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Julie Hale

NonfictionLiterature

Holiday must-haves for literature lovers

Feature by Julie Hale

If you’re shopping for someone who’s happiest in the company of a book, then these recommendations are for you! Bibliophiles will delight over the goodies we’ve gathered this holiday season.

LOST LANGUAGE
First up is a story of cinematic proportions: An ancient codex, written by an unidentified author in a hand no one can decipher, flits in and out of history, confounding researchers across the centuries. The codex in question, known as the Voynich Manuscript, is one of literature’s great enigmas. The work dates back to the 15th century, and what’s known about its past is piecemeal. After passing through the hands of various owners, it surfaced in a book sale in Rome in 1903. Nine years later, it came into the possession of Polish antiquarian Wilfrid Voynich. Today it’s housed at Yale University.

Readers everywhere can now puzzle over this archival oddity thanks to a magnificent new facsimile edition created from fresh photographs of the original. The Voynich Manuscript includes the full text of the codex, as well as reproductions of its arcane illustrations. Edited by rare books expert Raymond Clemens, the volume features essays on the background of the manuscript and the latest research connected to it—efforts that have produced few clues about its provenance. A strange yet sublime work, The Voynich Manuscript is a jewel for the literary enthusiast and a prize for any personal library. 

MINDING THE STORE
For book lovers, nothing beats a few hours of browsing in a well-stocked bookshop. New Yorker illustrator Bob Eckstein celebrates the singular joys of perusal and possible purchase in Footnotes from the World’s Greatest Bookstores, an international tour of 75 indie bookshops that includes literary institutions such as City Lights (San Francisco) and Shakespeare and Company (Paris). Eckstein captures the essence of each shop in his luminous illustrations and shares stories from the stacks.

The destinations are worthy of a bibliophile’s bucket list, like Word on the Water, a London bookstore located on a floating barge, and Librairie Avant-Garde, an underground book emporium in a former bomb shelter in Nanjing, China, with 43,000 square feet of browsing space. A foreword by Garrison Keillor and quotes from Alice Munro, Robin Williams, Patti Smith and other notables make this the ultimate valentine to the brick-and-mortar bookstore. 

THE WRITING LIFE

Getting writers to interview other writers is a long-held practice at Vanity Fair that has resulted in classic contributions to the magazine. The best of these literary pairings appear in the lively new anthology Vanity Fair’s Writers on Writers. Assembled by Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, these 43 pieces are filled with the larger-than-life reportage and sophisticated criticism that have made the publication famous.

In “Mississippi Queen,” Willie Morris goes for a drive with Eudora Welty—“quite simply,” he says, “the funniest person I’ve ever known.” In “The White Stuff,” Michael Lewis pays a call on Tom Wolfe in his Hamptons home, finding the great writer turned out in (you guessed it) a white suit and matching fedora. When it comes to author appraisals, the collection’s lineup of matches is remarkable: James Wolcott tackles Jack Kerouac, Martin Amis assesses Saul Bellow, Jacqueline Woodson honors James Baldwin—and that’s just a preview. In his introduction to the collection, fellow editor David Friend writes, “the life of every storyteller brims with revelatory tales.” So does this terrific anthology. 

FICTIONAL WORLDS
Like a brave heroine or stalwart adventurer, setting takes a leading role in many a beloved literary work. Middle-earth, Oz and Narnia are fully realized worlds that readers can map with their imaginations. These and other sensational sites are celebrated in Literary Wonderlands, an unforgettable expedition to 90-plus places made famous in fiction and poetry. 

Edited by Slate columnist Laura Miller, Wonderlands tracks almost 4,000 years of narrative. Starting with lands brought to life in time-honored tales like The Odyssey and The Tempest, the volume moves forward to explore 20th-century favorites (Fahrenheit 451, Slaughterhouse-Five) and up-to-date offerings (The Hunger Games, 1Q84). Author biographies, background on the creation of each work and a wealth of visuals complete this standout tribute to stories that transport the reader. Isn’t that what fiction’s for?

A BOOK CLUB’S BEST FRIEND
Is your book group in need of a boost? This holiday, surprise the members of your circle with A Year of Reading and get set for inspired discussions in 2017. Amply qualified authors Elisabeth Ellington (Ph.D., British lit) and Jane Freimiller (Ph.D., philosophy) share creative ideas for a year’s worth of reading in this handy guide.

In a month-by-month format, the book offers reading recommendations tailored to each season. Ideas for February range from the new to the tried-and-true: Aziz Ansari’s Modern Romance; Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. For November, there’s a bounty of food-related reading, including Lucy Knisley’s Relish, a culinary memoir told in graphic-novel form. Along with out-of-the-ordinary selections, the guide provides talking points that can kickstart a conversation and questions to keep the dialogue alive. With tips on how to organize a new reading group and resources for researching titles, this manual is a must for book-clubbers.

 

This article was originally published in the December 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

If you’re shopping for someone who’s happiest in the company of a book, then these recommendations are for you! Bibliophiles will delight over the goodies we’ve gathered this holiday season.
Children's & YAPicture Book

Dazzling picture books to become December traditions

Feature by Julie Hale

Gather your little elves for story time, and get set for a sparkling holiday with heartwarming tales of Christmas Eve magic. The plum picks featured here will bring the spirit of December to any reading circle.

THE NATIVITY
A new book from paper-craft whiz Robert Sabuda is always a cause for celebration, and this year he delivers another pop-up masterpiece. The Christmas Story is a spellbinding depiction of the Nativity that will enchant readers of all ages. Sabuda uses white paper with touches of gold to create pristine scenes that capture the majesty of the story of Jesus’ birth. His crisp tableaux lend a new dimension—literally—to the cherished tale. Wise men astride camels, a sparkling star and a stable filled with very special occupants are standout elements in a book brimming with pop-up surprises. It seems there’s nothing Sabuda can’t create out of paper. His visionary take on the Nativity is destined to become a December staple.

