tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107963122024-03-12T22:02:54.244-07:00Rose-colored GlassesFrom NJ to AZ, from techbrarian to ioradical tutorial builder, and from living with my spouse to living with my spouse and my parents and a black poodle named MortyPseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-50046776211859642342021-01-12T16:52:00.001-07:002021-01-12T16:52:52.072-07:00Book Review: Darling<br /><br />Darling<br />by K. Ancrum<br />Pub Date: 22 Jun 2021 <div><br /></div><div>I'm glad I stuck with it because I ended up really liking it, but it was an early struggle to get there. I loved the modernization of the story and was intrigued by some of the new characterization (hint: Shadow). Because of the nature of the story, however, I do think it is better for the 13 and up, i.e., it's not a children's story. Without spoiling the story, the fact that Peter doesn't want to grow up takes on a new perspective in this modernized version.</div><div><br /></div><div>The author supported the characterization of the characters' intelligence quite well with direct references to artists that "painted" the settings with their allusions. On the other hand, it's setting is Chicago, and some references would only be known by someone from that area.</div><div><br /></div><div>In spite of the dark nature of this retold tale, there was a positive, empowering message also portrayed: choice. The reason I said I was glad I stuck with it was the backstory; the author exposed the backstory toward the end, and it was truly engaging.</div><div><br /></div><div>⭐⭐⭐⭐ </div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-75446421736806612412020-12-24T08:57:00.000-07:002020-12-24T08:57:36.713-07:00Book Review: Room Service<br />Book Review: <i>Room Service</i><br />by Maren Stoffels<br />Pub Date: 29 Jun 2021<div>read courtesy of http://www.netgalley.com</div><div><br /></div><div>Room Service is written by Maren Stoffels but translated by Laura Watkinson. I would have liked to have read the original because I somehow feel that the translation caused the sentence structures to be a bit basic; although, I do not think any of the action or suspense suffered as a result of the translation.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you can get past the fact that this is <i>yet another</i> book where the teens think that they are smarter than the adults, then you'll enjoy this more than I did. The teens are surrounded by adults who are either clueless or kept in the dark by the teens. Both conditions create the need for the suspension of disbelief: the reader has to accept that a dangerous, threatening stalker is <i>not</i> something in which to involve any authority figures.</div><div><br /></div><div>Beyond that, I <i>did</i> enjoy the suspense and the twist. The author cleverly allowed one character's frequent insistence that he didn't want to be involved in the shenanigans to become a part of the plot. The author also played on the characters' interactions during the story and prior interactions at school to create the necessary relationship tangles that augmented the plot. And I was genuinely, pleasantly surprised by the plot twist.</div><div><br /></div><div>That the story can only exist because the adults are idiots, however, is the thing keeping me from rating this book higher than ⭐⭐⭐. Some really crafty insights come through the characters during their plight, but the persistence of invisible adults dampened my overall enjoyment.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-45461834778661099022020-12-20T13:31:00.000-07:002020-12-20T13:31:01.655-07:00Book Review: A Night Twice as Long<br />Book Review: A Night Twice as Long<br />by Andrew Simonet<br />Pub Date: 01 Jun 2021<div>read courtesy of http://netgalley.com</div><div><br /></div><div>Andrew Simonet represented what it is like to live with a sibling who has autism in a genuinely authentic way. We learn much about the main character, Alex, through her interactions with and thoughts about her non-verbal brother, Georgie, in comparison with how the people around her respond to him. It make her both a likable character and a character with depth. Through Alex we get the perspective of the "Normies," people without disabilities who are strange in their own ways, and of the progression of an autistic child as he grows up and figures out how to "impose his will." </div><div><br /></div><div>But that's only part of the story... Alex and her neighbor/best friend/boyfriend, Anthony, and from what they can tell, the entire United States, are in an electrical blackout from an unknown origin. They don't know how long it will last, either. Anthony's mother is in the military, and he hasn't seen her in a while, so when he gets word that someone actually has a working telephone, he jumps at the chance to try to connect with his mom. But without transportation (gas pumps don't work), he'll have to walk to another town to find the person with the phone. He cajoles Alex into taking the trek with him, and what they encounter on their journey makes for great reading. </div><div><br /></div><div>Complicating their journey beyond transportation is the fact that Alex's mother told her she couldn't go (she does anyway), and Alex is white, while Anthony is black. On top of that, Alex decided to chop off all of her hair and is often mistaken for a boy.</div><div><br /></div><div>The author provides vivid descriptions that help the reader picture what's going on; my favorite was a descriptively interesting way of describing hair at one point. Simonet also gives great onomatopoeia. </div><div><br /></div><div>⭐⭐⭐⭐</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-53799469521497609082020-12-08T17:32:00.001-07:002020-12-08T17:32:43.415-07:00Book Review: Things I Learned from Falling<p>Things I Learned from Falling</p><p>by Claire Nelson</p><p>Pub Date: 25 May 2021 </p><p>read courtesy of http://netgalley.com</p><p><br /></p><p>I love biographies. I really love well-written autobiographies. This is well-written, which is expected from someone who works as a writer in the field of journalism. Nelson's personal strength jumps off the page in stark contrast to the self-doubts so many of us feel, including Nelson. To confront face-to-face the "impostor syndrome" in such an extreme situation provides the lucky readers with an innocuous way to encounter their own feelings with having to drink their own urine. </p><p>There was only one section, midway through the story, that felt heavy and arduous to push through. The congruity is that this section described the depression that precipitated Nelson's self-exploration and eventual trek to the desert.