This post first appeared on the Times Union Books Blog.
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When Albany High School collaborates with the New York State Writers Institute, magic always happens. It was like that in 2015, when Jason Reynolds came hot off the publication of the nationally-acclaimed All American Boys. Fast forward to 2017 and Nic Stone. A fresh-faced debut author whose book is on the short list for the Morris Award and whose book, Dear Martin, is another contemporary look at social injustice.
As she explained to an room of fans, students, educators, and community members at the New York State Museum’s Huxley Theater yesterday evening in their capstone event, she hopes people who read the book take away the message to think critically in a world too quick to tweet, overshare, and not consider the experiences of others. Likewise, her entertaining presentation included a captivating reading of the first chapter of her book along with diving in to social movements past and present, and then taking questions from the audience before signing books. She was personable and relaxed, letting the message of her book speak for itself while indulging the audience in revealing a bit about her next few projects (can’t wait!) Plus, she writes a kick-butt book personalizations that show she’s paying attention and has a style to die for, making mention of her boots she bought to prepare her for heading to the arctic tundra that is upstate New York (she grew up in Atlanta before spending three years living in Israel, then moved back to Atlanta where she currently resides with her husband and two children).
And it was a different, more personal feel for her visit to Albany High School in the afternoon. While events that have already been shared in the media did interrupt the presentation for a brief time, students’ appreciation for her style and brains had them chatting on Washington Avenue during the fire drill and picking up where we left off once we were back inside. The questions from the students ranged from personal to professional and all needed a picture with her before leaving, looking forward to reading the book if they hadn’t already. It’s evident that she is comfortable discussing the issues that her books bring up and does not shy away from sharing her thoughts and picking the brains of the teens on what they think. It’s again what she wants the message of the book to be, think about your perspective but learn from the perspectives of others.
I’m sure the same could be said for the conversation that occurred in the University at Albany class that she taught earlier in the day, making for a long day but fulfilling day with an up-and-coming author. That she shared she’s working on a middle grade novel and literary fiction makes it known that she doesn’t plan on going anywhere soon. The fact that the New York State Writers Institute grabs these authors as their stars ascend is magical and to be applauded with the hard work of staffers like Mark Koplik.
Therefore, if you haven’t yet followed the New York State Writers Institute and their array of events, do so now. Their collaborative style is beneficial to the greater community and the institutions that they partner with enriching us all. But especially when it comes to connecting students with authors for those of us who work with a teen population and want to continue to encourage a love of reading, learning, and exploring.
Elephant Talk: The Surprising Science of Elephant Communication by Ann Downer-Hazell is exactly what the title and subtitle tell you it’s about as a short nonfiction explanation of how elephants communicate and how humans have studied and learned about these animals as people like Jane Goodall did with primates. It’s one of two reasons I went on a solo trip to Africa after I got my Bachelor’s degree– to see a wild elephant.
Europe
It begins with a single step (actually, some money and a plane ticket) and I know a few places that are on my list, but in the meantime, I want to add a recent read that gave me the traveling bug again: Caitlin Doughty’s From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death. I’m a super fan of hers. I love her YouTube channel and everything she stands for. So her 2017 publication took her work a step further and highlights all the ways the dead die and are cared for after death. Not to pick one method over another but to highlight the similarities and differences in American death culture and what happens around the world for better or worse. She wants to educate and educate she did in her humor and curiosity.
Odd & True by Cat Winters
Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
Carson’s book was a riveting ending that didn’t quite have the explosions and bang bang shoot ’em up that book number two did nor was it the magic of being introduced to a strong female character, Leah Westfall, in the first (you can never get back that first-read feeling). This book felt mature. It was about each of the ragtag group that trudged through the American west to set up Glory together, all while the pains of prejudice and lawlessness reigned. Carson was so vivid in her descriptions of the west and then California where most of the third book takes place that I actually dreamed of the west. It was a fitting ending and I won’t spoil it for you here, but there is hopefulness for the future of the fictional characters and a completeness to their story.
Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs is an addition to the Miss Peregrine’s series. This book is a collection of short stories written under the guise of a historian for peculiars and tells the tall tales that only another peculiar can tell. Some are light-hearted but some are downright depressing. But it brings out the best in Riggs’ creativity and is a perfectly natural (see what I did there?) addition to the family of books.
The Round House by Louise Erdrich is an adult novel written in 2012 that is a multi-layered and emotionally-draining portrayal of a family torn apart on the North Dakota reservation of the Ojibwe tribe. This is the kind of book you dive into with every fiber of your being and continue to think about after you’re finished. It’s likely a book I will re-read when I don’t often do that.
Into the Bright Unknown by Rae Carson is the final book in her Gold Seer trilogy that I finished about fifteen minutes ago. I bought it on it’s book birthday because I had to have it and finished it within a few days, though if I could ignore adulthood, I could have been done the following day. Carson demonstrates the facets of immigration and race relations in the 1850s during the Gold Rush though it began years before that in the south after Leah’s parents were murdered and she needed to run, hiding herself in plain sight as a boy and meeting up with a band of interesting people all pushing their way west. If I can provide more encouragement to read the series, know that I had at least one night of dreams set in the wild West myself that demonstrates Carson’s command of setting.
Dear Fahrenheit 451: A Librarian’s Love Letters and Break-Up Notes to the Books in Her Life by Annie Spence is a must-read for librarians (duh) and avid book lovers. Her uniquely humorous style provides glimpses into her reading habits and her life. Her and I are kindred spirits because we share an all-time book favorite The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. Her approach had me laughing and smirking making for awkward public interactions. But readers certainly can find ways to incorporate this style– a love letter to your books– into some epic internal conversations or as part of your next book group meeting. Love, Alicia.
And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard has one of my favorite covers. So while it’s not winter and I wasn’t going to dress in all-black, you get the point. This young adult novel features poetry and inspiration from Emily Dickinson in one of the ways I appreciate contemporary YA authors– bringing back the old by incorporating it into the new. The main character has experienced something tragic and is now at a boarding school and channeling Emily Dickinson to heal. The mystery unfolds over the course of the book and readers get to go back in time and revisit some of Emily Dickinson’s best poetry while Hubbard flexes her own poetry muscles and has Emily writing her own which is just as beautiful.
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren is an adult biography that I have recommended widely since reading. While I will never know what it’s like to be a scientist, I felt like I understood the life of one, with the added benefits of chronicling Jahren’s personal life alongside her academic one. Without a doubt, it is eloquently written and organized in a studious manner, with three sections being named for plant life weaving these plants into the story of her own life and her lab partner. It’s as serious as it is cerebral with commentary on mental health, family, friendship, and science itself.
The first, Girl in a Bad Place by Kaitlin Ward is a copy I’m reviewing for VOYA, so you can read the full review there, but suffice it to say that when a girl is in trouble, sometimes she finds the path of least resistance and when that path leads to dangerous individuals, it’s important to have a girl friend to keep it real.
And keepin’ it real is what a group of girls in The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed does when a new girl moves in to the house formerly housing another student who moved after a traumatic rape. The school and community’s lack of justice for her and subsequent girls who have tolerated this behavior are ready to stand and fight led by three very unique girls who empower others’ voice. Erin’s autism is useful as she continually discusses how she is underestimated by others. Rosina’s pressures include the conservative Mexican-American expectations of her family as she explores her sexuality and sense of duty. Then there’s Grace, the new girl, who provides fresh perspective couched in a liberal church community that her mother heads. What is admirable and respected in the story are the richness of the voices, but the very real conversations Reed has with her readers.
And while the third book is an adult essay collection with a great deal of sexual content, the rawness of the approach is what won me over. I hadn’t read any of Gay’s other works that include Bad Feminist and Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body so I cannot speak to those but each story while sometimes with similar character profiles or development allows for reflection. I’m the first one to admit I love dark books and this one fits the bill as Cornelius Nepos says “after darkness comes the light.”
Readers Be Advised 