For seven days Barger traveled to seven different airports, didn’t leave the premises, ate on $20 a day, and snatched bits of sleep on benches and floors – all to observe human behavior.  Step Back from the Baggage Claim is his extended metaphor that how we treat each other and how we behave at the airport is how we behave in our day-to-day lives.  If we change the way we act at the airport we can change our lives and thus change the world.

I have to admit that the idea does sound a bit hokey when I lay it out like that but let me share with you a few passages from the book:

I’m convinced that the lessons learned from our airport experiences can point us toward more fulfilling lives and toward a more compassionate world.  If we really want to change the world, it starts with small moments in our daily interactions.  Since so many people travel by air daily, airports are the perfect locations to begin to affect change in our mobile world.  This book uses air travel experiences as a metaphor for how each one of us can impact our world.

The title Step Back from the Baggage Claim comes from the observation that we all crowd around the conveyor belt to claim our luggage.  We jostle for the best position, crowd each other out and are anxious to catch sight of our bags first.

Just imagine what the experience at the baggage claim would be like if everyone took those three steps back so everyone could see, and if everyone actually helped those around them with their bags.  not only would the spirit and environment around the conveyor belt be more positive for all, but it also would be a more efficient way for everyone to get their bags as quickly as possible.  Imagine if stepping back at the baggage claim became the norm; imagine how that inclusive spirit could impact the underlying tone of complaining that permeates other aspects of the airport.  A place commonly filled with chaos, negativity, and frustration would be changed because of the thoughtful awareness of many. Then, imagine what that same spirit could mean for the world if we carried into other areas of our lives as well.

The analogy works.  I get it.  I totally get it.  And I’m sure that I won’t be able to fly anymore without thinking about my own airport behaviors nor observing others to see how they act.  But oddly enough, I can’t relate to the initial analogy of the baggage claim.  In my experiences of flying, claiming my bags has been nothing but calm and orderly.  My only anxiety that I’ve had is when my luggage was lost upon arrival at my home and the company ended up delivering it to the apartment across the street.  The other is when I moved cross country for college and everything had to fit in three boxes.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to get the largest box off of the conveyor belt but some nice man helped me out.  I’ve yet to experience a overcrowded, impatient baggage claim area.  Perhaps, I’m not well traveled enough?  When Barger says , “Take three big steps back” I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Hmm . . . I didn’t know there was a problem there in the first place.”  Luckily, he’s not only thinking literally but metaphorically as well.  The baggage claim message is simple.  Be aware and thoughtful of those around you.  Turn chaos and negativity into order, calm and a positive experience.

For the remainder of the slim volume, Barger furthers the airport analogy and touches upon the following points:

• Gain perspective and create space for others.
• Practice stillness in this movement.
• Share compassion with those along your journey.
• Quit the comparison game and thrive where you are.
• Celebrate an ethic of creativity.
• Put a grateful spirit into action.

Barger shares stories about his airport observations, movie analogies, stories from his life working in the nonprofit sector and his ministry in his church.  Each chapter ends with a summary, a self-evaluation questioner and place to jot down notes.

For having spent seven days in an airport I had hoped for more stories about the people he met or conversations he had.  I’m sure he has some great ones.  The book is not really about his experience living in airports for seven days but more about his general observation while doing so and combining them with his life experiences and metaphorically sharing the message:  “We can change the world because each one of us has the innate ability to expand our awareness, change our focus, and alter our daily interactions.”

There were a few problems with the design of the book (large font, small margins, unclear headings – which is something that Dawn at She is Too Fond of Books picked up as well) that has me nervous that some won’t pick it up after an initial thumb through.   While I sometimes felt that the airport analogy was a bit over the top, Barger has a sound philosophy and a great message to share:

Change the world by choosing to travel gracefully, living this message not only in the airports, but throughout the path of your life.  Take time to step back and gain a new angle of vision and consider those around you.  Slow down and commit to thriving where you are in the present moment.  Embrace the creative process of living the lift you want to live and, ultimately, build relationships and share compassion with those along your journey.  Small loving actions in every facet of our lives will change the world.  Daily commitment to this spirit in all corners of our lives can’t help but allow a movement like this to take flight!

