ALL YOU
READ NEED IS
LOVE
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| Example of origami heart bookmark. |
References
AliveOrigami. (2013, March 24). Valentine's Origami Bookmark (Heart) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQqOR1rK67I
Dunneback, K. & Towner, M. W. (2010). Introduction: integrated advisory. Integrated Advisory Service. Denver: Libraries Unlimited, pp. xi-xvi.
Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction. ALA Editions.
Setting: Rural England, 1817 (Regency era).
Plot Summary: Captain Phillip Dacre can't wait to get back to his ship, but since his wife's death, his three unruly children have driven away a number of tutors and governesses, so it falls to Phillip to set things right at home. The cheerful vicar Benedict Sedgwick has looked after them in Phillip's absence, and the two men soon feel drawn to one another in ways that could change their entire lives. Is their budding romance is worth risking the lives they've worked so hard to secure?
Subject Headings: Men/men relationships, naval captains, clergy, single fathers, sexual attraction, marriages of convenience.
Elements of Romance: (From Wyatt & Saricks, 2019)
Rule of Three: (From Saricks, 2009)
Similar Works (Read-alikes):
Saricks, J. (2009). At leisure: The rule of three. Booklist, 106(3), 25.
Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). Romance. In The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction (pp. 215-234).
A book will receive different reviews based on its genre, format, and author. As mentioned in class, eBook-only titles are reviewed relatively infrequently in professional publications. This creates a problem for collection development, since many collection developers rely on professional reviews to help them decide which items to purchase, myself included. In fact, I rarely purchase an item without first checking both professional and amateur reviews. Granted, this is not the only tool they rely on, but it creates a significant disadvantage for one book to be reviewed prolifically while another is largely ignored.
The pattern that emerges is a confirmation bias: books that are heavily reviewed are more likely to be purchased by libraries, which leads libraries to only seek out similar books for future consideration. Works that may be a "perfect fit" for a collection are easily overlooked simply because they are not reviewed by professional sources that librarians consult.
Both of these reviews have dubious reliability: the Amazon review contains several run-on sentences and comma splices. It doesn't tell me much about the book beyond a vague plot summary and that the reviewer enjoyed it enough to give it four stars.
The blog review fares a little better, but not much: it provides a plot summary, which I suspect may have been provided by a publisher. The reviewer comments on how brief the book is and that it seems run-of-the-mill, giving it three stars.
Based on these rather lackluster reviews, I would be unlikely to buy this book for my collection. There doesn't seem to be much to set this short work apart from others of its kind. Considering the fact that it is holiday themed, and therefore likely to see less circulation year-round, I would choose buy other titles for my collection over this one (unless I received patron requests for this title in particular).
The sheer volume of professional reviews (most of which are positive, by the way) strongly encourages me to purchase this title. Combined with its 1997 Pulitzer Prize, its status as a #1 New York Times Bestseller, its movie adaptation, and its literary and cultural significance, it seems almost impossible not to include this title in my collection.
Now, certainly this isn't fair. Who could say which of the two is a better book? Who could say what it even means for one book to be "better" than another? Regardless of which book is "better," it is clear that the amount of reviews tends to skew a library's collection to favor the over-reviewed and slight the under-reviewed. Now, this sometimes makes sense: a poorly written book is unlikely to receive overwhelming numbers of reviews, regardless of its format. But how do we as collection developers correct for very well-written books that are skipped over by professional reviewers?
Perhaps we must adopt a more "biblical" approach: "I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks" (New International Version, Jer. 16.16). Librarians must be these "hunters," searching for quality literature out of the "crevices of the rocks," so to speak. (I am 100% certain this is exactly what the prophet Jeremiah was referring to when he penned this phrase.) A library's collection should offer a wide variety of options for its patrons, and this may require a collection developer to stray from the beaten path from time to time. Delving into genre-specific publications, for example, can help to flesh out the diamonds in the rough.
I'd like to drop in a note here about negative reviews: quite often, I find that knowing why someone didn't like a book is as important as knowing why someone else liked it. Often, a negative review can help inform me about a potential purchase.
