#amelia bloomer list

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Word List: Fashion History

to try to include in your poem/story (pt. 1/3)

Adinkra - a flat, cotton textile that is stamped with symbols which create the meaning of the garment; produced by the Asante peoples in Ghana

Agal - a rope made from animal hair which wraps around a keffiya (square cloth) on the head and is worn typically by Bedouin men

Akwete - a decorative cloth with complex weave designs, creating intricate geometric patterns, made with many vibrant colors; it is usually made into wrappers for women to wear and it is made by the Igbo women of Nigeria

Aniline Dyes - synthetic, chemical dyes for garments first invented in the 19th century

Anorak - a jacket that typically has a hood, but not always, which was originally worn by the indigenous peoples of the Arctic designed to keep them warm and protected from harsh weather

Back Apron (Negbe) - an oval-shaped decorative pad worn by Mangbetu women over the buttocks in Central Africa

Backstrap Loom - a lightweight, mobile loom made of wood and a strap that is wrapped around the back; it only needed to be attached to a tree or a post for stability and to provide tension

Banyan - a loose-fitted informal robe or gown typically worn by men in the late 17th to the early 19th centuries

Barbette - a piece of linen which passes under the chin and is pinned at the sides, usually worn in conjunction with additional head coverings during the Middle Ages

Bark Cloth - fabric made out of bark from trees

Beadnet Dress - a decorative sheath dress made of beads worn in ancient Egypt

Bloomers - a bifurcated garment that were worn under dresses in the 19th century; they soon became a symbol of women’s rights because early activist Amelia Bloomer wore drawers long enough to stick out from under her dress

Bogolanfini - (bogolan- meaning cloth; fini- meaning mud) a cotton cloth made from strips of woven fabric, which are decorated with symbolic patterns using the mud-resist technique, sewn together at the selvage to create a fabric that is utilized during the main four stages of a West African Bamana woman’s life: puberty, marriage, motherhood, and death

Bombast/Bombasted - the padding used to structure clothing and create fashionable silhouettes in the 16th and 17th centuries

Boubou - an African robe made of one large rectangle of fabric with an opening in the center for the neck; when worn it drapes down over the shoulders and billows at the sleeves

Buff Coat - a leather version of the doublet that was often, but not exclusively, worn by people in the military in the 17th century

Bum Roll - a roll of padding tied around the hip line to hold a woman’s skirt out from the body in the late 16th and early 17th centuries

Burqa - an outer garment worn by Muslim women that covers the entire body, often with a cutout or mesh at the eyes

Busk - a flat length stay piece that was inserted into the front of a corset to keep it stiff from the 16th century to the early 20th century

Bustle - a pad or frame worn under a skirt puffing it out behind

Cage Crinoline - a hooped cage worn under petticoats in the 19th century to stiffen and extend the skirt

Caraco - 18th century women’s jacket, fitted around the torso and flared out after the waist

Carrick Coat - an overcoat with three to five cape collars popular in the 19th century and mostly worn for riding and travel–sometimes called a Garrick or coachman’s coat

Chantilly Lace - a kind of bobbin lace popularized in 18th century France; it is identifiable by its fine ground, outlined pattern, and abundant detail, and was generally made from black silk thread

Chaperon - a turban-like headdress worn during the Middle Ages in Western Europe

Chemisette - a piece of fabric worn under bodices in the 19th century to fill in low necklines for modesty and decoration

Chiton - an ancient Greek garment created from a single piece of cloth wrapped around the body and held together by pins at the shoulders

Chlamys - a rectangular cloak fastened at the neck or shoulder that wraps around the body like a cape

Chopines - high platform shoes worn mostly in Venice in the 16th & 17th centuries

Clavus/Clavi - decorative vertical stripes that ran over the shoulder on the front and back of a Late Roman or Byzantine tunic

Clocks/Clocking - decorative and strengthening embroidery on stockings in Europe and America during the 16th-19th centuries

Cochineal Dyes - come from the Cochineal beetle that is native to the Americas and is most commonly found on prickly pear cacti; when dried and crushed, it creates its famous red pigment that is used to dye textiles

Codpiece - originally created as the join between the two hoses at the groin, the codpiece eventually became an ornate piece of male dress in the 16th century

Cuirass Bodice - a form-fitting, long-waisted, boned bodice worn in the 1870s and 1880s–almost gives the appearance of armor as the name suggests

Dagging - an extremely popular decorative edging technique created by cutting that reached its height during the Middle Ages and Renaissance

Dalmatic Tunic - a t-shaped tunic with very wide sleeves; worn by both men and women during the Byzantine empire

Dashiki - a loose-fitting pullover tunic traditionally worn in West African cultures that was adopted by African diasporic communities as a symbol of African heritage in the 1960s and then more widely worn as a popular item of “ethnic” fashion

Dentalium Cape - or dentalium dress is a garment worn by Native American women that is made from the stringing together of dentalium shells in a circular pattern around the neck and across the chest and shoulders

Doublet - an often snug-fitting jacket that is shaped and fitted to a man’s body–worn mostly in the 15th to 17th centuries

Échelle - a decorative ladder of bows descending down the stomacher of a dress; worn during the late 17th and 18th centuries; sometimes spelled eschelle

If any of these words make their way into your next poem/story, please tag me, or leave a link in the replies. I would love to read them!

More: Fashion History ⚜ Word Lists

[lavendershowcase]

Queer Hispanic Stories for Hispanic Heritage Month

Summaries and notes under cut

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But Juliet has a plan, sort of, one that’s going to help her figure out this whole “Puerto Rican lesbian” thing. She’s interning with the author of her favorite book: Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women’s bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff. Will Juliet be able to figure out her life over the course of one magical summer? Is that even possible? Or is she running away from all the problems that seem too big to handle? With more questions than answers, Juliet takes on Portland, Harlowe, and most importantly, herself.

Winner of 2017 Silver IPPY Award for best LGBTQ Fiction, selected by the ALA for the Amelia Bloomer List in 2017

The Prince and the Coyote by David Bowles, illustrated by Amanda Mijangos*

Fifteen-year old crown prince Acolmiztli wants nothing more than to see his city-state of Tetzcoco thrive. A singer, poet, and burgeoning philosophical mind, he has big plans about infrastructure projects and cultural initiatives that will bring honor to his family and help his people flourish. But the two sides of his family, the kingdoms of Mexico and Acolhuacan, have been at war his entire life – after his father risked the wrath of the Tepanec emperor to win his mother’s love. When a power struggle leaves his father dead and his mother and siblings in exile, Acolmiztli must run for his life, seeking refuge in the wilderness. After a coyote helps him find his way in the wild, he takes on a new name – Nezahualcoyotl, or “fasting coyote” (“Neza” for short). Biding his time until he can form new alliances and reconnect with his family, Neza goes undercover, and falls in love with a commoner girl, Sekalli. Can Neza survive his plotting uncles’ scheme to wipe out his line for good? Will the empire he dreams of in Tetzcoco ever come to life? And is he willing to risk the lives of those he loves in the process? This action-packed tale blends prose and poetry – including translations of surviving poems by Nezahualcoytl himself, translated from classical Nahuatl by the author. And the book is packed with queer rep: queer love stories, and a thoughtful exploration of pre-columbian understandings of gender that defy the contemporary Western gender binary.

