Remains of Innocence by J.A Jance #16

When in Tucson, read about Tucson, right?  Remains of Innocence is the second book I read while I was visiting Tucson.  There were many landmarks that were mentioned that I either visited myself, or I had heard of.  While I was there, snow fell on Mount Lemmon, and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is also a popular place to visit.

Liza Machett grew up very poor.  She didn't have enough food to eat, but her teachers notice her need, and they help find her jobs within the school that ensure she always has breakfast and lunch.  Her life in Great Barrington, MA, is stressful and complicated. Her mother is a hoarder and only concerned with saving money.  Her brother, Guy, went to medical school on a scholarship, and is working as a medical examiner in Bisbee, Arizona.

Liza's mother moves to hospice, and Liza finds that her mother is anything but poor.  She finds large bills in every magazine in the house - and there are stacks of them.  She also realizes after a series of murders, that the money's history is steeped in something sinister.

This is another Joanna Brady mystery.  The bulk of the plot moves from Great Barrington to Bisbee, with points in between.  Who are the killers?  How many are there?  Can Sheriff Joanna Brady figure out who or what is behind the killings?  This is book #16 in the Joanna Brady mysteries.  Joanna is the sheriff of Bisbee, Arizona, and she has come into her own as the first female sheriff the town has ever seen.

If you love the area of Tucson, Bisbee, Douglas, and the surrounding areas, you will love reading about the lives of the special people in Joanna's world.

Skeleton Canyon by J.A. Jance

Briana O'Brien is a popular cheerleader at Bisbee High School.  However, one night at a football game against Douglas, her life changes forever.  The star running back from Douglas take a hard hit at the sideline where she is cheering.  She hears the bone crack, and sees the pain in the player's eyes.

She realizes at that moment that she knows this player.  They spent time together at a theater camp a summer or two ago, and they were cast as Romeo and Juliet in the camp's play.  She makes the decision to go to the hospital with him, disregarding her friends and her coach's warning that if she walks away, she will be kicked off the team.  She walks.

Fast forward to a year later as she and her boyfriend, who is of Mexican descent, are hiding their very serious relationship.  They spend weekends camping in Skeleton Canyon - and their parents and guardians are none the wiser.  This particular weekend, however, Nacio cannot get to their camping spot until the next morning.  Bree decides to go ahead and camp the night, then meet up with him the next morning.  She doesn't stay alive that long.

Joanna Brady is still trying to find her way after the unexpected death of her husband, Andy.  She is the sheriff of Bisbee, and is still trying to get her staff to respect her and her decisions.  When Bree, a popular cheerleader, is reported missing, Joanna finds that the missing girl's case falls within her jursidiction.

Joanna finds she has to deal with sexism, racism, and a ring of smugglers.  This book is one in a series of books written by J.A. Jance.  The books take place near Bisbee, Arizona.  This was a perfect read for me as I spent four days in the Tucson area.  There were so many familiar landmarks.

You don't have to visit Arizona to read this one!

Leaders are Made, Not Born.

What is a leader?  What makes a leader a good leader?  Who determines who is a good leader, and who is not?  While perusing quotes about leadership, I came across a quote by John C. Maxwell.  Before I join forces in thought with Mr. Maxwell, I want to know a little more about him. Thank you, Google!  I find that John Calvin Maxwell is an American author, pastor, and a motivational speaker.   He has written quite a few books on leadership.  One book is entitled, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. 

I was drawn to this quote because this is one of my primary beliefs of being a leader.  Leaders need to experience the same responsibilities that the people they lead experience.  When I first was hired to be a media specialist at my high school, I found myself the "boss" of two aides.  I had been the "boss" of students for 24 years, but being the boss of adults is a different story altogether.  

One of my aides once told me that I was a great boss, and one of the reasons was that I pitched in and did whatever was needed to be done.  There was not a job that was above me or beneath me.  We all worked together as a team.  

Now that I have transitioned to Technology Integration Specialist, the words of this quote ring very true.  I want to be approachable, yet knowledgeable enough to be a good resource.  Staff need to know that I too use the very things that I introduce and believe to be useful.  