That said, professional publishers should take care to avoid becoming cynical and derogatory; I can understand why some review sources adopt the philosophy that Thumper's father taught him in Disney's Bambi:
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| If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all. |
Expert ornithologist Sibley (The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2000, etc.) reveals the inner world of North American birds, pairing the answers to common questions with stunning full-color, full-page illustrations.
Covering more than 200 species in over 330 illustrations (including 87 "roughly life-size" paintings of familiar species), the short essays in this book discuss several aspects of avian biology, including migration, feeding, behavior, physiology, reproduction, evolution, and adaptation to recent environmental changes, and helpful indices break it down by topic and by species. Sibley notes in his introduction that this book "is not designed to be read straight through; it is designed to be browsed casually, so that different topics will spark connections and perhaps even a sense of discovery." While there are still many unknowns about birds and several of the topics in this work "are still being actively studied and debated by experts," the nontechnical language of these short essays is concise and accessible for adults to enjoy irrespective of prior knowledge. However, despite the title, there is not much on how birds think and feel: perhaps a better title would have been What It's Like to Love Birds. If you're looking for a deeper delve into the mind of birds, you may be interested in The Bird Way (2020, ISBN 978-0-7352-2301-1) by Jennifer Ackerman.
Rich with details and gorgeous illustrations, this compendium of facts about our feathered friends may be better suited to a coffee table than the field. Sure to delight casual learners and avian fanatics alike.
Using a public library where you are not known or a librarian who does not know you, ask for a good book to read. Discuss what happens: What questions were you asked? What tools if any did the librarian use to help you? Did the librarian successfully find a “good book” for you to read? If yes, how so? If no, why not?
For this assignment, I decided it was finally time to get my own library card and hit up my local public library. I had never met any of the library staff before, and I was sure they wouldn’t know me from Adam. I was right.
She asked me what I liked to read. I told her that I did not usually read science fiction, but I was looking for a good sci-fi title to branch out a little bit (planning ahead to my science fiction annotation due in a few weeks). Admitting that sci-fi was not her forte, she said she would give it her best shot and asked me what kind of sci-fi I liked. This question seemed like a dubious choice: having already mentioned that I was unfamiliar with the genre, I was tempted to say I didn’t know that sci-fi had any “kinds”. Opting instead for the truth, I told her that I had studied chemistry in college and therefore was partial to sci-fi with credible, plausible science, and I was less interested in fantasy-esque sci-fi. (Although that is a secret love of mine, I was looking for a pure sci-fi for my annotation.)
She thought about it for a minute and returned to typing on her computer. It was certainly a little off-putting and disconcerting as a patron: what was she looking up? Was she checking to see if a title that had come to mind was checked in? Did I say a word she had not understood? Had she given up on helping me and returned to her previous task?
Several minutes ticked by as I awkwardly looked around the library and pretended to be interested in the nearby display on Valentine’s Day picture books. Daring to break the silence, I mentioned something about being interested in LGBTQ characters if possible, but it was by no means a dealbreaker. This was met with silence and more casual perusal of tasteful children’s displays.
I wonder if this librarian had knowledge of appeal factors, NoveList (n.d.) defines as “the elements of a story that make a book attractive and interesting to a reader” (p. 1). This might have helped her identify items that I would have enjoyed beyond just subgenre. I thought she might be looking them up, but I realized she never asked me if I had already read any books in the genre, much less why I had liked them. The soft answers I had given about preferring LGBTQ characters were completely ignored, from what I could tell.
She then led me over to where Ready Player One was shelved. I told her that I had watched the movie, but as a child born in the mid-90s, I had only understood about half of the 80s pop culture references. (Sorry, Dad.) She said that her experience had been similar, she but reassured me that “the book was better.” I took the book since it seemed awkward not to take it from her outstretched hand. There was no opportunity for me to give feedback, tell her what I did or did not like about this work, or suggest other paths we might take. As Saricks (2015) mentioned, “[I]f we’re not really listening to what readers say, we’re not really meeting their needs” (p. 25). I am still not sure why this book was her recommendation to me, as it did not seem to match any of the scant preferences I had provided. It seemed like a bit of a shame.
