Tag: reading

When your secrets go viral…

How do you keep things private in a digital age? When things can easily be shared online? When hackers can access devices and cloud storage, is anything ever really safe?

In “In Case You Missed It” by Sarah Darer Littman we see what happens when your safe protected cloud storage is hacked and shared online. Sammy, a high school junior is busy with the APs and getting her driver’s license. She keeps a personal diary on her computer so her little brother can’t find it and read it.

Sammy’s dad is the CEO of a major bank. He is under enormous stress because there are protesters outside the bank protesting bank actions. Sammy is aware of his stress, but she’s a teenager busy with her own school stress. While it might seem like there is no overlap, their whole world is turned upside down when hackers hack into bank documents then turn their attack on her father, personally. They hack into the family’s cloud storage and start sharing everything they find online…including Sammy’s personal diary.

Every thought, every frustration, the time she lied to her parents…all out there for her classmates and parents to read. Things at the bank are worse than ever and her dad stays at work for days on end because he is dealing with the issues there. Her entire school has read her diary, her friends are furious and refuse to speak to her. The ultimate irony in Sammy’s mind is that her mom tells her not to read any of their emails or texts shared online but Sammy’s mom reads her diary. On top of losing her friends, Sammy is caught lying to her parents through her diary and is now grounded. While Sammy’s secrets are on the internet being read, so are her parents’ secrets and Sammy learns the biggest secret they’ve been keeping from her. Definitely check out this book to see what happens when all those private thoughts and email exchanges are now available for the whole world to read.

This YA book is well written and readers of all age can identify with the question – how safe is anything online? The story flows well, is captivating and took turns I didn’t expect (which I really enjoy in a book). Friendships end, family dynamics change, Sammy learns a lot about herself, her real friends, and if you have to choose who is going to snoop through your diary….she’d rather it was just her little brother. I highly recommend this book.

Books as holiday gifts

I like to include a book among the holiday presents, even for a reluctant reader. While it might not be the most favorite gift for some, the right book can still be a welcomed present. Here are a few book gift suggestions.

The Daring Books (The Daring Book for Girls and The Daring Book for Boys) are fun. Siblings, cousins, friends who are spending a lot of time together over the holidays will hit a point of boredom. Those are great books to give them so fun ideas of something to do. While they aren’t reading chapters, they are reading parts (and reading something is always better than reading nothing).

Another favorite is Wreck This Journal. These are great stocking stuffers for all the children in the family. It’s fun to see how they all tackle the different instructions to “wreck” each page. I’ve seen siblings and cousins go off on their own to wreck their pages then come back together to see what each other did.

Guiness Book of Records seem to be a hit among elementary age children. The child who loves random facts can get lost in these books. Expect many questions over dinner that you won’t know the answer to but lots of great conversations start with “do you know the world record for….”

Some other ideas depending on your child’s interests…..a book of scary stories and a flashlight for the child who likes spooky stories. A child appropriate cookbook makes a great gift for an aspiring chef. The next book in a series is always a great gift for the reader who is deep in a series they love. A book on any interest…books on making friendship bracelets, how to braid hair, lego guides, are all fun gifts that will get young readers flipping through the pages.

If you are looking for a book idea for a challenging reader, leave a comment and I’ll try to find a good recommendation!

The Legend continues…The Horseman

I know I’ve mentioned in the past, I love Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” As a child in NY, my mom would take me to Sleepy Hollow and tell me the story of the legend. I have found memories of visiting the old Dutch Church and wandering the cemetery. Years ago, I went to a reading of the Legend in the old Dutch Church. It was lit only by candlelight with a fire burning in the wood burning stove.

Being in the Church listening to the story felt like I found this magical vortex where reality and story overlap. I dove into the story as it happened around me. I crossed the bridge the horseman couldn’t cross. I stood safely in the old Dutch Church listening. I was a real human and yet I was so far into the legend, I sort of expected to see the headless horseman ride by outside the window. Crossing that secret barrier from reality into the book and the story crossing from pages into the world around me, made me feel a unique connection to the story. In a weird way, I lived it. I’ve been inside those pages.

Embracing the spooky season, I revisit the legend. I rewatch the old Disney cartoon (it’s available on Disney+). I dive into one of my copies of the legend and some years, like this year, I revisit those grounds. I walk the steps of Ichabod, Katrina, and Broms. I stand inside the story and look around.

This year, I was looking for another legend related book. You can visit past reads of the Legend and Legend related books. The incredible librarians at the Ridgefield Library tracked down a copy of Christina Henry’s “Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow” for me. In “Horseman” we meet Ben, grandchild of Katrina and Broms over 30 years after Ichabod disappeared. Broms insists the Legend is just a made-up story to scare off Ichabod. Young Ben doesn’t think much of it, until a child goes missing and is found headless and handless in the woods. Ben has always been told to stay out of the woods and everyone in Sleepy Hollow believes bad things happen when you step off the trail into the woods. Ben is curious and wonders if the horseman might be real and tied to this discovery.