</p><p>The part I personally related to the most was the thing that Nelson repeatedly said was the thing that made her the happiest, that was what she fought to live for - talking nonsense with friends. I cherish that, too, and can see why that was the thing worth holding onto hope for. It embodies belonging.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-20562014356914041102020-12-01T16:03:00.002-07:002020-12-08T17:28:54.015-07:00Book Review: Violet & Daisy<p>Violet & Daisy</p><p>by Sarah Miller</p><p>Pub Date: 27 Apr 2021 </p><p>Read courtesy of http:///www.netgalley.com</p><p><br /></p><p>I think Sarah Miller was successful in telling the story of Violet and Daisy Hilton because she got me to go to Amazon Prime and rent the movie "Freaks." I was interested in how Miller described Violet's and Daisy's participation and reaction to it and had to experience it for myself.</p><p>Miller made me interested in the Hilton sisters' world: their environment, their thoughts, their society. I felt like I was being told the truth about the psychology and sociology of the people and the times. </p><p>The exact thing that I appreciated about Miller's honesty with the facts is also the thing Miller could have achieved more honestly. Though she continuously announced the problems with the data and accounts that she used were subject to memory flaws and gaps in documentation, she also used the sensationalist prose like click bait. She pulled readers in by telling them the suppositions and misrepresentations and <i style="font-weight: bold;">then </i>revealed that some or all of what she just told you isn't true. If this is truly aimed at a young adult audience, then Miller's prose should help modern readers understand the sources of what they are about to read not provide what is titillating just to shoot it down.</p><p>rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-84129683338182307132020-11-28T13:06:00.000-07:002020-11-28T13:06:15.654-07:00Book review: Because He's Jeff Goldblum<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Book Review:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Because He's Jeff Goldblum</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">by Travis M. Andrews</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Pub Date: 04 May 2021</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read courtesy of <a href="http://netgalley.com">http://netgalley.com</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Jeff Goldblum is a nice guy. Jeff Goldblum is a nice guy. Jeff Goldblum is a nice guy. There, I've saved you the time from reading this book. Although.... the author did get me to watch a Jeff Goldblum movie of which I wasn't aware: 2008's "Adam Resurrected." The author did what he could with what he had to work with, which in essence is a self-proclaimed unauthorized biography of a really nice guy.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-32825377562613706462020-11-28T13:05:00.000-07:002020-11-28T13:05:24.855-07:00Book Review: Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance<p>Book review:</p><p>Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance</p><p>by Nikki Grimes</p><p>Pub Date: 05 Jan 2021 </p><p>Read Courtesy of <a href="http://netgalley.com">http://netgalley.com</a></p><p>As an intriguing exercise in poetry, this volume hits the mark. I can't wait to show it to the teacher in my school who teaches poetry and runs the poetry club. Nikki's use of the "Golden Shovel" technique of writing poems using words from others' poems is something that will feel very accessible to our high school students. That being said, Nikki described the Golden Shovel technique as using each word chosen from one line of another's poem as the last word in a line of original poetry; it doesn't look like Nikki followed her own definition -- although it could be that by reading the book on a Kindle, I couldn't properly see the line breaks.</p><p>Regardless, introducing or reintroducing the poems of these women from the Harlem Renaissance is worth the publication in itself. Add Nikki's additions, and we benefit from time and perspective, culture and experience. </p><p>My intention of providing the next part of my review in a somewhat interpretive way is not to sway your own opinions of the poetry itself, but instead to provide the way I interpreted the collection as a teaching tool as much as a book of poetry. My favorite poem was Alice Dunbar-Nelson's "I Sit and Sew." It feels very "of a time." Nikki's corresponding poem, "Room for Dreams," makes for an interesting comparison of the culture of a time. I felt the same parallel of a universal theme moving across time with Clarissa Scott Delany's "Joy" and Nikki's Leah's "Reunion." On the other hand, I perceived the pairing of Gertrude Parthenia McBrown's "Jehovah's Gesture" as an opposite to Nikki's "Judgment." Nikki even says in the introduction that her challenge was to make sense of and not just be derivative of the original poet's words. There are a few poem pairs that are a bit too similar, but is that really a problem? A shared experience doesn't lessen the experience for any individual. Plus, it's as interesting to see the similarities of culture in spite of the passing of time as it is to experience the opposites that arise from the same words used in different ways.</p><p>One of the beautiful poems included in this collection is Effie Lee Newsome's "The Bronze Legacy (to a Brown Boy)." In this case, Nikki's corresponding poem did not augment or improve upon the original one. I felt the same about "Prelude" by Lucy Ariel Williams; Nikki's "Slow Burn" felt too derivative. </p><p>Given the modern push toward PC language, I found "Advice" by Gwendolyn Bennett and Nikki's "Brown Poems" to reveal the irony of either choosing pale words to write dark poems or using the brown way of saying what the pale one said. That, and the push for PC isn't so modern.</p><p>Structurally, I understand why this would first be a book of poetry and then a contextual history volume. However, for many of us, the poems out-of-context from the poet leave gaps in the ability to relate, interpret, or visualize the context of the poem. To that I'd suggest introducing each poem set with the biography of the poet rather than grouping the biographies at the end. Including the index is a real plus for making this book a useful teaching tool.