Friday Five

Here we go again.  Another Friday Five!

 I have one pair of Ugg Boots, but I would happily add another to my collection. Love the stitching on these.  And right now they are on sale.

Love this song, even though I am definitely not crazy about the lyrics.

Despite following the same recipe for protein pancakes as the one pictured above, my pancakes looked nothing like this, but they were so yummy that I couldn't help but share.  My sister-in-law tried them out herself and also enjoyed them.  Definitely something I am adding to my breakfast line-up.  The best news is they are so tasty you won't even need syrup.  

My own Little Free Library doesn't look anywhere as cool as these featured on Mental Floss.  So jealous!

I haven't had my knitting needles out in a few years, but seeing this poncho makes me want to break them out again.  Of course, I would also need my mother's help because my knitting ability doesn't include more than simply knitting and purling. Forget trying to read a pattern and achieving something as complex as stripes!

The Smartest Kids in the World

When Janssen tells me that a book is good, I know she is right.  I can pretty much take any recommendation she gives and be guaranteed a great read.

The Smartest Kids in the World: And How they Got That Way by Amanda Ripley is about a topic near and dear to my heart: education.

Ripley admits to not wanting to write about education for much of her career as a journalist. However, she eventually takes on an education story, and finds out a lot about the American education system and what other countries have done to create successful schools.

As an educator, I have a lot of my own ideas and beliefs about our educational system.  I have seen the things that definitely do not work in the setting I am in, and I am always amazed that the people making the decisions about education are people who are not actually in the classroom.  

This book should be on the radar of our school board, our administrators and anyone else whose decisions can impact our children. 

Ripley looks at different countries' education systems.  Not surprisingly, the United States does not score all that well when compared to other countries.  A standardized test given to students around the world puts the US in the middle of the pack.  

It puts Finland at the top. And that is not where Finland used to be, even recently.  The way Finland's education system changed is worth noting as they were once in the same position the US is now in.

There were several things that really stuck with me that I continue to think about even now a few weeks since I finished this book:

1.  Throwing money at education isn't necessarily going to solve the problem. The US spends a lot of money on education, but some countries that spend less have better education systems.

2.  Tracking students early on is more detrimental than helpful.  

3.  Teaching as a profession should be regarded as something that requires skill and knowledge and those wanting to work in this field should be required to go through rigorous training and be compensated accordingly. After all, we don't want doctors who are only marginally good at science. Why would we want teachers who are only adequate students themselves?

4.  Parental involvement isn't necessarily the answer. Having parents who read with their children and talk with them in a meaningful way is more beneficial.

5.  Homework, or time at school, doesn't necessarily translate into good grades or academic success. Students still need time off.

I seriously wish someone I know would read this book. I keep on telling everyone about it, but so far I'm still waiting to hear of someone who actually takes my suggestion.  

The Smartest Kids in the World is something I will be thinking about and talking about for a long time.

My Father's Wives

Mike Greenberg's My Father's Wives is the second novel by Greenberg, whose first, All You Could Ask For, is one I enjoyed previously.

Overall, Greenberg's novel was an enjoyable read and I am always pleasantly surprised by the fact that Greenberg is so capable at writing women's fiction.

My Father's Wives follows Jonathan Sweetwater a man who is just turning forty and is not only a very successful businessman, but is also a very happily married father of two. 

All of this changes one day as he arrives home early from work and believes he sees his wife and another man through the keyhole in the guest bedroom.  Never actually seeing the woman's face, he turns and leaves his home, never confronting his wife.

Going to his mother for advice, Jonathan begins a period of self discovery, going to talk to the women his father was married to after he divorced Jonathan's mother.  Because the two never had contact after Jonathan's ninth birthday and his father is no longer alive, these women are the one link to his dad and the only way he can find out more about this man.

Greenberg's novel was easy to read and get into.  I enjoyed the writing style, yet felt the issue of Jonathan's wife's fidelity wasn't entirely resolved, leaving me wanting more.  There weren't any big a-ha moments, yet the book was an enjoyable fast read, and kept me entertained.

