Three Sad Nos From Me

I sometimes struggle with negative reviews.  I know how badly it hurts to have someone put down your work.  I can only imagine being an author and reading a bad review over the book you consider your baby.  Many times I do not even bother to write a poor review and just move on.  But I feel like I owe it to my blog readers/vlog viewers/library kids to explain these over the past two weeks.

So, first, a bad review for School Library Journals.
As most of you know, I moonlight as an SLJ reviewer.  I've read some awesome up and coming books, some eh, and now one I could not finish.  Due to my non-disclosure agreement, I cannot write too much here about said book, but I was horrified.  Child abuse, religious indoctrination, animal abuse.  I nearly threw up halfway through.  I emailed my editor and politely declined to read a sentence further.  Thankfully, she understood and gave me a pass on that review.

Second, a Stephen King book.
Wait, what?  Yeah, I had no idea what I was in for here.  I of course grab anything King the moment we get it (perk of being the person who unpacks the boxes hehe).  I absolutely despised Elevation.  The first thing I noticed here was how tiny this book is.  It's more classified as a novella.  And it's a happy, make the world better novella.  It's NOT horror.  It felt ridiculously preachy, as King's personal Twitter have been leaning as of late (hey, I'm not a Trump fan either, but that's not why I follow you HORROR AUTHOR!).  I rolled my eyes several times.  I am 100% pro-marriage for all, love is love, don't care who or what you do in your bedroom.  This was too "let's all be friends".  WHERE IS THE KING OF CARRIE AND CHRISTINE?

Third, a sequel to one of the funnies books I ever read.
I reviewed Denton Little's Death Date on this blog.  If I remember correctly I said I nearly peed myself.  I laughed so hard out loud people stared at me.  I was so hoping for more of the same.  But even stoner Paolo couldn't make me laugh the way he did in the first one.  I gave up halfway through.  It just wasn't funny.

So why bother writing this?  I guess to remind you it's OK to put down a book you really just can't even with.  Whether it goes against your personal beliefs (I will not read about animals being harmed), grates on your nerves (live and let live y'all) or just doesn't meet your expectations (humor was lacking), it's OK to say I need to put this down, whether just for now or indefinitely.  The cool thing about books, is that there are more out there (or on the to be read shelf).  So let go and find something else without guilt.

See you in a few days peeps.

Happy New Year!

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS
 

Prison Ramen: Recipes and Stories from Behind Bars by Clifton Collins, Jr. & Gustavo "Goose" Alvarez

Amazon recommended this to me.  I really enjoy quirky memoir-style cookbooks that tell a story along with the recipes.  You can read my review of Bruculino, America on this blog.  I ordered it when it popped up in my recommendations. 

Now, first off, I'm not a Ramen eater.  I find the stuff gross.  And I LIKE salt.  For a chunky former smoker, my blood pressure is super low, so I can enjoy my salt.  Ramen? Ick.  But for some unknown reason, Ramen is like the IN food right now.  The restaurants are popping up all over and recipes using Ramen as a base are all over social media.  Again, a no from me.

But for inmates, Ramen is better than state cafeteria food.  It's also much more filling.  With a little creativity and assorted condiments from the prison commissary, one can actually make a lot of variations.

This book is written with either a celebrity arrest story or a specific event from the authors' pasts as inmates.  My personal favorite celebrity story was Slash's (the guitarist from Guns N Roses). 

But the real stories, those of the former inmates, were harsh, real, and emotionally tough to read.  Ramen, meaning non-prison food, was a source of hope.

Find this on display soon as January's theme is NEW YEAR, NEW BOOKS!

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Thunderhead and The Toll by Neal Shusterman

First, I want to apologize for being MIA!  I had the Connecticut Association of School Librarians Conference, then the American Association of School Librarians Conference in Kentucky.  I was so excited to represent West Haven at this national event!  But I ended up with a really bad case of food poisoning!  I also had not one but two assignments for School Library Journal.  Add in the end of football season for Band and Color Guard and Thanksgiving, and, well, all of a sudden it's December!

When I logged in to write these reviews, I found my last review was "unpublished" as a draft.  I don't know what happened there, but it's up now.

So, the sequels 2 and 3 to Scythe.

I read these back to back, immediately ordering The Toll after finishing Thunderhead. I just could not wait!  Luckily, book 3 was released the day I ordered it.  I read The Toll on the plane rides and during my personal time in Kentucky.

Scythe was incredible.  Thunderhead was better.  And The Toll is the best!

I do not want to spoil ANYTHING!  Just know there will be LOTS of emotions!

Find both of these back on the shelf today!

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

The Conspiracy Book by John Michael Greer

I really wanted to love this book, but alas, I'm only going to call it okay.

The cover is absolutely stunning and the topics are fascinating.  It's the set-up that annoyed me.  It reads like an encyclopedia.  There are short entries on each topic, with "see also"s for connected information and a picture or two relating.  Each entry is no more than a page.

I had such high hopes for this, but I gave up half-way through as I wasn't really learning anything new.

Now that being said, if you're new to conspiracy theories or secret societies, this would be a great place to start for some introductions and connections.

For those of us who dabble in the subject on a regular basis, it is way too beginner.

Find this on display late next week for Non-fiction November.

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

I have been waiting for this for so long!!!!

And then, of course, I got an assignment for SLJ that I had to read and review first! 

So, I was finally able to sit and read this on our day off for Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day.  As I expected, I could not put it down.

I have been a huge fan of Kim Liggett's writing for a long time (I reviewed her previous books here).  So I pre-ordered this as soon as I could from Amazon.  It'll now be donated to the WHHS Library.  I am also thrilled to say Universal has optioned the rights, and it will be directed by Elizabeth Banks!

This has been tag-lined as a Lord of the Flies meets The Handmaid's Tale.  I would definitely agree.  I'd also add in the Salem Witch Trials/The Crucible. 

At the age of 16, girls in this society leave their town for a year at an island encampment. The day prior, boys of the same age and widowers may choose one of the girls as a wife, if she survives the year.  The purpose is to expel all the "magic" from the girls, so that they will be be proper wives/docile women.  In reality, it is to break their spirit.

I honestly do not want to spoil any more of this plot, because it is THAT
GOOD.  There are twists, turns, "holy [expletives]", and a roller coaster of emotions.  It's not a story of rainbows and sunshine. 

Although a very dark statement on the direction our lives might be taking, as was Offred's tale, it's also a reminder of the power of women working together.  They are a force for change and hope. 

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean

Last March I was given a directive to update our science holdings when I created the book order for this year.  This book was recommended by our vendor, Follett's Titlewave for chemistry.  I really wasn't interested until it came in and I saw it in person.

Yes, I know, don't judge a book by its cover.

But, this one's cover made me want to at least thumb through it.

I really enjoyed reading it!

So much so, I talked to Mr. Hill and Mrs. Poffenberger about using it in their Honors and AP Chem classes.  