</p><p>This is 4 ⭐ as a teaching tool, 3 ⭐ as a book of poetry.</p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-32615430698783695372020-11-28T13:03:00.003-07:002020-11-28T13:31:45.610-07:00Book Review: Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town<p>Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town</p><p>by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock</p><p>Pub Date 20 Apr 2021 </p><p>read courtesy of http://www.netgalley.com</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: center;">12 1/2 million stars!!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As in I wish I had written this. Or I wish I had the mind of Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock. These stories are brilliantly combined without being repetitive. Each story is complete within itself while implying the wholeness of the world in which it was created. Nothing left me questioning any of the characters, their motives, or their choices. I am completely impressed with Hitchcock's storytelling. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm hesitant to describe this as a book of short stories, and although some reviewers recommend reading these independently, I caution against it. Part of what made this engaging was experiencing the connections between seemingly independent characters and finding how intertwined our lives and experiences can be. With a bit of six-degrees-of-separation, we're all interconnected. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I absolutely loved the 9th story. SPOILER ALERT: It reminded me of the skillful storytelling of the movie "The Sixth Sense."</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I think I had such a connection to the storytelling because <b><i>I didn't know</i></b> this was a collection of connected short stories, and the serendipity of discovering the existence of the connections myself was so enjoyable. This happened to me because I misinterpreted a description that said, "Each story is unique, yet universal," to mean the characters' stories, not literally separate short stories. I became so engaged with Hitchcock's adroitness in creating those connections that I took the time to map out all of the connections. This suited my personality, my skills, and my absorption with the stories. <b><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">Do not</span> look at this concept map if you want to figure out the connections on your own: </b><a href="https://www.mindmeister.com/1707227917?t=SEvUSMP5Sj">https://www.mindmeister.com/1707227917?t=SEvUSMP5Sj</a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-76196211305997286882020-11-24T17:12:00.004-07:002020-11-28T13:04:03.220-07:00Book Review: The Murder Game<p>The Murder Game</p><p>by Carrie Doyle</p><p>Pub Date 06 Apr 2021 </p><p>Read courtesy of <a href="http://netgalley.com">http://netgalley.com</a></p><p>The cover pulled me in; bummer, it was misleading. There was neither a game nor were there thirteen murders. Although, there may have been thirteen suspects; I didn't count.</p><p>The story is a typical YA whodunit complete with teens who think they can solve a murder better and faster than law enforcement can. The adults were caricatures of stereotypical school-employed adults: the stern one, the buddy-buddy one, the crazy one, the immature one, the rule-follower, the rule-breaker, etc. Not only that, but the adults were way too free-spoken with the students in discussing an open murder investigation. Granted, it was a residential private school and not a public school, so teachers and students would have closer relationships there, but still, multiple teachers crossed the line on too many occasions to maintain a believable setting. Similarly, too often the adults accepted a teen character's brush-off answer to a direct question.</p><p>The author creates plenty of red herrings to keep the readers guessing. Unfortunately, the book's plot feels a little lopsided; the build-up was overbuilt and long, and the revelation was abrupt and short. I probably will get this book for my high school students because I don't know if they will be as critical as I was about the trite hero-teen-knows-more-than-lame-adults genre. It's a genre for a reason. ⭐⭐⭐</p><p style="text-align: center;">- - - - - - - - - -</p><p>A few things included in the story distracted me from just letting the story flow over me. T<i>hese aren't spoiler alerts, but if you think you'll get them stuck in your head and interrupt your ability to read the story, too, then don't read this paragraph. </i>Luke put both hands on a Pippa's face to kiss her after he just said his hands were most likely bleeding (ew); Luke was racing against time to catch the killer who was probably attacking his next victim, but Luke took the time to wait at a traffic light before crossing the street; and we never do find out what the motel clerk was going to tell Luke about the mysterious customer he was trying to identify.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-13196723595503759752020-11-21T11:05:00.002-07:002020-11-28T13:04:21.794-07:00Book Review: What Beauty There Is<br /><br />What Beauty There Is<br />by Cory Anderson<br />Pub Date: 06 Apr 2021 <div>read courtesy of <a href="http://www.netgalley.com">http://www.netgalley.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I couldn't put this book down. The author told a unique tale with interesting details that I've never read anywhere else. It was refreshing to be surprised and engrossed in spite of the somber subjects. The multiple threads of the story are tightly and expertly wound together. The characters have distinct and believable personalities. The setting was described with chilling results (pun intended.) Even the style of writing, which was quite accessible, had layers of nuance depending on which character was speaking or being spoken about. [Not a spoiler alert, but... I finished the book a few hours ago, and it took me until I started writing this to realize why each chapter was written in two different fonts. So cool!]