The story is divided into 3 parts. I really enjoyed the first two parts. The third is sadder and while I respect the writing, I wanted a different ending. Just simply personal preference. Others go missing in the story and face a similar horrific demise as the first missing character. We do find out who is stealing the heads and hands of their victims. The horseman does make an appearance of sorts in the story and another surprise character from the original legend appears. The book would be ideal for older teens, not younger readers. It’s gruesome at times but not scary but the gruesome level should definitely be taken into consideration when determining appropriateness (and again why I think older teens and up).

While many books based on popular tales struggle to capture the essence of the initial story, Henry does a good job. It does feel believable as a continuation of the story. If you are looking for a good Halloween spooky read, this is a good one.

Starting my October Spooky Reads

A few weeks ago, I was at a library book sale. While searching all the books, one cover caught my attention. The cover scene was a New Orleans cemetery. While you can’t judge a book by its cover, this cover captured my attention, and I knew it was worth checking out. I grabbed the copy of “Ruined” by Paula Morris and knew it would be a great October read.

I dove in last week and once I started, I couldn’t put the book down. Rebecca grew up in NYC, but her dad has to go on an extended business trip (for months) and sends her to live with a family friend in the Garden District in New Orleans. Rebecca feels completely out of place when she arrives. She is given one strong warning from her “aunt” (she needs to refer to her father’s friend as her aunt to be permitted to attend her new school) – stay away from the cemeteries, they are dangerous. Of course, this sparks her interest, and she follows schoolmates into the cemetery one night to see what they are up to. She doesn’t want them to know she is there, so she hides and manages to get lost. While trying to find her way out, she meets someone, Lisette, in the cemetery who guides her to the gate. Rebecca wonders why she doesn’t see Lisette anywhere else except the cemetery. On a visit into the cemetery to see Lisette, the other students are about to see Rebecca until Lisette grabs her hands making her invisible. Rebecca suddenly realizes why she hasn’t seen Lisette anywhere else…she’s a ghost.

Why is Rebecca able to see this ghost no one else sees? While Rebecca wonders about this, the rest of the school (and city) are getting ready for Mardi Gras. Aside from the parades, there are many parties. Rebecca is invited to an exclusive Mardi Gras season party by a boy in her school. Her aunt does not want her to go but she plans to sneak out and attend. Lisette surprisingly tells Rebecca she will be there. Why would a ghost attend a party? I’d tell you more, but you really need to read it find out why.

What I loved most about this book is the twists and turns. Lisette’s appearance at the party sets off a chain of events that the reader does not expect. Really well written and the perfect book for a spooky (but not scary) October read!

Ivan – the Shopping Mall Gorilla

“The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate is one of my top 10 favorite children’s books. I’ve written about this book before. I still have the same feelings I had then…how many times can I use profound, brilliant, and amazing without it feeling repetitive or unnecessary. Ivan’s story is one of those rare books that touches your heart in a way that profound and brilliant simply can’t be said enough about it.

Visiting the library this past week, I saw another favorite Ivan book that I previously shared here…Katherine Applegate’s “Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla.” I haven’t looked at this book since 2015, but I saw it and needed to revisit my old friend, Ivan. Yes, Ivan really did live in a shopping mall for 27 years. My heart hurts to think about this poor lonely gorilla trapped in a cage in a shopping mall for most of his life. The book begins and ends with the same line “In leafy calm, in gentle arms, a gorilla’s life began.” The story follows Ivan’s life from a tropical forest in Africa to a house in Washington, to a shopping mall once Ivan was too big to keep at home, and finally, to Zoo Atlanta where vets and scientists gave Ivan the closest life they could that tropical forest in Africa.

Books like these make the readers feel so many emotions. Readers of all ages feel frustration for Ivan, anger that he is held captive, relief when he ends up in the closest place to the forest (Zoo Atlanta). This is why I love a great children’s book. Initially a reader may wonder how they could possibly relate to a gorilla in a cage in a mall, but Applegate brilliantly shows the reader they can. Gorillas are incredibly intelligent animals who feel emotions like us. It is impossible to read this book and not feel a connection to Ivan.

Children will love that “The One and Only Ivan” is told in first person gorilla. The Ivan picture book is told by a narrator. Initially, I expected first person gorilla to make the book feel more childish, but it didn’t. It made me feel more of a connection to Ivan. It made me feel like I was stepping into his world and seeing it through his eyes. If you are interested in knowing more about the incredible Ivan, these videos show his life in a cage in a mall, his later life at Zoo Atlanta and more about his life.