My Father's Wives was sent me for review by Trish at TLC Book Tours.  I was not paid for my review, and my opinions are my own.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick:  China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan
Due out: June 16, 2015

Product Information taken from Amazon:

Kevin Kwan, bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians, is back with a wickedly funny new novel of social climbing, secret e-mails, art-world scandal, lovesick billionaires, and the outrageous story of what happens when Rachel Chu, engaged to marry Asia's most eligible bachelor, discovers her birthfather.
  
     On the eve of her wedding to Nicholas Young, heir to one of the greatest fortunes in Asia, Rachel should be over the moon. She has a flawless Asscher-cut diamond from JAR, a wedding dress she loves more than anything found in the salons of Paris, and a fiancé willing to sacrifice his entire inheritance in order to marry her. But Rachel still mourns the fact that her birthfather, a man she never knew, won't be able to walk her down the aisle. Until: a shocking revelation draws Rachel into a world of Shanghai splendor beyond anything she has ever imagined. Here we meet Carlton, a Ferrari-crashing bad boy known for Prince Harry-like antics; Colette, a celebrity girlfriend chased by fevered paparazzi; and the man Rachel has spent her entire life waiting to meet: her father. Meanwhile, Singapore's It Girl, Astrid Leong, is shocked to discover that there is a downside to having a newly minted tech billionaire husband. A romp through Asia's most exclusive clubs, auction houses, and estates, China Rich Girlfriend brings us into the elite circles of Mainland China, introducing a captivating cast of characters, and offering an inside glimpse at what it's like to be gloriously, crazily, China-rich.

The Nightingale

I've been hearing buzz about Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale, even though it is yet to be published.  Every bit of publicity is well worth it. 

The novel begins in 1995, but quickly moves to 1939 and Paris during World War II.  

Sister Viann and Isabelle have had a hard childhood, especially since the death of their mother, which causes their father to turn to alcohol and send his daughters to live away from home.

The sisters are far enough apart in age that they are not close, yet as the novel unfolds, we see their lives continue to come together repeatedly.

Viann lives on a farm with her daughter as her husband has been sent to fight.  She is a "good girl," a rule follower and tries her best to carry on without the help of her spouse.

Isabelle is the wild child, having been kicked out of a variety of schools. When her father sends her to live with her sister in the country, she is not happy about these developments.

And yet, both women find a way to help France resist the Nazis.  

There were many reasons I loved this book even though it was a sad story, a hard subject to read about.

I enjoyed that Hannah set her novel in France.  Sarah's Key was the first novel that shed light (for me at least) on France's less than stellar role in World War II.  The Nightingale also provides that same background and history for readers.

Hannah manages to create a little suspense in The Nightingale in various different places that kept me reading until the very last page was turned.  Her characters were well developed and Viann and Isabelle never stopped surprising me.

I have read everything written by Hannah, enjoying some more than others.  No matter how much I have thought about this book after I finished reading, I have known that there is no way that any review could do it justice.

This is a must read, a novel that will stay with you. I am expecting to hear a lot about this novel for some time to come.

Sunday Salon

I have been spoiled with weekends that have been relaxing and lazy, but now as we start Middle Sister's volleyball season, our schedule is filling up.

Today is the first tournament of the season, so most of the day will be spent in a gym.  Depending on their wins/losses we could potentially be at the tournament until nearly supper time.  I am going with a few books to keep me busy, although I usually end up talking instead of being entirely anti-social.

I only made it to three days of my exercise class this week. Monday I had off in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and ended up having lunch with this girl (and let myself relax and sleep in instead of working out):

Our lunch selfie

On Friday the girls didn't have school and I was excited to let them sleep in while I exercised and got ready for work in a quiet household.  However Little Sister has a horrible cold and Middle Sister didn't feel well either, so instead of exercising I spent the early morning hours playing nurse.  

Maybe that's a good thing.  Here's the pair of shoes I wore to exercise one morning:

Do you see anything wrong with this?  Considering these were the only two shoes in my bathroom in the morning, I'm hoping this isn't the pair of shoes I wore to school the day before.  No young children commented on them, so I am thinking I am safe.

We finally took down our Christmas decorations last night, which after not having them out last year, was OK. I will say I was plenty excited to get that job done.

Yesterday was nearly fifty degrees out and felt like spring.  Today there is a bit of new snow on the ground.  Such is weather in Iowa.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Thunder Birds

Last weekend as the girls and I were driving around to do errands we passed two bald eagles sitting in a field eating a deer that had been hit by a car.  They were so close to us that I even turned the car around to get a picture of them.  

