What to Read This Winter

 What to Read This Winter

While staying safe at home...

How to Book a Murder (Starlit Bookshop Mystery #1) by Cynthia Kuhn--Cozy Mystery

Thank you to Crooked Lane and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed in my review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
2.5 stars

Emma Starrs has returned to her hometown in Colorado to help her sister Lucy run their family's bookstore, Starlit books. When Emma learns the store is experiencing financial difficulty and may be forced to close, she's heartbroken. Her parents put so much of their lives and love into the store before their retirement and untimely deaths. She would hate to see it close. Quickly, Emma starts brainstorming ways to save the store from ruin and settles on using her event planning expertise from graduate school to help bring more people into the store. Her first client is her high school mean girl, Tabitha Louise Saxton Lyme Harmon Gladstone Baxter (she's been through a lot of husbands) who needs an event planner for a murder mystery party she and her husband are throwing the next day. Emma readily agrees to Tabitha's terms in spite of the woman's animosity and unreasonable demands. Then the murder mystery party turns all too real when Emma discovers Tabitha's husband's dead body lying on a chaise lounge at the end of the party. When Emma's Aunt Nora's fingerprints are found on the chair and her long running feud with Trip, the Dean of Arts and Humanities at the college where Nora teaches writing, becomes known, Tabitha starts accusing Nora and Emma of murder. Tabitha will stop at nothing to ruin Emma and Emma refuses to allow it. She wants to search for clues but another party awaits. Another writing professor, the eccentric Calliope demands Emma plan her an Edgar Allen Poe party for her in-store reading of her latest book. Calliope turns out to be as demanding as Tabitha! Then a newcomer to the space next door makes trouble and Emma finds herself in the thick of another murder investigation. She has an alibi but senses the police don't believe her. It's up to Emma to clear her name and save her family's store.

This book is nothing like Jenn McKinlay's. It lacks the warmth and humor of her novels. The only thing it has in common is books, book-related events and of course it's a cozy mystery. I'm not familiar with Kate Carlisle to speak to any similarities there. This story didn't appeal to me all that much. I wanted to like it, being a bibliophile, a former English major and a former Poe fan. The plot fell short of the mark for me. First I couldn't stand all the mean girl drama. I'm so over that. These women are 30 years old and still act like they're in high school. It's never fully explained exactly WHY Tabitha hates Emma so much. Perhaps because Emma stands up for herself and has accomplished her goals but chosen a different path? For some reason Tabitha is a vindictive *itch to Emma and I got super tired of her and her wannabes. I was also not able to follow the academic side of the mystery. There were too many people involved and they were all suspects in the murder investigation. Finally, I felt the creep factor was too high. Why is this book set at Halloween for a December release and did it have to feature a scary haunted house? There's a REASON I don't go to those things, watch horror movies and read ONLY cozy mysteries. I don't need horror in a cozy mystery. It's not what I would expect either. The body count was too high with no remorse or pause for reflection. It's just mentioned kind of offhand these people were dead. The murderer attempts murder on even more people which is nuts!

A few minor tweaks would make this book stronger. Memo to author and editor: It isn't polite to describe someone by their race or ethnicity. ONE character is referred to as African American, which by the way, should be Black or state the country she immigrated from. NONE of the characters are described as European or Caucasian in any way. How about the woman with the deep chocolate skin and tiny braids? The woman with the blond chingon? for trite descriptions.

I like Emma well enough but she isn't really the most warm person. She's private about her feelings and her business but friendly an outgoing enough to people she feels comfortable with. She's very kind to her sister Lucy. I admire how Emma stands up for herself and doesn't let the mean girls get to her. She knows they must feel insecure about themselves to put down others but she never tries to figure out why Tabitha is such a *itch to her. It's also not entirely explained why she sees Jake as a nemesis. I think he's supposed to be her Gilbert Blythe? Mr. Darcy? (She claims their mother read them L.M. Montgomery's books over and over but any true fan would say Lucy Maud Montgomery and not L.M. or even Maud. Their shop cat's name is Anne Shirley but it's not enough to make me like cats). Lucy is a total sweetheart. She's more shy and more easily overwhelmed than Emma. Lucy didn't have the opportunity to have the life experiences Emma has had. Lucy is an angel for running the shop after their parents were killed but she doesn't seem to have the business experience necessary or the energy needed to do everything by herself. Their Aunt Nora pays the mortgage for them. As a successful mystery writer and a faculty member at Silvercrest College, she seems to have money but isn't wealthy enough to float the store. I wish it was explained better why the store was in trouble. E-books? People moving out of the area? Competition from a big box store in Denver? Amazon?