Good leaders are always looking to learn new things and find ways to become better leaders. Taking training classes, meeting colleagues who do the same things, and following people via social media are all good ways to see what is happening in other districts.  I believe it is important to learn as much as possible, and one of my goals whenever I take a new class is to help me become a better leader, but also to help others to lead as well.  

Always and foremost, a good leader sees strengths in her team, and then allows them to become better leaders themselves.  I am a firm believer in letting people take an active role if they are comfortable with that.  One of the things I am looking for in this course is to find the best way to gently encourage people to set forward and share what they know and use.  

There have been many leaders throughout history, some famous, but many others are infamous.  Being a strong leader isn't easy, but I am willing to put forth the effort and become the best I can be.  

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

I love a good mystery.  Far too often, I have the "mystery" solved before the book is long over.  I have figured out the "killer" and all too often, I lose interest before the book is completed.

This was not the case with The Silkworm.  The "culprit" was free from Scotland Yard (and my knowledge) until the last two chapters of the book.  With Robert Galbraith, I would expect nothing less.

Writer Owen Quine is missing.  He has disappeared before for short periods of time, but his wife knows that this time something is different, so she hires the services of Cormoran Strike.  Strike is a veteran who now runs his own detective agency, with the help of his assistant, Robin.

Quine has just written a scathing book about his colleagues, and the narrative is full of unflattering portrayals which create brutal enemies within the world of publishing.  Are these enemies angry enough to commit murder?  Someone is angry enough to kill. Strike and Robin start the search for the missing Owen Quine, and enter a world of twists, turns, and they find that things that are not always what they seem.

Strike and Robin search for clues during one of the worst snowstorms London has seen in several years.  The cold, driving snow and the dark clouds surrounding the city are the perfect setting in the search for a cold-blooded killer.

Cormoran Strike's character is gritty, intelligent, yet vulnerable.  His assistant, Robin, is highly intelligent and is interested in surveillance work as a career.

This book is the second in the series.  The first book in the series is The Cuckoo's Calling, and it is also well worth your time.  I think you will be a big fan of Cormoran Strike - just like I am.

TWELVE DAYS OF BOOKS -2016

It's that time of year!  This is the third installment of the TWELVE BOOKS OF CHRISTMAS.  Typically this post comes on a bit earlier during the twelve days after Christmas, but the Parker household has been full of activity this season.  We all want to wish you the very best of seasons.  May the new year be full of happiness, cheer, and love.

And now for the countdown.....

1.  The Obsession by Nora Roberts.  Naomi Bowes knows what it is like to learn about family secrets.  Her father had plenty of secrets until Naomi stumbled upon them.  Now she has another name, and is living far away from those nightmares - or is she?  This book was recommended by Andrea Hess.  The book had her hooked from page one...

2.  The Righteous Mind:  Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt.  

"This book is about why it’s so hard for us to get along. We are indeed all stuck here for a while, so let’s at least do what we can to understand why we are so easily divided into hostile groups, . . Politics and religion are both expressions of our underlying moral psychology, and an understanding of that psychology can help to bring people together...."  The author is a psychologist and studies Morals.  This book explains why everyone does not have the same opinion on, well, most things.  This book was recommended by my former student, Kelly Castetter, who found it helped understand human nature during an especially difficult election year.  

3.  Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.  Some of you may have read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  If you have, you know the book contains dark subject matter.  Dark Places is no different.  Libby Day was seven when her sisters and her mother were murdered.  Libby testifies that her brother Ben is the killer.  Many years later, a group approaches Libby to get more information about the famous crime.  Libby agrees to become involved - for a fee- and she finds out more than she bargained for.  This was recommended by Shea Rafferty, a former student and colleague.  

4.  Kathy Griffin's Celebrity Run Ins:  My A-Z Index, by Kathy Griffin.  Who doesn't like gossip?  If you don't, then this book is not for you.  If you love to hear stories about Hollywood types and their lives, then you will love this book.  Kathy Griffin is a comedienne and is known for her standup comedy.  This book was recommended by Michael Weaver, who states that the stories are true, and Griffin is a riot.  

5.  The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews.  David Ponder is down on his luck.  He has been given the opportunity to visit several people from history and learn lessons from them. He realizes these are Seven Decisions for Success.  If your life needs a boost, then this book might be beneficial to you.  This was recommended by my former (across the street) neighbor, Elizabeth Carlson.  

