By: Bruce Black,
on 6/30/2014
One of my favorite writers and illustrators, Michelle Edwards, was kind enough to invite me to join the My Writing Process Blog Tour. Michelle has written and illustrated numerous books for children, including the National Jewish Book Award winner, Chicken Man. If you enjoy knitting, you might like to pick up her book on knitting for adults, A Knitter's Home Companion, an illustrated collection
By: Aline Pereira,
on 8/6/2012
Edited and with a Foreword by Holly Thompson,
Tomo
Stone Bridge Press, 2012.
Ages: 12+
‘Tomo’ means ‘friend’ in Japanese and the purpose of this Anthology of Teen Stories is to offer friendship to Japan following the Great East Japan Earthquake of 11 March 2011: specifically, the book is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives and to “all the young people of Tohuka”. Author Holly Thompson (The Wakame Gatherers, Orchards) has gathered contributions from creators of prose, poetry and graphic narrative, as well as translators, whose shared connection is Japan. Their work makes for a remarkable collection.
Many of the contributors’ names such as Alan Gratz, Wendy Nelson Tokunaga, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Shogo Oketani, or Graham Salisbury may already be familiar to readers; others such as Naoko Awa (1943-1993) or Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) will be less so, though famous in Japan. A great deal of Tomo’s success lies in its blend of expertly translated older stories with contemporary, new writing, and this is true also of the stories’ content. Many modern Japanese phenomena colour the stories, such as the particular fashion of Harajuku girls (“I Hate Harajuku Girls” by Katrina Toshiko Grigg-Saito) or the Purikura photo sticker booths (“Signs” by Kaitlin Stainbrook), yet these sit easily alongside more traditional stories such as the magical Ainu fable “Where the Silver Droplets Fall”, transcribed and translated into Japanese by Yukie Chiri (1903-1922) and translated into English by Deborah Davidson. The anthology is all the richer for its varied array of writing, and its success is also in a great part due to the skill of the different translators involved.
The thirty-six stories are divided into sections: Shocks and Tremors, Friends and Enemies, Ghosts and Spirits, Powers and Feats, Talents and Curses, Insiders and Outsiders, and Families and Connections. The opening story, “Lost” by Andrew Fukuda, is the gripping account of a girl regaining consciousness in a hospital bed following the Kobe earthquake in 1995; the other four stories in that opening section, including Tak Toyoshima’s graphic strip “Kazoku”, all have the raw immediacy of being set in the aftermath of the March 11th disaster.
Among the other stories, readers will find stories to suit every mood: thought-provoking tales of conflict, spine-tingling ghost stories (I’m glad all these happen to have fallen to my reading in hours of daylight!), ostracism and friendship, romance, magic and surrealism. Yearning to belong is a thread running through many stories, and the intensity for those characters seeking their identity is heightened where they are part of a bicultural family. Nor does the collection flinch from addressing racial prejudice or the internment of Japanese Americans during the Second World War.
As with all good short-story anthologies, Tomo needs to be read slowly in order to savour the intense individual flavors of its contents. Framed by an extract from David Sulz’s translation of Miyazawa’s thought-provoking poem “Be Not Defeated by the Rain” as well as Holly Thompson’s moving Foreword, and a glossary and note on the book’s contributors (a rich mine for future reading), Tomo is a very speci
By: Carmela Martino and 5 other authors,
on 8/18/2010
I just finished reading Michael Scott's young adult fantasy, The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. Scott's novel is one of this month's selections for Anderson's Bookshop's Not for Kids Only Book Club, and a nominee for the Illinois Rebecca Caudill Book Award 2011. While reading Chapter 6, I was struck by the following lines:
Josh was about to take a step toward the door when Flamel's iron hand clamped onto his shoulder.Nicholas Flamel's words to 15-year-old Josh stop him from entering what we soon learn is a booby-trapped hallway. In reading these lines, I was struck, in particular, by the three one-word sentences:
"Don't move," he murmured. "Wait. Look. Notice. If you keep those three words in mind, you just might survive the next few days."
4 Comments on Wait. Look. Notice., last added: 8/20/2010.jpg?picon=910)
By: Jama Rattigan,
on 1/28/2009
If you asked me who's writing the very best Hawai'i-related children's fiction these days, the answer would be very simple: Graham Salisbury.
For almost two decades, I've read his short stories and middle grade novels with awe and admiration, grateful that someone has been able to accurately capture the soul, spirit, and authentic flavor of the Islands. I've read other books set in Hawai'i -- there are palm trees, beaches, and volcanoes galore, but when it comes to portraying characters who feel so believably local that I'm sure I must have known them at some point in my life, Salisbury's the man.
Part of his magic is about the language -- authentic dialogue created through the use of syntax approximating Hawaiian pidgin. This makes it real and familiar for Hawaiian readers, and accessible for mainlanders. Moreover, this haole is so in tune with his Hawaiian roots, that he's even able to seamlessly slip into the skin of another ethnicity, such as the Japanese American main character, Tomi Nakaji, in Under the Blood Red Sun (winner of the 1994 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction). 
