascism: A Warning

by Madeline Albright
This book should be required reading for every human on the planet.  Albright takes a look at Facism in the 20th Century.  How it developed in different countries throughout the last hundred years.  No political commentary whatsoever.  Just a historic look back in time.






Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi

I don't even know where to start this review.  This was a phenomenal book.  From one end to another, one of the best Fantasy Stories I have read in a very long time.  The world building!  The characters!  The character development!  The plots within plots within plots!  I want to put it right up there with Lord of the Rings and the Dragon Lance Chronicles.  WAIT!!!!  THIS IS MY BLOG, I CAN PUT IT WHEREVER I WANT!!!  So, I'm putting this book up there in the same hallowed grounds as my other favorite icons of the Fantasy World. 

Zelie Adebola lives in a world where she must keep her magic hidden.  There was a time when Tiders called the waves, Burners ignited waves, and Reapers called forth souls.  Zelie comes from a long line of magicians.  These magicians were killed by the king's men the night the magic disappeared.

As Zelie's own magic begins to surge, she is forced to hide it, and herself more and more.  The King's men are constantly searching for magicians to purge, and taxing the rest of the citizenry to the breaking point.

The breaking point for Zellie comes when she is forced to go into the city to sell a prize fish her grandfather caught in order to pay the latest levies from the King.  An unexpected series of events leads Zellie and her brother to the place they least want to be: harboring the daughter of the King.

As Zellie attempts to control her magic and growing feelings for the one person she can't afford to love, the story grows only deeper and more gripping.

*Tomi, how long must we wait for the sequel? I am pining away here, waiting for the next book.  Literally wasting away, worrying about Zellie, worrying about Orisha, wanting to know what happens next..... All other books are just a little less bright while I anxiously await the next book.

The Invisible Library

The Invisible Library connects libraries across all dimensions of time and space.  The library itself exists outside of time and space.  Librarians journey into different worlds to save the unique stories of each dimension.

Irene works for The Library.  She has been sent to a London to retrieve a book of Grimm's Fairy Tales.  People have been killed over possession of the book, and the current location of the book is a mystery as the last owner of the book was beheaded - his body left upstairs, and his head impaled on the fence in front of the house.


As Irene gets ready to leave the library, she is assigned a new librarian to train.  Kai has never been in the field before, and it is Irene's responsibility to train him in the subtle art of field work.  Neither of them is prepared for the reality of this dimension where chaos rules, the Fey are government officials, and nothing is as it seems.


Danger surrounds Irene and Kai at every turn as they seek for this mysterious volume.  Chased by the Fey, Detectives, Zeppelins, secret societies, and the Agents of Lichtenstein, Irene and Kai are swept into the chaos of this world within moments of their arrival.  When Irene receives word that the notorious evil Librarian Alberich is at large in this dimension, their very survival is called into question.


Will Irene and Kai manage to retrieve the book before their time runs out?




Note - this die hard Harry Potter fan loved the book!

It's what to read!

I've read a lot of excellent books so far this year.  The "big" summer releases haven't been released yet, but I've read a lot of wonderful releases that have come out so far this year.  These are all adult titles.  If you're looking for something wonderful to read, then here's a list of possibilities!  I've read all of these books, and they have appealed to me.  I hope you can find something that appeals to you!


The Great Alone
Kristin Hannah
After returning home from Vietnam, Ernt Allbright finds himself unable to keep a job or control his temper.  Finding himself the recipient of a gift of land in the remote Alaskan Wilderness, Ernt takes his family: his wife Cora, and his daughter Liv to this property, sight unseen.  At first, Ernt seems to have shed the demons that have been haunting him since his return.  Liv finally finds a place where she belongs in this beautiful wilderness.  But, as winter sets in, the demons that Ernt has kept at bay for so long come roaring back, and his family is in the direct line of fire when he can no longer control them.  In the harsh Alaskan winter, how will the family survive when there is nobody that you can call for help?

Educated: A Memoir
Tara Westover
Tara grew up in a large Mormon family in Idaho.  She grew up working in the family business and helping her parents prepare for The End of the World As We Know It.  Because of this, her home school education was mostly ignored.  The children in the family learned what they wanted in their free time.  As Tara grew older, one of her brothers broke away from the family business and went to college.  Tara found herself intrigued by the thought of college and found a way to break away from an abusive family situation.  This tale of perseverance and determination will enthrall you.


The Woman in the Window
A.J. Finn
Anna Fox is a recluse - suffering from Agoraphobia - since her husband and daughter left.  To deal with the pain of the loss, she takes the meds her doctor has prescribed her and self medicates with copious quantities of alcohol.  To pass the time, she watches the comings and goings of her neighbors from an upstairs window through a pair of binoculars and a high powered camera lens.