6.  Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.  Friends are so important in our lives.  As we go through our school years, we especially are impacted by those friendships.  Sometimes those friendships shape who we are, and who we become.  Sometimes those friendships last for a lifetime.  Tully and Kate meet in 8th grade, and they become fast friends.  This book spans their three decade friendship and explores how we are hurt and heal one another.  This book was recommended by a high school friend, Ellen Paris.  

7.  But What if We're Wrong?  Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past by Chuck Klosterman.  In the words of my former student, Donna Bailey, "This book attempts to view the current times through the lens of someone a few hundred years in the future.  It's full of thought experiments that challenge a number of "commonly accepted" views (ie how long until team sports die out? Who will be remembered as the greatest author/musician/TV personality of our era? What scientific truth that we "know" to be true now will be proven false?) These lines of thinking touch on a number of philosophical questions as well, which one might recognize in other forms.  The book is a thoughtful read without being overly intellectual and difficult to read."  It's on my reading list.  

8.  Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.  Life is much easier for Wade if he stays in the virtual world of gaming.  Wade studies puzzles.  The creator of the puzzles offers fame and power to anyone who can unlock their clues.  However, there are others who want to unlock the secrets, and they are willing to kill for the knowledge.  This book was recommended by a high school friend, Mecheal Boen.  This book is also on the Rosie list.  

9.  The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer.  Greta's twin brother has died, and she and her long time lover have broken up.  To help her deal with the depression, she undergoes a radical treatment which ends up transporting her to the years 1918 and 1941.  She sees how each of her lives differs, and realizes that she has some control over the outcome.  What will her choice be?  

This book was recommended by a high school friend who is still one of my great friends, Sue Folley.  

10.  The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.  Theo Decker becomes an orphan at thirteen, and he is taken in by a wealthy family.  He ends up clinging to one item that reminds him of his mother, a small painting.  I have heard from many people that this isn't an easy book to read.  It was recommended by a friend, Pat Clark, and this is what she had to say about it.  "A bit troubling, and I sometimes considered not finishing, but glad I did." 

Are you up to the challenge?

11.  A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.  Ove is a curmudgeon.  He dislikes all of his neighbors and doesn't understand why people can't follow routines and have strict principles.  When the new neighbors move in, Ove learns to open his heart and mind and make changes within himself.  This book is another recommendation by Pat Clark. 

12.  The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender.  "This story uses fantasy to help the reader understand coming of age, see the sadness and secrets within a family, and learn to embrace what makes a person different."  This book was recommended by Sadie May Moulton who is a former student.  

Do you have more than twelve days for your Christmas?

Here are three more books recommended by former student, Brittany Adkins.  

The Light of the Fireflies by Paul Pen.

The Ghosts of Tullybrae House by Veronica Bale

Butterfly Garden  by Dot Hutchinson

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

What can I say?  I loved this book, and I read it in one evening.

I love mysteries, but I do not like mysteries where I have figured out the "mystery" way before the end of the book. I was surprised, to say the least, when the book came to an end and I had no idea where the plot was going to end up.  I was engrossed from the start.

Lo is a thirty-ish journalist who has some issues with anxiety.  She struggles with panic attacks and knows she must take her medication to keep the attacks at bay.  Her home is burglarized, and the thief shuts the bedroom door on her face while he ransacks the flat where she lives.  Fighting a panic attack, she knows her life is in his hands.  He leaves, but takes her purse, and all the contents inside.  But he leaves Lo a anxious, miserable mess.

As she tries to put her life back together, she also realizes that she is to leave in TWO days to board a luxury cruise yacht and provide an article for the magazine where she is employed.  She is already suffering from PTSD, and wonders how she will keep it together on the yacht.  However, she believes that some time away will be good for her and will allow some healing to occur.

However, her time on the yacht is anything but calm and restful. A series of strange happenings occur, and our protagonist realizes she is cruising the frigid North Sea and nearing the Arctic Circle all the while knowing that one of the passengers is a killer - and that passenger realizes that Lo is gaining on the truth.

I very much recommend this book.  It is perfect for a winter evening's read while you hear the rain/ice hitting the windows.  Just was the case with me.  Enjoy.

