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PRESS
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RADIO FEATURES
Jay Luke Interview
Introducing WRITERS! with Kim Smith
CLICK HERE to listen to the radio broadcast.
Molly Roe Interview
Introducing WRITERS! with Kim Smith
CLICK HERE to listen to the radio broadcast.
PRINT & ONLINE MEDIA FEATURES
Lisa Lipkind Leibow, March 4, 2010
Preserving the Past for the Future
by Jay Luke
Hello, my name is Jay Luke. I am a writer from a town called Olyphant in northeast PA. I know the usual setup for authors is to talk about stories that inspired their fiction writing. Mine is a bit different as my writing covers historical context and is nonfiction.
During my childhood, the town I lived in as well as the surrounding towns were built up by the famed anthracite coal mining industry and its massive boom in our area over the past two centuries. Northeastern PA was a megapower in the anthracite world from its humble beginnings in the late 1700s to its eventual rise as America’s favorite choice in home heating. If you lived in my town you couldn’t escape it. It was integral in our lives.
It can be argued that coal powered us through the Industrial Revolution by fueling steamships and locomotives. When coal mania hit the area it was a sensation, both economically and socially.
Eventually, over ten million tons of coal were dug out of the earth as mine production took off as a thriving business. It seemed the demand was endless. Coal became something that was used in nearly every household at one time, and due to the large amounts, it was also exported to other countries.
As far as jobs go, the mining industry lifted up the economy when it was very vulnerable and gave many Americans job security. Like all things, eventually the business was threatened by competitors in the form of alternative fueling operations, and was notorious for driving employees to near slavery-like conditions until somewhere in the early 1960s, when the industry closed its doors for good.
One day many years back, a friend and I discussed what subject matter we would be shooting for our photography class, and immediately I thought we could take pictures of the remaining buildings and sites from the mining days.
What we didn’t realize then was that the more time passed the more relics and ghosts of the past would slowly disappear one by one. At first a bit of the landscape would change, then a building would be razed, and on it went until barely anything from the past survived. It seemed to us that by the time we purchased film for our cameras the physical remains had vanished.
I recall very fondly wondering if children younger than us would ever know the history of the area as all of its memories were slowly dying. All we have left are street names and a handful of living miners whom I consider to be living national treasures. From that day on I had the goal in my mind of collecting as much information as I could about the town of Olyphant and it turned out to be the greatest history lesson of my life.
In writing about history you have to really be prepared to spend plenty of time on research. I spent countless hours in libraries going over things with a fine toothed comb for errors. My advice to all writers, whether it be in fiction or nonfiction, is know your material. I have learned through my fact-checking that just because something is written in a book or etched onto a monument you cannot always believe it to be true. I was very surprised at how many mistakes I uncovered in previous publications, and I urge everyone to look a little deeper into things and not just take things at face value.
Through my journey I met some amazing people, spoke to the few living miners, did a lot of Indiana Jones-like traveling and learned boatloads of interesting facts about Olyphant. In a way, what drove me on-ward was thinking that if someone didn’t try to keep the memories of the coal miners alive they would die with my generation. We’re the last ones who have grandfathers or family members that can tell us things rather than depending on written records which could be filled with errors.
I often wonder if not for that photography assignment if things would have ever turned out as they did, but because of that moment I now have a book written some years later. Ideas and inspiration can strike you in the strangest of times and places. It’s our job to either take the cue and run with them or ignore them.
After many book signings, I realized the moment a small group of grade school children approached me and asked me some questions for a project they were doing at their school that I had accomplished my very goal. In my efforts of preserving the memories of the past I knew that there would be knowledge that would spread into the future, and for that I am very grateful.
Jay Luke is a musician and artist from Throop, Pa. A graduate from Marywood University, Jay is very active in all things art, whether it be through painting, performing with his band, or through his day job as a graphic designer. As a project engineer of the Olyphant Coal Miner Memorial Association, he has delved deeply into the origins of the area and the forgotten histories of the towns around him. Passionate about not letting future generations forget their local origins, he took on this project to reconnect readers to the past. As writer and poet Wendell Berry once said, “The past is our definition. We may strive, with good reason, to escape it, or to escape what is bad in it, but we will escape it only by adding something better to it.”
I can be found on Facebook, on Twitter and on Myspace
Where to buy my book:
Amazon.com
if you’d like a signed copy just send me an email at messmusic@aol.com and I’ll be happy to send one out.
Lynn's Corner, March 3, 2010
Book Review: Nine Things Nathan Noticed at Night
by Lynn McMonigal
A different side of life shows itself in the night. One evening, little Nathan notices this new world. He can see how God moves in the night, while we are sleeping.
Written by Christy Baldwin, Nine Things Nathan Noticed at Night is a beautiful story of one boy’s path to discovery. Each page tells not only what Nathan noticed, but gives Biblical perspective on what happens in the night. The bright, lively illustrations by Sarah Barnes help make this a must-read book.
My sons, ages 2, 6, and 9, crowded around me as I read the book. The youngest loved the bright colors. The older two enjoyed reading the Scripture passages together. They were amazed at how God can really be seen in everything around them. Reading this together was a wonderful experience. It was amazing to see God work in my children, to actually see them come to a deeper understanding of Him through the words and pictures in this book.
Nine Things Nathan Noticed at Night, as well as other books by Christy Baldwin, can be purchased from Tribute Books.
Angels for Animals, February 26, 2010
Recommended Reading List
Second Chance: How Adoption Saved a Boy with Autism and His Shelter Dog by Sandra Gerencher was named to Angels for Animals/Heaven Can Wait Animal Society's recommended reading list for middle school students. The book is listed under the "Inspirational Companion Animal Stories" category.
Heaven Can Wait’s Humane Education Program strives to nurture empathy in children by teaching appreciation and respect for animals in homes, communities and the environment by providing opportunities for meaningful and rewarding service learning projects.
Scranton Times-Tribune, February 21, 2010
Local author received award from 'Mom'
Staff report
The Mom's Choice Awards has named a Dallas author's book among the best in family-friendly media, products and services.
"Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires" by Molly Roe, the pen name of Mary Garity Slaby, was chosen one of the best in family-friendly media that parents and educators can feel confident in using.
The main character of Ms. Slaby's novel, Kate, is based on her grandmother, Katherine, who worked as a servant for the Pardee family outside Hazleton. In the book, she befriends Con, a young man, who learns of the Molly Maguires. The group's members have been accused of killing individuals and committing various crimes from election-rigging to rioting.
A teacher, Ms. Slaby wrote the book after more than a decade of research to pique the interest of young people in the history of Northeast Pennsylvania. The book also gives an unflinching look at the hardships of Northeastern Pennsylvania in the early industrial era.
