Book Review: I am Margaret Moore

 Here is my latest review for School Library Journal:

I Am Margaret Moore

By Hannah Capin

 

Margaret Moore, along with her friends Flor, Nisreen, and Rose, attend the Marshall Summer Naval School every summer. They are inseparable friends until the summer Margaret falls in love with a boy also attending Marshall.  That summer Margaret sneaks out of their dorm after curfew again and again to meet the boy of her dreams.  Towards the end of the summer, right before the Victory Race, an incident occurs that pulls Margaret away from her friends, and she isn’t even allowed to say good-bye.  Margaret is back the following year to tell her friends what happened, and in the meantime, the boy that she loved drowns in the lake near the summer camp.  Then her friends start to disappear one at a time.  What happened to Margaret and her boyfriend?  Where did her friends go?  Could Margaret be a murderer?  To find these answers and gain a deeper understanding of Margaret’s plight, one will need to read I am Margaret Moore by Hannah Capin.

 

This story is a complex contemporary thriller with poetic undertones.  The insect motif at a summer camp seems quite normal as many summer camps usually involve pesky insects.  However, Ms. Capin is very deliberate in using the mayfly and the dragonfly over and over in her story and even named the parts of her book after the growth stages of these insects.  Both the mayfly and dragonfly live tragic lives which sets the tone for Margaret’s tragedy.  There are many times through the first half of the book that the author’s purpose is undisclosed.  Once Margaret’s circumstances have been revealed, the readers might find themselves going back to the beginning of Margaret’s story with a new perspective.  Beautifully written and haunting, I Am Margaret Moore will definitely appeal to those who enjoy a good mystery.  Therefore, this book is recommended for students in grades 9-12.  It will be an enjoyable addition to any library’s mystery/thriller collection.

The First Six Weeks

 

And here we go!  It's the end of the first grading period.  Wow!  Not going to lie.  This hasn't been easy.   Teachers are excited about having the students back in person, of course.  However, may of our stay-at-home students are not responding well to the pace & rigor of being back in person.  I keep reminding myself that our incoming Freshman class was in 7th grade when the world shut down.  How can we expect them to just become 9th graders when many of them stayed home for a year and a half?  I am using the Freshman as an example, but the same is happening with all the other grades as well.  Online is much slower than virtual, and it shows.  The teachers are struggling, and so are the students.

However, the library is a different story.  Here, we have had an increase in student involvement.  That might be due to the fact that I visited EVERY English class this first 6 weeks (see August 26th blog entry).  I made that a priority because the students needed to know the library is open for business.  As a direct result, we had a record number of students participate in the Digital Scavenger Hunt, which was the activity for September.  I have a good group who signed up for the 40 Book Pledge too.  It looks like everyone is ready to come back and participate.  That makes me happy.

Here are our library usage statistics for the first six weeks.  Seems like a good start to the year.  Let's hope the enthusiasm continues.

Back to In-Person Learning

 

It seems like everything is going warp speed this year.  All of our students are back in the building.  As much as that makes my heart burst, it also leaves me to wonder "now what."  The library was closed last year except for the occasional (or daily) classes that needed to be covered because a teacher was in quarantine and substitute teachers were scarce.  So I couldn't let the students come who actually wanted to be in the library, and I had to take the classes where the students demonstrated they would rather be anywhere else but the library. Needless to say, my library program took a hit.  I did have my virtual calendars of activities, but the regular library students were physically absent.

However, I digress.  I didn't start this month's blog to complain about last year.  I am ready to start fresh and begin building my program to its former glory before COVID.  So my first move was to make sure I saw every English class to talk about library procedures, the book club, and our monthly activities.  I especially needed to target the Freshman class.  After all, many of them haven't seen the inside of a school since the fall semester of their 7th grade year.  Since I am the only librarian here, I decided that my goal was to see each of the classes by the end of the first six weeks.  As of now, I am still seeing classes, but the results have been great.

So my library introduction went one of two ways.  The teachers could bring their students to the library for a quick orientation and then book check out, or I made "house calls" where I went to the classrooms to promote the library.  Then I brought a cart of books with me for check out (when the teachers asked).  The results - I am having a BUSY August.  However, it has been totally worth it. I have more participation in the book club & the monthly activities this year.  

