178 books later, 2017-2018

Once again this year ...

Back in 2012 I had read a review of The Diviners in VOYA, and I had placed this book on my to read list. I never got to it until this year, however. Once I read it, however, I wish I would have taken the time to read it earlier. I immediately picked up Lair of Dreams and continued the adventures of Evie O'Neill and the other Diviners. I'm a big fan of Libba Bray and with this series she has skillfully mixed horror and history in an amazing story.

I was introduced to two new manga series this year: The Case Study of Vanitas and Bungo Stray Dogs.

I listened to the audio version of The Witch's Vacuum and Other Stories, and it was one of the funniest set of short stories I have heard in a while. Featuring some of Terry Pratchett's earliest works, the tales are reminiscent of his later work, and the sound effects and narrator's voices really enhance the written word.

I also served on the middle school book of the year from VOYA, and I got to read a great many middle-school appropriate books.

I came across one of the best fantasy book I have read in a long time through this committee. The Dragon With A Chocolate Heart was a heartwarming tale told from the perspective of a young dragon in love with chocolate but unfortunately transformed into a human. The story was well crafted, Aventurine as a character comes alive, and the references to chocolate would make anyone's mouth water. I highly recommend it to anyone!

Fast Backward

Patneaude, David. Fast Backward. 2018. 274p. ISBN 978-1-63393-614-0. Available at FIC PAT on the library shelves.

Bobby Hastings has an important job delivering the newspaper to a military base in the middle of nowhere, New Mexico. The work that scientists are doing here is top secret, and no one is talking. The Second World War is raging on, and even though Allied armies are closing in on Germany and Japan, the war is far from over. On this early morning in July 1945, Bobby picks up his newspapers at the drop off point, and bikes towards the base. A blast in the distance sends a ball of light miles in the air, and a shockwave reaches him a minute later. Bobby’s not sure what he just saw, but whatever it was, it was impressive and dangerous.

On the base everyone is excitedly talking in hushed tones, and money is exchanged to cover bets that were won or lost. Bobby can’t get any specific information from anyone, including his uncle Pete, who is a soldier on the base, but the cooks mention that the brass was pleased with the explosion. Returning home, Bobby finds a girl about his age, standing dazed and naked near the road. Though she’s puzzled, she wants to know what time it is, specifically what year. Bobby tries to keep his gaze on her eyes, but he’s not entirely successful. Cocoa is clearly underweight and sick. Her English is broken, and she speaks with a German accent.

Bobby takes her home. She tells Bobby she's from the future, a future where Germany developed the atomic bomb before the United States, and prevented the US army from detonating their own. In her past, Germany won the war and conquered the United States, forbidding English being spoken. The world was devastated in the process, however. Now that she’s here, she hopes to change the course of the war, but who will believe a scrawny girl?

Bobby believes her, and, enlisting his parents’ help as well as his uncle Pete, they will attempt to alert the United States government to the threat they are facing. Knowing information that a young girl her age would not have access to helps, but there are some in the government who are not convinced she’s telling the truth, or that she’s not a German spy. Plus, Cocoa can’t remember everything from the history she learned. But as events prove her information to be correct, can Cocoa and Bobby help change the course of history?

To Serve and Protect: The History of Policing

Pender, Lionel, ed. To Serve and Protect: The History of Policing. Part of the Law Enforcement and Intelligence Gathering series. 2017. 96p. ISBN 978-1-5081-0381-3. Available at 363.2 TO on the library shelves.

Policing has a long history, but it is only in the last 150 years that it has become an organization recognizable to modern society. In the last few years, the Black Lives Matter movement has shown the spotlight on disputed police practices, from a militarizing of the force to poor community relations. These issues have been decades in the making, and stem from a war on crime launched in the 1970s.