I thought that maybe I was being too difficult for this librarian, so I did offer that I had read The Martian by Andy Weir and found it interesting; did she know of any similar works that she could recommend? She sure did: Artemis by Andy Weir. That was the only title she recommended, and as luck would have it, it was checked out. She did help me to get a copy of the eAudiobook on my device, albeit it was a copy in Spanish. (She did check to see if I spoke Spanish, which I do, so no harm there.) I genuinely thanked her for her time and bade her a good evening. While I was not particularly interested in either book, I decided to checkout Prey merely to save face and not walk out of the building without either of her recommendations.
Please understand that I do not wish to criticize the service I received nor shame this library; perhaps the librarian I spoke with had little experience or training with readers’ advisory, or perhaps she was just having an off day. Certainly she was underpaid and overworked. It seemed that she was just suggesting titles off the top of her head, without consulting any sort of online database or advisory tool. However, who really knows what was happening on the other side of the desk during those long stretches of awkward silence? I hoped that I was not causing her any pressure just by standing there doing nothing, but I know I was; O’Dell (2017) relates that a librarian “stand[s] there for hours, waiting for patrons to walk up and ask for help. But [they] have approximately 5 minutes to impress them before they leave. Talk about pressure!” (p. 27).
All things considered, I would return to this librarian and give them another chance. She did her best to provide the two keys to readers’ advisory proposed by Saricks (2005): “commitment to meeting the leisure-reading interests of readers and a responsive attitude toward readers, no matter what they are reading” (p. 11). I felt that she genuinely wanted to help and that she did not see this as a waste of her time. I never felt judged to criticized for my reading preferences.
This assignment was helpful in that it gave me a glimpse into how readers’ advisory interactions feel for the patron. The librarian should always seem available and be willing to help. They should also always tell the patron what they are doing so that the patron doesn’t feel confused or forgotten about. I will apply lessons that I learned here to my future readers’ advisory interactions.
References
NoveList Editorial & St. Louis Public Library Staff (n.d.) The appeal of books. NoveList.
O'Dell, B. (2017). Reader’s advisory: four sites that will help you fake it. Computers in Libraries, 37(6), 27-32.
Saricks, J. (2005). Readers' advisory service in the public library. American Library Association.
Saricks, J. (2015). At leisure with Joyce Saricks. Booklist, 112(7), 25
When I searched for the Anita Blake series in NoveList, I found the title of the fourth work. I verified that GoodReads shows the same result.
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2. What have I read recently? Well, I just finished this great book by Barbara Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer. I really liked the way it was written, you know, the way she used language. I wouldn't mind something a bit faster paced though.
Oh, I love Barbara Kingsolver! She wrote Poisonwood Bible, right? I haven't had a chance to read much of her work yet, but I know her writing is very lyrical and lush. For a book that has a similar writing style with a quicker pace, have you read anything by Kunal Basu? Yellow Emperor's Cure and The Miniaturist are two of his works that you might find interesting. They are historical fiction, if that's something that agrees with you. Or you might also try Champion of the Scarlet Wolf by Ginn Hale if you'd prefer a fantasy.
From the NoveList page for Prodigal Summer, I selected the attributes that the patron liked -- a descriptive, lush, and lyrical writing style -- and used the "Search for More" function. I then refined results by pace to include only fast-paced works. I then compared a few results to the original work (Prodigal Summer) and chose a few that sounded promising.
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3. I like reading books set in different countries. I just read one set in China, could you help me find one set in Japan? No, not modern – historical. I like it when the author describes it so much it feels like I was there!
For sure! Japan is super fascinating, and lots of books take place in historical Japan. Is there a historical period in particular you're interested in? If you're interested in 11th century Japan, for example, you might enjoy works by I.J. Parker, such as The Fires of the Gods. Or if you'd prefer the World War II era, you might like The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein or December 6 by Martin Cruz Smith.
I searched NoveList for keyword "Japan." I then refined results by tone to include "strong sense of place," as well as to include only fiction works and only works for an adult audience. I then selected a few eras under time period to show specified results, and I gave a few examples.
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4. I read this great mystery by Elizabeth George called Well-Schooled in Murder and I loved it. Then my dentist said that if I liked mysteries I would probably like John Sandford, but boy was he creepy I couldn't finish it! Do you have any suggestions?
