Book Review: "The Radium Girls: The Dark Side of America's Shining Women"

Title: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women 

Author: Kate Moore

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Copyright Date: 2017

Age Range: Grade 8 and up

"The Curies' newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.

Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these "shining girls" are the luckiest alive — until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.

But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come." The Radium Girls summary.

I discovered this book while working on LitBit 6.2, where we talked about adult-teen crossovers. This is a book that I chose as a crossover book, because it deals with mature subject matter in a way that is comprehensible to youth without glossing over the facts. The book deals with the subjects such as medical malpractice, workers lied to and abused by their company, and  how to be strong in the face of impending death. This is a work of narrative nonfiction; Kate Moore has written the story of these ladies in a familiar way. Readers of all types can read and enjoy this book. Included in the book are photos of the women, both in their everyday life and at work. I was unable to source them for this blog, however. 

This book would be excellent for book report assignments, augmenting history classes, and just reading for fun. There is much that this book brings; historical facts, emotional connections, and caution to readers to always stand up for themselves and be aware of the world around them.

This book won the GoodReads Choice Award for History and Biography in 2017, and is a nominee for the 2019 Lincoln Award.

Book Review: "The Rabbit Listened

Title: The Rabbit Listened

Author/Illustrator: Cori Doerrfeld

Publisher: Dial Books

Copyright Date: 2018

Age Range: 3-5 yrs

"A universal, deeply moving exploration of grief and empathy

With its spare, poignant text and irresistibly sweet illustrations, The Rabbit Listened is a tender meditation on loss.

When something terrible happens, Taylor doesn’t know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn’t feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that’s not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to process this loss, and one by one they fail. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen, which is just what Taylor needs. 

Whether read in the wake of tragedy or as a primer for comforting others, this is a deeply moving and unforgettable story sure to soothe heartache of all sizes." The Rabbit Listened summary.

This book is for younger readers in the 3-5 year range who are becoming more emotionally aware of themselves and others. The story is about a boy named Taylor, whose block tower is knocked down. He doens't know how to feel or process his feelings, so a lot of animals come to tell him how to react.  But he doesn't like how they tell him to feel or act.

This book simplifies the stages of grief in a way that a small, emotionally undeveloped child can understand. It also shows children how to comfort others. The illustrations and the text are both pretty minimal, but they both convey so much emotion.

The title of the book tells it all; The Rabbit Listened. This book tells children how to comfort others. It also shows them that the way they feel is valid, and it's ok to process their emotions in these ways, as long as they're building towards feeling better. I think that it is so important to help children understand how to process grief and emotions, and also how to comfort.

I wouldn't necessarily use this book in a classroom, unless it was a daycare story-time or in early grades.. This book is much more a parent/guardian-child bonding book. This book was a New York Times Editor's Choice, an Indie Next List pick, a Kirkus Reviews best book of 2018, and a TIME best book of 2018. The Rabbit Listened would make a great addition to any library; school, public, or private.

Book Review: "The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters"

Title: The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters

Author: Judy Sierra

Illustrator: Henrik Drescher

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Copyright Date: 2005

Age Range: 7+ (Parents use caution)

"I did not make any of this up.

Do you know why you should have baby teeth handy when visiting the Midwest? Or why you should bring a cucumber with you when swimming in Japan? How good are you at solving Russian riddles? From Boston to Bejing, from Moscow to Mali, any place you visit has its own terrifying tales of very real creatures. Complete with handy "gruesomeness ratings," this guide offers all the important facts on some sixty-three folkloric monsters and how (if possible!) to survive an encounter with them. Meticulously researched by Judy Sierra and illustrated in grotesque detail by Henrik Drescher, here is the ultimate resource for any world traveler, armchair or otherwise, hoping to make it home alive. " The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters summary.

This is a great book to bring out for Halloween. A little bit older, this book gives information about roughly sixty mythic monsters from around the world. While technically a fiction book, as it is about fictional creatures, these fictional creatures have their place in folklore in the real world. Judy Sierra gives a brief description of the creature, their location, how dangerous they are, and if escape is thought to be possible. Henrik Drescher gives creepy illustrations that one review from Publisher's Weekly describes as "grotesque mixed-media illustrations [that] look like doodles after nightmares".