MEOWY CHRISTMAS
You can’t go wrong with a title like Stowaway in a Sleigh. This irresistible Christmas caper from C. Roger Mader features a feline with a problem only Santa can solve. On Christmas Eve, Slipper, a green-eyed cat, discovers an intruder in the house—a big man with furry boots, dressed in head-to-toe red! Deciding to check out his bag of goodies, Slipper crawls inside. Unsuspecting Santa shoulders the sack, and in a breathtaking nod to The Polar Express, Slipper soon finds herself flying high in Santa’s sleigh, heading for the North Pole. How will she get home? With the help of Mr. Claus, of course! In his richly detailed pastel illustrations, Mader conveys Slipper’s many moods—curiosity, wonder and, in the end, contentment. This is a trip readers will want to take again and again. 

AN ANTICIPATED ARRIVAL
In Anik McGrory’s The Christmas Fox, a mischievous fox is summoned by his animal friends to help prepare the stable for the arrival of a baby. “Come . . . there’s a place to make warm with sweet-smelling hay,” says the cow. “Come,” the lamb tells him. “There are gifts to get ready with soft, cozy wool.” But the fox—uncertain about how he can help—ignores their words. He frolics in the snow and plays in a stream. Once he arrives at the stable, he finds that he’s able to contribute after all, in true fox-like fashion. Youngsters will fall for McGrory’s impish fox, whose personality comes alive in her appealing illustrations, and if they don’t yet know the Nativity story, they’ll find an easy introduction here.


The Christmas Eve Tree. Illustration copyright © 2015 by Emily Sutton. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA on behalf of Walker Books, Limited.

WISHES CAN COME TRUE
Lisa Wheeler celebrates the miracles of the season in The Christmas Boot. Hannah Greyweather is out gathering wood when she discovers a lone boot in the snow. It fits her left foot perfectly and eases her walk back to the solitary cabin she calls home. How wonderful it would be, Hannah thinks, to have its mate! The next morning, she’s surprised to find two boots by her bed. Soon anything Hannah wishes for materializes before her eyes, including bright red mittens and a magnificent new house. When the owner of the lost boot—Santa himself—comes to claim it, he brings the magic to an end, but before he departs, he gives Hannah the gift she needs the most. Jeff Pinkney’s breathtaking illustrations make this an exceptional holiday story and a tale to be treasured. 

SPECIAL DELIVERY
Kallie George’s The Lost Gift is all about the goodness of giving. Squirrel, Rabbit, Bird and Deer wait on snow-laden Merry Woods Hill in hopes of spotting Santa. When they finally spy him overhead, the wind whips his sleigh and a present falls off “like a shooting star.” In the forest, the critters find the gift—a package tagged for the new baby at a local farm. With some ingenuity—and Santa-inspired goodwill—they deliver the present to its tiny rightful owner. At the end of their mission, they discover a surprise—a present just for them, from you-know-who. Stephanie Graegin’s pencil-and-ink illustrations make this Christmas Eve, with its star-studded night sky, one to remember. Little readers will feel big love for George’s furry holiday heroes.

AN OVERLOOKED TREASURE
In Delia Huddy’s The Christmas Eve Tree, a homeless boy rescues a forlorn little fir fated for the trash and takes it to his camp beneath a railway bridge. With the help of candles, the resourceful lad transforms it into a magnificent symbol of the season. The tree’s blazing branches attract passersby, who come together around it and sing. After the holiday, the boy moves on and the fir is forgotten—almost. In the end, it endures, growing to majestic heights in a park. Thanks to artist Emily Sutton, whose watercolor visuals have a delightful retro quality, Huddy’s story brims with holiday sweetness. This distinctive tale is a testament to the way Christmas can create a sense of community.

 

This article was originally published in the December 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Gather your little elves for story time, and get set for a sparkling holiday with heartwarming tales of Christmas Eve magic. The plum picks featured here will bring the spirit of December to any reading circle.
Nonfiction

Keep on the sunny side of life

Feature by Julie Hale

Most of us would agree that happiness is a state of mind, one that requires more than a little maintenance. Perfect for giving your attitude a tune-up, the books below are all about achieving—and sustaining—a sunny mindset. Get ready to focus, reflect and feel happy, starting today.

In a 2016 United Nations report, Denmark was named the happiest place in the world, a title the country has earned in previous years. The sod, it seems, really is greener in Scandinavia. What’s the key to Danish contentment? Copenhagener Meik Wiking, a researcher for the World Database of Happiness, believes it’s hygge (pronounced hue-gah), the feeling of snug domesticity, companionship and security that’s central to the country’s culture. 

For those of us who live in less idyllic locations—the U.S. ranked 13th on the list of happy nations—Wiking has written The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living. In brief, breezy chapters, Wiking outlines ways we can weave hygge into the fabric of our daily lives, offering ideas on everything from decorating (candles are a hygge must-have) to dining (try the recipe for robust Skipper Stew). But hygge, Wiking points out, is much more than an aesthetic. It’s a state of mind that fosters optimism and stresses pleasure over the pressure to be perfect. The hygge way means it’s OK to disconnect from work and assemble with friends, to indulge in—yes—a Danish or two (statistics show that Denmark outeats the rest of Europe when it comes to sugary treats). As life philosophies go, this one sounds pretty sweet.

Author Malene Rydahl presents a different take on what makes Denmark tick in Happy as a Dane: 10 Secrets of the Happiest People in the World, arguing that her homeland is flourishing thanks to a solid social framework and a value structure that emphasizes personal contentment instead of status. Her 10-secrets list features qualities that define Danish society—traits such as trust, a supportive educational system, a sense of unlimited opportunity and an appreciation for simple pleasures. 

When applied to our personal lives, Rydahl says, these big-picture elements can generate the same sense of positivity that makes Denmark the happiest place on the map. Rydahl, who is Copenhagen’s goodwill ambassador, suggests simple shifts in perspective. By focusing on community, calibrating the career-life equation and developing independence and self-worth, we can create a strong foundation for fulfillment. From start to finish, Rydahl lays out a persuasive case for making 2017 the year of living Danishly.

