So, this marks the second time this month I've learned about some sort of historical photography thing I had no idea about (first "spirit" photogr...moreWow.
So, this marks the second time this month I've learned about some sort of historical photography thing I had no idea about (first "spirit" photography, now the fairies). I had never heard of the Cottingley fairies before, or the absolutely jaw-dropping hoax these girls accidentally got themselves into by simply not telling what they had done. It was so... Salem witch trial-esque, this manipulating of grownups who had an agenda (though no one gets tossed in the water to drown in this case). It was heartbreaking to imagine how a culture reeling from the losses of WWI might be in the perfect position to believe in fairies, brownies, gnomes, etc.—especially when photography was still such a developing art, and very magical in so many ways.
Aside: I am totally impressed that Elsie and Frances were able to produce such a handful of good images on very complicated camera equipment at their age.
Absolutely, completely fascinating—great reading for middle- to upper- grade elementary school readers, and people like me. : ) (less)
I really, really liked this. Though ghost stories aren't exactly my thing, the attention to historic detail was very well done—I learned a whole bunch...moreI really, really liked this. Though ghost stories aren't exactly my thing, the attention to historic detail was very well done—I learned a whole bunch about photography and its relationship to civilians brought on by the devastation of the Civil War, for example. It's always a good sign when I am interested enough to go do more reading on a subject! Jennie was sharply written as well. And, true to form, I didn't guess the outcome until the outcome was happening. : ) (less)
I seem to love j-fiction novels in verse. It seemed as if May B. was distilled to her essence, and the landscape was somehow able to become very clear...moreI seem to love j-fiction novels in verse. It seemed as if May B. was distilled to her essence, and the landscape was somehow able to become very clear in my mind with limited description. As for the notion that she should have taken off to find her family sooner, well, the plains are a giant place--and 100+ years ago for a 12 year old would be a foolish and scary place before the desperation took over. (less)
I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it, either. Gillies establishes herself as a non-writer right away, but that makes her occasional truly heart-rend...moreI didn't love it, but I didn't hate it, either. Gillies establishes herself as a non-writer right away, but that makes her occasional truly heart-rending observations about the collapse of her life that much more poignant. I am intrigued by the idea of who is featured involuntarily in a memoir like this—memoir is an awfully tricky form of writing.
Aside: I saved a handful of my old Seventeen magazines from 1985-1991 but sadly I don't have the one with her on the cover : ) (less)
Interestingly enough, this will be the most challenging book for me in our fall picks... I only got through 7.5 minutes of listening to David Sedaris...moreInterestingly enough, this will be the most challenging book for me in our fall picks... I only got through 7.5 minutes of listening to David Sedaris on a road trip to LA in 2006. Here's hoping he will appeal to me more this time around : )
ETA: More like 2.5 stars, but it's Christmastime so I rounded up. I'm sorry, David Sedaris-loving friends... I seem tonbe missing that part of my sense of humor. Sigh. I tried, I really did : )(less)
Though I've taught the Holocaust in many classes, I'm not as familiar as I should be with the French role in deportation of its own citizens during th...moreThough I've taught the Holocaust in many classes, I'm not as familiar as I should be with the French role in deportation of its own citizens during the war. I found the story to be a good, decent attempt at providing a contemporary framework for presenting what happened; I didn't always love the author's writing (too many sentences ending with question marks) but also am able to dive into a story and mostly ignore it if I'm engaged in the basic plot. I was also very interested in the stark contrast between French culture and American culture when it comes to digging around in the past—as someone pointed out in book club last night, it's a lot easier to do when you're on the winning side. (Case in point: what American my age or younger knows the details of the Vietnam war as well as other significant conflicts? Right.)(less)
This was a very unusual book that took a turn for the extremely sad but managed to somehow keep an air of loveliness around it. And, true to form...more4.5/5
This was a very unusual book that took a turn for the extremely sad but managed to somehow keep an air of loveliness around it. And, true to form, I didn't see a major plot twist coming (not clever enough? Or just completely lost in the story?). I liked it very much, and I have to say that having Oliver Jeffers illustrate was a really superb choice because his work is also very unusual, extremely sad at times, all while maintaining an air of loveliness throughout. (less)
4.5/5 This is the kind of book that I would have adored as an elementary school kid... it's how you grow little girls into big Elizabethan literary ner...more4.5/5 This is the kind of book that I would have adored as an elementary school kid... it's how you grow little girls into big Elizabethan literary nerds. Ahem. : ) (less)
I really liked this book despite how sad it struck me... I think I was drawn to the theme of how far someone in a position of authority of any kind ca...moreI really liked this book despite how sad it struck me... I think I was drawn to the theme of how far someone in a position of authority of any kind can intervene/meddle in a minor's life. While I was never tempted to kidnap a student when I was teaching (holy bad judgment, protagonist!), I certainly saw a few variations on the Ian of this story come through my classroom and speech/debate team—and I may have encouraged (orchestrated?) at least one student in a direction that was not part of the trajectory his/her parents intended. It is difficult to sit by and allow irrational closed-mindedness to win.
