Review of Say More, by Jen Psaki

Audiobooks, Nonfiction Review, Starred Review, True Stories 0

Say More

Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World

by Jen Psaki
read by the Author

Simon & Schuster Audio, 2024. 5 hours, 55 minutes.
Review written September 23, 2024, from a library eaudiobook.
Starred Review

This book isn’t so much a tell-all as it is a self-help book on how to be a better communicator, peppered with super interesting anecdotes from the author’s years working in the halls of power.

Now, I didn’t read the book for the communication tips, fervently hoping that my days of public speaking are behind me, but I did still pick up some good tips for general communication, such as facing up to your mistakes sooner rather than later, and what to do when a communist dictator starts negative propaganda about you. (Okay, I definitely hope I’ll never need that tip.)

Still, reading this for the stories will definitely carry you through. There were lots of interesting glimpses into the characters of her particularly famous bosses John Kerry, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. But there were also heartwarming stories involving her husband and kids, as well as stories from her path to those high-profile jobs. The stories are entertaining and interesting, and you get plenty of examples as to why her communication principles will help you in every aspect of your life.

I like reading books by political figures that show me their heart for public service. Here’s one more example of a young woman doing her bit to do good things in the world – and the audiobook ended up being uplifting and inspiring.

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Our Divine Mischief, by Hanna C. Howard

Fantasy, Starred Review, Teen Fiction Review 0

Our Divine Mischief

by Hanna C. Howard

Blink, 2023. 371 pages.
Reviewed October 16, 2024, from a library book.
Starred Review

Here’s a sweet young adult fantasy with a touch of romance set on an island where every young person makes a trip to Yslet’s Island to meet the goddess and learn what apprenticeship they will get. Áila is almost eighteen, and it’s time for her to make her pilgrimage. But when she goes, the goddess is not there – instead she finds a dog, a dog named Orail.

The village elders don’t know how to respond when Áila has nothing to show for her trip to the island but a dog. So they have her live in isolation and prepare for five Ordeals. If she passes the Ordeals, she will be allowed to try again to voyage to Yslet’s isle. The only human she’s allowed to talk to is Hew, a young man who is considered Unblessed because Yslet gave him a blank pendant. His work cutting peat is so unimportant, he can be spared to run errands for Áila.

But while Áila is preparing for the Ordeals, it becomes obvious that Orail is no ordinary dog. She can grant wishes, especially Áila’s wishes. And Hew is observant enough to find out something is going on. Best of all, Orail’s thoughts are given to the reader in poetry form.

But there’s another man who’s interested in helping Áila, and he has the approval of the priests – a handsome visiting scribe and his sister. Is there a reason Orail doesn’t trust him? It’s probably just that he doesn’t like dogs.

As events start taking place that affect far more than their island, Áila and Hew face huge obstacles to try to make it right.

A big part of the charm of this book is the wonderful dog character, and the love between Orail and Áila. I won’t give anything away, but I also love what we learn at the end about those who are thought to be “Unblessed.” A feel-good story with a whole lot of charm.

hannachoward.com
BlinkYABooks.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Close Up & Far Out, by Mary Auld & Adria Meserve

Biography, Children's Nonfiction Review, Science, Starred Review 0

Close Up and Far Out

Seeing the World Differently

story by Mary Auld and Adria Meserve
illustrations by Adria Meserve

Creative Editions, 2024. 40 pages.
Review written September 30, 2024, from a book sent to me by the publisher.
Starred Review

This is a nonfiction picture book featuring Galileo Galilei, born in 1564, and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, born in 1632. What the two men had in common was they both revolutionized science by making lenses that revealed wonders people had never seen before. Galileo made telescopes that enabled people to view the wonders of the heavens, and Antonie made microscopes that showed people the wonders of bacteria.

I like the way the authors tell about the lives in parallel – first getting the idea, then making and perfecting the lenses, then discovering amazing things, then trying to convince others and being met with skepticism. Eventually, Galileo was brought to trial for his ideas, but Antonie gained scientific acceptance. Still, this line at the end points out a contrast:

Antonie died famous and is now almost forgotten; Galileo died in disgrace but is now one of those most famous scientists that ever lived. But both men have changed how we understand the world.