Pura Belpré honoree, Kirkus Best of the Year, Bookpage top 10 Book of 2023

*Personally recommended by me

The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara

It’s 1980 in New York City, and nowhere is the city’s glamour and energy better reflected than in the burgeoning Harlem ball scene, where seventeen-year-old Angel first comes into her own. Burned by her traumatic past, Angel is new to the drag world, new to ball culture, and has a yearning inside of her to help create family for those without. When she falls in love with Hector, a beautiful young man who dreams of becoming a professional dancer, the two decide to form the House of Xtravaganza, the first-ever all-Latino house in the Harlem ball circuit. But when Hector dies of AIDS-related complications, Angel must bear the responsibility of tending to their house alone. As mother of the house, Angel recruits Venus, a whip-fast trans girl who dreams of finding a rich man to take care of her; Juanito, a quiet boy who loves fabrics and design; and Daniel, a butch queen who accidentally saves Venus’s life. The Xtravaganzas must learn to navigate sex work, addiction, and persistent abuse, leaning on each other as bulwarks against a world that resists them. All are ambitious, resilient, and determined to control their own fates, even as they hurtle toward devastating consequences. 

Born Both: An Intersex Life by Hida Viloria

My name is Hida Viloria. I was raised as a girl but discovered at a young age that my body looked different. Having endured an often turbulent home life as a kid, there were many times when I felt scared and alone, especially given my attraction to girls. But unlike most people in the first world who are born intersex–meaning they have genitals, reproductive organs, hormones, and/or chromosomal patterns that do not fit standard definitions of male or female–I grew up in the body I was born with because my parents did not have my sex characteristics surgically altered at birth. It wasn’t until I was twenty-six and encountered the term intersex in a San Francisco newspaper that I finally had a name for my difference. That’s when I began to explore what it means to live in the space between genders–to be both and neither. I tried living as a feminine woman, an androgynous person, and even for a brief period of time as a man. Good friends would not recognize me, and gay men would hit on me. My gender fluidity was exciting, and in many ways freeing–but it could also be isolating. I had to know if there were other intersex people like me, but when I finally found an intersex community to connect with I was shocked, and then deeply upset, to learn that most of the people I met had been scarred, both physically and psychologically, by infant surgeries and hormone treatments meant to “correct” their bodies. Realizing that the invisibility of intersex people in society facilitated these practices, I made it my mission to bring an end to it–and became one of the first people to voluntarily come out as intersex at a national and then international level. Born Both is the story of my lifelong journey toward finding love and embracing my authentic identity in a world that insists on categorizing people into either/or, and of my decades-long fight for human rights and equality for intersex people everywhere.

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

In Her Body and Other Parties, Carmen Maria Machado blithely demolishes the arbitrary borders between psychological realism and science fiction, comedy and horror, fantasy and fabulism. While her work has earned her comparisons to Karen Russell and Kelly Link, she has a voice that is all her own. In this electric and provocative debut, Machado bends genre to shape startling narratives that map the realities of women’s lives and the violence visited upon their bodies. A wife refuses her husband’s entreaties to remove the green ribbon from around her neck. A woman recounts her sexual encounters as a plague slowly consumes humanity. A salesclerk in a mall makes a horrifying discovery within the seams of the store’s prom dresses. One woman’s surgery-induced weight loss results in an unwanted houseguest. And in the bravura novella “Especially Heinous,” Machado reimagines every episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a show we naively assumed had shown it all, generating a phantasmagoric police procedural full of doppelgängers, ghosts, and girls-with-bells-for-eyes.

Finalist for the 2017 National Book Award for Fiction, Winner of the National Book Critics Circle's 2017 John Leonard Prize, Winner of the 2017 Bard Fiction Prize, Finalist for the 2017 Kirkus Prize, Finalist for the 2017 PEN/Robert Bingham Award

[desmondkane-of-ao3-fame]

This kind of just popped in my head, but skarlow if Skara was also a late bloomer turned great bloomer like Willow?

I actually think there was a time this was what TOH was going for. Like, Skara performs next to no unassisted magic, to my knowledge. The only times we’ve seen her do any magic on screen is the scene with Bo tutoring her, and there’s like 2 instances of her doing it in sorta cannon stuff, once in a promotional piece about the covens where there’s a picture of her using a harp, and once in the FTF end credits. Plus there’s stuff like her punching Steve as opposed to like, casting a spell, or being the alt/strategist for Grudgby instead of playing on the list. I’m probably looking too deeply into things but I can imagine a version of the show where Skara was meant to have little magical power, and Willow learning that and treating her with compassion instead of mockery was what made Skara realize Boscha’s an ass and leave her.

But yeah, I like this idea a lot.

I’d imagine Skara would recognize her lack of magical ability early on in life, probably even around the flashbacks in Understanding, and try to hide that from Boscha. She’d help bully Willow because it let her feel better about her own lack of magic, but she’d also be terrified of being found out as the weak link. When her friends can’t animate a simple doll at Boscha’s Moonlight Conjuring, she’s scared it’s because of her. When Boscha makes her an alt player, Skara believes she’s onto her. Part of the reason Skara sucks up to Boscha and stays her best friend is because she hopes that even if Boscha finds out about her lack of magical ability, at least she might not bully her as she does Willow, right?

But of course Boscha finds out eventually. She learns about Bo’s tutoring, and soon realizes Skara’s been trying to not use magic around her to hide her lack of ability. And Boscha’s angry and disgusted by this. She turns against Skara, turns Cat and Amelia against Skara, calling her a liar and a phony and a half-a-witch. Skara’s devastated, hiding in a closet out of shame, where someone knocks after hearing her crying and-

It’s Willow.

Skara tries to stay silent, but Willow says she knows it’s her, and she just wants to talk. That she heard rumors about Skara being half-a-witch. That she isn’t there to mock her. So Skara let’s her in, opening the door to hear her out. And the two sort of stand there, unsure what to say or do, until Willow says that she’s sorry Skara has to go through this. And Skara snorts, not sure why Willow isn’t rubbing her nose in the fact she spent years making fun of her for the thing she’s going through now. But at least with Willow she got cool Plant powers. Skara doesn’t even have that! And Willow says that she knows what it’s like to be bullied, for people to leave you because they think you’re half-a-witch. Skara just winces, because she was one of the people doing that, and now she’s getting her just desserts.

