Erasing the Finish Line by Ana Homayoun

ERASING THE FINISH LINE by Ana Homayoun is subtitled “The New Blueprint for Success Beyond Grades and College Admission.” The only dispute I have with that is: is this really “new”? Homayoun points out the importance of developing a system, connections, perspective, and acceptance. She rightly stresses the importance and impact of executive functioning skills like organization, planning, and prioritizing, plus self-motivation (starting and completing tasks, meeting deadlines), adaptable thinking, and feeling comfortable with asking for help. These are all key life skills which we practice in high school again and again, particularly on a big, individual project like Junior Theme. Each chapter begins with an anecdote introducing a former student, like Nira, excited to be admitted to Notre Dame, who says, “the hardest part of college was learning to manage time and keep track of what I was responsible for and holding myself accountable when ... there was no one there to wake me up in the morning.” Good advice from a peer of sorts, and at one point Homayoun also includes several strategies to “help children [emphasis added; why choose that term?] develop multiple circles of connection.” Overall, however, her work is very text heavy and could benefit from more bullet points, checklists, and even sample exercises to further support the students she seeks to help. It seems likely that Homayoun has resisted this more directed guidance because she specifically says, “rather than doggedly pursuing the never-ending list of “must dos” and “should dos,” it's time for us to accept that there is not one “perfect” way to find success.” Yes, hard to argue with that; we have had Homayoun’s earlier work (That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week) in our collection and will likely be adding ERASING THE FINISH LINE, also. Approximately ten percent of the book is devoted to references and notes which will interest researchers and those curious readers wishing to learn more. Also worth considering: 6 Super Skills for Executive Functioning by Lara Honos-Webb. 

A Lady's Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin

A LADY'S GUIDE TO SCANDAL by Sophie Irwin (A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting) is light and fluffy, a welcome diversion from some of the heavier subjects I have been reading lately. Once again, Irwin transports readers to a time when social mores in England dictated the period of mourning, the colors a woman could wear, and the events she could attend. Eliza (Lady Somerset), recently widowed after an arranged marriage, is gifted with an inheritance which allows her to pursue a more carefree lifestyle with her companion and cousin, Margaret. Of course, there is the hint of heart palpitating romance – both with a former, once-jilted suitor and someone new and totally unsuited in the view of the ton. That leads to witty dialogue and amusing adventures, sure to please Irwin’s growing number of fans.

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

HAPPINESS FALLS by Angie Kim (Miracle Creek) is one of the best fiction books I have read all year. That is largely because Kim makes her readers think. She is constantly challenging them – not just to solve a puzzle (and this novel has more than one), but also to re-evaluate prejudices and assumptions. The narrator here is Mia, twenty-year-old twin to John and big sister to 14-year-old Eugene who has been diagnosed with autism and a rare genetic disorder named Angelman syndrome. The entire family has adapted to Eugene’s situation, placing importance on rituals and routines like toothbrushing and family mealtimes. That is one reason it is so strange when the Dad does not come home from the park with Eugene. Mia’s voice in telling what happens over the next roughly 60 hours is extraordinary and very descriptive. Her thoughts are informative and educational, self-reflective, humorous, and troubling. She discusses being part of a biracial family, saying, “It's funny how being different from everyone else in a group can make you feel either isolated/insecure or special/important, depending on the social hierarchy of the trait in question.” Award-winning author Angie Kim has provided another fascinating look at family dynamics and the “shortcuts, cheats, cognitive biases, things we do and assume for efficiency, based on probabilities and statistics, instead of taking the time to figure it out.” HAPPINESS FALLS is highly recommended (and not just by me) – Angie Kim’s latest title is the Top LibraryReads pick for August 2023 and received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus, plus praise from writers like Ann Napolitano (Hello Beautiful), Gabrielle Zevin (Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow), Julia Phillips (Disappearing Earth), Imbolo Mbue (Behold the Dreamers) and Mary Beth Keane (Ask Again, Yes). I just realized that is actually a great book group list! Enjoy them all.

In HAPPINESS FALLS the Mom, who has a PhD in applied linguistics, comments about “how we equate verbal skills, especially oral fluency, with intelligence.” Kim later poignantly writes “I think this is why I've written about people who have trouble expressing themselves in my fiction: because the bias against them is as painful and perplexing as anything I've encountered. Whether you're an immigrant, you stutter, or you have autism, aphasia, apraxia/dyspraxia, or Angelman syndrome -- there are so many reasons why you might have trouble speaking unrelated to the quality of your thoughts.” Kim provides a list of resources in her book and on her website for anyone interested in learning more.

Accountable by Dashka Slater

ACCOUNTABLE by Dashka Slater (The 57 Bus) is subtitled “The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed” and relates events that occurred in 2017 in Albany, California (liberal Bay Area) when a Korean American high school junior posted racist and misogynist memes on Instagram. Even though he initially had only 13 followers, many of the posts dealt with classmates and people they knew, especially Black and biracial girls. The New York Times recently published a lengthy article written by Slater who described, “competing narratives about how exactly the events should be interpreted, with some seeing them as a calamity that occurred despite Albany’s particular virtues (small, liberal, educated, interconnected) and others as a consequence of Albany’s particular shortcomings (too white, too insular, too wealthy, too obsessed with academic achievement).” Clearly, there is MUCH opportunity for teaching, for reflection (e.g., Am I racist? What makes someone racist? Why had no-one said anything earlier?) and for discussion (e.g., Does not taking action imply approval of content? How could the account followers and its subjects attend school together? Do the statistics Slater share correspond to our school? Are these events about race, gender or both?) with adolescent students. ACCOUNTABLE received a starred review from Booklist which says in part that this text “should be required reading for any teen before they create, comment, or even like a media post.” 