Since I can't drive and take pictures simultaneously, Middle Sister did the honors.  She is about as good at photography as I am which means we have nothing to show for our efforts except a flew blurry shots of the landscape and what looks to be a very microscopic bird flying away.  

I will say that taking pictures from a moving vehicle is probably not going to result in any wonderful photographs.

Years ago I would never have noticed the bald eagles and certainly wouldn't have turned around, but my husband's interest in birds has rubbed off a bit.

And in addition to seeing birds in nature, I even occasionally read about them.

Jim Arnosky's book Thunder Birds: Nature's Flying Predators is my most recent read about birds.

From owls to vultures and various birds in between Arnosky gives good information about a variety of animals.  Full page fold outs show the actual sizes of birds, and give information including wing span and height.  Little known bits of information, such as the fact that owl's wings are silent as they fly which allows them to sneak up on their prey, were fun little facts I was interested to learn.

I am adding this to my school's collection of animal books and can see lots of ways teachers could use it, as Arnosky provides a page of text about each animal (not too overwhelming for listeners or readers), along with the beautiful illustrations of each bird.

Friday Five

Here's my latest Friday Five.  There's always something to fall in love with whether it's online or in the actual bricks and mortar store.

It seems like one of the girls is always needing a spot to sit to watch television.  This Threshold red chevron pouf at Target looks like the perfect solution.  My friend Robin and I saw some gals wheeling two of these out to their car the other day. We were all excited when they told us they were just $15, but when we went back and looked they were marked $59. I'm thinking those ladies didn't pay much attention to how much they cost - they just liked them enough to buy them.

So then Robin and I drove home and ate an entire bag of Rold Gold Dark Dipped Bavarian Twists which really didn't help us get any red chevron poufs, but they did taste good.

My co-op worker at school graduated last year and is in college now. She showed up to visit the other day with this cool ID compliments of Vera Bradley.  I would like to have one for myself, but when I was telling friends this, they looked at my in confusion. Apparently as a mom I need to have a purse with everything under the sun in it.

 These slippers are on sale at Von Maur right now.  Love them.  

My husband has pretty much forbid me from shopping for a while, but I did buy Little Sister a new pair of black leggings at Old Navy since hers had holes at the knees.  Despite the fact that I need nothing, I did enjoy this Old Navy open front cardigan and think it would be great to throw on in my school building which fluctuates between hot and freezing.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick: Blue Stars by Emily Gray Tedrowe
Due out: February 17, 2015

Product Information taken from Amazon:

Emily Gray Tedrowe has written an extraordinary novel about ordinary people, a graceful and gritty portrayal of what it’s like for the women whose husbands and sons are deployed in Iraq.

BLUE STARS brings to life the realities of the modern day home front: how to get through the daily challenges of motherhood and holding down a job while bearing the stress and uncertainty of war, when everything can change in an instant. It tells the story of Ellen, a Midwestern literature professor, who is drawn into the war when her legal ward Michael enlists as a Marine; and of Lacey, a proud Army wife who struggles to pay the bills and keep things going for her son while her husband is deployed. Ellen and Lacey cope with the fear and stress of a loved one at war while trying to get by in a society that often ignores or misunderstands what war means to women today. When Michael and Eddie are injured in Iraq, Ellen and Lacey’s lives become intertwined in Walter Reed Army Hospital, where each woman must live while caring for her wounded soldier. They form an alliance, and an unlikely friendship, while helping each other survive the dislocated world of the army hospital. Whether that means fighting for proper care for their men, sharing a six-pack, or coping with irrevocable loss, Ellen and Lacey pool their strengths to make it through. In the end, both women are changed, not only by the war and its fallout, but by each other.

The Question of Miracles

The Question of Miracles is Elana K. Arnold's first middle grade novel and I was absolutely blown away by it. This novel explores the question of loss in a way that kids (and adults) will easily relate to.

Iris and her parents have moved to Oregon where it seems to rain all the time. In addition to disliking the dreary weather, Iris doesn't yet have any friends in her new home.

Then she meets Boris, a boy in her class that is also in need of some friends. Despite Boris' annoying habits, the two become friends.  