Be Uncomfortable.

We all have a story to tell.  This story started a year ago, but I only told a few people about my experience.  Why?  I needed to process it, and it was highly personal.  However, I feel the time has come to tell my story.  Stories are meant to be shared when the author is ready.  The author and the  story are ready.

It was Friday, November 20, 2015, and a colleague and I had just arrived in Minneapolis for the NCTE Conference.  (National Council of Teachers of English)  We drove in from the south, and had to drive through a potentially dangerous snowstorm on our journey.

We arrived safe and sound, although a bit relieved that the snow was not going to follow us to the Twin Cities. We settled into my son's apartment (which was luckily vacant for the weekend), and headed to the conference.

The NCTE conference is one of my favorite conferences because there is an abundance of authors, and since I love to read.... I get to "Meet and Greet" with so many authors, but I also bring back lots of goodies for the library.   It's a win-win!

I had made reservations to attend the Cultural Celebration that was to be held that evening at 7:00.  My colleague and I thought it sounded fun and interesting.  Little did I know that the events of that evening would change my thinking and change my life.

The event started as most events do - with hors d'oeuvres.  We ended up sitting with some friends that we had met in line or at lunch.  One new friend was a kindergarten teacher near Memphis, and the other was a lovely lady who immigrated from Jamaica and taught in the Fort Lauderdale area.

We sat and talked about our jobs and schools until the entertainment began.  The first group was called Ketzal/Coatlique or Precious Mother Earth.   This group is a learning community for those who want to study Mexican Aztec dance - and what a powerful dance it was.  With the beating of the drums, the costumes, and the power in the movements, I was swept with the beauty and history that surrounded the participants.

Danez Smith was the next one to perform.  He is the author of [insert] Boy.  Danez Smith wrote the poem to call for a world in which black boys are not feared.  Smith wants a world that is free from violence and where black boys and men can believe they are worthy of love. He read his poetry with all of the force from his heart.  His anger, his grief, his call for change was heard as he slammed his words into our hearts.

Ironically, and tragically, the week before the conference a young black man was shot by Minneapolis police.  There are inconsistent reports of what exactly happened, but the fact of the matter is the young man was unarmed when he was shot.

This isn't the first time something like this has happened.  The anger and tension in the room was palpable.  At a glance, I saw that my colleague and I were two of three white people in the room of over one hundred people.  Was I frightened?  No.  Was I uncomfortable?  Yes.  Did I believe that the anger would be directed at me?  I didn't know, but I felt I deserved some of that anger.

I have never been profiled, or followed by a police officer because I looked suspicious.  I have never been judged by the color of my skin.  I have never been denied a job because of my race or religion.  I do not understand, nor can I even begin to understand what it is like to experience these things on a daily basis for an entire lifetime.  For me to say that I can understand is a ludicrous statement.  I cannot even fathom what it would be like to experience this daily.

The final group to perform was Voice of Culture.  This group works to educate young Black children on the beauty of Black Arts and Culture.  The students involved in this set danced with their hearts.  They danced the theme that Black Lives Matter.

Then it was over.  I was numb.  My colleague was numb.  We Ubered back to the apartment without saying a lot.  We both understood that we had experienced something that changed us and molded us.

The next day we met up with the lady from Fort Lauderdale.  She pulled us aside and apologized if we were frightened or uncomfortable with the events of the previous evening.  I looked into her eyes and said, You have been made to feel uncomfortable many, many times.  We NEED to be made uncomfortable.  We need to try to understand what you live with on a daily basis."

The events of that evening have never left me.  When I see or hear people saying that we are "too sensitive" or that we need to "quit being scared" or "to stop crying around," I think of that night in Minneapolis when I stepped in someone else's shoes and walked around for a little bit.  We can never, ever judge what another race or culture is dealing with unless we live it.  Most of us do not want to become uncomfortable.  To step outside of our comfortable, safe boxes is scary.  But if we truly, TRULY want to try to understand someone not in the majority, we need to open our eyes a little wider and try to be an advocate.

It is so easy to fall into the blame game.  It's easier to do that than work for understanding.  My plea is that you live this with an open mind, and try to empathize and have compassion for those whose lives are so much different from your own.  We are journeying together, and together we are stronger.