A great children’s book doesn’t mean it is only written for children. It means the book is written appropriately for children BUT is a great book for readers of all ages. Visit the brilliant (yes, I’m using that word again) Ivan stories through both books and you will understand what I mean. I can’t recommend this book enough and I will definitely revisit my friend, Ivan, again soon.

The Elephant in the Room

I love Holly Goldberg Sloan books. You can visit my past reads here: Counting by 7’s, Short – the passage a friend texted to me, Short (review). One thing I noticed looking back at my previous reads – they all involved photos of a passage that impacted me. This book is no different. I took a photo of my favorite passage while reading (before I revisited those previous articles).

“You had to hope for the best.

You had to keep going even when things weren’t fair.

You had to believe in the possibility of days like this day.

And you had to work to make them happen.”

Let’s dive into this book. Sila’s mother has to return to Turkey to straighten out her immigration paperwork. She expects to be gone for a week but a week turns into a year. Sila struggles through this separation while she waits with her dad for news of her mom’s return. During this time, Sila meets an assortment of characters who change her life in ways she could never imagine. Along with her dad, Sila meets Gio a retired lottery winner who was married to Sila’s favorite teacher (who passed away). She is paired by her school with Matteo who she doesn’t plan to befriend but sometimes the universe seems to have different plans. The failing circus owner who is so desperate to sell an elephant, he will throw in a bear too. The largest character in the book (both in size and impact on Sila) is Veda, a retired circus elephant that Gio rescues who gives Sila a sense of purpose and distraction during the separation from her mom. How do these characters come together? Read the book, trust me. While it sounds like unlikely friendships and scenarios in my description, Holly Goldberg Sloan weaves in incredible tale.

The story combines sadness, loneliness, hope, promise. We find friendship in people we don’t expect. Strangers become not only friends but help in ways Sila and her dad never imagined they could. Her characters are fascinating, frustrating, wonderful humans. She tackles a tough topic, separation due to immigration issues and doesn’t sugar coat it at all but addresses the myriad of emotions in a way that is appropriate for young readers. I can not recommend this book enough.

Flora & Ulysses’ Vacuum

Note: This originally appeared on HamletHub on May 11, 2018.

“This book, more than any other that I have written, belongs to my mother. It belongs to her, in part, because of the vacuum cleaner. My mother had a tank Electrolux that she loved. And in the last year of her life, she worried (aloud and often) about what would happen to the vacuum cleaner after she was gone. I told her (again and again. And again) that I would take the vacuum cleaner, that it would be safe with me. But still, it worried her. She wanted the Electrolux to be loved, appreciated. And so I wrote a story, this story, in which a truly exceptional vacuum cleaner does a truly miraculous thing (i.e., the vacuum cleaner transforms an ordinary squirrel into a superhero).” – Kate DiCamillo, Newbery Medal Acceptance Speech

This past weekend, my husband found this amazing vintage Electrolux vacuum. Knowing I love old things, he knew I would think this is fabulous, but he didn’t expect me to start talking nonstop about a book. He showed me the vacuum, and my response was, “It’s a Flora & Ulysses vacuum!!!!” He was perplexed. It is an Electrolux vacuum. An old vacuum with those shiny letters spelling out Electrolux, and while it was cool because it is shiny and old and has a bit of a space ship feel, for me, it was a magical machine that connected me to a book.

While he saw a cool vacuum, I heard Kate DiCamillo in my mind sharing the story she shared at a recent book talk, the same one in the quote above from her Newberry Medal acceptance speech. Her mom loved her Electrolux vacuum so much that she was worried about what would happen to that vacuum when she was no longer here. And Kate DiCamillo did what she does best; she appreciated the vacuum by giving it life in “Flora & Ulysses.” The truly exceptional vacuum in her story transformed an ordinary squirrel into a superhero. What Kate DiCamillo’s mom may never have imagined is that not only Kate appreciated that vacuum but fans all over the world who love that book, who love Flora and Ulysses, secretly wonder if their vacuum is as magical. Once you read “Flora & Ulysses” you will never looked at an Electrolux vacuum or a squirrel without wondering if each vacuum might have the potential to turn a squirrel into a superhero and each squirrel might have the potential to be one.

So many times in this column, I mention my desire to climb inside the pages of the books I love. I never imagined the stories climbing out of the pages and into my world, but I realized as I looked at this vacuum that sometimes the worlds overlap. While I can’t officially move into a book, and they can’t officially climb out of the pages into mine,  this “truly exceptional vacuum cleaner does a truly miraculous thing”…it brought Flora and Ulysses into my world. While I never knew Kate DiCamillo’s mom, I appreciate that amazing vacuum (and I really appreciate that Kate’s words taught me to see the magic in something simple right in front of me).

If my children are reading this and grow up to write like Kate, please, please honor my vintage aluminum Christmas tree in a book somehow!