The book ends with lists of things that were discovered because of each man’s work, and then these words of wisdom:

Both Antonie and Galileo remind us to ask questions, to look close up and far out for the answers, to question what we find again and again – and to be brave enough to think differently.

This large and lovely book tells an interesting story, but also gives insight onto how scientific discovery can work.

thecreativecompany.us

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume 6, by Beth Brower

Fiction Review, Historical, Starred Review 0

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion

Volume 6

by Beth Brower

Rhydon Press, 2022. 235 pages.
Review written August 21, 2024, from my own copy, purchased via Amazon.com
Starred Review

I am so hooked on these books! I had made plans to try to pace myself, but when I finished this book, which ended on a dramatic note, I picked up the next book immediately to see how that situation resolved – only to learn they didn’t discuss it the very next day, as planned. I am going to go into withdrawal when I finish the seventh volume – the last one currently published. But then I’ll be able to binge as each new volume comes out.

So – because this is an ongoing series and you really should start at the beginning, I’ll try to tell what’s so much fun about this volume without giving away spoilers. Our heroine, Emma M. Lion comes of age (21) in Volume 6, so she now officially owns Lapis Lazuli House. But because of her nefarious cousin spending her money, she needs to find work. She tries a personal secretary position in this volume (January through February 1884) – with hilariously disastrous results, such as could only happen to Emma Lion.

She does continue the inspiring, enlightening, and cordial friendship with three very different gentlemen – and at last we get rumblings of romance where I had most expected it. Will this change things? That’s why I’m reading on. All three men are men of mystery, with fascinating revelations about each one slowly coming to light.

Meanwhile, her friend Pierce is expected to contribute more to the St. Crispian’s neighborhood, her friendship with Islington wins her some social points, Young Hawkes continues to materialize where he is most needed, her friend Mary is showing signs of falling in love, and she has interesting conversations with the artist Saffronia and even with Mrs. Penury, who never says a word. It’s all quirky and fun and I am definitely hooked.

bethbrower.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Noodles on a Bicycle, by Kyo Maclear & Gracey Zhang

Historical, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

Noodles on a Bicycle

written by Kyo Maclear
illustrated by Gracey Zhang

Random House Studio, 2024. 36 pages.
Review written October 4, 2024, from my own copy, sent to me by the publisher.
Starred Review

I was completely surprised how charmed I was by this picture book. Here’s the beginning:

When the deliverymen set off in the morning
we sit outside
and watch
and wait
for the flicker of pedal and wheel.

It turns out the deliverymen are delivering orders of sobaya noodles from the Old Sobaya shop downtown.

When the orders are ready,
the deliverymen arrive
and stack the ceramic soup bowls and wooden soba boxes.
One tray on top of another.
On top of another.

Then they take off.

We watch them balancing towers on their shoulders.
An arm holding things steady
as their bicycle tires bump, bounce, settle, swoosh.

The story and illustrations are all about these elaborate tall towers, balanced while riding a bike. It turns out that the deliverymen from the New Sobaya shop compete with those from the Old Sobaya shop to see who can make “the tallest and fanciest stack.” And the children themselves get in on the action, trying to pile up their own plates and bowls and ride a bike – with not so excellent results. (But all in good fun, and encouragement from the deliverymen.)

As the day wears on, the children wonder if the deliverymen get tired. Do they dream of noodles all night? And then where I am really charmed is that when the kids’ mother orders noodles from the Old Sobaya shop, the deliveryman who brings them is Papa.

The book finishes up warm and cozy, eating noodles, being tucked into bed, and the parents setting out the clean dishes for Papa as deliveryman to take away with him in the morning.

It’s all just so charming and lovely. What child wouldn’t like to read about a papa who balances towers of dishes while riding a bike? And the Author’s Note at the back tells us this is based on what she saw in her childhood summers in Tokyo and the actual deliverymen who biked on the streets there from the 1930s to the 1970s. A couple of old photographs on the endpapers confirm that the illustrator was, amazingly, not exaggerating. Just a lovely book.

kyomaclear.com
graceyzhang.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of There Is a Door in This Darkness, by Kristin Cashore

Paranormal, Starred Review, Teen Fiction Review 0

There Is a Door in This Darkness

by Kristin Cashore

Dutton Books, 2024. 372 pages.
Review written October 8, 2024, from a library book.
Starred Review

It was a bit surreal to read this book a month before the 2024 election with Donald Trump running against Kamala Harris, because the events of the book mainly take place in the week of the 2020 election with Joe Biden running against Donald Trump. And they flashback at times to the 2016 election, very much with the sense of “Not again!” So let’s just say that the “Not again!” feeling was heightened for me, reading it now.

