We Are Okay

Title: We Are Okay
Author: Nina LaCour
Genre: YA fiction, LGBTQ fiction, grief, depression, mental illness

**The following review was originally posted on a discussion board for my Children's Literature class**

My second YA pick for this week’s reading is We Are Okay by Nina LaCour, a character-driven novel told in chapters that alternate between the present and flashbacks. Our protagonist, Marin, is a college student hiding the grief over her grandfather’s passing that occurred unexpectedly two weeks before her freshman year of college: “I just appeared in the doorway two weeks after Gramps died. I stepped in- a stunned and feral stranger” (LaCour, 2017, p.3). Marin has somewhat successfully stifled her grief but it bubbles to the surface as anxiety attacks (“Slowly it comes…The sound and then faster-the sight of waves crashing in, pulling back, disappearing into ocean and sky. I open my eyes. It’s too much” [LaCour, 2017, p.5]) and past depressive episodes (“No one will know if you stay in bed all day” [LaCour, 2017, p.3]).

Marin has a love for literature-especially literature containing ghosts; this is probably since her mother died when she was a toddler and Marin’s mother remains a mysterious yet ghostly presence in Marin’s mind and identity. Mysterious because Gramps claims that all family photos were lost. While Marin wrestles with her grief, she must also contend with her feelings for Mabel, her former best friend who comes to visit Marin over their respective holiday breaks.

After the initial awkwardness wears off, the two girls discuss the painting The Two Fridas by Frida Kahlo. I felt this section of the book and the girls’ interpretation of it was a metaphor for Marin’s struggle with grief and the status of Marin and Mabel’s friendship: “The painting is how she described it, but there’s also more. Behind the two Fridas are storm clouds, gray-blue and white. ‘I can’t tell, I say, if the trouble is coming or if it’s passed and already left them’ “(LaCour, 2017, p.95). The conversation then shifts towards possible explanations of the two Fridas in the painting: self-identity, loss of self, and emotional connection, all while a literal snowstorm rages outside of their room (a metaphor within a metaphor?).

As the story slowly evolves, the reader finds out that while Gramps had been acting erratically and hiding a serious physical and mental illness, Marin and Mabel’s relationship unexpectedly turned from friendship to an illicit romance. The flashbacks climax with Marin’s discovery of her grandfather’s shrine to Marin’s dead mother (not everything was lost after all) and evidence that Gramps committed suicide by walking into the ocean.

The themes of We Are Okay are grief/loss, betrayal, family secrets, teen sexuality, friendship, mental illness/suicide. There are a few F-bombs sprinkled throughout the text and the mention of suicide and a sexual encounter makes this a book full of “sensitive topics.” Although some adults might disapprove of the content within this book, our lecture notes remind us that “many of our young people face these issues every day. It’s important that their perspectives are represented and that the collection reflect the needs and interests of all our users regardless of our personal views” (Carruth, 2018).

Since the YA I read is either happy fiction or dystopian fiction, I had to consult the Internet for help in finding read-a-likes for LGBTQ YA fiction that also centers around grief and loss. Thankfully, the Internet gave a me a few lists:

100 Must-Read LGBTQIA YA Books

The Latest in Realistic Fiction for Young Adults

11 YA Books About Grief and Loss to Make You Think (And Cry) in 2017

Citations:

Carruth, D. (2018) Introduction to materials for youth [Word document] Retrieved from https://vsu.view.usg.edu/d2l/le/content/1710195/viewContent/27688012/View

Doll, J. (2016, November 11). The latest in realistic fiction for young adults. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/books/review/the-latest-in-realistic-fiction-for-young-adults.html

Jarema, K. (2017, March 9). 11 YA books about grief and loss to make you think (and cry) in 2017. Retrieved from https://www.bustle.com/p/11-ya-books-about-grief-loss-to-make-you-think-cry-in-2017-43211

Kahlo, F. (1939). The two Fridas [Oil painting]. Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City.