Throughout the book, Ms. Slaby does her best to describe the early coal mining towns in the late 1800s.
The Mom's Choice Award evaluates products, including books, for quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost.
BlogCritics, February 19, 2010
Review - But Then Again I Could Be Wrong: The Book of Rants
by Miss Bob Etier
Don’t you just hate reviews and essays that start “Webster’s Third International defines…”? The writer somehow needs to reinforce what s/he is saying through the authority of a dictionary. The writer then applies his/her own definition to the words that comprise the original definition, and uses a narrow interpretation of said definition to fit his/her point. If a speaker bombastically delivered the previous three sentences, it would be a rant.
Thinking I misinterpreted what “rant” means, I looked it up and, thanks to the Internet and specifically Google, it’s easy to find definitions in many sources at the same time (just Google “define” + a word). What caused me to question my understanding of this particular word is a book, But Then Again I Could Be Wrong: The Book of Rants. Within its pages, author Jim Rising offers observations on a multitude of subjects, and many of these observations will make the reader smile. None of them qualify as rants in the style of ranter king Andy Rooney, or pretender-to-the-throne Dennis Miller. Ranting is defined as speaking or writing — declaiming — aggressively, bombastically, violently, angrily, vehemently…need I continue? George Carlin was a good ranter. Many comedians attempt to be.
Jim Rising is a writer for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA Weekender and the clever host of an appealingly named radio program, “Rising at Ten.” Rising explains that his “rants” were originally broadcast on WDMT 102.3 and he chose “rants” for alliterative purposes — “Rising Rants.” Each of Rising’s rants ends with his signature line “Or then again I could be wrong.” This device may work well on daily radio broadcasts, but if you read more than one rant a day, it will start to get on your nerves, detracting from what you have read. His editor might have done well to advise him to include the line in the title (as he has) and the first and last chapters.
One of Rising’s rants is a lovely piece about wildlife in the snow, late at night. He writes about his lawn mower, the alarming crime rate in his community, whiskey for breakfast, flea market finds, Alzheimer’s disease, money, air travel, and a host of other topics that dance through his fertile imagination. He observes and relates, seeing things that most see and experience, then gently (at least, in print) tells us about them. When he writes “I am in cell hell,” we also relate…to him.
Throughout his 225 pages, Rising is funny, self-deprecating, astute, and even wise. He is never offensive, mean, or crude. When we look at the world through his eyes, we sometimes see things exactly as we always have, and at other times we apply a refreshing, new interpretation.
Perhaps But Then Again I Could Be Wrong: The Book of Rants should be read like a book of meditations, one or two chapters at a time to start the day. The reader will have something to consider as well as a pleasant thought or two, and may put personal rants on hold. One warning, however: you will disagree with the author. In so many of his observations, there is no way in the world that he could he be wrong.
Bottom Line: Would I buy this book? Yes, I found it thought-provoking, as well as entertaining.
BlogCritics, February 19, 2010
Review - Journey Along the DL&W
by FCEtier
It was hiding in the attic. Underneath a thick layer of dust and dirt was an old shoe box filled with photos and picture post cards. The post cards were on a thicker bond of paper than we see these days and the side with the photo was textured. The texture was more pronounced than the typical matte finish. Slide your finger across it and you feel the embossed nature of the finish. Several of them survived the storage well and are stunning! Others did not fare as well and, although dilapidated, still manage to depict scenes of an era past in real time but alive in the memory.
Who hasn't enjoyed a dig through an assortment like this found in a back room, basement, or attic? Fortunately for us, Alan Sweeney (a veteran of the hospitality industry) decided to share the fun of an adventure down memory lane with his photos and post cards.
Our Journey Along the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad begins in the depot at the Delaware Water Gap and we follow the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad line west to Tobyhanna. After the first stop in East Stroudsburg we visit five other tourist destinations in the Pocono Mountains. Each of the eight chapters begins with photos of the local railway station or depot followed by reproductions of vintage photographs and post cards that reveal the charm and appeal of the various mountain settings. Boarding houses, hotels, inns, and resorts sprung up all throughout the Poconos as more and more New Yorkers sought the refuge of the Pennsylvania mountains for clean air, cooler weather, and beautiful surroundings. Many came for the weekend or a few days while others stayed for a week or longer.
Long lasting friendships developed as locals opened their homes to the visitors who came season after season. We see a variety of scenes including interiors of the resorts, enticing landscapes, and visitors enjoying the recreational activities available. The post cards are fun! Several include hand written notes from the late 1800s and early twentieth century. Also included are some period advertisements, promotional brochures, and menus.
Over one hundred locations are represented with sometimes similar but always unique histories. In many cases, the author has included a brief history and the current status of each property. I particularly appreciated the larger size print, the arrangement of the photos, and the layout for a book destined to grace many coffee tables and find it's way into waiting rooms (especially in the Northeast). The quickly read comments and stories of each site add up to an interesting commentary on the area and how it evolved from shared rooms to resorts accommodating hundreds. One resort alone hosted three U.S. Presidents.
Journey is fun to enjoy in a single sitting or to enjoy many times letting it fall open to an appealing locale on each visit. Whether it's "The Antlers Inn," "Cherry Lane Cottages," or "The Indian Queen Hotel," the romantically named destinations will welcome you with warmth and style as many times as you care to visit.
Would I buy Journey Along the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad? Yes! The nostalgia factor and it's potential to begin both reveries and conversations make it an excellent investment. I'll keep it next to my recliner.
BlogCritics, February 18, 2010
Review - What Was I Thinking?! How Not to Date
by Miss Bob Etier
What Was I Thinking?! How Not to Date could have been subtitled “Ten Reasons to Remain Celibate.” Annie Earley writes about 10 men she dated after her divorce at age 51. All but the first were men she met through on-line dating services. Earley’s style is informal, nearly stream-of-consciousness; reading her book is like sitting down with a friend telling you what’s been going on in her life, non-stop for two hours. She also shares her rules, philosophy, and tips for on-line dating.
There are times when the reader feels “hey, this only one side of the story,” as she describes some of her dating and relationships disasters. With some of the men, it seems like she should have cut them loose much sooner, while others didn’t seem to get much of a chance. It seems discretion and a desire to be fair prevented Earley from being more explicit.
When she started her quest to find someone "to relax in front of the fire with," Earley tried not to be superficial. She didn’t want to judge someone on his looks alone, and she spent many hours on the telephone with some of the characters she had “connected” with on the Internet. The problem with that is she would actually like someone as she got to know him telephonically, and then be disappointed when she met him in person and felt no “sparks,” as she put it.