It's been a whirlwind, but it's a fantastic day when I see multiple classes.

Here is the information I organized for the library introduction.  It was a lot of work, but I am so glad I put forth the effort.

• Introduction
• Scavenger Hunt
• 40 Book Pledge (book club)

Book Review: Everyday Mindfulness

 Here is another book I reviewed for the website "Reader Views."  I really enjoyed the instructiveness of this one.  It was definitely an interactive experience.

“Everyday Mindfulness” is more of a daybook than a traditional self-help book.  Author Melissa Steginus leads the readers through a multitude of mindful exercises to help them attend to their thoughts, feelings and emotions.  In the simplest of terms, it is about training the self to pay attention and live in the moment.  Each day, for 108 days, the readers engage in an activity and are asked to reflect and write about their experiences within the pages of the book.  The author’s choice of 108 is purposeful.  The significance of 108 is explained as a number relevant for both self-enlightenment and at the cosmic levels of existence.  During this lengthy 108 day sojourn, the readers will explore 6 different facets of themselves: the physical self, the emotional self, the rational self, the spiritual self, their occupation, and their connection to others (called Networking).  The exercises range from deep breathing exercises to managing one’s time using a calendar and setting a schedule.  Some exercises take less than 5 minutes while others can be significantly longer depending upon the effort exerted by the individual.  In addition to inviting the reader to interact with the book, the author also has additional resources on her website www.melissaateginus.com/mindful for those who need a little extra homework at night.

 

This journey is definitely worth the time and effort, but it does take a commitment in order for the changes to be meaningful.  The title “Everyday Mindfulness” delivers just that, a different exercise every day.  The progression through the 6 facets from the physical self to one’s relationship with others is seamless. Many of the exercises serve as building blocks for future tasks, and the readers will find comfort in repeating a skill they have already mastered before learning something new.  During this hectic time of COVID-19, shut downs, and vaccines, Ms. Steginus’s book is just the tool one needs to retrain the overwhelmed brain, salvage one’s sanity, and maybe not have a nervous breakdown.  Many understand the need to take care of themselves, but how many are actually doing that?  This book, with it’s one-step-at-a-time approach, is a great way to start one’s journey back to mental stability.  Isn’t that what anyone wants when they pick up a self-help book?

 

“Everyday Mindfulness” by Melissa Steginus is highly recommended for the readers who need to take control of their lives one positive step at a time.

 

Book Review: The Illustrated Colonials

It's summer, and with summer comes reading.  I just finished a trilogy for a website review platform called "Reader Views."  They were short and fun, much like my summer is going to go this year.  LOL!  Here are my latest reviews for The Illustrated Colonials - books 1, 2 and 3.

The main characters of this story are Mei Ying, Glibert, Sheyndil, Leo, Mahmoud, and Will O.  The author takes the first part of the book to introduce each of these characters. Jiaya Mei Ying is the moody teen whose family controls the canals on behalf of the Chinese Emperor. Gilbert du Motier is the handsome French Dragoon.  Sheyndil is the Russian farm girl and emissary to Catherine the Great.  Leo is of German blood and next in line to inherit the title of Baron. Mahmoud is the spoiled prince who will one day become the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.  Will O. is the second son of a prominent family of Dutch traders.  All of these young people, due to different circumstances, find themselves attending the same boarding school in the Alsace region of the French Alps under the tutelage of Master Frestel and Master Dubin.  Each has been chosen because he or she is a “member of a family with a wide reach” which is advantageous now that the “Bostonians have triggered a world war.” (p.43)

 

The second part of this story shows the readers how these main characters interact while undergoing an education that includes academics, teamwork, manual labor, taking care of animals, self-defense, and the British Nine Rules of War.  As Master Frestel and the others at the school reiterate, these young adults are being coached to help the colonials, learn the American ideals of freedom, and to bring back these ideals to their various countries.  After the ultimate battle at the end of book one, Master Frestel is headed to Boston while Mei Ying, Glibert, Sheyndil, Leo, Mahmoud, and Will form a pact.  The pact includes being honest with each other, to always try to do good, and as Sheyndil so eloquently declares, “if one of us calls, the others must answer. We each vow it.” (p. 92)

 