A fun video about The Step Back from the Baggage Claim movement:

Have you had any airport or travel experiences where somebody touched you by their actions?  Vice-versa any horror stories?

Links of interest:  Jason Barger website, blog,  on Twitter, and Facebook.  More book blogger reviews.
Genre: Non-fiction, inspirational.
Publisher: One Love Publishers. September 25, 2008
Paperback , 134 pages. ISBN 0615226663
Step Back from the Baggage Claim is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

From the criticisms that I’ve read of the book and a discussion that we had at book club is the fact that the braille text is virtually unreadable as braille.  The raised dots simply are not raised high enough off of the paper.  I’d be curious to know if a blind individual could actually read the book.

But the book isn’t intended for the blind but rather those with sight and it’s very cool.  I enjoyed feeling the raised line art.  I knew what I was feeling for as I could see the image that the line art created but I would often close my eyes to see if I could figure out what I was feeling.

Thomas thinks that without the sun, water, doesn’t amount to much.
It has no color, no taste, no smell.
He says that green tastes like lemon ice cream and smells like grass that’s just been cut.
But black is the king of all the colors.  It is as soft as silk when his mother hugs him and her hair falls in his face.

How does one describe a color?  A very creative book that would be a welcome addition and a different type of reading experience for any children’s library.

Links of interest:  More book blogger reviews.
Genre:  Picture Book, approx ages 4-8.
Publisher: Groundwood Books.   June 28, 2008.
Hardcover, 24 pages. ISBN 0888998732
The Black Book of Colors is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

I Am a Star is the juvenile non-fiction account of  Inge Auerbacher, who at the age of seven in 1942 was sent with her parents to a concentration camp.  She spend her next three birthdays there.

The book begins,

Of fifteen thousand children imprisoned in the Eterazin concentration camp in Czechoslovakia between 1941 and 1945, about one hundred survived.  I am one of them.  At least one a nd a half million children were killed in the Nazi Holocaust.  The reason most of those children died is that they were Jewish.

Why should one remember these dreadful events? The death of one innocent child is a catastrophe; the loss of such numbers in unimaginable.  Their silent voices must be heard today.  This is why I feel compelled to trace the historical events that made this great evil possible and to tell my own story.

Auerbacher’s story is horrifying and she does give a really good background about the history of the Holocaust so that a child who knows nothing about World War II would learn and understand what happened.  The question that will never be answered though is why?  We know what happened, but we will never truly understand why.

Interspered between the text is a collection of poems written by Auerbacher.  Or I assume that they were written by Auerbacher – there was never really an acknowledgement or explanation of the poems – which is partly why I found the format of I Am a Star a bit disconcerting.  They seemed randomly placed throughout the book.   They did relate to the text though, so I am assuming they were written by Auerbacher.  It’s almost as though the book wanted to be a non-fiction narrative written in verse and also written formally.  I liked both, but maybe they needed to be placed into the book a bit better.

I  enjoyed the photos that accompanied the text.  I always enjoy photos in memoirs, and this was no exception.  I like to visualize what’s going on.  There were a fair number of illustrations.  Again, I’m not sure if these were Auerbacher’s or not.

I really liked I Am a Star and learning about Auerbacher’s story.  If I could recommend only one non-fiction book to read about a child in the Holocaust though, this one would probably not be it.  I just didn’t feel that gut-wrenching horror that I usually feel when I read books about the Holocaust.  I felt removed from the story.  And to tell you the truth, I imagine that the author had to remove herself from her own story just to get past the emotion of bringing it all back to the forefront of her memory.

Overall, I’m glad I read it but it’s not on the best Holocaust memoirs that I’ve read.  I’d recommend something along the lines of I Have Lived a Thousand Years by Livia Button Jackson at about the same reading level.  But don’t discount I Am a Star. Each memoir written about the Holocaust should be valued and their stories heard.  We are losing the survivors to old age, pretty soon we will have nobody left and only their words will be left behind.