It’s noble not to judge people by looks, but when you are looking for a soulmate, physical attraction is part of the equation. Two of Earley’s requirements in a man are teeth and hygeine. If she were to find that he had lied about his age, height, weight, or other physical attributes, she jettisoned any thought of a relationship on the spot.
Despite the wonderful moral we learned from Beauty and the Beast, we all know if there’s something you can’t stand in a person, dating them isn’t going to make it better. What you find repulsive at the first meeting doesn’t become adorable soon after.
I could relate to Earley’s experience because I was at a similar age when I re-entered the dating pool. It didn’t occur to me, unfortunately, that you would have to ask someone if they had teeth (natural or store-bought). Of course, if teeth aren’t important to you there may be other areas you should emphasize.
What Was I Thinking?! is personal; you may feel like you’re reading someone’s diary when you pick it up. Earley candidly discusses her dates, but her remembrances are kind to the men she dated, even those with whom she developed relationships that ultimately did not work out. It’s left to the reader to decide that some of these guys were weirdos and losers, and wonder why she hadn’t dumped them sooner.
Annie Earley had three specific rules that she tried to apply to every new dating experience: obtain a clear picture of the guy; meet in a public place, “preferably in the afternoon;” and “drive my own car to and from” the meeting place. Something she did not include in her rules, but is very important, is discuss things with the people who love you, your friends and family. Earley had an informal Advisory Committee that included her mother, sister, sister-in-law, and a few other friends and relatives. On at least two occasions, when she was considering breaking one of her rules, an “advisor” talked her out of it. Both times, following someone else's advice proved a wise move.
While What Was I Thinking?! How Not to Date does offer some advice, it is really one woman’s story. Twice she decided to take a break from dating, and the second time she actually did. She seems to have learned that there doesn’t have to be a man in your life to make it complete. When she was dating losers, she seemed desperate to have someone — anyone. When she stepped back and looked at her experiences, she realized she could have done better (one of her friends told her that every guy she dated was ugly). For the most part it wasn’t a man’s looks that were the problem, it was his attitude.
Wisely, Earley knew that if she wasn’t a priority for a man, the relationship wasn’t going anywhere. In the end, she met someone with whom she had lots in common and married him. It was not an on-line match-up; she met him through friends and he was “the one.” Readers will enjoy her honesty and sense of humor in writing about dating, men, and herself.
Bottom Line: It was a fun read.
Marvelous Mom Reviews, March 8, 2010
Come Meet AusJenny, February 17, 2010
Creative Madness, February 15, 2010
Call Me Kate Among Best of Family Products
The Mom's Choice Awards® has named Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires by author Molly Roe among the best in family-friendly media, products and services.
The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) is an awards program that recognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media, products and services.
Parents, educators, librarians and retailers rely on MCA evaluations when selecting quality materials for children and families. The Mom’s Choice Awards® seal helps families and educators navigate the vast array of products and services and make informed decisions.
An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of our panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of PBS’s Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times best-selling author, Priscilla Dunstan, creator of the Dunstan Baby Language; Patricia Rossi, host of NBC’s Manners Minute; Dr. Letitia S. Wright, D.C., host of the Wright Place™ TV Show; and Catherine Witcher, M.Ed., special needs expert and founder of Precision Education, Inc.
MCA judges are bound by a strict code of ethics which ensures expert and objective analysis free from any manufacturer association. The evaluation process uses a propriety methodology in which entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost.
To be considered for an award, each entrant submits five identical samples of a product. Entries are matched to judges in the MCA database. Judges perform a thorough analysis and submit a detailed assessment. Results are compiled and submitted to the MCA Executive Committee for final approval. The end result is a list of the best in family-friendly media, products and services that parents and educators can feel confident in using.
For more information on the awards program and the honorees, visit MomsChoiceAwards.com
TO ORDER: http://bit.ly/dpbfbA
TO REVIEW FOR YOUR BLOG OR WEBSITE:
Email info@tribute-books.com for a eBook review copy
Call Me Kate is suitable for readers from eleven to adult. The story is dramatic and adventuresome, yet expressive of daily life in the patches of the hard coal region during the Civil War era. This novel will appeal to readers of the Dear America series, as well as more mature readers who will enjoy the story’s rich context and drama.
Crypto Capers Reviews, February 14, 2010
Book Review - Breathtaking Bowhunts
by Renee Hand
He provides specific details of each adventure and really gets the reader involved, feeling like they are almost alongside him on his adventure. His description and love for bowhunting is prevalent throughout the pages.
Abington Journal, February 10, 2010
Factoryville poet receives recognition
Factoryville resident Patrick Walker is the recipient of Highly Commended Honors from the 2009 Margaret Reid Poetry Prize for Traditional Verse. The poems chosen were "The Death Room" and "An Old Score Settled." The international contest had a prize fund of more than $5,000 and attracted thousands of entries.
Walker is the author of Pegasus at the Plow: A Poetry Collection, which received honorable mention in the Rebecca’s Reads Fall 2009 Written Art Awards in the Nonfiction: Poetry category.
Born in Scranton, Walker’s earliest perceptions of life were colored by familial devotion to Irish clan and the Catholic Church. He attended Scranton Preparatory School and was later accepted into the The University of Scranton. During a hiatus from formal education, he worked as a staff writer for the Legislature in Saipan. When he returned to the United States, he was awarded a Philosophy Fellowship at Fordham University. Today, he works as an editor and proofreader of educational materials for a local correspondence college. He lives in Factoryville with his wife, Virginia, his stepdaughter, Anna, and the family’s two dogs, Lilly and Rosie.
For details on the 2009 Margaret Reid Poetry Prize for Traditional Verse, visit http://margaretreid.exactpages.com.
Marywood Magazine, Spring 2010
Seen & Heard
When Coal Was Queen:
The History of the Queen City - Olyphant, Pennsylvania
Jason Luklanchuk '03 (Pen Name: Jay Luke)
(Tribute Books, 2009)
Jason Luklanchuk '03, who uses the pen name Jay Luke, recently compiled the book, When Coal Was Queen: The History of the Queen City - Olyphant, Pennsylvania, for the Olyphant Coal Miners Memorial Association. The book depicts significant buildings, events, and residents of Olyphant, PA, a town built by the anthracite mining industry and the blood, sweat, and tears of its countless hard-working coal miners. It features a wealth of photographic documentation, as well as many interesting facts about Olyphant. A musician and artist, Jay's multiple artistic pursuits include painting, performing with his band, and his day job as a graphic designer. As a project engineer of the Olyphant Coal Miners Memorial Association, he has delved deeply into the origins of the area and the forgotten histories of the towns around him. Passionate about not letting future generations forget their local origins, he took on this project to reconnect readers to the past. The book can be purchased at the publisher's web site, www.tribute-books.com. Email Jay at: jayluke@tribute-books.com.
