Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

What on Earth can I say about this book besides, “WOW!” I don’t often feel extreme emotions when I read but the content and the writing and the raw emotion felt like an unstoppable hurricane blasting through my heart. This novel has a little bit of everything: bullying, stereotypes, adventures on ice (not in a good way), love and romance, family, and, of course, the milking of cows. Who could possibly not want to read it!? 

I had ordered the book for all 18 of my district library’s branches because the reviews were astounding in the selection journals we subscribe to. Honestly, though, I didn’t have much interested in reading it personally. But, at a CATS (Children’s and Teen Services) upcoming book conference this week, I actually got a free copy of the title. AND!! The author spoke with us and did a reading. Maybe it was the fact that I was able to hear the background that led to the author writing Orbiting Jupiter or maybe it was because I was hearing it read exactly how Schmidt intended it. Either way, he hooked me instantly. Schmidt is a tremendous story teller and I felt every single emotion of the character Joseph as if it were my own. Not because we had been through anything similar…we hadn’t. It is simply that Schmidt can tell one hell of a tale. His words were few but exceedingly well-chosen and powerful. He gave this “throwaway” kid a second chance when most wouldn’t give him a second glance. 

Schmidt told us that he had attended a book talk for reluctant readers, but was not informed in advance that it was at a correctional facility for juvenile males. While he was there, he had the chance to get to know some of the boys and, in a non-direct way, based his latest, Orbiting Jupiter, on the experience of meeting kids that society had just thrown aside. 

Here’s what the publisher says about Orbiting Jupiter: 

The two-time Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt delivers the shattering story of Joseph, a father at thirteen, who has never seen his daughter, Jupiter. After spending time in a juvenile facility, he’s placed with a foster family on a farm in rural Maine. Here Joseph, damaged and withdrawn, meets twelve-year-old Jack, who narrates the account of the troubled, passionate teen who wants to find his baby at any cost. In this riveting novel, two boys discover the true meaning of family and the sacrifices it requires.

I kind of think that the less you know going in, the better. Just be prepared to feel all the feels and have your tissues handy. Oh, and while the book is only 183 pages long and you’ll read it in one sitting, it’ll drain your immortal soul like a 1200 page epic. Just sayin.’ Now go get it from your local library and prepare to have your heart ripped out and stomped all over...but maybe in a good way.

Decoupage Harry Potter Pumpkin

Crafter skill level: Beginner

Okay, so, I am going to preface this post by saying that I am not the craftiest librarian around. I’m not the most creative, nor am I the most motivated to become that way. That being said, I do like doing simple crafts that look harder than they actually are. I saw a decoupaged something or other on my favorite craft-stealing site, Pinterest, and I then thought to myself, “Meg…your library has a hideous, old, yellowed plastic pumpkin. Do this.” So I said, “Oh glorious brain, your wish is my command.” Or possibly something less dramatic, like, “Okay.”

Required supplies:

·       1 pumpkin or whatever

·       Pages torn from a book or books

·       Plain Mod Podge and (optional) glitter Mod Podge

·

The first step was to pick a book to use. Well, kids love pumpkins and Harry Potter, and the branch had a copy of The Sorcerer’s Stone (book 1 for the non-Potterheads) that had reached a stage of near decay from constant checkouts. Seriously, it had over 60 circulations and the binding was disintegrating. I had already purchased a replacement for it, so I went ahead and weeded it from the shelf. 

Look at the hideous pumpkin.

 The second step was to tear out all my favorite parts and illustrations. And when I say “my favorite parts and illustrations,” I obviously meant the children’s favorite parts, duh. You know, the best scenes, like when Harry finds out he’s a wizard in the shack on the rock in the middle of the ocean. Or when Harry goes to Diagon Alley with Hagrid for the first time and is amazed to see so much magic in one place? Or, what about when Hagrid hatches little Norbert the dragon in his hut and Malfoy spots him through the dusty window? Or when Harry gets on a broom the first time? And, finally, what about when Harry, Ron, and Hermione take on the mountain troll on Halloween? Okay, fine, I’ll stop. You get the point by now, anyway. 

The third step was to take a small sponge brush and dip it in the basic Mod Podge and then apply it strip by strip to the pumpkin until it looked how I wanted and there was no pumpkin showing through.

Not too shabby so far.

 The final step was to use the sponge brush and slather the entire pumpkin surface with a couple layers of the awesome glitter Mod Podge. Do thin layers because thick ones result in clumpy dried glue. Don’t ask how I know this. Also, mod podge that touches clothing may never come off…don’t ask how I know this one either. 

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson

 

Happiest garbage panda ever.