This is a tour through the Periodic Table of the Elements and how they were "discovered", most of which were by accident or theory alone until proven.  There's lots of interesting factual tidbits relating to alchemy, philosophy, and more.  It's as much a history book as a science one. 

It's certainly been a while since I took Honors Chem myself, and there was a fair bit of science that went over my head, but not enough to impact understanding.  

Find this on display come Nonfiction November!

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS 

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing by A.D. Jameson

I really, really, really wanted to like this.  I'm a huge fan of Star Wars, Harry Potter, and The Big Bang Theory.  So, if that makes me a "geek", I'm OK with it.  So when a book subtitled comes in as: Star Wars and Triumph of Geek Culture, of course I want to read it!

But....
I could not get into this.
There was too much of the SuperHero genre, of which I am NOT a fan, to hold my interest. 
I'm not all that into cosplay, except the occasional Harry Potter party.
And I don't play video games or themed card games. 

I think though this book has a niche for those who do all of the above, but for me there was too little Star Wars to have a subtitle name-dropping the franchise.

If it YOUR thing though, find this back on the shelf later today.

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

A Craftsman's Legacy by Eric Gorges

Welcome back!

I hope you have had a chance to visit our new home.  Yes, that's right, the new WHHS LMC is fully operational, and thanks to Mrs. Taylor volunteering her time, all the books are in order!  Thanks to my helpers who unpacked 361 boxes of books plus all the supplies/magazines/decorations/etc.  I am forever in their debt!

So, here's the first book review of the 19-20 school year!

I'm sure by now most of you know I am a big supporter of shop classes.  My Dad was a mechanic and a "shop kid".  Many times students who take auto and wood shop classes are reluctant readers, and being that all of our seniors need to read a memoir, I thought this would be a great addition to our collection.  I decided to take it out as soon as it came in, before students would need it.

And I am so glad I did.

I loved this book.

Eric Gorges is the host of the show of the same name.  He meets and features craftsmen from many places and trades to showcase their stories. 

We've become accustomed to cheaply made imported stuff that lasts a few years and then we replace it.  We go online, click a bit, hit submit order, and two days later it's on our doorstep for 19.99.  I admit I'm guilty of this as well.  But things made, by hand, last.  They are not perfect, but as perfect as the craftsperson can make.  They are personal, an extension of the hands that built them.  There is a story to the item, a history and a meaning. 

Gorges tells his own story in flashback interwoven with the stories of those he meets.  I really felt like I had met these people myself, even though I've never watched the show. 

Find this on the memoir "new" shelf later today.

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

Rise of the Rocket Girls by Nathalia Holt

Hello All!

August already. It goes faster and faster every year!  Color Guard started yesterday! 

Today's review is of Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, From Missiles to the Moon to Mars.  Many of you have read Hidden Figures or seen the movie.  There are many more women who worked behind the scenes as "computers" for JPL and NASA!  This book explores the personal and professional lives of some of the first women to work in the field. 

This took me a LONG time to get through.  There is a LOT of science and math stuff that went right over my head (and I like science and math, but it's been a while since I've used Calculus!).  In addition, there are many women whose lives intersect, and I had to go back a few times to keep them all straight.

A few pointed reminders:
Pregnancy was once a fireable condition.  There was no maternity leave and there were no protections to keep a woman from losing her job after her pregnancy became public or visible.  Many of them hid things as best they could simply to continue working at a job they loved. 
It was acceptable to ask if you like Black or Latino people before being hired.  In this case, JPL had Black and Latina computers, so they were asking to make sure you did or you WOULDN'T be hired, but still.
Dementia does not discriminate.  It can come for any race, any gender, and any level of mathematical ability.  That part was hard to read, having personal family experience with it.

Find this back on the shelves soon!  And by soon, I mean Wednesday the 21st.  My Color Guard Captains, Mrs. Plumey, and I will be hard at work on the 21st to get all the books back on the shelves.  Anything we don't finish, Coach Viani, Ms. Mileski, and Mrs. Tremblay will help me tackle Friday the 23rd.  I've seen newer pictures.  It's GORGEOUS!

See you soon!

Puddin' by Julie Murphy

I loved this.  Just as I loved Dumplin', I could not put this down.  In fact, I was sitting in the sun reading it for so long, I got burned.  Those of you who know me in the real world know I'm dark enough to not burn, which gives you an idea of just how long I was sitting there.

First and foremost, Murphy or her publishers have this labeled as a "companion" to Dumplin', but I really feel you need to have read Dumplin' first.  There are several characters whose motivations and connections the reader would not understand if not having read Dumplin' first.  That being said, Dumplin' was awesome!  I didn't review it here, but for Nutmeg.  And I fought hard for it to be a nominee!

Puddin' focuses on two of the characters from Dumplin': Millie, who appeared in Willowdean's pageant, and Callie, who became Ellen's friend when she abandoned Willowdean.  See what I mean?  Without having read the first book, you'd not know that connection.

Plot synopsis: Callie and her gang of snob dance team members vandalize Millie's uncle's business when he pulls his sponsorship of the team.  Callie is the only one recognizable in the security footage.  Her sentence is community service: working for free to pay off the damage.  Thus, Millie and Callie will be spending a lot of time together.  They form a very unlikely friendship that reminds us friends do not need to look alike. 

I do believe there is going to be another book in the series, as the rest of this group of friends on the Island of Misfit Toys is explored.  Most were juniors in this book, leaving another year at Clover City High.  I'll be waiting!

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Temper by Layne Fargo

This was recommended to me by Amazon.  I felt it was in keeping with my summer of girl power in featuring two strong female leads, so I bought it.  It has mostly 4 and 5 star reviews.

My review: eh.

So here's the premise: A small theater company in Chicago is putting on a play called Temper.  The main characters (in the play) are a what seem to be a fairly normal husband and wife, but the wife is pregnant and recently took the pills to induce an abortion.  He finds out, they fight.  In the play, the audience is not supposed to know what is her imagination and what is real.  She's teetering on the brink of mental breakdown. 

K.

Now here's where it gets weird.  Kira, the actress playing the female lead, and Joanna, the stage manager, are both in this "is this real or imagination" state.  They both seem to imagine things, act out responses in a fantasy world, then do something completely opposite in the real world.  They have the same circle of friends, but didn't know each other before Kira's audition, or did they?  Joanna randomly hooks up with Kira's ex while her roommate hooks up with the lead from Joanna's last play.  Lot of coincidence.  Oh and there's Malcolm, the director and lead male actor who is total jerk.  Or is that just the way Kira and/or Joanna want us to think? 

I. Was. So. Confused.

Then the ending was...well, predictable.  I saw it coming way in advance.

I also felt I'd read this theme of mental illness and play within another story thing before....oh, yeah, that Hamlet guy. And the "my anger made me do it!"...Anakin Skywalker whining came out of Kira a LOT.