Empires of ancient civilizations employed people in the role of law enforcement officers, along with other duties such as fighting fire and collecting taxes. But for most of history, local communities were in charge of monitoring crime, punishing criminal, and enforcing laws. It is only with the evolution of the nation-state that recognizable police forces emerge. First tasked with implementing the King’s will, law enforcement soon became dedicated to protect the population from criminals. However, it wasn’t until the end of the 19th century that police officers became paid by political entities and were no longer able to accept bribes and payments for crimes solved. Several models of law enforcement were explored, particularly in the West, where vigilantes arose to protect towns from desperadoes.

The 20th century saw the rise of a professional and effective force capable of investigating and solving major crimes using scientific principles. Social and psychological theories were incorporated in police works, and specialized units arose. The introduction of the automobile into police work perversely diminished the community presence, so community policing was introduced to address the lack of proximity between officers and the people they serve and protect. Today, tensions between police and ethnic minorities and terrorism are presenting law enforcement troubles that we are still struggling to address.

The history of policing is a fascinating one, and readers who are interested in law enforcement will appreciate seeing how policing evolved over the centuries.

Titles in this series include:

• To Serve and Protect: The History of Policing
• Police Technology: 21st Century Crime-Fighting Tools
• The Spy Game: International and Military Intelligence
• Working the Case: Law Enforcement, Police Work and Police Organizations

George W. Bush

Zahensky, Kenneth, ed. George W. Bush. Part of the Profile in Leadership: Pivotal Presidents series. 2018. 80p. ISBN 978-1680486292. Available at B BUS on the library shelves.

The son of President George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush stood at the helm of the United States when the country was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001. His muscled and rapid response transformed the crisis into a victory in Afghanistan, but the subsequent decision to invade Iraq and poor government performance during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 hobbled his administration for the remainder of his second term.

Born after the Second World War, Bush went to college and entered the oil business in Texas. Opportunities presented themselves and he became a part-owner of the Texas Ranger, rebuilding the team and ensuring that it became competitive. He then parlayed his status as an acute and well-known businessman to the governorship of Texas, before running and winning a much contested Presidency in 2000 after Florida’s electoral college votes were handed to him by the Supreme Court.

Most Presidents are controversial and their policies are contested by the opposition, and Bush’s Presidency followed a similar pattern. To keep the country safe, measures were taken that violated Constitutional protections and rights, leading to protests and court defeats. Tax cuts were passed, which led to higher deficits. And the war on terror expanded. He also successfully appointed two new Supreme Court Justices, including Chief Justice Roberts, and he led a campaign against AIDS in Africa. Bush’s approach of compassionate conservatism demonstrated that it was possible to care for society while supporting core conservative principles.

Though the verdict is still out, Bush’s Presidency had a lasting impact on the United States and decisions taken over 15 years ago continue to influence national and international policies today. Fans of the Presidency or of recent history will appreciate this biography.

Opioids: Heroin, OxyContin, and Painkillers

Perrinato, John. Opioids: Heroin, OxyContin, and Painkillers. Part of the Drug Addiction and Recovery series. 2017. 64p. ISBN 978-1-4222-3607-9. Available at 615.78 PER on the library shelves.

Over the last several years, no health crisis has impacted New Hampshire more than the opioid epidemic. Ravaging every demographic group in the state, this plague has caused countless deaths, numerous overdoses that have required treatment in hospitals, and affected many families that in the past would not have encountered drug abuse. Several discussions have taken place around the state on how to solve this epidemy, but to address the issue it is important to know the origins of this crisis.

Unlike other drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, most people who are addicted to opioids got there through injuries and accidents when they were prescribed painkillers. This medicine, designed to block pain receptors in the brain, also provided an increase level of euphoria and quickly led to dependence. Most people are able to end their treatment once the pain has subsided, but some become addicted to the benefits they perceive from opioids. When prescription medication ends, they obtain extensions. When unable to do so, they switch to purchasing them illegally, but the high price often lead addicts to jump to heroin, another opioid which happens to be cheaper. The rise of fentanyl and other related drugs have only compounded this epidemic.

Opioids: Heroin, OxyContin, and Painkillers describes how opioids were first discovered and used. A history of treatment is also presented, along with ways to prevent addiction for individuals using pain medicine. What was once considered a criminal behavior is now better understood to be a disease that can be treated, if not cured, but that efforts on the part of individuals and better treatment options on the part of society will be necessary to eliminate needless deaths and social destruction that occur throughout the United States every day.

