Jennifer Wedemeier

Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:58:00 +0000

Since I am apparently one of the only women between the ages of twenty-five and seventy-five who hasn’t read Eat, Pray, Love, I was delightfully surprised by Elizabeth Gilbert's latest work, Committed.

Gilbert's engaging prose and witty, self-deprecating style are intriguing, thought provoking, moving, and hilarious. Committed picks up where the first book leaves off. Gilbert and Felipe have been living together happily on several continents, but their domestic bliss is brought to an end when U.S. Immigration detain Felipe at the airport in Dallas and then deport him. The couple is advised that the only way Felipe will be able to enter and live in the U.S. again is if they get married.

Gilbert describes their situation in confessional detail: they want to be together and Felipe needs to travel to America for his business to survive. On the other hand, both have gone through gut wrenching divorces and have sworn never to remarry. Gilbert leaves the country to be by Felipe’s side during the immigration process. As they travel together, she decides to do her own investigation of marriage to try to embrace it fully. Committed is the chronicle of that time.

The pleasure of Committed, for me, was Gilbert’s interweaving of her own story with research on the history of marriage, and the informal interviews she conducted with women from all over the world. In her writing, Gilbert shows the various, often contradictory effects of marriage on women, and she does it in a complex fashion. The chapter “Marriage and Women” begins with anecdotes about Gilbert’s time in Laos, but it could have been subtitled “Mixed Emotions” or “A Cost-Benefit Analysis.”

For example, Gilbert tells us about Joy and Ting. Ting is from a tiny Laotian village and is extremely proud of her daughter Joy, who has received an education and is a skilled weaver. However, Joy’s ability to support her family is a source of both happiness and frustration. The young men in the village are neither as educated as Joy nor are they able to provide an equally large income. Joy’s material betterment effectively ended her marriage prospects within the village.

Gilbert goes on to relate the story of her grandmother, who gave up a fashionable life and successful career to raise seven children in one room of a drafty old farmhouse during the Great Depression. Gilbert’s grandmother claims this was the happiest time of her life, but also hopes Gilbert will not give up writing books to raise a family. The contradictions inherent in how Gilbert’s grandmother feels about her life and her granddaughter’s life embody the experience of many modern women.

Gilbert captures the complicated emotions surrounding marriage perfectly, and her intelligent analysis, combined with her obvious heart and likability, make Committed a thoughtful and gratifying read. I’ve already ordered Eat, Pray, Love.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, February 23rd 2010

Mass Destruction: The Men and Giant Mines that Wired America and Scarred the Planet

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:56:00 +0000

By Timothy J. LeCain

Rutgers University Press

In Mass Destruction, Timothy J. LeCain carefully examines the industrial open-pit mining industry in America, and its technological, social, and environmental impact on our modern world.

Full disclosure: Books like this have a tendency to take my enviro-angst to a whole new level. I consider myself concerned with environmental issues, but I clearly have not yet reached Colin Beavan (a.k.a. did-not-use-toilet-paper-for-a-year-man) levels of environmental virtue. I would say that I have a moderate to high level of "impact guilt"; I carpool, but feel bad for not owning a hybrid or taking the bus. I recycle, but feel remorseful for buying food with lots of packaging. Mass Destruction took me from a vague kind of guilt when throwing my towels into the dryer straight to an appendicitis-like pain when thinking of all the copper wiring that has made my lifetime of electricity use possible.

If you have never seen pictures of the Bingham Pit Mine outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, its scope will definitely take your breath away. Measuring two and a half miles wide and three-quarters of a mile deep, the mine is one of only two man-made objects that are visible from space. LeCain sees this as fitting, “given that the astronauts’ technological home away from home in space would most likely contain copper, aluminum, gold, and other metals mined in open pits.” However, LeCain argues convincingly that the rise of technological innovation and efficiencies that sent Americans to the moon has also created the potential for the worldwide depletion of natural resources and irrevocable damage to ecologically important areas. LeCain describes the proliferation of “dead zones,” which are areas near pit mining operations that have been so besieged and exploited that they essentially become sterile, and even poisonous.