Stepanuik, C. (2017, May 11). 100 must-read LGBTQIA YA books. Retrieved from https://bookriot.com/2017/05/11/100-must-read-lgbtqia-ya-books/

March by John Lewis

Title: March
Author: John Lewis
Genre: graphic novel, American history, Southern history, African American history, YA non-fiction, civil rights


** The following was originally posted to a discussion board for my Children's Literature class **

My first YA pick for this week’s post is March by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin. Aside from reading the Archie and Veronica comics as a kid, I can count on one hand the number of graphic novels I have read in my life. It’s one of the few literary genres that doesn’t appeal to me (the others are poetry and short stories), but I decided to give March a shot because a) I have heard rave reviews about it and b) like most things outside of one’s comfort zone, I figured it would be good practice for me to read something in unfamiliar territory. As a librarian, I need to be aware of the various genres (even the ones that are not personally appealing) since I will deal with patrons of various reading levels and reading desires.

Because I am not immersed in the graphic novel world, I was not aware that March was released in three separate volumes, so I would like to thank and applaud our classmate that posted a question about this for clarification. I would also like to thank our professor for allowing us extra time with this module. We were only required to read volume three, but I went ahead and checked out all three volumes from the library because a) I can’t stand reading books out of order (probably due to my Type-A personality) and b) reading all three volumes would let me experience the events in the graphic novels in proper context.

Volume 1 explains John Lewis’ childhood in Alabama, his college years, and how he became involved in local civil rights movements in Nashville. Volume 2 shows how the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) strategically desegregated department store lunch counters, fast food restaurants, cafeterias, and movie theaters. Once these places were successfully desegregated, the SNCC turned its sights on desegregating buses and swimming pools, and revamping employment practices. During this time, Lewis was privy to negotiations with RFK and worked with MLK on various projects. Volume 3 is the most intense of the set: it opens with the Birmingham church bombing that claimed the lives of four little girls. The novel continues with members of the SNCC traveling throughout the South spearheading voter registration drives and marches/stand ins at county courthouses. Sprinkled throughout the various protests and jail times are JFK’s assassination, internal strife with the SNCC and other African American groups, the Civil Rights Act, betrayal at the Democratic National Convention, Lewis’ life changing trip to Africa, Malcolm X’s assassination, and the historic march in Selma.

This graphic novel set was intense, even for me, a grown woman, but I did learn a few things. The march in Selma was a series of marches that had to be repeated due to various legal maneuverings. Also, despite all the hard work in setting up protest lines, marches, and voter registration drives, “By the end of the month, fewer than 60 people had even allowed into the courthouse to attempt to register—and every single one of them was rejected” (Lewis and Aydin, 2016, p.166). My impression was that during these protests and marches some African Americans were successful in registering to vote- only because the federal government made the state government cooperate. I also learned a lot of names that I will need to research later!

The themes in this set of graphic novels are courage, civil rights, American history, African American history, non-violence, equality, perseverance, and justice. Due to the triggering content, I would recommend this book for high schoolers and above (a mature middle schooler might be able to handle it. That’s up to the patron and his or her parent to decide). There are swear words and racial slurs scattered throughout the text (used by the angry mobs in various states against the protestors). There are two to three references to sex, mostly in volume 3, and there is lots of violence, individual violence and state-sanctioned violence. Although most high schoolers are exposed to swearing, sex talk, and, unfortunately, some forms of violence, Horning recommends that a book reviewer “mention potentially controversial elements ‘only if they warrant analysis as an important aspect of the work’” Horning, 2010, 175).

Since I am not an avid graphic novel reader, it’s hard for me to recommend any read-a-likes. I did read the Persepolis graphic novel (and watch the movie) for a world history class during my undergrad degree. Persepolis also deals with injustice, among many other themes. Since I lack in the literary recommendations, I’m also going to recommend an article by the Huffington Post (cited below), that lists six civil rights museums appropriate for children and their families, along with the movies Selma and Malcolm X. I believe these various resources are valuable supplements to one’s education about the Civil Rights movement.