I really thought I was going to like this, but after finishing it, I'm still not sure what was real and what either Kira's or Joanna's imagination.

So, a no from me.

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

The Hello Girls by Elizabeth Cobbs

I hope you all had a happy and safe 4th of July long weekend!  We did so, with my family, after a week in Disney with the Band!

On to today's review.

First, I take issue with the subtitle: America's First Women Soldiers.  Not true.  This is about World War I and there were most definitely women who fought, whether formally or not, in prior American conflicts.  The biggest name that comes to mind is Harriet Tubman, who fought with the Union army in the Civil War.  Many women took up arms in the Revolutionary War.  So, there's that.

Now, there is so much importance in having this in our collection.  These women served our nation in communications.  They sacrificed to protect our way of life.  At a time when women could not vote, they flew to a foreign land in an essential service to the combat troops.  And like Tubman, they returned home to another battle on top of suffrage--being denied Veterans' benefits.  It would not be until 1979 that they earned the benefits entitled to them. 

What I didn't like was the writing style of this book.  I envisioned a narrative, and I think that's the goal, but the information was presented in a choppy way: a paragraph about this person or that item then off to something else.  It was extremely difficult to follow and took me a long time to get through.  It reads more like a reference work than narrative.

All in all, I'm glad we have this, but I would recommend it for research, not pleasure reading.

Ohhhh, and thanks to a secret source, I got a picture of the new library texted to me....IT'S GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

P.S. About to put this on video on Classroom along with This Bridge Called My Back.  Had some technical difficulties!

This Bridge Called My Back, 4th Edition edited by Cherrie Moraga and Gloria Anzaldua

My Master's degree focus was on Latina and Native American Indian women's literature.  As such, I read many of Gloria Anzaldua's works, most notably Borderlands/La Frontera, which I donated to the WHHS Library and plan to re-read this summer as part of my journey.  We also have her children's story Prietita y La Llorona and now this, a new 2015 edition of the foundational 1981 collection, published at the same time as her last manuscript posthumously.

This is an anthology of marginalized women's literature, a place where race, class, sexuality, and gender all intersect.  I would say the most well-known piece contained therein to be Audre Lorde's "The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House", an examination of being a black lesbian in the world of white straight women's feminism.

As I said in my review of Good Wives, there is a serious gap in the readings in American Literature and American History courses, which silences an entire experience.  "Black lesbian feminist" has a place in the curriculum, just as "white straight feminist" does.  Keeping readings by Lorde, Anzaldua, and others in "Women's Studies" courses prevents access and interaction.  I also appreciate that this new edition includes the visual arts. 

Look for this back on the shelf in our new home soon!

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS



 

Good Wives by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

The Summer of '19 is being dedicated to strong women: be them, know them, raise them.  This summer's readings are for my girls.

I first read this book in 2005 in a research methods course in Women's Studies, along with Ulrich's more well-known (I believe) A Midwife's Tale, the biography of Martha Ballard.  When curating my reading list for this summer, I felt it was a vital piece of American Women's History and needed to be included.

The subtitle of Good Wives is "Image and Reality in the Lives of Women in Northern New England 1650-1750".  As many of our students get their image of New England women of the time period from The Scarlet Letter, The Crucible, and the poetry of Anne Bradstreet, I felt much was left out.  The focus on sin, witchcraft, and piety/religion omits the realities of daily life for the vast majority of women.  The "simple things" like childbirth and rearing, cooking, cleaning, and running a household are overshadowed by the sole images of the aforementioned literary works.  Not to take anything away from them, but there is much more to be learned of how women's lives were affected by their (or more correctly their father's of husband's) financial means, travel, illness, and location.  I used several excerpts from this as a supplement in my teaching, but I still felt it worthwhile to reread these depictions in their entirety.

Ulrich explores the various roles of women--housewife or one in control of the home base and its daily workings, deputy or husband's assistant in his craft or agriculture or business, consort or lover, mother, mistress of her servant girls, neighbor, Christian, and heroine.  These roles are examine through the lens of Christian female mythology: Bathsheba (finances and daily life's impacts on them), Eve (sexuality and childbearing), and Jael (reconciling necessary violence with peaceful Christian ideology). 

It is my hope to have some of this summer's readings appear in our American History and Literature classes' outside reading lists, not just a Women's Studies course.  I believe this has a place, front and center, in OUR history. 

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Follow me on Twitter @Ramblings LMS; tweet what you're reading #whhs #read

Where I Was, Where I Am, Where I Am Going

Welcome back friends.

I know it has been a very long time.  Since early March I believe.  This is going to be a long, somewhat disjointed post about where I was, where I am, and where I'm going.

Part I: Where I Was
Alright.  So what happened?

Well, my ego took a pretty massive bruising.  I started posting video versions of my reviews in Google Classroom for my teachers to use as part of their independent reading.  Although the vast responses were positive, one was really not.  I suppose if it had've been a student, I'd've brushed it off and moved on.  It wasn't a student.

So, I stopped reviewing via video.  I stopped reviewing on the blog.  I was hurt.  Badly.  I didn't stop reading of course, but I felt my reviews were worthless and therefore what was the point in even doing them?

But then someone said, "Jill, I haven't seen a review from you in a while.  Did you change the website address?".  I ended up fibbing that packing and end of the year stuff plus Band/Guard had gotten in the way in terms of time.

I realized that the people who enjoy or at the very least read and don't feel the need to criticize my reviews outnumber the one who would find fault in just about anything.  Someone once called it the NegaTrain.  I don't need to be on that railroad, thanks.

Part II: Where I Am (or We Are, actually)

That's where.

The WHHS LMC, built in 1963, held its last two classes yesterday.  As a student, Millie Kalison and Anne Gabriel were my Librarians.  When I moved down from F214, Marilyn Lynch and Diane Taylor were running the show, assisted by Carol Treacey and Joe Winters.  There were other staff members between like Laura Garceau now at Bailey and Sue Walker who has since retired.  This space was home to many.  I feel a lot like when we had to say goodbye to my mom's house.  The bank can take the physical space, it couldn't take our memories.  These walls were Somewhere to a lot of people.  Although the building will be demolished, the memories remain.  Hold on to those.

Alas, we are ready to move.  Joe, Leona, and I are ready to move across what used to be the courtyard to our new home.  357 boxes of books are lined up along the old ways to move to staging over the summer.  I am absolutely terrified of unpacking it all...

Part III Where Am I Going?
A lot of different places, both physically and mentally.

This summer my husband and I have decided to do a lot of traveling.  Disney (with the Band), Nova Scotia, South Carolina, and New Hampshire are all on the list.  In addition, we've both decided to go radio silent during most of those trips (excluding Disney, we're with the Band afterall).  Meaning staying away from work emails and social media.  We both need to focus on our son, who is leaving Carrigan for Bailey.