Baby & Kids Magazine, February/March 2010
Little Readers
by Ashley Trent
In this increasingly digital world, opening a book is a breath of fresh air. Printed pages and beautiful illustrations offer a welcome break from buzzing electronic devices and computers. More importantly, books provide parents with a chance to unwind with their children and eliminate outside distractions. The stories they share and the reading routines they can establish through well-chosen books from your store make for memorable experiences that children will hold onto well into adulthood.
It’s no surprise to parents that books are invaluable education tools that stimulate intellectual and emotional development. Literature allows children to connect and form bonds with favorite characters and narrators who unleash a world of possibility through the seamless combination of fun and knowledge.
Indeed, a number of children’s publishers are adhering to the aforementioned themes that prove to be both educational and imaginative. Nicole Langan of Tribute Books says many titles are becoming more topically specific. "They are not targeted to a general audience; instead they are focusing on particular themes such as adoption, autism, interracial families and more. Children are able to find a book that speaks directly about aspects of their life."
One of the company’s titles, A Different Kind Of Hero, carries an environmental theme. The book is about a monkey who aims to defend his natural habitat when men with bulldozers and axes threaten his home. Langan says books that apply a relatable story to serious environmental topics are must-haves. "As [children] continue to grow, they will be a generation fully immersed in the green movement," she explains. "The needed solutions to the Earth’s problems will be on their shoulders. It is never too early to start a conversation with them on this topic."
And the most unique part about A Different Kind Of Hero It was written by a fourth-grader named Leah Beth Evans, who was inspired to create the story after studying the rain forest in school. Langan says the book is a smart purchase for retailers and parents who want to encourage budding writers.
Tribute Books’ Nicole Langan agrees. "With the continued growth of e-book readers, illustrated children’s books still have a high value for bookstores. Currently, technology cannot accommodate this market. Retailers can fill this gap."
Dallas Post, February 8, 2010
Dallas author wins 'Mom’s Choice Award'
by Rebecca Bria
Mary Garrity Slaby, Ph.D., discovered a family secret a few years ago while doing genealogy research.
Garrity Slaby, 54, of Dallas, was shocked to learn that her great-grandmother, Catherine McCafferty, was the aunt of Alex Campbell, a member of the Molly Maguires, a secret Irish organization. Campbell was one of four men hanged for allegedly killing two mine operatives in Mauch Chunk, located in Carbon County.
It was Garrity Slaby’s genealogy research and her aunt, Margaret Bonner, who inspired her to write a book for young adults called Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires.
The book, published in 2008, was recently named a silver recipient for historical fiction in the young adult books category in the 2010 Mom's Choice Awards.
The Mom's Choice Awards recognize authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media, products and services. Award recipients receive a lapel pin, seals for the winning product and a certificate.
Set in the 1860s, Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires is a historical fictional story centered on 14-year-old Catherine McCafferty, a character named after Garrity Slaby's great-grandmother. In the story, McCafferty's best friend joins the Molly Maguires and McCafferty wants to intervene.
Garrity Slaby says she applied for the Mom's Choice Awards but wasn’t sure if she would win.
"I didn’t know really because I thought the book is different than a lot of books being written for young adults these days," she said.
Garrity Slaby wrote the book under the pen name Molly Roe because she thought it would be better to have a pen name for fictional writing in case she does more academic writing. She says Mollyroe is the name of the town land in Ireland where her great-grandfather Peter Bonner lived before moving to Pennsylvania.
"I thought it was a suitable way to memorialize my ancestors and posthumously thank him for being smart enough to put the town on his naturalization papers!" Garrity Slaby said. "Having the town land helped me find the actual location when the family took a trip to Ireland in 2002. It is also coincidental, but two of us on the trip were my cousin Rosemary and myself. Since Molly is a nickname for Mary and "Ro" is our nickname for my cousin, it fit."
Garrity Slaby hopes the book will teach history to adolescents and give them a sense of peoples of previous generations experienced. Despite geared the book toward young people, the author has also received feedback from people in their 80s.
"A lot of people said, 'We’re not Irish or Polish, but we remember those times. We remember how they were treated,'" she said.
Books for young adults are not foreign to Garrity Slaby as she has been a reading and language arts teacher for 20 years at Lake-Lehman Junior/Senior High School. Prior to that, she taught in Schuylkill County and in Virginia.
She and her husband, John, also have two grown children: John Garrett Slaby, of Philadelphia, who illustrated the cover of her book; and Melissa Slaby, of State College.
Although Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires was Garrity Slaby's first non-academic publication, she doesn't intend to make it her last. In fact, she hopes the book will be the first in a trilogy.
Currently, Garrity Slaby is halfway finished writing the series' second book, Sarah’s Story: The Curse on Centralia. She thinks the third book will be centered in Philadelphia because that’s where her father's family eventually moved and it is where she was born.
Garrity Slaby was also a contributor for the book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk High School. The book features a true story she wrote about a girl she went to high school with who seemingly had everything, but eventually died at a young age from diabetes.
In addition, she is a member of the Endless Mountains Writers Group and Beta Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a professional honor society for female educators. Last year, Garrity Slaby was selected as the woman of distinction for the Beta Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma.
Lackawanna Historical Society Journal, Winter 2010
Alan Sweeney Award Presented at Railfest
On September 5, the Lackawanna Historical Society was delighted to be invited to Steamtown National Historic Site's opening ceremony of Railfest 2009 to present the Alan Sweeney Award.
The award, named for our beloved late President, was presented by LHS Director Mary Ann Moran Savakinus, with assistance from two representatives from Steamtown - Kip Hagen and Mark Brennan - and the President of Amtrak, Joseph Boardman. Community Leader and Dedicated Volunteer Dominic Keating received the award "in recognition of unwavering dedication to the interpretation of local history to encourage embracing our heritage throughout the Lackawanna Valley."
Judy Sweeney represented the Sweeney family at the presentation and was joined by several LHS Trustees including President Don Frederickson, Ella Rayburn, Mary Jane Memolo, Joe Cimini, and Kathy Keating - who also happens to be Dom's wife! LHS partners Natalie Solfanelli, Executive Director of Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority and Chester Kulesa site administrator of the Anthracite Museum also joined us to celebrate Dom's recognition.
Thanks to Steamtown for including the presentation at its event and to everyone who helped make the day so special. Special thanks to Ella Rayburn, Chester Kulesa, and Margaret Reese who helped design and produce the award.
ABOVE PHOTO: LHS Director Mary Ann Moran Savakinus presents Dominic Keating with the Alan Sweeney Award.
Lackawanna Historical Society Journal, Winter 2010
Civil War Museum Named for Former LHS President
by Roger DuPuis
Generations of Lackawanna County residents who will never know Alan Sweeney personally will nonetheless have the opportunity to understand our area's history better thanks to his writing, research, and preservation work.