Links of interest: Inge Auerbacher website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre:  Memoir for ages 9-12.
Publisher:  Puffin.  February 1, 1993
Paperback, 96 pages.  ISBN:  0140364013
I Am a Star, Child of the Holocaust is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

My boys and I have been excited ALL summer (photo on the left is my baby about 2 1/2 years ago) because Christy, the elephant at Hogle Zoo, which we frequent about two times a month, was expecting a baby elephant.  In August her due date had finally approached.  I had talked with somebody at the zoo and was thrilled when he told me that if all goes well, the new baby elephant would be on display immediately following the birth.  Wow!

When Hogle Zoo twittered about the new arrival, I was ecstatic and asked again when the elephant would be on display.  I literally was ready to drop everything to see this elephant.  I was so bummed when this was the reply: @mawbooks Baby elephant and her mom are not on exhibit yet. Should be six to eight weeks and we’ll keep folks posted on the big debut! Dang it!  I’d waited all summer.  But the wait is finally over!  Our newest arrival will be on display a week from today.  I’ve already put in on the calender and told my friend I want to be there when they open.   And we have a new giraffe too.  It will be an exciting day.

Why am I talking about elephants?  ‘Tis funny because Tilbury House Publishers were on the look out for reviewers for two of their elephant books and they happened to catch me Twittering about well – elephants.  It’s like they read my mind, because I was thinking that reviewing some picture books about elephants would be a perfect tie-in to our own arrival here! I’ve reviewed other Tilbury titles and have enjoyed them. So I’m really excited to share two of their elephant titles with you.  But first, I have to share the baby with you!

(Photos attributed and copyrighted to the Hogle Zoo)

Isn’t she a cutie?!  I can’t wait to go visit my first baby elephant on Friday.  If any of my local readers are  planning on going bright and early in the morning, do let me know.

Let’s talk about elephant books!

Both Tarra and Carol have unusual lives and it’s in this photo essay entitled  Travels with Tarra by Carol Buckley that Carol shares with us her unusual relationship with Tarra, who happens to be an elephant.  Imagine sitting at home doing homework when you look up and see a baby elephant walking down the sidewalk.  For Carol that’s exactly what happened and it was love at first sight.

Tarra belonged to a tire store owner who bought her from an elephant broker (who literally snatched Tarra from her herd in Burman and shipped to the U.S.).  Tarra served as a mascot for this tire shop and the owner hoped that she would bring in more money.

Carol visited the tire shop so often that she soon became her caretaker and even took the elephant home with her night.  Tarra was still very much a baby and needed the physical and emotional contact that every baby needs.  For Tarra that need was accomplished through Carol and they became the best of friends.

Carol purchased Tarra and for twenty years the two of them traveled the world in shows, circuses and even making an appearance in the movie Annie.  Tarra loved to perform and was generally a very happy elephant.  But she would also get tired of the same tricks and Carol had to be inventive on how to keep her entertained.  There were a few times that she was kept in a zoo but ultimately Carol knew that Tarra was happiest with lots of room to run around.  She purchased 800 acres and founded The Elephant Sanctuary.  It’s not a zoo or a theme park in the sense that it’s not open to the public, but rather, I thought of it as more as a retirement home for elephants.  A place where they could live with other elephants and roam and play openly.

Travels with Tarra did an excellent job conveying how social elephants are.  They need attention and touch.  They truly care and comfort each other.  It also illustrates how many elephants were cared for by ignorant owners (the tire shop owner would literally drive Tarra home in the trailer, turn off the lights and go to bed – leaving her alone for hours in a very small space).  Although, Tarra loved to perform she was always the happiest when she had the opportunity to just run around in open space.

The Elephant Sanctuary has recently received a lot of media coverage and I found Travels with Tarra a good book to introduce me to the sanctuary and its background.  It would make for a good read-a-loud book in the classroom or in your home with your children.