Professionally, the K-4 West Haven LMSs and I are rewriting curriculum this summer.  I look forward to modernizing our curriculum, last updated in 2010.  A whole lot has changed in our world since 2010. Mrs. Porto and I are attending EdCampCT in August.  We have gone to Google Summit together and I'm really looking forward to this adventure with her.

I am honored to say Ms. M. has invited to continue serving as Guard Advisor.  Summer rehearsals will being in August (crossing fingers we can actually do so with the construction).

Last, but certainly not least, I am returning to reviewing books via this blog and creating video versions for my teachers and students to view in Classroom.  This summer I have decided to reread some of the books that have inspired me and newly read those I know have inspired others.  Welcome to Summer Reading 2019: Girl Power!

See you back here in a few days!

XOXO,
JW

The Curse of Oak Island by Randall Sullivan

I am obsessed with Oak Island.

Much like Rick Lagina of the now hit show on History Channel, I read an article about the island as a child, and I've been hooked since.  Just after I started teaching, the first History documentary came out.  Using it and articles, I had my 7th graders draft research proposals to investigate the island.  Now in their 30s, some of them are my Facebook friends.  I was amazed how many of them watch the show and are now crazy obsessed like me!

I visited Nova Scotia last in 1997.  We were researching family history (my family name Eagles originates in NS; we're somehow related to Charles Barkhouse too).  At the time, the island was closed to visitors, so I was only able to view it from afar.  I tried to get tickets to the tours this summer, BUT THEY SOLD OUT IN FOUR MINUTES!  Being the person I am, we are now chartering a boat to sail around the island with the one and only Tony Sampson of the show!

Randall Sullivan has appeared on a few episodes lately.  At first I was skeptical, like could this guy really write a book with anything I didn't already know about the island?  I was really surprised how in depth his research into the very early history (the McGinnis/Vaughn/Smith or Ball stories) and the more modern feud between Fred Nolan and Dan Blankenship.  Both Nolan and Blankenship appeared in that first documentary, where Nolan's cross was what convinced me something was really special about this island.  I also believe Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare's plays and the Knights Templar were in North America.  Infer what you will.

I am excited to donate this to our library and keep one to bring with me to hopefully get signed by cast members!

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

   

The Top 50 Chrome Extensions for the Classroom by Christopher Craft

Christopher Craft aka Crafty is a MASTER of the Google.  I have had the pleasure of hearing him speak and attending his sessions at Google Summits and also bantering with him via Twitter about barbecue. 

Crafty is a wizard with Google for Education and his latest book is pretty sweet.  It's a very compact book, but it's loaded with all sorts of nifty extensions for Chrome, including some of his own making.

This will be shelved in our professional section, but students may check it out as well.

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

Yes, today is a twofer review day (because yesterday was marathon errand day--long story short we finally have access to our own money again!).

This was also on display during my recent trip to WHPL.  I liked it but not enough to put it on our wish list, so if you'd like to read it, it'll be returned tomorrow.

Erin and Mark are on their honeymoon when they find a ton of money and diamonds while snorkeling in a plane wreckage site.  Their lives have turned upside down by the financial crash (Mark is a banker) and they really can't even afford the trip they're on.  So one would imagine they'd quietly pay off debt and live happily ever after.

Money changes people.  And usually not in a good way. 

I honestly hated Mark from the very beginning of the book.  I could tell he was going to be a jerk pretty early on.  He doesn't prove me wrong either.

Like I said, readable, but not the thriller promised.

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

This was on display at the West Haven Public Library when I stopped in to drop off some things to Ms. Kym. 

It was really good and is now on our wish list. 

This was a really interesting premise--a man will wake up daily in a different body among the guests at a weekend affair hosted by the Hardcastle family.  The family's youngest son was murdered while he was supposed to have been watched by their daughter Evelyn.  On the anniversary of the murder, they are hosting this "party".  Our main character has been chosen by a strange masked figure who explains the game.

Imagine a The Westing Game style puzzle mystery meets Caraval or Night Circus combined with one of those whodunit dinner cruises while locked in an escape room with a psychopath serial killer.

I'll be returning this to WHPL as soon as I get the video review of this uploaded to Classroom tomorrow.

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Just a little update

I know I've gone radio silent over the past few weeks and wanted to give a quick update.

First, I had a minor health scare that need to be dealt with.  You may have noticed I wasn't staying after school at all at the start of February.  That's because I was jetting to doctor appointments.  I refuse to schedule such during school hours, and my physicians know that.  I am happy to report all is good.

Literally the next darn day, $7000 was taken out of my savings account.  I had to close all my bank accounts, switch the account every automatic payment comes out of, be without a debit card or checks for two weeks, file a police report, call the credit reporting agencies....it was an absolute nightmare.  FINALLY, YESTERDAY I got access to my own money again. 

While those two events stunk, something really awesome happened.  I met virtually with my fellow librarians on the Joint Committee for School and Public Library Cooperation.  I represent the American Association of School Librarians, along with two others.  I received several compliments on my part of the Standards Crosswalk we are developing.  Unfortunately, we've lost a few members, so the remaining members have to pick up the slack and write some more!  That is a big thing I need to focus on.  In addition, one of our future AASL/YALSA/ALSC blog posts will again feature....me!  Along with Ms. Kym at WHPL, I'll be writing about serving on a state book award committee. I'm super excited to be writing with Kym!

Fear not, I am still reading (in fact, I just went to WHPL yesterday and took out 3 new books).  Look for a new review very soon. Promise!

Love y'all.

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

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The Official Dictionary of Sarcasm by James Napoli

My husband bought this for me as a gag gift:
"Anniversary: Try forgetting it, and you'll see what the hell it means."
It's one of the best gifts ever.

I could use some coffee:
"Barista: A person highly skilled in writing your first name in Sharpie on the side of a heat-treated paper cup."

And I have to go to the doctor after school today:
"Health: A type of insurance plan that covers everything but the rare conditions you managed to come down with."

I knew this would be the last book I was going to read for Book a Day January.  I read 30 books in 31 days, although I did not finish 2 of them, so 28 if you want to be technical.

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Fierce by Aly Raisman

As my attempt to read a book a day in January comes to a close, I knew 100% I wanted this to be one of the books I read.

I fr*^$#!g love Aly Raisman.  I have since the 2012 Olympics.  She is a body-positive athlete and amazing role model for girls and young women.  A native New Englander (near Boston--she's friends with Big Papi!), she represented our country twice in the Olympics, bringing home several team and individual medals.  She competed on Dancing with the Stars, with a personal routine that moved me to tears.  She also appeared in the Body and Swim editions of Sports Illustrated, a personal challenge in "showing" her body.  Aly Raisman is a rape survivor.

Her speeches at the trial and sentencing of the former gymnastics doctor (I refuse to write his name) required extraordinary courage.  Her victim statement, no, survivor statement helped put the nail in that scumbag's coffin.  Later, Raisman would be the voice of the survivors in accepting the Espy for courage on their behalf.