To help ensure the former Lackawanna Historical Society president won't be forgotten, Alan's family and friends gathered in the basement of the Scranton City Hall November 8 to see his name enshrined as part of an institution he helped preserve - the local Civil War museum.
"I think he wouldn't like everyone making a fuss over him," daughter Kara Sweeney said. "But I think he would be proud."
Alan succumbed to cancer on December 5, 2008.
Addressing about two dozen guests in what is now "Alan Sweeney Hall," Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty praised Alan for his selfless dedication to promoting historic preservation and other community causes. The mayor presented a commemorative plaque to Alan's widow, Judy and his daughters Kara and Rachel. The two young women then unveiled a larger plaque in the hall.
"Alan was that rare person who just wanted to make a difference and make everything nice in the city he lived in," Mayor Doherty said. "And he loved history. He embodied history."
The basement complex that formerly housed the city's police headquarters became the home of a century-old Civil War museum, thanks to the efforts of Alan and other dedicated volunteers. The museum had been on the second floor of the historic GAR Building at Penn Avenue and Linden Street since 1904. That space also served as the headquarters of Ezra Griffin Camp #8, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, where the camp and parent Ezra Griffin GAR Post #139 held their meetings. When new owners took over the building, the organization and its museum had to find a new home.
Mayor Doherty spoke of how Alan came to him several years ago, and asked whether the basement of City Hall was available after the Police Department's relocation to a modern facility on South Washington Avenue. He assured the mayor that if space could be found, group members would see to renovations.
"It was characteristic Alan," Mayor Doherty recalled. "He said it would be no big deal."
And so things turned out. The city agreed to a 10-year lease in late 2007. Members of the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Association of Scranton, which runs the museum, refurbished 1,000 square feet of space for their collection of artifacts and literature related to the War Between the States. A grand re-opening and open house took place in late 2008 - barely a month before Alan passed away - with the open house drawing about 300 people, according to a report in SUVCW's state newsletter.
The local SUVCW camp is named for Providence-born Ezra S. Griffin (1835-1864), whose leg was shattered during the siege of Petersburg, Virginia in June 1864. He died of his wound the following month at Annapolis, Maryland, and is buried in Dunmore Cemetery.
Following the recent ceremony dedicating the hall in Alan's memory, Mayor Doherty, the Sweeney family and guests walked across the street to The Scranton Club for a reception featuring a speech by Cheryl Kashuba, who praised the man she described as "a mentor and a true friend."
"He could rattle off facts about railroading and coal mining," Cheryl said. "He was a walking history book."
Of course, Alan wasn't just a walking history book, but the author of several of his own, which are still available in the LHS bookstore. "Journey Along the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad" is his pictorial tribute to hostelries along the line from Delaware Water Gap to Tobyhanna. With his wife, Alan co-wrote "Gateway to the Clouds," a history of the short line Scranton, Dunmore, Moosic Lake Railroad. And together with Cheryl Kashuba and Darlene Miller-Lanning, he co-authored "Scranton," one of Aracadia Publishing's collection of image-based local history books.
In addition to LHS, Alan was involved in many fraternal and civic organizations, including the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority. But as his daughter recalled in an interview with "The Times-Tribune," the LHS truly was one of his passions.
"He spent every Sunday at the historical society," Kara Sweeney said. "If he wasn't there, he was upstairs, reading his history books."
Confuzzled Books, February 2, 2010
Book Review - Call Me Kate
by Shannon McGee
In 1862, a young Pennsylvania girl named Kate McCafferty stops going to school after her father is injured working in the coal mines. Now she has to be the bread winner and gets a job in another town as a maid. Soon she hears about how awful the coal miners are being treated and begins posing as a boy in the Molly Maguires, an rough underground Irish group who tried to improve the coal miners lot. Will she get caught, or will the coal miners get the benefits?
I was attracted to this book because my family comes from coal miners in the same area where young Kate lived. There are some family rumors that my great great grandfather was in the group, but that is another story. I thought this book seemed well researched. As I read, I felt as if I was in the story.
About the Author: Molly Roe is a jr. high school teacher. This is her first book in a trilogy of historical fiction.
Citizens Voice, February 2, 2010
Local People
The Mom's Choice Awards® has named Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires by Dallas author Molly Roe among the best in family-friendly media, products and services.
The Mom's Choice Awards® (MCA) is an awards program that recognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media, products and services.
A panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others.
To be considered for an award, each entrant submits five identical samples of a product. Entries are matched to judges in the MCA database. Judges perform a thorough analysis and submit a detailed assessment. Results are compiled and submitted to the MCA Executive Committee for final approval. The end result is a list of the best in family-friendly media, products and services that parents and educators can feel confident in using.
SMS Book Reviews, February 2, 2010
Book Review - Red in the Flower Bed
by Callista
First of all I'd say this book is perfect for ages 3-8. The younger children may not understand what interracial adoption means but they'd still enjoy the story. The way the story relates to interracial adoption is not obvious. What I mean is that if you weren't told of the connection, you wouldn't figure it out. This book could easily be used as an explanation of how a seed grows into a flower and nothing more.
The pictures seem to be done by putting together pieces of fabric cut into certain shapes. Many different prints are used and they all work well together. The pictures make up the background and the text is printed on top.
The text is in rhyme which makes it flow better. I think it's a really cute book.
Citizens Voice, February 1, 2010
Local teacher's book recognized
by Erin Moody
A book by a Lake-Lehman teacher has been recognized by The Mom's Choice Awards as a family-friendly reading choice. Junior-Senior High School language arts teacher Mary Garrity Slaby, who writes under the pen name Molly Roe, wrote Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly McGuires, about a 14-year-old girl who infiltrates the secret Molly Maguires organization during the Civil War era in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Confessions of an Overworked Mom, January 30, 2010
Book Review - In Mind
by Ellen Christian
In Mind is a collection of ninety-nine poems written by Diya Das over a period of six years. The poems are broken into nine sections which include First Drafts, A Writer's Hands, In Mind, Fantasy Moments, It's not me, it's you, Pondering, Daydreams & Nightmares, Wandering Home, and Intercepted Conversations.
There's a nice variety of poetry in this book. There are shorter poems that are only a few lines and poems that take up a full page. The topics vary quite a bit but tend to have the feel of an adolescent emerging into adulthood and the thoughts and emotions that go along with that growth process.
I think the author shows promise. I like the way she weaves the words in her poetry. A brief glimpse into the poem that I enjoyed the most.
A little light flickers
Inside my head.
A way to reveal the things
I haven't said.