Even more alarming is LeCain’s assertion that as developing countries takes on American-style production and consumption habits, the environmental crises created by open pit mining will grow exponentially. Yet, in the fair-minded style LeCain uses throughout the book, he argues that America should not ask the rest of the world to abandon their lucrative mining operations due to environmental impact. Now that we have benefited from the mineral riches we have extracted, we cannot hypocritically expect the rest of the world to sit by and pass up the opportunity such technology provides to its people. The obligation of America, according to LeCain, will be in scientific advancement: finding ecologically sound methods for mineral extraction. His hope is that these advancements will provide an increased quality of life for people around the world.

I fervently hope LeCain is right that our future is one where technology and ecology coincide. However, barring the simultaneous worldwide vaporization of every iPod, Hummer, and coal-fired power plant, I have trouble believing humanity will ever be able to use earth’s resources with anything remotely resembling sustainability. But that could just be my enviro-angst talking.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, November 4th 2009

Why Is My Mother Getting A Tattoo?: And Other Questions I Wish I Never Had to Ask

admin — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:38:00 +0000

By Jancee Dunn

Villard

Jancee Dunn’s second memoir, Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo?: And Other Questions I Wish I Never Had to Ask, is a laugh-out-loud funny and often touching set of anecdotes about her life; her big, quirky family; her many quirky friends; and her quirky self. A follow-up to Dunn’s first memoir, But Enough About Me, this book is a comedic look at her experiences working for Rolling Stone magazine.

With chapter titles like “Don’t be Weird” and “The Joys of a Breakfast Buffet,” Dunn switches topics frequently, but never loses the narrative pull. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this book, but still woke up in a good mood the next morning. Dunn’s humor is like a cross between Dave Barry and Erma Bombeck, with just a hint of an edge. She’s like the really funny friend you always tell stories about. She finds humor in day-to-day moments, the peculiar habits of her loved ones, and of course, self-deprecation. She compares herself to her mother thusly, “Not once have I seen her slop around the house past 8 a.m. in a bathrobe and slippers, whereas my at-home uniform is best described as Mommy Drinks.”

Dunn is a joyous consumer of culture, and her writing is peppered with music, food, and plenty of products (her father and grandfather both worked for JC Penney). Anyone who has ever read a celebrity weight loss book will giggle at “Secure Your Wig With Extra Hairpins Before Lovemaking,” the chapter Dunn devotes to all the crazy beauty advice given by celebrities from Brooke Shields to Elizabeth Taylor. (Think mayonnaise masks and “staying away from cocaine.”)

Conversations between Dunn and her best friend Julie are scattered throughout the book, and I found myself looking forward to those moments. Dunn includes full transcripts of their cell phone chats, from topics as trivial as a trip to Costco with Aunt Mattie to subjects as intimate as Dunn’s procreation decision. They are personal, amusing, intelligent, vulnerable, and an affirmation of the joys of an unconditional friendship.

As funny as it is, Dunn’s book is also an unashamed look at modern womanhood, with all of its challenges. She devotes a chapter to her initial struggle to decide whether to have children, and the many negative responses she gets when others find out she just isn’t sure. She and her husband face pressure from family, friends, and even strangers on airplanes: “I was so bone weary of yet another well-meaning but tactless person joining in the discussion of my sadly empty, tumbleweed-strewn uterus...” Her honest, self-aware description of her decision is refreshing, not to mention hilarious. She is not political. She is simply an “everywoman” trying to chart the best course for her life.

Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo?: And Other Questions I Wish I Never Had to Ask is silly, witty, and emotional, just like it’s protagonist. Jancee Dunn lets you into her life, and unlike with some of those celebrity diet books, you actually want to stay.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, August 16th 2009

The Get 'Em Girls' Guide to the Perfect Get-Together: Delicious Recipes to Delight Family and Friends

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:31:00 +0000

By Shakara Bridgers, Jeniece Isley, Joan A. Davis

Simon and Schuster

Once you get past the bright pink and purple cover with cartoonish women and the “you go girl” writing style of the introduction, The Get 'Em Girls' Guide to the Perfect Get-Together is actually a pretty good cooking and entertaining book. Confession: I’m a girl who actually does like pink, and entertaining, and cocktails with little pieces of fruit for garnish. I even like cartoons. However, I can’t help but be a little bit turned off by marketing that screams, “You have estrogen! You must love this!”

I decided to experiment with the entertaining menu concept, since the central theme of the book is simplifying the get-together so that you don’t have to agonize over what to serve. Being a huge fan of brunch (what’s not to like about getting up late and drinking mimosas?), I decided to host a small, late-morning party for a few friends using the “Meet the Family Sunday Brunch,” though I went with the “Meet Prince Charming” menu (out of three choices) because it featured grits, and being a Southern girl, I am a sucker for grits.

The full menu consisted of sweet potato waffles with honey butter, easy coffee cake muffins, and of course, the baked cheese grits. I was a little bit unsure about having muffins and waffles (won’t most people pick one or the other?), but both were a huge hit. The waffles were perfect—enough sweet potato flavor to be different, but enough like a waffle to qualify as real brunch fare. The muffins were crumbly and moist and sugary delicious. They were probably not super-healthy (hello butter, sugar, and shortening!), but worth the indulgence. And I practically finished the pan of cheesy grits myself.

The book is divided into chapters by type of social event, and is prefaced with some quick information about wine, decorating, and cleaning up. The chapters even have little tidbits of handy knowledge mixed in. (Hosting a poker night for the girls? Here’s a quick guide about cards.) I found most of the information useful, with the exception of the list of eight reasons to host a get-together. Assuming that I bought this book, I probably wouldn’t need too much convincing to have my friends over. Especially not for the reason number eight, “Last but not least—you are a Get ‘Em Girl!” I am?

I will definitely try more recipes from this book. In fact, when my friends saw the book on the counter at my brunch, they demanded another party featuring the key lime and chocolate martinis from the cocktail section at the back. My advice is to ignore the girly trappings and start cooking the tasty food (and drinks!). Your guests will keep coming back for more.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, August 15th 2009

The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:15:00 +0000

By Jacqueline Novogratz

Rodale

Many well-meaning people and organizations throughout the world have had grand visions for African and Indian aid over the years, but many of these projects and initiatives have not had a lasting impact for the poorest people. Author and Acumen Fund founder Jacqueline Novogratz has written a book that will change the way you think about Africa, India, philanthropy, and probably your own life.

Novogratz, who had been an international banker, knew she wanted to make a difference in the world. Like many of us, though, she wasn’t sure how. The Blue Sweater traces her quest across the globe and back, and her strong personal conviction that poverty can be alleviated through educated philanthropic investment. Novogratz illustrates in detail, sometimes painfully, sometimes hilariously, the many lessons she learns along the way, and why many traditional types of charity just don’t work in poor countries.

The Blue Sweater is not a lecture, but a rich narrative describing the people, places, and experiences (emotional and intellectual) Novogratz discovers on her journey. She brings African and Indian landscapes to life in full, vivid color, and describes the inspiring and frustrating people she encounters with equal candor. Readers with a travel bug, beware; this book will make you want to visit the places Novogratz describes, running water or no.