Tabitha of many names is a world class you know what as I've mentioned before. She seems to think she's living in 19th-century England where she's a Duchess and treats Emma like Emma is a lowly maid. Emma is doing Tabitha a huge favor and the woman doesn't even say thank you! Tabitha doesn't like books so I knew right off the bat she was not going to be a likable character. Also she keeps her dog in her purse and then the dog is dropped from the plot until the final scene. That is NOT someone I'd even want to work for no matter how much the money was needed. Her minions aren't any better. They look and dress just like Tabitha and parrot everything she says. None of them have personalities. Melody's husband, Bruce, is a boor. Ainsley seems OK. She sells scented soap on Etsy (a-choo) and I feel sorry for her because her husband ignores her. I don't think any of them are happily married. Felicity is a one-woman echo but is sadly the nicest of them all. She might be OK if she could grow a brain. Tabitha's husband Trip seemed nice, if a bit of a lush but he may have been up to something shady at the college. Still, he didn't deserve to be murdered. Tabitha doesn't seem to be mourning him one bit. I think she killed him. Ian Gladstone, Tabitha's ex, is a selfish twit stuck in his teen years. He isn't respectful or thoughtful in any way. I suspect he may still be into Tabitha and she has something to do with his appearing on the scene next door. I think he killed Tip to get what he wanted.

Other chief suspects are from the college. Nora's colleagues are on some sort of a committee which isn't explained until later. They're sharply divided on some plan and Tip was in favor of the side opposing Nora's faction. Able Holley is annoying, snippy and always unhappy about something. I don't think he likes change. ANY change, even positive. Why is that? Tip was on his side but something could have changed. Dodd Simpson is just as bad. I think he likes to stir up trouble by being deliberately obtuse. Nora's side includes Bethany Manzano, the department chair, a nice older woman. She's a bit eccentric but DOLLS ARE NOT CREEPY! Some of hers seem a little creepy but on the whole dolls are not creepy and doll lovers don't give away their beloved friends. That part of her personality didn't ring true to me. Because she's a fellow doll lover, I don't suspect her of murder. Katrina Andrews and Farley Jennings are also on Nora's side but neither of them have much to say for themselves. Farley seems nice enough. Prescott and Cornelia Abernathy are married but have opposite personalities. She seems nice and not "woo woo" just because she likes yoga. Prescott is type-A and likes hard facts and figures- data. That's not a bad thing either but he's whiny about it. I don't seem him smothering anyone with a pillow though.

Calliope Nightfall is the most eccentric of the college writing faculty. A goth and Poe enthusiast, her latest book is inspired by Poe's Annabel Lee. At first I liked her. She's eccentric and quirky and seemed fun. Then she turned into author-zilla and was as bad as Tabitha in the way she treated Emma. Her horror-Poe themed event sounds too creepy for my taste.

Caterer Vivi Yang is a lot of fun. She's a whirlwind of energy and has so many creative ideas. Vivi is a big help to Emma but I can't help but be suspicious. She was at the murder mystery party and Tabitha wasn't very nice to her either. A writing group meets at the bookstore and invites Emma to join. Tevo Akina and Alyssa Clarkston seem nice and like positive people but not super reliable. Jake Hollister, their leader, is a successful crime writer, a detective AND Emma's high school writing rival. As her critique partner, he was always critical and made her feel unworthy. She isn't sure how she should feel about him now. He seems a bit egotistical and like he could go on a power trip slashing through manuscripts with a red pen. His new career as a detective comes out of nowhere and he's sneaky about it. Mr. egomaniac dismisses Emma's concerns and thoughts about something that may be connected to the murder. I sense he's going to be Emma's future love interest. Lucy's love interest, Ryan, a theatrical lighting guy, is much nicer. He's kind, listens and is very helpful. Plus he's willing to dress up in Regency costume! Detective Trujillo seems fair. He listens to Emma and listens when Tabitha is rude. Yes he suspects Emma and Nora but the evidence DOES point to Nora and Emma.

I would be open to another book in the series because the conflicts I disliked seem to be resolved. If the author can dial back the body count and creep factor a lot more. How about a nice Jane Austen party for Lucy? 

A New Book Worth Reading or What to Read While STILL Social Distancing

A New Book Worth Reading 

or 

What to Read While STILL Social Distancing 

A View Most Glorious by Regina Scott--Inspirational Historical Romance

Thanks to Revell publishing and Regina Scott for the advanced review copy of the book. All opinions expressed in my review are entirely my own and not affected by the giveaway


Coraline Baxter is one of the most sought after socialites in all of Tacoma, Washington and wants nothing to do with marriage or dependency on a man. It's 1893 and in spite of a nationwide Panic (recession), she attended college and holds a job at her stepfather's bank, something she's proud of. Cora's mother, on the other hand, feels the overwhelming need to marry Cora off to a wealthy bachelor ASAP! Which is why Cora is standing in a seedy tavern searching for a man who can lead her up a mountain safely. Cora intends to climb Mount Rainer to promote women's suffrage and if she makes it to the summit, she has a deal with her mother to remain unmarried. Nathan Hardee has been through with society since they turned their backs on him after his father took his own life during a financial setback. He's seen spoiled debutantes before and he assumes Cora is no different so he refuses her request to take her to the top of the mountain. However, when he learns of her mother's plan to wed Cora to Cash Kincaid, Nathan relents. He'd rather lead Cora up a mountain than see her (or anyone) married to that scoundrel Kincaid. However, when Nathan demands Cora obey him in all things during the trip, she refuses. Cora, having seen how her mother struggled to support them and relied on men for help, Cora knows that life is not for her. She won't OBEY anyone. Does she have it in her to allow Nathan to guide her safely up the mountain? Can he accept her headstrong nature and still guide her up the mountain?