Teens Read Too, January 29, 2010
Book Review - Call Me Kate
Catharine “Katie” McCafferty has grown up in the midst of the Pennsylvania coal mining community. The owners
of the coal mines can pretty much run the lives of those that rely on the mines for their livelihood. If the head of the household becomes injured due to safety issues in the mines, the remaining family members must come together to pay the rent or they will lose their home.
Many of the miners are paid in scrip, which is only good at the company-owned store. Struggling is a way of life. But Katie’s family and neighbors have always gotten by and relied on each other.
When Katie’s father is injured at work and loses the use of his legs, Katie takes it upon herself to help her family stay afloat. Her mother secures her a temporary domestic help job for a local bachelor. When that job ends, she finds herself traveling to a large estate to become live-in help. It’s while Katie works for the Pardee family that she becomes entangled in the intrigue and secret Irish societies determined to help those drafted into the Army by backhanded means.
The Molly Maguires are just one of these organizations that fight for the rights of the second-class miners. The
members are willing to destroy rail lines and scarify lives for the good of the larger whole. Katie becomes scared for her long-time friend, Con, who has taken up with the group and fears for his life. She befriends the stable boy at Pardee’s estate and the two try to sidetrack the horrible plot to blow up the tracks.
CALL ME KATE was a fascinating look at the time period of the early drafts for the Civil War. It focuses on a
specific area of the country and the conflict that arose among the different classes and ethnicities. Being from
Pennsylvania, I could picture many of the places that were referenced and got a brief history lesson on a time
period that I wasn’t very familiar with. For anyone interested in getting some history with their fiction, CALL ME KATE is a good book to add to your choices.
Mom's Choice Awards, January 28, 2010
Call Me Kate Mom’s Choice Awards® Silver Recipient
The Mom's Choice Awards® has named Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires by author Molly Roe among the best in family-friendly media, products and services.
The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) is an awards program that recognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media, products and services.
Parents, educators, librarians and retailers rely on MCA evaluations when selecting quality materials for children and families. The Mom’s Choice Awards® seal helps families and educators navigate the vast array of products and services and make informed decisions.
An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of our panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of PBS’s Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times best-selling author, Priscilla Dunstan, creator of the Dunstan Baby Language; Patricia Rossi, host of NBC’s Manners Minute; Dr. Letitia S. Wright, D.C., host of the Wright Place™ TV Show; and Catherine Witcher, M.Ed., special needs expert and founder of Precision Education, Inc.
MCA judges are bound by a strict code of ethics which ensures expert and objective analysis free from any manufacturer association. The evaluation process uses a propriety methodology in which entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost.
To be considered for an award, each entrant submits five identical samples of a product. Entries are matched to judges in the MCA database. Judges perform a thorough analysis and submit a detailed assessment. Results are compiled and submitted to the MCA Executive Committee for final approval. The end result is a list of the best in family-friendly media, products and services that parents and educators can feel confident in using.
SMS Book Reviews, January 28, 2010
Book Review - Second Chance
by Callista
This is a really sweet story that would appeal to children who adopt a dog, children with autism, parents of children with autism and parents who adopt a dog.
Instead of illustrations, the pages are filled with softly blended watercolor photos of the author's loved ones. They are blended so that you can't make out any distinguising details, just tell if it's a boy or dog or whatnot. They are the backgrounds of the entire page and the text is on top of it.
The story was beautiful, both in words and layout.
Also a portion of the sale of this book goes towards The Humane Society.
The Crypto-Capers Review, January 27, 2010
Book Review - Laurel Line
by Renee Hand
This was an amazing book the was well researched and filled with information that any train lover or historian would be interested in.
The Crypto-Capers Review, January 26, 2010
Book Review - Pegaus at the Plow
by Renee Hand
This short collection of poetry will make the reader feel various types of emotion. Unlike the traditional poetry the world is used to, Walker brings a harsh reality to each poem. Gone is the clouded covered words that makes someone feel lost in a dream world. His words are brash, honest and sometimes brutal. Each poem contains different elements of happiness, deep sadness, religious puzzlement, discussions of the haphazardness of life, love and the finality of death. He is sometimes philosophical and still, at other times, elegant. Their are various sides to Walker. His style is definetly his own and is unique compared to the other poetry books that are out there. There are two ways readers will go with this collection of poems. For those who love to keep their heads in the clouds with soft words and want a gentle truth, you will not like this book, but will appreciate and understand what Walker has to say. For those who are realists and want the honest truth about life and the various phases of it, the brutality of it if you will, will love it. Walker does make the reader open their eyes and read between the lines and is clear in his message. People will be able to relate and empathize with his choice of topic and feelings.
Writers Rock, January 25, 2010
Author Interview - Jay Luke
Who are you and what is the name of your book?
My name is Jay Luke and my book is called When Coal Was Queen.
What is your favorite word?
Pandemonium
What is your least favorite word?
I despise the word can’t.
What turns you on about your book?
I’m very proud that it is a correct representation of the historical subject matter. So many have given half hearted attempts without proper fact checking. I’m very happy to have given people the corrected, updated version of the local history of the coal-mining town of Olyphant and it’s storied past with many interesting bits of trivia and tidbits.
What turns others on about your book?
That it is an honest book about something many local readers relate to and have a physical connection with through their lineage. Almost every resident of Northeast Pennsylvania has a relative who worked and toiled in the mines.
What would a review of your book say?
Well here’s one of the first brief reviews: “There can be no better tribute to a people than to keep their stories alive. With exceptional detail and a wonderful sense of time and place, When Coal Was Queen captures the history and the stories of the Queen City and its mining heritage. A wonderful book for those who call Olyphant home and for anyone who loves history.” –Cheryl A. Kashuba, co-author of Scranton and Scranton Times-Tribune local history columnist
What sound or noise do you hate?
People talking about American Idol or any other glorified karaoke contest. I’m a musician and making yourself successful should never be achieved through a lottery type contest, it requires long hours and hard work.
What is your favorite curse word?
Well in terms of usefulness the word f*** can pretty much sum up any emotion without adding any other words to it. Whether you’re happy, sad, angry, or indifferent that word can convey your feelings just in the way it is said. I wish other words came in as handy.
What genre other than what you have currently written, would you write?
Well at the moment I’m working to finish up a novel that is in the suspense/thriller category. With any luck it will be finished within the year.
What genre would you not like to write?
I’d rather not paint myself in a corner by repeatedly doing the same thing, so to me variety and spice always makes things fresh and exciting. While I might say I don’t want to write a certain genre that doesn’t mean I won’t change my mind in the future. So I’d like to keep all doors open where the future is concerned.
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say about your book?
“So many miners up here have been up here yelling ‘Cheers!’ that they’re being remembered on Earth and they didn’t die in vain.”