Aly is fierce.

I'm happy to say we have her teammates Laurie and Simone's memoirs too!

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Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

I absolutely loved Dumplin' by Murphy.  I honestly have no idea what took me so long to read this. 

Ramona is a gay teen in southern Mississippi post-Katrina entering her senior year.  She's certain about her sexuality and "out" in her small community.  Her drunk (and racist and homophobic) mother has left her and her slightly older sister with their father (a hotel maintenance man) in a trailer park.  Hattie may be older, but Ramona is the responsible one.  Hattie's unemployed, lazy baby-daddy-to-be (also a racist homophobic) moves into the trailer.  Ramona works as a waitress, paper girl, sitter, and other odd jobs to keep the family afloat.

The story opens as the summer comes to an end.  Ramona and a tourist had a relationship, but now Grace is heading back inland.  At the same time, former resident Agnes moves back to Eulogy with her grandson Freddie. 

I think you can guess what happens at this point.  It was pretty obvious Ramona and Freddie would fall in love, making Ramona question her sexuality.  Still, it was a easy, enjoyable read.

So, yes, I did enjoy it as a story.  Was it the social commentary some people have played it up to be?  I don't think so. What irked me was that there were too many "issues" for any of them to be delved into with fidelity.  Unplanned pregnancy and abortion, race, gender, unemployment, poverty, college financing...I totally get that this is reality for a whole lot of people, but it made it hard to sympathize because their issues were only surface level (example: the group gets caught swimming in a vacant rental home pool, Freddie launches into a tirade about that being how a black kid gets shot--relevant and timely, but then poof, issue over). 

Sometimes though, I think reviewers make a book out to be something it's not.  Maybe it was just meant to be a good story. 

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.
 

A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge

Preface: I have read two of Hardinge's other novels, The Lie Tree and Cuckoo Song, both for other purposes than this blog.  Infer what you will.  I found them both so bizarre as to not recommend them (and you know I like weird, so for me to say no...).  What was beautiful about both to me were the covers.

So fast forward a bit and a student has read both aforementioned books and asks me to get this.  Nothing makes my heart happier than kids asking for books. 

And the cover on this one is just as beautiful.  And the inside is just as bizarre.

Neverfell appears in an underground city called Caverna.  An elderly cheesemaker finds her, names her, and makes her his apprentice.  Unfortunately, in this strange society, only artisans who make facial expression are allowed to create and teach them.  So Neverfell, clearly an outsider, must wear a mask to not alarm people when they see her face.

Yeah, I should've just stopped there.  The society is described in minute details, and I had found myself envisioning a mix of Spyro's world if the dragons were human, Alice in Wonderland, and Caraval.  It's dystopia meets fantasy meets satire meets horror meets Hardinge's other works. 

It was just too much, if that makes any sense.  Not my cup of tea!

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A Kingdom Strange by James Horn

The lost colony of Roanoke is probably one of America's first unsolved mysteries.  There are many theories as to what happened to the missing colonists: disease, weather, Native American Indian attack, a rescue ship, moving on to another settlement nearby.  

Horn leans to the theory that the settlers left behind at Roanoke intermarried with nearby tribes.  His version of the solution relies on accounts of two to three generations later, many of the members of these tribes have light eyes, which could only be explained by European genetic influence.  

This is a really in-depth history of Virginia, with details on the politics of England/Spain/France and other European countries exploring their so-called "new World" (you already know how I feel about that).

In trying to modernize and align our collection, I've relied on suggested texts for our AP classes.  This was on the list for AP U.S. History.  I'm glad I had the chance to read it!

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.   

Expo 58 by Jonathan Coe

I consider myself fairly intelligent.  I felt incredibly stupid in reading this. 

My son told me, years ago, that Mr. Sulkis (his Library Media Specialist) gave them a way to test if a book was the right level.  If you don't know more than 5 words on a page, the book is too hard for you. 

Well, this book was clearly too hard for me.

There were way too many words, not just words I didn't know I'm talking about now, just so.many.words. I know I'm sounding ridiculous, but it's the only way I can describe this writing.  Get. To. The. Point. Please.

I read about 70 pages before giving up.  And in those 70 pages I'm not even sure what's happening.

Perhaps it's words I don't know, perhaps it's the overuse of adjectives, perhaps it's being British language rather than America, perhaps it's not being alive in the 1950s, perhaps it's just a bad plot.

Either way, I'm giving up and picking something different for today.

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I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb

I am so mad right now. 

I loved the first 286 pages of this.  Was ready to call it "awesome" and a "new fave" and recommend it my son BECAUSE IT WAS THAT GOOD.

The last ten pages ruined this.  Terrible, awful, stupid ending.  If they ever make a movie, this is one book I hope they change the ending.

End rant.

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Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

With the retirement of Mrs. Lynch, Mrs. Taylor, and Mrs. Treacey, watering the plants has fallen to me.  I hate doing it and will be offering them up to anyone who wants them at the end of the year.  This book, of which we have two (see previous post about funding), sits directly below one of those green, crawling, leafy, potted things.  Intrigued as to why we had two, I read the back and decided to add it to the waning pile for #bookadayjanuary.

Eh. 

That's about all I can say.  I honestly cannot see the merit in having two.  My suspicion?  One of my predecessors saw the title in a vendor catalog or on a site and jumped on it, knowing we needed memoirs for the seniors (again, see previous posts on the genre).  Then it came in and oopsie, this is fiction.  No blame, just a little oops.

This was predictable.  It read very Hallmark movie-ish.  There were also So. Many. Family. Issues. going on it detracted from Naomi's own issues (least of all being she can't remember the last 4 years of her life).

While I'm sure there are those who will like this (Cabot and Dessen fans for sure), it's not my cup of tea.

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The Closer by Mariano Rivera

I am a Red Sox fan.

That being said, no one can deny the talent of former Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame this week.  So when I decided to read Ally Raisman's memoir, I saw this sitting next to it and decided why not?

I had no idea how much I would absolutely bawl my eyes out in reading this (for example, Rivera's description of 9/11 was one that took a lot of tissues. Another being he and his wife were treated pretty much the same as Papi in Minnesota when they tried to buy a house in New Rochelle). Or how much I'd agree with Rivera on a lot of points about modern day professional baseball's nonsense (A-Rod's media circus, PEDs, and Pedro's actions during THAT game).  Or how many quotes I'd want to use about facing an opponent like the Red Sox or storied places like Fenway and the old Yankee Stadium.  Seriously. Rivera's describing the change in the vibe from old to new Yankee Stadium is  EXACTLY why Boston will never build a new ballpark.

Rivera comes from a poor fishing village in Panama.  His humility never leaves him, nor his faith in God. Sometimes it's hard, as an atheist, to read a lot about God, but Rivera's faith is something absolutely extraordinary.  It never waivers, even as his wife fought for her life in bringing their third child into the world.