HOW-TOS FOR HAPPINESS 
For more than a decade, sought-after speaker Halley Bock has worked with companies across the country as an advisor on workplace relationships. She’s the founder of Life, Incorporated, an organization that promotes connection, compassion and good old-fashioned joy as prime factors in personal satisfaction. Bock shares her unique approach to self-growth in Life, Incorporated: A Practical Guide to Wholehearted Living. The key word here is practical, as Bock provides concrete techniques that can help readers find new ways to flourish.

Bock’s position on self-fulfillment is holistic. She urges us to inventory our lives—to take stock of home environment, physical health, career and downtime and, through writing prompts that tap into personal inspiration, envision more rewarding versions of each. Building self-esteem, finding a sense of purpose and maintaining authentic connections with others are among her areas of emphasis. “The more we are able to live life on our own terms,” Bock observes, “the more we are able to experience wholehearted success and fulfillment.” If you’re looking for a hands-on plan for cultivating happiness, Bock’s book is for you.

POSITIVE PRACTICES
So many of us, it seems, are creatures of habit, ruled by schedules and routines. In the midst of all the busyness, it’s easy to stagnate—and stress (two verbs you should banish from your vocabulary in 2017!). Are we humans really capable of change? According to Zen master Joseph Emet, the answer to that question is a resounding yes, and in Finding the Blue Sky: A Mindful Approach to Choosing Happiness Here and Now, he shows readers how. Through a series of daily practices that includes planned meditation, Emet offers a blueprint for forming a more mindful mode of living and stopping the cycles of negative thinking that so often undermine happiness. 

Drawing on his Buddhist background, Emet provides themes for meditation and soul-searching questions, all aimed at helping the reader develop a more affirmative outlook. He also delves into issues that can complicate daily life, including mood management and relationships. Establishing positive habits and patterns of thinking is central to contentment, Emet notes, but practice makes perfect—we have to act with intention if we want the changes to be permanent. He makes it all seem achievable in this stirring, heartfelt book.

PATH TO A HAPPIER YOU
Full of smart suggestions for finding fulfillment, Rachel Kelly’s Walking on Sunshine: 52 Small Steps to Happiness is sure to put a spring in your stride. In this mood-brightening guide, Kelly, a bestselling British author and mental health advocate who has struggled with depression, reveals the techniques she relies upon for leading a bountiful life.

In journal entries attuned to the seasons, Kelly supplies 52 ideas—one for each week of the year—for creating a more satisfying lifestyle. Try building into your schedule “pockets of peace”—times to power down, pause and reflect—in order to become more mindful of the present moment. Start practicing gratitude by pinpointing positive incidents and recording them in a notebook. Tiny tweaks like these, Kelly says, can make a big difference in our attitudes and interactions.

 

This article was originally published in the January 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Most of us would agree that happiness is a state of mind, one that requires more than a little maintenance. Perfect for giving your attitude a tune-up, the books below are all about achieving—and sustaining—a sunny mindset. Get ready to focus, reflect and feel happy, starting today.
Children's & YAPicture Book

New picture books focus on the benefits of bonding

Feature by Julie Hale

The start of a new year is a great time for making new friends! If your young one is developing into a wallflower instead of a social butterfly, check out the terrific books below. These spirited stories will inspire introverts of all ages to step outside their comfort zones and connect.

ADVENTURE AT SEA
A verbal mix-up leads to big fun in Kat Yeh’s The Friend Ship. Hedgehog spends her time alone, “curled up in a prickly little ball.” When she overhears the words “friendship is out there,” she’s inspired to hit the high seas to find what she thinks is an actual ship. She sets sail in her own boat, asking the animals she meets along the way if they’ve seen the Friend Ship. Nobody has, but everyone wants to, and Hedgehog is soon joined in her search by a beaver, a herd of deer, a mouse, a polar bear—even an elephant! The members of this menagerie are all looking for the same thing, and by story’s end, they’ve definitely found it. Chuck Groenink’s masterful spreads of the shipmates on the water have a classic feel. His critters are irresistible. Who wouldn’t want to befriend this winning bunch?

FRIENDS AGAINST ALL ODDS
Jessica Olien’s adorable Adrift: An Odd Couple of Polar Bears demonstrates the importance of keeping an open mind when it comes to making friends. Karl and Hazel don’t get along. Introverted Hazel savors solitude—she likes to read and daydream—while rowdy Karl enjoys showing off for his bear buddies. When these polar opposites (I couldn’t pass up the pun . . .) get stranded on an ice floe in the middle of the ocean, they realize they’re stuck with each other. But once the ice floe starts to melt, they begin to bond and discover they’re more alike than they ever imagined. Olien’s cute, comic illustrations feature seals, penguins and other cold-weather creatures, all vividly depicted in bold lines and bright colors (check out Hazel’s polka-dotted scarf!). Adrift is a delightful reminder that friendship can blossom where it’s least expected.

PERFECT PAIRINGS
In the clever, quirky Before You, Rebecca Doughty uses friendship and the sense of fulfillment it brings as the basis for a series of witty comparisons: “Before you . . . I was a bowl without a fish. A birthday cake without a wish.” Doughty explores the idea of “before”—pre-friendship—throughout the first half of the book; the latter half she devotes to the time when buddies finally find each other: “I had a cup, you brought the tea. I had a boat, you brought the sea.” In minimalist ink-and-paint drawings, she uses her trademark deadpan visual style to hilarious effect—there’s a frowning four-leaf clover in need of luck, and a droopy noodle who could use some soup—and the result is a book that will appeal to readers of all ages. This is a nifty little volume that celebrates the power of companionship.

The start of a new year is a great time for making new friends! If your young one is developing into a wallflower instead of a social butterfly, check out the terrific books below. These spirited stories will inspire introverts of all ages to step outside their comfort zones and connect.