Her world in unexpectedly turned upside down when a neighbor unexpectedly reaches out to help her - and enters Anna's strange world.  Filled with life and laughter, Anna immediately warms to this young woman who just moved in across the street.

And then, watching through her binoculars one night, Anna sees this neighbor murdered right before her eyes.  She sees a knife and blood.  So much blood.  Anna calls the police and attempts to go outside for the first time in almost a year.  The resulting panic attack leaves Anna hospitalized and questioning herself.  The neighbors claim that the woman Anna saw murdered doesn't exist.  She wasn't the mother of the family, and nobody else claims to have seen her.  Anna is certain of what she saw, but nobody else believes her - and she begins to question her own sanity.

Reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's Movie, Rear Window, this thriller will keep you on the edge of your street until the shocking conclusion.



The Alice Network
This one.  Right here.  It's my favorite.  If there's one book you feel the need to read this summer, make this the one.  This is historic fiction, based upon real people and real events.  The main character, Marguerite, is based upon a sliver of information in the historic record.  Personally, I think the horrors of the second world war overshadow the horrors of the first war, and we have forgotten stories that need to be remembered. 

In World War I, there was a network of female spies working for Great Britain.  They are a legendary network of spies that posed in everyday roles - and got information that changed the direction of the war.  Led by a young woman code named Lily whose fearless determination kept her crossing the border and taking risks to get the information passed through when others would have given up and gone home.

Marguerite is a young English Woman with flawless French and German who has been recruited to work for the Alice network. She is to find a job working in a French Cafe for a French Man who is a collaborator with the Germans.  Deep behind enemy lines, Marguerite's existence is dependent upon her ability to listen, and lie without a second thought when occasion demands.

Interwoven with Marguerite's tale is the story of Charlie St. Clair - set in 1947.  Charlie is searching for her cousin who disappeared in France during the second world war.  She has the name of one person who might be able to help her find her cousin - Eve Gardener.  Eve- who operated under the code name Marguerite during the first war.

These intertwining tale of suspense as Charlie searches for her cousin and uncovers the deep well of secrets that Eve has kept hidden for years will leave you breathless. 


The Weight of Ink
Rachel Kadish

This tale is told between two times and with two different narrators.  In the early 21st century, a pile of manuscripts is found buried in a house in London.  Helen Watt, a historian of Jewish History, is called in to assess the historic value of the manuscripts.   As Helen begins to read the manuscripts, she is drawn back into the 1600's - a time when the Jews from Spain were able to flee the Inquisition and were settling into London.  The manuscripts hint at previously unknown theological divisions within the community.

As Helen digs deeper into the manuscripts, she discovers that there is a deeper, more important discovery within the pages.  A woman wrote the manuscripts.  Not only the pages dictated by the Rabbi, but also many pages of her own - deep thoughts that she herself had about theology and the the nature of God.  As Helen races to find the name of the mysterious woman, her own health begins to fail.  Will she be able to find the identity of the unknown writer?

Esther Velazquez is an immigrant to England.  She is a scribe for the blind rabbi.  Determined to learn as much as she can, Esther reads everything she can get her hands on in her spare time.  She knows that she is something very dangerous.  A woman should not be able to read, much less think, for herself.  But Esther has deep questions that needs answers.  Answers that can get you killed for heresy.  Unable to express herself freely, Esther writes her thoughts and questions. 

This is a tale told between two time frames - Helen's story as she attempts to find the mysterious scribe, and Esther's desperate tale of a woman who longs to be educated.  The stories are connected by sections of Esther's manuscripts. 

Youth Media Awards

At the American Library Association's Mid-Winter meeting, the winners of the big literature awards for kids and young adults are announced.  I had speculated on the winners earlier this year on my Books for Teens Blog.  You can see that post here: Youth Media Awards.

In that post, I had expressed high hopes for You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie, and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.  While Strange the Dreamer was one of my favorite books last year, I honestly didn't think it was a contender.

Last Monday, the Youth Media Awards were announced.  To be honest, I was surprised!  I never expect to correctly call the awards, but I'm always happy when at least one of my choices ends up making one of the lists!

In case if you haven't seen the list, here it is:

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:
We Are Okay by Nina LeCour

Honor Books:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman


I have a more difficult time keeping up with the contenders for the Newberry and Caldecott Awards.  I feel fortunate if new books manage to pass through my hands during its publication year.  Picture Books and Children's Chapter Books run through our library so quickly I rarely get a chance to look at them while they're still new!

The Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:
Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell

John Newberry Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: 
Hello Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly.


I admit that I was very disappointed that Sherman Alexie's book did not make it to the final rounds, not even an honorable mention.  So, I went searching to see if I had missed something.  Sure enough, I had.  He is the WINNER of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Non-Fiction.  Oops - my bad, I was looking in the YA section instead of in the Adult Collection.

I've got some books I need to read!  I haven't seen many of these books, and I hope to find some new friends! 


You can find the complete list of Youth Media Award Winners for 2018 here:
 http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2018/02/american-library-association-announces-2018-youth-media-award-winners

This and That

Notice: This post contains Affliliate Links

On My Nightstand:

I'm still working my way through Born to Run!  I'm almost finished with it, but it has sucked me in on so many levels.  First, there is the story of Bruce, and his single minded determination to succeed against the odds.  How he managed to survive on less than $20 a week, with little more than his bold, brazen confidence to see him through.

Then, there's the second level that the music and his books speaks to. A much deeper level - and I don't know if it was intentional on his part, or if I'm reading more into his book than he intended.   Many times, Bruce is lamenting the life that he fled from in his songs - the working class life that his parents lived - and how quickly that entire class of life is disappearing.  That working class group of people that was able to live a middle class life with good factory jobs was beginning to disappear in the late 70's and early 80's.(A decline that continues to this day.)    Having recently finished the book Hillbilly Elegy, I see how the tales of despair and hopelessness have become interwoven.  Both Bruce and J.D. Vance are telling the story of the working class - stories that we all need to hear before they disappear.

My favorite kind of reference interview!

I'm looking for a book
said an adorable little girl, who is missing her two front teeth.
What kind of book?  I asked.
Bithcut.
????
Bithcut?  What does bithcut look like?
You know, Bithcut the Dog?
Ahh.... those missing front teeth!   


The Peach Orchard

Look at those pears!

Last week, daughter and I spent our day off roaming through the Pennsylvania countryside.  We drove up to a used book store, stopped by a beautiful library (pictures to follow later this week), and stopped by an orchard.  We are at the height of peach season right now!  I bought a big box of peaches, and I've had to hide them from my family - my crazy family that will put down a box of peaches before I even get a chance to have one.  So, half of the peaches are hidden deep in my fridge, and I've been eating them for breakfast and lunch.  The rest of them were gone within the first hour after my husband came home.




Word of Wisdom

Dr. Scott Parazynski was promoting his new book The Sky Below today on CBS This Morning.  He is the only astronaut to have climbed to the top of Mount Everest. In the course of the interview, he said something that has stuck with me, and I wanted to share as my closing thought:

The pathway to success is non-linear.  You have to accept some failure along the way.

-Dr. Scott Parazynski

Book Review - Every Falling Star

I've reviewed this on my Books for Teens Blog, but I wanted to point this book out on here, also.  Considering the current international tensions with North Korea, this is a very timely read.

I became aware of this book through a cousin who heard the author speak.  "You must read this book".  I asked why, and he replied "Just READ it.  Read it now."

I have read it.  No, that's too simple a term.  I have devoured the book.  It's a spell binding tale of the nitty gritty survival of a young child on the streets of North Korea.  What flabbergasts me the most is the knowledge that this tale - the sad tale of life, death, and daily survival is STILL happening every day in North Korea.  I had to stop and remind myself several times that this was not a story set in the Middle Ages - it's a true story set in the 1990's in North Korea. 

My Tease for the story:
Sungju's family lives a life of privilege in Pyongyang.  They live in a large apartment, he has a dog, and they have food on the table every night.  He goes to the best school in the area, and he takes martial art classes, and has the best of everything.  Until that fateful day.  While never specifying what his father did, he did something that got the family banished to a work farm in the northernmost reaches of Korea.  The house they settle in has no electricity and no central heat.  Money is scarce and food is scarcer.  The town school is a rude awakening to Sungju as he realizes that the sheltered life he has lived is not the norm in the rest of Korea.

When the money and food run out, Sungju's father leaves to attempt to sneak across the border into China and smuggle food home.  As the months pass and his father doesn't return, hope begins to run out for the family.  Sungju awakens one morning to find that his mother has left, attempting a last desperate run to find food.  Sungju struggles to survive on his own, but hits a snag when he returns home after foraging for food to find that brokers have sold his house and their belongings to other people.  Forced onto life in the street, Sungju's desperate struggle for survival begins.

Sungju lives by his wits.  The desperate tale of survival doesn't pull any punches.  He eventually manages to escape the North (hence the book) but so many more never do. The tale of survival rivals any "reality" television we have in the United States.

