Numerous titles have been challenged and removed from public and school libraries this past year including two of my favorite books for children: The Family Book by Todd Parr as well as And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. The Family Book celebrates families of all kinds, an inclusive book that resonates with all children. And Tango Makes Three is the true story of two male chinstrap penguins at the NY Central Park Zoo who, unable to find mates, become partners and care for an egg from another penguin. Many other books over the years have been targets of censorship including Catcher in the Rye, The Grapes of Wrath, James and the Giant Peach, Slaughterhouse Five, and In the Night Kitchen. This week I am reading a truly thought-provoking novel for middle grade students that won the Newbery Medal for Children's Literature but has been challenged many times over the years: The Giver, by Lois Lowry.
J. Courtney Sullivan's new novel, Engagements, begins in 1947 with the story of real-life copywriter Frances Gerety making her mark in the advertising world with the signature line for the De Beers campaign: "A Diamond is Forever." Many of us grew up with those romantic ads in Seventeen Magazine and Gerety was instrumental in creating the myth that a diamond symbolizes love and eternal happiness. Sullivan wraps the unfolding story of Gerety's long career within the world of Mad Men with four tales of passion, commitment, and marriage bound by the thread of a singular diamond ring that passes through each narrative. The timing in this sprawling novel is almost perfect, as the stories seamlessly flow in and out, ultimately revealing the complexity and uniqueness of love and marriage in the past half century. Gerety's own story was my particular favorite as she struggled to achieve recognition for her original work but was always kept far from the client and never promoted to a decision-making position within the firm, only recognized for her merits after she retired.
This slim volume was published in 1999 but it came to my attention when I was researching literature related to art thefts and forgeries. The Music Lesson is a quiet thriller following art historian Patricia Dolan on her journey to an isolated cottage in Ireland with a stolen Vermeer painting being held ransom by an IRA splinter group. Patricia grew up the daughter of an Boston cop, hearing stories of her Irish ancesters but never suspecting that her father was part of the immigrant community supporting the Irish separatist movement. She pursues a successful career in the museum world of New York City, marries, and then suffers the loss of her child and her marriage. Enter her distant cousin Michael with his romantic Irish charm and Patricia is swept off her feet. In a moment of passion, she abandons her job and her ethical values, and becomes a part of a high stakes international crime. Alone in a cottage on the outskirts of a small Irish village, Patricia tries to follow her instructions to remain as unobtrusive as possible but she begins to feel a connection to the small community that ultimately leads to the unraveling of the ransom plan as well as her own commitment to the cause. You will not want to put this one down but fortunately it can be read in a weekend - don't miss it!
Enjoying the last days of summer with these books. . .
I am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories
by Sam Swope
Ten things I've Learnt About Love
by Sarah Butler
Code name Verity
by Elizabeth Wein
Murder in Paris
by D.L. Nelson
Take one and call it a night . . .
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