Children's & YAPicture Book

Teachers’ picks: Listen, look and learn

Feature by Julie Hale

If wintry temps have you dreaming of spring, then read on! The outdoor adventures featured below will tide you over till the milder months. Focusing on the marvels and mysteries of nature, they’re tailor-made for storytime in the classroom or at home. Who knew that science could be so much fun?

IN THE GARDEN
What Will Grow? (ages 3 to 6) by Jennifer Ward celebrates seeds in all their many forms, from acorns and flower pods to apple pips. In short rhymed stanzas, Ward nimbly addresses the idea of plant growth, tracking it from sprout to full flower: “Very tiny. / Then so viny! / What will grow? / Tomato.” Susie Ghahremani’s detailed scenes of neat garden rows showcase each seed along with a critter who’s hungry for the yield to come (watch out for the raccoon in the pumpkin patch!). Little readers will be impressed by the book’s fold-out spreads, which emphasize the miracle of buds and blossoms. Encapsulating the magic packed into seemingly simple seeds—and the surprises they produce—this beautifully rendered story is a great way to get kids interested in the great outdoors. Here’s to the green thumbs of the future!

IN THE WOODS
Tim McCanna’s Watersong (ages 4 to 8) offers a wonderful introduction to the connections that exist between animals and their native habitats. A little fox dodges raindrops, dashes through a stream and takes shelter beneath a tree as a storm crashes through the forest. McCanna uses simple lines of onomatopoeia to communicate the drama and power of the sudden squall: “Wash! Wham! / Lash! Whirl! / Bash! Swirl!” He depicts the storm from the perspectives of other animals—geese, snails and a wide-eyed owl—to show how the downpour disrupts the tranquility of their surroundings. By story’s end, the rain has passed, and the fox emerges from hiding to play with her pups beneath a sparkling rainbow. Capturing the clarity of a world washed in rain, Richard Smythe’s watercolor illustrations up the appeal of this delightful depiction of nature’s cycles and the unexpected gifts a storm can bring.

IN THE WATER
Rivers of Sunlight: How the Sun Moves Water Around the Earth (ages 4 to 8) is the latest entry in the popular, science-inspired Sunlight Series from author Molly Bang and artist Penny Chisholm. This informative yet accessible book is filled with fun facts about H20 and the role it plays with the sun in earth’s life-sustaining cycles. The sun itself serves as narrator: “Together, water and I give LIFE to your blue planet, and to YOU.” Presenting sophisticated information in a clear and engaging style, the book delves into concepts like evaporation and photosynthesis. Chisholm’s dazzling illustrations of the sea, the stars and the sun capture the magnitude of our ecosystem while creating a sense of intimacy readers can relate to. A bold typeface and short chunks of text make the book’s big ideas easy to process. Youngsters will see the world in a new way once they spend some time with this appealing primer.

If wintry temps have you dreaming of spring, then read on! The outdoor adventures featured below will tide you over till the milder months. Focusing on the marvels and mysteries of nature, they’re tailor-made for storytime in the classroom or at home. Who knew that science could be so much fun?

Women poets who challenge boundaries

Feature by Julie Hale

Offering invaluable perspectives on gender, politics and life on the domestic front, these four diverse poets work in a range of styles to create work that’s moving and deeply personal.

Channeling the quick-change nature of contemporary experience, Morgan Parker’s intoxicating There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé is both an of-the-moment book and a collection for the ages. In aggressive poems packed with pop-culture references, Parker explores her identity as a black woman, often writing without the constraints imposed by punctuation. The freedom gives her work a sense of breathless, unchecked urgency.

From Beyoncé to Michelle Obama, Parker invokes a gallery of cultural icons as she probes the nature of African-American womanhood. “Will I accidentally live forever / And be sentenced to smile at men / I wish were dead,” she writes in “The President’s Wife.”

Filled with mid-stanza mood shifts, the poems track the movement of Parker’s mind, flying high on a cloud of grown-up sophistication one moment (“records curated to our allure, incense, unconcern”), then telling the world to go to hell (“I don’t give any / shits at all . . .”). “I live somewhere imaginary,” Parker writes. That place, the reader suspects, is poetry.

Afro by Morgan Parker

I’m hiding secrets and weapons in there: buttermilk
pancake cardboard, boxes of purple juice, a magic word
our Auntie Angela spoke into her fist & released into
hot black evening like gunpowder or a Kool, 40 yards of
cheap wax prints, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, a Zulu
folktale warning against hunters drunk on Polo shirts and
Jägermeister, blueprints for building ergonomically perfect
dancers & athletes, the chords to what would have been
Michael’s next song, a mule stuffed with diamonds & gold,
Miss Holiday’s vocal chords, the jokes Dave Chapelle’s
been crafting off-the-grid, sex & brown liquor intended
for distribution at Sunday Schools in white suburbs, or in
other words exactly what a white glove might expect to
find taped to my leg & swallowed down my gullet & locked
in my trunk & fogging my dirty mind & glowing like
treasure in my autopsy

Excerpted from the poetry collection There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé published by Tin House Books. © 2017 Morgan Parker.

A POISED DEBUT
Layli Long Soldier creates a work of dignity and power from the seed of a single word in the haunting collection WHEREAS. A member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, Long Soldier draws upon the bureaucratic language of the U.S. government—specifically that of the 2009 congressional apology to Native Americans—using the term “whereas” as the foundation for an extended cycle of poems that includes brief, concrete pieces and lengthy prose narratives. Tension simmers beneath the surface as she reflects on her culture, sense of identity and family: “Whereas her birth signaled the responsibility as mother to teach what it is to be Lakota, / therein the question: what did I know about being Lakota?”

In ways that feel fresh and innovative, she plays with word patterns and typography to produce poems that appeal to the eye as well as the intellect. She can stop the reader cold with a stunning image, as in “Steady Summer,” when “two horseflies love-buzz / a simple humid meeting / motorized sex in place.” Long Soldier is such an assured, versatile poet that it’s difficult to believe this is her debut.

