(4.5) This is an IMPORTANT book. I know, in the past 3 years, I've explored what it means as a white woman to have privilege, to understand that many (4.5) This is an IMPORTANT book. I know, in the past 3 years, I've explored what it means as a white woman to have privilege, to understand that many of the services, indulgences, basics I enjoy have been built on the back of exploited workers, have been denied many others because of the color of their skin, their religion, their sexual preferences. And I am still working through that. Throughout all of this reckoning that was largely sparked due to events happening in our country, very very very rarely is fatness considered. Obseity is highly stigmatized in America and the effect of weight on health is, in my opinion, not fully studied or known. In Starfish, Lisa Fipps explores what it's like to be a fat teen today. The things that happen and are said to Eli are horrible (view spoiler)[ especially the things her mother says and does (hide spoiler)] and obviously have caused her irreparable harm. It's important for people who aren't like Eli to understand what it's like and for kids who ARE like Eli to understand that it doesn't have to be this way. Definitely read this if you work with kids in any capacity. Highly recommend if you're a human being at all....more
What would you save if you could only save one thing in a fire? Pets and people are already safe. This made me think about the things I have in my lifWhat would you save if you could only save one thing in a fire? Pets and people are already safe. This made me think about the things I have in my life (also I'm on a getting rid of things I don't need kick too) and what means the most to me. The explanations these kids have are great. I love them. This is thought provoking and would be a great discussion/writing prompt for elementary and middle schoolers....more
Beautiful novel in verse from Jacqueline Woodson. She does an amazing job crafting these wonderfully round characters in so few words. It's tough subjBeautiful novel in verse from Jacqueline Woodson. She does an amazing job crafting these wonderfully round characters in so few words. It's tough subject matter, but definitely worth the read. ...more
This is so timely and so beautiful and devastating all at the same time. I decided to start listening to Believed, the Michigan Public Radio podcast aThis is so timely and so beautiful and devastating all at the same time. I decided to start listening to Believed, the Michigan Public Radio podcast about the survivors of Larry Nassar's sexual abuse, and you know because why not, also picked this up at the same time. The stories work well together, personal accounts of what women are forced to go through in order to be believed, in order to survive, and the horrific tolls it takes. It's not enough to just get the settlement - you want to change the system and it's not easy, even if you win, especially if you win and you're believed and your pain is finally recognized. I highly recommend this memoir, especially if you read Speak, especially if you value women in your life, especially if you work with teenage girls. ...more
I love the way Jane Yolen weaves all these threads together - contemporary narrative, Baba Yaga mythology, Russian folklore, fantasy, reality, poetry,I love the way Jane Yolen weaves all these threads together - contemporary narrative, Baba Yaga mythology, Russian folklore, fantasy, reality, poetry, narrative. Reading Finding Baba Yaga is like a dance, starting out stilted, cautious, letting the rhythm seep in, becoming more fluid until finally the dance becomes a dervish, whirling, twirling. I do think that this will need some hand selling though and I'll try to get my fairy-tale retelling friends and coworkers reading it....more
Oh man! This was so good. I wasn't sure I would be into this when I first started it (been in a bit of a reading slump lately), but the fire and passiOh man! This was so good. I wasn't sure I would be into this when I first started it (been in a bit of a reading slump lately), but the fire and passion of Xiomara and Elizabeth Acevedo's narration brought this to life for me. It gave me a little bit more faith in YA, as I've been picking up and putting down more and more YA because I can't relate to the characters or am put off by their drama. So much love and real life in this. I can't wait to give it to high schoolers....more
Blood Water Paint was totally worth the hype. I wasn't sure at first, but it grew on me slowly, aided in large part to the stories of Susanna and JudiBlood Water Paint was totally worth the hype. I wasn't sure at first, but it grew on me slowly, aided in large part to the stories of Susanna and Judith told by Prudentia. McCullough does wonders with language, bringing back themes, words, images. The prose sections really drove the story for me. It's a good book published at a very fitting time....more
Nancy has created a wonderful collection of poetry. Her gift is threading together words and phrases in interesting intentional ways, crafting tapestrNancy has created a wonderful collection of poetry. Her gift is threading together words and phrases in interesting intentional ways, crafting tapestries of words. So many of the poems flow so smoothly together, in terms of content, style, and pacing. My favorite is 13 - "I've a river inside me, she says. We lie on the bed, our feet hanging over its edge as though it's a barge and we are just kids floating along in the summer." A joy to read both to yourself and out loud....more
One was the novel I chose to read for our April book club meeting. We decided to choose a novel in verse in honor of National Poetry Month. One is theOne was the novel I chose to read for our April book club meeting. We decided to choose a novel in verse in honor of National Poetry Month. One is the story of Tippi and Grace, conjoined twins, who are starting high school. As they face a new environment, a chance to start over, they also have to struggle with their identity as one body, but two people.