At over 350 pages this story is LONG! The exciting mountain climbing part only accounts for about 20 pages plus a few more before and after. The rest is more romance heavy. The beginning of the novel starts off slow. The characters annoyed me and I had a hard time getting into it. I read about 100 pages in one night and put the book down just fine. I picked it up the next night and read 100 more pages and felt let down because the action was over. The third night I pushed to finish the book. It didn't make me smile or clap or feel anything special but I enjoyed the story anyway. I especially like how the historical and geographical details are woven seamlessly into the story. Scott never steps out of her story to explain why there's a recession (Panic of 1893). She skillfully shows us Tacoma. We get to see both the glittering society and the out of work laborers agitating for their rights. I appreciate seeing both sides of the recession. We also get to see humble folks who live in the shadow of the mountain and truly love it. The geographical details are outstanding, helped along by the gorgeous promotional materials sent by the publisher. I've been to the Alps in Switzerland so I kind of have an idea of what it feels like to sit in the hot springs looking up at the mountains and how it looks and feels to stand on top of a glacier. (Fortunately no climbing is necessary today!) I loved the part of the book set in what's now Mount Rainier National Park and wished there was MORE of that and LESS romantic drama. I really enjoyed learning about the mountain. It is awesome in the true sense of the word! It was fun learning about another part of the country that feels like a totally different planet from my sea level east coast home.

The romance was predictable and unnecessarily long. It's a romance novel- we know what's going to happen LOL! There's a villain though and I had to skip to the end to see how the villain was vanquished or if, because this is an inspirational novel, the villain had to be redeemed. Fortunately for me, the "inspirational" bits seemed shoehorned in. They weren't necessary to the plot and I didn't really understand the point. Cora's revelation seemed out of character and pointless. I skimmed right over all that and the story worked out just fine without it.

The characters are well done for the most part. At first I didn't like Cora very much. Even though I'm in total agreement with her I found her personality abrasive. She's very cool and analytical at times and completely independent, which I admire, but she lacked empathy for others, particularly her mother. I must be getting old if I feel bad for the MOTHER who is one of the "villains" of the piece. Cora's mother is unyielding, Cora takes after her, but Mrs. Winston is the complete opposite of Cora in her approach to life. Mrs. Winston has had a really tough life. I would have liked more background information. Who is she that she had to marry two scoundrels and raise her daughter on her own before finding a wealthy man to take care of her. Mrs. Winston comes from a different generation. Her only options in life were marriage or teaching/spinsterhood. In the 1890s, there are more opportunities for women thanks to the Industrial Revolution and the emerging women's rights movement. Mrs. Winston doesn't quite understand this and Cora never tries to explain. Mrs. Winston thinks - because that's all she knows- marriage to a wealthy man is the only way for a woman to survive. She doesn't seem to be a good judge of character based on her first two husbands. She doesn't know anything about anyone except the superficial and people see what others let them see. Cora and her mother both have the same goal in mind, they just approach it different ways and don't see eye to eye. I relate to Cora butting heads with her mother and when my mom gets like that, I just tune her out and zone out. I wanted a little more understanding between them. What happened was pretty simplistic.

Cora's stubbornness didn't endear her to me either, at first. When your professional mountain climbing guide tells you he's going to order you about to SAVE YOUR LIFE you don't argue. I'm stubborn and independent too but even I wouldn't turn down a guide who promised to order me around. Yeesh. She improves upon acquaintance though once she fully understands the magnitude of the climb. It was pretty shocking to read how simple she seemed to think mountain climbing was. Once her adventure got underway she settled down and allowed Nathan to guide her. She knew she had to in order to reach the summit and achieve her goal. The whole time she starts to unbend. I like how sweet she is with her stepfather. He's more like a grandfather in the way he dotes on her. Their relationship is touching and I like watching it grow. I do wish Mr. Winston would stand up to his wife though.

Nathan Hardee is a good guy. I liked him right away. He's a little bit rough around the edges but I appreciate that. He chose to leave society behind and move out to the wilderness. He's happier there and more at peace. I appreciate how he tells it like it is and how he refuses to change who he is for someone else. I don't think the romantic journey in the last third was necessary for him at all. The first third was fine. I wasn't crazy about his thoughts on Cora's beauty at first but he soon comes to know her better and realize she isn't just a pretty face. She's kindhearted, passionate, determined (yes stubborn and independent). They're actually a lot alike! They come from the same background with similar backstories. Their mothers are essentially the same person but Nathan has come to accept friends among the Indians, farmers and other people in the wilderness. He rejects all society has to offer. Cora isn't quite there yet but I felt she should have been by the time she came down from the mountain. Nathan's compassion for others and his sense of honor really make him a standout hero. Like his friend Waldo, I was rooting for him to win over Cora. However, Waldo, as kind as he is, is meddling and I don't appreciate meddling. He needs to let Nathan and Cora work things out on their own. He's so sweet and humble he doesn't understand that marriage among society people is complicated. It's not about love, at least not entirely. Nathan understands this. Cora is trying to accept it but still dreams of love.

