Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

CONCRETE ROSE by Angie Thomas is the subject of her featured 7pm talk TONIGHT hosted by Family Action Network. In this latest young adult novel set 17 years before her award-winning The Hate U Give, Thomas offers the background story of  Maverick Carter as a young unwed father making courageous choices related to the King Lord gang.  Being totally honest, I personally found it challenging to read this text due to feeling at times as though I had to “translate” phrases and expressions in the dialogue which Thomas employs. However, I recognize that I am certainly not her primary intended audience and the voice was clearly an authentic one. CONCRETE ROSE received starred reviews from Booklist (“shows those going through difficult times of their own that they can take control of their own destiny”), Kirkus (“A resounding success”), Publishers Weekly (“heartfelt characterization”), and School Library Journal (“Thomas writes with a depth of humor and clarity”). We will have multiple copies on our shelves soon.

MLK Day: John Lewis and Elijah Cummings

On this Day of National Service which honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. it seems appropriate to also look at newer titles about and by two political icons for the United States and the Civil Rights movement. 

HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON by Jon Meacham is subtitled “John Lewis and the Power of Hope.” Meecham, Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer/historian and author of  numerous texts including The Soul of America and Songs of America, delivers a warm and respectful description of the life and many contributions of John Lewis and his “good trouble.” Meecham writes, “This is not a full-scale biography. It is, rather, an appreciative account of the major moments of Lewis’s life in the movement, of the theological understanding he brought to the struggle, and of the utility he brought to that vision.” Meecham describes Lewis’ family (his great-grandfather, alive until Lewis was seven, was born a slave), his early life, and the importance of faith as well as Lewis’ involvement in the Civil Rights movement. Chapters deal with The Freedom Riders and The Bloody Sunday March across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Interspersed throughout are numerous images of individuals involved in the struggle and of key events, including newspaper coverage. Lewis himself crafted a moving afterword which calls to mind his final public words from the essay, “Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation,” published in the New York Times. There he wrote, “Emmett Till was my George Floyd” and “Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part ….”  HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON received starred reviews from Kirkus and Library Journal.   

WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS written by Elijah Cummings with James Dale describes the “Fight for the Future of Our Democracy.” Cummings, a Congressman and legislative force for over twenty years, was the first African American lawmaker to be honored with lying in state at the nation's Capitol. This memoir was published posthumously and begins by describing Cummings’ early interactions with the President in 2017 and gradual dawning as to the scale of lies to the country and the world. The book is filled with details of conversations at high levels and with personal musings like “I am seeking to do the right thing at a time when doing the wrong thing is verging on becoming the norm.” At times, the book has the cadence and sense of a sermon, sharing words of wisdom like “you must act better than the other person” from Cummings' 85-year-old mother. Another example for times of misfortune is “Don’t ask why this happened to me. Ask why this happened for me.” Dale describes the structure of the book as “a quilted interweaving of the formative moments of the Congressman’s past;” he further says Cummings “wanted to leave a story for young people, especially disadvantaged young people, to show them what is possible.” Cummings certainly invites them to “turn the pain into passion and the passion into purpose” and to reflect on the same questions with which he struggled, “Who am I? What drives me? Where do I get my resolve?” WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS received a starred review from Library Journal.

Keep Sharp by Sanjay Gupta

KEEP SHARP by Sanjay Gupta is subtitled “Build a Better Brain at Any Age.”  Gupta, a neurosurgeon and chief medical correspondent for CNN, offers a “popular” take on dietary and exercise habits we should all be evaluating. Encouraging readers to act preventatively, he outlines a brain-friendly twelve-week program. While many suggestions (physical activity, getting more sleep, meditation, staying hydrated, eating well, social interaction and lifelong learning) are not novel concepts, Gupta presents this important and helpful information in an accessible manner. Gupta writes, “I am more convinced than ever that the brain can be constructively changed, enhanced, and fine-tuned.” He divides the text into three main sections; first, he relates basic facts, describes misleading myths, and explains inner workings (the “why”) related to our brains. The next section takes a more in-depth look at specific steps and the final section explores diagnoses, treatments, and caregiving for brain diseases. Gupta flatly states that “cognitive decline is not inevitable.” Instead, he points to conclusions reached by his peers and argues that “in order to best take care of your body, you have to first take care of your mind.” 