Just for Elephants also by Carol Buckley is the story of two other elephants at the Sanctuary.  Shirley had lived a long life.  She had performed in a circus and after breaking her leg and being unable to perform tricks was sold to a zoo.  After many years with the zoo, it was decided to move Shirley to The Elephant Sanctuary where she could live out the rest of her life roaming freely with other elephants.

When she arrived, she was greeted by another elephant named Jenny who just happened to be a baby elephant in Shirley’s circus many years earlier.  The old adage, “elephants do remember” is only too true and these two elephants instantly remembered each other, stood close together.  They touched each other affectionately and often wrapped their trunks together.  They became inseparable best friends.  I enjoyed learning how the elephants lived in the sanctuary and the importance of friendships to them.

The narration in both Travels with Tarra and Just for Elephants left just a bit to be desired in its simplicity.  In Just for Elephants, I was taken a bit out of the story when the entire book was told from a third person omniscient and then at the end the author inserts herself in the story and switched to first person with the use of I.  I wouldn’t let this override your pleasure of either book, but thought that I would mention it.  Both books are full of large photographs which my children enjoyed very much.

Carol Buckley has a new book entitled Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends which comes out in just under a week and published by Putnam Juvenile.  The Elephant Sanctuary has created the following video about Tarra and her elephant friends and it’s my pleasure to exclusively debut it here on the Maw Books Blog!

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The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is the nation’s largest natural habitat refuge developed solely for endangered African and Asian elephants. It operates on 2,700 acres.  For every 100 copies of their elephant books sold, Tilbury House has pledged to sponsor a much-needed item from the Sanctuary’s wish list. These gifts will include 100 lbs of peanut butter (a favorite treat), a day’s worth of meals for one elephant (including more than 10lbs of fruits & veggies and 100 lbs of hay!), and an elephant-sized piece of land (to support the Sanctuary’s recent expansion.)  This “Trunk Sale” will run through the end of this year December 31st.

Giveaway!

Tilbury Publishers is sponsoring this giveaway of the following titles:

• Copy of Just for Elephants signed by Sanctuary co-founder Carol Buckley
• Copy of Travels With Tarra signed by Carol and stamped by Tarra the Elephant
• Package of Tilbury House Animal Books— The Goat Lady, Thanks to the Animals, and an advance copy of Bear-ly There.

The publisher will draw 3 lucky winners from all of those who comment on any of the participating tour posts from Sept. 1-9, and announce the winners on Sept 10th.  Open to U.S. and Canada.  Other stops on this tour this week are  Reading Rumpus, Sacred Elephants, Read These Books and Use Them!, Shelf Elf,  Bees Knees, Through The Looking Glass, and ending Tuesday the 8th with Bri Meets Books.

To enter this giveaway, simply answer this question:  have you ever seen a baby elephant? As you can tell, I’m a tad excited.  Am I in for a treat?

Links of interest:  The Elephant Sanctuary website is very in-depth and a fantastic resource.  It also includes a curriculum for teachers for an in-depth study of elephants.
Just for Elephants Genre:  Picture Book, non-Fiction.  Approx. ages 9-12
Publisher:  Tilbury House.  November 15, 2006.
Hardcover, 32 pages.  ISBN 0884482839
Just for Elephants is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s and Amazon.

Travels with Tarra Genre:  Young Adult, non-fiction photo essay.
Publisher:  Tilbury House.  July 2002.
Hardcover, 40 pages.  ISBN  0884482413
Travels with Tarra is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s and Amazon.

Tarra & Bella Genre:  Picture book, non-fiction.  Approx ages 4-8.
Publisher:  Putnam Juvenile.  September 8, 2009
Hardcover, 32 pages.  ISBN  0399254439
Tarra & Bella is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s and Amazon.

Zlata’s diary begins as any other eleven-year-olds diary would:  talk of vacations, friends, school, teachers, MTV, pizza, Michael Jackson, and sleeping in on the weekends.  The first entry in fifth grade begins, “Behind me – a long, hot summer and the happy days of summer holidays; ahead of me – a new school year.”

