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!
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
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!
Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS
All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.
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!
Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS
All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.
Monday, July 15, 2019
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.
Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS
All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.
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.
Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS
All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
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!
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!
Sunday, June 30, 2019
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
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
Monday, June 17, 2019
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
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
Friday, June 7, 2019
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
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)
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
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