The Great Gatsby

THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald moves into the public domain this month (see articles in The New York Times and Washington Post) so expect to see many new adaptations, remakes, and published versions. One of the best is Penguin’s with an introduction by Min Jin Lee, notes on the text from Philip McGowan, and suggestions for further exploration by Jennifer Buehler.  That last section begins, “THE GREAT GATSBY is important for the story it tells and the historical period it represents, but it’s equally important for the conversations it invites about race, class, gender and opportunity in America.” Her many suggestions on relevant non-fiction titles for teens, plus references to films and web sites, will be particularly valuable to our English Teachers and students. Added: Looking for a graphic novel version, too? Try the new one by K. Woodman-Maynard which is recommended by Buehler in this text and reviewed positively by Meghan Cox Gurdon in The Wall Street Journal.

The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister

THE ARCTIC FURY by Greer Macallister is a work of historical fiction which was a LibraryReads selection for December 2020. Initially, I was intrigued by the premise:Virginia Reeve, a young female guide on the overland trail to the Pacific Ocean is asked to lead a different expedition. This time, a wealthy woman asks Virginia to guide 12 women in their 1855 quest to find The Franklin, a ship missing in the Arctic. I enjoyed the beginning and learning about the character traits of various expedition members, but then the book seemed to drag. Maybe that was my own dread of the harrowing conditions they would face, as I silently encouraged them to turn back? Macallister adds to the realism by offering differing perspectives as the voyage continues and by employing flashbacks between the journey and an ensuing murder trial. Fans of adventure stories like Into the Wild may enjoy this story of survival and female courage; based on true events.

Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March

MURDER IN OLD BOMBAY by Nev March is the first of many mysteries I am sure to be reading this year. Set in India in 1892 (with flashbacks to the 1857 Sepoy Rebellion), this story centers on James Agnihotri, recently retired Anglo-Indian cavalry captain. It’s full of questions about acceptance and social strictures – related to caste and as well as religious tolerance.  Two young women died after falling off a university clock tower and the Captain is hired to learn the truth of what happened.  It’s a twisty mystery with travels throughout India, from Bombay to Lahore, Simla, and Ranjpoot, with more than one daring rescue event. The writing is evocative of the time and place with turns of phrase like “memory touched my skin with a cold finger.” There are repeated references to Sherlock Holmes – both to his techniques (e.g., using disguises) and to his characteristics (Agnihotri is also an amateur boxer). Like Holmes, the Captain is attracted to a seemingly unavailable woman and the “romance” is at first a happy sidelight; later, it becomes a bit too much of the story. Nevertheless, the characters are generally admirable for as Agnihotri muses, “our choices drive who we are … and who we want to be.” Winner of the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award, MURDER IN OLD BOMBAY is an entertaining debut filled with suspense and historic detail.

Calm Christmas and A Happy New Year

CALM CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR is written by Beth Kempton, a best-selling author (Freedom Seeker; We Are All in This Together) who advocates for doing what you love and living well, often times tied to the concept of Hygge. Here, she has divided “A Little Book of Festive Joy” into three sections: anticipation; activity during the holidays themselves and reflection afterwards.  There are numerous references to childhood and a unique introduction to the five stories (faith, magic, connection, abundance, and heritage) of Christmas which she readily acknowledges will resonate differently for each reader. Throughout, Kempton includes a series of questions, providing an almost meditative feel and help in de-stressing from late November through early January.  Eventually, she mentions “another chance for a fresh beginning” and refers to a more seasonal approach, “moving gently into January with grace and hope.”  As we move forward into 2021, it’s worth considering her advice to block out chunks of time on a new calendar for “unknown goodness coming my way …. Schedule[ing] time to open up space for new possibilities [cooking together?] and to work on our dreams.” I look forward to revisiting CALM CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR throughout the year.