Crow Call

Crow Call 
by Lois Lowry
★★★★★

Occasionally there are children's books that just hit a sweet spot. This one was such a treat and it's hard to even explain why. There are gorgeous illustrations, (like the one below), and a story that's based a the author's real life experiences, but there's no overarching lesson to be learned. 

A young girl heads out one morning with her father who has recently returned from World War II. Clad in a big flannel shirt with blonde pigtails,the girl is going crow hunting with her Dad. They stop at a diner for some breakfast and each scene gives us a little more insight into their dynamic.

There's something about the girl that just reminded me of myself when I was little. That tomboyish streak, the desire to be out in nature, I just loved it. Each illustration gave an added layer of depth to the story. They represent the budding relationship between the father and daughter, the understanding the find with few words, etc. 

I had the opportunity to hear the author, Lois Lowry, speak in 2010. I grew up adoring her books, The Giver and Number the Stars. She spoke about her life and this was one of the books she discussed. She said this happened to her and she'd always wanted to tell the story in some way. I think she certainly did it justice.

Image from Crow Call

Mini Reviews: Gossamer, I Sing the Body Electric and The Watsons Go to Birmingham

Gossamer

by Lois Lowry

★★★☆

Lowry is famous for her Giver series, but some of her lesser known works are just as imaginative. Gossamer is sweet story exploring the idea of where your dreams come from. The descriptions of the dream givers are just lovely.

There’s a darker edge to the book that deals with child abuse. I’m not sure it would be appropriate for young kids because of that, but it might be a good way to introduce the subject to preteens and encourage discussion.

BOTTOM LINE: A slim novel with a very good story. I would have loved this even more if I’d read it when I was younger.

I Sing the Body Electric!

by Ray Bradbury

★★★

This collection is a mixed bag of short stories. Some are wonderful, particularly the title story which deals with grief and robots with personalities, others fall flat or are forgettable. 

In one story a family is shocked when their first child is born into the fourth dimension instead of the third. Another is a haunting tale about a man who is left behind after his rocket leaves him on Mars alone. After decades alone he begins to get calls from himself on the phone. He finally remembers that he recorded those calls to keep himself company when he’s older. Still another is about a world in which perfect marionette recreations are made of people so that other can enact their vicious desires upon them. For example, if your wife cheats on you, you could murder a lifelike marionette of her and then face no consequences. 

BOTTOM LINE: I’m continually amazed to see how Bradbury’s brilliant mind worked. Even in his weaker stories they usually start with an interesting idea. The man had no limit to where his brain would take him and he had the ability to craft gorgeous prose to go hand-in-hand with his wild imagination. It's not my favorite collection, but there are still a few gems. 

The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963

by Christopher Paul Curtis

★★★

It’s the 1960s the Watsons live in Michigan. This nonfiction collection of childhood memories reminded me a bit of The Christmas Story; a small town family, funny stories of their interactions at home and at school, etc.

The book deals heavily with sibling rivalry and bullying. The climax is a family trip to Birmingham to visit their Grandmother. Their fun trip ends in heartbreak when it coincides with racial tensions in the town.

BOTTOM LINE: What a wonderful book to spark a discussion of the battle for civil rights in the 1960s with a new generation. Seen from the eyes of a young boy, there’s so much room for confusion and misunderstanding. It opens the door for kids to ask questions about what happened during that important period in our history.

Reading the States: Hawaii

State: HAWAII

Fiction:
- The Descendants* by Kaui Hart Hemmings

- Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

- Hawaii by James Michener

- The Bottle Imp by Robert Louis Stevenson

- Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore

- Sisterchicks Do the Hula* by Robin Jones Gunn,

- From Here to Eternity by James Jones

- Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers by Lois-Ann Yamanaka

Nonfiction:
- Unfamiliar Fishes* by Sarah Vowell

- Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before by Tony Horwitz

- Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama

- Shoal of Time: A History of the Hawaiian Islands by Gavan Daws

- The Colony: the harrowing true story of the exiles of Molokai by John Tayman

Authors Who Lived Here:
- Allegra Goodman

- Lois Lowry

- David Gallaher

Great Bookstores in the State: 
Native Books

Basically Books

*Books I've Read

Photo by moi.