Archive for August, 2007
August 31, 2007 at 8:04 am · Filed under books
I’m a day early, but it’s time for my monthly Pay it Forward book exchange. This time I’m sending two books out into the world; one adult, one young adult.
Atherton: The House of Power by Patrick Carman is a fantasy suitable for age eight and up. (image in the sidebar)
Three worlds are colliding…Power is shifting…Nothing will ever be the same again.
And here’s my 12 year old’s review:
Atherton is set in a world that has three levels. When two levels collide, war breaks out. The people are worried that if the two upper levels collapse into the Flatlands, monsters called the Cleaners will eat them. The people from the Tabletop World must unite with the people of the Highlands instead of fighting in order to destroy the Cleaners. Atherton was a very good book.
Middle Son by Deborah Iida is set in the sugar cane fields of Maui and chronicles the trials and heartache of one Japanese-American family. An intimate look at cultural practices and life where family duty takes precedence. The author paints an incredibly realistic view of the sibling relationship between three sons in this poetic novel. (image in the sidebar)
To start this Pay it Forward exchange in motion, simply comment on this post, stating which of these books you’d like to have (you can only choose one!). I’ll give both of them away, so there will be two winners. Atherton is an advance reading copy (ARC) so I must reiterate PLEASE don’t sell it. I know I probably don’t need to say that since the whole purpose of this is to pay it forward, but sometimes a little reminder is good! I’ll draw for the winners next Wednesday.
August 29, 2007 at 5:31 pm · Filed under home education
August 29, 2007 at 7:04 am · Filed under fun stuff
This coloring book is up for grabs! It features prominent Supreme Court justices along with some images of the court itself and is geared toward young learners. If you’d like to win, simply leave a comment by, say, Friday.
August 28, 2007 at 1:17 pm · Filed under book reviews, books
I love the Dalai Lama! I’m currently reading The Art of Happiness and it is just so…positive.
…there may be differences in cultural background or way of life, there may be differences in our faith, or we may be of a different color, but we are human beings, consisting of the human body and the human mind….I find it much easier to communicate with others on that level. If we emphasize specific characteristics, like I am Tibetan or I am Buddhist, then there are differences. But those things are secondary. If we can leave the differences aside, I think we can easily communicate, exchange ideas, and share experiences.
Thanks to Larramie for the suggestion to read Lottery, it will be our next book club pick. Turns out the author - Patricia Wood - is from Oahu, so even kind of local.
The last book club pick, Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See is worth a mention here. Set in rural China in the 1800s, the story traces a special friendship between two women during a time when women were little valued. With a brutally honest look at the custom of footbinding, as well as a secret writing method called nu shu which was used exclusively by women, this book gives readers an intimate glimpse into another culture and another time.
And finally, who said writing books for kids is easy? Linda Sue Park gives her blog readers an honest look at one round of editorial feedback.
August 27, 2007 at 11:56 am · Filed under island life
I’ve had good intentions to create one local summer meal each week, but somehow I always miss. I have been conscious about trying to choose more local produce for our dining pleasure, but an entire meal has been elusive.
We went to the Hilo Farmer’s Market on Saturday and filled our ice chest with fresh island goods.
Here you see something called a strawberry avocado (still green inside), lilikoi, green onion, daikon, WHITE pineapple (from Maui, so not SO local), and fresh Thai basil ($1/bunch!).
I will consider last night’s dinner to be my one local summer meal: fresh tomatoes (not pictured) nearly as good as homegrown, crunchy daikon sprinked with alae salt, and lilikoi. We don’t have to actually cook for it to count, do we?
Of course, this was topped off with macadamia nut shortbread cookies from the Big Island Candy Company. Mm, mm.
Plus, I have plans to transform that basil into macadamia nut pesto, for another somewhat localized meal.
August 25, 2007 at 1:43 am · Filed under fun stuff
What fun!
August 24, 2007 at 7:54 am · Filed under home education
The folks over at Education Revolution are asking just that question, and have a compelling list of reasons that alternative education might be a more appropriate choice. This one surprised me:
4. Schools don’t teach technology. Perhaps the biggest reason for the growing gap between rich and poor is the ability to understand and utilize technology. Let’s put it this way. If you’re a young person and don’t get how e-mail works your ability to land a well-paying job is next to nil these days. The problem here is that schools don’t really teach technology. Sure, you’ll have the occasional CAD class or web design skills class on the docket but I’d venture to say that 99% of the technology kids learn is done outside the classroom environment. They figure out how to e-mail, IM, social network, etc. on their own. This makes schools much less relevant than in the past where the only way to learn the important stuff was in the classroom.
If schools AREN’T teaching technology (are they truly not??), the fact that teens everywhere are text messaging, emailing, and on myspace is proof that kids can and will learn those things that are of interest to them - without a formal education system spoon feeding it to them.
Just as
The more parents homeschool their kids the easier it is for additional parents to homeschool.
the more alternative schools that thrive, the more education alternatives there will be for our kids.
As to the question, “are [public] schools necessary”, for now I have to say yes. I don’t think they are necessary because they offer the best education for our kids. But because of the American lifestyle with its two-income families, unfortunately, I think it would be pretty difficult for most people to do without.
August 22, 2007 at 12:18 pm · Filed under fun stuff
Condensed into one hilarious song, sung to the tune of the William Tell Overture.
Blog Nod: GoodyBlog
August 22, 2007 at 7:29 am · Filed under fun stuff, books
It’s my turn to pick the book for my next book club meeting. After some intense reads, everyone is ready for a lighthearted book, which eliminates the few that I had planned to suggest. I’m wondering about Eat, Pray, Love or Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. But while I do want to read both of those, I don’t know how suitable they are for a book club.
I’d love to hear recommendations. I’m open to a good young adult novel, too!
PS: What Else Wednesdays is UP!
August 21, 2007 at 7:11 am · Filed under My Musings
As home educators, we may not have the kindergarten moment of tearfully watching as our children head off to class, so ‘grown up’. But as they head out into the world with their small successes, and ultimately leave home for college or other ventures, we’re still destined to feel that heart clenching sense of loss jumbled up with joy. Mental Multivitamin sends a very handsome 17 year old off to school today, and sums it up nicely. In part:
But, in focusing on the moment I’m in right this second, I realize that sometimes a job well done feels like a terrible loss.
An empty place.
An unheld hand.
Wait. Come back.
Go. Be well. Be good. Be kind. Work hard.
Come back.
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