Review: Flowers of Fire

“Flowers of Fire” from journalist Hawon Jung delves into the South Korean feminist movement of the past 10 years or so. I requested the book from NetGalley after reading one of her articles in the New York Times. It did not disappoint. 

The book reads like a long newspaper article, so it is compelling and easily readable. It covers a variety of issues faced by women in South Korea, from expectations to accept sexual harassment to expectations to resign from positions once they become pregnant. It reviews the necessity of women in the workforce and the discrimination they face. 

This is not a low-anxiety read by any means. There were numerous times I nearly stopped reading (see content warning below). However, this is an important story about women’s lives in the modern era. This book also explains two things I noticed when I visited South Korea several years ago. First, there were the ubiquitous ads for plastic surgery (they were EVERYWHERE in Seoul). I also noticed the number of young women who wore face masks (this was way before the pandemic years) during the heat of summer. Both of these are addressed in the discussion of impossible standards of beauty. 

“Flowers of Fire” is both depression and anger-inducing, BUT it is also a story of hope. The reader witnesses women risking everything, banding together, and fighting for legal and socially-accepted protections. Though women in South Korea are still not on equal footing with men, they have made tremendous strides toward equality.

 

This book is great for those interested in feminist movements outside of the United States or Western Europe or modern South Korean culture.

CW: descriptions of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and misogyny.

Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books for a free Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

For Classroom Consideration: The Harlem Hellfighters

I’ve read Max Brooks’ “The Harlem Hellfighters” several times and have loved it every time I read it. This year, for the first time, I am using the graphic novel in my classroom so I have been reading sections of the book before my students. Students are nearing the finish line so I wrapped up my journey last week.

The story follows soldiers of the 369th Regiment from Harlem during World War I. These African American men volunteered to serve their country despite facing daily battles with racism and discrimination. Once in the Army, they found things weren’t any better. The unit is sent to help the French before the United States’ official entry into the war. There, the 369th distinguished themselves in battle again and again. Once the U.S. enters the war, they face racism again and again.

I love Brooks’ use of primary sources to help tell the story. The seamless integration of quotes drives the story forward. Canaan White’s illustrations are haunting. 

Why do I like to use “The Harlem Hellfighters” in the classroom? First, it helps students grasp, in a way they can’t with a textbook, the depths of racism in the United States during the World War I era. Last week, a number of students began verbalizing their dismay as they read and re-read passages in disbelief. Second, this graphic novel has allowed me to introduce complex primary sources in the classroom that are connected to the Harlem Hellfighters. Student brains are already activated to take in new information even if it is challenging. Third, students are starting to talk about the parts of history that they DON’T usually hear about in school. They are seeking out and verifying information online about topics that interest them. This student action supports Brooks’ reasoning for writing this story. Check out his talks online about how and why he came to write a graphic novel about the Harlem Hellfighters.

Review: A Sinister Revenge

I am sad. I have finished Deanna Raybourn’s  “A Sinister Revenge” and now must wait to read the next adventure of Veronica Speedwell. The wait will be torture.

Tiberius, Stoker’s brother, received mysterious newspaper clippings that seem to threaten his life so he has enlisted Veronica and Stoker to both protect him from a mysterious would-be assassin AND to help him ferret out the criminal. The clippings seem to suggest that Tiberius’ friends are being eliminated to avenge a death from two decades earlier. Tiberius decides to call together his school chums because he is convinced one of them is the killer.

As we remember from the previous adventure, Veronica and Stoker are spending some time apart, so the tension is thick when they reunite. The dialogue is fast-paced and witty. The mystery is engaging. The larger questions about women’s roles in society and self-determination are thought-provoking. I love that Veronica is becoming more self-reflective, and that she is starting to realize that no woman is an island. The cast of familiar supporting characters is delightful as always.

For me, the Veronica Speedwell series is comfort food in a book. Or a warm blanket on a cold day. I keep these books handy so that I can re-read all or part of the series at any time. If you haven’t read any of the books, I cannot recommend them enough. 

Review: I Survived: The Children's Blizzard, 1888

One of my students recommended the “I Survived” series because the stories are fast-paced and can generally be read in one sitting. The student added that the history in the stories is interesting in a way that textbooks aren’t. I would agree with all of that.

At the student’s recommendation, I started with “The Children’s Blizzard, 1888.” The story focuses on a particularly scary weather event where a massive blizzard arrived on the Dakota plains seemingly out of nowhere. People were caught by surprise because the day had dawned clear and warm. Hundreds perished.

Author Lauren Tarshis does a great job setting the scene by showing the reader life on the plains and the particulars of the winter of 1887-88. She introduces the blizzard, appropriately, as our main characters are playing in front of their one-room schoolhouse. The action is focused as John and his friends struggle to survive the night in an unexpected place. I appreciated that the characters did not survive unscathed by the event.

The back of the book contains more historical information about the Children’s Blizzard as well as a Q&A with the author and a suggested reading list.

This series could be a great way to get middle grade readers (and even older students) interested in history.

Review: Rise to the Sky

The upcoming “Rise to the Sky” is another entry into the children’s non-fiction market featuring the natural environment. What sets this one apart from others is the accessible explanation of tree biology and the richly-textured collage illustrations. 

I was surprised, but delighted, to read author Rebecca E. Hirsch’s descriptions of the trees. She makes complicated processes easy to understand. There are additional explanations for adults and older children in the back of the book accompanied by a list of books for further reading. Mia Posada’s collages are amazing and bring to life the texture of the living trees. 

This book is great for children, and anyone else, interested in the natural world or trees. “Rise to the Sky” will be out next month.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group’s Millbrook Press for an advance reader’s copy in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Review: Mystery in Provence

“Mystery in Provence” introduces us to Atalanta Ashford, former schoolteacher and new heiress. Part of her inheritance includes a command to assume her grandfather’s business of ultra-discreet investigations. Atalanta has no time to settle into any of her new homes because as she arrives at her Paris house, she discovers that her first client is already waiting for her. Atalanta becomes part of a wedding party in her efforts to find out what really happened to a previous bride. Was that death a tragic accident or something more sinister?

Atalanta Ashford is a delightful character. She dreams of traveling the world and seizes the opportunity to add additional purpose to her life by assuming her grandfather’s business. In this first story, Atalanta makes numerous mistakes, but that is part of her charm. She is not perfect and is trying to figure out how to efficiently solve mysteries. Her supporting cast is somewhat mysterious and largely appear via letters or phone calls, but they have potential to develop nicely over the series.

This book is great for those who like cozy mysteries and fun, escapist reads. I enjoyed the story and Atalanta and look forward to reading the other books in the series.