BlogCritics, January 25, 2010
Book Review: NIne Things Nathan Noticed at Night
by Bob Etier
Things that occur in the dark are mysteries to young children. For the more adventuresome, a late night walk with an adult could be illuminating. For the child who wants to nestle into bed and be read a bedtime story, there is Nine Things Nathan Noticed at Night by Christy Baldwin, a short picture book that introduces the child to some facts behind the mysteries.
Nathan’s nine things are related only by their nocturnal occurrence. One such happening is “Raccoons and Skunks wander in our yard looking for food.” The author provides an explanation of the activity Nathan has observed and an associated Bible verse. Charmingly primitive watercolors by Sarah Barnes complete each lesson.
Because the book is only 18 pages long and contains a minimum of text, one might be tempted to read it to a child in one sitting. However, each of Nathan’s nine things can be approached individually as a springboard for discussion. All of the Bible verses are taken from the Old Testament and invite conversation on the nature of God and creation. For example, Psalm 90:4 “He is like a watch in the night” accompanies “Owls and bats only come out when its dark” (sic). The somewhat pedantic facts behind the “things,” may also lead to interesting discussions on a variety of topics including the mating habits of crickets.
Since Nathan is not actually introduced in the text — he is represented by an illustration of the back of a pajama-clad child looking out a window — those reading to children are required to provide the back-story.
Electric City, January 14, 2010
EC/DC Best of Bash 2009
by Tom Bonomo
The Electric City/Diamond City Best Of Bash was held Thursday, Jan. 7 from 7-9 p.m. at Breakers at Mohegan Sun.
Tribute Books' Jay Luke was honored as the Best Local Author for 2009. Luke is the author of When Coal Was Queen: The History of the Queen City - Olyphant, Pennsylvania.
Margaret Reid Poetry Prize, January 13, 2010
Margaret Reid Poetry Prize for Traditional Verse
Factoryville resident, Patrick Walker is the recipient of Highly Commended Honors from the 2009 Margaret Reid Poetry Prize for Traditional Verse. The poems chosen were "The Death Room" and "An Old Score Settled." The international contest had a prize fund of over $5,000 and attracted thousands of entries.
Walker is the author of Pegasus at the Plow: A Poetry Collection.
1st Turning Point, January 10, 2010
Click screen to view the book's video trailer
Call Me Kate - Review of Video Book Trailer
by Mercedes Christesen
Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires is intended for readers aged 11 to adult. The video had some very interesting choices in graphics and music. I really liked the use of silhouette instead of recognizable pictures, as the Molly Maguires was a secretive society, and the silhouettes set a secretive tone to the video. The use of an Irish style folksong showed the feeling of happiness as the naïve girl grew into a knowledgeable young woman. I had a problem reading the text because it moved by too fast, and I had to rewind and re-watch the video several times. I’m not sure the average reader would have the patience to do the same.
Before I watched the video, I read the back cover blurb, and if it were not for that as well as my knowledge of the history involving the Molly Maguires, I would have been lost with the story line that was given.
This video may not work for younger readers unfamiliar with the Molly Maguires since they may not know the history behind it all. I had both of my daughters watch the video and I asked them what they thought the book was about. My nine-year-old thought it was about horses, due to the silhouette pictures that I loved so much. She couldn’t read the text because it moved too quickly, but she really liked the music.
My thirteen-year old also had a hard time with the fast-moving text, so she kept stopping on each screen to read. When I had her watch it without stopping, she had no idea what the book was about. However, she did like the music, as did her sister.
When I showed the video to my husband, he said he liked the images and the music, but his one complaint was the same as mine: the text moved way too fast. He did say, however, that the video sparked his interest in the book.
Overall, I personally enjoyed the video, but we don’t need a full synopsis, just enough to reel us in.
Bloggin' bout Books, January 7, 2010
Unique Coal Mining Story
by Susan Jensen
Life in The Patch is not easy - not for the men and boys who spend their days mining coal, not for the wives and mothers who pray constantly for their safety, and not for the children who swallow toxic coal dust with their every breath. For the McCaffertys and the other immigrant families, ekeing out a living in northeastern Pennsylvania beats starving in their native Ireland. But only just. Not only are the patch families barely scraping by, but the miners' jobs are becoming more and more dangerous as wealthy mine owners scrimp on safety precautions in order to fill coal carts more quickly. The shriek of the breaker whistle comes too often - "accidents" maim, kill, and orphan.
Call Me Kate, Molly Roe's debut novel and the first book in a projected trilogy, starts with the siren's wail. When her best friend charges into the schoolroom one morning, 14-year-old Katie McCafferty knows it can mean only one thing - her father has become the mine's newest victim. Although he survives, his injuries leave him bedridden. Although she loves school, Katie has no choice but to leave the classroom and find work as a servant. When she lands a coveted position in the household of Ario Pardee, a rich mine owner, Katie must prove herself to the demanding houskeeper. Any missteps could mean termination, which will equal no income for her family back in The Patch.
Although Katie works in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, her thoughts are never far from The Patch. With the enactment of the Northern draft (October 1862), tensions are running high between the immigrant miners and the nativists. Rumors of her best friend's involvement in the resistance movement alarms Katie enough to risk her job - not to mention her life - to save him. Can a young lass like her really make a difference in the increasingly dangerous conflict? Can she rescue her friend from his own hard-headedness? Does she have the strength, the courage, to carry out the subterfuge necessary to accomplish the impossible task?
Call Me Kate brings this tumultuous period of history to life, blending period detail with the fictional (but historically accurate) adventures of Katie McCafferty. It's a fascinating glimpse into the stark realities of life as a miner in the late 19th Century. The story's compelling in and of itself, which is a very good thing since Roe's characters leave much to be desired. With little personality; stiff, unnatural conversations; and no real depth, Roe's story people might as well be cardboard cutouts. It doesn't help that the author spends most of the novel telling rather than showing. The tale is rich, exciting, compelling - the characters and storytelling need to be equally so. Flat characters and lackluster prose weigh down what could otherwise be an excellent novel. Molly Roe has a unique story to tell - let's hope the next two novels imbue it with the richness it deserves.
Bloggin' bout Books, January 6, 2010
Marketing Schmarketing: Evolution is what it is ... fascinating
by Susan Jensen
I prefer my family sagas thick and juicy, so reading Diya Das' "fictional family history" was a bit of a departure for me. The Evolution of an Identity isn't thick (it's a slim 72 pages), it's not really fiction, and it's not all that juicy (dang it). It is interesting, though, and definitely a unique read.