But Willow tells Skara she’s there for her. She knows how cruel Boscha is. How hurtful she is. So Willow is willing to help Skara through this, if Skara wants it. And after a pause?

Skara tells Willow she’s sorry. Sorry she bullied her. That she encouraged it. Sorry she didn’t push against Boscha for years. Sorry she helped to make Willow feel this way herself, despite no one deserving this. Sorry she doesn’t know what else to do but say, over and over again, that she’s sorry.

And Willow sits there, listening, letting Skara say what she needs to say as tears start to form and Skara begins to just apologize for everything, from things she did to, to things she didn’t do, and all because at the end of the day she wasn’t strong enough. She wasn’t strong enough to stand up to the bullies. She was so weak she became one to survive, and look where it’s gotten her?!?

She’s the real Half-a-Witch.

And Willow sits there, thinks it over, and tells Skara that she doesn’t think of her as Half-a-Witch. She see’s her as a fully capable Witch, deserving of respect as anyone else. And, Willow believes, second chances.

And so Willow helps Skara off the floor, and Skara thanks her by promising to stand up for Willow, her friends, and anyone else Boscha bullies. It doesn’t matter if Boscha is better at magic. It doesn’t matter if Boscha mocks or belittles or threatens her. If Skara has so little power, then the least she can do is use it to help those who need it.

Like how Willow helped her.

And soon, after standing up to Boscha, after becoming Willow’s friend, and after a few way too many attempts at asking Willow out with Luz’s help, Skara began to recognize herself as Half-a-Witch.

One who found her perfect other half.

[kristenreviewsmedia]

We Hunt The Flame

Fantasy: Faizal, H. (2019). We Hunt the Flame [Sands of Arawiya #1]. Pan Macmillan Australia.

5.0 Stars "We Hunt the Flame" by Hafsah Faizal takes place in a desert realm of Ancient Arabia, where the disappearance of six ruling sisters has led to the gradual fading of magic from the world because of this the caliphate blames women for the loss of magic The story follows Zafira, who disguises herself as a man to venture into the cursed forest of Arz for food , but her journey takes a turn when she encounters the Silver Witch, who invites her on a quest to retrieve the Book of Magic from the Shaar and defeat the Arz.

Nasir, known as the Prince of Death, is a ruthless royal assassin for his father, the Sultan, who has become hateful since his wife's death. Nasir carries out his father's orders. Nasir hates it but there is nothing he can do to change it, so he just does it without a second thought. When he is told about the Silver Witch's plans and sets out on a journey to Shaar.

Zafira and Nasir paths converge on Shaar, where an unintended altercation occurs and leads to them being enemies, but despite everything they must work together in order to survive the dangers that lurk before them and in order to reach the artifact they both seek. Along the way, their relationship evolves as they face on coming danger and learn more about each other’s life back home. There might be a point where they need to save each other, but from what?

The quote "People lived because she killed. People died because he lived" shows us really the moral ambiguity surrounding Zafira and Nasir's actions, as they navigate the consequences of their roles.

For fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope and forbidden romance, "We Hunt the Flame" gives us an incredible story about two different people's paths intercrossing and coming together. At the same time, this book does have some dark moments; Faizal does leave us with moments of beauty and humor. Hafsah Faizal's connection with her readers on the internet allows us to work on promoting her second book to leave a lasting impression. This book will always be the first one I recommend to readers.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Awards Indies Choice Book Award for Young Adult Book of the Year (2020) -

Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Young Adult Book (2019)

Cybils Award for Young Adult Speculative Fiction (2019) "We Hunt the Flame" received recognition in the speculative fiction category.

Amelia Bloomer Project List selection (2020) - The Amelia Bloomer Project, a part of the American Library Association, selects notable feminist literature for young readers, and "We Hunt the Flame" was included on their list.

[hesfrombarcelona]

The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague, by Julia Finley Mosca

Genre:

The Girl With a Mind for Math is a non-fiction picture book (informational or biography category).

Target Age Group: This book is written for elementary grade readers, generally ages 5-10.

Summary: The Girl With a Mind for Math tells the true story of Raye Montague, an African American woman who became a design engineer for the United States Navy in the 1960s. The book covers Montague's education and career from the time she was in elementary school though her retirement.

Justification:

This book was awarded the Amelia Bloomer Book List Award by the American Library Association in 2019, and received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.

Evaluation:

For this book I will be evaluating the illustrations, content, and style and language.

Illustrations:

The Girl With a Mind for Math is illustrated by Daniel Rieley and features rich colors and a simple, somewhat whimsical style. The drawings of classic "lollipop shaped" trees and people with one-line smiles on their faces give the feeling of children's art in a way that might make the book feel more familiar and accessible to young people than the subject matter would generally suggest. Even the impersonal and industrial machines depicted, including a submarine and an early computer, somehow look cheerful and approachable in these delightful illustrations.

Content

This book focuses on the hard work and accomplishments of Montague, but it does so while addressing the barriers she faced as a result of the blatant racism and sexism of her time. In child-appropriate language the story explains how the system of the time was "unjust" and "deplorable" and the negative effects that it had. At the end of the book there are helpful references including a timeline, bibliography, and an interview with Montague.

Style and Language

The Girl With a Mind for Math is written in verse, which adds to an overall fun and upbeat tone. Some of the rhymes feel slightly awkward and forced, but most flow well and have a fun energy and momentum. Word choices are specific and accurate enough to introduce some new vocabulary to younger children, but not so advanced as to be frustrating or difficult to understand.

This book hits the sweet spot between educational and entertaining. The fun illustrations and bouncy verse make it perfect for reading aloud either at home or in the classroom. The reference materials included can help caregivers or teachers to answer questions and expand on the topics for further learning.

References:

American Library Association. (2023). https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/girl-mind-math-story-raye-montague

Kirkus Reviews. (2018, July 15). The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague: A fun read and an uplifting story. [Review of the book The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Raye Montague Story, by J. F. Mosca].

Mosca, J. F. (2018). The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague (D. Rieley, Illus.). The Innovation Press.

[oatmealaddiction]

I know historical suffrage was obsessed with optics, it's in my opinion a big fault of the movement because it left behind a lot of women that didn't fit the image, because Susan B. Anthony was actually kind of horrible to a lot of the working class, immigrant, and Black women who were also fighting for the vote. That's kind of my overall point about why this rubs me the wrong way. Clothes aren't utilitarian political statements, they're also personal.