Beyond its practical value as a modern day look into effective philanthropy, or its aesthetic value as a beautiful story, The Blue Sweater is a paradigm-shifting book about interconnectedness and the new necessity of a global perspective. It’s also about granting self-respect and purpose to those with nothing in a practical, detail-oriented, and well-planned way. The Blue Sweater is an inspiring reaffirmation of the goodness in the world, in people, and in the dream of dignity, purpose, and plenty for all.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, June 23rd 2009

The Little Book on Meaning: Why We Crave It, How We Create It

admin — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:44:00 +0000

By Laura Berman Fortgang

Penguin

The Little Book on Meaning is truly a salve of a book; it is a positive and inspiring message for anyone with questions about life—and that’s pretty much everyone, right? Laura Berman Fortgang, “personal coach” and author of several motivational books, addresses the human need for meaning in our existence and the struggle to discern what that meaning might be. Interwoven with the text are Fortgang’s own experiences as a mother, an interfaith minister, and simply, a person.

Fortgang tackles life’s meaning in five sections. “Mystery” explores the unknown, sacred aspects of life, and how we “live in the question marks.” Section two, “Minister,” discusses the relationships between humans and their inherent meaning, which Berman Fortgang says “always comes back to love.” “Magnificence” covers the feeling of awe in everyday life, of looking deeper and seeing the world with an eye for beauty. In “Mind,” Berman Fortgang talks about the power of our minds for both positive and negative, and retraining them to help us achieve a more meaningful life. The final section, “Mystic,” is about walking “the line of worldly sanity and mysticism,” of opening oneself to enlightenment and experiences with a higher power. Fortgang posits that the future of belief is a Modern Mysticism—an accessible path for everyone to a connection with the something larger than ourselves. Sounds pretty “woo-woo,” as Fortgang would put it, but she makes you believe it’s true, or at least acknowledge that it could be.

The joyful thing about reading the work of an interfaith minister is its inclusivity. Fortgang mentions various religions and belief systems throughout the text, everything from atheism to Sufism, with equal respect and openness. And she is not just open-minded about religion, which is really the genius of the book’s appeal. Fortgang’s sincerity and genuine feeling shine through all five sections brightly, and lend it an intriguing depth not that will keep you thinking long past bedtime.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, June 21st 2009

Reforming the World: Social Activism and the Problem of Fiction in Nineteenth Century America

admin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:49:00 +0000

By Maria Carla Sanchez

University of Iowa Press

Reforming the World: Social Activism and the Problem of Fiction in Nineteenth-Century America explores the complex relationship between American social activism and literature in the nineteenth century. At times symbiotic, at times turbulent, this relationship was formed both by the power of literature and by the hopes and dreams of American social reformers for their country. In perhaps the most compelling argument of the book, Maria Carla Sanchez describes the many ways in which period writers both used fiction as a tool of reform, and used reform as an excuse to write fiction. Sanchez argues that the beliefs and views of these antebellum reformers indelibly shaped literature, literary criticism, and the literary canon.

Sanchez skillfully depicts the “reform culture” of the antebellum period, at the apex of the temperance and abolition movements. In addition to the popular moral initiatives, groups of nineteenth century reformers tackled many niche issues such as prison reform, vegetarianism, and Indian rights. Sanchez posits that though Christian preachers and other religious figures played an unmistakably important role in the movements, the antebellum period truly came to be the first time in American history when social reform was carried out by groups of people with diverse philosophical, class, race, creed, and educational backgrounds. Sanchez also makes special note of the fact that women used the social reform movements as a vehicle to “resist the confines of domesticity.” Their activism thrust them into the public sphere and allowed them to participate in a discourse to which they had been previously unwelcome. An important part of the way they participated, of course, was through the written word.

Reform culture in antebellum America was both fearful of and excited by the power of fiction, and Sanchez deftly demonstrates the complicated maneuverings that period authors went through to ensure the respectability of their work. This was especially true for women writers, who had to prove both that the writing they did was truthful and morally upstanding, but also that it had an “uplifting or edifying” purpose. Reading or writing for pure pleasure was not something that could be admitted to. Sanchez contend convincingly that the reform culture of the antebellum period gave women the chance both to enter the public sphere as readers and writers, and as champions of causes they believed in.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, June 20th 2009