ECO-CONSCIOUS
Pastoral poems typically celebrate the beauty of the great outdoors—Wordsworth’s “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey” is a classic example—but for Rebecca Dunham, the pastoral tradition’s benign portrayal of humans at one with nature is no longer valid. She upends the tradition in Cold Pastoral, an urgent collection inspired in part by her research into the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Dunham interviewed oil rig workers, oystermen and others affected by the spill, and she incorporates their stories into poems such as “To Walk on Air,” in which crew members jump from the burning rig: “. . . feet cycling air. / Their boots / pierce cloud as they crash / into a sea stirred to wildfire.” For the men in “Pump Room,” the earth is “a blue balloon,” the bit of the oil drill “a pin pushed / as far as it can go, until—everything / that could go wrong was going / wrong.”

Filled with images of desolate beauty, Cold Pastoral does the important work of bearing witness. In “Black Horizon,” Dunham writes of “dark / pools oiling sands of blinding / white”—a vision that “never fails to shock.” Dunham’s work preserves and reminds us of that shock at a time when we can’t afford to forget.

POETIC CONTRADICTIONS
Hard Child, the second collection from award-winning poet Natalie Shapero, is a book of abrasive beauty. Detached and Plath-like, Shapero’s approach can be clinical at times, and many of her poems seem cold and removed. Yet she creates connections with the reader through the use of black humor and unexpected rhyme and wordplay.

In first-person poems that often portray the narrator as an outsider, Shapero explores motherhood, gender and history. In “Secret Animal,” she writes, “I would rather / eat straight from the cup of my palm, as / though I’m my own secret animal: fed / from the far side of a link fence, trusted / in spite of warnings.” For the poet, everyday experience is often spiked with menacing signifiers. In “Monster,” a new baby outfit reminds the speaker of the jacket a child wore in Schindler’s List, inspiring a bleak consideration of the past.

Shapero’s poetic voice is at once irascible and appealing, cynical and comical. It’s a tone she employs without isolating her audience—one of the many pleasures to be found in this engaging collection.

 

This article was originally published in the April 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Offering invaluable perspectives on gender, politics and life on the domestic front, these four diverse poets work in a range of styles to create work that’s moving and deeply personal.

Children's & YAPicture Book

Words at play

Feature by Julie Hale

April is a time for celebrating the power of poetry—its expressive potential, anything-goes embrace of subject matter and (yes!) capacity for play. It’s never too early to spark an appreciation of language and verse in young readers. The books below are a great place to start.

ADVENTURE AT THE MARKET
Part of poetry’s appeal is its ability to elevate and celebrate everyday experiences. Michelle Schaub’s Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmer’s Market (ages 4 to 8) is a prime example of this principle. The 18 works in this spirited book chronicle the adventures of a young boy and girl during a trip to the farmer’s market. Schaub communicates the carnival feel of the occasion in “Market Day Today”: “Farmers chat. / Musicians play. / A neighbor- / stroller- / dog parade.” From “Sally’s Sweet Corn” (“Eat it fast. / Eat it slow. / Crunch in circles. / Nibble rows.”) to “Market Melody” (“Twing, twang, twiddle, / thrum-a-rum— / fiddle pluck / and banjos strum.”), Schaub captures the sounds, sights and smells of the market. Dynamic watercolor pictures by Amy Huntington reflect the pleasure and wonder of the youngsters as they peruse produce, sip lemonade and try to keep their frisky dog in check. This irresistible collection is sure to inspire many market expeditions.

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
Jane Yolen explores the earth’s hidden mysteries in Thunder Underground (ages 5 to 10). The soil, the sea, the city streets—all conceal bustling, secret worlds, and Yolen shows what goes on there in this engaging group of 21 poems. “Spelunk” is a spellbinding descent into the mouth of a cave, where stalactites form “fairy-tale castles,” while “Subway” tracks the endless activity of a train, “growling as it goes from street to street.” Yolen’s skills as an innovative verse-maker are on full display as she plumbs nature’s depths in poems about hidden rivers, percolating volcanoes and busy insect colonies. Josée Masse’s mixed-media illustrations feature an adventuresome pair of children, along with half-hidden surprises that await excavation, like pottery shards and fossils. Yolen uses language and imagery in ways that are never less than arresting. This is a superb collection that will expand the reader’s understanding of both poetry and science.

POETRY IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
The idea of spending the night outside makes Lucy, the heroine of Tamera Will Wissinger’s Gone Camping: A Novel in Verse (ages 6 to 9), quake in her hiking boots. But with her grandpa and her brother, Sam, she braves a stay at the Sugar Pines Campground. Wissinger tells the story of their excursion through a series of cleverly crafted poems, mixing sophisticated forms, including rondel, kyrielle and blank verse, with a kid-friendly idiom and plenty of humor. Lucy is worried while setting up camp: “During the day the tent is bright. / How dark will it get tonight?” But by bedtime, after s’mores and a blessing from grandpa, she has conquered her fear: “My shield is this pillow, my sword—this flashlight. / Spookiness, Shadows, Strange Noises: GOODNIGHT.” Matthew Cordell’s buoyant illustrations are just right for this trip into the woods. With an accessible glossary of literary terms, Wissinger’s tale is the perfect campfire read.

AN AWESOME ANTHOLOGY
Spanning centuries and cultures, Kwame Alexander’s new collection, Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets (ages 8 to 12), is a delightful survey of verse forms and narrative voices. Alexander shares original poems inspired by 20 of his favorite writers, a diverse group that includes Maya Angelou, Billy Collins, Rumi and Emily Dickinson. With help from poets Chris Coderley and Marjory Wentworth, he delivers a broad range of works. The spare, refined “Contemporary Haiku” is a salute to 17th-century Japanese poet Bashō: “Pens scratching paper / Syllables counted with care / Poets blossoming.” The syncopated “Jazz Jive Jam” pays tribute to Langston Hughes: “ ’Round midnight came a band of neighbors / swinging soul to soul. / The landlord even cut a rug / and let the good times roll.” Ekua Holmes’ stunning mixed-media illustrations have a poetry all their own, making this homage to an international group of literary legends a book to be treasured.