Citations:

Bower, N., Colson, C., DuVernay, A., Gardner, D., Garnes, P., Kleiner, J., McCracken, C., McKeown, D., Morales, N., Pitt, B., Winfrey, O. (Producers), & DuVernay, A. (Director). (2014). Selma [Motion picture]. United States: Harpo Films.

Holmes, P.L., Kilik, J., Lee, S., Murad, A., Ross, M., Sulichin, F., Worth, M. (Producers), & Lee, S. (Director). (1992). Malcolm X [Motion picture]. United States: 40 Acres a Mule Filmworks.

Horning, K.T. (2010). From cover to cover: evaluation and reviewing children’s books. New York: HarperCollins.

Lewis, J. and Aydin, A. (2016). March. Marietta, GA: Top Shelf Productions.

Mahoney, M. (2017, December 6). Six civil rights museums your kids will never forget. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/maura-mahoney/six-civil-rights-museums-_b_9351576.html

Decatur Book Festival

Book Club Gang. I like the sound of that!

So the book club I'm a part of took a "field trip" to the Decatur Book Festival yesterday. This festival, in its 13th year, takes places in downtown Decatur, a picturesque suburb of Atlanta. The DBF is the largest independent book festival in the country according to its website, and takes place across multiple venues and stages that are in walking distance of each other. In addition to the festival panels scattered across downtown, there are multiple vendors featuring authors, booksellers, local libraries, colleges, and food. The local shops are also open for visitors' perusal. It has been a goal of mine to visit this festival ever since I moved to Georgia (almost) nine years ago. It was so much fun and there was so much to see. There were so many interesting concurring panels that I had to rank my choices (which came in handy when one of my chosen panels reached room capacity before I could get there). There were a ton of vendors- I ended up walking around with my eyes glazed over at one point. I only attended one day but next time I visit the festival, I want to book a hotel room so that I can experience the festival all weekend! 

Festival banner hanging from the courthouse.

The first panel I attended featured Madeline Miller, author of Circe, a modernized, feminine retelling of Circe from Greek mythology. Miller discussed why she wrote Circe: the Greek epics were always male-focused and never explained why the female characters acted the way they did. Miller also explained the symbolism behind the transformation of Odysseus and his men into pigs (pigs were viewed as sacrificial animals in the ancient world not as unclean animals from the Judeo-Christian viewpoint). Miller also explained the hierarchy of the Greek gods and goddesses and told the audience that her book explains one way of how Circe defied the social hierarchy. 

Left: Madeline Miller (left) and moderator Alison Law; Right: Circe book cover

 The next panel I attended was actually my third choice for that hour but my #1 pick (about women journalists) had reached room capacity by the time I arrived at the Marriott Conference Center. Luckily for me, my #3 choice was located in the room next door. This panel featured Dr. Lydia Kang and her new book, Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything. Dr. Kang co-authored this book with a friend and they focused on treatments that were well-intentioned but horrible. Dr. Kang and her co-author deliberately stayed away from featuring known charlatans that peddled known (to them) false hopes and treatments.

Left: Dr. Lydia Kang (right) and moderator Maryn McKenna; Right: Quackery book cover

The third panel I attended, "In and Out of Focus: Character Identity in the Midst of Murder," featured Florida author Lori Roy and debut author John Copenhaver. Both authors discussed the basis for their protagonists, read an excerpt from their novel, and answered audience questions regarding their characters and writing process. (A note for my Florida readers: one of the subplots of Lori Roy's book, The Disappearing, involves the infamous Dozier School for Boys).