It is just a short month and a half into her journal that the war enters her life:

There’s a real war going on in Dubrovnik.  It’s being badly shelled.  People are in shelters, they have no water, no electricity, the phone’s aren’t working.  We see horrible pictures on TV.  Mommy and Daddy are worried.  Is it possible that such a beautiful town is being destroyed?

Little does Zlata know but those words echo a prophecy that will soon come true in her own life.  It isn’t long before the war moves to Sarejevo.  She slowly watches the life that she knew crumble all around her.  She readily admits that she doesn’t understand the politics of the war nor why people have to be so cruel as to kill each other.

Zlata’s story is one that is difficult to summarize.  I’ve decided that I will randomly pick some passages from the book in a chronological order from beginning to near end.  No rhyme or reason to the passages picked.  Just opened the page and see where it took me.

I’m watching the American Top 20 on MTV.  I don’t remember a thing, who’s in what place.

I feel great because I’ve just eaten a “Four Seasons” Pizza with ham, cheese, ketchup and mushrooms.  It was yummy.  Daddy brought it for me at Galija’s (the pizzeria around the corner).  Maybe that’s why I didn’t remember who took what place – I was too busy enjoying my pizza.

I’m not going to school.  All the schools in Sarajevo are closed.  There’s danger hiding in these hills above Sarajevo.  But I think things are slowly calming down.  The heavy shelling and explosions have stopped. There’s occasional gunfire, but it quickly falls silent.  Mommy and Daddy aren’t going to work.  They’re buying food in huge quantities.  Just in case, I guess.  God forbid!

Two shells exploded in the street and one in the market.  Mommy was nearby at the time . . .  Daddy and I were besides ourselves because she hand’t come home  . . . We kept going to the window hoping to see Mommy, but she wasn’t back.  They released a list of the dead and wounded.  Daddy and I were tearing our hair out.  We didn’t know what had happened to her.  Was she alive? . . . I looked out the window one more time and  . . . I SAW MOMMY RUNNING ACROSS THE BRIDGE.  As she came into the house she started shaking and crying.  Through her tears she told us how she had seen dismembered bodies . . . Thank God, Mommy is with us.  Thank God.  A HORRIBLE DAY.  UNFORGETTABLE.  HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE!

I have another sad piece of news for you.  A boy from my drama club got KILLED!  A shell fell in fron the community center and a horrible piece of shrapnel killed him.

Today is Alma’s birthday . .  .  We had a super time, but . . . .I looked out the window and saw a flash. . . BOOM!!  Shattered glass, falling plaster . . . The birthday party wasn’t bad, but it would have been better if that shell hadn’t spoiled it.

. . . we are living in fear, we are suffering, we are not enjoying the sun and flowers, we are not enjoying our childhood.  WE ARE CRYING.

Well, I don’t want to write out the whole book for you but suffice it to say that this is a book that I will long remember.  And it’s one that I was constantly questioning what I was doing in my safe, sheltered life while Zlata was living a nightmare.  A nightmare of constant fear, hunger, coldness, hiding, and where getting water is a life or death feat.  I believe that I’m only a year older than Zlata so seeing the dates really put a perspective on the book.  She was even a huge New Kids on the Block fan!  Despite our shared commonality because Zlata lived in another part of the world her childhood was war torn while mine was much different.

Books like this are always worth reading.  Now I’m off to find out where she is now . . .

Genre:  Young Adult, Non-Fiction/Diary
Publisher:  Scholastic.  January 1994
Paperback, 200 pages.  ISBN:  0590487922
Zlata’s Diary, A Child’s Life in Sarajevo is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Two things that I wanted to accomplish with this post today was to share with you a video of Tom Gonzalez describing the illustration process and then give a book away!

In this video Thomas Gonzalez shares his background, how he got involved with 14 Cows For America, and the process of illustrating what is specifically one of my favorite spreads of the entire book.

The illustrations are stunning.

If you’d like to bring this gorgeous book into your home, you’re in luck!  Peachtree Publishers is giving one away.  To enter, simply answer this question.  It’s a pretty deep one but at the heart of this book.  Where were you and what were you doing on September 11, 2001? Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah was in New York City attending school.  When he returned back home to Kenya, he brought his stories and compassion with him.  Thus the basis of the story of 14 Cows For America.