April is a time for celebrating the power of poetry—its expressive potential, anything-goes embrace of subject matter and (yes!) capacity for play. It’s never too early to spark an appreciation of language and verse in young readers. The books below are a great place to start.

NonfictionMemoir

Sustained by faith

Feature by Julie Hale

Three new memoirs offer messages of hope, focusing on God’s goodness in trying times and the blessings that await those who move forward with faith.

A SURVIVOR'S STORY
April 15, 2013 was a day that changed Rebekah Gregory’s life forever. She was standing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon with her young son when—a mere three feet away—two terrorist-planted bombs exploded. Her son was spared, thanks in part to the cover provided by Gregory, who suffered severe injuries due to the blasts. In Taking My Life Back: My Story of Faith, Determination, and Surviving the Boston Marathon Bombing, she recounts the horror of that day and the long process of recovery that followed 18 surgeries and the amputation of her left leg.

As Gregory proves in this heartening memoir, her personal journey is a testament to the power of faith. She grew up in an abusive household, the daughter of a violent-tempered preacher, and her early experiences with religion were unsatisfying. But her belief in Christ blossomed over the years, giving her the ability to face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. “Repairing my body wouldn’t have had much point if my spirit couldn’t have thrived,” she says. “The power of Christ alone sustained my strength.” Gregory’s is a story of trials turned into triumphs, and she shares it in a refreshingly frank and unaffected manner. Readers in need of a spiritual boost will find it in this inspiring book.

TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY
Grammy Award-winning musician Steven Curtis Chapman has been writing and recording heartfelt country songs rooted in faith for 30 years. A native of Paducah, Kentucky, he’s a Nashville favorite who has performed on stages around the world. As a small-town boy who made it big, Chapman has had his share of personal and professional struggles. In his new memoir, Between Heaven and the Real World, he traces his path to success and offers an up-close look at the spirit-filled life he leads with his wife and fellow adoption activist, Mary Beth, and their six children.

Despite the career highs—winning 58 Dove Awards, selling more than 11 million records—Chapman has wrestled with questions of faith, never more so than after the death of his adopted daughter Maria in 2008, a tragedy that nearly ended his career. But, as Chapman recounts in the book, through his belief in God’s design, he found a way to move forward. In his songs, Chapman says, he hopes to provide “the voice of a friend encouraging and challenging others from my own experience.” That’s the voice readers will find in this open, honest memoir. Seasoned with Bible verses and anecdotes from the Opry, Chapman’s story will resonate with his many fans and with folks for whom he’s a new discovery.

A LOVE THAT ENDURES
Married in 2002, Joey and Rory Feek had plenty of blessings to count: three wonderful daughters, a farm in Tennessee and a joint career as the celebrated country-music duo Joey+Rory. On his popular blog, thislifeilive.com, Feek posted updates from the farm and shared the message of Christ. But everything changed when Joey was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Her death in 2016 at the age of 41 left Feek devastated. In This Life I Live: One Man's Extraordinary, Ordinary Life and the Woman Who Changed It Forever he tells his unforgettable story.

Born in Atchison, Kansas, Feek was raised mostly by his mother, who struggled to make ends meet. After serving in the Marine Corps, he entered the music business, penning tracks for Kenny Chesney and Randy Travis. He found success as a performer with the radiant Joey, and their popularity was growing when her illness struck. In his book, he recounts the painful process of letting her go and the challenges of moving on. Throughout, he emphasizes the comfort he finds in Christ. “I have peace,” he says. “Because of my faith. And finally opening my hands and turning my life over to God.” Feek is a gifted writer with a plainspoken, down-to-earth style that’s appealing. His faith is palpable on the page. So is his love for Joey.

Three new memoirs about the trials and triumphs of life—perfect for the Easter season!
NonfictionMemoirCookbooks

Meditations on maternal life

Feature by Julie Hale

Mother’s Day is May 14! Honor mom with one of the engaging books featured below. Each provides a unique take on the challenges and rewards of motherhood.

In My Mother’s Kitchen, Peter Gethers salutes his foodie mom, the cookbook writer and expert chef Judy Gethers. During the course of her culinary career, Judy shared counter space with the likes of Julia Child and Wolfgang Puck. When she suffers a debilitating stroke in her 80s, the author is heartsick. As a salute to his mom, Gethers decides to whip up her pet recipes—an intimidating selection of delicacies with instructions that range from complex to incomprehensible. The story of Gethers’ labor of love is filled with family anecdotes, scenes from his mother’s remarkable life and plenty of humor (“as soon as I saw things like ‘swirling’ and ‘fine mesh’ when it came to making simple poached eggs, I got woozy,” he writes). Gethers balances the bitter and the sweet with skill in this moving memoir. 

FOR NEWLY MINTED MOMS
“Adulthood, it seems to me, is about narrowing,” Sarah Menkedick writes in Homing Instincts. To combat that narrowing, Menkedick cultivates a life of travel and exploration that includes backpacking solo in South America. She feels most at home when on the way to a fresh destination, but after she becomes pregnant and moves with her husband to family property in rural Ohio, her attitude shifts. In the eight essays that comprise this poignant, probing memoir, Menkedick contemplates the mysteries of motherhood and the surprising pleasures of establishing a permanent home—a place where she can write, reflect and prepare for the arrival of her daughter. “For the first time, I recognize this delving into my own heart, mind, and body as a journey,” she says. This revealing book is a lovely exercise in self-inquiry that will resonate with mothers-to-be.

FOR MOMS OF THE FUTURE
Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie provides parental advice that will stand the test of time in Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions. Adichie, author of the bestselling novel Americanah, began this brief tract as a letter to a friend who asked for her input on how to raise an empowered daughter. The letter grew to include 15 ideas for bringing up a fearless feminist. In a voice that’s companionable and open, she addresses critical mother-daughter issues such as sex, clothes and makeup, and she espouses an attitude of self-determination when it comes to marriage and career. Adichie, who has a daughter of her own, writes from experience—and from the heart—in this wise and inspiring book.