Cash Kincaid is Cora's suitor and her mother's choice for perfect husband. He's charming and a wealthy businessman. He claims to support Cora's cause but she knows him better than he thinks she does. He's a typical wrong suitor in a period romance and the perfect villain for this sort of story. There's more to him than meets the eye. Cora's mother naturally adores him because she can't see past his good looks and good manners. She loathes Nathan just because he chooses to dress like a backwoodsman and doesn't stay at hotels along the trail. Cash loathes Nathan for personal reasons and probably because he can see Nathan is becoming a threat to his pursuit of Cora.

Nathan's friends are lovely. Henry So-To-Lick and his wife Sally are awesome. Henry is wise and loving. I adore him and Sally together. They're so comfortable together and so happy. She's brave, strong and wholeheartedly supports women's suffrage. (Sadly, as an indigenous woman, she won't be allowed to vote in her lifetime). Their sons, Wickersham and Thomas, know their dad's feelings on the name of the mountain but rather than roll their eyes or make excuses to change the topic, they just laugh. I like a family that can laugh with each other. At the least the "Bostons" TRIED to have the mountain named after an indigenous word even if it was inaccurate. It's better than naming it after some random friend of the British explorer who chose the English name for the mountain. Henry and his family have different opinions and they respect each other's opinions and respect the conversation. It was refreshing to read about a debate that didn't get heated and end in shouting. Imagine that!

The Longmire clan are equally lovely. James and Virinda and their huge family take in travelers and basically invented the air bnb. Elcaine, the oldest son, is serious and literal minded. He's quick to take action when needed and a loving family man. Susan Longmire already climbed the mountain, proving women can do it. I bet she did it more easily than most men too. She's a hardy farm woman and lives on the land. Cora's friend Mimi is a delight. Intelligent and fiercely pro-women's suffrage, she runs circles around everyone, especially the brainless men who don't even know when they're being insulted. I love her and want to be her friend!

I'm glad I took a chance on this book and recommend it to those who like "sweet" romantic adventure stories and want to learn more about another place and time in American history.

The publisher sent these gorgeous promotional materials! If you would like a vintage style postcard, please leave a message in the comments with an e-mail address so I can contact you. I have two of each style to give away!

Banned Books Week 2021

 Banned Books Week 2021

Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier--Older Middle Grades Historical Fiction

Daniel Arabus and his Mum are enslaved by Captain and Mrs. Ivers of Stratford, Connecticut colony and wishing to be free. They SHOULD be free as Daniel's Daddy served in the Revolutionary War and earned the money to buy his freedom. Instead of being grateful Daniel's dad served in his place, Captain Ivers seizes the soldiers' promissory notes given to those who served to be exchanged for paper money soon... eventually... maybe once the Congress in Philadelphia gets around to deciding what they're going to do now they're free from British rule. Daniel and his mother can't wait for the white men to decide. They want to be free, deserve to be free, ARE free but Mrs. Ivers is hiding the money and carrying on as usual. When Daniel steals back the notes, he puts into action a sequence of events that could end with him being dead at the bottom of the ocean or sold into slavery in the West Indies to be worked into an early grave. He's determined not to let that happen for the sake of his mother. She deserves her freedom after the heartache of losing her man to war and finally death. Daniel vows to escape to New York where his family has friends but what will happen once he arrives? What if his journey is all for naught?

This book is one of the top banned books of the 1990s. Published in 1981, written by history scholars, it must have been one of the earliest children's historical fiction novels to honestly portray slavery and racism in the years following the Revolutionary War. The fact this book is set so early and set in New England makes it unusual even today. As a result of much scholarship and debate, the authors modernized most of the language with the exception of the word used to describe Daniel and other people of African descent. They actually DO go there and use THAT word- the mother of all banned words - "n____." Daniel even uses it to describe himself because that's all he's ever heard. Daniel also continually thinks and says White people are smarter than he is. Therefore, lazy parents who don't bother to read the whole book, want this one banned. I didn't like Daniel's lack of self-esteem and the way he kept putting himself down. I do agree that it could be damaging to the self-esteem of young Black students, but it's not a reason not to read the book. We can't know if that's the way enslaved people in the 1770s thought of themselves. Given that many like Daniel's father, fought and died for the new Republic, some probably didn't but Daniel is just out of childhood at 14. He's been told and retold his whole life how White people know more, know better than him. Not even his friendship with the nephew of his enslaver shows Daniel the value of his own thoughts.

Other parents might object to the way Daniel continually lies and breaks the law but if they bother to read the book, Daniel lies to save his life! Slavery in the Caribbean was an automatic death sentence. Work in the sugarcane fields was grueling and hot. The life expectancy of an enslaved person was extremely short. Plus Daniel has his mother to worry about.