War Brothers: The Graphic Novel

McKay, Sharon E. & Daniel Lafrance. War Brothers: The Graphic Novel. 2013. 165p. ISBN 978-1-55451-488-5. Available at GFX MCK on the library shelves.

Uganda has been in the midst of a low-level civil war for decades. The Lord’s Resistance Army, or LRA, has fought the central government more to promote its leader than to achieve any real ideological goals. Known for brutally recruiting and training child soldiers, the LRA operates out of several countries in central Africa, including Uganda and South Sudan.

Jacob is a happy fourteen-year-old student at a prestigious school near his hometown of Gulu, when he and his friends are abducted by the LRA and forced to become slaves. Tony, one of Jacob’s friend who was hoping to become a priest, is forced to violently kill one of his friends with a stick, and he therefore becomes a “soldier” in the LRA. He gains access to weapons and food, but in the process loses some of his humanity. Jacob and his friends Paul and Norman remain slave, unwilling or unable to join the killing. Moving through the bush, they never sleep in the same place, they never have enough food, and violence permeates their camp.

Throughout these trying times Jacob meets Hannah and Oteka. Hannah had her ears cut off and now she’s an outcast, good enough to serve food but little else. Oteka is older and was a medical student before being forcibly enrolled and becoming the camp’s cook. When Norman is selected to be killed, Jacob knows that he must act. With Hannah and Oteka’s help, Jacob decide they must escape this very night. With soldiers of the LRA hunting them down, and the jungles of Africa teaming with wildlife, can Jacob save everyone, including his friend Tony?

Based on true stories of a conflict that still continues to this day, Jacob’s graphic tale is reminiscent of Arn’s experience in Never Fall Down. Both are individuals finding themselves in dire circumstances but retain their humanity and never lose hope of surviving and escaping their current conditions.

Girls In Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood

Brashares, Ann. Girls In Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood. Book 3 of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. 2005. 338p. ISBN 0-385-72935-9. Available at FIC BRA on the library shelves.

For a second summer in a row, the magical pants that four best friends share helped them survive being apart. Now that they have graduated from high school and are ready to head off on their own to four different colleges miles apart from each other, Tibby, Lena, Carmen and Bridget once again decide to split custody of the pants. From the last day of school to a day at the beach to celebrate their last day together, summer has never felt so short.

Carmen is surprised to discover that her mother is pregnant and expecting a child with her new husband David just as she’s leaving their apartment. Happy at having a little brother but fearing being replaced, Carmen considers changing her choice of colleges to be closer to home so she can help out. Tired of babysitting, she agrees to work with Lena’s grandmother, taking her to appointments and keeping her company.

Tibby is ready for film school, and works at the movie theatre this summer, but what felt new and exciting has become repetitive. Her relationship with Brian is complicated, and she still misses Bailey. Her three-year-old sister is on the move, and in a moment of inattention she falls out of Tibby’s window while reaching for the apple tree, and ends up in the hospital. Tibby experiences guilt and feels responsible for her sister’s accident.

Lena’s enrollment in a summer art program and her future projects at art school are threatened when her father walks in during a modeling session when a fully nude male model sits on a stool in the middle of the room for all to see. The death of her grandfather last year has led to her grandmother living with them, much to everyone’s discomfort. Grandmother would rather not be here at all, but back in Greece in her home, even thought it would be lonely. Plus, she still thinks of Kostos.

Bridget returns to camp, but runs into Eric who also happens to be there as a counselor. Worse, they both have to work together. She has pursued him relentlessly when she was fifteen, but now at seventeen she’s wiser. Yet, she retains the hope that maybe they will connect. But now it’s her turn to be pursued by one of the male campers, and she immediately feels bad for her actions two summers ago.

As the girls navigate their last summer before moving out, their relationships will change yet will remain as strong as ever.