Nick Hall is rocking eighth grade. He's doing well in school and is dynamite on the soccer field and is even close to getting up the guts to ask out hNick Hall is rocking eighth grade. He's doing well in school and is dynamite on the soccer field and is even close to getting up the guts to ask out his crush, April Farrow. But when he receives some bad news like a bombshell, everything changes.
This is my first Kwame book and I have to admit....it's awesome. His words are lyrical and they flow like Niagara Falls. I loved how real this was - derailed by (view spoiler)[his parents' separation and broken up about missing soccer - just as important as what's going on at home. (hide spoiler)] I rooted for Nick through the whole book and loved the Mac and his dad and mom. Can't recommend this enough....more
Josie needs a lot of things - she needs friends, she needs to have a summer off, and she needs to not have cerebral palsy. Luckily, the appearance of Josie needs a lot of things - she needs friends, she needs to have a summer off, and she needs to not have cerebral palsy. Luckily, the appearance of Jordan, a new kid to the block, she gets the first thing - a friend. Jordan and Josie's relationship grows throughout the summer along with Josie's self-esteem and confidence.
I read this for an ALA class - Children with Disabilities in the Library - and found it just delightful. The story is told in free verse poems with evocative imagery. She describes part of her disability this way: "But my thumb will always be pasted to my palm, and my left wrist and shoulder connected by an invisible rubber band." Zimmer offers some insight into what it's like to live with cerebral palsy. This would be a great read for a fourth or fifth grade class. ...more
This would be a stellar book for an intro to poetry class, for the novice who doesn't know much about poetry but wants to learn. There are definitely This would be a stellar book for an intro to poetry class, for the novice who doesn't know much about poetry but wants to learn. There are definitely parts of this book that shine: her discussion of language and the use of words to texturize, or surprise, her advice about interpretation, and the exercises that are scattered throughout the book and gathered together at the end for writing poetry. I found much of the poetry included to be old and overused. As an English major and someone who just likes poetry, I wanted more concrete and contemporary pieces. I was familiar with many of the classic poems from other courses and wasn't super engaged with much of the abstract, philosophical poems. I did take stuff away from this though and think that even an experienced teacher or writer could get something out of it....more
I've always loved that song "One of Us" by Joan Osborne. The thought that God could be like a person is intriguing; it helps me to relate to the idea I've always loved that song "One of Us" by Joan Osborne. The thought that God could be like a person is intriguing; it helps me to relate to the idea of an all-powerful creator, one who is interested and involved in his creation. Cynthia Rylant's poetry collection God Went to Beauty School is very similar in topic and scope. She imagines a God who is deeply involved in His Earth and His people. God goes to beauty school to learn to give a good perm, but finds he likes doing nails more, because hands are so beautiful. This God is easy to relate to; He likes to listen to the jukebox and adopts a dog. The poems are short, succinct, but not in a detrimental way. Some are better than others (like most poetry collections). The language style reminds me of Sonja Sones - the story evolves quickly and without unnecessary ornamentation, but it is still thought-provoking. God Went to Beauty School was a perfect quiet Sunday morning read....more
Kathleen Sheeder Bonanno captures in verse the experience of living through the aftermath of her daughter's murder. The poems are short - very short, Kathleen Sheeder Bonanno captures in verse the experience of living through the aftermath of her daughter's murder. The poems are short - very short, but they convey some pretty tough, honest feelings. I'm not sure that Bonanno always transcends the cliche of the victim's mother, but she tries. Honestly, the victim's mother cliche probably isn't a cliche, but a reality that mothers face when their children are brutally taken away from them....more
This is as close to describing the feeling of owning a cat as you can get. I still don't know if people who don't have and love cats would understand.This is as close to describing the feeling of owning a cat as you can get. I still don't know if people who don't have and love cats would understand. I think I probably wouldn't have. I picked this up for speech - possibly a middle school poetry piece and read the whole thing in about half an hour. Boris reminds me of Kato, my parents' big white fluffy cat, who has been gracing us with his presence for the past six years (in exchange for food and the occasional cuddle)....more
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