This article was originally published in the May 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Mother’s Day is May 14! Honor mom with one of the engaging books featured. Each provides a unique take on the challenges and rewards of motherhood.

Children's & YAPicture Book

Enterprising American women

Feature by Julie Hale

This month, we pay tribute to four sensational ladies who each left a permanent imprint on American culture. The picture books below show these creative women—each a genius in her own right—doing what comes naturally: making history.

HAND-STITCHED INSPIRATION
The flag that inspired Francis Scott Key’s “Star-Spangled Banner” was sewn in 1813 by Mary Pickersgill, with help from a servant and a handful of relatives that included her young daughter, Caroline. In Long May She Wave: The True Story of Caroline Pickersgill and Her Star-Spangled Creation, Kristen Fulton delivers a spirited retelling of their endeavor from Caroline’s perspective. Designed to be visible to the British from far away, the giant flag—comprised of 350,000 stitches—rides the Baltimore breeze during the War of 1812. When the British attack the city, filling the air with fiery explosions, Caroline’s world turns upside down. Her reactions to a wartorn Baltimore are dramatized in dazzling block-print illustrations by Holly Berry. Featuring a biography of the Pickersgills and the lyrics to Key’s classic, this stirring picture book doubles as a first-rate patriotic primer.

MAKING HISTORY IN THE KITCHEN
Deborah Hopkinson serves up a tasty morsel of Americana with Independence Cake: A Revolutionary Confection Inspired by Amelia Simmons, Whose True History Is Unfortunately Unknown. The year: 1789. The place: the topsy-turvy household of Mrs. Bean and her six boys. Very much in need of assistance, Mrs. Bean brings in Amelia Simmons, an orphan “as strong and young as the new nation itself,” to set matters straight. Amelia does so with brisk efficiency, and she proves to be a natural in the kitchen, whipping up hearty puddings and honey cake with ease. Thanks to her culinary talent, Amelia is soon presented with a revolutionary opportunity—the chance to bake for the country’s first president, George Washington. Inspired by the true story of Amelia, who wrote America’s first cookbook, Hopkinson’s biography features illustrations by the inimitable Giselle Potter. Readers will want seconds—and more!—of this delicious tale.

A YOUNG ARTIST BEAT THE ODDS
Jeanne Walker Harvey’s accessible picture book biography, Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines, is a handsome tribute to the visionary sculptor. Young Maya develops a love of nature during walks through the forest near her house. Her artist-father and poet-mother, both Chinese immigrants, encourage her creativity. Another early interest—architecture—grows while Maya is in college. When she enters a contest to create the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., the project combines all of her passions. And when her design wins out over 1,421 entries, the judges are stunned to discover they picked the work of a woman who had yet to finish college. The story of how Maya defies their expectations will inspire readers of all ages. Dow Phumiruk’s illustrations—precise and colorful, yet clean and unfussy—bring added appeal to this intriguing look at the life of a legend.

REACHING FOR THE STARS
Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing by Dean Robbins is the thrilling story of the woman who made the Apollo 11 mission possible. Young Margaret has a head for numbers and a fascination with astronomy. In school, she studies hard. When she pursues a career in computer science, she’s one of the only women in the industry. At NASA, where she’s in charge of a team of scientists, Margaret writes computer code for the Apollo missions, saving the day when Apollo 11 runs into trouble in space. Lucy Knisley’s bold, vibrant illustrations feature shimmering night-sky constellations, clunky, old-school computers and super-duper spacecraft. Young readers will love Margaret, with her oversize glasses and can-do attitude. This is a standout tribute to a brilliant, brave female who was unafraid to test the boundaries of her own intelligence—and who was awarded in 2016 the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

This month, we pay tribute to four sensational ladies who each left a permanent imprint on American culture. The picture books below show these creative women—each a genius in her own right—doing what comes naturally: making history.

Children's & YAPicture Book

Get your feet wet, take the plunge

Feature by Julie Hale

Swim season is here! If fear is keeping your little one out of the water, check out the books below. These inspiring stories will motivate youngsters to ride the tide.

RESCUE AT SEA
In Carolyn Crimi’s There Might Be Lobsters, Eleanor and her pint-size pooch, Sukie, hit the beach for a day of fun and sun. But the steep, sandy stairs that lead to the shore and the big beach ball scare Sukie. Most of all, she’s afraid of lobsters! Spunky Eleanor tries to coax her into the water—to no avail. But when their beloved toy gets swept up in a wave, Sukie is forced to be brave and forget her fear. In the end she saves the day, earning dog biscuits and a prime spot on the beach blanket. Laurel Molk depicts Sukie’s switch from downcast canine to tail-wagging champ in winning illustrations that bring a transformative day at the shore to vivid life. This is an appealing story with an important upshot for readers: Never underestimate yourself!

A PERFECT PARTNERSHIP
In Aaron Reynolds’ delightful aquatic adventure, Sea Monkey & Bob, two pals conquer their ocean-based phobias. Puffer fish Bob and his friend Sea Monkey can’t figure out how to navigate their watery world. Surely Bob will float in the ocean, rise to the surface and get carried away! As for tiny little Sea Monkey—won’t he drift right down to the ocean floor? The two buddies struggle in the water until they find the key. Solving this dilemma requires teamwork! In the end, friendship keeps the critters afloat, as they join hands and help one another stay safe in the water. At last, they’re at home in their element. The story’s standout text and Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s inviting illustrations of the two pals and their fish friends will inspire timid swimmers to take a dip.

DARING TO DIVE
Jabari has aced his swimming lessons and listened to a pep talk from his pop. Is he ready to make the leap from the giant diving board? In Jabari Jumps, Gaia Cornwall tells the story of his progression from self-doubt to (big splash!) celebration. Jabari, his father and little sister have settled in at the pool. This is it—the day Jabari will make his big dive: “I’m a great jumper,” he says, “so I’m not scared at all.” Watching the other kids ascend the ladder, looking like “tiny bugs,” he hesitates. Maybe he should rest first. And stretch. With more encouragement from his father, Jabari finally embraces the moment—and finds that he really is a great jumper. Cornwall creates a vivid poolside setting through innovative collage and watercolor illustrations, and Jabari’s joy is infectious. His story proves that preparation combined with courage can bring a big payoff.