But of course, this is the gist of the book: is that OK? It is clearly not OK to kidnap a kid, but if this is just an extreme interpretation of the theme, well, where is the line?
As much as I rolled my eyes at Lucy's inability to assertively commit to her (sort-of) chosen profession—and her terrible judgment—I seethed along with her throughout the story. (less)
I was not smart enough for this book. Apologies to the author, because I sensed the entire way through that I must be missing something completely bri...moreI was not smart enough for this book. Apologies to the author, because I sensed the entire way through that I must be missing something completely brilliant—I just could never grasp what it was. (less)
Bridget and I read this charming book (with charming illustrations) and loved it—it wasn't until after we finished that I noticed it was written by Qu...moreBridget and I read this charming book (with charming illustrations) and loved it—it wasn't until after we finished that I noticed it was written by Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan. Well done, Queen Rania, well done. Most of the time "celebrity" children's books aren't always all that great (with a few notable exceptions—Julianne Moore and Michael Ian Black, especially) but this one is exceptionally well written. The premise doesn't unfairly weight the story's conflict, the "weird factor," in either direction, so younger children get a stronger sense that BOTH kids are attached to their own preferences and BOTH kids think the "other" is a little weird. It's also simple enough that it doesn't complicate the issue or preach; it's just presented as two girls who must work through a problem.
I liked this a lot. I learned some interesting things about Indian music yet the story wasn't out to smack you in the face with Lessons in Cultural Di...moreI liked this a lot. I learned some interesting things about Indian music yet the story wasn't out to smack you in the face with Lessons in Cultural Diversity for Middle Grade Readers, if that makes any sense. Also, I liked how all of the characters had to face choices about the "right" decision in the face of lots of grey area, though it was subtle enough not to be preachy. (less)
I liked the idea of it more than the execution for reasons I can't quite put my finger on, but it was still a sweet and charming book. I am very...more3.5/5
I liked the idea of it more than the execution for reasons I can't quite put my finger on, but it was still a sweet and charming book. I am very much looking forward to making some of the pies with the girls from the recipes at the beginning of each chapter.(less)
Excellent. It was an interesting way to approach telling Enaiatollah Akbari's story, and I very much appreciated the author's note at the beginning st...moreExcellent. It was an interesting way to approach telling Enaiatollah Akbari's story, and I very much appreciated the author's note at the beginning stating that they did the very best they could to painstakingly recreate his story with accuracy but the book was a re-creation of his experience, and still a work of fiction. It is shocking to consider what human beings can withstand. (less)
I gave this 2 stars because the premise, when you could find it through all the other extraneous plot junk, was interesting. I wish this could have be...moreI gave this 2 stars because the premise, when you could find it through all the other extraneous plot junk, was interesting. I wish this could have been a book more about the conflict of finding a new species of butterfly in a logging town and less about everything else the author thought necessary to throw in (i.e. lengthy explanations of main character as outcast in his family, subtleties of running track, attempted romantic involvement with biology teacher, said biology teacher blithely offering alcohol in her apartment to a 17 year old student without repercussion... ugh.)
I also had some external problems with the book, which aren't exactly the author's fault (at least directly); it was chosen as a book club selection for Maddie's book club at school (4th-6th grade) and I was uncomfortable throughout the entire book reading it through that filter. It's not that I'm anti-difficult/complex subject matter, but the author's way of delivering it in this case is inappropriate for this age group. Luckily it's a great book club and I'm looking forward to the discussion with them despite my misgivings about the plot lines.(less)
Loading...