This is a definite read.

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.   

Circe by Madeline Miller

Circe was the Greek Goddess of sorcery.  She's often called the first witch, skilled in magic, potions, and herbs.  She is probably best well known for her interactions with Odysseus.  This novel devotes a full-length book to her background and life story.

This has fabulous reviews.  So I hate to say I didn't like it.

It moved waaaaayyyyy too slow.  After 20 pages of Circe's genealogy (the Titans versus Olympians and who sleeps with who and is related to who etc.) I was flat out bored.  I mired through to page 77 and gave up.  I just didn't care. 

Unfortunately, this is a no from me. 

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The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

I finished this yesterday, but needed some time to compose my thoughts on it.

I am very conflicted in how I feel about this book.

Start from the beginning, when going through lists of suggested books and checking what we have, I came across this very bright book.  It's neon yellow.  On the cover are a bunch of female animals with their names (did you know a girl otter is a Jill?  Me neither).  On the back is a description that sounds mildly appealing with a quote from one of my favorite movies, Clue.

I had no idea I was in for a savage, downright vicious story of a female vigilante out to rid her small town of pedophiles, abusers, and rapists. 

Alex reminds me a lot of Lisbeth from Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, just a small-town America teenage version.  The rape and murder of her older sister unleashed absolute rage, and Alex seeks justice by crucifying (literally) her sister's killer when he isn't charged.  When an uncle of a friend is discovered to be holder of child-pornography and abuser of said friend's younger sister, Alex lights his house on fire and burns him to death. 

I'm not sad in any way for their deaths.  I'm just kinda shocked that the book with these cutesy animals on the cover contains them.

The story is told in alternating viewpoints, from Alex, her kindof boyfriend Jack, and her co-animal shelter volunteer Peekay. 

That's right, outside of her violent nature towards sex criminals, Alex nurtures kittens and homeless dogs. 

I'm still not sure what I think of this.

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Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

I guess this is the next book in my New York themed review series....

It's 1977 in New York City (Flushing, Queens to be exact).  Nora is a high school senior who was looking forward to summer, lounging on her fire escape, hanging with her best friend, listening to disco.  But the Son of Sam serial killer is out to get young women and a serial arsonist seems to be lighting up Nora's neighborhood.  Her homelife is unbearable, with a very conservative Latina mother and violent younger brother.  She explores ideas she reads about regarding feminism but also longs for the traditional family.  Much of the story is Nora's internal thought process in how to deal with ALL OF THIS, in what was supposed to be a summer of not needing to think about anything.   

This isn't an easy read.  Hector's violent outbursts, resulting in physical and mental harm to his mother and sister is disturbing.  I had a few moments of wanting to hit him back for them. 

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Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix

If you've followed this blog for a while, you know I have a strange fascination with New York history, specifically the stretch from Lower Manhattan through Brooklyn to Coney Island.  I've read and reviewed quite a few books set in such--Saint Mazie (to be donated Tuesday actually, more on that in a sec.), The Church of Marvels, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, Up in the Old Hotel, Undertow, The Murder of Helen Jewett...

When I was cleaning the other day, I saw this book, of which we have two.  Back when we had a much a larger book budget, my predecessors would order 2, 3, 4, or more copies of popular novels.  How had I not read this already?  In looking through our catalog for more on the subject to see what else we had (perhaps for the video version of this), I realized we didn't have Mazie.  I guess I had borrowed that from WHPL, but didn't purchase it.  Fixed thanks to Amazon.

This is historical fiction, set during the year leading up to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.  One of the owner's children seeks out a survivor for answers.  Bella, who was a new-to-America Italian immigrant and spoke little English, is now a married mother.  She takes us back, very much like the grandmother in Titanic, to understand the lives of her and her friends.  Bella and Yetta, a Yiddish-speaking Russian immigrant, represent the girls who worked on the doomed floor, locked in by their bosses in atrocious conditions.  Former strikers who sought better, Yetta will die in the fire, just after getting engaged.  Their third friend is Jane, a young woman raised in a wealthy family who dreams of college and the right to vote.  She runs away from her rich, domineering father, later becoming a governess to the owner's children. 

I cried several times in reading this, but none so much as when I read the acknowledgements.  The Triangle building still stands, now a part of NYU.  Haddix was given the opportunity to tour the building, able to stand at the windows so many girls jumped out of, rather than burn to death.  I won't spoil what our author sees from that spot, but it's heartwrenching.

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Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking

This was put on our wish list by a staff member for an advanced science class.  During our push around the holidays, I put it on the Amazon gift list as well.  A Westie alum and now parent sent it our way.

Stephen Hawking was a math and science genius.  He was also a sarcastic comedian, even appearing on The Big Bang Theory, telling Sheldon he made a math error.  Unstopped by the neurological disease (ALS) that took his speech and movement, he never stopped searching for answers to those "big questions".  His most famous work was in black holes.

Among the questions explored:
Is there a God?
Can we predict the future?
Is time travel possible?
Will we survive on Earth?

This book was in progress at the time of Hawking's death, and was finished with the help of his colleagues and family.

I didn't think I'd be emotionally affected by a book about math, physics, and astronomy, but I teared up a few times in reading this.

Find this with our new books!

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

For a while, World War II was all the rage in YA literature, and in truth, I didn't find it my cup of tea.  Sure there were some good books, probably many more, but a few reads were enough to put me off of the topic.  So when this came out, I did in fact take a look at it for a purpose other than my reviews.  At best, I skimmed it.  I really did it an injustice, and set out to make that right when I passed by it on the put-back cart.

Just like rereading, giving a book a second chance is OK too.  Looking at a book through a different lens, whether through personal change or professional growth, is part of the beauty of literature.

Enough about me.  

In 1943 occupied Amsterdam, Hanneke supports her slightly off-kilter mother and crippled father by running black market goods around her neighborhood.  One of her clients, an older woman, asks her to find a missing Jewish girl she's been hiding in a pantry.  After reluctantly accepting, Hanneke finds herself suddenly a member of the resistance.  Her quest to track down Mirjim leads her to an assembly point for Jews, taking part in the hand-off a baby to a Christian family, photographing the atrocities, and much more.  All while trying to save the girl who left her client's in a blue coat just days before.

I don't want to spoil too much, but I will say I really like this book.  I wish I had read it closer the first time, but maybe I just wasn't ready to!

P.S. Read the acknowledgements.  It's quite the history lesson.

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Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Sorry I didn't get a chance to post this review last night.  Oak Island was on!

Weird, weird, weird!

That's all I can say about this book.

I am so utterly confused about what even happened.

