#tbt: King of the Mild Frontier: an Ill-Advised Autobiography by Chris Crutcher

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

King of the Mild Frontier: an Ill-Advised Autobiography by Chris Crutcher. 272 p. Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins, 2003. 9780060502515. (Own)

Happy Thursday! #tbt features an autobiography written by one of my favorite YA authors, Chris Crutcher. He grew up in a small, rural community called Cascade in Idaho. He had an older brother who was a great student, but young Chris was not. He didn't even like to read, so he stole his brother's book reports and turned them in as his own. He got away with this until a book his brother hadn't been assigned was the class read. This book, To Kill a Mockingbird, turned him into a reader. His high school was so small that nearly every boy was recruited for the football team, whether or not they could or wanted to play.

The essays are often laugh-out-loud funny and fans of the author's books might recognize seeds of some of his characters.  

#tbt: Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

Deadline by Chris Crutcher. 316 p.Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, September, 2007. 9780060850890. (Own)

#tbt features Deadline by Chris Crutcher. In the thirteen-plus years since publication, I still need to catch myself from turning this book upside down! This might be my favorite Crutcher novel  and, you will need a box of tissues for this one. 

Ben Wolf is about to enter his senior year of high school. He's a gifted cross-country runner and, during his routine high school athletic physical, his doctor discovers that Ben has a terminal blood disease. Since Ben is eighteen, and legally, an adult, he forbids his doctor from sharing this news with his parents, as the family situation is fragile. He also refuses treatment, instead opting to live out his time fulfilling wishes and dreams - these include trying out for the football team, getting on his racist social studies teacher's last nerve and getting to know Dallas, his crush.

This is a provocative read for mature teen readers.

Picture Book Review: Power Up: your incredible, spectacular, supercharged body by Seth Fishman

Power Up: your incredible, spectacular, supercharged body by Seth Fishman. Illustrated by Isabel Greenberg. unpgd. Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, March, 2019. 9780062455796. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publicist.)

The human body is a wondrous, amazing, complex machine. Seth Fishman explains it all for the younger set with superb storytelling. Of course he appeals to the ego by telling the reader that they are a brilliant shiny star. Most elementary (and even middle school) students have a hard time believing the world does not revolve around them. So by contemplating their little finger and imagining that there's enough energy to power a city? More please. And he delivers mind-boggling comparisons about the energy the human body makes and consumes in order to function and grow. Truly awe-inspiring. Sometimes, even older folks need a bit of reminding about how fascinating human anatomy and physiology is. 

As he did in A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars, complex ideas are made accessible with simple, playful language. The appealing, colorful digital art by the same artist, adds to the fun and imaginings.

An Author's Note explains Einstein's E=MC² quite nicely but there is no other backmatter. Personally, I would've liked to have seen some sources and suggestions for further reading. Librarian's quibble.

These books are terrific additions to any library hoping to inspire budding scientists or just anyone who is curious about how the human body works. 

#tbt: Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Deadline by Chris Crutcher. 316 p. Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins Publisher, September, 2007. 9780060850890. (Own.)

Happy Thursday, TMS Readers! As we slide onto the downside of our February break, I hope you are reading lots and having fun. #tbt features Deadline by Chris Crutcher, one of my favorite authors. Deadline was published in 2007. Eighteen-year-old Ben Wolf is our narrator. The fact that Ben is eighteen is very important here because when he gets his routine yearly sports physical and blood tests show he has a fatal blood disease and maybe one year to live, with or without treatment, Ben decides against treatment and demands confidentiality from his doctor. His mother suffers from a debilitating mental illness and his rock-steady father is often on the road. He wants to live his best life in the time he has. Weepie warning! You will cry! But you will also laugh and fall in love with Ben Wolf.

My "Daily Booktalks" for the morning news show, my TMS Reads group in Schoology and for the Closter Public Library's FB page are, by necessity short. It is here on my blog where I can carry on a bit more when I have the time or inclination.

Last week, while making room on the YA shelves at school, I realized that I never featured Chris Crutcher on a #tbt post! I can't remember how I learned of him or which of his books I read first, but I've read most of them and adored them all. Choosing which to feature was a tough one. I opted for Deadline partly because it's the newest of his older titles and partly because my personal copy happens to be signed by him.