Das began researching her family tree as part of a project for a high school American studies course. She wanted to chronicle her own experiences as a first-generation immigrant in the United States, but found the task wouldn't quite fulfill the requirements of the assignment. So, she began digging into her family's history. Although Das was born in India, her parents emigrated to the U.S. when she was still a baby. They left all family behind. At least, that's what Das believed until a discussion with relatives in India led to the discovery that she did, indeed, have some family living in the United States. Communicating with long-lost kin gave Das a much broader sense of her family's history. Finding the writings of two ancestors was especially helpful, as they shed much light on the experiences of early Indian immigrants. For the school project, Das used the diaries she found as well as excerpts from her own journal to offer glimpses of Indian-American life over three generations. Like every story, hers had gaps - she filled the missing spaces using research and her own imagination.
Even though some parts of the book are fictionalized, The Evolution of an Identity is not a novel. It's basically a memoir - although all the details don't come from direct familial experience, they are generally truthful. Most importantly, the accounts Das presents provide a meaningful snapshot of the Indian-American experience. It shows the changing face of Indian immigrants - from poor, uneducated migrant workers in the early 1900s to wealthier, better educated career people in the 1960s and '70s to today's Indian-American teens. It examines more than just the evolution of an identity, but also the evolution of an attitude. Das explains how the earliest Indians put up with low-paying jobs, racial slurs, and great ignorance about their religion and culture, focusing only on returning to their native land with money in their pockets. Years later, young doctors and scientists entered the U.S. because their knowledge and skills were in high demand. Along with them came a wave of non-professionals who set up shops, restaurants and services specifically designed to cater to this wealthy new class of Indian-Americans. Unlike their predecessors, these immigrants practically shouted, "We're putting down roots. We're here to stay." Representing Indian-Americans of the 21st Century, Das describes her own attitude toward her "double heritage" (60). Since Das dwells in both worlds, she must assume a split-personality disorder, acting more Indian in the Indian community and more American with the outside world. She accepts both sides of herself while at the same time admitting to feeling intruded upon by "Americans" (read: white non-Indians) who come to Jackson Heights (New York's "Little India") to gawk during religious festivals. She acknowleges the irony, saying, "It is somewhat hypocritical that I wish for the acceptance of Indian culture but have an aversion to explaining it to others ... I do not feel as if I have the patience or the time required to explain what it is to be Indian American to someone who cannot possibly understand conflicting value systems and cultural behaviors" (58). A bold statement for someone whose peasant ancestors spent their time kowtowing to the kin of these same American "intruders."
The Indian immigration experience isn't something I've read much about, so I found Das' account fascinating. It's a quick read, but one that inspires a great deal of thought. My biggest complaint about the book has little to with the book itself and more with the way it's being marketed: The Evolution of an Identity is not a historical novel for teens. Young adults are not going to grab this one off the shelves. I'm not saying they shouldn't, I'm just saying that this marketing tactic is not going to work. The book is a serious work, with a personal, but very non-fiction-y feel. If you're interested in Indian history and culture, or just in another perspective on the immigrant experience, pick it up. But don't expect a novel, or a rich family saga. It is what it is, and what it is is fascinating. It's a quick, thought-provoking read that will appeal more to adults than teenagers. And that's okay.
Having said that, I have one suggestion for 18-year-old Diya Das: write a real novel. In a lot of ways, I think a nice, thick saga based on her family's unique history would have been more compelling and satisfying than this thin, essay-type volume. I would definitely be interested in a more fleshed-out, historically-rich story exploring the plight of the Indian immigrant from the early 1900s until now. Indian-American authors are sorely underrepresented in popular literature. It's just a suggestion, Diya, but I think it's a pretty good one.
Until Das becomes a best-selling novelist (who owes all her fame to moi), you can purchase her work on Tribute Books' website.
Mrs. Magoo Reads, January 5, 2010
Call Me Kate
by Sophie Epstein
A young, Irish Catholic girl living in the 1860's, Kate's eyes are open to prejudice at an early age. By fourteen years old, she is well aware of the discrimination against females as well as that against the Irish Catholics in her state of Pennsylvania. Because her family is so poor, Kate has to drop out of school and begin working, although her wages are very low because of such discrimination.
Soon, however, matters even more important than supporting her family come up. A draft to fight in the Civil War has come up, and the only way to escape is to pay $300, a sum that no Irish Catholic can afford. Talk of rebellion blows through the air, and many workers are calling it "a rich man's war, but a poor man's fight".
The tension builds as Kate's close friend/possible romantic interest Con becomes involved in the rebellion. Kate must find a way to halt the impending violence and make sure Con does not get hurt, while all the while keeping herself and her family out of danger.
My thoughts: Call Me Kate perfectly blended history with drama, and added a small touch of romance to Kate's refreshingly independent nature. The writing is compelling, as is the plot, which becomes increasingly exciting over time.
Both kids and adults will enjoy Molly Roe's novel.
A Reader's Adventure, January 4, 2010
Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires
by Mariah Lyons
This book was very interesting, while it started slow the action quickly picked up and I was thoroughly immersed in a story that was very, very cool for me. I love Irish culture and history so this was a great book for me.
The characters were written well and I enjoyed getting to know them, Katie was a wonderful heroine and she really pulled me into the story! I was surprised where the story took me, but it was very believable which I liked. Overall a good example of historical fiction!
Cynthia Vespia, January 1, 2010
Poetry is difficult
by Cynthia Vespia
As a personal request I was asked to review a novel from Tribute Books. I chose Call Me Sonya Grey by Sonya Tupone Lloyd. After reading her tag: "a young girls poems about life, death, and adolescence" I felt I could relate to this author. Turns out I was correct in my assumption.
Sonya weaves together themes of heartache with resiliance, despair with understanding. Stemming from the loss of her mother early on in life, Sonya uses poetry to tap her emotions during that tumultuous time of growing from a young girl to a young woman.
Poetry is a difficult medium to conquer. My respect goes out to those who even attempt to take on these themes. As a writer myself I know that once something sparks up in side you the only way to make it grow quiet again is to get it down on paper so you can't curl up with it.
I wrote my own share of poetry after my mother passed away a few years back. It was cathardic. Sonya Tupone Lloyd's poems explore a full range of emotions that will touch even a heart of stone. Here's just an example of one of my favorites, it's called "Butterfly."
I woke up one fine day
Spewing words in disarray
Fishing for the word
The one word that would change the world
Find that word, I never did
I played with God’s word a little
I touched upon teacher’s word a bit
I latched onto Mommy’s word for awhile
But none of these satisfied
My stomach rumbles, my hand grumbles
As the word pushes and plummets me
Into swirling depths of murkiness
That never let go of me, not once
My mind captures the word in midair
Smashing it between clutching fingers
And the word penetrates only the surface
It lingers only to leave
The bittersweet aftertaste of unfulfilled dreams
Pick up this book, you'll enjoy it.
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