And let me stop right there and say that there’s absolutely no effort made to present a politically “balanced” perspective in this book. The book mostly calls Trump “the monster,” but at one point, if I remember correctly, he’s called “the pouting pustule.” (There was another colorful one that I don’t remember and couldn’t find after the fact. Wish I’d marked them!) I personally enjoyed reading about characters whose perspective pretty much matches mine. But if you’re a Trump fan, read this book only if you want an alternate perspective, not presented gently. Hey, you’ve been warned.

Beyond that, this book had a lot of nuance and warmth, exploring grief and friendship during the pandemic.

The book takes place in Boston during the pandemic, before and after the 2020 presidential election, featuring Wilhelmina, who graduated from high school the past June and now is taking a year off to help out her family during the pandemic. Her two younger siblings need monitoring for online school, and two elderly aunts are staying with their family. Her father has asthma, so they’re strictly wearing masks and being careful about where they go, and Wilhelmina feels a little overwhelmed by so many people in their small apartment.

On top of that, her two best friends, Judy and Bee, get to do things together, because their families are in the same pandemic bubble so their younger siblings in the same grade can do school together. Wilhelmina feels left out, but feels guilty for feeling left out.

And on top of that, Wilhelmina is still deeply grieving her third and favorite aunt, Aunt Frankie, who died a couple years ago and left her lots of wisdom – plus a great big hole in her heart.

And then, after she’s driven Aunt Margaret to an eye appointment, strange things start happening. Like a message coming down from the sky. And an elevator opening to the wrong place. And more. And these strange things throw her together with a guy named James whose parents own the donut shop in the same building as Aunt Margaret’s eye doctor. He has strange things happen, too. Is it some kind of message? What are they supposed to do?

The story is told at a leisurely pace that at first made me impatient, but soon had me savoring it. There are alternating chapters with the present – during election week – and the past, especially time Wilhelmina had with her three aunts, spending most summers with them in Pennsylvania.

It’s all very lovely, mostly Wilhelmina dealing with Frankie’s death, but with more themes woven in, including finding hope and seeing good even in people who voted for the monster.

The romance is gently and beautifully done. Not only is there no sex in this teen romance, but since it’s during the pandemic, there’s no kissing, either.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that Wilhelmina has a condition that causes her a lot of pain in moving her body. So that’s one more thing she’s dealing with.

Here’s how the book begins:

Frankie used to make the world shine, or at least that’s how Wilhelmina Hart remembered it.

This book is about how Wilhelmina learns to shine.

kristincashore.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Impossible Creatures, by Katherine Rundell

Children's Fiction Review, Fantasy, Starred Review 0

Impossible Creatures

by Katherine Rundell
read by Samuel West

Listening Library, 2024. (Print edition first published in the United Kingdom in 2023.) 8 hours, 55 minutes.
Review written October 7, 2024, from a library eaudiobook (referencing an advance reader copy).
Starred Review

I’m not sure how this book got all the buzz, but it turns out I didn’t order nearly enough print copies or ebook copies or eaudiobook copies for the library. Perhaps because it was first published in the UK, people knew how good it is? I even had an Advance Reader Copy I’d been meaning to read, but didn’t get to it before I needed to start reading Young Adult Speculative Fiction for the Cybils Awards, so I got in the queue to listen to the Audiobook version.

This book completely deserves all the hype! It’s one I plan to read again some day in the finished print form – probably buy myself a copy – because it’s illustrated, including a map and an illustrated bestiary at the back. The advance reader copy has some finished illustrations, but mostly sketches that show what will go there. (The book has Art by Ashley Mackenzie.) However, the audiobook is delightful, and Samuel West has the wonderful voice of someone reading you a fairy tale – which completely fits this epic quest.

I pulled out the Advance Reader Copy to write this review so that I could quote you the incredible beginning. (Wasn’t sure I’d get it exactly right without referring to it.) Then as I reread, the whole first chapter, called “The Beginning,” is perfect:

It was a very fine day, until something tried to eat him.

