The Fairview Review: 2025

Friday, July 11, 2025

Spring Reading 2025 Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global

I enjoy books that take a topic and show how the work from various disciplines can be used to create a clearer picture of the subject matter. In this case Laura Spinney has pulled together the discoveries of archaeologists, linguists, historians, and even geneticists to describe how the Proto-Indo-European language emerged from its original location in the region of the Black Sea 5,000 years ago and expanded across the world. She explains the way experts look at terms in languages from around the world and extrapolate common root words. She recounts her visits to dig sites and how items unearthed at various locations can help map trade routes and migration patterns that carried the language and its offshoots far and wide. She makes the complex genetic testing done to confirm the movement and intermingling of different groups more understandable to curious lay readers. And she even looks at earlier attempts to identify those migratory patterns and create lexicons of earlier language forms - and show how theories and understanding have evolved over time.

If you have an interest in language and linguistics, history, interdisciplinary studies, or well-written books on fascinating topics, then you should pick up a copy of Proto. I was lucky enough to win a copy in a giveaway by the publisher.

Spring Reading 2025 Wat Takes His Shot: The Life and Legacy of Basketball Hero Wataru Misaka

Welcome to the picture book biography of Wataru Misaka, the first person of color to play in the NBA. For young readers it may seem like no big deal to have players of various skin colors and ethnic or national backgrounds on a professional basketball team, but that was not the case in 1947. The book describes how Wat enjoyed the game of basketball as a child and worked on his skills even though he wasn't the tallest player. It also covers how despite the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, Wat managed to persevere through the prejudice and help his college team reach the national championship. His dedication to the game and his sense of teamwork helped the team win and captured the attention of the New York Knicks.

Wat's story is one of persistence, overcoming obstacles, and succeeding despite prejudice and unfair treatment. The illustrations capture his love and enjoyment of the sport, the way he was made to feel like an outsider at his own college, and the inspiration he gave those living in the internment camps. The back matter gives more details about Wat's life, sports career, and his other accomplishments in later years. I especially appreciate that the book's creators are also Asian American and how they worked together to bring forward this story of a trailblazer in basketball history, as well as a look at conditions for Japanese Americans in that era.

I read an advance review copy provided by the publisher through edelweiss.

Spring Reading 2025 Light and Air

Halle winds up in a tuberculosis hospital in upstate New York and the story takes place in large part within that location. But the action begins at her home with a mother who has suffered through multiple miscarriages, a father who has become increasingly distant with each loss, and then their community cuts them off when Halle and her mother show tuberculosis symptoms. The historical details of 1935 (vehicles, clothing, etc.), the descriptions of the hospital and the treatments, and the societal expectations and gender roles all ground the story solidly in reality.

Sometimes young readers have difficulty enjoying historical fiction because the setting is so different from their everyday lives. It can even be more difficult if the time period is closer to our own, but just different enough to throw off their expectations. The similarity between quarantining tuberculosis patients and the recent COVID lockdown and quarantines may make this particular story easier to identify with since some of the medical routines are similar.

Another thing that may seem familiar is the breakdown of labor in Halle's home. Although her mother has been through the physical and emotional trauma of repeated miscarriages, her father comes home from his job as a teacher and does nothing to help around the house. 1930s society included the expectation that women (and girls) would be the caretakers of the home and do all the cooking, cleaning, etc. Even though it is nearly 100 years later, many homes still run that way even though the mothers may have careers outside the home. Readers will be able to identify with Halle's frustration.

And as in many stories, the emotional unavailability of a parent after a loss in the family is another element for Halle to contend with. Readers may expect that when possible children are lost due to pregnancy complications, Halle's father would treasure her all the more. Instead she is left recalling times when he was warm and loving rather than the distant figure we see in their interactions.

As the story moves from home and school to the isolation of the hospital, readers see Halle struggle to make sense of her father's emotional absence (as well as his actual physical distance), her fears about her mother's recovery, her loneliness for her best friend at home even as she makes new friends among the other pediatric patients, and the story arcs of the supporting characters. There are moments of tears, but also moments of catharsis and reconnection. This is an enjoyable and moving middle grade novel.

I read an advance review copy provided by the publisher through edelweiss.

Monday, July 7, 2025

Spring Reading 2025 Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel

Other popular series have made the transition over to graphic novel format - Magic Tree House, Bailey School Kids, I Survived - and now Junie B. is on the scene. All the plot essentials of the chapter book are there, as well as Junie B.'s personality in full color. While not directly copying the original illustration style of Denise Brunkus, this updated version is easily recognizable to fans. Favorite scenes such as Junie B. hiding in the classroom supply closet and making herself at home in the clinic are captured with the energy and humor so dear to readers over the years. Facial expressions capture her disgust of the "stupid smelly bus," her delight at finding a stash of band-aids to apply (whether needed or not), and her alarm when she finds herself balanced on top of a pair of crutches with no idea how to get down.