Left: left to right: Lori Roy, John Copenhaver, and moderator John Lemley; Center: The Disappearing book cover; Right: Dodging and Burning book cover

The last session I attended, "Women Take Charge in Sci-Fi," featured Malka Older and Lisa Yaszek. For some reason the room captain discouraged the audience from taking pictures even though photography was allowed at all the other sessions I attended. Malka Older discussed her Centenal trilogy set 60 years into the future in a world containing thousands of self-governing districts that vote on the type of governance they will follow. Lisa Yaszek's book, Sisters of Tomorrow: The First Women of Science Fiction, lists numerous women that contributed to the science fiction genre, but whose accomplishments are little known today. She also briefly discussed why women sci-fi writers took on male-sounding pen names (for example: economic pressures regarding two sources of income during the Great Depression). Lisa and Malka also gave the audience some reading recommendations!

Left: Lisa Yaszek; Right: Sisters of Tomorrow book cover

Malka Older and the covers of her Centenal trilogy

Well, after sitting through four back-to-back panels, I was ready for lunch. I bought a monstrously huge yet delicious falafel pita and walked and shopped through the vendor area. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, one of the main festival sponsors, had a public crossword puzzle with dry erase markers at their booth so that festival goes could exercise some gray matter while walking around the festival: 

After walking through the vendor area, I found my friends in the Decatur Public Library. While relishing in the air conditioning, I took a look around the library (librarians love to visit other libraries).

Exterior of the Decatur Library

Reference section on the second floor

The Decatur Library is hosting a temporary exhibit titled, "Books as Art: Pulp" and the exhibit is filled with numerous and unique pieces that make you wonder, "How did they do that?"

Our last stop of the day included looking through the children's bookstore, Little Shop of Stories. Although it is a children's bookstore, there is a YA fiction and a small section for adult fiction and nonfiction. 

The floor is made of pennies!

So, if you ever have the chance to attend the Decatur Book Festival- do it! And don't forget to support any small, local book festivals, book fairs, author signings, book stores, or literacy initiatives in your area too. Authors love and need your support!

 

Newberry Award Winners

Hello! The following blog post has been taken from the discussion boards in my online Children's Literature class. Yes, I'm back in school- this time I'm completing my Master's degree so that I can be a real librarian when I grow up. 😉 For this week's discussion post we had to read and discuss two Newberry Award books from the following list :
Hello Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Title: Last Stop on Market Street

Author: Matt de la Peña

Genre: picture book, thankfulness, helping others, city life

My first pick from the list is Last Stop on Market Street. In this book CJ and his Nana take their weekly bus ride after church. The destination is not explained to the reader and along the way we meet the interesting people that inhabit CJ’s world. Like all small children, CJ is curious about his surroundings and other people and he’s not afraid to ask questions. Some of his questions relate to why things or people are the way they are: “How come that man can’t see?” Instead of lecturing CJ about disabilities, Nana responds with, “Some people watch the world with their ears.” (In other words, there are multiple ways to view the world). Nana uses this philosophy every time CJ’s questions is really a complaint in disguise:

“How come we gotta wait for the bus in all this wet?”

 “Trees get thirsty, too.” (Be thankful for the rain which nourishes nature).

“Nana, how come we don’t got a car?” 

“Boy, what do we need a car for? We got a bus that breathes fire, and old Mr. Dennis who always has a trick for you.” 

(Hidden meaning: A bus is more exciting than a car. A car keeps a person or family in isolation from their community. A bus rider gets to meet interesting people every day).

“How come we always gotta go here after church? Miguel and Colby never have to go nowhere.”

 “I feel sorry for those boys,” she told him. 

(“Here” is not explained until the end of the book when the reader realizes that Nana and CJ are volunteering at a soup kitchen. Nana feels sorry that CJ’s friends don’t experience the joy of helping others). 

When CJ pines for a personal music player, Nana gently reminds him that he is in the presence of a live musician.