Here's what I can figure out:

Ruby and Chloe are half-sisters in update NY, but Ruby is more like a mother to Chloe as their own is an alcoholic hippie.  One night at a party near a reservoir, Ruby's and her friends watch the much younger Chloe swim to the center.  Legend says there are still whole towns below the reservoir after the river was dammed and the valley flooded (side note: Candlewood Lake in CT is like this.  I always tried to look through the murky water to see.  Apparently you can take a scuba tour.)  But upon reaching it, she finds a girl in a rowboat, dead from an overdose.  OK, that much was clear and understandable. 

Fast forward and Chloe has been sent to live with her father and his new family in PA.  Out of the blue Ruby appears to take her home. 

And that's when things got strange.  The dead girl is now alive.

I honestly am not sure what was going on here.  Was Ruby a witch of some sorts?  Is the dead, now alive, girl a figment of Chloe or Ruby's imagination?  Are the ghosts in the drowned town part of this or not?

Yeah, I have no idea.

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Scythe by Neal Shusterman

I don't know what took me so long to read this.

Full Tilt by Shusterman is one of my favorite books, among those I reread often.

So I have no idea why despite having this in my library I hadn't actually read it 'til today.

It was actually a student of Ms. McCormack's that convinced me to read this with his/her independent reading project.

Imagine a world where humanity has conquered disease.  Death is easily reversible.  Only a chosen few, known as Scythes, decide who is to live and who is to die.  With a set quota, they chose who to kill and how.  Some do so mimicking the deaths of the time before, others have developed a penchant for pain.  It is a time of disagreement among the group on methods and leadership.

Citra and Rowan are two scythe apprentices.  Politics get in the way and they are farmed out to two very different mentors, in what will culminate in one becoming a scythe and the other being killed.  Scythes themselves can only be killed, or gleaned, by oneself or by fire.  Keep that in mind.

I'm so glad I finally picked this off the shelf to read.

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Rereading The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

I recently saw several blog and twitter posts about rereading one's favorite book.  Both sides of the issue were explored in a lot of detail. There was one particular post that seemed to infer students should not be allowed to do so for "credit" in class. 

Whoa there.  Hold up.

I don't care what you read.  I care that you read.  Manga and anime your thing?  Cool.  Like sports bios?  Awesome.  Into military history?  Have at it. 

Although we give credit for reading, how dare someone say "you can't read that" or "that doesn't count"?!?!

I think you can tell I am on the side that rereading is OK.  In fact, I can honestly say I've reread several books multiple times.  There are quite a few books I reread nearly every year, usually during the summer.

I decided after that post for this book a day thing, one of the books I'd read would be The Westing Game, my all-time favorite book.  When I started teaching, I had 7th grade at Carrigan, the same year I read it as a student.  It was first on my list of books to do with my class.

I plan to record a review for this.  I'll be showing you all my tattered, beaten copy of Raskin's classic.  I hope it survives the journey to school in my bag. 

A game of whodunit ensues when a multi-millionaire dies.  His will declares he was murdered by one of his 16 heirs.  Paired up, each is given a set of clues.  It's a race to find the murderer and claim the money. 

I can't even say how much I love this story.  Even though some of the details are a bit outdated, it's still a great book.  I hope someone new discovers it or someone reads it another time.  Perhaps after reading this blog, you'll find your old favorite and reread it too.     

Unearthed by Kaufman and Spooner

Excuse my tardiness again.  This was yesterday's book, but I had to review it today.  My husband took me on a surprise road trip north yesterday!  So today is a twofer again.

Alright then.

No.  I'm sorry, but no.  And I am so sad to say that. 

You are aware of my love for the Illuminae trilogy (two are reviewed here; the first I read for Nutmeg 2018...I think I can say that now).  Amie Kaufman was one of two authors on that trilogy, so I had ridiculously high hopes for this, but I just did not feel the same magic.  Perhaps my hopes were too high. 

A dying race sends directions to their planet into space.  Good people and bad of course race to stake claims on what promises to be vast riches and perhaps a way to save Earth.  Think the movie version of Doom (starring The Rock) meets Indiana Jones meets Independence Day.  The plot was OK.  It was the characters I really didn't care for in truth.  I found Amelia and Jules to be incredibly annoying.  I didn't really care if they lived or died.  I kinda started rooting for the aliens, like how we all root for the sharks in Deep Blue Sea.  And the ending leaves things open for a sequel. 

So now that I'm doing the video reviews, this is one that won't featured.

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

Neverwake by Amy Plum

I'm doing horribly with keeping up with the daily reviews.  Sorry!

This is the sequel to Dreamfall.  I did not review it here, but for School Library Journal. 
Please read that review first.  You can read that here (you have to scroll down):
https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=sljs-april-2017-popular-picks
I absolutely loved Dreamfall.

The nightmare continues for our main characters.  Things get weirder and more violent.  There are more deaths in the dreams, which means more cardiac arrests in real life. 

I am really not sure why this had to be split into two novels.  There is not enough difference between the two to really call it a sequel.  Nor is there really a breaking point between the two parts.  The only thing I can think of is turning off teens with a larger size book? 

I also felt the ending was rushed.  These characters deserved so much more.  Again, why cut things short? 

If I were to recommend this, it'd be immediately reading both back to back as one continuous story. 

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Nightingale by Amy Lukavics

My apologies in not posting this review last night.  Something happened that kept my typing fingers too twitchy.  More on that later.

If you've followed this blog a while or have heard me recommend books to my classes, you know Amy Lukavics is tied for my favorite horror author.  I had the pleasure of listening to her speak at a conference I attended virtually.  She's awesome.

I purchased this to read and then donate, which will happen as soon as I get to school and record the video version of this review for Google Classroom.

Lukavics doesn't disappoint.

June is a teen in classic 1950s America.  Dad works, Mom stays home, brother Fred does the outside chores, June is expected to look pretty/learn to cook/not be able to think for herself.  But June has other ideas, including being a science fiction writer (her first book being about alien abduction).  She secretly applies to a writing program and intends to leave right after graduation.  But her parents arrange a date and later engagement to her father's business partner.  After losing it (I won't spoil how), her parents have her committed to an asylum.

Now, I think we all know how female patients were treated in the past in such institutions.  Lobotomy anyone?

But this institution is much, much worse.

I don't want to give away too much, so that's it on the plot here.

Now, what happened that had me riding a high last night?  Well, this:

Me suggesting Lukavics collaborate with my other favorite horror author, Kim Liggett.  AND THEM RESPONDING!

We have all of their books in our collection, but because of my tendency to recommend them, most are out.  Maybe if there is enough interest, I will order 2nd copies................ ;)

In case you're wondering, King is 3rd.  And Lukavics has a nice Easter Egg homage to one of his recent novels in Nightingale.  See if you can find it!

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Hacking Google for Education by Currie, Krakower, and Rocco

I am so ridic excited that next year all Social Studies and English teachers will be using Google Classroom.  I've been seeking out some new resources for our teachers, and this was one that came in from a water money order. 