During all of this Iris is dealing with the death of her best friend, Sarah.  Arnold creates a little suspense as the reason for Sarah's death isn't initially revealed. But most important, she allows Iris to explore the question of miracles.  Boris survived what was to have been a fatal birth defect; his life is a miracle. Yet, Sarah died, and Iris struggles to understand why she didn't receive a miracle.

These are complex thoughts - ones that adults question as well, and Arnold does an amazing job of answering this question and allowing Iris to find some happiness without her best friend.

I'd love to press this book into my tween daughters' hands along with my upper elementary students and teachers.  The Question of Miracles is an amazing book.

Inside the O'Briens

I've shied away from reading Still Alice by Lisa Genova simply because of my own connection to Alzheimer's disease.  From time to time my interest piques a bit, but overall, I have steered clear of this one book. Yet I have devoured other books by Lisa Genova and absolutely love her writing.

Despite my own reticence to read Still Alice, the attention Genova was able to raise about Alzheimer's disease is a good thing.  Now with Inside the O'Briens I have heard that Genova is generating a great awareness for Huntington's disease, a little known genetic condition much like Alzheimer's disease.

Joseph O'Brien lives in Boston with his wife Rose and four children.  He's a policeman, a tough guy, good Catholic, hard worker.

Although Joe notices a few things that seem a little off - tripping and falling on some steps while taking the dog for a walk - he is easily able to write these things off as accidents.


However, after several little accidents, he eventually acquiesces to his wife's request to have a physical.  

This doctor's appointment changes Joe's life and the lives of his family members forever.  

He comes to the realization that the alcoholism he once believed killed his mother was not the true culprit. Instead, his mother had Huntington's disease, which her son inherited.

Huntington's disease is not something most people know much about. It is always fatal, and children of a parent with Huntington's have a fifty percent chance of getting it themselves. The onset occurs in a person's thirties or forties, and kills the victim slowly, much like Alzheimer's with it's gradual progression.

Joe is the father of four children, who must now determine if they would like to undergo genetic testing to see if Huntington's disease is in their future. And Joe and his wife must determine how they will plan for their future and what lies ahead.

Genova's book is another winner.  Despite the fact that I was busy with a few other books, once I started Inside the O'Briens, I was unable to stop reading.  I'm expecting to hear a lot about this one when it releases.

I am not a huge football fan, but even I got sucked in to the Green Bay/Seattle game, and then watched the second half with my eyes covered as the Packers lead dwindled and the Seahawks won in overtime.  Very disappointing to our Packer obsessed household.

I have the day off of school tomorrow in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. day.  My girls, however, will make up a snow day tomorrow. 

I will more than likely end up working on these:

the Christmas cards I didn't get around to mailing.  Most were in the mail right around the holidays, but there were several that I didn't have addresses for, and I have done a great job ignoring them.

Today was filled with church, a trip to Target and Old Navy, a fairly long run on my treadmill, and the Packers game.  Knowing that I don't have school tomorrow has taken away the frenzy I normally feel on Sunday evenings.  

For once I can take my girls to school, eat lunch with Little Sister, and pick them up.  They would enjoy if this worked every day, but my work schedule doesn't allow it.  

I am also hoping for a little time to clean and a little time to read.  

I baked a taco dip to eat after the football game tonight, but tomorrow will get meals ready for the week.  

It seems my "extra" day is already fairly full! 

Enjoy your Sunday evening, and MLK Jr. Day!

The War That Saved My Life

From the first pages of The War That Saved My Life I knew that Ada Smith's life was pretty horrible. Her mother kept her in the basement, refusing to let her outside for anything - even to attend school because of her club foot. 

As children are being evacuated from London to the countryside for reasons of safety during World War II, Ada manages to escape with her brother and go along with a group of children being adopted out to families.

It's no surprise that no one chooses Ada or her brother.  They are dirty and unkempt.  And Ada's club foot doesn't help things.  With nowhere left to go they are left with Mrs. Smith, a woman who appears comfortable with her solitary lifestyle.

Although Ada is told that Mrs. Smith is not nice, she provides clothes, food, and the chance for Ada to learn how to ride a horse - all of these more than Ada's own mother ever did for her.

