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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
RareInk has commented on (4) products
Blue Shoe
by
Roderick Townley
RareInk
, October 24, 2014
"Not long ago, in the sunny mountain village of Aplanap, famous for its tilted streets, cuckoo clocks, and Finster cheese, there stood a small shoemaker's shop. And in the window of that shop was a shoe that fit nobody." In this book Mr. Townley invites the reader to follow the adventures of Hap, the goodhearted assistant cobbler to the shoemaker who made the beautiful blue shoe. When the blue shoe looses its magical glow (due to Hap's theft of one of the precious blue stones), he is sent to work tirelessly in the dreaded mines of Mount Xexnax. However, here in this cruel place, Hap discovers that sometimes life isn't just about liberating yourself from a dreadful situation. Sometimes it's about liberating others as well, for Mount Xenax holds many others in slavery. But just how will Hap be able to escape and set everyone else held in slavery on the mountain free as well? What about the blue shoe? Will the blue shoe ever regain its mysterious blue glow and why does it glow? Mary GrandPré, who is now famous for her illustrations for the Harry Potter series, wonderfully illustrates The Blue Shoe bringing to life the cast of characters that populate a world of heroes, heroines, villains, a blue shoe, and one shadowy, mysterious character it would be unfair of me to mention too much about.
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Great Good Thing
by
Roderick Townley
RareInk
, October 24, 2014
“Sylvie had an amazing life, but she didn’t get to live it very often.” Sylvie has been a storybook princess for more than eighty years. Her trouble is that the story of her amazing life is never lived until a Reader comes along. It is only when the book containing the story of Princess Sylvie is opened and read that she can live her adventures in the storybook. When your life depends on Readers reading and your story is forgotten what can you do? The characters in the book begin to accept the fact that they might never have a new Reader. However, one day, a very special Reader does come, and Sylvie dares to break the rule of all storybook characters, “Never look at the Reader”. Being Sylvie (brave, adventurous, and a Person with Purpose), she takes it one step further and makes a lasting friendship with this Reader. This friendship is destined to change Sylvie’s story forever, but it also offers Sylvie the opportunity to fulfill her greatest wish. Sylvie is finally given a chance to do A Great Good Thing.
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How I Became a Ghost, Book 1: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story
by
Tim Tingle
RareInk
, October 24, 2014
“…that’s what we storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again, and again, and again.” Tom Hanks as Walt Disney from the movie Saving Mr. Banks Without compromising historical accuracy, author Tim Tingle draws upon his considerable imagination and talent to tell the story of a young Choctaw boy named Isaac. The book How I Became a Ghost relates the story of Isaac’s journey along the Choctaw Nation’s Trail of Tears in the year 1830. This a truth telling tale that reveals the extreme hardships endured by that nation, but it also remains a hopeful story, full of heroism and adventure. The first lines pulled me into Isaac’s story, “Maybe you have never read a book written by a ghost before. I am a ghost. I am not a ghost when this book begins, so you have to pay very close attention…” With these magical lines the reader is transported into Isaac’s world. Isaac has two wonderful parents, an older brother named Luke, and a lively dog called Jumper. As the story unfolds, we find that Treaty Talk has resulted in the forced relocation of the Choctaw tribe from their land in Mississippi. As Isaac watches different members of his tribe say goodbye to the land, he suddenly finds that he has the ability to foresee how they will die. Later, he also is able to communicate with members of the tribe who died along the way, and who have become friendly ghosts. These ghosts gently help him to come to the realization that he will soon be a ghost as well. Isaac makes sure that his family knows that this will happen to him. When he does become a ghost it turns out that it isn’t a departure from his family at all. Isaac finds that his family can still see him and he can still speak with them. The reader learns that even though Isaac has become a ghost he can still help his people. In his new form Isaac joins forces with a boy named Jacob who can shape shift into a panther when he fights. Together they are able to save a young girl from danger and by doing so earn the pride of their ancestors. Historical fiction fans will find a lot to learn from Isaac about what life would have been like walking the Choctaw Trail of Tears, and educators will find this book an invaluable resource when teaching on this often overlooked part of our nation’s history. How I Became a Ghost has earned a starred review from Kirkus, and was included in Kirkus Reviews: The Best Books of 2013. Fans of the book should know that this book is the first book in a trilogy! The storytelling ability of the author, Tim Tingle (who is a member of the Choctaw nation) is the strength of this book. I think that his talent as an oral storyteller must have seeped into his writing! When I read Isaac’s story I could