Reviews

OF WORDS & WATER

The pictures, many double-page spreads, dominated by blues and greens, are enthrallingly fresh.
Elevates a conservationist who deserves to be far better known.

DANCING IN THE STORM

Kate’s fear, loss, and anger are vividly portrayed, and others’ awkward or ableist reactions ring painfully true.

DANCING IN THE STORM

In this empathetic novel of loss, resilience, and joy, Shannon Hitchcock and Arnie Dranell Specht deftly balance Kate’s diagnosis with middle school drama, creating a deeply relatable telling in which community support and an openness to change lead to Kate’s hopeful visions of a brighter future.

Story Quilts: Appalachian Women Speak

The scraps of Appalachian lives, forgotten by many, persist in the memories marked by thread and bits of cloth.

Green pines, blue mountains, and star-frosted skies peek out of squares stitched together by weathered hands that cooked, cleaned, canned, and gardened all day long. Quilts that would one day hang in museums lovingly sheltered families on cold Blue Ridge nights. Girls would watch their mamas until one day their young hands learned to gather squares and form quilts of their own. Hitchcock’s quiet homage is humbling. The author’s note details the resourcefulness of these women who endured poverty and often lacked formal schooling yet could turn feed sacks into songs of love. Page’s earth-toned art, made out of clay, paper, wire, and fabric, fills the pages with mountain life. Hands guiding needles pop out of scenes. Cut-out flowers, appliqued dogs and fish, intricate stars, and textured images animate the narrative. Hitchcock makes clear that hardship couldn’t silence these women’s stories, told in the language of embellished pieces of worn fabric. Illustrations depict light-skinned characters, though one child appears to be darker-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A loving tribute to perseverance and inner strength. (Picture book. 6-10)

Story Quilts: Appalachian Women Speak

The creators pay tribute to Appalachian women who told stories through quilts with this visually arresting picture book, which intersperses facts about day-to-day life alongside an introduction to the craft. Writing in the third person, Hitchcock reveals the way, though “many… couldn’t read or write,” generations “turned scraps into quilts that told stories,” recording experiences by sewing intricate pictures—with nature as frequent inspiration—into squares of fabric: “The scraps from/ a white pillowcase/ might remind her/ of wispy clouds.” Made of clay, fabric, paper, and wire, Page’s mixed-media collages provide an appealing dimensionality, imbuing the quilts—and the intergenerational figures of various skin tones portrayed throughout—with an appropriately homemade quality. Author and illustrator notes conclude. Ages 7–11. (Sept.)

She Sang for the Mountains: The Story of Jean Ritchie—Singer Songwriter, Activist

Jean Ritchie (1922–2015), a singer who sang generationally inherited ballads and heard music everywhere, is centered in this preservationist profile. After an idyllic, isolated musical childhood in Kentucky’s Cumberland Mountains with her parents and 13 siblings, the pale-skinned blonde relocates to New York City with a dulcimer in hand, becoming a music teacher. Introduced to folk singers cum protestors—sketched portraits bear the names of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Carl Sandburg, and Doc Watson—by a Library of Congress song collector, Ritchie takes up protest songwriting to oppose coal mining. Hitchcock uses gently melodious, alliterative prose: “Rumbling cars replaced rambling walks. The roar of radios replaced the strum of strings.” Earthy, dimensional collage art by Page underlines the story’s themes with its organic, handmade feel. A hearty portrait of the “Mother of Folk,” emphasizing the belief that music can create change. Ages 8–up. (Aug.)

She Sang for the Mountains: The Story of Singer, Songwriter, Activist Jean Ritchie

Gr 2-5–Hitchcock and Page bring to life Jean Ritchie’s musical legacy. The folk singer’s life is traced from her early days in Cumberland, KY, to New York City, to her return home in her later years. She began as a music teacher and went on to be a protest anthem writer and an inspiration to many folk musicians who are now household names, e.g., Bob Dylan, who had to settle in court over using one of her songs. The illustrations leap off the page with characters that will remind older readers of stop-motion animation, here set against collage backgrounds. In stark scenes, children will also learn about the art of protest songs and Ritchie’s own work against strip mining. A great addition to existing literature on climate change, this biography adds the subject to the rich list of activists explored in today’s literature. Ritchie’s words are featured throughout; the eccentric art fits the atmosphere of Ritchie’s life and the heart of the book perfectly.
VERDICT Include this Appalachian biography to strengthen nonfiction shelves and introduce readers to a woman they may never encounter otherwise.