In the words of my cousin Dave, Just read it. 

How to Bake Pi

Disclosure Notice: This post contains affiliate links.

I am not a fan of "doing" math.  I enjoyed math up until I got to Calculus in college.  That class was my Waterloo, and ever since then I have never willingly picked up a Math book.  Don't get me wrong - I managed to teach elementary school math, and my kids all had it down cold by the end of the year.  I helped my own kids with math through Algebra 2.  So, I do understand Math, and I am good at it.  I just hate the entire concept of reading higher level math text books.  Since both of my boys are Math majors, I decided I would pick up the book and read it and see if I could grasp a deeper understanding of the higher levels of math.

I enjoyed the fact that the author tied Math into something I enjoy - food.  Specifically, baking.  With the detailed explanation tied into some of the more basic concepts of higher math, I was able to make some connections I had not been able to make before. Unfortunately, once I got to the section on Calculus and smaller and smaller boxes, I just couldn't understand.  It's a mental block that I have, not a fault on the part of the author.

I did enjoy the explanation of Topology, though. My youngest son loved Topology.  This section (for me, the Calculus Dunce) was written in such a way that I understood and enjoyed the information.  While I'll never be able to discuss Topology with him, I now understand his fascination with the topic.  If I had ever been capable of passing Calculus, this is would have been my absolute favorite subject.

If you're looking for a book that puts higher levels of Math on a level that the common lay person can understand.

In the meantime, here's how to bake a pie you can really sink your teeth into:

Apple Pie

2 prepared commercial pie crusts
(What, you expected home made?  Do I look like Martha Stewart?)

7-8 Apples, peeled, cored, and cut into thin pieces
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
2 TBSP butter or margarine

Spray a 9 inch pie pan with cooking spray.
Put one pie crust into the bottom of the pie pan.  Press firmly into bottom and sides.

In a large bowl, gently mix the apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

Pour the apples into the pie crust.

Cut the butter into small pieces and put it on top of the apples.

Gently place the pie crust on top of the apples.  Press together the top and bottom crusts of the pie.  Cut several steam vents into the top of the pie crust.  Cover the edges of the crust with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning of the crust.

Bake 40-45 minutes.  Remove foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.

Book Review: Hitler's Last Days

O'Reilly, Bill.  Hitler's Last Days.  2015.  Harry Holt and Company, LLC.  New York, New York.

Written as a children's book, this well told tale that encompasses the last 90 days of Hitler's life will enthrall you.  Even though we know how the story ends, the in-depth look at the inner workings of the Allied Army and Nazi Germany presented almost side by side will put a very different spin on how you view the end of World War 2.

I especially appreciated that O'Reilly alternated chapters between what was going on with the Allies and what was going on within the Nazi army.  The tale covers the last gasp of the Nazi army, beginning just before the Battle of the Bulge.  Reading through the book, you realize just how close the Nazi army came to winning the battle and potentially changing the course of the war. I came away from the book with a new respect for the genius of General Patton.  If not for his cunning, the war on the European front could have lasted much longer.

I also appreciated the look into Hitler's inner circle in his final days.  As his paranoia and circle of distrust grew, this charismatic leader became a shadow of the man he was.  I don't think I ever before understood the struggles that surrounded the Nazi leadership in its final days.

Curious about the events that surrounded the final days of Nazi Germany?  This book will clarify many points that have been shrouded with the passing of time.  Sometimes, we need to be reminded of what has happened before.  Harsh lessons were learned that should never be forgotten.

Book Review: Not Your Mother's Make Ahead and Freeze Cookbook

Disclosure Notice: No Affiliate Links here!  I couldn't figure out how to get through Amazon's new screens to get a good picture.  Ergo, this fun picture that I took with my phone.

I had to laugh when I was reading Jessica's introduction to the book.  She talked about Once A Month Cooking.  (OAM).  Have any of you ever done that hot mess?  It was a big thing back in the 90's.  I would sit down and carefully plan out my meals for a month (or a little longer).  I would vary my recipes between chicken, beef, pork, and vegetarian.  I would then spend a day shopping.  We're talking a huge grocery shop here.  I'd go to BJ's, and I'd spend about $150 on the food.  Come back home and stuff it all in the fridge and freezer.  The next day was cooking day.  I'd chop vegetables, cook meat, saute things, assemble meals, and then freeze them all.  Clean up was hideous.  Every pot pan and bowl in the house was used.  BUT - at the end of the day, I had cooked meals for a month or so.  My kids were all born in the 90's, and I loved having quick meals to pull out and put on the table when they were infants and toddlers.  Not having to do meal prep with hungry toddlers running around.  Not quite bliss, but it was wonderful.  Over the years, I've moved away from OAM meals, but I am still a very big fan of cooking ahead.  I'll assemble meal kits, or crock pot dump meals, or cook two of something and freeze on for later use.  This has saved me more than once when faced with the conundrum of "What's for Dinner?"  I am always on the lookout for recipes that lend themselves well to preparing ahead, but don't leave me with a frozen, soggy mass of limp vegetables and tough, overcooked meat.  I was browsing through my local library last week when I found this gem!  Not Your Mother's Make-Ahead and Freeze Cookbook is going to become a staple in my house.