almost believe that he must be a real child. He is as real as the boy that lives perhaps a few doors down the street from you, or maybe sits next to you in class. Just as Anne Frank presented a very personal journey in her diary that young readers all over the world can relate to, it seems that Isaac is a character that is destined to do the same. Of course, we all know that Anne Frank was a real person, and Isaac is a fictional character. However, Isaac represents the many children who were forced to walk the Choctaw Trail of Tears. Isaac’s story is winningly told in the first person. He is a little boy who loves his dog, his family, and enjoys a good joke. Tingle’s ability to draw the reader into this close and loving family is amazing. After a while I felt that I was part of their family, journeying along with them, hoping against hope. I laughed at the family pranks, and I loved their dog, Jumper! At times I mourned with them. All along the journey I was amazed by their strength and kindness. Isaac’s truthfulness as a narrator is key to the story being told as faithfully as possible to the history behind it. However, it is his ability to foresee the future and his own kind nature that enables this story to be told as gently as it possibly can be. It is a rare author who can so completely tell a story of both extreme hardship and light, boyish moments. It is an even more rare author who knows how to blend both together in a way that is realistic and convincing. I would recommend that the reader have a good understanding of what the Trail of Tears is before reading this book. However, even if the reader has not had that instruction, Tingle provides enough information to inspire further research on the part of the reader. The book also includes a map to help readers follow Isaac and his family’s journey. I am so glad that I met Isaac, and his family. If I had skipped this book because the subject matter was difficult to read I would have really missed out on some wonderful characters, and the chance to journey with them! Thank you, Tim, for a truly wonderful book!
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Sweetest Kulu
by
Celina Kalluk
RareInk
, October 24, 2014
When I first saw the cover of Sweetest Kulu I knew I was hooked. I said to friend, “I think this is the dearest picture book cover I have ever seen!” I still think so! Of course I wondered what “Kulu” means. The back of the book provided me with the information I needed. Kulu is an Inuktitut endearment given to babies, and younger children. The author, Celina Kalluk, is Inuit and an acclaimed throat singer. Her book is as sweet as the sweetest Kulu pictured on the cover. This charming picture book is a gentle lullaby poem from a mother to her child. It tells the story of the day that artic animals from the surrounding region hear about the birth of Kulu, for the wind has spread the news about this remarkable baby. “Melodies of Wind arrived, sharing stories of how the weather forms, and telling you to always listen closely. Wise wind had learned your name, charming Kulu, and invited the world to meet you.” Each animal that comes to see Kulu bestows a gift upon the baby, much as the fairies in Sleeping Beauty bestowed a gift to the newborn girl. However, each gift beautifully reflects the tie between nature and this brand new arrival, this bundle of joy. One of my favorite pages shows the nobility of the Caribou juxtaposed with the small, sweetly sleeping Kulu on his back, “Caribou choose patience for you, cutest Kulu. He gave you the ability to look to the stars, so that you will always know where you are and may gently lead the way.” Such wonderful gifts are given by each animal that they far outweigh the gifts given to Sleeping Beauty of beauty and riches. Each gift connects the baby with the land, with the gift of believing in yourself, the ability to give love, the predisposition to help those in need, and so on until you know that Kulu will be guided by these lessons for life. Kulu, in being blessed by the wind and each animal, will always be a blessing to others along the path of life. I can’t think of a better way for a life to begin. Illustrator Alexandra Neonakis brings to life each scene with adorable, but also breathtaking illustrations that combine the sweetest Kulu with each animal who has come to visit. This is one of those books that make you want to hug it to you, because it’s that good and true. If I had a child, I would want that child to have the blessings of a good character that Kulu receives. As an aunt, I wish these for my nephew for they make for a truly happy and fulfilling life. Children will love learning the names of each artic animal. The magical, rhythmic language of the book will be a wonderful bridge between the activities of the day, helping children transition peacefully into their just-before-bed reading. Sweetest Kulu would make an ideal present for a new baby in your life, and an excellent baby shower gift as well. The whole world seems to be in love with Kulu in this book, and I am too! Take the opportunity to purchase this book now if you have little ones to read to, and buy another to stash away for that baby shower you know you will be invited to! I will be buying one especially for my nephew, who is to me one of the sweetest children there ever was! I want him to learn these important lessons so that they will be a blessing to him all of his life, and guide him to true happiness.
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