Sorry you had a bad experience! Let's see if we can find something you might enjoy a bit more. It seems like the suspense and violence wasn't an issue for you, but the gritty way in which Sandford writes wasn't your cup of tea. I'd recommend Dark River Rising by Roger Johns or The Night Hunter by Caro Ramsey.
Comparing the NoveList pages for Well-Schooled in Murder and for John Sandford, I looked for differences, reasons why the patron might have disliked Sandford. His gritty writing style was probably unappealing to them, but the compelling and richly detailed appeal factors didn't seem to bother them, and neither did the violent and suspenseful tone.
From the page for Well-Schooled in Murder, I used the "Search for More" function to find additional titles that are in the mysteries and police procedurals genres with a suspenseful and violent tone and a compelling writing style. From the results page, I selected the "Advanced Search" option so that I could use the Boolean operator NOT to exclude any results with "gritty" as an appeal factor. I stayed away from works by the same author since the patron has probably already considered or possibly even read other works by Elizabeth George.
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5. My husband has really gotten into zombies lately. He’s already read The Walking Dead and World War Z, is there anything else you can recommend?
Absolutely! There are lots of zombie books out there in many formats. Do you know if he was looking for more graphic novels (like The Walking Dead) or more novels (like World War Z)? For graphic novels, I'd recommend The Rage series by Pierre Boisserie; the first volume is titled Zombie Generation. If he'd prefer a novel, he might like the Newsflesh series by Mira Grant; the first one is Feed. He might also like Omega Days by John L. Campbell.
From the NoveList pages for The Walking Dead series and World War Z, I selected the series read-alikes and title read-alikes options, respectively. Since the patron mentioned both graphic novels and novels in their inquiry, I included both in my suggestions.
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6. I love books that get turned into movies, especially literary ones. Can you recommend some? Nothing too old, maybe just those from the last 5 years or so.
Oh, definitely! Plenty of books have been turned into movies. Is there a particular genre you like? You might like The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook. Another option might be The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins or Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Also, Me before You by Jojo Moyes was a good one that left me in tears.
From the NoveList homepage, I selected the "Made into Movies: Fiction A-Z" list from the submenu "Fiction A-Z" of the Recommended Reads List sidebar. I then selected a few titles that seemed more "literary" and made sure their movies were released recently.
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7. I love thrillers but I hate foul language and sex scenes. I want something clean and fast paced.
No problem! You might like Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock or The Jerusalem Assassin by Joel C. Rosenberg. Also, keep an eye out for The Water Keeper by Charles Martin; it was published in May 2020, so it might still have a list of people waiting for it.
Since works with a Christian message generally are devoid of explicit language and sexuality, I chose the "Christian Thrillers" list from the submenu "Thrillers and Suspense" of the Recommended Reads List sidebar.
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When I first started working in libraries, I was thrown every time someone asked me for a reading suggestion. Partly, this came from the self-imposed pressure to find a title that perfectly matches 100% of the reader's preferences. Oh, and the clock is ticking, so find it fast!
While my heart rate still swings up just a little bit even now, I've developed tools to rely on to help me find a good read at a moment's notice. When a colleague introduced me to NoveList early in my career, my paradigm shifted completely, and I knew I had an ace up my sleeve. I also use GoodReads and a personal spreadsheet to track and group books I've enjoyed and might want to recommend in the future.
These workhorses typically bear the brunt of my reader's advisory work, but I have also used Amazon to help me classify works into genres or according to audience. Departing from Chelton's list* of reader's advisory tools, I've also relied somewhat on Provo City Library's booklists for genres I'm less familiar with, and on their book order database in determining what book comes next in a series.
As for my personal recommendations, I've been squirreling away recommendations since I began working in libraries, and I have no shortage of books I want to read. While I occasionally peruse trade journals for ideas, most of my recommendations come from colleagues who are excited to share their latest finds. I store my To Be Read list on GoodReads and on the spreadsheet mentioned above. In a way, I hope my TBR never runs dry; I hope there's always something I'm looking forward to reading.
Reference
Setting: Palm Springs, California, present day (with flashbacks to Oregon, 24 years ago, or approx. 1995).