This is not a collection of dump recipes.  Nor is it a collection of casseroles.  Yes, there are some casseroles.  There are a couple of dump recipes.  But what really sets this book apart for me is that you are assembling meals.  Sauces and spices and meats are frozen together so that when you get ready to prep a meal, items are combined to make a fresh fantastic meal.

 

I've tried two recipes out of here so far.  The Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole is a freezer meal - but not the way you might expect.  The raw chicken was stored in a zip top bag with the marinade, and that bag was stored inside of a larger bag with the rice and seasonings.  The night before, I pulled the materials out to let them thaw in the fridge, and we had an awesome dinner the next night.  I came home, dumped everything in a 13 x 9 inch casserole, put dishes in the dishwasher away, and then looked up in surprise when dinner was ready.  Holy cow, that was good!  (Hint- if you do check this book out and decide to try this recipe, keep an eye on the rice.  It doesn't need a full 2 hours of bake time.  Mine was done in about an hour.)  

I tried the fish tacos over the weekend.  So awesome!  The make ahead version calls for the fish to be stored in a zip top bag, and for the seasonings to be stored in a separate baggie within the bag.  Personally, I'd be tempted to also store the corn tortillas in the same zip top bag.  I like having as many parts together as possible when I pull something out of the freezer.  

For me, with my food allergies, I love the recipes.  Jessica calls for fresh, not processed foods.  No processing means no chance of gluten or dairy.  Even better, it is easy for me to substitute out the foods that I can't eat or don't like.  

If you're looking for some new, fun ideas for freezer cooking, give this book at try!

Book Review: Chomp

Derek Badger is a reality tv star.  His show, Expedition Survival, is all about his adventures in the wilderness while battling wild animals who are out to eat him for dinner.

Wahoo Cray is a teenager whose father - Mickey - is a Wildlife Wrangler.  Mickey's the man you talk to if you want "tame" wild animals on your program.  He has trained the animals, and he takes care of them and makes sure that you treat his animals safely while they are on your program.

A few months back, the lives of the Cray family were turned upside down when a frozen iguana dropped on Mickey's head after a hard freeze and dented his head - giving him a concussion, persistent migraines, and double vision.  Since the accident, Mickey has not accepted any work, and the family's financial situation is getting dire.

When a phone call comes in from the Expedition Survival crew, asking Mickey's father to be the animal wrangler and provide them with an alligator, a snake, and a snapping turtle, Wahoo snaps up the offer without consulting with his father.  "What could possibly go wrong?"

Derek Badger really isn't the Wildlife Survival expert that he plays on tv.  He loves comfort and luxury, and doesn't like being  uncomfortable.  However, after an incident with an alligator, Derek is convinced that he can conquer anything and insists that his crew film in the Everglades with real wild animals along, so that the viewers can get the true Everglades Wildlife Experience.

Wahoo and his Dad are hired to be the animal wranglers on location, and Wahoo's friend Tuna tags along with them at the last minute, sporting a black eye that she claims came from "falling down a set of stairs", but everybody knows was given to her by her father.

What happens when the crew hits the Everglades is the stuff of nightmares:

1) Derek Badger goes missing in the middle of a storm.

2) Tuna's Dad shows up waving a gun, threatening to kill anyone who stands in between him and his kid.

Will Derek be found in time?
Can Tuna escape her father's wrath?

Frugal Friday

Somehow, at the end of National Library Week, it only seems appropriate to highlight how the library can help you keep within your budget - no matter what your age.  In keeping with this thought, I'd like to highlight the many, many services that are provided at your public library.  Keep in mind - your taxes pay for these services - USE THEM!!

The Top Ten Ways Your Library Can Help You Save Money:

1) Toys, Games, and Science Kits for Check Out. 
Seriously!  When my kids were little, we checked out toys every week.  Let me tell you, it saved us a bundle.  Little kids get bored with new toys easily.  We were able to bring home 3 new toys, played with them until they were no longer new and exciting to the kids, and then go back and check out 3 different toys.  Literally, that saved us thousands of dollars.

