SPECTACULAR POSSIBILITIES

I took a trip up to the Bay Area last weekend. It’s a 5.5 hour drive (without traffic) from LA, and I settled into the driver’s seat, automatically reaching for a familiar audiobook: Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, read by Lincoln Hoppe. It’s a trip I’ve made several times and a story I’ve listened to several times more since its publication in 2011, yet it has never failed to elicit the same depth of emotion each time. It draws me back to a place I’d never visited and a time I’d never experienced: a small town in upstate New York in 1968, the peak of the Vietnam War era.

Fourteen year old Doug Swieteck is starting eighth grade in a new school in a new town, where his father has just secured a new job after being fired for a poor attitude and a questionable work ethic. The Dump, his family’s latest residence, is small and dingy. His father is spiteful. His older brother is a menace. His gentle mother rarely smiles anymore. And Doug can’t think of a single good thing about the stupid town they've just moved to.

You can easily envision the trajectory for a kid like that: he’ll grow up to be a bully, a thief, a liar, a victim and a victimizer. And everyone else in town thinks so too-- including Doug himself.

Until he finds unexpected solace in a public library and purpose in a rare copy of John James Audubon's Birds of America. There’s something mesmerizing about the paintings in Audubon’s book, even for Doug, who would be the first to tell you he’s no artist. Soon he’s drawn into the stories he sees in each carefully crafted bird, which become the metaphor by which he interprets his world. His spirit soars and dives throughout the novel as he faces a deluge of circumstances that test his resolve to sketch a different future for himself.

Another librarian (whose name I unfortunately cannot recall) wrote in her review of the book that it had broken her heart and put it back together a thousand times. I can certainly relate to that feeling. There’s a lot to mull over here: the tangible and intangible effects of the war on returned veterans and their families, the dichotomy of wealth and poverty, the cyclical nature of abuse, and the problematic prejudices of adults. At the same time there’s the thrilling freedom of art, the unexpected kindness of others, the gentle glow of first love, the healing found in offering compassion even when it seems undeserved, and a long lingering note of Possibility. It’s a tale of resilience and redemption.

I highly recommend listening to the audio version of book (which still counts as reading, in case you’re wondering!) Lincoln Hoppe’s reading of Okay for Now received an American Library Association Odyssey Honor in 2012 as one of the best audiobooks produced for children and young adults, available in English in the United States.

A truly rewarding read for grades 6 and up.

WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE IS NOT WHO YOU ARE

That's what Laura Ebony found out during a two week forced stay with her grandmother.  Although she wants to be a fashion model and popular, she's more of an outsider, called Larda by her classmates and the popular girls.  She thought all that would changed this year until she finds out that her class will be going on a field trip to her family's "slave shack". A shack to Laura's mind that has nothing but bad memories and now the whole class will know about her family's horrible past.  

The Laura Line by Crystal Allen turns in another engaging coming of age story weaving in history, genealogy, self esteem and even baseball.  For readers in grades 5th -8th. 

SIGNS TO FAME

From Mr. B, Children's Librarian at the Grandview Branch of GPL:

SILENT STAR: The Story of Deaf Major Leaguer William Hoy by Bill Wise / Pictures by Adam Gustavson

Born in 1862, William Hoy lost his hearing to meningitis when he was three; but not his determination, agility, or creativity. He fell in love with and mastered baseball. His fielding skills were superb, and with the help of hand signals from his third base coaches, he was able to keep his eye on the pitcher instead of turning around to see the umpire’s calls. While not yet in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Centerfielder Hoy, who retired in 1903 after 14 years in the majors, still ranks in the top 25 in career stolen bases, assists by an outfielder, and double plays by an outfielder.

Silent Star brings Hoy’s story to vibrant life in words and pictures without being maudlin or preachy. It is first and foremost a well-written picture-book sports biography of a stunning but now unrecognized athlete aimed at upper graders, but suitable for baseball fans of all ages (i.e. think adult holiday or birthday gift for the baseball fan in your life).

For all ages.

A TIME TRAVELING HOUSE WITH BASEBALL INCLUDED

A review of 13 Hangmen by Art Corriveau from Mr. B at the Grandview Branch of GPL.

Here’s a novel about baseball, time travel, murder, and history. Oh, and not just regular Dan Gutman baseball and trading card time travel, but the kind based on the theory that all of life past and present is happening all at once in parallel universes. The events at 13 Hangmen Court, Boston, are triggered by the death of amateur detective Tony’s great uncle, Zio Angelo. As his 13th birthday approaches, Tony inherits Zio Angelo’s 200 year old decaying house with the stipulation he sleep in Zio Angelo’s old bedroom. The room, Tony discovers, is a portal to parallel universes.

As 13-year-old boys appear and disappear, it becomes apparent to Tony that all the boys are living in the room at the same time, but in their own universes. The 13-year old boys include Tony; his great-uncle Zio Angelo who at 13 is friends with rookie Red Sox player Ted Williams; a run-away slave on the Underground Railroad; Paul Revere’s silversmith apprentice, and others. Together, as the portal allows, they solve a 200 year old mystery, save the house from demolition by the health and safety department, and solve the murder of Zio Angelo.