Plot Summary: Ellie de Florent-Stinson's luxurious fortieth birthday bash is her opportunity to show off her seemingly perfect life to the social elite. But as invited and uninvited guests show up to the lavish party, the skeletons in her closet from her sixteenth birthday threaten to come to light and tear down the appearances she's so desperate to maintain.
Subject Headings: Birthdays, fashion designers, marital strife, memories, secrets.
Elements of Thrillers/Adrenaline: (From Wyatt & Saricks, 2019)
Rule of Three: (From Saricks, 2009)
Similar Works (Read-alikes):
Saricks, J. (2009). At leisure: The rule of three. Booklist, 106(3), 25.
Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). Adrenaline. In The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction (pp. 1-29).
You may know that I am in graduate school for Library Science. One of my courses this semester requires me to post book reviews and genre annotations to a blog, so that will likely be the majority of my posts on this blog between now and April 2021 or so. Just a heads up!
As a librarian, I can't count the number of times people have said something to the effect of: "It must be so nice to have a job where you can read books all day." Maybe that's because most people's experiences with libraries involve them reading books and studying. But it turns out, most librarians don't have much time to sit around reading books at work.
I wish I had more time to read, but I've been listening to audiobooks during my commute to work. It really makes the time pass by quickly, so that's something you might want to consider if it fits into your lifestyle.
I like books that are realistic fiction: set in modern-day, real-world settings, and book that focus on relationships between people. I like these books because I can relate to them. As such, there's a bonus factor if the story focuses on LGBTQ or racial minority characters; I don't always relate to everything that happens to straight, white people who get their happily ever after. That being said, it can also be nice to read books that expose me to different kinds of life. Perhaps it's dependent on my mood. Some examples of books that I've enjoyed from this category include A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord, The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty, and The Best Man by Richard Peck.
I also enjoy some forms of fantasy, particularly elemental magics. I'm not exactly sure why this genre of book appeals to me, but I like the idea of controlling the elements. I sometimes think that my college studies in chemistry were partially in an attempt to understand and, in a certain sense, control the elements of the physical universe. Some examples of book series that I've enjoyed from this category include The Black Witch Chronicles by Laurie Forest, Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce, and The Queens of Renthia by Sarah Beth Durst.
This semester I'll be reading books from differing genres, and I'm looking forward to learning more about them and maybe stumbling upon a new favorite. I'm also excited to refine my skills and learn how to describe a book to a patron "to let them know about elements in this book that may interest them" (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. xvi).
Reference
Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction.
If you need a few suggestions, here are twelve books I've read that you might like as well, organized into four categories: classics, best sellers, notable biographies, and top picks for kids.
When she first gazes the cold, bleak shores of Connecticut Colony, Kit Tyler knows that her new home will never be like the shimmering Caribbean island she left behind. In her relatives' stern Puritan community, the only place where Kit feels free is in the meadows, where she enjoys the company of the old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond (and on occasion, her young sailor friend Nat.) When Kit's friendship with the "witch" is discovered, Kit faces suspicion, fear, and anger as she herself is accused of witchcraft!
This book won the Newbery Medal of 1959, so it's been around the block. Despite being more than six decades old, the messages about xenophobia and mob mentality are still pertinent today for readers of all ages.
In early colonial Massachusetts, a young woman named Hester Prynne endures the consequences of her sin of adultery and spends the rest of her life in atonement. The novel shows the impact this act had on not only Hester but also her vengeful husband Roger Chillingworth and the tortured Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Hawthorne here explores humanity's unending struggle with sin, pride, and guilt.
Even older than Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond, the English of Hawthorne can be difficult at times to understand. However, this adds to the richness of the experience in reading it (and you can always double-check SparkNotes to make sure you didn't miss any crucial details.) Even if you hated it in high school, give it another chance; it's sure to fascinate.
Based on historical figures and real events, this play is set during the witch trials of 17th century Salem, Massachusetts. In a rigid religious society, rumors fly that women are practicing witchcraft; when a young girl accuses Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch, self-righteous church leaders and townspeople insist on bringing Elizabeth to trial. The ruthlessness of the prosecutors and the eagerness of neighbor to testify against neighbor illuminates the destructive power of socially sanctioned violence.