I had read it already when I attended an ALAN workshop in 2007. I saw him at the Author Cocktail Party and raved about the book and how it should've come with a box of tissue. Oh, how I cried. I hadn't started blogging yet so I've no record of my thoughts about the book but it sure did stick with me over the years. I nearly got sucked into settling in to reread it as I created this post. As luck should have it, a copy was in the box and he spoke at the workshop, so I hopped on the signing line and got this:

Picture Book Review: The Rough Patch by Brian Lies

The Rough Patch by Brian Lies. unpgd. Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, August, 2018. 9780062671271. (Review from finished copy borrowed from public library while I wait for my own to come.)

As I stood waiting for my purchases to be totalled at Blue Bunny Books in early August, I spied this book with a little note sticking out saying that Brian Lies was signing the following week. 

I felt momentary regret at not being able to attend, but took solace in reading the book while I waited. I asked Margie, the bookseller if I could buy it (despite the "display only" message;-). Alas, it was still a week before the publication date and she could not. I went home and put it on my school book order. #nevertoooldforpicturebooks.

Well. I borrowed it from the public library while waiting for my order to be approved, processed and sent. I could not wait to read it again. I'll Love You Forever by Hans Wilhelm (Crown, 1985) and Badger's Parting Gifts by Susan Varley (Lothrop, Lee & Shephard, 1984) are my two favorite picture books dealing with loss. This makes my third. 

It is perfect. The text is spare, powerful and moving. The acrylic, oil and colored pencil illustrations are absorbing. The reader rollicks and frolics along with Evan and his dog in a series of joyful spot art. Then, the unthinkable happens. Lies' use of white space here is extraordinary. 

Evan is in a dark place. He's sad and angry, allowing readers to own similar feelings. He destroys his garden and it becomes dark and scary and prickly and uncomfortable. Once he allows a pumpkin vine to establish itself, Evan slowly starts to care again. He nurtures it and when it ripens into a truly magnificent specimen, Evan is ready to return to the world again, so he enters the pumpkin into the fair. Realistically, he does not win, but he reconnects with friends and enjoys himself. The prize money comes with a bonus, which Evan doesn't feel ready for; but he relents. And I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

This is a picture book for any age. Anyone who has experienced loss will see himself or herself in Evan. Share widely and listen when your young readers share their own thoughts about The Rough Patch or their own rough patch. What an incredible gift this is. Buy it and share it. 

Arc Review: One by Sarah Crossan

One by Sarah Crossan. 391 p. Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, September, 2015. 780062118752.

Sixteen-year-old conjoined twins, Tippi and Grace have been home-schooled until now. Finances have always been strained due to their medical condition; but thanks to the recent unemployment of their alcoholic father, their mother has to work. So they will be attending school for the first time - as juniors. It's hard enough being the new girls. I couldn't imagine what it must be like for anyone like Tippi and Grace - until I read this powerful verse novel.

It has been awhile since I've been gut-punched by a book. Spare and lyrical, this is an intense story of sisterhood, family and friendship. The sisterhood and twin-ship of Tippi and Grace are deepened as well as complicated by the fact that they are conjoined. The story is told through Grace's point-of-view. Grace is quieter, more bookish and introspective. Tippi is fiery and edgy. Grace often relies on Tippi to set the tone, but also balances Tippi's fire when it threatens to overwhelm her. 

The anger they want to feel for their father's alcoholism is overpowered by the guilt they feel over the financial strain their care has placed on their family. They also feel guilty that their sister, Dragon has to work to pay for her ballet lessons. She is a gifted dancer and there's just no money for any extras, especially a trip to Russia to dance at the Bolshoi. Grace also suspects Dragon may be anorexic.

At school, two best friends and defiant outcasts, Jon and Yasmeen take the twins under their wings and shepherd them through the day. Grace realizes that these two are their first friends. Soon Grace and Tippi are doing what "normal" teens do - cutting class, lying to their folks, getting drunk and, for Grace, at least, having a crush. But normal can't last for long.

Do not read this book in any sort of public place such as the subway or the faculty room (as I did) or folks will witness your ugly cry. Sometimes, I become so inundated with arcs that gems become lost in a sea of gems. I hauled a bag of arcs into my library last week and when a voracious eighth grade reader came in to find a new book, I let her have at my bag. She found One and took it home for the long weekend. When she returned it, her face was filled with such emotion as she tried to explain how wonderful but how terribly sad the book is. I set the book aside to read for myself.

We have bonded over this book. I am so happy she found it and shared this under-the-radar gem with me. I cannot wait to share it with my students who love sad, gut-punching books. I hope this book gets the time to develop the readership it deserves.