</div><div><br /></div><div>An aside that I don't think too many YAs would perceive, but the characters of Doyle and Midge reminded me of the law enforcement characters from the movie "Fargo." It's a testament to the author's writing ability to get a regional accent and speech pattern so right in writing as opposed to an aural medium. </div><div><br /></div><div>You'll have to excuse me... I think I'm going to go re-read the story now.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-57859239234663291962020-11-15T14:23:00.018-07:002020-11-28T13:04:40.025-07:00Book Review: Notes from a Young Black Chef (Adapted for Young Adults)<p>Notes from a Young Black Chef (Adapted for Young Adults)</p><p>by Kwame Onwuachi</p><p>Pub Date: 13 Apr 2021 </p><p>Read courtesy of http://netgalley.com</p><p>Kwame Onwuachi had an unusual amount of changes and chances in his life; some he could control, and others were beyond his control. But he used resilience and ambition to find his way from the streets to the sweets to the beets and meats, and his story is a wonderful example for young people to read about someone who chose not to be a victim of his circumstances. </p><p>As an easily accessible read for teens, this adapted version of <i>Notes from a Young Black Chef </i>is a well-told story. The book describes the racism Onwuachi endured with the same grace as he endured it. He was upfront about it and demonstrated a life that rose above the ignorance and didn't succumb to being a victim.</p><p>This memoir is being turned into a movie: https://dcist.com/story/19/07/16/kwame-onwuachis-memoir-is-being-made-into-a-movie/</p><p>He is also joining Bravo’s Top Chef as a judge to be aired in 2021: https://dcist.com/story/20/09/28/kwame-onwuachi-judge-top-chef/</p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-24099485578819320962020-10-31T12:24:00.003-07:002020-11-28T13:05:40.268-07:00Book Review: Jelly<p>Book Review:</p><p>Jelly</p><p>by Clare Rees</p><p>Pub Date: 18 May 2021 </p><p>Read courtesy of http://netgalley.com</p><p>Mash up "Moby Dick," "Life of Pi," "Lord of the Flies," "The Phantom Tollbooth," and James Thurber's humor, and you'd have "Jelly." I was drawn to the story because of the ridiculousness of the characters' situation and wanted to know how it would all turn out (though, I wouldn't rule out a sequel). </p><p>The characters weren't fully-realized people; we're provided just enough description to keep them from being mixed up with each other, which was OK because the characters weren't 'the story.' Their predicament was 'the story.' Imagine being a survivor of a catastrophic event but finding yourself existing on a humongous jellyfish. Intriguing, right? Of course! The tale of their survival - how they lived, what they ate, what their shelter was, what they wore - all made for a great story.</p><p>The only thing I might caution to those who are squeamish about animal cruelty is the way the survivors treated their lifeboat jellyfish, which was rather cruelly. However, given that the jellyfish wouldn't allow them to leave its back, one could understand why the survivors reciprocated with torturous acts.</p><p>The reader is never told how the survivors initially ended up on the back of a jellyfish, and at the end of the story, we are left to imagine what the survivors next adventure might be. This tale requires two good imaginations, one from the author ✅ and one from the reader ✅.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-42417854881811452132020-10-04T09:23:00.004-07:002020-11-28T13:06:50.674-07:00Book review: Yesterday Is History<br />Book review:<br />Yesterday Is History<br />by Kosoko Jackson<br />Pub Date: 02 Feb 2021 <div>read courtesy of http://netgalley.com</div><div><br /></div><div>Romantic. Not corny teenage romance from an adult's perspective, but true, selfish, selfless romance. And time travel. And the blurring of societal boundaries. And romance.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was sorry this story ended but was so glad to have experience it. Andre and Blake and Michael were gay young men whose love triangle was complicated but real. The author didn't exaggerate or stereotype in order for the reader to understand the characters' motivations and feelings. The emotional sensitivity of their situations felt pure. The same is true for the parent:son relationships. Smart, mature young men were still allowed to argue, quarrel and rant against their parents; likewise, the parents were not made out to be clueless adults who couldn't do anything right. These were some of the most real characterizations I've encountered in a YA novel in a long time. </div><div><br /></div><div>...Which is kind of funny considering what they went through was out-of-this-world. The time travel portion of the story was handled well in that it didn't leave me wondering, "Huh? How could that be?" In other words, there weren't any Marty McFly moments where Andre could see himself in the past. Those type of time travel scenarios always mess with my ability to concentrate on the story instead of the physics of the moment. 😏 </div><div><br /></div><div>Jackson wrote a well-crafted story with wonderful characters. I cannot wait to get this into the hands of my high school readers. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐</div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-11097891696484137822020-09-23T14:46:00.004-07:002020-11-28T13:07:21.615-07:00Book review: Every Single LieBook review: Every Single Lie<br />by Rachel Vincent<br />Pub Date: 12 Jan 2021 <div>Read courtesy of <a href="http://www.netgalley.com">http://www.netgalley.com</a></div><div><br /><div>If you love twists and turns, you'll enjoy <i>Every Single Lie</i>. The author deftly wove a tale with believable evidence at every turn, and she convinced me to twist my decision each time. I didn't feel manipulated as I followed along with Beckett in trying to solve the mystery that entangled her family and friends.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The small town setting was effective as the backdrop for the gossip of the undeniably too-close-for-comfort coincidences that cause Beckett to become the center of a social media onslaught. Some of the story focuses on the consequences of uncontrolled and unsupervised use of social media, while another part of the story focuses on the havoc that opioid abuse can cause to a family. The mixing of the two was toxic and deadly to Beckett's family. </div><div><br /></div><div>4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐I am looking forward to getting this into my high school students' hands.