The Pact sets the stage for the ultimate skirmish, the Revolutionary War.  The readers will be amazed how the author seamlessly weaves the young heroes’ stories into the fabric of this historical event without altering the actual circumstances of the war.  Personally, this reader enjoyed seeing the war from a fresh perspective.  Typically, the audience is used to a white male perspective when it comes to the great Revolutionary War.  Mr. Durwood humanizes this dry subject by inserting these six interesting characters from different countries.  This is just the hook our young adult audience needs to be able to relate to this piece of history.  However, young adults are not the only audience who will enjoy the beginning of this tale.  Adult readers who know a bit more about the Revolutionary War will enjoy both the storylines and the history of the war.  People ages 12 and up who love historical war fiction should start their journey by reading The Illustrated Colonists Book One: The Pact by Tom Durwood.  They will enjoy both the story and the beautiful illustrations that accompany this story.

 

The six main characters, Mei Ying, Glibert, Sheyndil, Leo, Mahmoud, and Will, scatter across the globe to spread the American ideal of freedom; in addition, some of the young heroes try to improve the infrastructure of their homelands using what they learned in school.  Gilbert finds himself in America participating in the Battle of Brandywine while Leo is making friends with the colonials and sharing his idea for advanced weapons.  Mei Ying goes home only to be banished to the foothills of Jinan.  She decides to use her travels to spread the word of the American ideal of freedom of religion.  Along the way she meets French Missionaries, Hessian despots, and a slew of other characters who try to impede her way.

 

Meanwhile, Mahmoud builds canals at the palace in hopes that he might eventually be able to bring running water to the working class.  Knowing he is not smart enough to build the canals properly, Mahmoud places himself as an apprentice, doing the lowliest of jobs, to learn more to help his people.  Then his father, the Sultan, betrays his son and heir. When he receives a letter calling him to fulfill the pact made in book one, Mahmoud leaves to help his friends. The readers find Mei Ying travelling across the county incognito still on her mission for Catherine the Great while Will is finding his footing in the Dutch trade industry.  All of the main characters have faced various types of danger, but there is more danger brewing for the young heroes.  In the meantime, the American Ambassador, Benjamin Franklin, makes an appeal to the French King, Louis XVI for help.  The war in America is not going as planned, and America needs allies.

 

In Home Fronts, the main characters leave their beloved school to share what they learned and to help the Colonials in America.  Once again, the author skillfully embeds the main characters into the Revolutionary War which gives this war a contemporary awakening. The international perspectives each of the characters bring to this historic event are both inventive and unconventional.  They draw in a younger audience to what is sometimes perceived by this generation as another boring event in American history.  This reader’s favorite scene is early in the story where Mei Ying encounters the French Missionaries.  The rapid-fire dialog is interesting and funny.  That bit of humor, for an otherwise serious subject, shows how knowledgeable Mr. Durwood is about his feisty character and the circumstance that she faces. In addition to the different perspectives and the dialog, the illustrations that accompany the storylines further engage those readers who may not choose historical fiction as their “go to” genre.  Therefore, The Illustrated Colonials Book Two: Home Fronts is recommended for audiences from age 10 to adulthood who enjoy a good adventure with a twist of history.

 

In the final installment of Durwood’s Illustrated Colonials, the readers find the young heroes more determined than ever.  Mahmoud, disinherited by his father, crosses the Atlantic to aid the colonials’ cause.  Two additional men have been dispatched to follow Mahmoud.  One man is assigned as his protector and the other, his assassin.  During the voyage, Mahmoud matures and is transformed from a pudgy teenager into a lean young man.  As he lands in Boston, he is resolved to find Gilbert and deliver the important documents that will aid the Americans both financially and in strength with new alliances.  Along the way, Mahmoud meets Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne and finds himself at odds with the British leader.  Mahmoud is then kidnapped and eventually rescued by a Native American brave.  After a series of events, Mahmoud is reunited with his protector, Kace.  Mahmoud then reveals his tactical skills and aids the Americans at the battle of Saratoga.  After the battle, it is Kace who completes the journey on Mahmoud’s behalf to find Gilbert and give him the important paperwork which could help to solidify the American’s cause in their war for independence.