Giveaway open to U.S and Canada and will close in a week on the 12th.  Although I’m making it easy this time around w/ no extra entries etc. PLEASE spread the word about this particular giveaway.  It’s such a special book.

Links of interest: Maw Books review of 14 Cows for America, 14 Cows website with further study, teachers guide and more (still under construction), read more book reviews on the blog tour, Carmen Agra Deedy website, Thomas Gonzalez website.

Do not let this unassuming cover fool you.  14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah and illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez is a purely stunning picture book.  When I finished reading the author’s note at the end, I had tears rolling down my cheeks.  It’s a book that I think everybody needs to pick up and read both for it’s truly heartening, beautiful story and for it’s spectacular illustrations.

I usually don’t start off my book reviews with the book trailer but in this case I am because I want you to first see the amazing spreads of this book.

In June of 2002, Kimeli Naiyomah returns home to his native Kenya and the Maasai tribe after studying abroad in New York City.  Kimeli was there on September 11, 2001 and watched the devastation upon his host country.  When he returns home,

A child asks if he has brought any stories.
Kimeli nods.

He has brought with him one story.
It has burned a hole in his heart.

And so he tells of buildings so tall that they can touch the sky, fires so hot they can melt iron and smoke, dust so thick they can block out the sun.  A story that this village in Kenya had not yet heard.

The story ends.
More than three thousand souls are lost.
A great silence falls over the Maasai.

Kimeli waits.
He knows his people.

They are fierce when provoked
but easily moved to kindness
when they hear of suffering
or injustice.

At least, an elder speaks.
He is shaken, but above all, he is sad.
“What can we do for these poor people?

As a child, Kimeli’s greatest ambition was to own a cow for his mother which is an animal that is the heart and soul of the Maasai tribe.  He knows that to heal the pain in someone’s heart, you must give something that is close to your own heart.  Now that he has earned enough for a cow, he asks the elders to bless a cow,  “to make it special so the gift may take away some of the sadness from American hearts.”

The tribe is not content with just a gift of one cow and so they sacrifice from their own herd and give America a total of 14 cows which is presented in a beautiful, sacred ceremony.  In the afterward Kimeli says, “We felt we had taken some of America’s pain into our Maasai hearts.”

14 Cows For America left me with profound compassion and respect for the Maasai people.  I was truly touched.

The text of 14 Cows For America by Carmen Agra Deedy is simply beautiful and at the end of the book there is a note from Kimeli Naiyomah which fleshes out more of the details about his childhood, the 14 cows, and where those cows are now.

The story itself is beautiful enough that it could stand on it’s own regardless of the illustrations that accompany it but it’s truly remarkable that the strongest strength of this book is its stunning illustrations.  My husband called them “haunting, mysterious and alive.”  Thomas Gonzalez has set the tone for the story perfectly.

My two favorite illustrations are first when Kimeli is describing the 9/11 destruction and there is a swirl of color and clouds above him and the other is when the diplomat arrives in a jeep to the Maansai tribe and realizes that it’s no ordinary diplomatic visit but rather . . . turn the page and BAM! in your face full tribal splendor, dance and ceremony movement.  Truly spectacular.  I almost feel as though my meager words are giving the illustrations a disservice.  So if you didn’t watch the above book trailer go back and do so.

Tomorrow I’ll be posting a video of Thomas Gonzalez as he describes the illustration process and offering a copy of 14 Cows for America to you as a giveaway sponsored by Peachtree Publishers.  This book is one that you don’t want to miss so please a make a point of stopping by again.  Edited to add:  giveaway link.

A truly wonderful book that I’m proud to have in my home.

