2009 Reading #58: Subterranean Twin Cities

Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
Books 41-50.
51. Devil In a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley.
52. A Red Death by Walter Mosley.
53. White Butterfly by Walter Mosley.
54. Flora's Dare: How a Girl of Spirit Gambles All to Expand Her Vocabulary, Confront a Bouncing Boy Terror, and Try to Save Califa From a Shaky Doom by Ysabeau Wilce.
55. The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia McKillip.
56. James J. Hill and the Opening of the Northwest by Albro Martin.
57. King's Blood Four (Book One of The True Game by Sheri S. Tepper.

58. Subterranean Twin Cities by Greg Brick. Apparently this book created a bit of a stir among the Twin Cities spelunking community--Brick seems to be a bit of controversial figure, which he obliquely acknowledges in certain sections. For me the first two chapters, on Carver's Cave and Fountain Cave, were the most useful. For the rest, I enjoyed the historical accounts but glassed over a bit on the mechanics of worming through utility tunnels and sewers. There was a time I might have thought this stuff would be fun, but Brick's frank descriptions of the conditions of many of these places makes me think I'm probably too squeamish. "Toilet paper volcanoes," folks. Ish.

2009 Reading #59: Hey, Hmong Girl, Whassup?

Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
Books 41-50.
51. Devil In a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley.
52. A Red Death by Walter Mosley.
53. White Butterfly by Walter Mosley.
54. Flora's Dare: How a Girl of Spirit Gambles All to Expand Her Vocabulary, Confront a Bouncing Boy Terror, and Try to Save Califa From a Shaky Doom by Ysabeau Wilce.
55. The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia McKillip.
56. James J. Hill and the Opening of the Northwest by Albro Martin.
57. King's Blood Four (Book One of The True Game by Sheri S. Tepper.
58. Subterranean Twin Cities by Greg Brick.

59. Hey, Hmong Girl, Whassup? The Journal of Choua Vang by Leah Rempel. Interesting little book, written by an ESL teacher with the help of some of her students, in an attempt to write a book at the right level for ESL learners and also connected to their own experience. The Choua Vang of the book is a Hmong high-schooler in Saint Paul, dealing with a kitchen-sink array of challenges: siblings in gangs, a rigidly traditional father, internal and external prejudices, and her first crush. As such it reads a bit Afterschool Special, but the voice is engaging; for me the setting helped give it the feel of truth as well.

Revenge of the Poll

[Poll #1435824]

Hey, Kids, Wanna Learn to Floss?

I want this bear to follow me wherever I go.