It was a black doglike creature, but it was not like any dog he had ever seen. It had teeth as long as his arm and claws that could tear apart an oak tree.

It says, therefore, a great deal in Christopher Forrester’s favor that he refused — with speed and cunning and courage — to be eaten.

The second chapter, called “The Beginning, Elsewhere,” begins like this:

It was a very fine day, until somebody tried to kill her.

Mal had returned home from her journey, flying back from the forest with arms outstretched and coat flapping, buffeted by the wind.

After the opening chapters, the book backtracks from that very fine day to give us some background on Christopher and Mal. Christopher lives an ordinary life – except that animals flock to him and want to get close to him.

Mal does not live an ordinary life, having learned to fly by using a coat given to her by the seer who named her. And she lives somewhere where that doesn’t surprise her neighbors, with her great-aunt who has so many rules, Mal can’t possibly keep them all.

Then on the fateful day referred to at the beginning, their worlds come together. Christopher has learned from his grandfather that he is inheriting the guardianship of a magical place, called the Archipelago, hidden from our world and full of magical creatures. But the magical tree at the heart of the Archipelago is failing and animals are dying. Griffins are believed to be extinct.

And then a baby griffin comes through the lake on the mountain by his grandfather’s house, followed by a giant black dog with flaming ears. But a girl comes through the lake after the dog and shows him how to extinguish the ears and kill the beast. The griffin is hers (It’s Mal!) and she tells Christopher that someone tried to kill her and she needs help. So she leads Christopher back through the door that has opened in the lake to the Archipelago.

And so begins an epic quest, a quest to heal the tree, the source of magic. And both Christopher and Mal have crucial parts to play.

I usually don’t like stories that lead the characters from one thing to another, taking detours all along the way. But I think since this one was all in service of the goal to help heal the magic, it didn’t bother me. First they want to get to the sphinxes to find out what to do. No, I take that back – first, they try to tell the authorities in the Azurial Senate about the problem and get them to fix it. There’s a comical scene when they are spurned for being children. But a scholar who has detailed information about the problem is also spurned. Both they and this woman are going to be arrested and imprisoned for disrupting the court – when someone comes to their rescue, and they end up joining forces with the scholar and their rescuer. Then they go to the sphinxes, because if the human leaders don’t know, the sphinxes are the wisest ones who may be able to help.

Getting to the sphinxes is an adventure in itself, and that leads them to the next adventure, which leads them to the next adventure, and so on until it’s finally Christopher and Mal trying to heal the magical tree.

And the whole story is epic and wonderful and magical and full of wonderful people and danger and beauty and peril.

My only sadness is that this book was first published in the UK, so it’s not eligible for the Newbery Medal.

And I was delighted just now when I pulled out the Advance Reader Copy to notice “Book One” on the spine! That settles it – by the time Book Two comes out, I’m buying myself finished copies of both books and rereading this one in print for the joy of it. It’s that good.

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of In God’s Holy Light, by Joan Chittister

Christian, Nonfiction Review, Starred Review 0

In God’s Holy Light

Wisdom from the Desert Monastics

by Joan Chittister

Franciscan Media, 2015. 134 pages.
Review written August 27, 2024, from a library book.
Starred Review

I don’t remember what prompted me to check this book out, but I was happy I did. The chapters are short, and perfect for a quick read over breakfast to give you something to think about during the day.

In each chapter the author, herself a Benedictine Sister, begins with a short segment from the writings of the Desert Monastics, “thousands of monks and nuns who went into the Egyptian wastelands in the third to sixth centuries.” The writings usually take the form of little stories or conversations, and they usually have something a little bit surprising.

Here’s one example from Chapter Three:

Some old men came to see Abba Poemon, and said to him: “Tell us, when we see brothers dozing during the sacred office, should we pinch them so they will stay awake?” The old man said to them: “Actually, if I saw a brother sleeping, I would put his head on my knees and let him rest.”

After that, she gives us a few short pages of reflections on the passage. In this chapter, that includes thoughts on pious practices and the spiritual life.