Bradley's story is touching, providing hope for a child who has endured a bleak existence. Mrs. Smith is able to open up a whole new world for Ada simply by giving her the ability to believe in herself.  

I always enjoy Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's work, and can't help but feel a bit letdown when I am finished with her latest book and left waiting for what she will write next.

Friday Five

I know. Could I find a smaller picture of these leggings? And what is it about me and exercise capris?  Seriously. I just got my new Title Nine catalog and these capris jumped right out at me.  

I'm not sure tunics are for me but I sure do love the way they look. I've just had a few too many inquiries about whether I was pregnant - which I was not- while wearing ultra loose fitting shirts to feel comfortable in these anymore. But, I do love the tunics that Zulilly has on sale right now.

Old Navy had a LIFE magazine cover t-shirt before Christmas that I ordered and love. Now there is a new one on their website that I want.  You can never have too many t-shirts, right?

You Think You Know What Teachers Do? Right. Wrong.

This article caught my attention this past week and I found myself nodding in agreement with the points the author made.  I don't think the author's view point needs to be isolated to just teaching, either. It could be applied to many careers that people think they know about without having any experience or education to do the job.

Love, love, love this scarf.  I found it on Zulilly, but sadly, it is sold out.

The Bookseller

The Bookseller is Cynthia Swanson's debut novel and a story I found myself entirely sucked into.

It is 1962 and Kitty and her friend Freda are running their own bookstore in Denver, Colorado.  Kitty would have enjoyed being married and having children, but a long term boyfriend never led to marriage, and after being stood up on a blind date, she chose to live a life of solitude.  

However, when Kitty falls asleep she often wakes up in 1963 as Katharyn, where she is the mother to triplets and is happily married to Lars (who coincidentally is the man who never showed up for their date in 1954).  This dream life is taking its toll on Kitty as she becomes more enmeshed in what is going on in it.  When she returns to 1962 she tries to locate her house, Lars' sister, and other things that might solve some of the mystery.

I'm not a big fantasy reader, but the time travel in this book was very intriguing and I enjoyed each time period as I tried to determine how this would all come together in the end. Sometimes one time period is more appealing than another, but perhaps because Kitty was the protagonist in both.

The other thing that I felt was very well done was the 1963 setting.  Swanson was an expert at creating a very realistic time period.  I found myself being impressed with many little details. At one point Kitty (in 1962) asks who is the president.  Of course the answer was Kennedy.  In my mind I was then able to determine that she was somewhere in 1963 prior to his assassination. But, Swanson expertly had Kitty realize that her question didn't reveal much since Kennedy was indeed the president in 1963 and since no one anticipated his death, the setting could have been 1964, or even 1968 if he had been re-elected.

Up until the very end I was not sure how Swanson would weave these two time periods and stories together.  As Kitty spends a lot of time in 1963, memories are revealed and other bits of the story which helps bring things to a satisfying conclusion. 

Swanson's debut novel was absolutely delightful and a book I will be recommending to others.  

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick: Language Arts by Stephanie Kallos
Due out: June 9, 2015

Charles Marlow teaches his high school English students that language will expand their worlds. But linguistic precision cannot help him connect with his autistic son, or with his ex-wife, who abandoned their shared life years before, or even with his college-bound daughter who has just flown the nest. He’s at the end of a road he’s traveled on autopilot for years when a series of events forces him to think back on the lifetime of decisions and indecisions that have brought him to this point. With the help of an ambitious art student, an Italian-speaking nun, and the memory of a boy in a white suit who inscribed his childhood with both solace and sorrow, Charles may finally be able to rewrite the script of his life.

From the best-selling author of Broken for You, Language Arts is an affecting tale of love, loss, and language—its powers and its perils.

Food: A Love Story

When I checked out Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan I had no idea who Gaffigan was.  The librarian nicely informed me that her husband loves Gaffigan, a stand-up comic.  So, at the very least I knew that his book would be entertaining, and not necessarily a deep read.

I love food, but not as much as Gaffigan, I will admit.  And since there are so many foods available, Gaffigan has a lot of material he can cover.  

I did better reading this book in short spurts, although there were a few times I tried to read big chunks of it.  Although Food is always funny, I felt like I enjoyed the jokes a bit more when I read just a few chapters at a time and not a hundred pages in one sitting.

