Turning the page...

     Hello, Readers!  

    I write this post with a slightly heavy heart, as many of you have been following me here for a long time (and I appreciate you!). But it's time for me to turn the page on my blogging...to pass the leash to another, younger furry friend who is also a lover of books and reading and kids. I am getting a bit older, and my eyesight isn't what it used to be, and my reading has slowed down (as has my writing). I'll always be reading something, of course (that won't change), but it's time to pass the book stacks and keyboard to someone younger, faster, and with better eyesight. 

    Thank you for keeping me in good book company over the past many years, and please keep checking this blog for new reading ideas! Feel free to say hello to me anytime in a "comment" - I'll be reading the blog, too! But I'm handing off the Dog with a Blog role to some of my reading friends. It's been a "treat"!!

    💖Violet

Miles Morales: Spider Man the Graphic Novel, by Brian Michael Bendis (author) & Sara Pichelli (illustrator)

     Chapter 2 of my journey into Miles Morales, this is the graphic novel version of the same character written about in my last blog (the chapter book by Jason Reynolds). We have this in the library, and I happened upon it just as I was finishing the Reynolds version. Full disclosure; I don't read a lot of graphic novels, for no particular reason (and to be honest, when I do read them I usually really enjoy them!). So I was a little hesitant to read this, but my expert-teacher friend had read this and wanted to know what I thought of it, as well as the comparison to the Reynolds chapter book.

    I was skeptical at first...but I have to admit, I liked this version better than the chapter book! For one, I am in awe of illustrators like Pichelli who can bring a story to life so colorfully and vividly, panel after panel after panel...what talent! But the story, which was helped along by my reading the chapter book already, was better told - or perhaps, told more completely - than I thought the chapter book was. Reynolds's version explained Miles's friend, Ganke, better than the graphic novel. But the other details were better laid out in the graphic novel, in my not-so-humble pug opinion!

    Apparently there are 26 books in the graphic novel version of Miles Morales, and I may "swing" into the second one sometime this year. If you like graphic novels, you will probably like this! If you enjoy super hero comics, you probably know this one already...but if not, 4 paws and a wag!

Miles Morales: Spider Man, by Jason Reynolds

     This is the chapter book version of the comic book hero, Miles Morales. Reynolds is an incredible writer and storyteller, and one of my favorites! There are a few authors that I watch for to write new books, and then I rush out to read them like they were a bag of treats! Anyway, I am not really knowledgeable about super heroes outside of knowing names of the some of the most popular ones. So I learned, after starting the Reynolds book, that Miles Morales is a sort of alternative telling of the Spider Man story, or maybe more a continuation of the first Spider Man character...but I liked it! Not yet familiar with the storyline (from the comic books), I didn't know anything about Miles or where this story was coming from or heading...but that's okay, right? It added to the adventure of the story!

    All that said, Reynolds created a chapter book (now there is a follow-up as well that I have not read yet) of the Miles Morales story. For someone as gifted as Reynolds at telling a story, I was a little shocked a few times at how clunky the story got. When I realized (with the help of a Miles Morales fan at school) that Reynolds was trying to extend the comic book version of the story, the occasional clunk made more sense. That said, I didn't find this book quite as strong as most of his other books (Ghost being one of my favorites!). Still better than a lot of chapter books out there because Reynolds really IS that good! But not his strongest work. I appreciate that he introduced me to a new, more current version of a super hero, so kudos to him for that! I may read the second one when I happen upon it...but the next entry in my blog will explain that better! 4 paws.

Summer of the Mariposas, by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

     Author McCall creates a wonderful fantasy-laced tale about five sisters who happen upon a dead man floating in a swimming hole by their house in Texas. With much conflict between the girls, they decide to do the right thing and return the body to the family in Mexico. In doing so, they end up as missing children, being hunted by the FBI, interacting with La Llorona via a magical earring, searching for their long-lost grandmother, being attacked by vicious barn owls and a chupacabras...all the while being seemingly watched over by beautiful butterflys.

    Summer of the Mariposas is a fantasy fiction that weaves Mexican folklore with modern realities of being Mexican American in today's world. The situations that lead the sisters to repeatedly seek assistance from  - and be challenged by - fantastical creatures and beings are real, which makes this a nice blend of reality and fantasy. McCall is also the author of the award-winning book Under the Mesquite, which I have yet to read. Knowing it has won awards means it is above-average, and if I saw it at the library I would definitely give it a try.