When I say "white feminism" I'm using it as a moniker for "exclusionary" or "lacking in other perspectives" because the thing about arguing "being butch was historically bad for feminism" is it lacks nuance into what butch identity is. Namely, it's not something that's exclusively about political statements like burning your bra, it's personal identity. It's not what you wear, it's part of who you are. That's why people like James Barry are important to mention if you're gonna say things about how counterintuitive it was to feminism to put on pants. From a queer perspective, winning the vote is not the reason you wear pants or put on men's clothes. To say all women dressed as men only professionally isn't accurate when you take into account afab people who existed along the lines of gender fluidity and the folks like Barry who essentially transitioned covertly or who lived outside of the bounds of polite society. Those folks would have been immediately ousted from any suffragette ranks along with the other marginalized women and treated as pariahs. While that's true, they still existed and chose expression of self over societal expectations.

While I'm cool talking about how that level of gender expression just wasn't possible for a lot of women, particularly how it doesn't make sense for characters like Jo, what bothers me more is the "wearing pants was bad for feminism, if you wanted to be taken seriously wear a corset," tone throughout, because while true, it positions that as the *point* of masculine dress. It ignores dysphoria and personal comfort and utility and expression of self.

It just strikes me as tone death to only approach this from the perspective of first wave feminism, vs. queer identity when we're talking about masculine dress on women and in Gentleman Jack's case, a historical gnc lesbian. It's taken as only a political move to appear forward thinking as opposed to things like dysphoria or gender identity and I think that's a big gap. If you were going to present Jo as a character on the trans spectrum (which is not a huge stretch) whether or not polite society approves becomes secondary, because what's more important is how Jo would manage dysphoria and self image without becoming socially isolated.

TBC I don't even hate this video, I don't agree with OP's point, I like this vlogger, I just think the way she attacked this topic feels alienating to me, who is a queer woman and is interested in the topic of historical queerness. To me whether or not bloomers were huge with Susan B. Anthony is irrelevant when you take into account young Amelia and her sister delighted to be wearing pants only to have them torn away by hateful people. It's completely possible to work stories like that into stories like Little Women without forfeiting historical accuracy.

While I hate the corset trope, I think it's fair to ask how many women there were historically who were made to feel dysphoric by their dress and how did they deal with that in a much more restrictive society? How do you differentiate that from hacks trying to make a female character look empowered? And I'm glad she lists Gentleman Jack as a positive example, I just wish she didn't take optics as the be all end all in why women dressed the way they did.

the fact two of these are masculine women... die actually

[yatescountyhistorycenter]

Houses (of worship) divided in Penn Yan

By Jonathan Monfiletto

When one thinks about the tracks of the Underground Railroad that ran through Yates County, one might think of the likes of Samuel Curtis, Henry Bradley, Wynans Bush, Isaac Lanning, and others who opened their arms and their homes to freedom seekers and helped them continue on their path of escape. When one thinks of the local movement against the evils of slavery, one might assume everyone in Yates County, or at least in Penn Yan, was on the same page and in favor of abolition in an area that seemed to be a stronghold for such progressive causes of the time.

But one would have assumed wrongly if one had assumed so. And one need look no further for examples than the sagas of the Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian churches in Penn Yan and the divisions and disagreements within their congregations that led to the founding of two new, albeit short-lived, churches in the village. Neither of these churches was still around at the conclusion of the Civil War, yet perhaps the damage was done and their impact was felt even then.

About a dozen people left the Methodist Episcopal church – then situated on the north side of Chapel Street, in the vicinity of the home that now houses the L. Caroline Underwood Museum – to form the Wesleyan Methodist church around 1841. The division in this case wasn’t so much one of antislavery versus proslavery but one in which certain church members felt the church should take a more militant stand in opposition to slavery. Coincidentally, those who formed the Wesleyan Methodist church initially moved their services just up the street to Hoyt’s Tavern, which was apparently located on the corner of Main and Chapel streets, where the Oliver House Museum now stands.

That same year, and just across Chapel Street on the opposite corner of Main and Chapel streets, former members of the Presbyterian church – which stood then where it does now, on the northeast corner of Main and Clinton streets, albeit with a different building – founded and dedicated the First Free Congregational church. Though an exact number of founding members is unclear, an item in our subject file indicates the Presbyterian congregation was about equally divided, over the issues of both slavery and temperance. The half against slavery and in favor of temperance – including the Rev. Ovid Miner – decided to break off and start their own church on a lot next to the Main Street home of Myron Hamlin, who was part of that half.

Later on – possibly 1844, a date erroneously listed for the construction of an eventual church building – the Wesleyan Methodists moved their services to an upper room of “a large, unpainted building,” according to our subject file, on Court Street that served as the Masonic Temple at the time. On February 8, 1851, as dated in a deed, a piece of property at the northwest corner of Main and Court streets passed from Charles V. Bush to David B. Prosser and a church building was established there. Bush – who also constructed several buildings in the downtown business district of Main Street that still stand – built the Wesleyan Methodist church, the work starting in April 1851 and the church dedicated December 4 of that year. Though the congregation started with just a dozen members of the Methodist Episcopal church, more than 100 members defected to the Wesleyan Methodist church over its first few years.

Seemingly starting with the opening of their own church, the Wesleyan Methodists exhibited the character that the more radical stance of their church might suggest. Amelia Bloomer lectured on temperance at the church in June 1853, and in January 1855, the church hosted a women’s rights convention that featured Susan B. Anthony – hailing from nearby Rochester – and Ernestine Rose as speakers. Two years later, in 1857, Anthony returned to the church again to speak at an anti-slavery rally. The church hosted several similar lecturers and reformers of the day over its time, and topics such as women’s rights, slavery, temperance, the Dred Scott decision of 1857, and similar social and political subjects were discussed by the pastors and members of the church. “Some considered the Wesleyan church the most radical of all,” reads a handwritten note in our subject file. “Its pulpit was open not only to anti-slavery but to discussions of human rights.”

Though the reasons are unclear, the Wesleyan Methodist congregation apparently disbanded a little more than a year before the end of the Civil War. A deed dated March 9, 1864 transferred the church property from Prosser to Henry Bradley – coincidentally a founding member of the Congregational church and possibly a benefactor of the Wesleyan Methodist church’s construction. According to an item that appeared in the Yates County Chronicle 15 days later, Bradley and Eliza Hermans, the widow of a Dr. Hermans, purchased the building to remodel and refit it as a boarding house. It may have been called the Wesleyan Hotel, according to our subject file. Perhaps ironically, it is the only building of the four churches mentioned in this article that is still standing as it was in the 1850s.

Less is known, at least from our subject file, about the First Free Congregational church. The congregation organized on February 27, 1841 and dedicated their church building on December 1, 1841. Unlike their Wesleyan Methodist counterparts, the members of the Congregational church did construct their own church building from the start, at a cost of $7,000 that apparently later left a debt of $2,000. A couple of notes in our subject file indicate a town clock was installed in the tower of the building. The church disbanded in 1857, and the property was sold to the Methodist church for $3,000; the Methodists used the Congregational church building as their own for close to 40 years before the current Methodist church building went up in the 1890s.