As they got older, I loved the fact that we had science kits available for check out.  Each kit was centered around a theme, and it had several books, a book of science experiments, and the equipment necessary to carry out the experiments included in the card.  We were heavy users of those kits up until the youngest was somewhere in middle school.

On the ALA's facebook page, I read an article about a library that has added telescopes to their collection for check out.  I don't care if I don't have little kids any more, I would definitely be checking out a telescope for my own home use!

2) Media 
Depending upon your library system, the type of media available varies greatly.  Most systems carry books on tape or CD.  Some carry Play-Aways.  (MP3 players that contain books.  Very cool way to listen to books - my daughter loved listening to these on the bus on the way to school in middle school.)  Most systems carry DVD's.  (Even better - those DVD's carry a one week free check out as opposed to the overnight check out from Red Box that's going to cost you a buck or two.

One of the library systems around us carries video games for check out.  Just the games, not the consoles.  Talk about saving money!  Not having to buy those games saves a lot of money! 

Note- Beware the steep fines on overdue media items.  Make certain you return them by their due dates!

3) Books
Lots and lots of books!  On every subject, and for every age.  Need I say more?

4) Internet 
Computers and Wi-Fi connections are available at most libraries.  Looking to save money on internet?  Sign up for free e-mail through one of the free sites out there (Google, Yahoo, etc.), and then use the library to check your messages and surf the net.  Probably not what you want to do on a daily basis, but if you are desperate to save money, this is an excellent option.  There's a bonus in some parts of the country, too.  Most libraries have high speed internet.  We were still on dial up - nothing else was available until 2012.  We got broadband in 2012.  Still no sign of Fiber Optic cable in our neighborhood, but our library is wired with fiber optic cable, so I go to the library when I need a high speed connection.

5) Job Search Tools
Looking for a job?  Start here.

6) Programming
Offering programs to people of all ages is one of the most important services a library offers.  Libraries are known for their programs for children and youth, but libraries also offer some fantastic programs for adults.  Book Clubs, Courses offered by the Master Gardeners, Literacy Classes, ESOL Classes for Adults, Arts and Crafts for Adults, to CPR, the list goes on and on. 

7) Digital Content
Audio streaming and e-books.  It's a quickly growing field in the library world.  You can check out digital materials the same as you can a book.  After your check out period is over, your material just disappears off of your device.

8) E-Readers
This is a very new service.  Some libraries have e-Readers available for check out.  Each reader is pre-loaded with books of a similar genre.  I've only seen a handful of library systems that are actively using this service, and I'm really curious to see how this works out.

9) Summer Reading Programs
Not just for little kids anymore, everyone gets to participate!  The little kids participate in the game with incentives along the way.  Here in Maryland, you write a summary of the book you most recently read and then enter a drawing.  Five years ago, I won a pretty snazzy basket filled with new books and some swag from the New York Times!  It made my day!

10) Databases 
When we were kids, we'd go to the library and hit up the reference collection.  Nowadays, that reference collection has moved online.  You can access thousands of electronic records in the comfort of your own home - and in your jammies - if you have a library card.  These databases are copyright protected, and a large portion of the libraries' annual budget goes to database subscriptions.  Not sure how this works, or even where to find it?  Head over to your library and ask a librarian!  They'll be happy to show you all that is available for you. 

Having fun isn't hard, when you have a library card.  -Marc Brown

Happy Birthday Beverly Cleary!

If you're of a certain age, I'm certain that you have read at least one of Beverly Cleary's books.  These timeless classics not only capture the essence of childhood, the highlight timeless themes: friendship, family, love, perseverance, and laughter.

I was introduced to Beverly Cleary's books by my 4th grade teacher when she read "The Mouse and the Motorcycle" out loud to us after lunch.  When I became a teacher in my own right and had my own 3rd grade classroom, I read the children Ramona Quimby, age 8 in that cool down time right after lunch and recess. 

Today is the 100th Birthday of Beverly Cleary.  She is still active, engaged, and her mind is still sharp.  From the information I could find online, She has been publishing since the early 1950's, and her most recent book was published in 2005.  (When she was 89 years old.)  I hope that I can remain that active and relevant when I am her age!

In honor of Beverly Cleary's birthday, I challenge you to find a copy of one of her books and read it - either to yourself, or out loud to your favorite little people.  Enjoy the opportunity to spend some time together and to be taken back into a time that (to me) seems a little bit simpler.