The story concludes in Forever in Blue.

Dewey Fairchild: Parent Problem Solver

Horn, Lorri. Dewey Fairchild: Parent Problem Solver. 2017. 245p. ISBN 978-1-944995-16-4. Available at FIC HOR on the library shelves.

When you are in middle school, the behavior of your parents can be so embarassing. Dewey Fairchild has a knack for solving this mortifying behavior by addressing the parent’s issue at the root of this conduct. In fact, Dewey is so good that he has started his own business solving other people’s problems, and his business is so successful he has hired a secretary, Miss Clara who was his babysitter back in the day. An excellent counselor and baker, Clara really helps Dewey stay organized. She’s also a great alibi for when Dewey has to do long-term reconnaissance work at the house of his target. Plus, her baking abilities enhance both the smell of the office and his ability to regal his customers with ever shifting types of cookies,

No case is too small or too difficult for Dewey. His best friend’s mother is overprotective and will not let her do anything because she is worried she will get hurt. Solution? Spend as much time with her, even if this means get in the bathtub with her mother. Another student’s father constantly pick his nose, burps, and snores. After observations, Dewey realizes that he has a medical condition. Yet another student’s mother is extremely neat. A cat poop incident having caused this issue, a solution is to fake eating cat poop again.

Dewey might have met his match, however, when he overhears his parents discussing moving to Alaska. Dewey, his four-year-old sister, and his mother all want to stay here, but his father is looking for a better opportunity. Can a parent problem solver solve his own parent problem so that he can stay here?

Mort Ziff Is Not Dead

Fagan, Cary. Mort Ziff Is Not Dead. 2017. 176p. ISBN 978-0-14-319847-5. Available at FIC FAG on the library shelves.

Norman Fishbein is the youngest kid in his family, and his two older brothers are always picking on him. As Norman himself says, it’s as if, when he was born, they received instructions that their only goal in life was to make Norman miserable. Tormenting Norman relentlessly, Marcus and Larry are always topping each other, leaving Norman behind.

When Norman and his brothers enter a contest to guess the number of candies in a jar at the mall, they don’t expect to win, but Norman is surprised months later when he receives a letter in the mail instructing him that he won $1,000. In the winter of 1965, $1,000 is a lot of money. Instead of saving it for himself, buying things he doesn’t need, he decides that the family needs a vacation Florida. Everyone readily agrees with him, and soon the Fishbein family arrives in Miami.

There they meet the Horvath family. Their three girls are the same age as the Fishbein children, and share the same hobbies. Instead of being friends, they become instant enemies. Except for Amy and Norman. Owing no loyalty to siblings who always pick on them, they decide to bow out of this little contest and enjoy their vacation instead. They soon discover that Mort Ziff, one of the most famous comedians from the 1950s, is still working at their hotel, telling bad jokes during dinner. But with Ziff’s position threatened by a Beatles cover band, Amy and Norman come up with a plan to ensure that Ziff will keep working as long as he wants to.

Anyone who has ever been picked on by older siblings will appreciate the quiet and graceful way in which younger siblings Norman and Amy deal with being eclipsed by their brothers and sisters and how they regain a sense of being in control of their own lives. Their success at making their siblings respect them will inspire the reader to reach out to his or her family members and thank them for being part of their family.

Modern Warships Up Close

Dougherty, Martin J. Modern Warships Up Close. Part of the Military Technology: Top Secret Clearance series. 2016. 224p. ISBN 978-1-50817084-6. Available at 623.82 DOU on the library shelves.

The First World War was the glory age of giant naval battleships, armed with large cannons and able to destroy targets miles away. Following this conflict, military planners assumed that battleships would remain the best naval weapons, but the development of aircraft made the aircraft carrier more valuable. Battleships found themselves vulnerable during the Second World War. Nations adopted by building more destroyers, missile ships, and frigates.

With evolving roles away from naval battles and towards operations support and interdiction, naval ships and strategies have adapted to new realities. This book profiles increasingly sophisticated warships with a multitude of roles, from aircraft carriers to helicopter and troop transports, to military hospital ships and missile platforms. Technological advances have allowed ships to downsize while packing better weapons to strike at enemy forces and for self-protection.