I realize that all three of these classics I chose are set in colonial America. I promise I didn't do it on purpose! If that isn't your cup of tea, keep reading for more suggestions.
In 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, there are lines that simply are not crossed. With the civil rights movement exploding all around them, three women start a movement of their own, forever changing a town and the way women--black and white, mothers and daughters--view one another. Some lines were meant to be crossed.
Portraying the racial injustices of the Southern United States, Stockett incorporates humor, beauty, and humanity into the story of Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minnie. This story has universal elements, applicable to every walk of life. This book is excellent for a book club, and it has a brilliant audiobook edition from Penguin Audio.
This work by the Queen of Mystery is the best-selling mystery book of all time. It wasn't until I started working in libraries that I learned that And Then There Were None is rather unlike the rest of Christie's works; her typical stories are cozy mysteries, where an amateur sleuth (like Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple) solves a crime that occurred off page. My first experience with this suspenseful thriller had me up reading late into the night.
While the RMS Titanic and RMS Lusitania are well-documented disasters, the largest loss of life in a single ship sinking is the little-known 1945 sinking of the MV Wilhelm Gustloff, a German cruise liner that was supposed to ferry wartime personnel and refugees to safety from the advancing Red Army. The ship was overcrowded with more than 10,500 passengers: the intended capacity was only about 1,800. Sepetys crafts four fictionalized but historically accurate voices to convey the real-life tragedy.
This one is definitely a gut-wrenching roller coaster. Sepetys makes this story very accessible: you don't have to be a history buff or even know very much about World War II to appreciate this tragic story. The lyrical writing is simple enough to be completely understood without seeming overly simplistic. A beautiful and haunting gem of a novel.
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States, she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and raising two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
Obama is a magnificent storyteller, taking readers on her journey from the South Side of Chicago through her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. She honestly and wittily describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private. A truly inspirational memoir.
This graphic novel recounts actor George Takei's childhood imprisoned within American concentration camps during World War II. At the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, every person of Japanese descent on the west coast was rounded up and shipped hundreds or thousands of miles to one of ten "relocation centers" in 1942, where they would be held under armed guard for years. They Called Us Enemy is Takei's first-hand account as a child who grew up behind barbed wire and faced legalized racism.
Like much of the public, I was unaware of Takei's story before Star Trek. It is eye-opening to see the injustices America committed against its own citizens, and to view it through a child's eyes makes it all the more heart-rending. This is a tough read, but absolutely necessary.
Born a slave in 1818 on a plantation in Maryland, Douglass taught himself to read and write. This book calmly but dramatically recounts the horrors and the accomplishments of his early years—the daily, casual brutality of the white masters; his painful efforts to educate himself; his decision to find freedom or die; and his harrowing but successful escape.
Douglass was a political activist and an eloquent spokesperson for the civil rights of African Americans. He lived through the Civil War, the end of slavery, and the beginning of segregation. He was celebrated internationally as the leading black intellectual of his day, and his story still resonates in ours.
Archer has four important role models in his life: his dad, his grandfather, his uncle Paul, and his favorite teacher, Mr. McLeod. When he's asked to serve as the best man at his uncle's wedding, Archer's sixth-grade year becomes one he'll never forget. As Archer contemplates the people in his life and the kind of person he wants to become, he helps his uncle become his best self as well.
This novel portrays real life through the eyes of a kid, which is refreshing and realistic. Through an honest look at various elements of life, Peck respectfully reveals the depths of these experiences for all individuals involved. He addresses hot-button issues like xenophobia and gay marriage from a matter-of-fact way that models how the world should be at a level that children can understand, free of political and social stigma.
When twelve-year-old June Harper's parents discover an "inappropriate" library book, they take strict parenting to a whole new level. Her school's library is gutted, and all books on the premises must have administrative approval. As the rules become stricter at school and at home, June banned book library in an abandoned locker at school. The risks grow alongside her library's popularity, and a movement begins that could destroy June's reputation or save the freedom to read.