Neither the book nor the author have won awards for their work, but that doesn't mean that this book isn't worth checking out. A word of caution, however: it should be stressed to children that the creatures in this book aren't necessarily real. Because many myths and creatures are created to teach and frighten children into behaving, more gullible children may be frightened. That said, most children tend to enjoy this book, and having an idea about different creatures from different parts of the world.

I think that librarians, parents, and teachers can all have fun with introducing this book to youth. Writing assignments prompting children to create their own creatures and art assignments to create those creatures could be two activities based off of this book. Regardless if you use this book to teach or entertain, it would be a good addition to any collection.

Publisher's Weekly Review: https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7636-1727-1

Book Review: "Earth Verse: Haiku from the Ground Up"

Author: Sally M. Walker

Illustrator: William Grill

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Copyright Date: February 13th, 2018

Age Range:  8-10 years

"In a stunning combination of haiku and impressionistic (but accurate) art, this one-of-a-kind book encourages readers to think playfully about our planet and its wondrous processes. Sibert Medal–winning author Sally M. Walker covers Earth’s many marvels — fossilized skeletons of plants and animals, terrific volcanic eruptions, the never-ending hydrologic cycle — in sometimes straightforward, sometimes metaphoric three-line haikus. Expertly drawn art by William Grill, author-illustrator of Shackleton’s Journey, provides a visual reference for each poem. In clear and creative back matter, Walker and Grill further use their skills to provide additional detailed explanations for the science behind each concept. A unique, artistic intersection of poetry and science, Earth Verse is sure to enthrall any and all readers interested in the world around them." Earth Verse: Haiku from the Ground Up summary.

In this picture book, Walker and Grill teach children about the many facets of the earth, from fossils deep in the earth to the atmosphere above. This book does a wonderful job of imparting information in a new way. It exposes children to the haiku writing form, with accompanying pictures to connect the words to the information.

The vocabulary is slightly more complicated, mostly due to the writing form, which makes it appropriate for not just the suggested age group, but even older children. Youth interested in poetry, for instance, might appreciate this writing form.

The illustrations range from encompassing two full pages to only taking up a fraction of the page. Illustrator William Grill uses page space to emphasize size and scale of the information being given.

This is a book released this year, so it hasn't had the chance to earn any awards or accolades. However, the author is a Sibert Medal winner, which is "awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year" according to the ALA.

Book Review: "Astronaut Handbook"

Title: Astronaut Handbook

Author: Meghan McCarthy

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

Date: June 10th, 2008

Age Range: 5-8 yrs

"With an appealing text and funny, brightly colored illustrations, Meghan McCarthy transports aspiring space travelers to astronaut school in her young nonfiction picture book. Take a ride on the “Vomit Comet” and learn how it feels to be weightless. Try a bite of astronaut food, such as delicious freeze-dried ice cream. Have your measurements taken—100 of your hand alone—for your very own space suit. Get ready for liftoff!" Astronaut Handbook summary.

This book is more for younger kids who might be dreaming of being an astronaut one day. This book covers what it takes to be an astronaut, the different types of astronauts there are, the required training, and snippets of what it's like in space.  The illustrations are simple but easily identifiable, perfect for the age range suggested. 

The vocabulary is also well suited to the age range, containing identifiable words and life lessons to teach younger children. In the example above, the author points out that you need to be kind to each other and not fight.

This book might not have won any awards, but the website for the author/book more than makes up for any accolades lost. The website contains multiple reviews, from Kirkus to the School Library Journal. It also includes activities such as coloring pages and how to build your own paper tube rocket. Additional information on astronauts is also available. This book lends itself well to being placed in a classroom. 

Book Review: "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers"

Title:

Author:

Publisher:

Copyright Date:

Age Range: 11-14+ yrs

"Stiff is an oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. For two thousand years, cadavers―some willingly, some unwittingly―have been involved in science's boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. In this fascinating account, Mary Roach visits the good deeds of cadavers over the centuries and tells the engrossing story of our bodies when we are no longer with them." -Stiff summary.