 

The papers delivered to Gilbert go to Benjamin Franklin who then presents them to the King of France.  As each letter is revealed to the King, the pact between the six main characters comes to fruition. It seems that an alliance has formed between the “Dutch merchants, Catherine the Great, the Ottoman Admiralty, and Chinese seafaring cartels.” (p. X) Each of these institutions have promised France great rewards if they aid the Americans.  The heroes have fulfilled their promise made in Book One: The Pact.  At the end, each of the main characters who survived are still fighting for the American ideals bestowed upon them by their beloved school masters.

 

Tom Durwood’s third installment of the Illustrated Colonials does not disappoint.  His creative storylines culminate in the ultimate win for the Colonials.  The innovative way he places these young heroes into the narrative creates a more enjoyable journey for tween, teen, and adult readers.  While the tweens and teens are following the story to see what happens next, the adults are reading to see how Durwood utilizes his characters to influence a war in which they already know the outcome.  Those who enjoy historical fiction will fall in love with Durwood’s story.  In addition, those who crave adventure will also enjoy the journey these characters experience.  Therefore, it is the opinion of this reader that all audiences from age 10 and up will enjoy this exciting book, The Illustrated Colonials Book Three: Saratoga.  However, one should also read Book One: The Pact and Book Two: Home Fronts in order to appreciate the entire story of these young heroes.

 

Review: My Body, My Soul: One Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Both

 

Vandee Crane’s memoir, My Body, My Soul, is a raw and unapologetic account of her tragic childhood, and how those horrible experiences led her to be the loving person she is today.  Watching her own mother go down the path of drug addiction threw Vandee into a dark world without any protection when she was only 9 years old.  By the age of 16, Vandee has experienced drug and alcohol addiction, living on the streets, rape, sex trafficking, abusive relationships, episodes of PTSD, and multiple suicide attempts.  Any one of these incidents could have been the point of no return.  Yet after each suicide attempt or drug overdose, Vandee survives.  After being raped on the street, Vandee survives.  After being beat by an abusive boyfriend, Vandee survives. As she often repeats in this memoir, the “Creator” must not have been finished with her yet.  

 The style in which the story is told is not linear, but it is fluid.  The first person narrative draws the readers into Vandee’s crazy world.  One keeps reading for the sheer disbelief of what the author has faced, and how she has come through all of that adversity to become a productive member of society.  Vandee breaks the cycle of ancestral trauma and creates a life of positivity and healing.  With a college degree and a certification as a kundalini yoga instructor, the author of this memoir is now able to help other survivors.  She also has established a foundation, Rise in Love, whose mission is to support individuals, families, and communities during their healing processes.  However, none of this was easy.  She had to work hard, most of the time taking one step forward and two steps back.  Vandee has an amazing story, and this reader could not put her copy of the book down.  Therefore, My Body, My Soul is highly recommended to those who love memoirs or tragedy-to-triumph stories.

 

2021 Summer Reading Library Guide

With the end of another year comes the promotion of summer reading.  Studies show that the evidence is clear. "Children do forget skills and knowledge learned in the previous school year. But if families and educators encourage kids to stay engaged in learning throughout the summer, students may not only maintain, but improve their knowledge." (Psychology Today, 2017)

In order to combat the "backslide," I do my best to promote summer reading.  Usually I like to schedule an event where I give away books and do fun contests, but this year is different.  I'm really tired of saying that, but it's true.  I am so ready to put COVID-19 behind us, and I think we are close.  In fact, it looks like our libraries in MISD will be fully operational next year. (*keeping my fingers crossed*)

So this year, I am promoting summer reading the safe way by adding the 2021 Summer Reading Library Guide to the morning announcements, our principal's weekly email to the parents, my social media posts, my Canvas page, and then I am also emailing the teachers the link to the guide so they can promote it in class.

The guide itself actually came from our lead librarian, Pam.  However, she graciously shared it with us to edit and adapt as we saw fit.  That was too nice of her because there was a lot that went into this library guide.  So thank you again Pam Pinkerton!

This guide has a little bit of everything.  It contains the official letter from our curriculum department about summer reading; it contains all of our eBook platforms, and it also contains a link to all of the area public libraries and their summer programs.  There is even a short video explaining how to use the reading guide, and how to join the library Canvas Course.  It's a one-stop shopping experience.

What your summer reading plan?