One-Line Summary: Holy Hell. That was a serious rollercoaster ride through the mind of me…only written by someone else. 

 

I’m not going lie and say the book sounded amazing and I had to read it based on the description because that would be a partial lie. While the description was intriguing, it was the cover that sucked me in. Look at the gloriousness of the raccoon (his name is Rory, by the way). He looks, as the title states, furiously happy. I had to read it. 

If you don’t know who Jenny Lawson is, you aren’t alone. I had no clue that she had even written another book before this one titled Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, which I am now reading and digging. Let me see if I can sum up Ms. Lawson: quirky, hilarious, slightly-to-moderately crazy (she calls herself crazy often) genius, and master of sharing too much embarrassing information about herself. In short, I’m smitten. 

In Furiously Happy, I found myself feeling a range of emotions and nodding my head along wondering why no one talks about the important things, like how airports transform people into assholes, or why we don’t talk about the widespread epidemic of chlamydia in koalas, or what happens to all that skin that microdermabrasion places scrape off women’s faces, or why kangaroos actually have three vaginas. I often found myself wondering why I had never thought of such outlandish things when I’m suffering from my sporadic bouts of insomnia, and believe me, my mind goes to some weird places.  Lawson isn’t afraid to face these topics head-on, and I love her for it.

Lawson is a riot to read. Her chapters are short and sweet, and fly by incredibly quickly. Her prose is snappy and lightning-quick and, if you blink, you are sure to miss the humor and sarcasm. The stories of Lawson’s marriage are probably my favorite. They are packed with love and a little outrage, too, but mostly love. Her stories of therapy are fascinating, a little humorous and sometimes cringe-worthy. This is a book celebrating and explaining her various mental illnesses, after all. As someone who has battled both depression and anxiety, I just want to say that she nails the descriptions of each in a way that “normals” will be able to better understand. She sheds light on the taboo of talking about mental illness and makes people feel less alone in their neuroticisms which, in my small opinion, are the biggest reasons to recommend this book to all my library friends and readers.

Me Before You & After You

You know those books that truly piss you off when you finish it? Me Before You was one that truly made me angry.  When I heard there was a sequel coming out (After You), I had decided there was no way I would read it, as I was still too upset about the ending from the first. For some reason I decided to put it on hold, despite not wanting to read it (perhaps it was because I enjoyed the first so much) and read it over the last two days. Once again my heart was broken, filled with hope, and longing.

The series follows the life of Louisa Clark, a quirky late twenties who lives with her parents. She gets a job as a helper to Will Traynor, a quadriplegic who used to do everything and now he can’t even get dressed or feed himself. Will gave up on living and Lou took it upon herself to determine how best to change his mind. Even though it has been over a year since I read the first novel I couldn’t help but miss these wonderful characters.  Despite Will’s constant complaining about his inability to do anything and his want to end his life and Lou’s constant need to take care of everyone else I couldn’t help but love these characters.  

For fear of ruining the story I won’t share anymore details but I do highly encourage everyone to read this book.  If you talk to Meg (or Paige Turner, whatever it is she is going by these days) don’t listen to what she has to say about it.  She had a difficult time getting into it, though I would imagine if she was in the right mood she would love it too.

Fox and O'Hare

I (Nicole), have a confession to make.  I’m not actually a librarian yet.  I still have the rest of this semester and one more before I’ll be done with my degree.  That being said most of my reading until I finish is fluff.  I read enough books that make me have to think for my classes, I don’t really care to think when I’m reading for fun.  Besides, in all reality I probably shouldn’t be reading too much for fun either.

All this to say I have really enjoyed the Fox and O’Hare series by Janet Evanovich with Lee Goldberg.  Evanovich is the same author who has brought us the Stephanie Plum series, but this one seems to have a little more variance in each story.

The Heist begins with FBI agent Kate O’Hare who is searching for Nicholas Fox, a professional con artist.  She ends up catching him after years of searching, only for him to get out due to another agent’s failure to follow all rules.  At this point the rules change and they become teammates and work to take down other con artists, using the FBI’s resources and Fox’s expertise.  

As with Stephanie Plum these books are page turners, filled with humor and a lot of drama.  The stories aren’t complex and never once was I trying to figure out what was happening, unless of course, that was the author’s intent.  The sexual tension between Kate and Nick is so thick you could cut it with a knife, but thus far nothing has happened, just enough romance to keep me wanting more.  I laughed a lot and read them despite having a house to clean and piles of homework to do, please don’t tell my husband.  I’m pretty sure he thought I was being a responsible grown-up at the moment.  All in all, I recommend this series to anyone wanting a quick, funny read with a little mystery thrown in.

**Views expressed are my own and don’t necessarily coincide with my employer**