This well written, well researched, multi-leveled historical adventure may not be for every 13-year-old, but those willing to tackle it will not be disappointed. Maybe someone will send a copy to Tim Burton – it’s ripe for a film version. 

For readers in grades 6th- and older.   

A BASEBALL STORY

From Mr. B at the Grandview Branch Library:

King of the Mound (My Summer With Satchel Paige)

By Wes Tooke

Twelve year old Nick was “king of the mound” for his team until polio put him in the hospital for a year. Now, with his weak leg in a brace, even his dad – a catcher for historic the semi-pro Bismark Churchills – calls him “a cripple.” The Churchills are an integrated team – one of the last, as integrated semi-pro teams were banned starting with the 1936 season. But, in this summer of 1935, Negro league star Satchel Paige, another “king of the mound,” has been hired in the hope he can take the team to the newly inaugurated semi-pro championships.

As Nick’s leg heals, Satchel helps Nick heal while the team plays the circuit, North and South. Racial tensions, state politics, legendary players, a budding romance, and some useful life lessons make this historical sports novel a winner for young readers or baseball fans of any age.

NO PARADE FOR DODGERS GAME!

Attention families going to the Dodgers' Summer Reading game this Sunday, August 14. We have just been informed that due to logistical issues at the stadium, there will not be a parade on the field before the start of the game. We apologize for the last minute notice, but we hope that you will still have a fantastic and memorable time at the game with your families.



There's still time to pick up Chivas USA soccer tickets for the August 27th game. If you finished your 8 books earlier in the summmer and have not received your free ticket voucher, come by the Central Library ASAP!

BASEBALL SEASON IS HERE!

Get ready to take on a journey on this amazing 'ship' to a place where dreams become reality and courage and hope triumph. The book tells the story of the Negro Baseball League, why it was created and all the hardship that they had to go through to keep on playing. The book tells the story of segregation, discrimination, the social injustice and the bravery of these men who never became famous but they kept on playing. It also reminds the reader how far we have progressed in our society as well. The paintings like illustrations are so wonderful, that at times you might just want to look at them instead of reading it, even though the writing is as great.What I liked the most about this book is the way the information was presented and composed. The pictures were as big as the characters in the book. I literally felt as though I was transformed back into the 1920's. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball is by Kadir Nelson.

For grades 4th and up.

NO REST FOR THE FAMOUS DETECTIVE DUO

Alex just wants to lay low and avoid the fame from the last two mysteries but unfortunately, Yasmeen, his friend and partner, just can't let go of a new mystery that has literally been mailed to them. Someone has just tried to kidnap Alex's baseball coach while he was in a Porta-Potty! In order to capture the criminal though, they have to sort through old bags of trash for clues ...from the Fourth of July picnic.... a month ago! Who Stole Uncle Sam? by Martha Freeman is the third case for Alex and Yasmeen. Great for 5th & older.

LUCK IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT

Living in a small town means that the friendship pool is not large and in the case of Harry "Dit" Sims it meant that there was almost no one his age in his small Alabama town. But that is going to change, coming to town is a new postmaster and his family. Set in 1917 The Best Bad Luck I Ever had by Kristin Levine tells the story of the somewhat unusual friendship that forms between Dit and Emma who end up teaching each other a lot and making a difference in their community.

For grades 5 through 8.

A NEW AND IMPROVED MAGICAL ORPHAN!

He lives in an orphanage. He doesn't have a scar, but he does have a strange spiral birthmark on the bottom of his foot. He thinks his name is Ernie Banks, but it's not. He doesn't have a magic wand, but he does have a mysterious crystal acorn that's hung on his neck ever since the mean orphanage mother found him on the doorstep. There's a history to his life that he doesn't even know about. Not until he happens to get sent to a farm for a few weeks in summer, and strange coincidences intermix with crazy monsters, small elf-like creatures, and the first humans to ever show Ernie what it feels like to be loved. PUDDLEJUMPERS by Mark Jean & Christopher C. Carlson is a great story about what one boy does to save an entire species without even knowing it. For 6th grade and up.

GIRLS AND BASEBALL

It's 1980 and no girls in her small Michigan town play baseball in the Little League, that is until twelve-year-old Madison joins the team. She just wants to play baseball but when the press starts writing about her and the crowds start showing up to the team's games, all that changes. In No Cream Puffs by Karen Day, the author tells the story of one girl's very eventful summer that started off with her punching a boy on the last day of school and went on to losing her best friend to the popular girls, becoming friends with the rock star who was staying with her neighbor, developing a crush and ending with a very exciting championship ball game. Best for readers in grades 5-8

LEARN ENGLISH FROM BASEBALL

With a name like Shirley Temple Wong, something's bound to go wrong! Shirley Temple Wong has just moved from China to New York. She has a hard time getting adapted because she doesn't speak English very well and everyone treats her differently. When she makes friends with the toughest girl in the class by accident, she learns how to play stickball, and becomes a huge Brooklyn Dodgers fan. BROOKLYN DODGERS?!?!

IN THE YEAR OF THE BOAR AND JACKIE ROBINSON by Bette Bao Lord is set in 1947, when the Dodgers still played for Brooklyn, and even though it takes place 70 years ago, you'll see that kids are still pretty much the same. An easy to read chapter book for 4th grades and up.