I interpreted the overall themes in this book to be community, gratitude, and finding the beauty in everyday things: “He wondered how his nana always found beautiful where he never even thought to look.” I would suggest this book for families that want to inspire the attitude of thankfulness in their children and for urban children that ride the bus every day since this book is reflective of their experiences. 

Title Hello, Universe

Author: Erin Entrada Kelly

Genre: middle grade fiction, friendship, perseverance, bullies, differently-abled character

My second Newberry pick is Hello, Universe and I just want to start off by telling everyone that I absolutely loved this book! I thought a 311-page book was going to dominate most of my reading time this week and I read this book in 2 ½ hours! Even though the book is somewhat thick for a middle-grade book, the multiple, interwoven plots and the author’s writing style keep the reader engaged and makes time fly by!

The themes in this book are fate/destiny, coincidences, friendship, and inner strength/self-empowerment. This book is told from multiple third person points of view: shy Virgilio Salinas (Virgil), deaf but determined Valencia Somerset, spiritual Kaori Tanaka and her little sister sidekick Gen, and the school/neighborhood bully Chet Bullens.

Virgil and Valencia are destined to be together (according to Kaori) since they share initials, attend the same class, and have compatible star signs on the zodiac. What Kaori doesn’t know is that Virgil and Valencia are both in search of friendship but find it difficult to make or keep friends for different reasons. Virgil suffers from severe shyness and social anxiety while Valencia finds that people are intimidated by her deafness and hearing aids. Virgil retreats into himself and his thoughts, earning the nickname of “Turtle” from his family which he secretly despises. Valencia channels her frustration into observing nature, drawing, and secretly taking care of a stray dog in the woods.

The signs of destiny/fate are sprinkled throughout the book and the reader can put the pieces together before the characters do (at least that’s the way it happened for me). Virgil’s Filipino grandmother, Lola lives with Virgil’s family and she is always telling Virgil snippets of Filipino folktales or stories of her fellow villagers. Even though Lola grew up in a different time and place, she seems to understand Virgil and accept him as he is (we all need someone like that in our life, don’t we?). While Virgil really doesn’t understand the point of these stories, Lola’s stories give him the inner strength he needs to stay calm after rescuing Gulliver and getting stuck in an abandoned well. When Virgil is ready to give up, the spirit of Ruby San Salvador visits him in the well, encourages him mentally, and prompts him to yell for help at just the right moments after he has given up: “Of all the things you ever tell yourself in life, never say, ‘There’s no chance.’” (p.247).

When I finished this book, I had a satisfied grin on my face and I would recommend this to parents who are looking for books about friendship and/or perseverance. Since one of the main characters is deaf, this would also appeal to readers looking for books with differently-abled characters. Even though Virgil is in a dark well, the book never veers off into scary territory, so this would be suitable for children who want to read an adventure story but don’t want to be scared. I think this book is a great example of a book that “inspires youth to formulate new ways of thinking, overcome obstacles, and explore multiple perspectives” (Carruth, 2018). Virgil’s inner monologue and belief in himself changed after his time in the well. Virgil and Valencia overcame the obstacles of personality, friendship, and bullies.

My read alike recommendations are Pax by Sara Pennypacker and The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. I have listened to these on audiobook with my 10-year-old son multiple times and they are high quality stories of survival and friendship. A disclaimer: of the two books, Pax is a bit heavier in content and is not as lighthearted as The Wild Robot and Hello, Universe.

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

Title: Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

Author: Vashti Harrison

Genre: juvenile non-fiction, African American history, women’s history

While my son and I were at the library picking out books for him, I found this little gem in the new books section and checked it out for me since it was calling out to my inner history nerd. Harrison profiles 40 African American women, some well-known (Oprah, Harriet Tubman, etc.) while others were new to me (Julie Dash, Mary Eliza Mahoney, etc.). 