Swim season is here! If fear is keeping your little one out of the water, check out the books below. These inspiring stories will motivate youngsters to ride the tide.

NonfictionFood & Drink

A taste of summer

Feature by Julie Hale

There’s no better way to spend a lazy July afternoon than dipping into the pages of a good book. The lighthearted titles below are just right for poolside perusal.

Nothing says summer like a simple, classic ice-cream cone. Author Amy Ettinger salutes the timeless treat in Sweet Spot: An Ice Cream Binge Across America, a breezy, appealing book that tracks the history and development of the frozen favorite. A self-described “ice cream snob” ever in pursuit of “the perfect scoop,” Ettinger explores the culinary advancements that have affected the creamy concoction over the years and shares personal anecdotes about her lifelong love affair with the sweet stuff.

As she travels across the country investigating ice cream’s allure, Ettinger attends classes at Pennsylvania State University’s prestigious ice-cream making school, which is equipped with its very own creamery, and chats with ice-cream icon Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry’s fame. Along the way, she serves up plenty of tasty trivia (back in 1790, George Washington spent $200 on ice cream; in today’s economy, that’s around $3,000) and shares the backstories of famous brands like Carvel, Breyers and Good Humor. Ettinger also includes recipes—Arnie’s Ballpark Chocolate is a standout—but you don’t have to be a foodie to savor her tribute to a summer staple. “Ice cream,” Ettinger says, has “the ability to add the words So what? to life’s dire circumstances.” Her travelogue is a scoop of fun for everyone.

LAUGHS FOR THE LADIES
We have good news for the legion of readers who love mother-daughter co-authors Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella: The eighth book from the bestselling team comes out this month. The delightfully companionable essay collection I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere but the Pool offers more of the invaluable life perspectives—and big laughs—that fans anticipate from this terrific twosome.

In brief, razor-sharp pieces, mother and daughter provide insights from different stages in the female experience. Their essays brim with we’ve-all-been-there moments. Serritella, a 30-something Manhattanite who’s on “guyatus”—that’s a hiatus from guys—writes candidly about the realities of life in the city and the process of owning her independence. “Being single is a status,” she says, “it’s not an urgent problem in need of remediation.” Scottoline, who lives on a farm in Pennsylvania, reflects on her iPhone obsession, Twitter dependency and the surreal experience of purchasing diapers for her incontinent dog. Her can-do attitude is a true spirit-booster, and she entreats women to stand on their own two feet and stop waiting for a lifeguard to save the day. “Who better to trust with your life than you?” she writes. “Who’s more reliable than a woman?” Indeed, when it comes to feel-good and uproarious storytelling, this duo always delivers.

 

This article was originally published in the July 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

There’s no better way to spend a lazy July afternoon than dipping into the pages of a good book. The lighthearted titles below are just right for poolside perusal.

Children's & YAPicture Book

School spirit: Get ready for class!

Feature by Julie Hale

Prepping for a new school year (and saying goodbye to summer) is never easy! If you’re looking for a way to get your little ones excited about academic life, check out the picture books below. As these titles prove, school definitely rules.

FROM A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
In the original and inspiring first-person poems that comprise Sally Derby’s A New School Year: Stories in Six Voices (ages 5 to 9), youngsters of different backgrounds express their uncertainties about life in the classroom. On the night before and throughout the first day of school, Derby’s delightful characters share varying viewpoints. In “Feeling Lucky,” fourth-grader Carlos is excited about his new school shoes—“black with a silver stripe”—and starts the morning on a positive note: “I bet I find a new friend quick.” A poem called “Seven O’Clock Butterflies” finds Katie, a second-grader, fighting off nerves: “Maybe tomorrow / would be better than today / for starting back to school,” she thinks. (We’ve all been there!) In soft, colorful watercolor illustrations, Mika Song imbues each student with a distinct personality. These appealing poems will put anxious pupils-to-be at ease.

CREATURE IN THE CLASSROOM
Wonderful and whimsical, The Teacher’s Pet (ages 4 to 7) by Anica Mrose Rissi is the story of a class experiment gone awry. Softhearted Mr. Stricter and his students are excited about the pet tadpoles they’ve been caring for as a science project. But they can only keep one, Bruno—a critter who surprises them all by maturing into an enormous hippo instead of a frog. Bruno has a monster appetite (he eats scissors, books—even desks!), takes up half the room and proves to be generally unmanageable. Mr. Stricter lets Bruno have his way until the students are forced to take matters into their own hands. Irresistible illustrations by Zachariah Ohora, who favors strong swaths of color and bold black lines, add to the appeal of Rissi’s out-of-the ordinary story. There’s nothing average about this madcap classroom adventure.

PET PUPIL
A furry friend comes to class in Maria Gianferrari’s Hello Goodbye Dog (ages 4 to 6). Zara, the story’s wheelchair-bound main character, adores her brown mutt, Moose. As she heads to school, he wants to tag along, but dogs aren’t allowed in class! There’s no stopping Moose—again and again, he manages to escape from home and make his way to school, where he eventually causes chaos in the cafeteria. Zara soon has a brilliant idea: enroll Moose in dog-therapy class. Thanks to his gentle nature, Moose aces his tests and gets to join Zara at school as a reading dog. At last, students and staff can give the tail-wagging pooch a warm welcome. Antics-filled mixed-media illustrations by Patrice Barton bring extra liveliness to the proceedings. This heart-warming, hilarious story is sure to stir up back-to-school excitement.

Prepping for a new school year (and saying goodbye to summer) is never easy! If you’re looking for a way to get your little ones excited about academic life, check out the picture books below. As these titles prove, school definitely rules.

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