Links of interest: 14 Cows website with further study, teachers guide and more (still under construction), read more book reviews on the 14 Cows for America blog tour, Carmen Agra Deedy website, Thomas Gonzalez website, and more book blog reviews.  Edited to add:  14 Cows for America giveaway and Thomas Gonzalez illustration process.  Come share your thoughts about 9/11.
Genre:  Non-Fiction Picture Book, Africa
Publisher:  Peachtree Publishers, August 1, 2009.
Hardcover, 36 pages.  ISBN 1561454907.
14 Cows for America is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Eve always wanted to join the Peace Corps but once she realized that she was all talk and that she wasn’t getting any younger, she finally arrives at the Peace Corps office only to find that her recruiter, John, is not only really cute but one heck of a nice guy too.  As they arrange for her two years abroad, she secretly wishes that she could stay home instead and try to win John’s heart.  So in a round about way she gives up her comfortable life in New York, leaves John behind, and heads to the jungles of Ecuador and hopes that this sentiment will be enough to prove to John that she’s the type of girl that he wants.

After living in Ecuador for a year and unable to recover from the now unburied memories that surfaced after her co-worker was raped, Eve returns to the busy and frantic States and finds herself overwhelmed just by shopping in the soup aisle.  But she’s happy to have her cappuccino’s and other comforts of life back.  John and Eve marry and it’s not long after that he get’s a job with CARE and they are packing for yet another adventure – this time to a remote outpost in Uganda.

I loved Eve’s experiences and the way in which she shared them with us.  Having a background in AIDS education, Eve had visions of doing great work among the Africans but instead found herself without work and playing tennis everyday.  The story got really good when Eve became pregnant but yet nobody could confirm the pregnancy.  The Dr. asked her if she felt pregnant and if so, then yes!  Eve joked around about needing to write a book about What You Need to Know When You’re Expecting In Africa because the only good that the American book did her in Africa was to smack all the bugs in the house.

The scene that will be most memorable to me is when she recounts that early in her pregnancy, she went to the bathroom, sat down and went about her business.  When she was done, she looked down and there was a creature in the toilet! Not just any creature, but a rat!  A rat that was in the toilet the whole time!    I loved it when she said, ” . . . I knew I would never enjoy a leisurely sit on the toilet again.”  Oh my goodness!

I loved Eve’s portrayal of all the people whom she met on her journey.  I imagine that the highlight of traveling and living in different countries would be all the interesting people.  I also loved how Eve showed that living abroad isn’t all fun and games but yet she had a lot of fun and played a lot of games.  There are ups and downs and she wrote about them with not only a great deal of consideration but with a lot of sass.  She’s fun and witty and the book was a real enjoyable read.  I imagine that she’d be the life of the party wherever she goes.

Links of interest:  Eve Brown-Waite website. Other blogger reviews.
Genre:  Memoir
Publisher:  Broadway.  April 14, 2009
Hardcover, 320 pages.  ISBN:  0767929357
First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

After the revolutionary war and America’s declaration of independence from England, thirteen states each governed themselves independently, similar to small countries.  Did you know that each state used it’s own currency?  Not I.  But I do now.  Soon realizing that a strong national government was needed the Constitutional Convention was called and for four hot months an in upmost secrecy, delegates from the thirteen states hammered out the foundation for the current model of government in the United States and on September 17th, 1787 the United States Constitution was signed.

The text from Unite or Die is concise and informative.  Jules explains the background of the United States, why a national government was needed, how and which issues the delegates debated and how the constitution was created as a living document, intended to be fluid and changing for a nation that was still growing with issues not yet discovered.

The rest of the story is told in the form of a school play, which stems from Jules own experience as a elementary school librarian who wrote such a skit for her own students to celebrate Constitution Day.  Thirteen child cast members each represent a state and they literally fight it out on stage in their homemade costumes in front of their adoring parents.  There is a lot of amusing and informative bubble text which fills in gaps from the text.  Jef Czekaj is a popular Nickelodeon illustrator and although as a parent, it’s not a style I particularly like, kids will enjoy the familiar style.

Jules also includes an afterword and notes about particular statements made throughout the book.  A bibliography is also included for further study on the Constitution.