This new approach will be popular with those who were already enjoying the adventures in the traditional chapter books, but will also win over new admirers who prefer the graphic novel presentation. It's a win either way.

I read a review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Fall Reading 2024 A Killer Clue (A Hunter and Clewe Mystery)

Retired university librarian Jane Hunter enjoys her new job working for the rich, but socially awkward Cameron Clewe. They have already solved one murder case where Cam himself was the chief suspect. Now Eloise, the owner of a local bookshop, comes to them requesting help in a cold case. Her father was killed years ago and her mother died in prison, convicted of his death. Now she wants them to help prove her mother's innocence, but before they can even get started the original detective on the case turns up murdered in Eloise's bookshop. The cold case is heating up and it seems that someone is determined to keep old secrets buried.

Of course, there is never just their mystery hobby to deal with. There could be a bit of romantic chemistry going on, in more than one direction. Jane's daughter comes to town for a visit and it seems Cam might be crushing on her. Or he could be attracted to Eloise instead (or is it just the lure of the mystery?). And there is also his faithful assistant Lauren, who is incredibly attractive, yet Cam never seems to notice. Add in the ongoing search for information about Cam's biological father, and there is never a dull moment around this pair of amateur sleuths.

I enjoy the characters of Jane and Cam for many reasons, including that they have a shared interest in books and research, they make an intriguing "odd couple" detective duo, and they have such different outlooks on life - which definitely helps balance their perspective on a case.

Fans who already enjoy Victoria Gilbert's Book Lover's B&B Mystery series and Blue Ridge Library Mystery series will be pleased to have yet another set of stories featuring characters who have a love of books and the determination to find the truth.

I read this last fall, but ... life... and so I am posting about it a bit late. It was published September 24, 2024 - so you should be able to find it in bookstores and libraries. I read a review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Virtual Book Tour The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris

Written by Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells

Illustrated by Sanna Sjöström

Ages: 3-7 | 40 Pages

Publisher: Kendam Press (2025) | ISBN: 979-8-9900050-3-7

Publisher’s Book Summary: Charlie Wags is a seemingly ordinary pup. He asks for belly rubs, plays fetch, and uses his “I’m innocent” look when he is in fact guilty.

But Charlie has an extraordinary secret. He loves to travel the world and has a special trick to do so: his wagging tail can whisk him away to far-off places.

This time, he’s off to Paris, France!

Embark on a panoramic tour of Paris led by ever-curious pup, Charlie Wags! From the elegant art in the Louvre to the sparkling Eiffel Tower, Charlie explores the City of Lights before returning home for bedtime.

Wherever you may be, The World Is Just a Wag Away ™

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

MY REVIEW

Charlie seems like a typical pet dog. He lives with a family in a house with a white picket fence. But Charlie also has a special ability to give his tail a wag and travel anywhere in the world - including Paris, France. A map with numbered stops on it helps readers track all the iconic landmarks that he visits in the City of Lights. Rhyming text describes the adventures of the day - having a croissant at a sidewalk cafe (while wearing a stylish French beret), enjoying a cruise down the Seine, and visiting the Palace of Versailles. Watercolor style illustrations show Charlie peering down from the top of the Arc de Triomphe and admiring the stained glass windows in the cathedral of Notre Dame. As he stops to see the Eiffel Tower all lit up for the evening there is a matching twinkle in his own eyes. When Charlie returns home, readers see him adding a photo of the tower to a group of images hanging on the wall of the house which includes Big Ben and the pyramids. Has he really visited all the places that are shown? The back of the book contains a helpful section with thumbnail images of all the landmarks and brief descriptions. A question that will encourage readers to make a personal connection to the story accompanies each description. For instance, the entry on the Mona Lisa and the Louvre asks, “If you got to have your own masterpiece in the Louvre, what would you paint?” A fun introduction to the sights of Paris for young readers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sister-author duo Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells form the writing team behind The Tales of Charlie Wags picture book series. The series offers young explorers a conversational understanding of the world’s most famous cities.

As daughters of immigrants, their family heritage exposed the sisters to the importance of cultural diversity early on. Their parents prioritized showing them the world, even on a tight budget. This instilled in them the idea that travel is one of the best forms of education.

Recognizing that not all children had the chance to explore the world firsthand, Sofie and Ali saw an opportunity to share their travel experiences with other families and children through charming stories that make far-off places accessible.

For more information, check out charliewags.com

https://www.instagram.com/thetalesofcharliewags/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564606622559

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Sanna Sjöström, also known as Sannadorable, is based in Sweden and creates stunning digital watercolor illustrations.

Sanna has loved art her whole life and has plenty of experience painting with watercolor. When she had children, she didn’t have the time or energy to pull out all the necessary supplies to paint. She found that her iPad was accessible in just seconds; so, she started mimicking watercolor digitally.

She now illustrates for children’s books, but also creates posters, cards, and digital illustration tools. Her biggest inspiration comes from flowers and nature. Sanna’s mission is to brighten your day and make you smile through her art.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, June 9, 2025

The Children’s Book Review