An Act of Kindness

From the NYT, July 6th: A Palestinian doctor was on his way to Jerusalem for morning prayers when he came upon a car that had flipped over on its roof. There were many children inside, and clearly the father, Rabbi Michael Mark, was dead, after a Palestinian gunman had fired on the car. It did not matter to this man; he immediately came to the help of the family. His response was an act of kindness in a conflict that is often bereft of it, and the past nine months have been sometimes brutal. But there are always good people on both sides. What is unfortunate is that there have to be sides at all!

Review for "George" by Alex Gino

George by Alex Gino
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just completed reading GEORGE by Alex Gino (Scholastic), a wonderfully evocative story with the same theme as JAZZ, only for an older readership, in much the same way my BE-A (GIRL) is, and because GEORGE is for an older audience, it is also more nuanced and riddled with the conflict that goes with an older audience. George's voice is smart and sassy, and what makes me ADORE this book is George's insistence that he/she must play CHARLOTTE in CHARLOTTE'S web. E.B. White's classic has always been one of my favorites and the emotional openness in the character and the book makes this a new, personal favorite in the middle-school category. Fabulous diction!

This book also gives me hope for my picture book-BE-A!

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Review for "I am Jazz"

I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Based on true story with precious illustrations by Shelagh McNicholas, JAZZ is the story about a girl who knows she is a boy, and has known this since she was two. She loves sparkles, beads and everything "girlish," so it is up to Jazz to convince friends and family that this is okay. The doctor shares with the family that Jazz in transgender, and she was born this way; now the world has to see her this way, too. I love this book, though-at times-I felt it was too simplistic.

I am most interested in this book, since I, too, have written a book about a transgender boy who wants to be a girl, but unlike JAZZ'S simplistic style and voice, I see the readership for BE-A (Girl) as older. It is so important that children's picture books explore diverse subject matter.

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Poetry Never Lies

The Poet Nikki Giovanni shares that "Poetry never lies." Poetry, in its truthfulness, has the ability to unmask feelings, and in doing so, build bridges between the inner and outer world. I would like to think of Ronit an Jamil as a real bridge builder.

Fourth of July

In the spirit of July 4th, the spirit in which I wrote my book, I am compelled to review the words of the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness-That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men deriving their powers from the consent of the governed."

The words used in this declaration (which, of course, pertain American independence) include words such as JUSTICE and EQUALITY.

Too bad that tyranny has sometimes taken over the world-amongst individuals and within governments. I would like to imagine we live in a world where Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness reign supreme, for now and forever, not just for us, but for our children and our children's children, so the world may become a more decent and humane place.

Happy July 4th!

Elie Wiesel

RIP Elie Wiesel who said:

          "No human race is superior

           No religious faith is inferior

           All collective judgments are wrong

           Only racists make them"

You believed in humanity, despite what you had been through. May your spirit live on in the words of Ronit and Jamil.

My Own Voice

I love language. I consider myself primarily a poet and revel in wonderful poetry. When I am reading a novel, I can tell when the writer's work is grounded in a love of verse. RONIT AND JAMIL is the perfect combination of my dual passions-poetry and young adult literature.

I have just started a new YA novel, and I am finding that I can not READ as much as I have been reading, since the language in a good book lingers in my mind. What I end up hearing is the author's voice (whomever I am reading), instead of my own. 

What is most important for me now is to get back to my own voice.