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-33949520684754563912020-09-13T16:32:00.002-07:002020-11-28T13:07:52.194-07:00Book Review: To Sleep in a Sea of Stars<br /><br />To Sleep in a Sea of Stars<br />by Christopher Paolini<br />Pub Date: 15 Sep 2020 <br />Read courtesy of http://www.Netgalley.com<div><br /></div><div>Although I usually don't enjoy fantasy, Paolini makes it accessible to me. He doesn't confuse me with featureless, flat characters with too many weird, similar names - that alone is a win for me. I really enjoyed To Sleep in a Sea of Stars since it falls in that nebulous alley between fantasy and scifi; it was able to pull off both genres in one story.<br /><br />Every character has a personality; the characters are ones for whom I want to cheer and root, and I don't really have to spend too much time understanding or hating the 'bad guys.' Kira and the Soft Blade do that for me. Engaging, fun, (long), and quite epic.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-40783538088587170282020-09-13T15:52:00.003-07:002020-11-28T13:08:14.192-07:00Book Review: Untold Mayhem (audiobook)Untold Mayhem (audiobook version)<div>by Mark Tullius </div><div>Pub Date: 27 May 2020
</div><div><br /></div><div><div>I LoveLOVED this shory story collection by Mark Tullius. I listened to it as a recorded book, and the narrators were all appropriate for the stories they read. Very talented group! It's is difficult to end a short story, and the author didn't miss a beat; every story was solid. I'm not sure how appropriate it all is for my 9th and 10 graders, but the 11th and 12th graders will devour it. (And if the youngers want to read it, then let them; it's quality storytelling.) </div><div><br /></div><div>I think because it isn't my usual fare, I really enjoyed the twists, turns, surprises, and unnerving gore. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-91850357853823653812020-07-29T05:37:00.002-07:002020-07-29T05:45:05.483-07:00Book Review: Influence<div>Influence</div><div><div>by Sara Shepard; Lilia Buckingham</div><div>Pub Date: 05 Jan 2021 </div><div>Read courtesy of <a href="http://netgalley.com">http://netgalley.com</a> </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Glad I stuck with it! Went from an almost DNF to 3 stars to 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐. Might have been my disinterest, disdain, or dread of the effect social media has on this generation of teens that initially had me turned off, but as the plot developed, there was a real story behind all of the 'influencing' going on. [Get your cringe ready for an "in my day" story... when <i>I </i>was a teen, we were only worried if our business got out there if the teacher intercepted a note we passed in class or a parent picked up the extension of the phone while we were on the line.] </div><div><br /></div><div>I read the beginning trying to deny or dismiss the reality that so many teens hope they'll be the next Internet sensation and monetize their notoriety. I didn't just want to be reading about the wannabes and cliques. By persisting, I was gifted with a well-crafted story that highlighted the not-so-glamorous side of teen Internet fame as well as the public perks. I'm sure Sara Shepard's fandom will be hooked on <i>Influence </i>as much as they are on <i>Pretty Little Liars</i>. Even readers unfamiliar with the <i>Pretty Little Liars </i>series (insert blush and finger-pointing here) will become engrossed as the author deftly crafted false leads as to whom the murderer could have been. I liked flip-flopping my choice of criminal as the story progressed. </div><div><br /></div><div>There's something for everyone in the book: physical and mental illnesses, friendships and back-stabbing, romances and break-ups, straight and gay, good home lives and dysfunctional families, and race-fluid characters. parties and murder. This will be a great addition to my HS library.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-91698079863601511442020-07-22T08:27:00.003-07:002020-11-28T13:08:53.101-07:00Book review: AftershocksAftershocks <div>by Marisa Reichardt </div><div>Pub Date: 29 Sep 2020 </div><div>read courtesy of <a href="http://netgalley.com">http://netgalley.com</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>⭐⭐⭐⭐Very enjoyable. </div><div><br /></div><div>At first I wondered how the author was going to have a whole book told by someone caught in the rubble of an earthquake, but I was pleasantly surprised by the use of flashbacks and storytelling by the trapped characters. Then the narration changed as the story changed (I don't want to tell how, since that would be a spoiler. I'll just say that flashbacks were no longer needed.)</div><div><br /></div><div>I loved everything about the book with the exception of the lead character's (Ruby) 'best friend' Mila. No one handled her situation well - not the adults (her school, her parents) nor her friends. True, sometimes it takes a literal Earth-shattering event to wise up, but it's a shame the character was allowed to get so far gone that only a natural disaster helped her. I'm reluctant to say it, but I felt that the Mila character was there just so Ruby could have something in common with Charlie. Though, I will admit, alcohol is a major problem with teenagers, so it's quite possible that any two teens would have a Mila or a Jason in common. And if it weren't for the alcohol, Ruby and Charlie never would have met.</div><div><br /></div><div>The characters were real and developed. Though I'm someone who has never experienced a natural disaster, the author's clear and descriptive writing allowed me to sympathize with the characters' ordeals; I was able to ebb and flow with their hopes and despairs. The author was also realistic in developing the characters' experiences and growth. This was truly realistic fiction not watered down with magical thinking. I can't wait to put this into my high school library. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-55405725888461118452020-07-22T07:59:00.003-07:002020-07-22T08:33:23.402-07:00Audio Book Review: Raybearer<div>Raybearer</div><div>by Jordan Ifueko</div><div>Pub Date: 18 Aug 2020 </div><div>listened to courtesy of <a href="http://netgalley.com">http://netgalley.