Saving Granddaddy’s Stories

K-Gr 2—Ray Hicks (1922–2003), a white Appalachian folklorist, grew up hearing stories from his grandfather. As a grown man, he retold his grandfather’s stories and his own to everyone who wanted to listen. The renowned storyteller spent his entire life in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. As a child, he was part of a large, struggling family who farmed, foraged for food, and entertained themselves with stories and homemade music. Eventually, outsiders heard them: Hicks told a “Jack Tale” (original stories passed down through their family) at school. When Hicks was an adult, he traveled to Jonesborough, TN, to participate in the first National Storytelling Festival in 1973. He continued to attend the festival and his star power grew. In 1983, he went to Washington, DC, to accept the National Heritage Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. North Carolina native Hitchcock conveys the subject’s life and experience at a leisurely pace, with an authentic voice. Page’s mixed-media illustrations, crafted from clay, paper, fabric, wire, and plenty of imagination, add to the atmosphere. Hick’s overalls are cut pieces of denim; Granddaddy Ben wears glasses with rims of actual wire, and Jack’s cow appears to be a three-dimensional model. In general, the perspective is distorted in the manner of early paintings. VERDICT A distinctive biography of a distinctively American voice.

Flying Over Water

The Alwan family arrives in Tampa, Florida, in 2017 after the war in Syria destroys their lives in Aleppo and forces them into a crowded refugee camp in Turkey.

But their arrival coincides with Trump’s Muslim ban and a sharp rise in anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim hate crimes across the county, including in Tampa, where a mosque is set on fire soon after the family settles in. Frustrated and afraid yet determined to make the best of it, Noura begins seventh grade in her new American school. But she and her twin brother soon realize not all the students are like Jordyn, Noura’s kind, supportive school ambassador who becomes a good friend. Some are like Nick, who calls immigrants terrorists and draws a cartoon of Noura’s hijab being ripped off. But Noura insists on being strong and pushing forward by overcoming her worst fears and inspiring those around her to stand up for their values; she believes that hate can only be overcome with unity, conviction, and compassion. The novel seamlessly transitions between the perspectives of Noura and Jordyn, who is a White, upper-middle-class champion swimmer learning to cope with anxiety after her mother’s recent miscarriage. The girls quickly realize they share a lot in common and can help one another overcome their fears: Noura’s of swimming and Jordyn’s of panic attacks.

Movingly highlights a generation of youth at the center of progressive change. (Fiction. 8-12)

Flying Over Water

Movingly highlights a generation of youth at the center of progressive change. The Alwan family arrives in Tampa, Florida, in 2017 after the war in Syria destroys their lives in Aleppo and forces them into a crowded refugee camp in Turkey.
But their arrival coincides with Trump’s Muslim ban and a sharp rise in anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim hate crimes across the county, including in Tampa, where a mosque is set on fire soon after the family settles in. Frustrated and afraid yet determined to make the best of it, Noura begins seventh grade in her new American school. But she and her twin brother soon realize not all the students are like Jordyn, Noura’s kind, supportive school ambassador who becomes a good friend. Some are like Nick, who calls immigrants terrorists and draws a cartoon of Noura’s hijab being ripped off. But Noura insists on being strong and pushing forward by overcoming her worst fears and inspiring those around her to stand up for their values; she believes that hate can only be overcome with unity, conviction, and compassion. The novel seamlessly transitions between the perspectives of Noura and Jordyn, who is a White, upper-middle-class champion swimmer learning to cope with anxiety after her mother’s recent miscarriage. The girls quickly realize they share a lot in common and can help one another overcome their fears: Noura’s of swimming and Jordyn’s of panic attacks.

Movingly highlights a generation of youth at the center of progressive change. (Fiction. 8-12)

Praise for One True Way.

Allie’s levelheaded narration is refreshingly nuanced. Hitchcock unflinchingly characterizes the emotional struggles of being young and lesbian… Throughout, Allie asks ‘hard questions’ about whether homosexuality is right in the eyes of the Bible or her community. Ultimately and affirmingly, her adult role models encourage her to be true to herself. A compelling and honest addition to the few existing stories about gay middle schoolers.

One True Way

Shannon Hitchcock’s important story shines a bright light on the struggles that LGBT kids had to deal with in the mid-1970s, giving us a context with which to understand more fully the same struggles that are happening today. In straightforward prose, this honest look shows us how far we’ve come, and at the same time doesn’t deny how far we have to go.

Hitchcock—The Ballad of Jessie Pearl (2013) and Ruby Lee & Me (2016)—is no stranger to writing about the tumultuous lives of young people. Reminiscent of Nancy Garden’s Annie on My Mind (1982), Hitchcock’s novel follows Allie and Samantha as they navigate a newfound friendship and slowly budding romance against the backdrop of religious intolerance, family discord, and school drama—complete with a
plethora of ’70s pop culture references. Religion bumps up against self-discovery and early romantic fulfillment, but with an accepting minister and supportive friends, both Allie and Sam work to understand their place in the rural South. The story explores the delicate dance of coming out at a young age, and while the book is reminiscent of early LGBTQ fiction for young readers—family strife, alienation, quickly wrapped-up endings, and so on—the 1970s time frame provides something of a justification for the southern attitudes. Young readers will find this novel to be ultimately uplifting and inspirational,
particularly considering the current lack of middle-grade books with LGBTQ content.