Cosmic Connection: Messages for a Better World

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:12:00 +0000

By Carole Lynne

Red Wheel/Weiser

Cosmic Connection is a difficult book. Difficult because if you are not used to thinking about the world in multiple dimensions, the physical and spiritual, you will be taken aback by the author’s basic assumptions about life. If you are not initiated into the ideas and lingo of mediums, psychics, and the whole section of our culture with their ears attuned to another world, you will probably find this book to be “way far out there.” Author Carole Lynne tells the story of her journey as a medium, and reveals her experiences traveling through multiple dimensions and dreams. The book provides transcripts of the author’s communications with spirits or energies like “The Energy,” a “higher being” that she and the other mediums talk to.

It’s a shame there are so many charlatans posing as psychics or mediums, because it definitely hurts the credibility of the entire group. It’s unfortunate for both the author and most readers that these exploitative few have given our society such a suspicious and negative view of “supernatural” occurrences because the message the book offers is a truly positive and unifying one. Lynne posits that, with the many problems of the modern world, humans need to reach out to each other and open themselves up to a spiritual life to truly evolve. It’s hard to argue with the idea that our interconnectedness, or “Oneness,” gives humans a special interest in ending war, poverty, and pollution.

I approached Cosmic Connection with skepticism. Its content is outside of anything I’ve experienced (or anyone I know has experienced). Some of the terminology and visions that Lynne described seemed a little bit clichéd or implausible, and I found that I couldn’t discern a difference in the voice of “The Energy” Lynne channels and her own authorial voice. That said, Lynne’s acknowledgement of her uniqueness and the obvious sincerity with which she tells her story make it a compelling and interesting journey.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, June 10th 2009

American Muslim Women: Negotiating Race, Class, and Gender Within the Ummah

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:58:00 +0000

By Jamillah Karim

New York University Press

Jamillah Karim takes an extremely complex and contentious set of topics—race, class, gender and faith—and skillfully examines them within the framework of the ummah, or the Muslim community. American Muslim Women is an ethnographic account, but it is also a deeply personal look into the lives of a group of women whose voices are not typically heard in American society.

Karim interviews both African American and South Asian women in Atlanta and Chicago, and though her sample group is relatively small, she is astonished at the many layers of racial and ethnic hierarchies she finds. She is also surprised at the degree to which "women in particular move outside their ethnic Muslim spaces and interact with other Muslim ethnic groups." Karim explains that in many cases it is the inequality itself, both gender- and racially-based, that causes women to cross racial and ethnic lines and form a common American Muslim identity.

One of the strongest chapters of American Muslim Women focuses on second-generation Muslim women in Chicago after September 11, 2001. In the precarious and suspicious post-9/11 environment, American Muslims had to both defend their faith as peaceful and humane and to reinforce their identity as Americans. These two desires, though not necessarily conflicting, created a struggle among American Muslims to renegotiate their place within the global ummah. These complex and contradictory interplays form the compelling center of American Muslim Women. It is a finely crafted and contemplative work that challenges its readers to examine the assumptive lens through which they may view their neighbors, friends, and fellow citizens. It is not only the Muslim community that must deal with the racism, sexism, and discrimination in the United States, but all Americans.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, April 7th 2009

Cute Couple

admin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:28:00 +0000

Directed by Courtney Moorehead Balaker

Fourth Branch Films

Kendra and Zach are cute. So cute, in fact, that they are the cutest couple in their circle of friends, and everyone tells them so. Repeatedly. However, in writer/director Courtney Moorehead Balaker’s first film, Cute Couple, Kendra and Zach undergo a couplehood identity crisis when an even more adorable couple comes along and changes the group dynamic.