Gaffigan does a great job poking fun of himself and his own love of eating.  There were many times I chuckled to myself, and also many times I nodded at whatever observation Gaffigan made about food. 

I can't recall the last book I've read that would fall under the humor category. This one was well worth my time.

I'm Glad I Did

JJ has always wanted to work in the music business. However, her family is a family of lawyers, and that is what is expected of her. 

When JJ gets a job with a record company for the summer, her parents allow her to take the job, with the stipulation that if she chooses to continue in the biz, she be able to get a contract before the summer is up.

That is nearly impossible, of course, but it is made even more so by the fact that JJ is busy investigating the suicide of Dulcie Brown, a down on her luck singer that JJ meets at the Brill Building where she works.

Turns out there are a lot of things going on in the Brill Building that JJ learn about rather quickly. The filing and copying she does for her job are just a small portion of what her days entail.

There is Luke Silver who JJ meets and then learns that his father and her uncle Bernie were partners.  Bernie has an office in the Brill Building as well, and JJ is finally given the opportunity to meet this family member she has never known.  

When Dulcie dies it is immediately ruled a suicide, but JJ is certain Dulcie has much to live for.  She and Luke begin poking around a little on their own, searching for what happened the night of Dulcie's death.

Weil's novel is set in the 60s, a time period I love reading about, and one that she describes well as various newspaper headlines are shared, music is discussed and clothing is described.

I also enjoyed Weil's subtle humor. For example, her reference to song titles that have not yet been written, but that were later hits.  At one point JJ makes mention that That's What Friends Are For sounds like a song title, which the office manager Rona quickly dismisses.

My tween daughter is reading this novel, quickly grabbing it from me as I closed the cover.  Although this is written for a tween/young adult audience, I enjoyed this novel as well.  I am hoping that we see more of JJ in the future and that Weil will continue to write more about these characters.

Sunday Salon

I managed to not take one single picture this past week - a bit unusual, but we had so many weird days with late starts due to extreme cold, and a day off right in the middle of the week because of weather, that I know I was not really in my normal routine.  Honestly, I am surprised I take pictures at all since I am no good at it.

The big news of the day in our house is that Green Bay beat the Dallas Cowboys.  There was a lot of hooting and hollering - mostly by my girls, although my husband enjoyed the game.

I will admit that although I tried to watch it and read a book at the same time, I ended up dozing off, only to be awakened at exciting moments by all the noise.

I've managed to get meals ready for the week for the second weekend in a row which is quite nice when I get home from work and have things ready to go in the oven.  

My exercise class started again last week, but because of the weather I only made it twice. I'm hoping for better weather this week.  

Other than that, it's Sunday evening and I still have things to do in order to feel prepared for tomorrow.  

Enjoy the last few hours of your weekend!

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight For Desegregation

Duncan Tonatiuh's Separate Is Never Equal is the first time I have seen the story of Syliva Mendez told in picture book format.

Nearly every student knows of Ruby Bridges and her fight for school integration  But none of my students had ever heard of Sylvia Mendez, despite the fact that I have a large Hispanic population.

Sylvia's parents expected her and her brothers to get a good education, yet when they tried to enroll them in school, they were told they must attend the Mexican school, which provided fewer resources.  Despite the Mendez family's constant inquiries about why the children could not attend the white school, they were never given a good answer.

Eventually the Mendezs are able to gain the support of other families who are also experiencing segregation and they file a lawsuit.  

After years of trials and awaiting judges' decisions, the Mendez family and other Hispanic families were granted the right to a free and equal education.  

Tonatiuh has included a glossary of terms that might be helpful to readers, photographs of the Mendez parents and Sylvia and also pictures of the two schools.

Although the story of Ruby Bridges is well known, it is unfortunate that this story has never garnered the same publicity or recognition. Sadly it was not only African Americans who were discriminated against, and this is important to recognize other cultures and their fight for equality.

Although this is the first picture book I have read about Sylvia Mendez, three years ago I reviewed Sylvia and Aki by Winifred Conkling, an historical fiction novel that tells the story of Sylvia Mendez and her Japanese American friend, Aki and their fight for an equal education.  If you are curious about this topic, I highly recommend reading Sylvia and Aki, which adds a little more depth to this story and may appeal to older readers.

