The premise of Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere by Julie T. Lamana had me intrigued, mostly as an opportunity to read about events that are now history, but recent enough that I remember them.  I’m still young enough that I haven’t encountered that many books like that!  This one centers around Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans—and since it’s about an African-American family in the Ninth Ward, it also fits my diversity challenge.

When the story begins, Armani’s major concern is that these obviously over-blown storm warnings not disrupt her tenth birthday.  The party comes off, but when Katrina arrives that night, suddenly Armani and her family have life-and-death concerns—and I mean that tragically literally.  Armani becomes a refugee in her own city, with responsibilities no ten year old should be shouldering.

This was an excellent book—and it was terrifying on several levels. Which is part of its excellence.  Armani is a great character, who thinks she’s so much older than she is—as one does, at ten!  Her family is very loving and supportive; she has three younger siblings and a brother close to her in age.  She also has very involved parents, a beloved grandmother and an entire network of extended relations.  All of those connections make it even worse when the world fractures apart—because there’s so much stability to disrupt, and so many people to be in danger.

The book is terrifying on an immediate level, as Armani and her family are in serious danger, first from the storm and then, even more, in the aftermath of the flood as all services and normal functioning of society break down. Continue reading “Book Review: Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere” →

Scanning through the Newbery Medal titles, I liked the sound of Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt. In fact, it sounded rather like an L.M. Montgomery book. Which may not have been the best thing in the world after all.

The broad strokes are very recognizable—a young motherless girl is sent off to live in the country with an austere maiden aunt. There is initial conflict between them, but they gradually grow to understand and love each other. Against a backdrop of small school day dramas and eccentric relatives, the girl grows into young womanhood, chooses the right beau, and achieves artistic fulfillment.

All well and good. And Up a Road Slowly was a perfectly fine story…but it wasn’t L. M. Montgomery. Julie was just no Emily or Anne. Late in the book she discovers a writing talent, but it’s not at all like Emily’s long-held and worked-for dreams. Julie’s Aunt Cordelia, with her tragic love story, and Uncle Haskell, with his grandiose and unfounded sense of self-worth, were more colorful and interesting characters. But nothing here ever really grabbed my heart. Continue reading “Book Review: Up a Road Slowly” →