Another page in America's struggle for civil rights

Rarely have I accidentally picked up a book that so completely dovetails with events on my mind.  In the wake of the violence in Ferguson, with this being the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr. day, and having just seen the movie Selma, civil rights is on my mind.  Into that comes Sylvia & Aki by Winfred Conkling.  This story tells the story of  two different civil rights struggles set during World War II.  One, the internment of Japanese-Americans in camps, the other, the struggle for desegregation of schools in California by Mexican Americans.  One I knew of, one was new to me.

Sylvia and Aki's stories intersect on a farm in Orange County.  Aki's family, who owns the farm, is forced into a camp because they are Japanese.  We learn of their distress over leaving their hard-earned life, the outrage of undeserved mistrust, and of life in the camps.  Before Aki's family leaves, they lease the farm to Sylvia's family, who are of "Mexican" descent.  They, too, work hard to keep the farm.  Sylvia is looking forward to third grade in her new community.  But when they try to register, they are told they can't, and must, instead, go across town to the Mexican school.  Her father's outrage at the inequality begins his battle to end segregation, which leads to the historic legal battle Gonzalo Mendez v. Westminster School District of Orange County.  This court case became the benchmark for the later battle for black students, Brown v Board of Education. Big events are told through the eyes of young girls, in a way that makes them very real.

The young girls in this story are real people, and the events really happened.  The chapter on the court case uses actual words from the transcript, highlighting the injustice of segregation.  It is also a testament to how to respond with grace and with courage.  For those who want to dig deeper ther is a list of grade-school age resources about civil rights.

Wimpy Kid for science geeks

This book happened to by the second along the Wimpy Kid wanna-be line, and I didn't particularly care for the first, so I didn't have high hopes.   I'm happy to say Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka pleasantly surprised me. I should have guessed, Scieszka is one of my favorite picture book authors.

The story is a tale of young Frank Einstein, his best friend, Watson, and their plan to win the Midville Science Prize.  Frank, our intrepid genius, fails in creating a learning robot, but a stray spark solves the problem.  The results...Klink and Klank....robots made from scraps, create themselves.  The four of them work together to create a new project.  But, his arch-nemesis, T. Edison, and Edison's sidekick, Mr Chimp, will stop at nothing to win the prize for themselves.  There are flying bicycles, robots that love hugs and knock knock jokes, and more than a little real science.

I love that this book checks all the boxes.  It's silly, with funny illustrations.  There is a chimp that uses sign language, an evil genius, and an absent-minded professor.  But, at the very same time, sometimes on the same page, their is serious science, complete with explanations at the end.  Laughing and learning, what more could you want?

Mistakes were made....

I must say, the jury is still out on Timmy Failure Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis.  There are so many things that annoy me, but, at the same time, it made me laugh, and has real-life problems with real-world outcomes.

The story centers around Timmy Failure (yes, that is his real name....which annoys me).  He is that odd kid, but he doesn't see it that way.  He is the head of a future Fortune 500 detective agency, with his sidekick, Total, who happens to be a polar bear.  Together they must get to the bottom of such mysteries as the disappearing Halloween candy, the TP'd yard, and the mysterious hamster death.  All while trying to stay ahead of his arch-nemesis, Corrina Corrina, whom he KNOWS stole his mom's Segway.

This book will appeal to those who love Diary of a Wimpy Kid, with its humor and many drawings.  The bits that annoy me....ridiculous names, pet polar bears, complete cluelessness, undoubtedly will be hilarious to the target audience.  So, while not my favorite, I will recommend it fully to kids.

Secrets......for those who geek books

The first thing I can say about Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu, is that it seems like a book for book nerds.  As I read it, my memory was tweaked by references to some of my favorite books, some by name, some by language, like "tessered:" A Wrinkle in Time, The Chronicles of Narnia, fairy tales and even The Phantom Tollbooth.  Being a book nerd, it was like being in on the secret, I wonder, however, how it reads for those that aren't book nerds, or aren't book nerds yet?

In the story, Hazel and Jack are best friends.  The share a wild imagination, and a love for all things creative.  They have used their elaborate fantasy games to escape some grim realities of their own lives.  They are reaching that age, however, when boys and girls aren't supposed to play and be friends.  To add to this struggle, Jack is the kid everyone likes, while Hazel has only one friend, Jack.  This has never been a problem before, until a magic mirror breaks, and a shard lodges in Jack's heart. To the world, he begins acting as he "should" by playing with the guys and not with the odd girl.  Hazel is devistated.  Then, Jack disappears.  His family claims he is visiting an aunt that Hazel has never heard mentioned before.  She begins to suspect there is something more going on, and begins a harrowing journey into the woods to find her friend.

I wasn't thrilled with the ending.  It resolved too quickly and left me with more than a few unanswered questions.  In some ways I really enjoyed this story, however, I wonder if the target audience, third through fifth grade students will get all the deeper meaning?  Maybe that's the magic, it's a good story on it's own, but a much more interesting one if you are in on the secrets.  