The women profiled are a mixture of living inspiration and historical icons. Each woman profiled has a simplified, one-page biography with language suitable for older elementary and middle school kids. Each biography has a corresponding, full-page, full color illustration. The poses of each woman appear to be based on a template, but this doesn’t mean the illustrations are boring- they are reminiscent of paper dolls and give the book a classy and elegant tone. At the end of the book, the author lists further suggested books, movies, and musical recordings to enhance the reader’s curiosity.

The Alchemist

Title: The Alchemist
Author: Paulo Coelho
Genres: inspirational allegory, self-help, book club selection

This was the second student-led pick for the Augusta University Book Worms. I would classify this book as an inspirational allegory; Coelho takes what would be cheesy one liners in a traditional self-help book and magically intertwines them into a story about Santiago, a young, shepherd boy who travels to the Egyptian pyramids based on a (literal) dream of buried treasure. This was the first time I have read a book by Paulo Coelho and I enjoyed it very much. After four years of heavy academic reading and writing, this simple book was a breath of fresh air. Some online book reviewers claim Coelho’s writing style as too simplistic, but that’s the point of an allegory- to be simple enough that anyone can understand it!

The themes of this allegory are pursuing your dreams and viewing the obstacles to your dream as a temporary rough patch on your journey. This journey, referred to in the book as a Personal Legend, is “the path God chose for you here on Earth” (x). While following their path, everyone encounters Four Obstacles to fulfilling their dream: 1. They are told that their dream is impossible and slowly and invisibly begin to internalize this message. 2. Love; they are afraid that pursuing our dream will hurt their loved ones but “love is just a further impetus, not something that should prevent us from going forward.” 3. Fear of the defeats they will encounter along the way (in other words, worry and anxiety over the unknown). 4. Fear of “realizing the dream for which we fought all our lives” (guilt about their success and blessings).

After saving his hard-earned money for two years, Santiago travels from Andalusia, Spain to Tangier, Morocco. He immediately learns the hard way to not trust strangers yet also learns that strangers can also be kind as a local shopkeeper helps Santiago get back on his feet and recoup his earnings. Eventually, Santiago begins his perilous journey across the Sahara to his beloved and mysterious pyramids. Of course, more adventures and life lessons wait for him in the desert…but does his treasure?

This Fight is Our Fight

Title: This Fight is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class
Author: Elizabeth Warren
Genre: politics, American history, economics, non-fiction

In This Fight is Our Fight, Elizabeth Warren mixes American history, personal family struggles, and stories from ordinary Americans to demonstrate how regulations against Big Banks protect Americans and their money. Senator Warren recounts how social programs and government projects enacted during the Great Depression put money in the pockets and food on the table of millions of Americans in the 1930s. She also shares stories of Americans affected by the Great Recession, student loan debt, exploitative labor practices, and low or stagnant wages. Senator Warren rails against Big Banks (the 2008 bailout occurred since American banks are now a huge part of our economy) and is not afraid to name Washington insiders with connections to big money and lobbyists.

Senator Warren views lobbyists as “the most dangerous kind of corruption…is perverting our government and make sure that day after day, decision after decision, the rich and powerful are always taken care of. This corruption is turning government into a tool of those who have already gathered wealth and influence. This corruption is hollowing out America’s middle class and tearing down our democracy” (5).

Senator Warren calls for increased and responsible funding of our infrastructure. Not only is subpar infrastructure physically dangerous (collapsing bridges, leaking dams and levees, etc.), it is also economically dangerous in the form of lost jobs, lack of internet access for rural communities. Senator Warren believes that innovation, education, and opportunity are intertwined. Investment in American infrastructure drives innovation; innovation is dependent upon education (and proper funding for education), and the accessibility of education and opportunity for American citizens. “The country’s failure to build and maintain infrastructure has robbed us of our vitality…Over the long run, infrastructure dollars buy workers something even more important. Infrastructure spending is a collective investment that makes it easier for businesses to flourish right here in America. Roads and bridges, cheap and dependable energy, rapid communication, educated workers- all these investments create a more favorable business climate” (130).