Watercolor by Frank Ducote.
Still waters run deep.
Consider the small, quiet town of Hanapepe (hah-nah-PEH-peh), on the island of Kaua’i, which is the northernmost and oldest of Hawai’i’s eight main islands. I had never been there, until I read this poem:
The Obamas visiting the U.S.S. Arizona last year.
So, the past few days I’ve been wondering something.
When orator extraordinaire Barack Obama is in Hawai’i, does he ever speak any Pidgin? I mean, can you imagine him saying something like:
Ho, dis haupia cake broke da mout!
We go holoholo bumbai.
No can.
It’s hard to imagine, but I tend to think he must speak some Pidgin when he’s with old friends. I haven’t lived in Hawai’i for 30+ years, and I never speak Pidgin here in Virginia, yet whenever I’m back home visiting family and friends, I naturally begin to shorten my phrases and assume that unmistakable Pidgin "accent." It’s in my DNA, and I think it’s in Barack’s, too. Len wholly disagrees, citing that Barack is too conscious of his public image to utter so much as a syllable in Pidgin, since the press would pick up on every word he says.
Like Pidgin is bad, or something? Not so.
Attention, Everyone, Attention!
Today we’re sending some extra special balloons all the way up to the Fire Escape to congratulate uber-talented author Mitali Perkins on the release of her new young adult novel, Secret Keeper (Delacorte, 2009)!
I’m extra thrilled and excited, because I so loved Monsoon Summer, Rickshaw Girl, and the First Daughter books. Once again, Mitali explores the conflict between feminist ideals and traditional values.
SECRET KEEPER by Mitali Perkins
(Delacorte, 2009), young adult, 240 pp.
When her father must leave Delhi to look for work in America,16-year-old Asha Gupta, her depressed mother, and older sister, Reet, must stay behind with relatives in Calcutta. The women find themselves in an unwelcoming and much more restricted household, where they are forced to abide by Uncle’s wishes. Asha soon seeks sanctuary in her rooftop hideaway, where she records all her woes and frustrations in her diary, or "secret keeper."
Breaking a house rule, she secretly befriends the boy next door, Jay Sen, who paints her portrait. How can it be that Jay’s attentions are focused on Asha instead of her beautiful sister, Reet? When tragic, unexpected news about her father arrives, Asha must make some tough decisions that will change their lives forever.
Secret Keeper has already received some glowing reviews:
"Asha’s struggles will enlighten and inspire young women, and encourage them to value their own freedom." (Kirkus)
"The plot is full of surprising secrets rooted in the characters’ conflicts and deep connections with each other. The two sisters and their mutual sacrifices are both heartbreaking and hopeful." (Booklist)
It sounds beautiful and poignant, and I can’t wait to read it — I know the cultural references will be fascinating, and it will be interesting to immerse myself in 1970’s India, and be reminded of the freedoms I’ve had as an American female that I’ve always taken for granted.
And now, please join me in congratulating Mitali by partaking of this special soup bouquet,
(Secret recipe, of course.)
and the perfect complement, samosas!
More about the book, including detailed reviews and a book trailer, can be found at Mitali’s website. Purchase Secret Keeper through IndieBound, or click on through to your favorite online bookseller!
See all the Soup of the Day posts on this blog here!
Hooray Hooray!!
Huge Congratulations to Lisa Mullarkey ( ) on the release this month of her new chapter book series, Katharine the Almost Great (Magic Wagon, 2009)!
There are six, count ’em, 6, titles featuring the irrepressible third grader, Katharine Carmichael, in her quest to become Katharine the Great. All she has to do is conquer geometry and stage fright, think up the best school service project ever, help her cousin, Crockett, get elected as class president, discover the truth about her blood-sucking brother, Jack, and survive the trauma of having her mom as the new cook in the cafeteria.
Sounds like a lot of ups, downs, adventures and laughs in these character building stories set at Liberty Corner School, appropriate for young readers ages 7-10. I am most anxious to read Book 2, Major Mama Drama, because I want to find out what kinds of things Katharine’s mom cooks! Does she really ban french fries (oh, no)!?
The other titles in the series, all illustrated by Phyllis Harris, are:
Book 1: Uses Her Common Cents
Book 3: The Biggest Star by Far
Book 4: Bent Out of Shape
Book 5: The Red, White and Blue Crew
Book 6: Can’t Keep Trackula of Jackula
Lisa’s website has more information about all the books, including a cool excerpt from Uses Common Cents, as well as a Teacher’s Guide. The books are available through the publisher, IndieBound, or your favorite online bookseller.
Now, please join me in congratulating Lisa with six big slurps. There’s a spoon for each one of the books in the series. Happy dipping!
Today’s Special: Almost Tomato Soup.
*Visit the soup gallery, to see all the book release soups on this blog.
1. Hula Lullaby by Erin Eitter Kono
2. “Hanapepe, Kaua’i,” by Geraldine Heng
3. “Tai Chi Masters of Dim Sum Checks,” by Peter C.T. Li
4. “This Little Piggy Went to Market,” by Billy Collins
6. “A Dangerous Adventure,” by James Tate
7. “An Apology,” and “Blazing Fruit,” by Roger McGough
8. “The Spoon,” by Richard Jones
9. “Lines for the Fortune Cookie,” by Frank O’Hara
10. “Sweet Baby James,” by James Taylor
11. “The Anagrammer,” by Peter Pereira
12. “I Need to Be More French. Or Japanese.,” by Beth Ann Fennelly
13. Stampede!:Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School, by Laura Purdie Salas
14. “The Emily Dickinson Black Cake Walk,” by Sandra M. Gilbert
15. “The Cupboard,” by Walter de la Mare
16. Poems celebrating the month of May by Sara Teasdale, Philip Larkin, Robert Herrick, and others.
17. “Ode to My Socks,” by Pablo Neruda, and “Ode to My Chair,” by Demps Demsey.
19. “Millions of Strawberries,” by Genevieve Taggard.
20. “Afraid So,” by Jeanne Marie Beaumont.
21. “The Booksigning,” by James Tate.
22. “You Were Wearing,” by Kenneth Koch.
23. “If Life Gives You Lemons, Make,” by Jennifer Perrine.
24. “From Blossoms,” by Li-Young Lee.
25. “When I Met My Muse,” and “An Introduction to Some Poems,” by William Stafford .
27. “The Motorcycle Song,” by Arlo Guthrie.
28. “I’m Lonely as the Letter X,” by Diane Lockward.
29. “White Rabbit,” by Grace Slick.
30. “In Flight,” by Jennifer K. Sweeney.
31. “Eve’s Confession,” by Diane Lockward.
32. “Heart on the Unemployment Line,” by Diane Lockward.
33. “Barter,” by Sara Teasdale.
34. “My Mother Give Me Her Recipe,” by Marge Piercy.
35. “Thompson’s Lunch Room – Grand Central Station,” by Amy Lowell.
37. “Autumn Song,” by Katherine Mansfield.
39. Review of Tofu Quilt by Ching Yeung Russell.
40. “Love at the Grocery” by Carly Sachs.
41. “Mooses Come Walking,” “Alice’s Restaurant,” by Arlo Guthrie.
42. “Day is Done,” by Peter Yarrow and Melissa Sweet.
43. “All You That to Feasting and Mirth Are Inclined,” by Anonymous.
*A permanent link to this archive can be found in the sidebar of this blog.
Jama's Alphabet Soup 