According to miscellaneous – and perhaps contradictory – notes in our subject file, the Congregational church may have abandoned its antislavery character and begun employing pro-slavery pastors, leading to dissatisfaction among the congregation. Though there were 125 living members at its close, the congregation may not have grown as expected; dissensions arose along with financial troubles. The church was apparently sold under judgment, and it may have been occupied for a brief period by a select school. A person writing a letter in the Yates County Chronicle after the church’s disbanding asserted, “It is not known that so much as a single dollar was ever received,” by the church, “from any person who sympathized with slavery or who drank or who sold intoxicating drinks as a beverage.”

Whether the Wesleyan Methodists and the Congregationalists returned to their respective former churches following their new churches’ closures is unclear. Interestingly, while the Wesleyan Methodist church is the only building of the four to remain standing, the Presbyterian church is the only of the four still in its original location.

[ameliabloomerproject]

To tell your story even if it seems no one wants to hear it; to refuse to accept shame; to stop questioning yourself and start questioning the rules instead: these are goals I set for Addie, the narrator of my novel-in-verse Ask Me How I Got Here. They are, to be honest, my goals as well. Each year the Amelia Bloomer Project book list reassures girls and young women that the struggle to embrace who they are and speak up for what they believe in is not one they have to undertake alone. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to lend Addie’s voice to this supportive chorus. Because it’s true—we really are stronger together.

Christine Heppermann, author of Ask Me How I Got Here, a 2017 Amelia Bloomer List selection

The Amelia Bloomer List is a project of the American Library Association’s Feminist Task Force. To learn more about the Amelia Bloomer Project, you can visit our blog.

[nanowrimo]

Win an Introduction to an Agent or Publisher During Pitchapalooza

Ready to pitch your novel to the pros? Here’s a message from The Book Doctors to tell you how!

You wrote your 50,000 words (or close!). You’re a winner. You felt the high. Now what are you going to do with your precious manuscript? That’s where we, The Book Doctors, come in. Join us for our twelfth annual NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza to learn how to catch the attention of publishers and readers. 

For those of you unfamiliar with Pitchapalooza, here’s the skinny: You get 250 words to pitch your book. Twenty pitches will be randomly selected from all submissions. We will then critique the pitches during a live webinar on April 2, 12PM PT, so you get to see what makes a great pitch. At the end of the webinar, we will choose one winner from the group. The winner will receive an introduction to an agent or publisher appropriate for their manuscript.

We will also crown a Fan Favorite who will receive a free one-hour consultation with us (worth $250). On April 3, 2022, the 20 random pitches will be posted on our website, www.thebookdoctors.com. Anyone can vote for a fan favorite, so get your social media engine running as soon as the pitches go up! Connecting with your future readers is a vital part of being a successfully published author, and this is a great way to get some practice. Voting closes at 11:59PM PT on April 25, 2022. Fan Favorite will be announced on April 26, 2021.

Here’s how to enter:

Beginning February 15, 2022, you can email your pitch to nanowrimo@thebookdoctors.com. 

Do not attach your pitch, just embed it in the email.

You get up to 250 words to pitch your book.

Include your title and your name at the top of your pitch. These don’t count toward your 250 words.

All pitches must be received by 11:59PM PT on March 15, 2022.

Where are they now? NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza Success Stories

It’s been a great year for past NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza winners: 

In 2016, May Cobb ran away with NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza. She's been capturing attention ever since. In 2019, it was a "heated six-publisher auction" that ended with Berkley winning the rights to publish her novel The Hunting Wives, which was pitched as In a Dark, Dark Wood meets Mean Girls. The Hunting Wives launched in May 2021 with buzz from The Skimm, Cosmopolitan, SheReads, PopSugar, BuzzFeed, Goodreads, E! Online, Crime Reads, Book Riot, Bustle, and more. In September 2021, May announced another two-book deal with Berkley. First up, My Summer Darlings hits bookstores in May 2022: three lifelong friends plus a dangerous, sexy new stranger in town add up to a scorching summer of manipulation, obsession, and murder.

Gloria Chao won the 2015 NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza with the novel that would become her critically-acclaimed debut American Panda. Her award-winning books have been featured on the “Best of” lists of Seventeen, Bustle, Barnes & Nobles, PopSugar, Paste Magazine, and more. American Panda received four starred trade reviews, was on the Amelia Bloomer list, and was a Junior Library Guild Selection, Indie Next Pick, and YALSA Teens’ Top 10 Pick. Her second novel, Our Wayward Fate, came out in 2019 and her third novel, Rent a Boyfriend, is out now from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 

But that's not all. Fools in Love, an anthology released December 7, 2021 (Running Press Kids/Hachette), features Gloria and fourteen bestselling, award-winning, and up-and-coming authors as they reimagine some of the most popular themes in the romance genre that are sure to steal your heart. Gloria's work graces Game On: 15 Stories of Wins, Losses, and Everything in Between that released last month from Viking/Penguin. And coming from Viking Penguin in Fall 2022 is When You Wish Upon a Lantern, a YA romance that sold in a heated auction! In Spring 2023, look for Freshman Orientation, a YA anthology of linked stories set on the first day at a small college, from the perspective of teens moving into their dorms, making new friends, avoiding old ones, and trying to fit in (Candlewick).

Gloria is giving back to aspiring authors by being a 2022 We Need Diverse Books YA mentor. 

Stacy McAnulty has been on fire since she won our third NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza, publishing twenty-eight books and counting. Her latest novel, Millionaires for the Month, is out now from Random House Books for Young Readers. Kirkus calls it “cinematic, over-the-top decadence, a tense race against time, and lessons on what’s truly valuable.” Stacy also signed a deal with Random House to publish another middle grade novel, A Penny Doubled, pitched as How to Steal a Dog meets Brewster’s Millions. She also published three picture books in 2021: A Small Kindness (February 2), Mars! (February 9), and Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack (August 31). And Little, Brown recently won at auction rights to publish her debut nonfiction middle grade Save the People! Halting Human Extinction, a look at our potential demise with a side of humor and a powerful remedy: scientific knowledge. In April 2022, look for Our Planet! There’s No Place Like Earth, and in August, Blood! Not Just a Vampire Drink. 

“Winning Pitchapalooza gave me confidence and the courage to keep fighting. It also helped bring my manuscript to the next level.”

–Gloria Chao

Important NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza Dates

Tuesday, February 15, 2022 — Pitch submission opens

Tuesday, March 15, 2022 — Final day to submit pitches

Saturday, April 2, 2022 — NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza live on YouTube

Sunday, April 3, 2022 — Voting for Fan Favorite begins at www.thebookdoctors.com 

Monday, April 25, 2022 — Final day to vote for Fan Favorite

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 — Fan Favorite announced at www.thebookdoctors.com 

NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza FAQs

Q: May I submit more than one pitch? 

