Friday, June 28, 2024

#tbt a Day Late: Rain, Reign by Ann M. Martin

Image: Macmillan

Rain, Reign by Ann M. Martin. 240 p. Feiwel & Friends/ Macmillan, October, 2014. 9780312643003. Own.

Happy Thursday! Sorry for the late posting. It was a very busy day. I wrote this late on Thursday night and never pushed the button to post!

#tbt features Rain, Reign by Ann M. Martin. Rose Howard is a fifth grader who has a love for rules, order and homonyms and homophones. She doesn't always get social cues and her rather clueless, single father really doesn't get her, nor does he have too much patience. Luckily, Rose has Uncle Weldon, who lives nearby and gives Rose the support she needs. When Rose's father brings home a stray dog, Rose names her Rain because she was found in the rain and reign is a homophone for reign. She adores Rain, but when she gets loose during a storm, her uncle and she set out to find her lost dog.

This character-driven, first-person narrative is emotionally intense. Readers will root for Rose as she navigates a sea of uncertainty.

Ann M. Martin is the author of the beloved Babysitters Club series, as well as A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray and its companion, Everything for a Dog. She won an Newbery Honor for A Corner of the Universe in 2003. Rain, Reign won a Schneider Family Book Award and was named to several "Best Books of the Year" lists. Happy Reading!

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Waiting on Wednesday: Faker by Gordon Korman

Image: Scholastic

Faker by Gordon Korman. 224 p. Scholastic Press, July 2, 2024. 9781338826753.

Happy Wednesday! Waiting on Wednesday features a book that you can buy or borrow next week! TMS fave author, Gordon Korman's newest book, Faker publishes next Tuesday, July 2! 

Here's the publisher synopsis:
Trey knows the drill: His dad gets him into a school full of kids with rich parents. Trey makes friends, and his dad makes connections. Soon, there's the con, where Trey's dad suckers the other parents into investing in one of his schemes. Once the money's in the bank, Trey, his sister, and their dad are on the run... until they set up somewhere else and start again.

Trey believes his father when he says no one's getting hurt. After all, these parents have money to spare.

But Trey's starting to get tired of running... and lying... and never having a friend for longer than a few months. But how do you get your family to stop lying when your lives depend on it?

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim

Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~ 13 hours. Narrated by Mirai. Books on Tape/ Listening Library, August, 2023. Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.

Happy Tuesday! It looks like it'll be another beautiful day here in northern NJ. It'll be slightly hotter and not as breezy, but I hope you enjoy the day and get outdoors in nature today. Teen Tuesday features Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim. Two sisters, Channi and Vanna, are devoted to one another, but in their village, Vanna is adored and Channi is reviled. 

When Vanna was born and their mother lay dying, their father took Channi to the Demon Witch as a sacrifice. The king of the serpents saved Channi's life, but the Demon Witch cursed her with a snake face. The only way to break the curse is for Channi to bring Vanna to the Demon Witch before her seventeenth birthday, which Channi will not do. As Vanna's birthday approaches, their father, intent on enriching himself, has a contest for possible suitors to win her hand. When the cruelest, most vile suitor wins, Channi intervenes, challenges the man's champion, and when she beats him, she finds the man's attention is now drawn to her.

This layered and rich epic fantasy unfolds slowly. The world-building is vivid and based on Chinese folklore. Her Radiant Curse is a prequel to the Legends of Lor'yan duology, and, while it does stand alone, knowledge of the duology does enhance enjoyment of the prequel.

New-to-me narrator, Mirai has a wide range of convincing voices for the many characters and her performance was utterly engaging. 

Monday, June 24, 2024

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh.

Image: Macmillan

The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~9 hours. Narrated by Anna Fikhman, Christopher Gebauer, Jesse Vilinsky and Katherine Marsh. Macmillan Audio/ Macmillan, January, 2023. Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library. 

Happy Monday! I hope you are enjoying this beautiful Monday! The heat wave broke here in NJ. It is dry, slightly breezy and just delightful. Middle Grade Monday features The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh. It's the early days of the Covid pandemic and eighth grader Matthew isn't happy about the lockdown. His journalist father is stuck in France as a result of travel restrictions. He doesn't exactly love doing schoolwork through Zoom, and his mom is all over his case about it. His feelings of loneliness and isolation are made worse by the fact that he can't hang out with friends, even outside and socially distanced, because his 100-year-old great-grandmother has moved in and catching Covid would be fatal for her.