This is not to say that his stories appeal mostly to readers familiar with or from Hawai'i. Quite the contrary: Salisbury's recurring universal themes of friendship, honor, courage, and loyalty resonate with a wide range of young readers who are navigating the difficult and often painful journey of adolescence.
Of special interest is Salisbury's exploration of the father-son relationship (Lord of the Deep), which stems from his own lack of a strong father figure while he was growing up on O'ahu and the Big Island. This, along with his insightful and respectful examination of the inner life of adolescent boys (Blue Skin of the Sea), make his books quite unique, even though they are enjoyed equally by both sexes.
I just finished Graham's most recent book, Night of the Howling Dogs (Random House, 2007), which is based on the true story of a Hilo boy scout troop caught in a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and tsunami on the Big Island of Hawai'i. The story is narrated by Dylan, an eighth grader who is excited about hiking down to a remote beach at the base of Kilauea volcano with his best friend, Casey, six other scouts, and two adult leaders.
NIGHT OF THE HOWLING DOGS by Graham Salisbury,
(Random House, 2007), ages 9-12, 208 pp.
The dramatic tension is established early on, with Dylan's unease at having one of the newer scouts, Louie, on the trip. Louie, a hardened 15-year-old, had threatened Dylan years before, and still carries a big chip on his shoulder.
The hike down to the beach is difficult and challenging, and once there, Dylan first hears, then sees, two mysterious howling dogs up on the cliff. He is told that according to Hawaiian superstition, they are a sure sign something is going to happen. In the dark of night, the boys are awakened by a strong earthquake, boulders tumbling down the cliff, and then a tsunami which engulfs everything. In the fast-paced, highly suspenseful events that follow, Dylan finds himself teamed up with Louie to help rescue the others. They must depend on their wits, and establish a degree of mutual trust and respect as they face dangers they could never have imagined.
Salisbury's vivid, sensual descriptions are brilliant; nature is, after all, the primary antagonist in this survival adventure. The reader is thrust directly into the fray, witness to Dylan's visceral reactions as each new challenge presents itself. How does one deal with bloody feet walking on sharp, pointed lava? What about a swarm of ravenous wasps desperate to get at the water in your eyes? Or nearly drowning in a raging wall of water, and having your body slashed by debris? Along with the many survival tips woven into the narrative, are fascinating bits of Hawaiian superstition, legends and spooky campfire tales, which foreshadow the action and crystallize the setting.
It is not an adventure anyone would want to experience in real life, but Salisbury has taken the reader quite close to the edge. An endnote describes actual events occurring on November 29, 1975, with the chilling revelation that Salisbury's own cousin, Tim Twigg-Smith, was one of the scouts who survived that fateful day. Graham convinced Tim to return to the Halape camp site just five years later, so he could see what had always been a peaceful, pristine area for himself. After encountering stinging ants, flying roaches, and blinding heat, he was able to imagine the events that eventually turned into this marvelous book.
Night of the Howling Dogs has earned many well deserved accolades, including the 2008 Bank Street College of Education Book of the Year, Junior Library Guild Premier Selection Award, NYPL 100 Best Books for Reading and Sharing, and the 2007 NAPPA Gold Award. And the ultimate proof of its worth? I hate camping, but I loved this book! :D
Read an excerpt from Night of the Howling Dogs here.
The YaYaYa's interview Graham here.
For more information about the 1975 earthquake/tsunami, including a photo of the real campers, click here.
My teacher friend, Fran, librarian friend, Sylvia, and I are unanimous in our praise and recommendation of Graham Salisbury's books:
Blue Skin of the Sea
Shark Bait
Jungle Dogs
Under the Blood Red Sun
Lord of the Deep
Island Boyz
Eyes of the Emperor
House of the Red Fish
Night of the Howling Dogs
Check out Graham's website for teacher guides, more book excerpts, and the skinny on his accomplishments as a rock musician in the 60's!
By: Jennie,
on 3/13/2008
I have a stack of books that needs reviewing. Not the metaphorical stack that I always have, but a real stack, right next to me. We'll see how many I get through before I get to class!
By: Alkelda,
on 12/10/2007
... or at least, he used to. Back when Dan Zanes was in The Del Fuegos, the band made a commercial for Miller beer. The most prophetic quote comes at the end, when Zanes says, "Rock and roll's folk music pretty much...'cos it's for folks!" Did he have any idea that when his Grammy arrived, it would be for a children's music album? Probably not. The Del Fuegos videos on YouTube: Don't Run Wild
By: Alkelda,
on 11/29/2007
Today's post shall be brief, as we're all busy reading MotherReader's Carnival of Children's Literature: the Tips Edition. Therefore, it's fitting that today's song of the week only requires one chord: A minor. You could throw in another chord if you liked (C chord), but if you're a new guitarist who wants to march your storytime audience around the room with much singing and dancing, then grab
By: Alkelda,
on 7/30/2007
I remember the road traffic advert we had in the UK. It started with:
STOP. LOOK. LISTEN.
So effective.
Yes, I've seen that, too. Thanks for reminding me, Elaine.
I love the use of one word sentences. Punchy and modern, esp. when you're writing for teens. Thanks for the exercise - def. going to use this one!
You're welcome, Mary Jo!