So what fun facts did I come away with?  Benjamin Franklin traveled to Independence Hall in a sedan chair carried on poles by four men because at 81 he was to old to ride in a carriage.  The meeting was held in secrecy so the delegates could discuss issues freely without worrying about the press or public reactions.  It was Roger Sherman who saved the day and turned the meeting around when he presented the Great Compromise:  every state, regardless of size, would have two representatives in the Senate, and representation based on population in the House of Representatives.  And originally, the vice president would be the runner up in the election.  Can you imagine?

Unite or Die is the type of book that kids won’t even realize that they are learning.  I love sneaky books.

Happy Independence Day!

Links of interest:  Jacqueline Jules website, Jef Czekaj’s website, Unite or Die book trailer, read the constitution for yourself.
Genre:  Non-Fiction Picture Book, ages 9-12
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing.  February 1, 2009.
Paperback, 48 pages.  ISBN:  158089190X
Unite or Die, How Thirteen States Became a Nation is available from your local independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

I wanted to read That Went Well for one simple reason: it takes place in my hometown and the author is local as well.  Within the last month I have read three books that are set in Salt Lake City, this one, The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale, and The Loser’s Guide to Life and Love by A.E. Cannon (both yet to be reviewed) and I have to admit that I think it’s great fun to read books where you know all the landmarks and wonder about the yummy sounding restaurant in the book.  So that said, even though this author is a stranger to me, I felt a connection simply because of locality.  But the book could have taken place in Timbuktu and I still would have loved it.

That Went Well is Dougan’s memoir and as the title suggests is about the  adventures in caring for her little sister Irene, who was born with a brain injury.  Irene was born in 1946 which frankly was a period of time that parents of children with mental disabilities and special needs were advised to institutionalize them.  Her family didn’t want to send her away.

From a very young age Dougan had to constantly defend her sister from neighborhood kids who made fun of Irene for being so slow and as she grew into adolescence had to explain her sister to the dates at the doorway, especially when Irene would ask them to talk to her dolls.  Irene actually served as a gatekeeper and Dougan knew she had found her perfect match when her date and then later husband, didn’t flinch at all when meeting Irene.

Unable to read and write and unwelcome in the public school systems, Irene was cared for at home and her parents realized that there was no support for parents of children with special needs.  Instead of complaining, they did something about it and created a day care center.  Later, after college and Dougan’s marriage and birth of her children, her parents found it more and more difficult to take care of Irene.  Hoping to ease Irene into independent living, they sent her to live in a group home in California.  Ultimately, she was unhappy and eventually came back home (but not after a few bruised roommates and aide workers).  When Dougan’s parents passed away, she became Irene’s primary caregiver.

That Went Well is a honest and frank exploration of what it’s like to care of a sibling with disabilities.  But to say that it’s a dry and boring exploration couldn’t be further from the truth.  I was sucked into this story from the very first page.  Dougan’s voice is fantastic!  She is laugh out loud funny but yet shares such intimate inner and physical struggles that one can’t help but sympathize with her and this family.   Dougan must come to terms with how she thinks Irene should live versus how Irene wants to live.

And let’s not forget to talk about Irene!  Irene is a riot!  From taking her dolls with her everywhere, to independently riding the city bus, inviting the firemen over for barbecues and to the magnet on her fridge that says, “Normal People Worry Me” she was simply fantastic.  Temper tantrums and all.  I loved her and it’s obvious that her sister loves her too.

Watch this beautiful show of these two sisters.  I was pleased to see so many shots taken at The Kings English Bookshop, my local independent bookshop.  I wish I had known about this book earlier in the year when she did her signing.  (It was a bit wonky to get this video to embed, so the slider is not showing up.  Click in black box to start, click again to pause.  Original video source.)

A beautiful, honest, funny, and thoughtful  journey of these two sisters, I highly recommend That Went Well.  Dougan opens her heart and one can’t help but take a look inside.  It was a pure joy to read this memoir.

Links of interest:  Terrell Harris Dougan website.
Genre:  Memoir
Published by Hyperion.  January 6, 2009.
Hardcover, 224 pages.  ISBN: 1401323294
That Went Well, Adventures in Caring for My Sister available from your local independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.