What I like about this particular manual is that it's broken into classroom, school, and district.  For Google's G Suite/Apps for Education to work the way it should, there has to be buy-in from administration and teachers across disciplines.  I'm hoping to get more people on board!  This guide is a really good place to start.

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The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson

I have weird obsessions.  Ancient Aliens.  Oak Island.  Southern Virginia/Northern Tennessee.  Bacon.  Those hats British ladies wear. 

But I don't think any of my obsessions reach the level of Johnson's or that of his subject.

To sum up, a young flute player breaks into a museum and steals a ridiculous amount of rare (dead/stuffed/mounted/partial) birds of beautiful feathered varieties.  Later he will claim Asperger's as his defense. 

A young man helping Iraqi refugees seeks solace in a fishing trip.  He's in awe of his friend's fly making skills.  Said friend tells him the story of Edwin Rist, the bird-thief.  The story goes Rist stole them to make fishing flys. 

Really.

I swear I'm not making this up.

When I first took this out, I judged a book by it's cover.  It looked really awesome.

Then I read the jacket description and went "what the French toast?  Are you serious?  Is this for real?  Why did I buy this?  How is this on the bestseller list?!?!?!?!"

Because I'm committed to this whole Book a Day January thing, I pressed on.

It was actually a really good story!  It is as much about Johnson's obsession to solve the crime (finding Rist's accomplices and buyers of the stolen feathers) as it is about the actual crime itself.

Kinda stunned I liked it so much.

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The Crimes of Grindelwald by J.K. Rowling

I'm a Potterhead.

Duh.  As if you didn't know that already.

That being said, I was uber-disappointed in Fantastic Beasts, so I had some hesitation about reading this.  Written as a screenplay, much like Cursed Child, this is the basis of the latest movie, starring Johnny Depp (on a side note, HP is a Universal/Warner thing; could that be why Depp was fired from the Pirates franchise, a Disney endeavor?).

If you've followed me for a while, you know I have to read the book before I see the movie.

The reality is I don't really need to review this for plot.  It's a prequel; we know what happens to Grindelwald and Dumbledore.  There are some pretty significant plot twists I did not expect, but I don't want to spoil them, although anyone who really knows HP has an idea.  I especially liked Nagini.  ;)

Note the WHHS LMC does not have this book; this is a personal copy.  If there is enough interest, perhaps we can get it.

Oh, and after meeting with my bosses, my reviews are going to appear in video form.  More details to come.

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

The Best Cook in the World by Rick Bragg

A lot of people think their Mommas are the best cooks in the world.  Mine was not.  She could burn water.  But my Nana, my non-biological great-grandmother (she ran the boarding house my grandfather lived in on Noble Street), was an amazing cook.  I was pretty sure she was the cook in the last cookbook memoir I reviewed here.

This Momma, however, is from the South.  Way South.

Baked possum anyone?  With sweet potatoes?

I've read Rick Bragg's column in one of my fave magazines, Garden & Gun.  I also loved said previous cookbook memoir (Bruculinu America).  I also secretly want to retire to south Virginia, near Tennessee.  I had no idea what I was in for in reading this.

I laughed a lot.  I cried a few times.  And I most definitely felt the need to puke once (you have to CARE FOR the possum for a week before cooking it!).

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Ban This Book by Alan Gratz

This was sent to me by Carrigan Reading teacher (and my Co-Color Guard Advisor) Mr. Adams.  HE was right that I'd like it. 

When I was a classroom teacher, The Bluest Eye in our curriculum was challenged by a parent.  It is a gut-wrenching experience to have your materials challenged before the Board of Education.  I've not had a book challenged as a Librarian, but I do make it a point to showcase how many books we have that have been challenged or banned during Banned Books Week. 

Our main character in this story finds her favorite book has been challenged and removed from her school library.  Amy Anne can't comprehend this and starts a secret library from the school lockers to trade in banned books.  Ultimately she and her classmates mount a quest to get all their banned books back into the school library by facing off with the Board of Education.   

This is a super-quick read (it's lower reading level) and really awesome to a school librarian.

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Loving Amy by Janis Winehouse

I went out to dinner for my birthday last night and completely blanked on writing this review.  So today is a two-for again!

Amy Winehouse was a gifted singer and musician, but her life was cut short by addiction.  A member of the infamous 27 year old club, Amy died as a result of alcohol.  This memoir reads like a biography but with the emotion of a mother's loss.

Fame isn't easy on relatives.  Tabloids make sure of that.  Amy was easy prey for supermarket rags: her attire, hair, makeup, and public intoxication frequently appeared on their covers.  Her death was public news within 30 minutes of her body being found.  For her siblings and parents, this meant every inch of their lives scrutinized.  How did a young woman with so much potential, from a good family, end up an addict?  Weren't they there for her?  Didn't they try to get her help?  Yes.  But that's never told in the media. 

I absolutely love Amy's music.  You might actually hear me humming "Rehab" every once in a while.  But music wasn't enough to save her. 

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Get More Out of G Suite by Hywel Stayte

I'm a total Google nerd.  When I saw this, I immediately put it on our wish list.  I am so proud of all the teachers at WHHS who have embraced Google and GSuite for Education.  I am hoping to convince some of our holdouts to get on board!

So, I'm a little disappointed.  I was looking to get more, but I knew everything this book had to offer.  This is definitely a how-to manual for beginners, not for someone like me who is Google Certified.

One other thing--it's in British English!  "Organisation" and "maximise" drove me bonkers!

This will be in our Professional section!

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Speaking American by Josh Katz

Did you take one of those online quizzes that tried to guess where you are from based on what you call certain things/places/activities?

If yes, you likely contributed to this book!

Do you call it a firefly or a lightning bug?

Tag sale, yard sale, or garage sale?

Tractor-trailer, semi, big-rig, or 18-wheeler?

I am 100% New England (Boston and Brooklyn thank you!), but a few of my answers had me in Appalachia and the Southeast.  I wonder if this is a result of listening to country music?

Anyway, a quick read that led to a fun conversation while I was making dinner.

Caramel or carmel?

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

For Every One by Jason Reynolds

First things first.

I'm sorry. 

I've been neglecting reading for pleasure in favor of my professional pursuits (my ALA Interdivisional Committee is about to publish a crosswalk between the AASL Standards and the Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards, for example) and Band/Color Guard duties (that was an amazing Holiday show though, right?!?!).  So, I'm taking a month for me and my books.

Welcome to #bookadayJanuary (yes, I know I am a day behind; stay tuned).

This is the second Jason Reynolds book that has moved me to shaking tears in less than a year (see my review of Long Way Down).

Written as Long Way Down is, in a stream of thought poem, I broke out in tears about half-way through and finished shaking and ugly crying.  I feel like Reynolds wrote this for me.  For everybody who hasn't got it all figured out.  Who is dreaming and won't give up, even though they've thought about throwing in the towel multiple times. 

As soon as I finish this review, I am walking upstairs and handing this to my son.

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.