This is a coming of age story about a young enslaved boy. As he goes on his journey towards freedom he learns a lot. He learns valuable life skills involved in being a sailor when he had assumed it was mostly standing around singing sea shanties. He learns about the new government forming and what that means for him. He discovers while some Whites are not as horrendous as his enslaver, most really don't care enough to end slavery right now. The Constitution was a COMPROMISE -and a bad one- favoring the southern states. Without them, we would be a loose collection of states, like Europe but tiny, each with their own laws. That would be problematic for many reasons and not to mention the fact the northerners really didn't care about ending slavery any more than the southerners did. It was mainly only Quakers and other fringe religious fanatics like Mr. Fatherscreft.

Some Black readers may object to the character of Tom, a Black man who is nasty and vindictive towards his own race. He wants to be important to Captain Ivers and the White crew so he capitulates and does what they want in order to be respected. I think it's implied he also goes behind their back and helps himself to cargo to sell but is smart enough not to get caught because they trust him.

As the story goes on, Daniel grows in confidence. He learns not to denigrate himself and his race. He STOPS using the very bad n_ word and switches to "negro" which is not so acceptable nowadays either but is more respectful. Daniel learns how to be a man, how to think for himself and make concessions in order to get what he wants in the long run.

I thought the plot started off a little slow and I had a hard time getting past Daniel's constant thoughts about "What do I know? I'm just a ___?" and "White peoples is smarter than us. Once Daniel is on board the ship, the story picks up and it becomes difficult to put down. The writing style is a little stilted and boring. It's not the BEST book about slavery at this time I've ever read and I'd say The Seeds of America Trilogy: Chains / Forge / Ashes is much better written but for the time, this book must have been groundbreaking and shocking. I actually can't think of any other books besides Seeds of America and Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons that even tackle the subject of slavery. I have a feeling this one is going to end up on the banned anti-Critical Race Theory book list if it's still in schools. It's not there yet.Central York (Pa.) Banned Book Club

No, the book offers no redemption for Captain Ivers. He was arrogant and greedy and nearly lost everything but he still will stop at nothing to get his "PROPERTY" back. That's all Daniel is to him. That's the way it was folks. Even the most ardent supporters of the Revolution were ardent supporters of slavery and considered enslaved people property. The authors' note at the end is very good.

A word of caution to devoted fans of the musical Hamilton. Our beloved hero makes a cameo at the end of the novel and let me warn you that he is in no way an admirable or nice man. It was quite a shock but probably more realistic than Lin Manuel Miranda portrays him. He comes across as one of the villains.

Banned Books Week 2021

 Banned Books Week 2021

In this post I will be focusing on Central York Banned Book List. (See below)

My Hair is a Garden by Cozbi A. Cabrera--picture book

A young Black girl named Mackenzie runs to her neighbor, Miss Tillie for hair help after being teased one too many times at school. Miss Tillie tells Mackzenie how she nurtured the beautiful garden in the backyard and explains how to care for Black hair to keep it healthy and beautiful. The back matter contains tips on how to care for Black hair.

I liked the metaphor of the garden and the beautiful illustrations but this book didn't hit the mark for me. I'm not the intended audience. I also didn't understand why Mackenzie's mother doesn't know what to do with Mackenzie's hair. That's never fully explained. The journey towards healthy hair Miss Tillie takes with Mackenzie provides good lessons for anyone, not just girls with hair like Mackenzie's.

Banned because.....? This book affirms the identity of Black girls and gives them confidence to wear their hair naturally. Is that a bad thing?

Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe--picture book

I've never heard of her! What a formidable team she would have made with Ada Lovelace if she had lived a little longer. Sophie Germain was a self-taught mathematician at the time of the French Revolution and Napoleonic France. She figured out how math can explain vibrations and her discovery has led to the building of modern skyscrapers and bridges. She was truly remarkable. I enjoyed the story a lot.

The illustrations are kind of old-fashioned and I like them that way. They're not computer generated or collage style or cartoony. The way the numbers swirl and loop around really adds to the story and emphasizes Sophie's genius. I don't know what they mean though and neither does the illustrator. This book is a good read for all curious minds probably school age and above.

Contains author's note: More about Sophie, "Is this math or science?", Discover the effects of vibration yourself and selected bibliography.

Banned because....? Yes sexist attitudes existed in the 18th and 19th-centuries continuing today. Banning this book is sexist!

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino--picture book

Little Morris Micklewhite is a young boy who chooses this tangerine colored dress from the dress-up box at school because of the color. The color reminds him of the sunset, his mom's hair and his cat! He loves the way the dress swishes and his heeled shoes click click across the floor. Other kids at school are mean to him and tell him he can't wear dresses because he's a boy. That makes Morris sad and he gets a tummy ache. While he's recovering at home, his Mommy makes sure he knows she loves him and lets him wear the dress. When he goes back to school he has a fun adventure in his imagination and other kids are jealous. When they come along they see how much fun it is to play with Morris in his imagination and how cool the color of his dress is.