    Mariposas is a good story, and a few years old, but the 8th graders were reading it here at school, so I thought I should read it, too!  At times it was a little prescriptive, meaning the story followed in a too-obvious pattern, or the conversations between characters was a little too stiff. But as a wonderful weaving of Mexican culture and real life events and situations, it was a good read! 3 paws and a wag! It reminded me of other good Latinx writers, like Alexandra Diaz, who are helping to shed light on the experiences of Latinx people, especially children. A good book!

 

Freewater, by Amina Luqman-Dawson

     I apologize for having such a long lapse between my last post and this one...the school year ended, summer started, and all of the sudden it's mid-July! I know I live in dog years, but sheesh! This summer has gone by fast so far!

    A good way to stay cool during these really hot summer days is to curl up with a good book! Freewater is the first book by author Luqman-Dawson, and the winner of the most recent Newbery Award. Not a bad way to start a writing career, right? This is a fictionalized story of the escaped slaves who established "colonies" in the swamps of the American south during our nation's ugly slave history. In particular, two young people escape from their plantation and end up in one such community. As someone who has done a lot of reading of Black history in the U.S., I was shocked that I had never heard about these communities before, but thankful that this book was written, and that young adult and teen lit is growing so rapidly...I learn a lot from books (and you can, too!)!

    That said, there were a few mildly confusing parts in the story, but not too many to take away from the overall story line. I liked the book, and love what it taught me about our history. For that, I give it 4 paws!

    If you like Black history, American history, or just history in general, this is an above-average read! Try it, and be sure to comment and let me know what you thought of the story!

The Sun Does Shine, by Anthony Ray Hinton

     The long title of this book is The Sun Does Shine: An Innocent Man, A Wrongful Conviction, And The Long Path To Justice. This non-fiction book tells the story of Author Ray Hinton, a Black man wrongly accused of murder in Alabama some 30 years ago. Throughout the course of his story we see how racism and the United States "justice" system is able to work together to put people behind bars - even send them to death row - regardless of the facts presented (and not presented), and the holes in a criminal case.

    Hinton's story is difficult to read. How can we, as readers, understand the reality of being in prison, as days turn into weeks turn into months turn into years. I don't think we can fully comprehend what that would be like. Add to that struggle the knowledge of being innocent, as it was finally proven that Hinton was, after more than half his lifetime spent on death row. Death Row prisoners are in prison knowing that at some point the judicial system will put them to death. Hinton's "crime" was being a Black man in Alabama when a murder occurred, and the police needed to find someone to blame. 

    The book starts off slowly, full of moments when Hinton talks about being innocent and putting his faith in God, but for a while these confessions fall a little short because, as a reader, we of course know that many people who have done something wrong will claim to be innocent. Anyone facing death would likely claim not to have done it, whatever "it" was, right? So it takes some time, as details of the case unfold, for us as readers to start to fully believe Hinton. Once he convinces us, we are locked into this story, and it is a long, difficult read.

    Mush like Steve Sheinkin's Port Chicago 50, The Sun Does Shine is a true story that spotlights the holes in our nation's justice system, and how far we still have to go to see all people as equal and worthy, no matter the color of their skin. 5 paws.

Shatter Me, by Tahere Mafi

     Shatter Me is the first book in the Shatter Me series by author Mafi. This begins a dark, dystopian series where main character Juliette is locked in some sort of solitary confinement prison for reasons we, as readers, don't yet know. A lot of her thoughts are crossed out in the book, where we can still read them but to show she is battling to block out unwanted, negative thoughts in her mind and only focus on helpful thoughts. This gives her an even more unsettled "appearance". When a new person is thrown into her cell with her - a young man, no less - she is certain this person has been put into her cell to hurt her. Turns out she is wrong...

    This book and the series get great reviews across the board, so if dark, dystopian stories really excite you, give this a try! My human passed this along to an 8th grade reluctant reader not long ago and she claimed this as "the best book I have EVER read!". Myself, I didn't love this book...it was far too angsty, even for an old, angsty pug like me. But I can see how it would appeal to many middle school-aged readers, and even into high school. Check out a few other reviews, or better yet, give it a few dozen pages and see if it grabs your attention. It likely will, and if it doesn't, know you are still in good reading company with your favorite reading pug! 3 paws.