A: Yes, you may submit multiple pitches. Please include your book’s title and your name at the top of each pitch.

Q: How are the 20 pitches selected? 

A: The 20 pitches are randomly selected; however, we read all the pitches.

Q: Are the choices for Fan Favorite also randomly selected? 

A: Yes. They are the same 20 pitches that we read during the webinar.

Q: Will a recording be available? 

A: Yes. You’ll be able to view the recording at www.thebookdoctors.com and on YouTube. 

Q: Does my novel have to be finished?

A: No, you may pitch a work in progress.

Q: May I submit a pitch for a self-published novel?

A: Yes.

Q: Will the writers of the randomly selected pitches be notified ahead of the webcast?

A: The writers of the selected pitches will not be notified ahead of the event.

Q: Where can I learn more about writing my pitch? 

A: We offer resources on our YouTube channel. We recommend that you watch “The Art of the Book Pitch”,  last year’s NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza, and our Pitch Tips playlist. Hungry for more examples? Check out our Pitchapalooza playlist. You can find Gloria Chao’s pitch tips here. 

Are you feeling a little unsure about exactly how to craft your pitch?  We’ve got you covered. 

10 Tips for Pitching Your Novel

A great pitch is like a poem.  Every word counts.

Make us fall in love with your hero.  Whether you’re writing a novel or memoir, you have to make us root for your flawed but lovable hero.

Make us hate your villain.  Show us someone unique and dastardly whom we can’t wait to hiss at.

Just because your kids love to hear your story at bedtime doesn’t mean you’re automatically qualified to get a publishing deal. Make sure to include only relevant information in your pitch.

If you have any particular expertise that relates to your novel, tell us. Establishing your credentials will help us trust you.

Your pitch is your audition to show us what a brilliant writer you are, so it has to be the very best of your writing.

Don’t make your pitch a book report.  Make it sing and soar and amaze.

A pitch is like a movie trailer.  You start with an incredibly exciting/funny/sexy/romantic/etc. close-up with intense specificity, then you pull back to show the big picture and tell us the themes and broad strokes that build to a climax.

Leave us with a cliffhanger.  The ideal reaction to a pitch is, “Oh my God, what happens next?”

Show us what’s unique, exciting, valuable, awesome, unexpected, about your project, and also why it’s comfortable, familiar and proven.

Join our newsletter to receive more tips on how to get published.

Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry have appeared everywhere from NPR’s Morning Edition to The New York Times to The Wall Street Journal to USA Today. They have taught everywhere from Stanford University to the Miami Book Festival to the granddaddy of American bookstores, Strand Books in New York City.

Their book, The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published, is the go-to book on the subject, and contains all the information you’ll ever need, taking you through the entire process of conceiving, writing, selling, marketing and promoting your book.

[richincolor]

Ahead of Latinx Heritage Month, here are four books by Latinx authors we read and loved this year!

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado Holiday House || Group Discussion

Charlie Vega is a lot of things. Smart. Funny. Artistic. Ambitious. Fat.

People sometimes have a problem with that last one. Especially her mom. Charlie wants a good relationship with her body, but it's hard, and her mom leaving a billion weight loss shakes on her dresser doesn't help. The world and everyone in it have ideas about what she should look like: thinner, lighter, slimmer-faced, straighter-haired. Be smaller. Be whiter. Be quieter.

But there's one person who's always in Charlie's corner: her best friend Amelia. Slim. Popular. Athletic. Totally dope. So when Charlie starts a tentative relationship with cute classmate Brian, the first worthwhile guy to notice her, everything is perfect until she learns one thing--he asked Amelia out first. So is she his second choice or what? Does he even really see her? UGHHH. Everything is now officially a MESS.

A sensitive, funny, and painful coming-of-age story with a wry voice and tons of chisme, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega tackles our relationships to our parents, our bodies, our cultures, and ourselves. -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee Quill Tree Books || Review

Noah Ramirez thinks he’s an expert on romance. He has to be for his popular blog, the Meet Cute Diary, a collection of trans happily ever afters. There’s just one problem—all the stories are fake. What started as the fantasies of a trans boy afraid to step out of the closet has grown into a beacon of hope for trans readers across the globe.

When a troll exposes the blog as fiction, Noah’s world unravels. The only way to save the Diary is to convince everyone that the stories are true, but he doesn’t have any proof. Then Drew walks into Noah’s life, and the pieces fall into place: Drew is willing to fake-date Noah to save the Diary. But when Noah’s feelings grow beyond their staged romance, he realizes that dating in real life isn’t quite the same as finding love on the page.

In this charming novel by Emery Lee, Noah will have to choose between following his own rules for love or discovering that the most romantic endings are the ones that go off script. -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Simone Breaks All the Rules by Debbie Rigaud Scholastic || Review

Simone Thibodeaux's life is sealed in a boy-proof container.

Her strict Haitian immigrant parents enforce no-dating rules and curfews, and send Simone to an all-girls school. As for prom? Simone is allowed to go on one condition: her parents will select her date (a boy from a nice Haitian immigrant family, obviously).

Simone is desperate to avoid the humiliation of the set up -- especially since she's crushing on a boy she knows her parents wouldn't approve of. With senior year coming to a close, Simone makes a decision. She and her fellow late-bloomer friends will create a Senior Year Bucket List of all the things they haven't had a chance to do. On the list: kissing a boy, sneaking out of the house, skipping class (gasp!), and, oh yeah -- choosing your own prom date.

But as the list takes on a life of its own, things get more complicated than Simone expected. She'll have to discover which rules are worth breaking, and which will save her from heartbreak. -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Fire with Fire by Destiny Soria HMH Books for Young Readers || Review

Dani and Eden Rivera were both born to kill dragons, but the sisters couldn’t be more different. For Dani, dragon slaying takes a back seat to normal high school life, while Eden prioritizes training above everything else. Yet they both agree on one thing: it’s kill or be killed where dragons are concerned.

Until Dani comes face-to-face with one and forges a rare and magical bond with him. As she gets to know Nox, she realizes that everything she thought she knew about dragons is wrong. With Dani lost to the dragons, Eden turns to the mysterious and alluring sorcerers to help save her sister. Now on opposite sides of the conflict, the sisters will do whatever it takes to save the other. But the two are playing with magic that is more dangerous than they know, and there is another, more powerful enemy waiting for them both in the shadows. -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

[modernwizard]

I’m on a printables kick. I recently made my own snack packaging for my dolls, as well as some pulp magazines. For four covers and two back covers of Strange Stories, I rendered pictures in Daz Studio to use as cover illustrations or ads. For two back covers of Strange Stories and the cover of Scanties!, I used someone else’s art. Scanties! has a pinup on it. Two back covers of Strange Stories have posters advertising magicians from the early twentieth century.