This book is a great example of both narrative and explanatory nonfiction. The information is offered in a narrative told in first person, but all of the information is factual and explains the human body and the history of human cadavers. It contains a few images between chapters,

some of which highlight the human body, such as the one above. 

This book provides information in a very humorous way, which keeps reader attention after the subject matter has drawn it in. 

The image above is the title and description of the second chapter. The other chapters are similar in that they're humorous in their word choice, but give a good idea of what the section will be about.

Readers who have a macabre sense of humor, or even readers who are only vaguely interested in the human body after life, will greatly enjoy reading this hilarious and factual book.

This book has won the ALA Alex Award in 2004, which according to the ALA, "The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18." In 2003 it was a Guardian First Book Award Nominee, which is, according to The Guardian, "a literary award presented by The Guardian Newspaper". In 2006 it was a Lincoln Award Nominee, which "is awarded annually to the author of the book voted as most outstanding by participating students in grades nine through twelve in Illinois" according to the Association Illinois School Library Educators. These nominees and award show that this book did a fantastic job of luring in readers and entertaining them while they learned, which is what I believe a nonfiction book for youth should do.

Book Review: How to Be An Elephant by Katherine Roy

Title: How to Be An Elephant

Author: Katherine Roy

Publisher: David Macaulay Studio

Copyright Date: 2017

Age Range: 7-11 yrs

"The savanna is not an easy place to live, even for African elephants, the largest land animals on earth. If it's a challenge for these 7,000-pound giants,w hat's it like for their newborn babies?

An infant elephant has precious little time to learn the incredible array of skills that are necessary to keep up, from projecting her voice across a 10-octave range to using the 100,000 muscles in her trunk to stay hydrated. But this giant-to-be has the perfect classroom--a family herd made up of her mother, sisters, cousins, and aunts. With their help and protection, she'll learn how to survive, how to thrive, and how to be an elephant." -- How to Be An Elephant summary.

This book is an excellent example of narrative nonfiction. It follows a newborn elephant as she learns the skills that she needs to survive in the savanna. It contains interesting information conveyed through beautiful illustrations.

I've chosen these two examples from the book to show the beauty of the illustrations, as well as the information they give. The image above is a creative way to show readers how an elephant uses their trunk to smell. The image itself is different and dynamic, especially when compared to the image below.

The image below shows the realistic application that the author also uses. There's something calm and engaging about the art style used.

Readers who are interested in animals (elephants, specifically) will fall in love with the beautifully crafted illustrations as they show what a young elephant must do and learn to survive and grow. This book has been lovingly researched by the author herself, and she has also done all of the illustrations.

While this book hasn't won awards, there are many favorable, reputable reviews. This book would be a good addition to any library's collection because it is engaging, educational, and well written.

Week 16 Prompt

Ebooks and audiobooks didn't exist when I was a kid; or if they did, they weren't as popular as they are today. Beyond that, I don't think that the culture of reading, and books in general, has changed too much. I personally have become more interested in online fanfiction than I am in actual books. I also have an interest in ebooks for the convenience.

I don't really see the culture of reading changing. There always has been, and always will be, those who enjoy reading and those who don't. I don't see schools changing how they approach reading. I imagine that physical books may become slightly less common in schools, if textbooks and class materials become available digitally.

I see big house publishers slowly being replaced by small-time publishers and self-publishing authors. E-Publishing will likely also continue to rise.

Week 15 Prompt

Prompt: What do you think are the best ways to market your library's fiction collection?

1. Facebook/Website: A lot of people are turning to the internet for answers to their questions. A good way to promote the fiction collection would be to put an announcement on the library's website and/or Facebook page.

2. Fiction Display: Having a display section of classics, recent favorites, and new fiction can get the public interested in what else the library has to offer.

3. Reading Programs: A lot of libraries have summer/reading programs. The fiction collection can be highlighted in one such program.

Week 14 Prompt

I would not separate LGBTQ fiction or African American Fiction from the general collection.

1. It's generally easy to determine if a book has LGBTQ or African American subject matter. If someone doesn't want to read it, it's fairly simple to avoid. Personal autonomy and responsibility are things; we must be responsible for the media that we choose to consume, and not try to dictate the media someone else chooses to consume.