Balaker’s clever short comedy was the audience favorite at the Jackson Hole Film Festival in 2008, and it’s easy to see why. Balaker’s style is bright, straight forward, and entertaining, with plenty of scenery-chewing moments for the engaging cast. Actress (and Cute Couple producer) Siobhan Mahoney is especially fun to watch as Kendra; she handles eyelash-batting adorableness and doughnut-stuffing desperation with equal aplomb. Much of the cast is pulled from the LA sketch-comedy group The Exploding Pajamas, and they have a pleasantly goofy chemistry on screen. Fans of MTV’s Undressed will immediately recognize actress Jenny Wade as Tammy, the appealingly pregnant newcomer and baby clothing designer who usurps Kendra’s place in their friends’ hearts.

As likable as Cute Couple is, I couldn’t help but wish Balaker had taken the concept a step (or two) further. Kendra and Zach are quite frantic to win back the admiration of their friends, frantic enough to reinvent themselves as "the artsy couple," to change careers, hobbies, and wardrobes. Their desperation (and we find out later, the desperation of their friends) is the film’s comedic essence and driving force. If Balaker had let that mood completely take over, maybe even have let the comedy tinge towards the dark, the finished film would pack more of a punch. Instead, the film stays on its even keel, and despite the increasing frenetic energy of the actors, doesn’t reach the status of truly memorable.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, April 6th 2009

From the Heart

admin — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 10:25:00 +0000

By Billie Holiday

Legacy Recordings

Legacy Recordings released digitally remastered versions of fifteen Billie Holiday songs for Valentine’s Day, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate. From the Heart is a collection of some of Holiday’s loveliest work: classics such as Ray Noble’s “The Very Thought of You,” Marks’ and Simon’s “All Of Me,” Cole Porter’s “Night and Day,” and my personal favorite, J. Fred Coots’ “You Go To My Head.” The album is a part of Legacy’s From the Heart series, which includes nine artists.

For those poor souls who have never experienced incomparable jazz and blues singer Billie Holiday, the emotion and humanity of her voice, and the pure élan of her delivery are her trademarks. Both of those are in full effect here. Sadly, many of her recordings are marred by a scratchy sound due to their age and poor quality, but Legacy has done a marvelous job restoring the songs on From the Heart. The voice of “Lady Day” shines through beautifully, with the lush backup of piano, horns, drums, and guitar.

From the Heart is no “Best Of"; for a broader swath of Billie’s work with edgier songs like “Strange Fruit” or “Long Gone Blues,” look elsewhere. However, if you are in need of some pleasurably romantic music for slow dancing and romantic evenings, From the Heart will work just fine. For Valentine’s Day, or any other day, sit down with your sweetheart, break out the bubbly, and enjoy.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, March 29th 2009

Desi Land: Teen Culture, Class, and Success in Silicon Valley

admin — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:04:00 +0000

By Shalini Shankar

Duke University Press

Desi Land, Shalini Shankar’s ethnographic exploration of Desi teenagers in Silicon Valley during the late 1990s, is a fascinating look at South Asian American youth culture at a pivotal moment in modern American history.

The setting of the book makes it particularly compelling: California during the dot-com boom, when a confluence of "model minorities" are populating an increasingly profitable and technologically advanced work force. The combination of South Asian economic liberalization and American cultural capital creates a generation of Desi Land teenagers who are consumers of both traditional American pop culture and increasingly popular Bollywood and other South Asian music and movies. The teenagers deal with both pressure to be Americanized and encouragement (and desire) to express their cultural identities, with the caveat that they fit neatly into school-sponsored "Cultural Days" and do not disturb the white hegemony of their schools or communities.

The highly particular nature of this book belies its richness; Shankar delves deeply into the interplay of race, class, gender and social status. Desi Land determines its subjects' class in social and economic contexts, and defines teens as either middle class or upper middle class according to a set of criteria that includes "the type of work their parents do, whether both parents work, and their parents' level of education, English proficiency, neighborhood, home, cars, and lifestyle." The students are also defined by the terms "FOBby" (from the acronym for "fresh off the boat") or "popular," depending on their social standing at school. Gender also plays a pivotal role in the life experiences of the teens in Desi Land, and Shankar does an admirable, if understated, job of relating the additional set of conflicting expectations placed on the young women she interviews.