Maybe I'm a little biased as a librarian, but I thought this book was amazing. It explores the topics of censorship, activism, and freedom of speech without becoming preachy. Varnes paints June as a likeable and relatable character who doesn't like making waves, though she grows into leading a movement. We read about June's inner turmoil, and we get a taste of catharsis mixed with realism at the ending. Great for any kid who doesn’t believe one person can effect change.
When Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning, she gained genius-level math skills and has been homeschooled ever since. Now, at 12 years old, she's technically ready for college. But Lucy's grandma insists on four prerequisites: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book. Lucy's not sure what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can possibly learn in 7th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where nobody can make fun of her rigid routines or her superpowered brain. The equation of Lucy's life has already been solved. Unless there's been a miscalculation?
This smart and thoughtful novel reminds us all to get out of our comfort zones and embrace what makes us different. The writing is approachable without being too simplistic, and the plot is engrossing, making this book a page-turner. The authentic characters ring true to life, and you know I'm always going to advocate for women in STEM.
If you're craving a book to read and none of these whet your whiskers, please let me know! I'm happy to recommend a title: it's literally my job. And for you, I'd do it for free. 😘
A set of 119 haiku for each of the elements of the periodic table, these creative and witty poems are paired with imaginative line drawing on each page. The accompanying notes on each page explain how every square on the table relates to everyday life, pulling from astronomy, biology, history, physics, and (of course) chemistry. These brief, structured poems present the wonders of the universe in a very accessible and light format as science and art combine beautifully.
With a background in chemistry, I loved this quick, fun read. But don't fret if you haven't studied science since high school: you'll find a bite-sized chunk of science and history on each page that doesn't come across as pedantic. A perfect book for reading aloud or just contemplating quietly while you relax, Elemental Haiku would make a great gift for the science nerd in your life.
*This blogpost first appeared on Provo City Library Staff Reviews blog.*
This post is the fifth installment of Diverse Reads, a
series that gathers books with diverse characters or authors: people who are
LGBTQIA+, Native, people of color, gender diverse, people with disabilities, or
ethnic, cultural, or religious minorities. I hope that these books help open a
window for you into other worldviews.
This novel follows twelve characters from Native communities: all travelling to the Big Oakland Powwow, and all of them connected in ways they may not yet realize. Their voices combine to tell the plight of the urban Native American, showing that indigenous peoples are not a monolith, not a stereotype, and not neatly gathered together under a single identity, showing an America that many have never seen before.
With most of the world drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, the Navajo Nation is reborn as Dinétah. When a small-town girl goes missing, a supernaturally gifted monster hunter joins forces with an unconventional medicine man to find her. The pair unravels clues from ancient legends, trades favors with tricksters, and battles against dark witchcraft in a world of deteriorating technology.
Set in rural Oklahoma in the late 1980s, this coming-of-age story features a fifteen-year-old Cherokee boy names Sequoyah. With his single mother in jail, Sequoyah enters foster care, scarred by his unstable upbringing and keeping his emotions deep below the surface. He connects with another Native foster child, and they bond over their common pasts. But the precariousness of their lives and the pain of the past threatens to tear them both apart.
This strident, brilliant collection of poetry boldly confronts the almost threatening language that the United States government has used in its responses, treaties, and apologies to Native American peoples and tribes. As a citizen of both the United States and the Oglala Sioux Tribe of Oglala Lakota Nation, Long Soldier discusses the predicament of dual citizenship within her national affiliations and the immense strain this places on everyday life.
On a South Dakota reservation, Virgil Wounded Horse delivers punishment when justice is denied by the American legal system or the tribal council. When heroin makes its way to the reservation and Virgil’s own family, his determination to put an end to it uncovers uncomfortable truths about money and power within the tribal council. Virgil must face his own demons and reclaim his Native identity, realizing the cost of being a Native American in the 21st century.
*A version of this blogpost first appeared on Provo City Library blog.*
Desperate for inspiration for her next book, a struggling author opens a chest of her great-grandfather's memorabilia from the RMS Lusitania. What she discovers could change history, and she begins her quest to answers in England. Her research ties her to two women aboard the Lusitania in 1915: a Southern belle who senses something amiss in her marriage and happens upon an old flame aboard the vessel, and a thief and forger who has come aboard to pull off one last heist. The three women find themselves entangled in a web of scandal and betrayal, and they each work to unravel mysteries that will ultimately change the course of their lives.