Shannon Hitchcock brings a light touch to a very complex era in history, revealing how the “one true way” is the path to unconditional love for two girls. A brilliant and powerful story!

Praise for Ruby Lee & Me.

Gr 3–6—After a tragic accident leaves her younger sister Robin hospitalized, 12-year-old Sarah must move in with her grandparents. Miss Irene is Granny’s neighbor and friend, and her granddaughter Ruby Lee has been Sarah’s best friend since she can remember. The trouble is, Sarah is white and Ruby Lee is black—and it’s 1969 in North Carolina. The local school will be integrated this year, and the first black teacher has been hired. Tension is high in the tiny town of Shady Creek. Forced to leave her home and start over on her grandparents’ farm, Sarah must come to grips with her guilt about her sister, her anger and confusion about Ruby Lee, and the uncertainty of relationships among whites and blacks in the rural South. Balancing the heavier topics are home-style recipes, strong storytelling, and Southern charm, which will engage younger middle grade readers. The characters are well developed and the historical setting realistic. VERDICT Tenderly told, this appealing story explores racial tensions during a key moment of the civil rights movement.

Ruby Lee & Me

Hitchcock deftly weaves her narrative through history to gently bring important past events to light. Excellently written, the novel’s characters avoid stereotyping and are well-developed, and Hitchcock perfectly captures Sarah Beth’s voice as she wrestles with big questions. The somber themes of race relations and personal guilt are handled sensitively and with a good dose of flour, courtesy of Sarah Beth’s grandmother, and hope for racial healing is offered. A heartening and important offering for younger readers.

[A story] about sibling love and self-forgiveness

Ruby Lee & Me

Sarah’s inner struggles take place against the background of integration in a rural North Carolina community; Hitchcock… depicts her guilt, anger, and grief with credibility and the important people in her life in sympathetic, fully dimensional fashion.

Praise for The Ballad of Jessie Pearl.

Inspired by Shannon Hitchcock’s family history, THE BALLAD OF JESSIE PEARL wraps you like an old quilt in the traditions, tastes, and dialect of rural North Carolina.

With the poetry of plain speaking, Shannon Hitchcock recreates the daily drama of a vanished world.

The Ballad of Jessie Pearl

This fast-paced historical novel is filled with enough factual detail, recognizable emotions, and personal drama to keep readers turning pages, eager to learn the final verse in the ballad of Jessie’s life. An author’s note about the story’s origins in actual events could inspire students to seek out family stories of their own.

The Ballad of Jessie Pearl

Told in a believable first person, present-tense voice that emphasizes the immediacy of Jessie’s problems and her sometimes-raw emotions, Hitchcock’s debut also neatly captures a full flavor of the setting [a North Carolina tobacco farm] and period [1920s]. The aspects of many characters are also effectively revealed, mostly through authentic-sounding dialogue. …A satisfying tale for readers who don’t require a fully happy ending.

The Ballad of Jessie Pearl

Hitchcock’s debut novel introduces 14-year-old Jessie Pearl, who endures more than her fair share of hardships, beginning with the death of her mother. Opening in 1922, the story follows the daily activities on the family’s North Carolina tobacco farm. …Hitchcock’s story is gently and lovingly written, with elements drawn from her own family history. Its detailed honesty about the particular struggles of the period, especially for strong women (Maude, a no-nonsense midwife, is particularly memorable), is significant.

This is a beautifully written book based on the author’s family history and gives teen readers an interesting glimpse at a time in our history when medical interventions were not as sophisticated as they are now and the impact of these limitations on families.

The Ballad of Jessie Pearl

Hitchcock’s seemingly gentle tale ultimately reveals a powerful tension between Jessie’s love for her baby nephew and her deceased sister, and that of the equally strong pull for independence. …. First love, the risk and thrill of the unknown, a beautiful family that shores her up when she feels weak—all these forces tumble about in a believable manner as Jessie figures out her future one day at a time. You can almost hear the gentle fiddle tune playing in the background as she does so.

The Ballad of Jessie Pearl

Rooted in Hitchcock’s own family history, the story of Jessie Pearl has a sincere tone to it that many readers will appreciate. Jessie’s character is particularly believable, and readers will be able to relate to her difficult choices. ….
[T]his could be a good choice for a classroom novel study.

In time for Women’s History Month, this book offers a realistic and heart-wrenching story of the choices, or lack of choices, women of earlier eras faced. Throughout the book readers will be eagerly awaiting the choice that Jessie makes to determine her future.

DANCING IN THE STORM

Kate’s fear, loss, and anger are vividly portrayed, and others’ awkward or ableist reactions ring painfully true.”

DANCING IN THE STORM

In this empathetic novel of loss, resilience, and joy, Shannon Hitchcock and Arnie Dranell Specht deftly balance Kate’s diagnosis with middle school drama, creating a deeply relatable telling in which community support and an openness to change lead to Kate’s hopeful visions of a brighter future.