Watch words take flight with

THEBOOKJEANIE

Hopefully summer gives you more time to sit back and relax with a good book.  Some public libraries are even offering reading incentive programs for adult readers, like those that my children grew up with offering stickers, prizes and ice cream for participants. This summer my local library has such an adult program and in addition to dollar coupons for the friends of the library book store for every ten hours read, participants choosing to fill out a short book review form receive a coupon to enter in the drawing of their choice, to win either a gift certificate to a local nursery, a year's membership to the state parks, admission tickets to local caverns, or a gift certificate to a book shop.  You might think that THEBOOKJEANIE has stuffed the raffle jars with coupons for book reviews but so far this blogger has only submitted three reviews  - I am aware that I do have an unfair advantage! 

After reading Barbara Kingsolver's novel, Flight Behavior, about a strange disruption of the migratory patterns of monarch butterflies, I was naturally drawn to the cover of this book Winged Obsession on display at my local library. Lately I have been researching the amazing journey of the monarch, all the way from Canada to Mexico and back, at least as far as the weary insect can make it before laying eggs and quietly folding its wings one last time. In this non-fiction thriller, the infamous butterfly smuggler, Yoshi Kojima, was not interested in the lowly monarch. He set his sights higher, pursuing rare species such as the Queen Alexandra, a butterfly with a wingspan of more than 11 inches that he could sell for several thousand dollars. As Jessica Speart makes clear in Winged Obsession, Kojima was not just a master at his criminal profession, known by many in the butterfly trade as "the world's most notorious butterfly smuggler," he was also responsible for the decimation of numerous endangered species, acquiring rare specimans that even entomologists and museums could not obtain. As Kojima pursued wealth and power by illegally trading in  endangered butterflies, a cutthroat $200 million business, he was unaware that in 2003 he had become the target of an investigation led almost single-handedly by U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent Ed Newcomer. Kojima had evaded USFW agents as well as the Immigration and Customs officers for years but he met his match in Agent Newcomer. For the next four years Newcomer would set Kojima up to make numerous illegal sales, collect conclusive evidence for an indictment, and would identify many elusive sources in the vast world-wide network of traders in endangered species. The interesting twist in this story is that although butterflies were an obsession for Kojima, Newcomer posing as a young naive butterfly dealer becomes an obsession for him as well. This dangerous game of pursuit turns dark and destructive for both players and you will not want to put this book down until you know the outcome.

At 15, there was nothing more I wanted than a group of cool friends, preferably male and female, with whom I could share my thoughts, feelings, ideas, dreams, and insecurities with the total confidence that what I revealed would not be ridiculed or dismissed but accepted as valid, and perhaps even understood.  Meg Wolitzer, author of The Interestings, recognizes that familiar longing in most teenagers, creating an ambitious and expansive novel that traces the youthful idealistic bond between six very different individuals at an arts camp in upstate New York in 1974 through the reality of adulthood, marriage, struggles with career choices, parenthood and middle age.  Wolitzer chooses the awkward outsider from Long Island as the protagonist to lead us through this complex tale of friendship and self-discovery.  Julie, still reeling from the sudden death of her father,  happily accepts the the name "Jules" bestowed by the group, and marvels at her acceptance by this group of talented and somewhat glamorous students from Manhattan.  The "Interestings" as they call themselves that summer, thrive on recognition of their talents, even Jules who discovers her abilities as a comedic actress, and float through the hot and hazy days dreaming of his or her future success in the world of the arts.  Wolitzer cleverly jumps ahead in the next chapter to the Christmas of 2009, and the arrival of the annual card from two of the group who have married and appear to have achieved all the fame, wealth, and recognition that they were all so confident of attaining that summer many years ago.  As Jules opens the card and reads it to her husband, a gentle man of modest ambition, she reflects on how little she has accomplished and on the value her life has had.  Depression, unwise decisions, and the normal everyday problems of life seem to have impacted most of the friends except for this amazingly successful couple.  But we learn as the novel leaps between the past and the present, that no life is without its challenges and uncertainties, disappointments and sorrows.  Jules makes her own self-discoveries, recognizing the qualities that have supported, protected, and encouraged her friends and family throughout the years, finally admitting that perseverance and loyalty have proven to be more valuable in life than talent.  This witty, thoughtful and richly detailed novel is one that will stay with you beyond the summer.   

    

I had to read This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen again today to my two-year-old grandson, his very favorite book since I found it at the library the other day.  This simply told story illustrated by the author, won the 2012 Caldecott Award, given by the American Library Association each year to the best children's picture book.  The cover illustration is the also the first illustration accompanying the beginning text, "This hat is not mine.  I just stole it." The eye of the little fish is looking back anxiously and as you will see on the next page, the hat belongs to a very BIG fish who awakens to find his beloved hat missing.  Even a two-year-old tunes into the drama that is portrayed only by the eyes of the two fish (as well as a cowardly crab): fear, surprise, confusion, anger, determination, anxiety, contentment.  The ending of this book lends itself to speculation, setting the stage for an interesting discussion with an older child.  Well, dads, here's one to share with the little ones that you are sure to enjoy as well.  

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

And remember. . .