2. I agree that it promotes segregation. To me, it makes it seem like these books don't belong with other books, which I disagree with. It brings a focus to anyone in those sections; someone may want an LGBTQ-themed book, but may be embarrassed or uncomfortable with letting others know.

3. By separating these books, you decrease the chance of a reader stumbling on them and discovering something new. We tend to stick to what we know and like, and if someone doesn't usually pick books on these topics, then the chances of them discovering these subjects on their own greatly decreases if the books are separated.

Over all, I don't feel that the desire to separate LGBTQ and/or African American Fiction comes from a good place, and I couldn't in good conscious do so.

Week 13 Prompt

I definitely think that we should be serving adults (young, new, whatever) who enjoy YA/NA/Graphic Novels. It's not our place to gatekeep. If the material isn't hurting anyone, patrons should be allowed access. It's no one else's business to decide what should or should not be promoted in the library. Those who feel that YA/NA/Graphic Novels aren't legitimate literary choices are wrong; just because it doesn't mesh with what someone thinks is proper writing/subject matter, doesn't mean that it's not legitimate, that it's not enjoyable, or that it should be excluded from being accessible to the public.

That said, listening to patrons who do enjoy those genres is the important thing. Supply what they like, then encourage them to branch out. Maintain a variety of styles, both writing and drawing, to entice patrons to do just that. I don't feel that YA/NA/Graphic Novels need treatment different from say, romance or sci-fi, in terms of promotion or application. Treat these genres/styles as the other genres are treated; like they belong there.

New Adult Annotation

Title: Find You in the Dark

Author: A. Meredith Walters

Publication Date: October 2012

Genre: New Adult, Romance

Number of Pages: 290

Summary:

Maggie Young lived a relatively normal life, up until she met Clayton Reed. With a past he want to escape and personal demons that continuously threaten to bring him down, Clayton's connection to Maggie offers a light in the darkness. Together, they struggle to remain true to themselves and each other as Clayton's demons threaten to tear them apart.

Characteristics that fit in with New Adult:

• Deals with the "experimental years"; ages 18-26
• Deals with "first-times": college, full-time jobs, serious relationship, moving away from home, etc.

Read-Alikes:

• When We Collide by A.L. Jackson
• Definetly, Maybe in Love by Ophelia London
• Wait for You by J. Lynne, Jennifer L. Amrtentrout

Week 12 Prompt

Reader's Advisory Matrix:


Author: Frank McCourt

Title: Angela's Ashes

Publication Date: 1996

Number of Pages: 368

Geographic Setting: Ireland; U.S.A.

Time Period: Depression-era

Subject Headings: Irish Americans Biography, Irish Americans Ireland Limerick Biography, McCourt Family, Limerick (Limerick, Ireland) Biography

Type: Non-Fiction, Biography, Autobiography-Memoir

Series Notes: First of three memoirs

Book Summary: Angela's Ashes: A Memoir is a 1996 memoir by the Irish-American author Grank McCourt, with various anecdotes and stories of his childhood in Brooklyn, New York, but focuses mostly on his life in Limerick, Ireland. It also includes his struggles with poverty and his father's alcoholism.

Reading Elements:

• Narrative Context: The work is shaped into a compelling page-turning read that can read much like fiction.
• Subject: The subject of this memoir is Irish-American Frank McCourt and his life growing up.
• Type: A memoir is a type of non-fiction that relies more on the narrative that other types, say an essay.
• Pacing: The pacing of Angela's Ashes is fairly linear, going from young childhood to early adulthood.

1-3 Annotation: In Angela's Ashes, author Frank McCourt details his life as an Irish-American, which begins and ends in New York but primarily takes place in Limerick, Ireland. This book explores McCourt's childhood as he's born in Brooklyn New York, returns to Ireland and poverty as a young child, and struggles to finally return to New York as a young man of nineteen. McCourt deals with poverty and the alcoholism of his father.

Similar Works:

• The Liar's Club by Mary Karr
• The Road from Coorain: A Woman's Exquisitely Clear-Sighted Memoir of Growing up Australian by Jill Ker Conway
•  Growing Up by Russell Baker, Gilbert Riswold
• Memoirs, 1925-1950 by George F. Kennan

Name of Annotator: Brittany Vanzo