Covers read as follows:

The Portal Potty by P.P. Crapper

The Sensational Steam-Powered Chair by Roland A. Rounde

Tides of Love by Myrrha Mayd

Scanties! Women’s Underwear -- A Brief History by Amelia Bloomer

Death’s Pale Steed by Emmet O. Morry

Rocket Fuel Foods, the “delicious & nutritious extraterrestrial snack food product,” comes in Comet Crunch, Stellar Sweets, and Meteoric Mix. Packages include everything from ingredient lists to nutritional info to promotional copy.

I like Tides of Love aesthetically. The Portal Potty is the best set of puns. Anyone disagreeing will be laughed out the door.

[savagereader]

Review of Dreadnought by April Daniels

What would you do if you were suddenly given super-powers? What would you do if those super-powers changed your body into what you’ve always wanted it to be but now superheroes want you to fight for them for their own reasons and there’s a supervillain out there that needs to be stopped? What would you do if you were 15 when all this happened to you? This is what happens to Danny Tozer. Although Danny was born a boy, she knows in her heart and soul that she is a girl. Danny is viscerally uncomfortable in her male body, agonized by the expectations of society and her parents to demonstrate maleness. She has researched hormone therapy and sex change operations and waits anxiously for the day she turns 18 and is able to move out on her own and become herself. In the meantime she pretends. She joins the football team to appease her father (‘s fragile masculinity) and avoids friendships with girls. The only form of true self-expression Danny allows herself is to once a week catch a train across the city to the mall to buy nail polish, and hide behind the building to paint her toenails. It is her one relief. This is what Danny is doing at the beginning of April Daniels’ book Dreadnought. Then suddenly, as Danny examines her toenails, she is the unfortunate witness to a superhero fight between the legendary Dreadnought and an unheard-of villain, Utopia. To Danny’s shock, Utopia mortally wounds Dreadnought, knocking him out of the sky and practically to Danny’s feet. Danny desperately drags Dreadnought behind cover, but he is already dying. Dreadnought, feeling that his abilities are still needed, passes his power and his mantle on to Danny. This transference triggers a change in Danny, re-shaping her body to match her internal ideal image. It makes her a girl on the outside to match how she has always felt on the inside. Thus starts Danny’s journey as she navigates her new body, her new powers, and her new life. She struggles with her parents seeing her transition and trying to convince her to receive hormone therapy to “fix her,” a changing relationship with her best friend, and getting to know the super-hero team Dreadnought belonged to, and figuring out who this new villain is and what she wants. Danny’s got her work cut out for her. Funny and heart-breaking, empowering and crushing, this first book in April Daniels’ Nemesis series is an emotional roller-coaster ride simulating the ups and downs of teenage-dom, the power in figuring out who you are, and the devastating effect prejudice and an un-supportive family can have on a person. Danny is gorgeous. April Daniels is unflinching in painting Danny’s thoughts in paper, making her very easy to relate to, and I loved the creativity shown in building the super-hero cast of the book, and in how Daniels still managed to make the super-characters human (almost) with flaws of their own. Would absolutely recommend to teens. 2018 The Amelia Bloomer Book List Lambda Literary Award Finalist Daniels, A. (2017). Dreadnought (Nemesis). DiversionBooks.

[anotheruserwithnoname]

Minor hint about Victoria S4?

With the lack of any news about when or if there will be a fourth series of Victoria, we’ll take any tidbit we can get.

The website The List has posted an interview with UK TV presenter Lucy Worsley. She’s an historian who is known for hosting a diverse range of documentaries and has written a number of books. Last year, she wrote an article for Radio Times on a visit to the set of Victoria, where she posed for photos with Jenna Coleman.

In the List interview, a number of topics are discussed, but what caught my attention was this exchange where she discusses her dream TV role:

In an ideal world, which show (past or present) would you have loved a part on? Well, Daisy Goodwin, the writer of the ITV series Victoria (the one with Jenna Coleman) has actually promised to write me a part as the American Amelia Bloomer (populariser of Bloomers for women) in the next series. So I'm counting on this particular dream coming true.

Obviously, stating a hope for a TV role isn’t the same as saying “ITV is definitely making Series 4″, but the fact Goodwin is still planning for S4 (with this being a little character clue, if nothing else) is at least promising.

My guess is we’ll probably find out by spring what’s going to happen to Victoria, whether a full-length S4 is going happen, or they’re going to do a series-ending special, or if ITV pulls the plug, which would be the worst option as that would leave S3′s cliffhanger unresolved. Having said that, I think I’m the guy who predicted that we’d know by Christmas, and then before that the fall of 2019, so keep that salt shaker handy.

[iowa-gothic]

Things I Probably Won’t Cover in the Podcast (But Might in Other Future Podcasts):

-Jesse James train robbery

-Bonnie and Clyde shootout

-World’s largest frying pan/strawberry/wooden nickel/etc.

-Pretty much all that stuff listed on Atlas Obscura (though I do adore Atlas Obscura)

-Caucuses

-Fenelon Place Elevator

-Flood of 08 (I’m saving it for its own podcast!!)

-Famous-ish people like Meredith Wilson, Amelia Bloomer, John Wayne, etc. (I’m considering doing yet another podcast focusing on notable Iowans, plus they are well-known, which doesn’t really fit with what I’m trying to do with this first podcast)

-Trek Fest/Hobo Convention

Why I Won’t Cover Them:

These subjects all pop up online in lists or articles of things that are touristy or “well known” sites or historical events in Iowa, and I want to focus on the more forgotten/less widely known history (or at least, history I hadn’t ever heard of in all my years living here and going to school here). Villisca and the Black Angel statues (there are two) are huge exceptions to this rule, because I have received requests and suggestions for both.

[letsgetliterary]

BLOG POST 1: Informational

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13

Ages: 5-9 years, K-3rd

Book Cover:

Justification:

I chose this book for several reasons.  The book is the recipient of several glowing reviews, including a starred Kirkus review.  The ALA’s Amelia Bloomer List chose this book as one of the 2019 selections for best feminist books for young readers.  The Junior Library Guild also lists this book as one of its selections for 2019, and the book appears on eighteen other notable shortlists and honor awards.  Finally, this book is a timely recommendation for readers due to the recent passing of Katherine Johnson, and the importance of her work and legacy.

Evaluation:

In this biographical picture book about Katherine Johnson’s life, Phumiruk’s illustrations underpin the text by depicting each scene with precise, almost mathematic lines.  There is a sort of muted realism in each illustration, with many of the mathematical and scientific components drawn realistically, with other elements represented more abstractly.  Phumiruk’s careful attention to detail is displayed in the precise equations and graphs incorporated into both obvious and surprising ways (a floor background composed of graphs and mathematical research, for example).  As the main character, Katherine is portrayed in warm, bright colors, drawing the eye away from the monochromatic depiction of the men she works with.  It is clear that she is the brains, the bright spot of genius on each page.  

