Yolanda Ridge's Blog, page 6

Happy Canada Day!

My website doesn’t look much different than it did when I posted a (somewhat premature) announcement called WEBSITE UDPATE. But since then, I’ve taken a Gale Course on Intermediate WordPess Website building and totally upgraded the back end of my site. I’m now working hard on things like “keyword mapping” and “search engine optimization”. In addition to being interesting (if difficult), I’m hoping this will help readers find CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA when they look for background information on gene editing.

In the transition, I couldn’t transfer people who were following my blog to the new site. So if you’re interested, please visit the sidebar in the News&Views page to subscribe to the blog by email. I plan to continue posting reviews of middle grade books. I will also be posting updates on significant advancements in CRISPR technology.

Thanks for reading and please feel free to send feedback on the website (I’ve looked at the pages so much, I’m sure I’ve missed a typo or two). Stay safe and have a fabulous Canada Day and Fourth of July.

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CRISPR and COVID

It’s official! CRISPR will provide rapid testing for COVID19. This Nature Article shares the news of FDA approval in the US. If you want to know more about the technology, CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA is now available for preorder!

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Website Update

Go Kermie Go!

Change is inevitable. And yet… I resist.

Full disclosure: I’m a WordPress hack who’s been trying to keep this website looking somewhat professional without investing too much of the money I don’t earn writing books. So when WordPress added “block editing” I resisted learning the new system. Instead, I stuck with “classic editing” even though it drives me crazy.

And then I had to do a major website upgrade in preparation for the launch of CRISPR. I couldn’t do the things I wanted to do using classical editor so I finally decided to give blocks a try. It’s opened up a whole new world to me! Now I’m upgrading everything and having so much fun doing it! The website’s still a work in progress but if you have time, take a look around and let me know what you think.

Thanks for reading my first post on the new system! Have a good weekend, everyone. And Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there that are in the trenches with me.

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Testing for COVID-19

I wrote an article about testing for COVID-19. It was supposed to be filled with lots of cool science facts but ended up being about masks and swabs. You can read Testing for Covid-19 on SciWhy – a blog dedicated to helping parents, teachers and librarians discover the wide world of Canadian science writing for kids.

[image error]photo by cottonbro from Pexels

My thanks to healthcare workers and other essential businesses – especially my local grocery store, Ferraro Foods – who are keeping us safe. It’s not easy to write about, I can’t imagine what it’s like to be on the front lines. Thank-you.

All the Impossible Things

Title: All the Impossible Things[image error]

Author: Lindsay Lackey

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge

ISBN: 978-1-250-20286-4

I have no idea what one *should* read during a pandemic. But I do know this: falling in love with a book can make the weight of the world a tiny bit lighter. 

All the Impossible Things opens with 11-year-old “Red” being taken away from her current foster family. Throughout the book, readers get glimpses into why life with “The Mom” and her three boys was so difficult without getting into any abusive and disturbing detail. We also learn that Red’s been in foster care since her mom went to jail, presumably for drug possession. Red’s bad experience in foster care is balanced by an attentive social worker. And things really start to look up for Red when she’s taken to live with Celine and Jackson, owners of the Groovy Petting Zoo – a place where Red might actually “be a fit”.   

That’s not to say things are easy. Without giving too much away, Red must navigate all kinds of difficult situations that force her to control her wind. The magic behind Red and her mom’s ability to control the wind is not really explained but serves as a good way of showing Red’s emotion. It also creates a plot point when Tuk, a 400 pound tortoise, goes missing after a destructive stormed caused by Red’s anger over letters to her mom being returned unopened. 

The relationships in this story are beautifully rendered, particularly between Red and her grandmother. Although Gamma dies of cancer before the story even begins, she leaves Red with a book of impossible things which helps Red bond with Celine and come to realize the hard truth about her mom’s addiction to pills and inability to parent. The book is sad but it’s not all sad – there are many heart warming moments and both the farm animals and Red’s friend, Marvin (maker of cooking videos for his channel, Kitchen Kahuna, and creator of the “spineo” ), provide some much needed levity.   

One of my sons loved this book and the other was turned off by the cover. To get a better idea of how the target audience might respond, I recommend this review on NPStation. Not only do I love her enthusiasm for All the Impossible Things, there are a lot of other great videos to check out on her channel. Plus, for those of us currently homeschooling, I think creating a video book review is a great project for kids of all ages!

Personal Update

I’m writing with a personal update at a difficult time for all of us. I haven’t been posting on social media because it doesn’t seem like there’s anything left to say. Plus, my feelings about everything have been fluctuating wildly; hour to hour, day to day.

I do feel a need to reach out, however. So this is a collection of random thoughts – mainly links to articles that have impacted me. Even if this post reaches very few people at a time of information overload, I hope there’s something of value to someone (perhaps just me).

First, I’m very grateful for the action that’s being taken to flatten the curve. There are so many examples of people who are rising to the challenge, making sacrifices and thinking beyond themselves. It is truly amazing how much can change overnight when we work collectively for the greater good. But….

I’m also disheartened by stories of people who are not taking the pandemic seriously. Leaders who are focused on economics when people are dying. Individuals who think social distancing rules do not apply to them.

Those who “follow me” (virtually or in person) know that my mom had a stem cell transplant and is still immune compromised. Because of that, My Mom’s Journey with COVID-19. Please Stay Home. hit me particularly hard. I admit to skimming ahead to make sure she survived (and because I couldn’t read through my tears). Still – I will read it again and again when I need a reminder (for myself or someone else) of why our action (or lack of action) matters.

