I kept telling Ben how great this book was and he kept saying “but I’m not going to read it, Mom.”  So then I continued to update him as I read it, finishing with “but I know you’re not going to read it.”  I plan to leave it in his path without comment.  I love young adult fiction.  This subject matter [the destruction of a post-slavery community of blacks on the island of Malaga by the whites on the mainland] is so serious, and living it through a 14-year old boy made it not less complicated and terrible, but more poignant and convicting.  Gary Schmidt won the Newberry for this.  He also teaches at nearby Calvin College.  Go, Gary.

Another graphic novel — this one a memoir.  By David Small, winner of Caldecott Medal, E.B. White Award, Christopher Medal.  This one is NOFK.  Not Ok For Kids.  Super dark, super gorgeous, terrible story.

Hey all.

I know I’ve been MIA all summer and this may seem an abrupt re-entry, but it’s been 90 years since women got the right to vote in this country and I celebrate it!  Today is National Women’s Equality Day, created by Congress in 1971 at the behest of Bella Abzug, who has a totally bitchin’ name.

If you’re student-ish and geeky like me, take the quiz at the National Women’s History Project website.  I’ll only say this:  1.  I only got one answer correct. 2.  Go New Zealand!!

I’m not a big fan of Anne Lamott’s fiction.  Her, I love.  This was a birthday present from Linda and it TOTALLY surprised me.  Gripped me by the throat actually and had me eying my daughter beadily all day, wondering what hell she might be planning to put me through in about 10 years.  Ms. Lamott’s nonfiction seems just annoyingly effortlessly fabulous, but I think if I were her I would be insanely proud of this story — a real accomplishment.

by Bernard Beckett who finds himself both “one of New Zealand’s most outstanding writers” and a Royal Society genetics research fellow.  Poor Bernard.  This book ROCKS. Peter and Kristen — read it!!  Very short, sucks you right in, and you’ll never guess where it’s headed.  I’ll say no more.  It’s mysterious.

GREAT young people’s book that Ben turned me on too.  He was right — it is violent — but deals with great questions about statehood, rich v. poor, entertainment and technology.  I know that sounds heavy, but the book is not.  It rockets right along and, bless her, Suzanne Collins has made it a trilogy.  Yippee!

Another graphic novel.

Graphic novels for adults.  I love them!  Thanks to my son for introducing me to the genre.  I did love the Archies and Richie Rich when I was young.

May I present the books that broke the Holocaust spell?  I have always loved the political thriller/psycho killer/heroic journalist genre and Stieg Larsson adds so much more to it.  His heroine Lisbeth Salander is a badass Goth Pippi and Larsson gives his heroes their due, parceling out small victories as you read.  SO satisfying.  Mr. Larsson died before any of these were published.  I bet he had a blast writing these.  P.S. Larsson is a Swede and these books are set in Sweden.  Bonus!