With this story, legalism and false asceticism pale in the light of greater virtue. What Abba Poeman calls for here is the godliness of mercy and compassion and forgiveness: the very holiness that pious practices are meant to sow in us and that rigidity for its own sake can never substitute. Nor does our failure to be unwaveringly faithful to the practice of them count against the value of those whose hearts are right even when their knees are weak….

In the spiritual life, we are meant to prod our souls to regular discipline so that in doing so our hearts will be softened to serve those whom Jesus served. The gentle Jesus wants clean hearts from us, not sacrifice; deep down basic commitment, not simply blue ribbons for winning the spiritual marathons we’ve run to make ourselves feel holy.

There are thirty-five chapters in this book, and that’s the kind of challenging yet encouraging thinking you’ll find in these pages. Recommended for anyone who wants to give thought to what it means to live a spiritual life.

joanchittister.org

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Ash’s Cabin, by Jen Wang

Contemporary, Graphic Novel, Starred Review, Teen Fiction Review 0

Ash’s Cabin

by Jen Wang

First Second, 2024. 320 pages.
Review written October 8, 2024, from a library book.
Starred Review

This is a gorgeous and thoughtful graphic novel about a nonbinary teen named Ash who doesn’t feel like their family gets them. They often use Ash’s former name (shown with a black bar over it in the speech bubble) and use the pronoun “her” to talk about them. Ash thinks about the environment and climate change more than the people around them. They still miss their Grandpa Edwin, who died a couple of years ago. Fortunately, Ash still has Chase, the dog Grandpa Edwin gave them.

Chase is my familiar. We don’t go anywhere without each other. He knows me better than anyone else in the universe.

Ash’s family used to go to Grandpa Edwin’s ranch every summer – now owned by Ash’s uncle and aunt. Grandpa Edwin had a hidden cabin somewhere in the nearby wilderness area where he’d go when he needed to get away from people. But he never told anyone where it is.

When Ash hears their parents planning to go to Disneyworld next summer instead of the ranch, they make it very clear they want no part of that. After some negotiation, the family makes plans to take Ash to the ranch, staying with their older cousin there, to say good-by before it gets sold.

What Ash’s parents don’t know is that Ash is planning to sneak away, find Grandpa Edwin’s cabin, and stay there, with only Chase for company.

And Ash’s plan works surprisingly well. They have a few months to go through Grandpa Edwin’s journals to pinpoint the location of the cabin, and look at wilderness survival sites to figure out what supplies they’ll need and what skills they need to learn. When they get to the ranch, Ash’s cousin actually has a secret trip first – asking Ash not to tell that she’s going to spend the weekend away with friends. Ash schedules emails to their parents, and sets off into the wilderness with Chase to find the cabin.

And yes! They find the cabin and live in the wilderness for weeks. The book shows realistic setbacks as well as unexpected help. And we can see Ash learning and growing during the experience.

I squelched all my feelings about how badly I’d freak out if my kid did this and was actually impressed with all the skills Ash had learned – of course with some things they hadn’t planned for, too.

This graphic novel is a treasure, telling about a teen who discovers how strong they truly are.

jenwang.net
firstsecondbooks.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Pizza Face, by Rex Ogle & Dave Valeza

Biography, Children's Nonfiction Review, Graphic Memoir, Starred Review 0

Pizza Face

by Rex Ogle & Dave Valeza

Graphix, 2024. 222 pages.
Review written October 3, 2024, from a library book.
Starred Review

I continue to maintain that graphic novels are the absolutely perfect format for middle school memoirs – the perfect way to express the angst we all went through.

In this follow up to Four Eyes, the morning Rex starts seventh grade, a giant pimple erupts in the center of his forehead – the first of many. So yeah, this is a graphic novel about a boy beginning to go through puberty, and feeling behind everyone else – he was only twelve in seventh grade, but his friends were all thirteen or turning thirteen. So he was the smallest, had the least hair, and had the highest voice.

And then come the bullies, the misunderstandings with friends, the saying something to try to be cool that hurts a friend’s feelings – and we’ve got a classic story of middle school angst.

There’s plenty of nuance going on here, such as becoming friends with the biggest kid in seventh grade, who starts out pushing Rex around, but ends up confessing he feels out of place, too. And gaining some insight about another bully when they’re both on in-school suspension.

This story captures the despair and hope of middle school, and does it with humor and compassion.

rexogle.com

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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