Matthew is given the task of helping GG sort through her boxes of belongings and when he comes across a photograph of GG as a young girl in the 1930s, she becomes visibly upset and tells Matthew to leave. He's intrigued by both the photo and his great-grandmother's strong reaction and begins researching what went on in Ukraine during the 1930s after the country was annexed by the USSR.

This intense story about the Holodomor, the Soviet government-induced famine, shifts back and forth in time, from multiple points of view and unfolds masterfully. I had the honor of reviewing Ms. Marsh's 2018 book, Nowhere Boy for SLJ. Ms. Marsh connects current events with historical events seamlessly, trusting young readers to draw their own conclusions. 

The Lost Year was a National Book Award Finalist and was named an SLJ as well as Kirkus Best Book of the Year. It also won a Golden Kite Award. Readers who love historical fiction, especially about little known events in history, will love The Lost Year.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

#tbt: The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart

The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart. 240 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., January, 2015. (Own)

#tbt features The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart. Twelve-year old Mark had plans to climb Mount Rainer with his grandpa. When his grandpa died and Mark learned that the cancer he has been battling since kindergarten has returned, he decides to make that trip with his dog, Beau. He packs some cash, a camera and a notebook and sets out on the 200+ miles to the mountain. The only person who knows about Mark's plans is his best friend, Jessie, whom he has sworn to secrecy.

This first-person narration alternates with half-chapters from Jessie's POV as she struggles to keep Mark's secret. Suspense is high as Mark's quest is not "after-school special," but filled with danger from both humans and the elements. Suspension of belief is required, though middle school readers won't notice. Students who love adventure as well as students who love dog stories will be riveted. 

The Honest Truth was Mr. Gemeinhart's debut novel. At that time, he was still working as a school librarian. He has published six additional novels and has a forthcoming picture book.

Waiting on Wednesday: Read at Your Own Risk by Remy Lai

Image: Macmillan

Read at Your Own Risk by Remy Lai. 160 p. Henry Holt and Co (BYR)/ Macmillan, August 13, 2024. 9781250323354.

Happy Wednesday! And happy first day of break to our school community! Whether you're headed to camp, a family trip, or just chilling at home, be sure to make a stack of books for summer reading!

Waiting on Wednesday features Read at Your Own Risk by Remy Lai. Ms Lai's illustrated novels, Pie in the Sky and Fly on the Wall, along with her graphic novel, Pawcasso, are very popular with my students. Mark your calendars for August 13, when her latest illustrated notebook with be published.

Here's the publisher synopsis: Read at Your Own Risk is the spine-chilling illustrated sketch diary of a kid who is being haunted after a game goes terribly wrong and an evil spirit starts conversing with her on the page.

"The journal format of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets the thrills and chills of R.L. Stine in this middle-grade horror." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Hannah and her friends were just having a bit of fun when they decided to play a game to communicate with spirits of the dead. Little did they know something would answer their call and crawl its way into the pages of Hannah’s journal. What started out as a game has turned into something much more evil. With dire, horrifying consequences.

Is there any way to escape the curse?

Read at Your Own Risk sounds deliciously creepy! I've ordered a copy for our library collection because I always have fifth and sixth graders asking for horror. What books are you looking forward to being published? 

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Teen Tuesday: Louder Than Hunger by John Schu

Louder Than Hunger by John Schu. 528 p. Candlewick Press, March, 2024. 9781536234206. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Tuesday! Today is the final day of the school year and the heat wave is settling in. Best bet is to stay inside and read! Teen Tuesday features Louder Than Hunger by John Schu.

Jake is a lonely, miserable eighth grader. He has been relentlessly bullied by his peers for years and his only friend is his beloved grandmother and an angel he sometimes talks to. Jake's tormentors are not just classmates though. He has a voice inside his head that tells him he's not good enough, and it's getting loud and scary. He finds comfort in volunteering at a nursing home and it is one of his favorite patients who notices Jake's weight loss. She alerts Jakes parents and he is admitted to a residential treatment facility. He definitely does not want to be there following a schedule, getting weighed daily and, ugh, eating. He is resistant to treatment, but makes some friends. 

This verse novel is Jake's journal. It's a compelling, heartbreaking, yet hopeful read. The book is based on the author's own struggles with being bullied, and suffering from OCD and disordered eating. Back matter contains an author's note with organizations that can help. I started out reading Jake's story with my ears and the performance was fine, but I realized that there was much I was missing (line breaks, angry scribbles and such) by not reading it with my eyes, so I switched. This book helped me get out of my reading slump. Highly recommended.

