I can now understand why people recommend this book about the building of the Chicago World's Fair - the author made it a fascinating read. I liked thI can now understand why people recommend this book about the building of the Chicago World's Fair - the author made it a fascinating read. I liked the connections with other events, including seemingly insignificant items that were later connected. I loved reading about the new innovations - first appearance of the ferris wheel - as well as products that appeared for the first time at this fair - Juicy Fruit gum and Cracker Jacks, anyone?!...more
A very interesting book about Abraham Lincoln written by his law partner. I enjoyed hearing directly from one of Lincoln's contemporaries, and furtherA very interesting book about Abraham Lincoln written by his law partner. I enjoyed hearing directly from one of Lincoln's contemporaries, and further enjoyed reading the letters written to and by Lincoln. ...more
**spoiler alert** This is apparently an often-banned YA book. Since it was written in 1975, it has appeared on many annual banned-book lists. The reas**spoiler alert** This is apparently an often-banned YA book. Since it was written in 1975, it has appeared on many annual banned-book lists. The reasons are varied, and IMO mostly ridiculous. One reason given was 'foul language' - the word damn was used once or twice, and perhaps even bloody, a British cuss word. Another reason given was 'extreme violence' - the Revolutionary War was going on, and descriptions were given of what had been seen in battle, including a beheading during a fight between British soldiers and armed Patriot sympathizers. 'Unpatriotic behavior' was another reason used for banning the book, because one of the characters in the book expressed her scorn and dislike of both sides of the conflict - her civilian husband had died in a British prison for selling beef to the wrong side, and her son was about to be executed by the Patriots on a false charge of stealing a cow.
This Newbery-winning book is worth reading on its own merits, but perhaps even more because so many people have tried to make sure it isn't read....more
Nine Indian writers tell about the people in the Corps of Discovery Expedition of Lewis & Clark, and about the people they encountered. It is mostly Nine Indian writers tell about the people in the Corps of Discovery Expedition of Lewis & Clark, and about the people they encountered. It is mostly told by descendants of the Indian people described in the journals, and gives a contemporary Indian perspective as well as historical information. It shows how invaluable Sacajawea was to the success of the expedition - that without her skills, there could have been totally different results. There's a beautifully-told eye-witness account of the death of Sacajawea at age 82 in 1869. The authors use the journals of both Lewis and Clark, and the oral history of the Indian tribes, and show how the two perspectives were often at odds with each other. One example: the oral history of the Umatilla/WallaWalla Indians tell how the explorers were poor housekeepers and existed precariously in the region; Lewis & Clark described the Indians as "the most hospitable, honest, sincere people we have met in our voyage."
Set in Mississippi in the early 1960s, and told in the voices of two black maids and one young white woman, this book shows how things can begin changSet in Mississippi in the early 1960s, and told in the voices of two black maids and one young white woman, this book shows how things can begin changing just by not accepting the way things are. Sometimes all that is needed is someone to be brave enough to say, 'this is wrong', and to do something, as Rosa Parks did when she refused to go to the back of the bus, and as these women did when they told their stories.
Aibilene, Minny, and the other maids find whatever dignity they can in their jobs, even though the issue of race basically undermines that attempt at dignity; they are all women who feel they have no choices except to follow their mamas into the white women's kitchens and laundries. Their hopes lie in education and change someday, never expecting it to be in their lifetimes. As Aibilene says, "I just want things to be better for the kids," and she means both white kids and black kids.
Skeeter is the white woman who says, 'this is wrong', and tries to get the maids to share their stories. There is real danger for the maids - they could lose more than just their jobs - and it is not until the death of Medgar Evers and the imprisonment of one of the maids that the maids themselves say 'this is enough' and begin sharing their stories. Skeeter soon finds herself a pariah in white society, shunned by all her former friends and acquaintances. There are some very emotional moments in this book, and some funny ones - including the story about 'two-slice Hilly"! ...more
This was a Christmas gift and I wasn't sure I'd care for it (I'm not a great fan of autobiographies), but this was a very different approach and gave This was a Christmas gift and I wasn't sure I'd care for it (I'm not a great fan of autobiographies), but this was a very different approach and gave a new slant on what I saw or thought I saw in the years that Madeleine Albright was U.N. ambassador and U.S. Secretary of State.
After an Iraqi poet called Albright a 'slithering snake', or something to that effect, she wore a snake brooch to the next U.N. session where she spoke about Saddam's actions, and the press picked up on the connection. After that, she made a conscious effort to seek out pins that would send a message. As she speaks about various events in her political career, she explains why she chose the brooch she wore. ...more
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