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Full disclosure: DNF</div><div><br /></div><div>More full disclosure: I'm not a fan of fantasy, but I was anxious to try out NetGalley's new audiobook offerings, and this was a YA title.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was a DNF not only because I'm not a fantasy fan, but because I was trying to concentrate so hard to follow the story and backstory while driving that I missed my exit and had to drive out of my way to get to where I was going. If I had to concentrate that intensely, there was no enjoyment in it, just distraction from the story.</div><div><br /></div><div> Plus this was listed as sci-fi and fantasy, and from what I could tell, it was pure fantasy.</div><div><br /></div><div>The narrator was lyrical enough for a fairytale-type story, though almost too much so. She had a breathy quality that implied anticipation, but not everything need to be anticipated.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-28272412801980520142020-07-20T12:05:00.000-07:002020-07-20T12:06:51.436-07:00Book Review: Schmegoogle<div>Schmegoogle: Yiddish Words for Modern Times</div><div>by Daniel Klein</div><div>Pub Date 01 Sep 2020 </div><div>read courtesy of <a href="http://netgalley.com">http://netgalley.com</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>You had me at schmegoogle! Go ahead. Google your Cousin Hershel. Nothing comes up? He's a <i>schmegoogle</i>. Also, you'd better be a good tipper when your Uber driver is <i>uber menschlich</i>! Do you think we could get all of our click bait to instead be called <i>bubbe maiseh-trap</i>? And they're just from chapter 1!</div><div><br /></div><div>It's more like reading a joke book than a dictionary, but either way, it's funny! Included are both old, i.e., used elsewhere and included here, and new phrases. Besides word entries with definitions, examples, and word origins, Klein includes stand alone asides that are mini comic sets in themselves. (I loved "The Roth Conundrum" on page 45.)</div><div><br /></div><div>One thing it's missing is the pronunciation cues. The goyim might not get the references to something they might actually have heard if they don't recognize the word. Even phonetic clues would be helpful. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hope you enjoy this review. I'd hate to think I'd done a good job only <i>gifilted</i> with <i>schmortification. </i>At least I'm not a<i> phudnik. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>This book would make a fun gift for any alte kakers you know.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-27162318210262407052020-07-20T10:03:00.003-07:002020-07-20T10:26:17.478-07:00Book Review: Like Spilled WaterBook Review: Like Spilled Water <div>by Jennie Liu </div><div>Pub Date 01 Sep 2020 </div><div>Read courtesy of <a href="http://netgalley.com">http://netgalley.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a novel of regret, so it's a review filled with regrets.</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel regret for the unlucky readers who found this book too long or too slow. It's not an action novel; it's an emotional one. It's reflective of the societal norms to not reveal one's troubles encapsulated into a story. I am grateful to have been able to enter and understand a world different from my own.</div><div><br /></div><div>I regret that that I read other's reviews before reading the book; they gave away even more than the author did with her clues as to Bao-bao's fate. Jennie Liu hinted early that something was off about Na's brother's death, but she did so for literary movement, not to include a spoiler. I am grateful that the author skillfully cast doubt for the reader.</div><div><br /></div><div>I regret Na's and Bao-bao's perceptions of their lost youth and their parents' perceptions of the purpose of children. I am grateful that the story ends with an ending that Na can live with.</div><div><br /></div><div>I regret that Gilbert and Na's friendship encounters so many obstacles, but I am grateful that Na meets Min, who offers a different kind of friendship.</div><div><br /></div><div>I regret watching Na and Bao-bao's unwavering parents live by ancient philosophies. I am grateful that I've been exposed to another culture's standards and been witness to how a culture changes between generations.</div><div><br /></div><div>I regret not yet reading Liu's other book yet, "Girls on the Line." I am grateful that I now want to read more by this author, and I cannot wait to put this into the hands of my high school readers.</div><div><br /></div><div>I regret that I cannot give "Like Spilled Water" 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for literary prose, but I'm grateful that I can for an accessible, non-judgmental, multi-story line plot that makes me think outside of myself.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-32180276455462901832020-07-19T04:21:00.002-07:002020-07-20T09:15:24.578-07:00Book Review: LoreAlthough this was only a (surprise) excerpt - grrr - it served its purpose... I'm drawn in and want to know what's going to happen. Although I'm not normally drawn to fantasy, having the ancient Gods placed in New York helped ground me to the story (pun intended). The characters have depth and personalities. The plot moves at a pace that allows for understanding but also excitement and anticipation. I agree with other reviewers that fans of Hunger Games type stories will enjoy this, too.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-15779124049413964672020-07-18T13:24:00.001-07:002020-07-18T13:25:25.899-07:00Book Review: Drink?<div>Drink?</div><div>by Professor David Nutt</div><div>Pub Date: 22 Dec 2020</div><div>read courtesy of <a href="http://netgalley.com">http://netgalley.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I realize this has turned into more of a critique than a book review. You may just want to read the first three and last three of the following paragraphs if you want the short version of my review.</div><div><br /></div><div>Labeled as "self-help," this book is then presented a little backwards. The beginning is the "why" alcohol does what it does, and the second half is the "how" one can reduce or eliminate alcohol use. By the time I got through the "why," I was almost uninterested in the "how." Granted, one might never read the "why" section if they get through the "how" section, since the self-help portion is the reason one would obtain the book in the first place. However, I was more impressed, and less confused, by the self-help section, so I'm glad I persevered.