A Most Tolerant Little Town by Rachel Louise Martin

Today, August 28th, is the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. As we reflect on that, here is an excellent new text which deals with racial tensions in America:

According to her publisher, author Rachel Louise Martin is an historian interested in “the politics of memory” and “the power of stories to illuminate why injustice persists in America today.” Since arriving as a research fellow in 2005, she has interviewed over sixty townsfolk from Clinton, Tennessee and has subsequently written A MOST TOLERANT LITTLE TOWN, chronicling “the forgotten story of the first school to attempt court-mandated desegregation in the wake of Brown v. Board.” Readers will feel the tension in the air as ten students walked down from the Hill to join two others; these 12 were met by white adult and white student protestors, some wearing signs around their necks, like in the haunting image on the book’s cover.  Here is a short video summarizing those events:

More video and additional resources are available through PBS Learning Media. Like the Tulsa race massacre and Juneteenth, events at Clinton High School should be taught as part of American history, not be ignored and dismissed as DeSantis’ illiberal education (recently labeled by The Wall Street Journal) would likely do. 

Martin’s A MOST TOLERANT LITTLE TOWN is a valuable contribution and illuminates not only the larger societal trends, but importantly allows readers to better understand and to feel compassion for the students and their families. Her epilogue includes a perceptive 1960 quote from a Clinton High School teacher: “Desegregation involves the admittance of Negro students into a white school in compliance with the law. Integration involves the conversion of the two groups into a smooth-running system, with a working relationship free of tensions.” Martin’s commitment and zeal are evident in her extensive research conducted over several years; at least forty percent of her text is devoted to detailed notes and a wide-ranging bibliography.

Money, Power, Respect and Glass Walls - plus more

I just realized that August 26th is Women’s Equality Day which commemorates the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. Given that and the recent controversy resulting in suspension of the Spanish soccer coach, it seemed worth sharing a number of new books which deal with women’s sports or gender bias:

MONEY, POWER, RESPECT is a debut work by Macaela MacKenzie, a journalist most recently at Glamour. Here, she explores “How Women in Sports Are Shaping the Future of Feminism.” Looking first at Money, Mackenzie devotes a chapter each to the pay gap, to underinvestment in women’s sports and to the motherhood penalty. She argues forcefully that these issues occur across industries, but that the public nature of sports means that “the differences in resources are as obvious as the stadiums women play in and the uniforms on their backs, offer[ing] those trying to shortchange women fewer places to hide.” The section on Power has chapters dealing with a collective voice, changemakers, barriers, and recognizing your worth. Again, MacKenzie draws on a variety of instances including prejudiced comments by a former Japanese Prime Minister which resulted in his resignation. The final section, on Respect, contains chapters which deal with sexist images and language, how men feel threatened (e.g., citing data from Accenture and Girls Who Code regarding women in the tech industry), and the importance of visibility and media coverage for women. MacKenzie is adept at illustrating her points with real life cases and at drawing on academic research (like studies of media bias) to support her points. In an author’s note, MacKenzie indicates that she “interviewed dozens of athletes, academics, and activists;” she also lists additional sources in a formal Notes section that comprises roughly twenty percent of the text. MONEY, POWER, RESPECT appeared on several “must read” lists including ones from Time Magazine and the Next Big Idea Book Club.   

GLASS WALLS by Amy Diehl and Leanne M. Dzubinski discusses “Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work.” Before reading further take a moment and write down your thoughts on what those could be. Diehl, an information technology leader and gender equity researcher, and Dzubinski, an associate Biola University in California, label the barriers as male privilege, disproportionate constraints, insufficient support, devaluation, hostility, and acquiescence. How many did you name? The authors encourage readers to “reflect on how intensely you have been socialized into gender stereotypes that permeate society. And think about how that socialization may be affecting you, even unconsciously.” Diehl and Dzubinski give numerous examples (such as gatekeeping, tokenism, using derogatory language, or interrupting) and often provide specific details by quoting business women or faith leaders (an area where Dzubinski has done previous research). Pointing out that “identifying and exposing bias is the first step to eliminating it,” they also provide helpful, actionable strategies for leaders, allies, and self at the end of each section. Roughly a fourth of the text is devoted to Notes, Bibliography and Index. GLASS WALLS received a starred review from Booklist (“practicality and clarity make this a valuable contribution”). 

Looking for more reading ideas? McKinsey just posted “Ten Books by Women Authors in Honor of Women’s Equality Day.” Related titles we have reviewed include Invisible Women; Pay Up; When Women Lead; Up to Speed; Controlling Women; The No Club; and so many more.

No Ordinary Assignment by Jane Ferguson

NO ORDINARY ASSIGNMENT is a memoir from Jane Ferguson, Peabody and Emmy award-winning reporter for the PBS NewsHour. Beginning with reflections on her childhood and the troubles in Northern Ireland Ferguson says she understands “now how the crack of bullets echoes long through the years, triggering a cascade of tragic events in individual lives.” Her bravery is often manifested in her news reporting and she relates this to the anxiety and she faced when young, writing, “my ability to make peace with fear, to let it hitch a ride along with my life, began under that staircase in my childhood house.” Although she writes about being inspired by reporters like Martha Gellhorn, Kate Adie, Dervla Murphy, and Gertrude Bell, one readily senses her own inner strength and resilience – the ability to adapt that she showed as a scholarship attendee at an exclusive boarding school in the US as well as working on the factory floor and killing chickens back in Ireland the summer before college. NO ORDINARY ASSIGNMENT received a starred review from Kirkus and made me think of how small acts (a surprise check allowed her to pursue some post-graduate studies in Yemen) can have a big impact on others’ lives. Interested in foreign correspondents? See also And Then All Hell Broke Loose by Richard Engel which describes reporting from the Middle East and was published several years ago.