Monday, June 17, 2024

Middle Grade Monday: Duel by Jessixa Bagley and illustrated by Aaron Bagley.

Duel by Jessixa Bagley and illustrated by Aaron Bagley. 320 p. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, November, 2023. 9781534496545. (Review of finished, purchased copy.) 

Happy Monday! It is the final Monday of the 2023- 2024 school year and we have a heat wave this week in the northeast. Middle Grade Monday features Duel by Jessixa Bagley and illustrated by Aaron Bagley. 

Siblings fight, but sisters, Gigi and Lucy's bickering is next-level and about to get worse. Gigi is a popular eighth grader. She's also a good student and star fencer. In fact, she will probably be named captain this year. Lucy is entering sixth grade and terrified of not fitting in and being as good as her sister. When Gigi humiliates Lucy in the cafeteria on the very first day of school in front of the entire school, she grabs Gigi's foil from her fencing bag and challenges her to a duel. Both girls end up in the principal's office and their over-worked, stressed out mother manages to talk the principal out of suspending them, but she's done. Now that the gauntlet has been thrown on multiple levels, Gigi and Lucy are committed to their duel and the entire school is taking sides and bets.

This sibling rivalry story is unique. Each chapter opens with a page from a fencing guidebook, the significance of which, I will not spoil. The full-color art is expressive, with flashback action presented in blue tones for contrast. This graphic novel will have wide appeal. I loved it. Stay cool and happy reading!

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Teen Tuesday: Huda F Cares by Huda Fahmy



Huda F. Cares? by Huda Fahmy. Huda F. #2. 208 p. Dial Books for Young Readers/ Penguin Random House, October, 2023. 9780593532799. Review of finished, purchased copy.

Oops! Happy penultimate Tuesday TMS Readers! Sorry for the late posting. Appointments.

Teen Tuesday features Huda F. Cares? by Huda Fahmy. This is the second book in the Huda F series, and before you all get your panties in a twist, take a look at the author's name.

In this hilarious follow-up to Huda F are You?, Huda and her sisters are bickering non-stop despite their mother's entreaties to please get along. When their parents surprise them with a trip to Disney World, Huda and her sisters are thrilled; that is until they realize that they have to share the backseat of the minivan all the way from Dearborn, Michigan to Orlando!

As in Huda F are You?, Huda and her family are visibly Muslim. While she loves her religion, sometimes it's difficult to practice on the road. Combine those concerns with sisterly bickering and you get a thoughtful and poignant graphic novel that is utterly relatable.

Huda F Cares? was a National Book Award Finalist. It is laugh out loud funny and belongs in any library. Happy reading!

Monday, June 10, 2024

It Has Been a Minute

Info-dump ahead. I have been posting extremely sporadically on the blog since early December, and, not only did I not achieve my 2023 Goodreads goal, I am very behind in my very scaled back 2024 goal. 

I have been through a bit of a health care slog since last summer. I went to my PCP for a physical late last August, but also complained of extreme fatigue. Summer, for teachers, is a time of recharging and becoming re-enthused for the coming school year. I found that I was not recharging. I needed to lie down after any strenuous activity for most of the summer.

My diligent PCP took a ton of blood for many tests, all of which came back negative. I went back to school and found myself barely able to get through the school day. I stopped going to yoga classes, exercised my dog as best I could and went to bed early each night. Definitely not my usual routine.

I started noticing that I got mild chest pain on my dog-walks, especially when I went up hills in late November. I mentioned it to my PCP, who then advised a trip to the ER. My EKG was mostly normal, except for my extremely low heart rate. A five-beat run of v-tach was recorded as well. One of my cardiac enzymes were elevated so I was admitted.

The following day, I had a stress echocardiogram, which I passed "with flying colors!" Perfect, they said. Other tests were negative, but I still felt like crap. When I followed up with my PCP a week later, my enzymes were still elevated, but he was at a loss. A few weeks later, I was still feeling lousy and he, clearly frustrated, suggested that I see a psychiatrist (!) and consider antidepressants. 

I will not deny that my anxiety has been high for some time, even preceding my husband's death, but, I just did not feel well. Whatever. Okay. I met with the psychiatrist he recommended. I could not get an in-network appointment with a psychologist for at least three months. Luckily, this psychiatrist was "old school" and still did talk therapy. She started me on Zoloft.

I returned to school after the winter break, still not feeling well. I had made an appointment to follow up with the cardiologist for January 8. Unfortunately, I ran a fever within six days of returning to school, so I rescheduled the cardiologist appointment (earliest appointment was late February!), then tested positive for Covid the next day. I was so bummed because I was no-vid for almost four years!