Fans of military history and of equipment will enjoy reading about the evolution of warships and the functions they play in today’s world.

The Military Technology: Top Secret Clearance series include Small Arms Up Close, Warplanes of World War II Up Close, Military Jets Up Close, and Tanks of World War II Up Close.

Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 4

Asagiri, Kafka. Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 4. 2017. 176 p. ISBN 9780316468169. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Following a confrontation between Ryuunosuke and Atsushi on a boat, Atsushi and Kyouka escaped from the clutches of the Port Mafia and returned to the Armed Detective Agency, and new lodging arrangements have both of them living together. Kyouka’s lineage is questioned by the police, but Agency President Fukuzawa claims her as his daughter.

Dazai has traced the name of the group behind the ransom for Atsushi. It is a North American group called the Guild, which is made up of rich and famous politicians, military, and cultural leaders. As the members of the Agency discuss how to deal with this new threat, the Guild arrives at their door and proposes a deal to Fukuzawa: Sell the Agency so that the Guild can use the precious Operations License, or see themselves wiped out. Fukuzawa refuses, but within 24 hours agents begin to disappear.

Atsushi himself falls prey to a trap set by Lucy Montgomery, a Guild member able to create an extradimensional space and use her rag doll Annie to crush her opponents. Atsushi finds himself outclassed and outmaneuvered. Fortunately for him, the Port Mafia is about to fight back against the Guild, and the enemy of their enemy is about to temporarily become their friend...

Clutch

Camlot, Heather. Clutch. 2017. 2017. 240p. ISBN 978-0-88995-548-6. Available at FIC CAM on the library shelves.

It is 1946, and Joseph Grosser’s father has just died, leaving his family behind to run his small grocery store, their only asset and source of income. Unfortunately, this tragedy is compounded by his father’s largesses. As a real mensch, he provided credit to many and therefore the store is owed lots of money. At 12, Joseph now needs to be the man of the house, so that his mother and his six-year-old little brother David don’t go without. He needs to operate the store and start collecting money. He’s also facing his upcoming bar mitzvah, and his religious studies are not going so well. And, above all else, Joseph cannot wait to move west of Park Avenue in Montreal, to find a better house for his family, something his father was never able to do.

At the same time Jackie Robinson, the first professional black baseball player, is playing for the Montreal Royals, the Brooklyn Dodgers’ AAA farm team. Jackie is also facing challenges, but he’s ready to meet them. David loves Jackie Robinson and religiously follows all of his exploits. Ben, Joseph’s best friend, spends a lot of time at the store, but both he and David wishes Joseph had more time to play and be a kid. Joseph, however, just wants to make money. When Ben’s father, Mr. Wolfe, approaches Joseph and offers an intriguing business opportunity, Joseph is faced with a stark choice: Do the responsible thing, or try to cut corners to accumulate wealth? As Joseph’s summer passes by, he makes connections in the unlikeliest places and he learns getting rich for being rich’s sake is not worth anything unless you are able to enjoy it with a loving family and friends. Can Joseph and Jackie Robinson triumph over their naysayers and accomplish their goals?

Online teaching in K-12 : models, methods, and best practices for teachers and administrators

Bryans-Bongey, Sarah & Kevin J. Graziano, eds. Online teaching in K-12 : models, methods, and best practices for teachers and administrators. 2016. 324p. ISBN 978-1-57387-527-1. Available at PROF 371.33 ONL on the library shelves.

As more and more instruction takes place online, teachers have to transit from only teaching in a face to face environment to teaching classes partly or wholly online. Many of the skills required to teach in an online environment are similar, but there are enough differences that professional development must occur for teachers to be successful teaching online courses. This book is thus an important step in learning the intricacies of teaching online, from selecting a learning management system to addressing classroom issues such as motivation and participation.