</div><div><br /></div><div>Read the introduction; it contains some of the 'truths' about alcohol. "Marketing has altered our perception," "...its's absurd that coming of age should still be about alcohol," and "Would you take a new drug if you were told it would increase your risk of cancer, dementia, heart disease, or that it would shorten your life?"</div><div><br /></div><div>Chapters 1-5 are the "why" - chemistry and biology - and chapters 6-10 are the "how" - psychology and sociology.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>WHY: Chapters 1-5</u></div><div>There were a number of places in the book where I questioned whether Professor Nutt's statements were opinion or fact. These were the places I expected to see citations, like throughout the rest of the book, but where documentation for an assertion was lacking. For example, Professor Nutt's use of words like 'slight,' 'possible,' 'seems,' 'I think,' and 'some' caused me to search for citations to determine the research behind the associated statements, but the citations just as often weren't referenced. One example is "...the number of people living with it [alcoholic dementia] is expected to triple by 2050." THAT'S a statistic that requires a citation!</div><div><br /></div><div>Irrelevant to which part of the book some of his suggestions appeared, a few concerned me. Although one section is subtitled, "Hangover Cures: What's the Evidence," implying he's presenting information and <i>not</i> recommendations, since this is a self-help book, I might assume that most readers aren't processing the "What's the Evidence" portion of the heading and merely focusing on the promise of "Hangover Cures."</div><div>For example, in number 2 he describes beta blockers and ends that paragraph with, "Whether they do more than that, I'm not sure." It's irresponsible to leave it at that; do beta blockers for a hangover do more good? More harm? Not enough 'evidence,' Professor Nutt.</div><div><br /></div><div>Although one shouldn't expect 100% definitive guidelines, I'm bothered by some contradictions. At one point he says, ""...don't drink at all - because there are no health benefits" and "...no level of drinking is actually beneficial to health." However, one whole chapter (8) is about "The Social Benefits of Alcohol." Granted, health and social benefits <i>are </i>different, but he expounds in so many places how alcohol provides social benefits, which others can argue can positively affect health benefits. He concludes that "...But if you want the sociability benefits alcohol brings, it's a different story. In that case, you need to decide what risks you want to accept...." Teeter-totters go in both directions; he implies that the benefits of alcohol abstinence and social drinking have an inverse relationship, so one has to choose, to "balance out the pleasure you gain." Further into the book he says, "...that the amount of alcohol optimal to provide the protection ["partial protective effect on cardiovascular health - The Lancet"] appears to be very low - about one unit a day." So there <i>are</i> some health benefits; he just wants us to know "...that the benefit to the heart does not outweigh all the other risks of alcohol...." And remember the reference to alcoholic dementia above? Later in the book, he says, "...low levels of alcohol consumption - that is between one and ten drinks a week - reduced the risk of dementia. In fact, it appears that being teetotal may raise your risk of dementia...." He also includes "...a 2017 review [that] concluded that light to moderate drinking does reduce the risk of diabetes," and that report IS cited.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also questioned some of his assertions like, "...there are wards full of these kids," while talking about "acute alcoholic hepatitis" in young binge drinkers. Then he goes on to say, "However bingeing is not the reason behind most cases of alcoholic hepatitis...." He also provided no citation regarding the number of kids or the number of wards. There were also some judgmental statements peppered throughout the book. In one instance, Nutt says that he doesn't think people seeing their doctors for hypertension are being asked about their alcohol use, "...perhaps because many doctors drink too much themselves?" If that's not just a judgment, then where's the citation?</div><div><br /></div><div>The British perspective came through a few times. For instance, in the section, "Major Ways Alcohol Affects Your Length of Life," I had to look up Professor Nutt's reference to Damien Hirst's sharks and cows with regards to Nutt's mention of formaldehyde. However, I was pleased that Professor Nutt was inclusive and did include science references to Asia and Africa along with Europe, the UK, and the USA. </div><div><br /></div><div>I liked his discussion (and the reality check) of the arbitrariness of legal blood alcohol limits. He points out that for .079 and .081 "...is not that one is safe and the other dangerous, but that one if legal and the other is not." I also appreciated that he found a way to show how one's alcohol use affects others and not just one's self. He cites that the estimated prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is 8 in 1,000 while the prevalence of Down's Syndrome is 1 in 1000. Perspective on preventable disorders is powerful. These type of discussions absolutely support his goal of an individual being "...able to work out how little you need in order to get the effects you do want."</div><div><br /></div><div><u>HOW: Chapters 6-10</u></div><div>Early in the second half of the book, Professor Nutt relays some social the history of alcohol. One interesting part discussed how "...ancient Persians would only finally make a decision after the issue at hand had been discussed both sober and drunk," since being drunk brought out one's creativity. And though I knew alcohol was ancient, I didn't know that "It's only been in the last millennium that it has been banned by some religious groups, for example in Islam." [The irony isn't lost on this reader that modern "Persia" now Islamic.]</div><div><br /></div><div>But sometimes he still spouts a factoid that he doesn't substantiate with a citation. I'd like to see the documentation of these assertions, Professor Nutt!