In 2016 a dad in Michigan tried to ban this book because it was 'promoting another life' and may give boys the idea to wear dresses. This dad said his son’s 'right to his freedom of religion wasn’t addressed at all and instead another way of life is just put right in front of him.'

In 2019 this book and three others were challenged by public petition in Orange City, IA's public library. Some conservative and evangelical community members were worried the library was giving away LGBTQIA+ materials to pre-K kids using tax dollars. These people wanted the four books to be shelved separately from other library materials. One local religious activist checked out the four books, then burned them live on Facebook!

I honestly don't understand the fuss. The author doesn't include anything about gender identity or sexuality. Morris is a little boy, like preschool age and has a lovely and lively imagination. We could all learn a lot from Morris about the power of imagination and being true to who we are. He's very sweet and the young reader will feel bad because Morris is being bullied and learn to have empathy for him. The young reader will then learn not to judge others by what they choose to wear. Morris is a good friend to have because he knows how to have fun and that's the only takeaway from the story. Some people need to actually READ the book before they start objecting to it.

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal--Picture Book

Aww this book is so sweet! A young Latina girl, Alma, dislikes her name because it's so long and doesn't fit on a page. Her dad explains how she got her name. She's named after several ancestors and as her dad tells her the family stories, she sees connections between her past ancestors (and her dad) and herself. The story is based on the author's childhood experience of hating her name but learning to love it and embrace it once she immigrated to the U.S. from Peru.

This is the CUTEST, loveliest simple story. Any kid can relate to Alma and family stories are so important. I love that the text is in English (there's also a Spanish language version) but the text within the illustrations is in Spanish so readers have a chance to learn Spanish. Alma's family is from Peru. I enjoyed how the illustrator drew the pictures from a child's perspective. They really look like a kid took crayons and drew her own interpretation of the stories her dad was telling her. They're simplistic but sweet.

I'm stumped to find a reason as to why this one is on the banned list!

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Banned Books Week 2021

Banned Books Week 2021

Here we are marching swiftly towards the end of the first year of the new millennium (there was no year "0"!) and people are still banning books. This year we have new categories of banned books like Dr. Seuss! I read most of those books and I only found one objectionable, If I Bought a Zoo was problematic more of the depiction of a zoo with cages and hunting animals (alive) for the zoo. The rest are nonsense and rather than cancelling them, how about they add a disclaimer that any people in the stories are fictional/used in a fictional way and any resemblance to people or cultures past, present or future is a coincidence/they're used in a fictitious way. (Seuss already changed the "Chinaman" on Mulberry Street and revised the illustration).

I also read The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future. I found it objectionable because it was sexist, ridiculous and teaches kids bad grammar and spelling. The villain has a light wave hair do and wears suits with ties. Do you see ex-President you know who's supporters complaining? One dad complained and people piled on his petition. Was it worth banning the book? I understand this person felt hurt by the depiction in the story, but like Seuss's books, it was sci-fi/fantasy. Perhaps an author's note was needed

I've been closely following this story of the Central York, Pa. school district and am thrilled the ban was overturned and so many authors, educators, activists and readers have come out and bought books for these students. I've read and enjoyed many of the books on that list and will be profiling them this week. The response to the students in PA has been overwhelming and inspiring. I hope they can donate some of those books to other school districts where kids need them. 

Central York (Pa.) Students Rallying Against Banned Books

The ban was finally overturned!!!!👍😀🙌👏

https://bookriot.com/central-york-book-ban-overturned/

Full list, many of which I have read and enjoyed.

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Louisa May Alcott Summer Reading Challenge Week 4

March Sisters: On Life, Death, and Little Women by Kate Bolick

Four contemporary writers reflect on how Little Women shaped their lives and what it means to them.

Kate Bolick, initially a Jo, grew to appreciate Meg more upon an adult reread of the book. Like Meg, Kate wanted fine things and to please others. She relates the story of a sleazy man she dated and a party at which he shamed her for dressing up in a fancy, designer gown. She understood the same lesson Meg learned in the chapter "Meg Goes to Vanity Fair." Like Meg, Kate learned to accept her own individuality and not someone else's idea of what she should be.

At first I really liked Kate and wished she could have been my babysitter. I had fancy, frilly "Laura Ingalls" and "Anne of Green Gables" dresses. I relate very strongly to Jo, and even more to Louisa. I wish I had known Kate and in spite of her being older, I could have taught her to appreciate her own individuality much sooner and to embrace her inner Jo!

Jenny Zhang writes about Jo. Growing up Jenny dreamed of being a writer like Jo, however, Jo was not her favorite character. Jenny's identity is shaped by her Chinese heritage and the cultural identity she left behind in Shanghai as a precocious (Amy) four-year-old. Finally becoming a writer, Jenny Zhnag felt unfulfilled somehow because she is unmarried. She identified with Jo in the third act of Little Women. Again, I feel bad for her because once again, this woman does not have a supportive mother. In this case, it's complicated by cultural beliefs.