Written by more than twenty experts in the field of online learning, this book presents methods, models, and best practices that teachers and administrators can implement to successfully transition from a face to face to an online environment. For the vast majority of teachers, who remain in a physical classroom, this book still contains a vast amount of resources that can easily be implemented and used, from websites designed to create interactive lessons and posters to video-editing software that can be deployed to capture screens and lessons before broadcasting them out to students and the rest of the world.

Each of the seventeen chapters explore an important aspect of online teaching. In the first part, online learning management systems are described. Skills and qualities that online teachers should possess are presented. Unlike a face to face school community, it can be hard to develop a cohesive online community. A chapter presents information on how to do so effectively, while another chapter explores tools and techniques to promote student engagement and learning online. Planning tools are demonstrated, and a framework for effective technology integration is proposed.

In the second part, five chapters explore how to effectively support a diverse student population. Flipped learning is examined, and effective means of communication with parents and students are presented. Special education transition to an online class can be problematic, so solutions are proposed. Finally, assistive technology’s potential to address students’ learning needs is described.

The final part reviews implementation strategies. Project-based learning is an effective way to implement online activities. Open and free educational resources for the K-12 environment and mobile apps are reviewed. Tools and strategies for effective online assessment are presented.

This book provides an excellent overview of the current online learning environment, and teachers and education professionals will benefit from exploring the issues presented on its pages.

The Misfits

Howe, James. The Misfits. 2001. 274p. 494 mins. ISBN 0-689-83955-3. Available at FIC HOW on the library shelves and as an audiobook on Overdrive.

Students who are different are often identified as misfits. But at this Middle School, five misfits have gathered together and they have formed the Misfits, a group of close friends who stand with each other and who discuss important life issues once a week at their favorite restaurant, the Candy Kitchen. Bobby has been friends with Skeezie, Addie and Joe his whole life, and as the fat kid of the group he really appreciate each of their quirks. Addie is the smart one who never shuts up. Skeezie’s ugly mug is very distracting, but he has a heart, and an appetite, beyond measure. Joe is gay and has the best fashion sense.

When Addie refuses to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance, these friends have no idea they are in for the ride of their lives. Angry at being made to stand, Addie wants to change the rules. Told to run for student council, she’s informed that she has to run either as a Democrat or a Republican, but she doesn’t identify with either party. She wants to create her own, but the system of government is set up with two parties. Can a group of dedicated friends challenge the establishment and, in the process, learn to stand up for themselves?

Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America’s First Black Paratroopers

Stone, Tanya Lee. Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America’s First Black Paratroopers. 2013. 146p. ISBN 0-7636-5117-6. Available at 940.54 STO on the library shelves.

In the First World War, African-American troops fought in Europe and discovered that the segregation they experienced at home was not universal. Soldiers returning to the United States proudly wearing the uniform were immediately shunned and made to remove it. Now with the Second World War in full swing, African-Americans are once again called to enlist and fight for the United States. But discrimination and segregation are huge stumbling blocks. Why would they want to fight for a country that does not recognize them as full citizens? Some refuse to participate, on the theory that their country did not like them. Others, however, volunteered and eagerly awaited the opportunity to take the fight to Hitler.

But this opportunity did not come. Black troops were assigned menial or behinds the line duties stateside, and could not fight alongside White troops. Enlisted troops were not as thoroughly trained, nor as well equipped. But one man decided to change all of that. First Sergeant Walter Morris, who led a detachment of guards protecting the Parachute School at Fort Benning, in Georgia, decided to have his troops follow the same training regimen as the parachutists, minus the actual jumps from an airplane. Soon unit morale improved, and higher ups noticed. A decision was made to create the first unit of Black Paratroopers, the 555th, also known as the Triple Nickels.

Though these troops trained for two years, they never participated in any war action on the front. However, their contribution to fighting forest fires ignited in the American west by Japanese incendiary balloons, helped people realize their value as specialized troops, which paved the way for the desegregation of all armed forces in 1948 and the advances that were secured during the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

Fans of military history and of the Second World War will appreciate the dedication that these troops showed in the face of overwhelming efforts to keep them “in their place.”