The Dreamer, by Pam Munoz Ryan

     If you don't know author Pam Munoz Ryan yet, for such wonderful stories as Esperanza Rising and Becoming Naomi Leon, please put either of these books on your reading list! She tells a great story, better than most, and The Dreamer does not disappoint. Be forewarned that The Dreamer is a rhythmic, slower-paced story, not a swashbuckling adventure tale. But if you take the time to allow Ryan to captivate you with the the pace of this tale, you will be rewarded with a tale of nature, strength, and the love of words.

    The Dreamer is the story of young Neftali, growing up in Chile with his two siblings, stepmom, and father, who is as close to a bully as any character I've read. Neftali loves nature, he is adventurous and curious, and finds joy in almost everything. He has a fantastic imagination and is destined to become a famous writer or poet someday. In fact, Neftali does grow up - to be famous poet Pablo Neruda. Ryan tells the tale of one of the world's most-read poets, and interweaves Naruda's poetry throughout the story. Through the story of his childhood, Ryan shows how he blends his curious nature and love for words with the strength he finds to follow his dreams, in spite of his father's strong wishes to the contrary.

    This books is in a category all by itself as far as it's pace and depth. The closest author I can think of who is anything like Ryan might be Margarita Engle, whose books also capture the beauty and complexity of words like few others. Treat yourself to The Dreamer, in a nice quiet space where you can really sink into what Ryan is offering. You won't be disappointed! 4 paws!

Doomed: Sacco, Vanzetti & the End of the American Dream, by John Florio and Ouisie Shapiro

     In the 1920s, the United States was gripped by fear - a fear of people who might not love America and everything it did and stood for. This was not the first time our country has experienced these fears, nor was it the last. In the book Doomed, authors Florio and Shapiro tell the story of two Italian immigrants who were living in the U.S., Sacco with his wife and daughter, Vanzetti on his own, in the early 1900s when a robbery occurred that resulted in two men being shot and killed. In a race to find someone - anyone - responsible for this crime, Sacco and Vanzetti were charged, although neither was at the scene of the crime at the time it occurred. They were charged because they were Italian immigrants, and because their political views did not match those of many White Americans. Sacco and Vanzetti were anarchists, which meant in some part that they were against the war that the U.S. was involved in (World War 1). Because they chose to leave the country for Mexico for a period of time, rather than be drafted to fight in a war they did not believe in, they were charged with murder, tried and convicted. Sentenced to death.

    Their story was circulated around the world, and many people spoke out in their defense and in favor of a fair re-trial. But in the spirit of the times in the U.S., there was not room for reason or justice. The system wanted someone to pay for the crimes, and these two men just happened to be who was chosen.

    This book tells an important story in our country's history, but isn't written as well as a book by, say, author Steve Sheinkin (my favorite non-fiction writer to date). Yet it's a story worth knowing. If you enjoy history, especially United States history, World War 1 or the early 1900s in the U.S., this book may appeal to you. I have studied U.S. history a lot, and knew of these two men, although this book helped me better understand their complete story better. But as a stand alone, I'm not sure it will appeal to most of you. So, read it if 1900s U.S. history is an interest to you. If it isn't, I don't think this book will hold your interest for long. 3 paws.

Ghostlight, by Kenneth Oppel

     If you like ghosts - good ghosts, bad ghosts, scary ghosts, helpful ghosts - you will love the newest book by veteran storyteller Kenneth Oppel. Ghostlight tells the story of Rebecca Strand, who was 16 when she saw her father kill a ghost for the first time. Flash forward nearly two hundred years to Gabe, a teen who gives lighthouse tours as part of his job at the local carnival. Gabe's tour includes stories of ghosts inhabiting the lighthouse, although he doesn't really believe the stories - until he meets Rebecca!

    What follows is a fairly fun adventure as Gabe and two of his best friends try to help Rebecca "recover" her father from the Darth Vader of all ghosts, Viker. Along the way Gabe struggles with the loss of his own father, as well as making choices that will shape who he is as he grows up. And of course what would a good ghost story be without a hint of romance, even if one of the two people involved is a ghost!

    A little bit Goosebumps, a little bit Percy Jackson, Ghostlight will definitely entertain you if you are a fan of either of these two series. It is a fast-moving, ghostly fun romp through the city of Toronto, with plenty of scary ghosts (sometimes almost too scary) to keep you on your toes. 4 paws!