I acknowledge that I’m privileged and in a better position than most to deal with this crisis. I already work from home and my sons are old enough to entertain themselves (for a little while, anyway).  Still, I’m used to my routine and my boys are social creatures. It’s going to be hard to keep them busy while maintaining peace of mind. There are lots of resources being made available, many of them listed in How Kids’ Lit Is Responding to the Coronavirus.

While I think all these resources are great, I do worry about the pressure it puts on parents at a time when we should be trying to take the pressure off. I agree with what Brooke from Slow Your Home said in her newsletter about the “added pressure of ‘making the crisis count’. We’re being told this is an exceptional opportunity to do all the things we never have time to otherwise do. Finish that novel! Learn an instrument! Get super fit! Declutter your house! Organise your garage! Knit a huge beautiful blanket! Plant a garden! Read all the Harry Potters out loud to your kids (and don’t forget to do the voices)!

It occurs to me that we’ve gone full capitalist in our efforts to recalibrate. We’ve started with the mindset of maximising our output, needing to prove our value, to stay busy, to list our achievements and improve our status. To prove that we are worthy.”

I agree with everything Brooke said. This is not the time for perfection. Now Is the Perfect Time to Lower the Parenting Bar as Kimberly writes in her article for The Cut.

Now I will admit to not following all of that advice. Feeling a need to be productive (and stop myself from becoming a news zombie) I’ve updated my website (still a work-in-progress). In preparation for the release of CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA (Annick, 2020), I needed a fresh look. Plus, I needed to make room for new information while getting rid of the old. One thing I had to say good-bye to is Authors for Earth Day (thank you to my eco-book of the month partner for this great article). After ten great years, it is coming to an end.

Which brings me to my last point. Many Earth Day activities will be cancelled this year. When the pandemic is over, I wonder whether we’ll be open to changing the way we live and move in this world for the benefit of the environment. Or whether we’ll be scrambling to restore economic health and go back to “the way things were” to the point where all progress that’s been made toward conquering climate change will be lost.

Only time will tell. Until then, please stay healthy and stay home. xo yolanda

Broken Strings

Title: Broken Strings[image error]

Author: Eric Walters & Kathy Kacer

Publisher: Puffing Canada

Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge

ISBN: 978-0-7352-6624-7

In my last post of the decade (!) I want to do a quick shout out to a great 2019 title by two Canadian kid-lit super powers. Broken Strings is a Holocaust lesson wrapped up in a story about a middle school production of Fiddler on the Roof. That’s not a bad thing.

When 8th grader Shirli is cast as the Old Jewish Grandmother in her junior high school’s production of Fiddler on the Roof, she goes to her Zayde for background information and advice. While searching Zayde’s attic for costumes, she uncovers information about his musical past. As she digs deeper, secrets are revealed along with the story of what happened to her family during the holocaust.

Perhaps now more than ever, it’s important to keep memories of past generations alive. Broken Strings is set in 2002, just after 9/11, a tragedy that must also be remembered. I hope this book encourages young people to talk to their grandparents and listen to their stories.

Wishing you time with friends, family and other important people in your life during this holiday season. Thank you for visiting my website and encouraging me in my writing career. See you in 2020!

 

Under Pressure

Title: Under Pressure:The Science of Stress[image error]

Author: Tanya Lloyd Kyi

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge

ISBN: 978-1-5253-0007-3

I usually limit my reviews to middle grade fiction. But I’ve been reading a lot of non-fiction lately, partly in preparation for the release of my non-fiction title on gene editing next year. Under Pressure caught my eye for several reasons: I’m a fan of Tanya Lloyd Kyi, it’s published by Kids Can Press, and most importantly…. who doesn’t need to know more about stress?

Under Pressure covers all different types of stress, including things you may not even consider stress like “Helpful Highs”. Each chapter ends with a section on “Stress Busters” and the final chapter is totally devoted to “Tension Tamers”.

A lot of material is covered here, including the biological and genetic basis of stress. Canadian-based studies of stress are also featured. It may not be a book that can be read cover to cover by the average 12-year-old but there’s stuff in here for everyone – from the zen to the totally stressed. Under Pressure is the kind of non-fiction I would like to write. It’s also a book both me and my kids will go back to again and again.

Focused

Title: Focused[image error]

Author: Alyson Gerber

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge

ISBN: 978-1338185973

Clea really tries to do well in middle school and meet her parent’s expectations by being organized and on time. Trouble is, she’s constantly distracted. Pretty much the only thing she’s able to focus on is chess. But her position on the chess team becomes threatened by bad grades, the insecure (but popular) girl on the team, and her pending diagnosis of ADHD.

Before she can get the medication she needs, she blurts out some personal information about her best friend, Red, who’s tired of Clea’s lack of inhibition. Through it all, she’s supported by her family and a new friend, Sanam. Along with medical and educational professionals, her supportive group of friends and family help Clea to start advocating for herself and asking for the help she needs.

Someone I’m very close to has ADHD. But until I read Focused, I didn’t have a clear idea on how it affected that person internally. I’m very grateful to Alsyon Gerber for sharing her personal insight into the condition through the fictional story of Clea. While everyone’s experience with ADHD is different, Clea’s struck me as authentic and relatable.

I can not recommend this book highly enough. Focused should be in every middle grade classroom – and not just for the students, but teachers and parents too.