Books Authored by Beverly Cleary:
(List from Google)

Beezus and Ramona
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Ralph S. Mouse
Ribsy
Ramona the Pest
Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Dear Mr. Henshaw
Ramona and her Father
Ramona and her Mother
Ramona's World
Ramona Forever
Ramona the Brave
Henry and Ribsy
Ellen Tebbits
Henry and Beezus
Henry and the Clubhouse
Henry Huggins
Muggie Maggie
Henry and the Paper route
Fifteen
Otis Spofford
Socks
Strider
A Girl from Yamhill
Mitch and Amy
The Luckiest Girl
Emily's Runaway Imagination
Two Times the Fun
Jean and Johnny
My Own Two Feet
Sister of the Bride
Janet's Thinamajigs
Runaway Ralph
The Real Hole
The Growing Up Feet
Petey's Bedtime Story
Lucky Chuck
the Hulabaloo ABC
Henry and Ramona


A few links to some websites and news stories about her:

Beverly Cleary's Website
The New York Times Article:  Happy Birthday Beverly Cleary!
The Today Show: Beverly Cleary is Beloved by Generations of Readers

Book Review - House of Cards

image: Amazon

Note- this post contains Affiliate Links.

Not the television series, no.  This is the book that started it all!  Written by Michael Dobbs in 1989, this series has become an international bestseller that has withstood the test of time and geography.

Set in Britain in the 1980's, this book weaves the tale of Francis Urquhart and his rise to power - and the extreme lengths that he is willing to go to in order to seize the power he so desperately craves.

Fans of the Netflix series will find many similarities between the two stories - but enough differences to keep them involved and engaged with the series. The themes between the two stories are so entrenched that you will find yourself pulled into the intrigue of the tale.

House of Cards is the first book in the trilogy that continues with Play King, and ends with Final Cut.

One thing is certain - you will be struck by how people in power crave more power, and the lengths that some people are willing to go to in order to have more power. 

Book Review: Born of Betrayal

image: amazon.com

Disclaimer Notice - This post contains Affiliate Links

What would you do in the name of family loyalty?  Would you give up dessert?  Would you move out of the area?  Would you leave the person you love most in all of the world and move to another planet?

Years ago, Fain Hauk made the choice.  Family loyalty above all else.  Given the choice of watching his younger brother die a slow, tortuous death or leaving the woman he loved, he chose to save his younger brother.  But he never told the woman he loved why he left her.  He allowed her to think he was having an affair with another - a human no less - and walked away from the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Betrayed and humiliated, Galene Batur vowed vengeance against Fain.  Disowned by her family for the secret she carried, Galene made her own way in the world.  She became a commander in the military.  While she continued to hate Fain, she assumed that his life had been easy and comfortable ever since he walked away from her.

But fate can be a cruel and heartless bitch.

Galene and Fain find themselves thrown into an unexpected alliance when their respective alliances throw them together to forge a truce and keep the peace.

Galene begins their encounter by shooting Fain in the chest the first moment she sees him.

And Fain finds that none of his feelings for Galene have been lessened by time or distance.

As Fain and Galene strive to work together, Fain discovers the true secret that Galene has kept hidden from him for all these years.

And Fain discovers that despite his fearless reputation, he finally has something to fear.

Something to love more than life itself.

While the worlds crumble around them, Fain works desperately to save the most precious and valuable things in the entire universe.

 NOTE- This book contains adult themes and adult situations.

Book Review: Divergent

amazon.com

Imagine a world where everyone chooses a faction - a home where they belong for life - when they are 16 years old.  Each faction has a specific job in life.  A specific knowledge or trait that they value above all others.


The Erudite value intelligence.  The Dauntless treasure valor and fearlessness.  Amity values peace.  Candor values honesty.  Abnegation are selfless.  Once you choose a faction on graduation day, you are a member of that faction for life. You will put your faction above all else, even family.  Every person shows an aptitude for a certain faction.  During the graduation tests, they find which faction best matches them.  They are free to choose any faction, but the tests help them see where they would best fit in.

But, what if?  What if you don't fit into any one faction?  What if the tests don't work for you?  What if you don't fit the mold? 

You are Divergent.... and the Divergent are considered to be dangerous and outside of the control of the faction.  The Divergent are hunted down and killed when they are found.  Their deaths are explained away as accidents or suicides.

Beatrice Prior grew up an Abegnation.  When she takes the tests, her results come back with a scary answer.  She is warned that she is Divergent, and that she must guard this secret with her life.  With no true faction affiliation showing in her nature, she will be choosing whichever faction will make her happy.

What will she choose?  Will she choose a life of selflessness?  A life of danger?  One of constant honesty?  If she chooses outside of her faction, she will never again be a part of her family, and her choice could bring shame to her family.

The choices you make define who you are...