I ran a fever for a few days, slept, lost my appetite, lost ten pounds that I didn't need to lose, and my fatigue worsened. In addition, I had shortness of breath when I exerted myself. I took a medical leave from school and slept 12 - 16 hours each day. 

When I finally saw the cardiologist in late February, he was skeptical, told me my stress echo was perfect, and my symptoms are atypical. I told him that my maternal aunt dropped dead of a massive heart attack at age 57 and that my father had one of the first angioplasties in the early 80s for a 95% blockage of his left anterior descending artery (the widow-maker). He was a runner who played tennis almost daily, and had atypical symptoms. Some years later, my mother went to her PCP complaining of extreme fatigue and lightheadedness. Her stress test was normal, but her PCP wasn't convinced, and sent her for an angiogram, which showed five blocked coronary arteries. My point being, I have a strong family history for bad coronary artery disease. My aunt had no symptoms, my dad had few symptoms and my mom's were "atypical" yet she ended up with a quintuple bypass.

School librarianship is my second career. I went to nursing school when I graduated from high school and went on to work in, first a cardiac floor, then the Emergency Dept. I learned in nursing school some forty years ago that women present with atypical symptoms for coronary artery disease. 

Reader, if I hear one more male physician comment on my atypical symptoms, I will scream. Why has nothing changed since I went to nursing school? Even though my cardiologist paused when I told him of my family history, I had to pull the "I know a cardiologist at <insert prestigious institute here> who said he would order a cardiac CT Angio for me, because he knew my parents and aunt. That tipped him over. His office got the test approved and I had it a week later.

I had the test on a Thursday afternoon in late April. The nurse who injected the dye was someone I worked with in the ER some 38 years ago. She said that I probably would not hear from my cardiologist until the following week. Imagine my surprise when I was awakened from my nap the following afternoon by a call from his office. He sounded extremely surprised when he told me that I had three coronary artery blockages! "But you're not ready to go under the knife yet." He wanted to see me the next week to discuss medical management. 

Simultaneously, I felt, "Yes! It wasn't all in my head!" and "Shit! I have coronary artery disease!"

He put me on Lipitor and two cardiac drugs and gave me nitroglycerin and wanted to see me in a month. The nitroglycerin took the chest pain away, but bottomed out my already low blood pressure. The two cardiac drugs also helped the chest pain, but further decreased my b/p, so that all I could do was walk the dog and sleep. 

After a month, I returned and say that the quality of my life is unsustainable. He switched up the meds for two weeks. That didn't work. So he said I needed an angiogram and stent. His office got insurance approval and I got an appointment.

My youngest son happened to visit that weekend in late April and dropped me off for the stent before heading back to Massachusetts. I got processed and the interventional cardiologist came in to introduce himself. His first words to me were, "Your symptoms are so atypical." I wanted to scream, "Really?"

I found out later, that he called my cardiologist and said that I didn't need a stent. My LAD blockage was "only" 70%. My cardiologist told me that he said that I needed it and to do some kind of flow test once he catheterized me. It seems the interventionist did so reluctantly. He ended up calling my cardiologist back and said that I needed the stent.

So. My 70% blockage is now 0%. I have been pain-free since the procedure. My fatigue had lingered, but is now almost gone. I have gone from needing two naps of 2 - 4 hours a day, to only one 1 - 2 hour nap a day. Last week, I only napped on two days!

I really thought that I would need to retire, but now I am looking forward to returning to school in September! My energy is returning, as is my ability to read and focus. I was down, but not out!

Folks, especially ladies, advocate for yourself. If you don't feel well, keep advocating even if the tests are "normal."

PS: I have been seeing my psychiatrist since December. Some weeks of Zoloft produced unacceptable side effects, as did some weeks of Lexapro. I was switched to Cymbalta and, you guessed it, side effects. We are now trying... nothing! 

Yes, I am grieving. Yes, my anxiety was high. She's not convinced that I need medication. As for any medication I have taken all of my life, there have always been significant side effects. I had the weirdest side effects while undergoing chemo ten years ago, but, I really had not choice. 

I will continue to take the statins, and will be on blood thinners for some time. I will continue with psychotherapy, but am feeling more myself with each passing day.

Hopefully, I am back and will return to posting daily book talks. I look forward to cleaning up and reorganizing my library (don't ask) and seeing students again come September. See you tomorrow with Teen Tuesday.