This book does not leave all of the work to the illustrations, however, as the narrative is also a delight.  Each page furthers the biographical summary of Katherine Johnson’s life and work, covering her childhood passion for math through her work with the famed Apollo missions for N.A.S.A.  Becker takes a refreshing turn from many biographical children’s books; this book evades the trap of exchanging readability for information, instead maintaining a pleasingly lyrical rhythm throughout each page.  Each refrain of “You can count on me” repeated in the book serves to highlight both Katherine’s affinity for counting and the nature of trust relayed through her personal stories and interactions.

This personal touch brings the character of Katherine to life for the reader.  Other characters are rightly relegated to the background, with the exception of Katherine’s father- clearly portrayed as a mentor in her life.  With each page, Katherine becomes a known and passionate character.  Her quirks of counting steps and dishes, as well as her hard work ethic, come into focus for the reader.  This is not a dry historical depiction- rather the book helps the reader to discover the real person behind the amazing history.

Conclusion:

Counting on Katherine is a perfect book for introducing young readers to a scientific and mathematic heroine.  The story provides plenty of biographical information, while still maintaining a lyrical picture book rhythm and outstanding illustrations.  This selection is perfect for reading aloud and would be of great value to add to any curriculum unit on math, space, women in history, African American history, and more.  Young children will be able to meet a young Katherine, and the book will help to create a realistic grasp on history and scientific possibility.

Reference:

Becker, H., & Phumiruk, T. (2018). Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson saved Apollo 13.  Henry Holt and Co.

[dazzledbybooks]

You are alone in the woods, seen only by the unblinking yellow moon. Your hands are empty. You are nearly naked. And the wolf is angry. Since her grandmother became her caretaker when she was four years old, Bisou Martel has lived a quiet life in a little house in Seattle. She’s kept mostly to herself. She’s been good. But then comes the night of homecoming, when she finds herself running for her life over roots and between trees, a fury of claws and teeth behind her. A wolf attacks. Bisou fights back. A new moon rises. And with it, questions. About the blood in Bisou’s past and on her hands as she stumbles home. About broken boys and vicious wolves. About girls lost in the woods—frightened, but not alone. Elana K. Arnold, National Book Award finalist and author of the Printz Honor book Damsel, returns with a dark, engrossing, blood-drenched tale of the familiar threats to female power—and one girl’s journey to regain it. Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold Publisher: Balzer + Bray Release Date: February 25th 2020 Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings, Fairy Tales Links: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43721070-red-hood Amazon: https://amzn.to/32Ip5Us B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-hood-elana-k-arnold/1130335629 iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/red-hood/id1465581675 Bookdepository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Red-Hood-Elana-K-Arnold/9780062742353?ref=grid-view&qid=1573657505950&sr=1-1 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/nz/en/ebook/red-hood-3 Google Books: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Red_Hood.html?id=W-i4xQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y Favorite Quotes: Fairy tales and fables are powerful because they tell us truths we already know. They ring a bell deep inside us, striking a resonant, vibrating note that makes us nod yes with recognition. Forcing anything when it comes to sex is completely unacceptable. Darling, it is not your job to make boys happy. Sometimes boys become wolves. Review: Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold. I am not totally sure what to say at this moment. This wasn’t the book that I was expecting. I was expecting a modern retelling of Red Riding Hood but instead, I ended up with a giant metaphor of being raped and killing your attacker. Something I wish I had a bit more warning for. Red Hood is told in second person. Which it has been a long time since I read a story like this. Second person is definitely one of the harder story views for me to read. It is a lot harder for me to connect to the characters this way. This story is very gory and very dark. Normally I would mind gory and dark if it made sense, but I don’t feel like it makes sense for this book at least not for teenagers. I find that this doesn’t work so well in this YA thriller fairytale retelling. There are moments that I feel like Arnold is trying to be an educator. She is trying to teach teens how to use a tampon and put a condom on it. I can possibly understand this for kids that have the lack of parental education or even sex ed in school. I just wish that Arnold did a better job with it vs going about it the way that she did. I think the biggest issue that I had with this book is that the message is supposed to be about female empowerment and girls banding together. In the end, it feels like this is feeling you that there is justification in murder. That is not an endorsement I support. This book is written to make the reader very uncomfortable so I get that. I just found that the book wasn’t really for me. I can’t say that it is a bad book either. I would definitely give it like 3 stars. I do think that Arnold is a very skilled writer. About the Author: ELANA K. ARNOLD is the author of critically acclaimed and award-winning young adult novels and children’s books, including the Printz Honor winner Damsel, the National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of, and Global Read Aloud selection A Boy Called Bat and its sequels. Several of her books are Junior Library Guild selections and have appeared on many best book lists, including the Amelia Bloomer Project, a catalog of feminist titles for young readers. Elana teaches in Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program and lives in Southern California with her family and menagerie of pets. Author Links: Website: http://elanakarnold.com/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5772357.Elana_K_Arnold Twitter: https://twitter.com/elanakarnold Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElanaKArnold/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elanakarnold/ Giveaway: Prize: Win a copy of RED HOOD by Elana K. Arnold (US Only) Starts: 18th February 2020 Ends: 3rd March 2020 a Rafflecopter giveaway Tour Schedule: http://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2019/12/tour-schedule-red-hood-by-elana-k-arnold.html February 18th The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club - Welcome Post February 19th Kait Plus Books - Guest Post Here's to Happy Endings - Review + Favourite Quotes Write, Read, Repeat - Review Foals, Fiction & Filigree - Review + Favourite Quotes + Instagram A Bronx Latina Reads - Review February 20th Bibliobibuli YA - Interview @womanon - Review Feed Your Fiction Addiction - Review Flying Paperbacks - Review + Favourite Quotes Fanna Wants The World To Read - Review February 21st Camillea Reads - Review Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile - Review + Favourite Quotes My Bookish Bliss - Review + Playlist Kris & Vik Book Therapy Cafe - Review + Favourite Quotes Gwendalyn’s Books - Review February 22nd Sometimes Leelynn Reads - Review + Playlist + Dream Cast A Dream Within A Dream - Review The Reading Corner for All - Review + Favourite Quotes For The Love of Fictional Worlds - Review Jenerally Reading - Review + Playlist + Favourite Quotes February 23rd The Contented Reader - Interview Dazzled by Books - Review + Favourite Quotes L.M. Durand - Review Confessions of a YA Reader - Review + Favourite Quotes Book Lover's Book Reviews - Review February 24th NovelKnight - Guest Post Pages and Pugs - Review + Favourite Quotes The Bibliophagist - Review The Layaway Dragon - Review + Favourite Quotes devourbookswithdana - Review + Favourite Quotes

http://www.dazzledbybooks.com/2020/02/red-hood-blog-tour.html