This intricately plotted story has a bit of everything -- romance, mystery, intrigue, action -- without feeling overcrowded or haphazard. Collaborations among three authors are admittedly somewhat unusual, but Team W manages to pull off another beautiful and riveting story after their joint effort on The Forgotten Room. Each author pens the chapters from one character's point of view, which makes for a strong sense of voice, and the audio format mirrors this structure: three performers for the three main characters. Readers craving more by the same trio of authors may also enjoy their newest release, All the Ways We Said Goodbye.
*This blogpost first appeared on Provo City Library Staff Reviews blog.*
There's more than one way to solve every problem. There's a right way, a wrong way, and a way that is so tremendously wrong that no one would ever attempt it. This book is guide to that third approach to many of life's basic tasks. The creator of the popular website xkcd.com and former NASA roboticist Randall Munroe provides outlandishly absurd solutions (grounded in real-life science and technology) to everyday obstacles; learn how to build a lava moat around your house (your HOA may not approve), how to cross a river by boiling it, and how to get to your appointments on time by destroying the Moon.
Like Munroe's previous book "What If?", "How to" invites readers to explore the furthest reaches of what is physically possible. The math can sometimes get a bit dense, but Munroe does a good job keeping the tone conversational and accessible for the nonexpert; for example, consider this quote:
Without shielding, spacecraft break up in the atmosphere. When large spacecraft enter the atmosphere without a heat shield, between 10 percent and 40 percent of their mass usually makes it to the surface, and the rest melts or evaporates. This is why heat shields are so popular.
Clever infographics and illustrations help the reader visualize the preposterous ideas that Munroe suggests, showcasing the science and technology that underlie our everyday routines; bear in mind that you'll miss out on these if you choose the audiobook over physical or eBook formats. Perfect for those familiar with the physical sciences and for those familiar with life on Earth (or Mars).
*This blogpost first appeared on Provo City Library Staff Reviews blog.*
The value of written language is immense in any culture. But
what if your culture doesn’t have a written system? In fact, about half of the
world’s languages have no written form today. Deaf culture uses sign languages
as their primary means of communication, but many members of Deaf culture don’t
know sign language.
No culture deserves to be neglected or underrepresented
because of its written form (or lack thereof). It is especially important for
children to learn about cultures different from their own, and to see their own
minority cultures reflected back at them in literature. Below is a list of
books that feature individuals from Deaf culture, with a focus on literature
for children.
This post is the fourth installment of Diverse Reads, a
series that gathers books with diverse characters or authors: people who are
LGBTQIA+, Native, people of color, gender diverse, people with disabilities, or
ethnic, cultural, or religious minorities. I hope that these books help open a
window for you into other worldviews.
Valencia finds herself thrown together with her classmates
on a summer day in this Newbery Medal-winning novel. Like many deaf and Hard of
Hearing kids, Valencia doesn’t know any sign language, and she wears hearing
aids that don’t work well with loud background noise. Her self-confidence and
perseverance give readers someone to root for.
At age two, Laura Bridgman lost her sight, hearing, smell, and taste. At the country’s first school for the blind, Bridgman paved the way for future generations of children with disabilities, making possible important advances in the way they would be educated long before the likes of Louis Braille and Helen Keller.
An amazing Deaf character named Iris lives in a world where her intelligence isn’t recognized in her home nor at her school. Her loneliness is reflected in her attempts to reach Blue 55, a whale who cannot communicate with its own kind. Iris and her Deaf grandmother communicate via sign language, which is especially rare in children’s literature.
The stories of two deaf children who were born 50 years
apart: Ben’s story is told in words, while Rose’s in pictures. This work is a
unique attempt to track the changes to Deaf culture in America through stunning
illustrations.
When her new baby sister is born deaf, Jilly makes an online connection with a fellow fantasy fan, who happens to be black and Deaf, and begins to learn about the many obstacles that exist in the world for people who are different from her.
*A version of this blogpost first appeared on Provo City Library blog.*