An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi

As we talked about recent favorite books, several students praised the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi.  They will also appreciate her new standalone novel, AN EMOTION OF GREAT DELIGHT. Mafi is an amazingly talented writer; her A Very Large Expanse of Sea was longlisted for the National Book Award. She sets AN EMOTION OF GREAT DELIGHT in 2003, shortly after the September 11 attacks and explores Islamophobia as well as coming of age issues dealing with parental expectations, questions of faith, friendships, and first love. Shadi is finishing high school while trying to deal with several family traumas. The circumstances are overwhelming and she muses, “People thought I was growing up, and perhaps I was, perhaps this was growing up – this, this, an uncertain spiral into a darkness lined with teeth.”

Mafi’s words invoke empathy for Shadi and also for students who may be dealing with individual situations (particularly in the last fifteen months) of which teachers and other adults may not be aware. As Shadi says, “I made it to the sidewalk and stared at my feet, my heart beating erratically in my chest. I’d been fighting tears all day, all week, all year; it was exhausting.” Shadi’s struggles encompass health issues and a death in her family, plus feelings for Ali, brother of her best friend Zahra, all of which are tempered by cultural expectations: “I could not deny the beliefs that shaped me any more than I could deny the color of my eyes. It made for a lonely life …. lived, always, on the uncertain plane of a hyphen.” I strongly recommend this novel, both for the important universal themes it explores and for the quality of the writing (“The sunlight was heavy today, fingers of heat forming sweaty hands that braced my face…”).  AN EMOTION OF GREAT DELIGHT received enthusiastic stared reviews from Booklist (“A bluntly powerful read that shouldn’t be missed”), Kirkus, and School Library Journal.

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING by Nicola Yoon has a bit of supernatural effect combined with learning to tango in a properly provocative way. Yoon, author of several young adult novels including Everything, Everything, introduces readers to Evie and to X (short for Xavier). Reeling from learning that her Dad has been having an affair and wants to get re-married, Evie ends up taking dance lessons and discovers that she has an unusual ability to see the future for kissing couples. X is an aspiring musician and grandson of the owners of the local dance studio. The two are paired to compete and help promote the studio. She is generally more reluctant while he wants to “live in the moment” and say “yes” to everything. In classic Yoon style, the two reflect that “the time we get is the time we get” since “life almost never turns out the way you think it will.” Both main characters and their many friends are appealing and INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING is a quick read. As Evie says about events in the novel: “It was beautiful. But it was sad, too. Both things, and at the same time. I don’t know why so much of life is like that.” Well-deserved starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal.

Light summer reads ...

THE MISSING TREASURES OF AMY ASHTON by debut author Eleanor Ray was a bit of a surprise – part romance, part mystery and plenty of details about Amy’s hoarding tendencies. Traumatized by the disappearance years before by her boyfriend, Tim, and her best friend, Chantel, Amy collects all sorts of items (lighters, mugs, clocks, newspapers, flower pots and more). Years later, she is still struggling to come to grips with the abandonment (did they run off together?) when a new family with young children moves in next door, forcing her to begin to reevaluate her lifestyle. Elements of the plot are a bit obvious, but readers will develop affection and respect for Amy. THE MISSING TREASURES OF AMY ASHTON received a starred review from Booklist. 

THE ROAD TRIP by Beth O'Leary (The Switch) is a light summer read, chosen for the June 2021 Hall of Fame LibraryReads list. Dylan and Addie spent a dreamy summer together in Provence a few years ago, moved in together and then broke up, and now meet by chance on the way to a friend’s wedding. Forced to cram together into a Mini with Dylan’s manipulative best friend (Marcus), and Addie’s supportive sister (Deb) and a socially awkward wedding guest (Rodney), the adventures begin. Told from multiple perspectives, partly as a road adventure and partly through flashbacks, this romance-y novel looks at (often negative, if well-intentioned) influences and the resulting (often poor) decisions. As Addie notes, “that’s the thing about almost: you can be ninety-nine percent there, you can be an inch away from doing it, but if you stop yourself from stepping over that line, nobody will ever know how close you were.” If you are a fan of O'Leary's writing, the characters did not seem as appealing as those in her earlier work and THE ROAD TRIP, while entertaining, was not as much of a “feel good” story. 

Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety

EAT TO BEAT DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY  by Drew Ramsey is more than a cookbook. Ramsey, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College, offers a plan to “Nourish Your Way to Better Mental Health in Six Weeks.”  He divides the text into two parts: focusing first on “Eating for Optimal Mental Health” and then on a more specific “Depression and Anxiety Mental Health Food Plan.” Ramsey maintains a conversational tone, suggesting, for example, that cutting down on coffee (and its caffeine) by substituting an herbal tea may help to beat anxiety. He answers hypothetical questions posed by readers regarding their dietary preferences (e.g., what if I don’t like green vegetables? Or should I be eliminating grains or gluten?) and lifestyles (e.g., isn’t this method expensive? Or do I need to give up vegan diet?). Each chapter offers a bullet-pointed recap and Ramsey encourages his readers to set SMART goals (i.e., specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely) in order to “rack up some small wins, setting … up for long term success.” All of that feels very appropriate and non-threatening to his audience. The recipes themselves are accompanied by nutritional information and include many choices from his suggested food categories: “leafy greens; rainbow fruits and vegetables; seafood; nuts, beans, and seeds; meat; eggs and dairy; and good microbiome bugs.” A couple of examples are Turkey Zucchini Skillet Lasagna, where zucchini substitutes for pasta, or Potato Pancakes with Smoked Salmon and Crème Fraiche, for more omega-3 fats, or Honey Soy Wild Salmon Burgers. They all sound delicious while being a great way to encourage healthy eating! In addition, the topic of mood and gut relationship is of interest to our students who will appreciate that Ramsey provides a set of helpful resources, plus notes on relevant scientific papers. 

CLEAN EATING KITCHEN: THE LOW-CARB MEDITERRANEAN COOKBOOK by Michelle Dudash offers “Quick and Easy High-Protein, Low-Sugar, Healthy-Fat Recipes for Lifelong Health.”  Dudash, a registered dietitian nutritionist, Cordon Bleu-certified chef, and contributor to Food Network, has compiled appetizing recipes offset with attractive photos. Dudash starts off with a short chapter titled Low-Carb Mediterranean Know-How which describes “how to fit low-carb recipes into your routine.” Subsequent chapters focus on appetizers, plant-based meals, seafood, other main dishes, vegetable sides, and sweets. A few sample recipes include Roasted Cauliflower with cashews and turmeric, Kale Salad with blueberries and feta, or Umami Roasted Peppers with crispy potatoes. Per recipe, ingredients are relatively few and suggestions for substitutions are freely offered. Timing estimates and nutritional information are provided. Definitely worth a look for ideas on new, healthy meals.  

Reclaim Joy by Emine Rushton

RECLAIM JOY by Emine Rushton is subtitled “A guided journal to discover simple pleasures every day.” We know that journaling is an effective stress reducer and this book is full of colorful illustrations and numbered prompts. There are many examples to draw your own ideas (e.g., “take this book outside before breakfast and color in the sun as it appears in the sky today.”) Plus, there is a big emphasis on movement, on various senses (“write down all the layers of sound in your world”), and on reflection (take the same picture in each of four seasons and then journal about the changes). I love the action orientation: “open your wardrobe and pull out the first item of clothing your heart is drawn to. Wear it today!” Truly, a fun book to explore and turn to repeatedly throughout the year.