Friday Five

This has been a week of cold and snowy weather - and attempting to get back in the groove after Christmas break.  That has been only mildly successful since I have had two delayed starts and one day off of work because of the cold weather.  Ah, the joys of living in Iowa.

This coat looks so cozy and warm - maybe because it feels like the Arctic here . Seriously, I think Loft means for it to be worn outside the house, but I am thinking of curling up on the couch reading a book with this on.

As if I need another time waster, I have been sucked in to Trivia Crack.  My oldest daughter is always trying to play multiple games against me and my husband.  

You can never have too many exercise capris, right?  I already have several pairs, but really like these new ones on Athleta, too.  

I kind of feel like I shouldn't even put this one on my list mostly because it will cause you to die laughing.  I saw these head band things a little over a year ago and remarked on them then.  Kind of like, "who would wear this?" Well, I think I would look absolutely stupid wearing one and my husband probably wouldn't be caught dead with me (keep in mind we are from rural Iowa!), but I like them.  My girls all have hair that would look great in them.  I'm thinking this would be a cute gift idea.

Yep.  Listen to a few episodes of Serial, and I have officially become the podcast expert.  My daughters have been making fun of me a little bit for this since they claim I am now always trying to listen to something.  "Podcast this," I keep hearing from them.  Well, anyway, I have listened to only one episode of Reading Lives and really enjoyed it.  This podcast features authors (who I have never heard of, by the way) who talk about their own reading.  Very interesting but I do admit I would love to hear from some authors that I know.

So, there's the Friday Five.  Not so much I could tempt myself to spend money on this week, thank goodness!

Sisters of Heart and Snow

Margaret Dilloway's latest novel, Sisters of Heart and Snow, is due to be released in April, and is a women's fiction book that reminds me a bit of Amy Tan's work.

Sisters Rachel and Drew Snow have never been close. Rachel was kicked out of the house when she was just sixteen, and Drew was only twelve.  Over twenty years later she is happily married, living a suburban housewife's life. Despite her rough teenage years, her life has always seemed easy to her younger sister.

Drew has always felt a bit inferior to Rachel. Her life seems so put together, while Drew is struggling to make ends by using her musical talent to make a living.

Rachel narrates much of the story, which centers around the sisters reuniting to deal with their mother's dementia.  When their mother tells them about a book she owns, the sisters retrieve it from their childhood home and take it to a Japanese translator.

What he translates is a story about a female samurai.  This story causes Rachel and Drew to wonder a bit more about their mother's life before she came to America from Japan.

Dilloway's novel is complex. In addition to Rachel's narration, alternating chapters are set in the twelfth century, providing the story of Tomoe, a samurai in long ago Japan.

The sisters relationship is a focus of this story, but their own problems - with children, dating, and finding themselves are also explored.  In addition, Rachel reveals a great deal about her past and her father which explains a lot about Drew and Rachel.

Although I was not entirely engaged in samurai story, Dilloway does a good job of creating this thread that develops throughout the novel and tying it in with Rachel and Drew's mother's past. 

This is the third novel I have read by Dilloway; each one is a story I have enjoyed and become engaged with.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick: The Upstairs Wife by Rafia Zakaria
Due out: February 3, 2015

Product Information taken from Goodreads:


Rafia Zakaria’s Muslim-Indian family immigrated to Pakistan from Bombay in 1962, feeling the situation for Muslims in India was precarious and that Pakistan represented enormous promise. And for some time it did. Her family prospered, and the city prospered. But in the 1980s, Pakistan’s military dictators began an Islamization campaign designed to legitimate their rule—a campaign that particularly affected women. The political became personal for Zakaria’s family when her Aunt Amina’s husband did the unthinkable and took a second wife, a betrayal of kin and custom that shook the foundation of her family.
 
The Upstairs Wife dissects the complex strands of Pakistani history, from the problematic legacies of colonialism to the beginnings of terrorist violence to increasing misogyny, interweaving them with the arc of Amina’s life to reveal the personal costs behind ever-more restrictive religious edicts and cultural conventions. As Amina struggles to reconcile with a marriage and a life that had fallen below her expectations, we come to know the dreams and aspirations of the people of Karachi and the challenges of loving it not as an imagined city of Muslim fulfillment but as a real city of contradictions and challenges.