</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"...a view popular with conservative politicians, that addiction is fun and addicts enjoy getting drunk...." </li><li>"...conflation of morality and science happens in addiction more than any other branch of medicine." </li><li>"Drinking has become your hobby or the only way you socialize. This often happens with retirees or expats."</li></ul></div><div>Professor Nutt does a much better job of citing some psychological aspects of why people drink, i.e., the self-help portion of the book. [Read the section on "Is Your Booze Buzz in Your Head?"] Later on he cites one study that "...showed that people drank lager 60 percent more slowly out of straight glasses than out of outward-curving (pilsner type) ones." Now that's interesting, don't you think? He also does a better job in this half of the book delineating when he is discussing fact or logic and not just opinion.</div><div><br /></div><div>The best part of the book is headed, "How to Talk to Your Children about Booze." I can easily see this portion of the book being used with PTO/PTA groups. It was logical and could be easily implemented as a workshop program to support children and teens from succumbing to peer pressure, social norms, and advertising. While I did learn some things throughout the book, I'm not sure that much else is new or particularly persuasive that could convince an alcoholic to change their behavior; they'd just now be able to tell you why they are doing what they do.</div><div><br /></div><div>And speaking of irony (which I did in the first ¶ of HOW: Chapters 6-10), his daughter runs a wine bar.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-30685946310814806082020-07-13T18:29:00.001-07:002020-07-13T18:41:38.736-07:00Book Review: How to Pack for the End of the World<div>How to Pack for the End of the World</div><div>by Michelle Falkoff</div><div>Pub Date: 10 Nov 2020</div><div>read courtesy of <a href="http://netgalley.com" target="_blank">http://netgalley.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Put five different competitive high schoolers together to see who can survive hypothetical apocalyptic disasters, and you get five unique interesting challenges. Falkoff crafted an entertaining story that expertly incorporated five different characterizations into the survival scenarios. I found some fairly profound truths in this story that resonated with me: (1) "I hated that I tended to assume people were straight unless they indicated otherwise." (2) "Funny how different it felt, having a crush versus liking someone who liked you back. I'd had butterflies with Hunter, but they'd made me feel a little bit sick. Wyatt made me feel nothing but happy." (3) "We'd been so fixated on managing big-picture problems that we hadn't yet learned how to deal with the day-to-day complexities of being ourselves..."</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, the author used some standard YA story formulas that I tend to dislike. For example the characters don't tell others how they feel but then expect others to be mind readers and act a certain way. In addition, this author actually comes out and has a character articulate another overused plot line "...where we need to help ourselves because the adults weren't going to be of much use."</div><div><br /></div><div>Throughout the book, the lead character Amina frequently claims she doesn't know her friends as well as they know her. The purpose of this characterization is so she can eventually prove she does end up knowing one her friends better than her other friends do. The repetitive self-deprecation, however, is annoyingly tedious. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nonetheless, I like the ending in which the characters learn to be " ...less concerned with what we put in our go-bags and more about how to use cooperation and empathy to prevent the things we were so scared of from happening." I only wish that Falkoff had listened to her own advice. Why was it necessary for her to call out 'Republican' vs. 'Democrat' in a doomsday scenario in which a Republican was so "unpopular" that he got elected for a third and fourth term?</div><div><br /></div><div>Since the good messages outweigh the trite precepts, I will enjoy putting this book into the hands of my high schoolers.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10796312.post-27931198172595083332020-07-09T09:47:00.001-07:002020-07-09T10:31:21.839-07:00Book Review: Wider than the Sky<div>Wider than the Sky</div><div>by Katherine Rothschild</div><div>Pub Date: 19 Jan 2021 </div><div>Read courtesy of <a href="http://netgalley.com" target="_blank">http://netgalley.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I agree with the publisher's representation of <i>Wider than the Sky</i>; "Katherine Rothschild explores the pain and power of forgiveness," and she does it well. Never preachy or melodramatic, the reader feels Sabine's pain, irrational thinking, and growth. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some very clever details made certain situations quite realistic and vivid. So there are no spoilers, just watch for the scene where Sabine is trying not to drink alcohol at a party. The author was talented at including details throughout the story that were relevant on many levels as the story progressed around them. On the other hand, a few descriptions eluded me or were open to interpretation, like, "It felt like someone eating candy through tears."</div><div><br /></div><div>Like many YA novels, the teens save the day, and the adults muck things up. Fortunately, in <i>Wider than the Sky </i>the parents here have good intentions and aren't just incompetent. The author also does a seamless job of integrating poetry into the motif and action of the story.</div><div><br /></div><div>The story approaches forgiveness on many different levels -- sisters, friends, parents, and romantic partners -- through twin siblings, the "girl code," a bisexual/polyamorous relationship, and first love. I'm looking forward to putting this in my HS library.</div><div><br /></div><div>4 1/2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐🗲</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Rose-colored Glasses:
from marketing to training to teaching to librarianship and back to training & marketing</div>Pseudandryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17812738482727613622noreply@blogger.com0