In "A Dear and Nothing Else," Carmen Maria Machado compares the character of Beth to the real life Lizzie Alcott and talks about her own health battles and teenage obsession with sick lit. (I read all those Lurlene McDaniel books in the 90s too.) The parts about Lizzie are really interesting. She was much more human than Beth who is so angelic and perfectly good all the time. Scholar Nina Auerbach claims Beth HAS to die because she doesn't have ambition or dreams beyond the happy home. She'll always be a child to her family. Carmen writes of her own health battles and how they've made her stronger as an adult, yet her mother defines Carmen by her childhood ailments.

I feel this was the strongest essay in the book. I liked learning more about Lizzie (thank you Susan Bailey) and could relate to some of Carmen's own anxieties.

Finally, Jane Smiley looks at Amy from a parent's perspective. Instead of seeing Amy as an annoying, selfish, brat, Jane Smiley sees Amy as the quintessential youngest child having to learn by doing and observing to make her way into the world.

Whew. Can we say helicopter parent? Jane Smiley does not seem to have any regard for Marmee March's unique way of raising her daughters. This modern mother has interfered in her kids' lives, hovered, and would have raised Amy very differently. She sympathizes with Amy in regards to the pickled limes and would have taken the teacher to task for not dealing with the jealous girl and for punishing Amy. (Dear helicopter parent: Amy broke the rules and every time a kid complains to Mommy about bullying and Mommy complains to the school, it makes bullying SO SO much worse). This modern mother would have intervened in Amy and Jo's fights and focused on AMY after Amy falls through the ice and held off lecturing Jo, hovering to monitor for signs of PTSD. Jane Smiley doesn't see to take into account the unorthodox beliefs of the Alcotts/Marches and how typical 19th-century parenting usually meant beating a child for doing something wrong. Marmee offers wise counsel instead which is why we love her.

Jane Smiley goes through Amy's whole character growth to the end of the novel. I can see how she came to form her opinions of Amy but I think she's missing the mark here. Amy is an exaggerated version of Louisa's own sister, the baby of the family, petted spoiled and sometimes made fun of for her art. However, Smiley doesn't consider the fact that Amy can do whatever she wants because of the sacrifices of her older sisters, mainly Jo. Yes Jo is writing trashy stories to support the family so who do you think pays for Amy's art lessons? It was always Louisa who supported May financially. I applaud Jo for NOT being gracious while paying calls. She doesn't like false social interactions and is always true to herself. While I bet this essay will make some people see Amy in a new light, I still don't like her very much.

This collection of essays isn't bad but it's not what I'd call literary criticism or literary analysis. The writers had to rerread the novel as adults for the first time to even write the essays in the first place. The younger writers like to make themselves sound modern and edgy with some very modern language.

Louisa May Alcott Summer Reading Challenge Week 1

Little Witches: Magic in Concord by Leigh Dragoon--Graphic novel for tweens/Middle Grades Historical Fantasy


Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March are little witches living in Concord, Massachusetts with their mother. Father is far away healing people wounded in the Civil War. The girls push on with their household chores as Marmee wishes them to, while Aunt Josephine March complains about everything they do. When Mr. Laurence, a former enslaved man and witchfinder moves in next door, the girls are nervous but Jo soon befriends his grandson Laurie and old Mr. Laurence assures the Marches he's more interested in Confederate mages than hedge witches. When things, and later people, start disappearing in Concord, the Marches are to blame. With Marmee away, it's up to Meg to decide what to do. She thinks the problem is too big for the girls to solve on their own and they should wait for Mr. Laurence but when the situation becomes more fraught with difficulties, headstrong Jo takes the lead. Can they figure out what is going on and save the day on their own?

My 12-year-old niece just got this book and recognized it as an adaptation of Little Women. She knows I'm a Louisa May Alcott fangirl and Little Women is very near and dear to my heart. She was eager for me to read this book RIGHT NOW. At 12, I know she won't be interested in talking to me for much longer so I agreed to borrow the book and read it. I did not expect to like it, the original novel is an old friend I can quote from by heart and I've seen and disliked all the adaptations. To humor my niece I kept an open mind and I'm glad I did! The author is as much a devoted fan of the original novel and LMA as I am! I feel like she is a kindred spirit. I could easily tell how well she knew the novel AND the time period. I appreciated that a lot.

The first half of the book was more enjoyable for me. I really liked the nods to the original novel and the incorporation of Alcott family history. I smiled when I saw the apple tree, knowing, as the author does, the Alcotts had an apple orchard behind Orchard House, hence the name, as Bronson believed apples were the most perfect food. Having the Marches in this novel have a magically enhanced apple tree was a charming nod to the Alcott family. This half of the book includes a letter from Father, Jo writing and the introduction of the Laurences. Old Mr. Laurence is clearly based on Frederick Douglass who did indeed make quite a bit of money lecturing and writing Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and My Bondage and My Freedom. I don't believe the Alcotts and Douglass knew each other but they did sort of run in the same antislavery and women's rights circles. Father March was forced to close his parlor school because he allowed in a Black student, just like Mr. Alcott. I also picked up on the fact this author has given Father the name Robin, which it very well COULD be because we know Jo's son is Rob after his grandfather! Mrs. March visits the Hummels but nothing about the baby being sick. I love the little nods that show the writer knows her stuff! Because I know the Alcotts and Transcendentalism, I understood the references in this book but I think for younger readers or those who haven't read the novel in some time, a bit of explanation is needed.