*This review is cross-posted on my YA book blog, Books for Teens.*  

With a Chainsaw..

So this fun game appeared on my Facebook feed over the weekend.  I thought I'd share it here, and see what kind of responses we are getting.

From my feed:
The Empire of Tea: The Asian Leaf That Conquered The World With A Chainsaw

To Kill a Mockingbird With a Chainsaw

MedSurg Nursing With A Chainsaw

Creating a Successful Spirituality in Retirement With a Chainsaw


What titles can you add?

Book Review: Empire of Tea, The Asian Leaf That Conquered the World

www.amazon.com

Tea Time.  Nothing brings to mind such a peaceful scene as the thought of an English Tea.  I've been to my fair share of formal and informal teas here in the United States, but one of my dreams is to someday have a high tea - in England, and a cozy tea in some wonderful little country inn somewhere in the countryside.

Think about those tiny little leaves.  Dried leaves, that we steep in hot water and drink.  You can pick some up at the supermarket, or, if you know what you're doing, you can blend your own combination from leaves you pick yourself.  It all seems so idyllic and simple, doesn't it?

But is it really?

The history of the tea leaf is a fascinating look at the history of the world.  While I was reading this book, I was reminded in many ways of the Spice Empire in the Dune books written by Frank Herbert.  The politics surrounding tea are fascinating.

From the simple leaf that was cultivated, steamed, dried, and then eventually brewed into a warm concoction in Ancient China to the powerhouse that drove the East India Company.  The "discovery" of the New World by the Europeans was driven by the desire to find a shorter route to the East, ostensibly for the spice trade.

Tea is featured prominently in so much of World History, but it has become such an ordinary staple on our tables now that we tend to forget what a powerful geopolitical force tea has been.

Come, be reminded of the power of the tea leaves.  Renew your acquaintance with the history of a simple little leaf - and how that little leaf has driven the course of history.

Book Review: A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety

Note: This post contains Affiliate Links. 

Jimmy Carter has always been one of my heroes.  Not because of the work he did as President.  I was entirely too young to appreciate what he did while in office.  I was 11 when he was sworn in, and like most kids in 1976, I was immersed in the Bicentennial Celebration of our country.  I was engrossed by the Olympics, watching Bruce Jenner compete and win the Decathalon, the building of the space shuttle.

Image: amazon.com

I am most impressed with what the man has done since leaving office.  The impact that he has continued to have on the world around him for more than 30 years after being unelected from office some 30 years ago.

 In this book, President Carter takes a look back at the highlights of his life.  I remember many of the events, but he shares the backstory behind the political tales.  He also shares the stories from his time in the Navy and growing up.  He is only  a few years older than my mother.  Reading the tales of growing up during the depression is much like listening to my Mom talk about the depression.  They had slightly different experiences, but they were both barely scraping by.

I found the book fascinating.  Jimmy Carter really is one of the great philosophers of our time.  He thinks deeply about his actions, and weighs their impact upon the world around him before he makes a decision.

This book is a must read if you are interested in any of the forces that have helped to shape U.S. Foreign Policy over the last 50 years.  It is fascinating to see how our world has been impacted by policies and treaties that were signed during the Nixon-Carter-Reagan years.  It's even more humbling when you realize the long term impact many of these policies have had on our world today.

I'd like to finish this with a paragraph from the book.  President Carter is talking about the impact of economic embargoes on foreign countries, and how these very embargoes punish the people of the land - NOT the people who are in power - but the people like you and me, who are living their lives, raising their children, and trying to make ends meet.  In particular, he is talking about his trip to North Korea in 2011.  He reported back to Washington that one-third of all children in North Korea are malnourished and stunted in growth, with daily food intake numbering 700-1400 calories.  (As opposed to 2,000-2,500 in the U.S.)

"There is no excuse for oppression by a dictatorial regime, but it is likely that the degree of harsh treatment is dependent on the dissatisfaction of the citizens.  Hungry people are more inclined to demand relief from their plight, and more likely to be imprisoned or executed.  As in Cuba, the political elite in North Korea do not suffer, and the leader's all pervasive propaganda places the blame on the United States, not on themselves.

The primary objective of dictators is to stay in office, and we help them achieve this goal by punishing their already suffering subjects and letting the oppressors claim to be saviors."
(Carter, James, A Full Life, page 189.)

A troubling thought to keep in mind in a world that is filled with terrorism and nations that seem to have a problem with the United States.

President Carter has some fascinating insights on the world around us, and those insights are tempered by his age.  At this point in his life, he has nothing to gain by sugar coating the truth.  I believe we all have something to learn from his ruminations - about our past, and our future.