Rising Class and It.Goes. So. Fast

RISING CLASS by Jennifer Miller profiles “How Three First-Generation College Students Conquered Their First Year.” The names of these real life students are Briani, Conner, and Jacklynn and the first two attend Columbia University in New York while Jacklynn attends Ozark Technical Community College. Briani is from a small town in Georgia and Conner and Jacklynn, a long-time couple, are from Missouri. By sharing details about issues like financial strains and family addiction, Miller poignantly points out “the gulf between … [first generation] and so many other students. They all lived on the same campus, but they didn’t live in the same world.” Professional reviews suggested this text for students in high school (ages 12 to 18 or in grades 10 -12), but I am honestly not sure how much they could relate since they have not yet been to college. However, they could definitely learn from these experiences and perhaps better formulate questions and criteria related to their own future college choices. Educators, too, could benefit from reflecting upon these students’ concerns and Miller’s extensive reporting. Brookings published a report (8/21) on transition programs between high school and college which outlines their mixed success in preparing students. And Miller notes that in Fall 2019, “roughly a third of college students in the United States were first-generation.” Given more recent mental health crises, it is clear that even more support is needed. 

A related text, told from a parent’s perspective, is IT. GOES. SO. FAST by Mary Louise Kelly, an accomplished journalist and cohost of NPR’s All Things Considered.  She subtitles her non-fiction text “The Year of No Do-Overs” and appeared last month on the PBS NewsHour Bookshelf to discuss this memoir. Kelly reflects on balancing work and motherhood, particularly during the year when her oldest son is a senior in high school and about to dramatically change family dynamics. While Kelly’s stories (e.g., simultaneously getting on a helicopter in Baghdad while taking a call from the school nurse about her younger son being ill) may be more dramatic than what most parents face, the conflict between work and family will certainly be familiar and readers will find Kelly’s writing to be engaging. IT. GOES. SO. FAST received starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly. 

Although this text centered on older, high school age children, childcare – availability, quality, cost – in America and around the world (particularly due to COVID’s impact) continues to be a major issue and deserves more attention. The World Economic Forum published this report about a year ago and looks at the gender gap in pay as well as the “motherhood penalty.” Pew Research also recently (5/23) complied some perspective on motherhood.

Grow Great Vegetables Illinois by Bevin Cohen

GROW GREAT VEGETABLES ILLINOIS by Bevin Cohen is one in a series of about 15 state-related books. Each author is local and a well-respected expert on plants and vegetables, etc. in the area. The books are well organized and easy to use. The first section, Get Started, offers a general introduction to gardening and garden planning with helpful information on topics like watering with rain. The next section, Get Planting, includes a chapter for each month with detailed checklists for these steps: plan; prepare and maintain; sow and plant; and harvest now.  The planting and harvesting charts are a wonderful visual aid with growing zone-specific date ranges. The third section, Edibles A to Z, offers a page or two of text about growing and harvesting each of 50 vegetables and includes names and descriptions of particular varieties. There also is an excellent Resources section with addresses and websites for seeds and plants, tools and supplies, and soil testing; plus, further reading suggestions, including cookbooks (!) is included. A detailed practical reference, GROW GREAT VEGETABLES ILLINOIS would also make a thoughtful gift.  

Successfully Navigating Your Parents' Senior Years

SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATING YOUR PARENTS' SENIOR YEARS by Star Bradbury is subtitled “Critical Information to Maximize Their Independence and Make Sure They Get the Care They Need.” That thought alone captures Bradbury’s helpful approach to this topic – she strives to respect an elder’s desire for independence while also stressing the need to establish timely plans for adequate care. This text is an excellent primer and encourages readers to raise all kinds of questions about topics like parents’ financial situation, where they could live, getting more care when needed, and planning for the inevitable funeral and its aftermath. While not complete with links in the preview I saw, the appendices appear to be very useful, too; they are intended to cover commonly used terms, online resources and websites, and a list of critical documents. Much of that information is accessible through the author’s website, including a list of questions to ask when touring Senior communities or care facilities.

The Secret Book of Flora Lea

THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA by best-selling author Patti Callahan Henry is a blend of historical fiction and the make-believe world of Whisperwood. Just prior to the Blitz, two sisters, 14 year-old Hazel and 5 year-old Flora, are evacuated to the English countryside where they find a home with Bridie Aberdeen and her son Harry. As a source of solace, they secretly share stories about animals and other inhabitants of an imaginary land and its river of stars. Despite their close bond, Flora goes missing and Hazel spends the next twenty years trying to heal and to deal with the grief and guilt. A seemingly random catalyst for change occurs when an adult Hazel find the sisters’ secret stories in print – how did the American author come to know so many private details? Hoping that she has found Flora alive, Hazel begins to make inquiries, some of which threaten her employment and future marriage. Chapters are often alternating between events of 1939/40 and 1960, allowing readers to experience those slices of British life as well the actions that impact the sisters. The writing is quite engaging and the characters are very likeable. Despite some repetition when the author keeps stressing how critical the Whisperwood stories were, the ending is a surprise. Enjoy works by Fiona Davis, Jamie Ford, and Christina Baker Kline? They are amongst the many who praised THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA; this title also was chosen as a LibraryReads selection for May 2023.