Shankar sympathetically recounts the teens' experiences in schools, family life, social and religious activities, and romantic relationships, as well as their hopes and dreams for the future, all with a researcher’s eye for patterns of behavior and belief, and a fellow South Asian's firsthand understanding and empathetic detail. This book’s vibrancy and immediacy, even a decade later, make it an absorbing read for anyone interested in cultural studies.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, January 12th 2009

Dairy Queen

admin — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 12:15:00 +0000

By Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Houghton Mifflin

The word “charming” is too vague, and it makes me think of smarmy real estate descriptions, but…I…can’t…stop…myself. Dairy Queen is just so darn charming that I am forced to momentarily succumb. Catherine Gilbert Murdock has taken a traditional coming-of-age story about a tomboy in a small town and wrung some feisty new life out of it. Her character, DJ Schwenk, is a fifteen year old girl living on a dairy farm and learning about boys, football and family ties.

The first few pages of Dairy Queen are a little disconcerting. DJ speaks in the first person with a simple style and slangy dialogue, and she definitely sounds like a fifteen year old from Wisconsin. Once I settled into her voice, though, I was hooked. DJ is disarmingly honest, naïve, observant and witty - Gilbert Murdock’s voice is spot on. DJ’s mixed feelings toward her family are a realistic combination of humor, angst and love, but they aren’t overdone or corny.

Gilbert Murdock also skillfully addresses some of the issues female athletes face. DJ gets called a “dyke” on the football field, but what upsets her more is that the opposing player pinches her butt as he says it. DJ describes herself as “big” and “strong,” but she has no more than an occasional pang of jealousy for the thin “girly girls.” She may not be free from insecurity, but she is comfortable in her skin. I found DJ’s healthy body image and appetite to be a refreshing departure from teen weight and popularity obsession. More importantly, DJ’s focus on training and competition rings true to anyone who has ever loved to play. When that focus begins to clash with a budding summer romance, DJ is forced to make decisions she has been putting off all summer. By that point I was praying for a sequel as charming as the debut.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, July 10th 2007

Kickoff

admin — Tue, 29 May 2007 13:00:00 +0000

By Donna King

Kingfisher

If the thought of being 13 again makes you more nauseous than nostalgic, Kickoff is not the book for you. However, if you feel free to channel your inner tween, read on. Donna King, also known as Jenny Oldfield, is the author of several children’s series novels, including the Horses of Half Moon Ranch. Kickoff introduces the reader to Tyra, the new American Army brat at a British school and a self-professed “soccer fanatic.” Kickoff is a light hearted and engaging read, and King keeps the tempo quick with short scenes, dialogue and plenty of on the field action.

King plays to what she feels are the common denominators for the Tyra’s age group: misunderstandings with parents, confusing interactions with peers and the class bully and participation in sports. Interestingly, King includes the female characters’ struggles with sexism in this mix, though the “sexist comments” are of a mild and rather hokey variety. The girls’ soccer team eventually earns the respect of the boys’ team, and in several scenes the boys even comment to one another on the talent of the girls. King’s presentations of these adolescent male conversations - and, in fact, much of the “slang” dialogue in the book - is optimistic and innocent at best, and eye-rollingly bad at worst. I doubt this will stop younger ones from enjoying the book, though they may think the characters are a little old-fashioned.

King writes positive, encouraging stories for a younger generation, and it is difficult to find fault with her messages of teamwork and tolerance (the heroine eventually befriends even the class bully). Parents will appreciate the King’s lack of focus on the physical appearance and sex appeal of the female characters, and the increased attention to their physical activity and friendship. I can still describe Nancy Drew’s “creamy complexion” to this day, so the experience of being “blind” to the characters’ physical appearance was slightly off-putting, but also liberating. In a contemporary culture of Bratz dolls and constant updates on Paris Hilton, what tween girl couldn’t use a little break?

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, May 29th 2007