My First Library Card

I went to preschool in our local library. Yes, there was an actual preschool downstairs in the library. Although I was only three or four, I distinctly remember climbing the stairs up to the children’s section. I loved when we visited the children’s room. I can still remember exactly what it looked like. I remember how the sun shone in through the giant windows. I remember wandering through the shelves of books. I thought it was the most magical place.

My preschool class would visit the library for a special story time. Those were my favorite days. I couldn’t wait to hear what book would be read on each visit.

I was thrilled when I was old enough to get my own library card. To me, that library card was a key that opened the door to hundreds of different worlds. I could pick any book that I wanted. I could bring home picture books, chapter books, nonfiction, fiction. Anything my heart desired.

My mom recently found my first library card. It’s not the credit card computer scannable library card like the ones we have today. It is paper and has a little metal bar on it. It’s from the days of card catalogs and manually stamped book check out cards. It isn’t fancy but to me it’s still incredibly special.

The thing I loved about the library as a child was being able to pick whatever books I wanted and as many as I wanted (within reason). I felt so grown up when I held that library card. When my children were younger, the thing I loved about taking them to the library was seeing the books they chose. Being able to give them that opportunity to pick whichever and however many books they want gives them such a feeling of empowerment. A library card is so much more than simply a card to borrow books. It is most certainly a key into new worlds. It’s a ticket to travel to visit old friends. It’s a way to explore new places. It’s a passport to other lands.

Happy Birthday Nancy Drew!

93 years ago, “The Secret of the Old Clock” was published, and young readers joined Nancy Drew solving all sorts of mysteries. Nancy Drew was unlike other young women depicted in books at the time. She was a pioneer…one of the first female heroes young readers met. She was, and continues to be, an inspiration to young readers (or readers of all ages). While times may have dramatically changed since the books were originally published, Nancy Drew’s popularity and impact on young girls continues.

I was watching an old episode of Gilmore Girls in which Lorelai says “I know there’s more to the story than you’re telling me. […] I’ve read every Nancy Drew mystery ever written, the one about the Amish country twice.” Still a relevant pop culture reference in the early 2000s. Like Lorelai on Gilmore Girls, I grew up reading Nancy Drew too.

When I was young, my mom searched flea markets and old bookstores to find beautiful old forgotten copies of Nancy Drew. She would keep this tiny list in her wallet with the books we had so she could find them all. I devoured them. Like many young readers who came before me, I wanted to solve crimes, save the world, and drive a super cute convertible.

While the original Nancy Drew books are incredible (and hold a special place in my heart), there have been additions….new books, movies, tv shows, games, and more. Here are a few Nancy Drew options (in addition to reading the original books):

Nancy Drew – a tv show from 2007 available on amazon.

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew – these books are geared towards younger elementary age readers.

Nancy Drew Files – these books are more appropriate for middle school readers.

Nancy Drew, Reporter – a short movie from 1939. I’ve never seen this before but will be watching it now in honor of Nancy Drew’s birthday.

Nancy Drew – another tv series from 1995 appropriate for young adults.

Nancy Drew Collector Card Game – this fun family game uses logic and deduction and the cards have the original cover artwork.

Hunt A Killer Mystery at Magnolia Gardens – Solve a Nancy Drew Mystery – a murder mystery game for teens and adults.

Additionally, there are many Nancy Drew computer games. While Nancy Drew didn’t have cell phones or computers to help solve her mysteries, her logical crime solving skills and fearlessness when facing the mysteries, she is still a hero to many young readers.

The Magician’s Elephant

I picked up a copy of Kate DiCamillo’s “The Magician’s Elephant” when it was first released but somehow missed reading it until now. My delay in reading is no reflection on the story and simply that of “to be read” pile growing out of control as Kate DiCamillo is definitely one of my favorite children’s authors.

“The Magician’s Elephant” is the story of hope when things seem hopeless. A fortune tellers tent appears in the middle of town and young orphan, Peter Augustus Duchene, knows he must ask the one question that plaques him….is his sister still alive? He was told his sister died at birth by the solider who took him after his parents’ deaths, but he believes she might be alive. The fortune teller gives him a nearly impossible to believe answer…she is alive, follow the elephant.

While there are no elephants here, this answer might destroy all hope, but Peter waits and as luck would have it, a magician uses his spell to drop an elephant on the stage instead of flowers. Obviously, Peter believes this is a sign and knows he needs to get to that elephant to find his sister.

It isn’t easy getting to an elephant, but Peter is determined and even more determined to have the elephant lead him to his sister. Nothing is truly hopeless until one gives up all hope…Peter never does. He truly believes the elephant will help him find his sister. Check out this sweet story to see if Peter finds his sister and how an elephant can possibly change his entire life. Once you read it, check the sweet adaptation on Netflix!