Sci fi meets the old west

I checked out The Knife of Never Letting Go, by Patrick Ness, because I read about it somewhere, and when I checked, the ebook was available.  I have to say that I have never liked and hated a book so much at the same time.  

It's set in a world full of Noise.  Young Todd is soon to turn thirteen, at which point he becomes a man, in a world in which he is the last boy.  The Noise is the constant chatter caused by the fact that everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts...oh, and animals talking as well.  Oh the Noise, Noise, Noise, Noise.  There was a terrible war fought before Todd was born against the resident aliens, who infected them with thus ability to hear way too much.  And, it killed all the women.  Todd is the last baby born in a dying society.   One of the reasons I didn't like the book is that they use primitive spellings to get across the idea that they are all ignorant.  Words like "tho," "cuz," and "preparayshuns" are part of the style of writing (writin'), and I found it annoying.  Then, I didn't really like Todd all that much:  sullen, whiny, mean to his dog.  Hard to get behind this story.

Then, Todd finds a pocket of silence in a world of Noise.  Suddenly, he finds that secrets have been kept and he, and the source of the silence, must run for their lives.  Todd finds that the world in which he lives is not as dead as he believed, and, that much of what he was told about his town was a lie to hide a terrible past.

I'm certainly glad I didn't give up.  This book is surprising, thought-proviking, and exciting.  And, oddly, those annoying bits enhance the way the story sits.  It just does't sit right, and, it's not meant to.

I've seen the future, and it doesn't look good

Because of the fate of Overdrive requests, I have been immersed in a dystopian future.  I have started three different series and all three books became available at one time.  Our future looks bleak: a caste system, deadly college entrance exams, and infection.  What, exactly do we fear?  This was my Overdrive bookshelf:

My least favorite is the Delerium Trilogy second installment: Pandamonium by Lauren Oliver.  Actually, I liked this book better than then first.  In this future, love is considered a disease, literally.  At eighteen, proper citizens receive a brain surgery to "cure" them of the possibility of infection.  It also turns them emotionally flat.  Lara is nearly of age and can't wait to be free of the threat of love.  Then, she meets Alex and the unthinkable happens....she becomes infected.  She learns that love is both irrational and amazing.  She also learns of an underground movement opposed to becoming emotionally sterilized.  Thie second book follows her as she goes undercover as part of the resistance. While the plotting and fighting are exciting, the whole idea of society willing to have brain surgery just doesn't ring true.  Plus, without giving away too much, there is way too much moping.

My next favorite has been The Selection Trilogy by Kiera Cass.  I didn't expect to like it so much, actually.  In this future, America is ruled by a King, and is divided into castes.  The Prince conducts what is essentially a beauty pageant to find his bride-to-be.  Entrants are chosen from all the castes, making this a Cinderellla story.  Our main character is named America, and is from a lower caste of performers and artists.  She does NOT want to be there, but feels she must to better her family's future.  While the selection process progresses, revolution is brewing.  America finds herself thrust into the conflicting role of possibly falling in love with the Prince, and, wanting something more for her country.  Definitely girly, with little fighting that we have come to expect from dystopian books.  Still, it is engaging, and I find myself caring about the characters.

Finally, my favorite series is The Testing, by Joelle Charbonneau.  In this future, in the wake of environmental failure, America is divided into territories that are attempting to bring the earth back to life.  From each territory, only the best and brightest are allowed to attended University.  And, the must complete a mysterious testing process.  Failure during the testing process means death.  Cia Vale is from a remote territory that hasn't sent a qualified student in years.  As luck would have it, this year they send students to compete.  Her father, who was a successful student himself, leaves her with mysterious, and chilling, advice.  She must learn the truth, not only about the horrible consequences of failure, but, with her continued success, the dark truth behind it all.  

With all these dark ideas about our future.....is there hope?!

Shades of King Arthur

I started the The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater, because I am a fan of the Shiver Trilogy, but, I honestly had no idea what to expect.  As with Shiver this story is a new twist on a familiar legend.  Instead of werewolves, this is the legend of King Arther moved to the mountain country of Virginia.

Blue has grown up in a very non-tradional family.  She comes from a long line of true psychics.  She, however, does not have the sight, instead, she has the ability to amplify those powers in others.  Oh, and her future has been seen; she is destined to kill her true true love with a kiss.  Naturally, she avoids boys altogether, especially, Raven boys.  Raven Boys are rich, entitled, snobs who attend a local, very expensive, private school.  Much to her dismay, Blue becomes drawn to four boys on a mission to find a lost king.  Will she help them? Or, will her growing attachment lead to someone's death?

I like that this story is both familiar, and unpredictable.  Much like destiny, I thought I knew what was coming, but was surprised when we got there.  This is the first in The Raven Cycle series.