The witchcraft world building isn't as strong as I would like it. Why does Marmee only want the girls to learn hedgewitch magic like knitting, gardening, household chores and women's work? That is absolutely NOT what Abigail Alcott wanted for her children and I don't think Marmee does either. Being a Transcendentalist doesn't mean NOT changing the world! Mrs. Alcott was eager to vote and hoped she would be able to in her lifetime. Louisa was for reforms of all kinds.

In the world of this novel, Meg keeps knitting and for some reason knitting is magical and she isn't very good at it. What does what mean, exactly and why? Meg worries a lot. She stays home and doesn't work as a governess for the Kings. There's no John Brooke in sight to flirt with and she doesn't envy the girls in her old social circle. She's lost the essence of who she is in this translation.
Jo isn't so much of a writer but she's strong-willed, a leader and DETERMINED. Jo wants to be DOING something to help her family and in this case, that means witchcraft. Aunt March (ah the author missed a detail-she's Father's AUNT, not sister), is more likable here. She tells it like it is and sometimes she's a little harsh. She disapproves of what Marmee teaches the girls for good reason because surprise! Aunt March is like a magical epidemiologist trying to research and figure out how to save the world from things like the Black Plague. That's super awesome and totally badass of Aunt March! In this version of the story, Jo doesn't go read to Aunt March. The timeline is sped up and Amy becomes Aunt March's beneficiary very early in the story. The reason is, Jo is set in her habits and too old to train. Amy is young and still teachable.

Beth is super sweet and has an affinity for animals but she isn't all that shy. She says Mr. Laurence will let her play his piano but she doesn't ever go and play. Her illness comes from a surprising source having to do with the magical plot. I was surprised and not too thrilled. Yes we all cried when Beth was sick and later when Beth died but she kind of has to die because Lizzie Alcott died. Wouldn't it have made more sense for Amy to try to figure out what was wrong and try to cure Beth? Instead, there's a wild plot that seems disconnected from the rest of the story. It involves magic and the disappearances in Concord. Apparently Beth can not DO magic but she can repel it? This needs some clarification.

Amy is a little more likable here too. She's young and silly sometimes. I LOVE the inclusion of her malapropisms, it's my favorite part of her character in the novel and usually gets cut out of adaptations. She's not as bratty or as snooty. Mr. Davies was totally wrong to punish Amy and not the Snow girl. The other girl was bullying Amy first! OK so Amy wasn't supposed to be hiding pickled limes in her desk but she wasn't abusing her powers, she was a young girl trying to keep from getting into trouble at school. She didn't really know what was going to happen and what did happen was harmless. The OTHER girl should have been punished for being mean to Amy. Mr. Davies turns out to be a real surprise. I wasn't expecting him to be a fleshed out character. In trying to correct other people's behavior, he does the one thing he truly hates. I feel almost bad for him.

The startling magical conclusion needs a LOT more explanation. I don't understand what happened and why, except they all combined their talents to work together. The magical element needs more fleshing out-what, why, how? It kept me up late reading though.

Another casualty of this type of storytelling is Jo and Laurie's friendship. I don't get the closeness that's in the original and how Jo wants to be a boy, free of the restrictions placed on girls. While this avoids the problem of his proposal, that's part of the charm of the original novel. Who doesn't love Laurie?

Also included is a bonus short story. It's simple and cute. Like Beth, I love animals and don't regard common garden pests as bad. However, if I had to rely on a garden for food, I'm sure I would feel differently.

The illustrations in this graphic novel are dreadful. If it's set during the Civil War, why are the girls wearing turtleneck sweaters and long skirts? Where are the iconic wide skirts and sleeves? Bonnets? Gloves? Some of the men are shown wearing old-fashioned queues (ponytails or braids). That's not correct for the 1860s either. The shopkeeper and some of the people in the background look more accurate. The neutral color palette doesn't do anything for me. I did like seeing Orchard House even though the Alcotts didn't live there at the time the story takes place. I also liked the train station which is still there. None of the shops looked familiar. I know the town so well so I would have included the familiar buildings as they looked in the 1860s.

With a little more fleshing out, this novel could be truly a great adaptation for tween/young teen girls who just can't slog through all 600 pages of the original and prefer a little more excitement in their plots.

Louisa May Alcott in June Reading Challenge

          

It's that time of year again! Thank you Tarissa for hosting this fun challenge. My reading didn't go as planned and I only managed two books.

1. Little Witches: Magic in Concord by Leigh Dragoon
2. March Sisters: On Life, Death, and Little Women by 

   Kate Bolick,

    

   Jenny Zhang,

    

   Carmen Maria Machado, 

   Jane Smiley