A Seed Saver's Garden

[ducks4you]

DH recommends "Those Amazing (Extraordinary) Twins," and "Puddinhead Wilson," by Mark Twain.
Same story told from two perspectives.

Those Extraordinary Twins

Why, ma, yes you do. They're so fine and handsome, and …

www.goodreads.com

Pudd'nhead Wilson

At the beginning of Pudd'nhead Wilson a young slave wom…

www.goodreads.com

 

[flowerbug]

...
Yes, Holes! We have both the book as well as the video, and it hasn't been picked up yet, though I've been wanting to read/watch it for years. I think years ago when DS & DD were much younger they asked me what it was about and I joked that it was a story about kids who were enrolled in a camp where kids do nothing but hard labor; I actually had no idea I was just running with the cover image in jest. That seems to have instilled a permanent resistance in them.

both good from what i recall, but that was some time ago now when i saw or read.

 

[ducks4you]

"Holes" is good fiction! Just like fiction, NO WAY would those quarts of peaches be any good after that long!
I throw away 5yo peaches that I have canned, and my storage is better than an old, leaky boat exposed to the weather.

 

[flowerbug]

...
i just got Reynold's 5th Revelation Space book Inhibitor Phase so if you don't hear anything from me for a while that might be what i'm doing. getting lost in another world.

it is very difficult to write about things you don't understand (advanced civilzations that you can't figure out, technologies that are beyond...). i liked the book. i also liked the book that was put at the end as an excerpt so i'll be looking into reading that one eventually too (Terminal World). i can't imagine why i've not read this one before but perhaps i just got sidetracked at that time and never looked again. 2007 - 2010 were an interesting time.

 

[ducks4you]

 

[Pulsegleaner]

it is very difficult to write about things you don't understand (advanced civilzations that you can't figure out, technologies that are beyond...).

Tell me about it. One story I'm working on takes place on an alternate earth where the land bridge between North and South America that sunk 5 million years ago didn't come back up 2 million years ago (like it did in ours). Originally, I was just focused on the net effects with regard to our food options, such as there not being common beans tomatoes, maize or chili peppers (since all of those were first domesticated is Mesoamerica, which would be underwater in this world) and no South American staples like potatoes and lima beans (since the lack of a land bridge would delay the settling of South America by North Americans somewhat (since they'd need to develop good enough boats to sail the gap without going off course due to the currents, so they wouldn't have as much time to develop the advanced civilizations ours did, and domesticate those plants before the arrival of the Europeans.) But then I realized how much of an effect it would have during the Age of Discovery. With no Mesoamerica sailing west to the East Indies would actually be quite a bit easier (since you wouldn't have to go around Valparaiso and Cape Horn, just around the bottom of Mexico. So a rather different route for Magellan, and probably no major search for the Northwest passage (since you wouldn't need for there to be one as much). And, equally important, less barrier on the OTHER side as well, so Asian groups sailing EAST (like the Chinese and the Polynesians) would be more likely to make it through. There is already a bit of evidence in OUR world of the occasional Chinese and Polynesian visit to the west coast of South America, in that world, they'd probably get all the way to the Caribbean, and when Columbus landed, he could have very well bumped into native who were very familiar with how to get to the East Indes. Even the PEOPLE of South America would probably be different, as the two above societies would have landed on a much less heavily populated continent, might have set up permanent outposts, and seriously intermingled with the Natives. Oh and the ecosystem would still be more or less like that of Australia, like it was when the bridge sunk (so no llamas alpacas jaguars etc. but you'd probably still be dealing with Terror Birds.)

 

[ducks4you]

Columbus took his voyage bc he had learned that the trade winds South would sail him West, and the trade winds North, would sail him east. Or, vice versa...doesn't matter.
He had Every Intention of coming home again.
Nobody along the Silk Road knew about the Americas.

 

[heirloomgal]

-41 C/-42 F last night.

True. But the sun is really bright in the sky, so at least I can get a sunburn while I'm getting frostbite.

 

[Zeedman]

-41 C/-42 F last night.

True. But the sun is really bright in the sky, so at least I can get a sunburn while I'm getting frostbite.

And that just to get out of your driveway.

 

[Branching Out]

I asked someone who has a degree in Early Elementary Education and a passion for YA literature to offer some book recommendations for the 12-15 year old set, and with their permission I am sharing their list. A couple of the books they have not read personally, but most of them they have read and they all come highly recommended by peers and pros alike-- and in some cases they have met the author, which is kind of cool. So here goes:

A Murder Most Unladylike series, by Robin Stevens. Especially for the 12 year old, about a school for good and evil.
**For a 12 year old looking for something a bit younger try Amari and the Night Brothers, by BB Alston

Wranglestone duology,by Darren Charlton (this one has a gently implied intimate scene)
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, by Axie Oh
The School for Good and Evil, by Soman Chainani
The Inheritance Games, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (has not read this one)
Lore, by Alexandra Bracken-- this one in particular for Greek Mythology fans! This author's other books are fabulous too (The Darkest Minds series, and Passenger duology)
Heartstopper, by Alice Oseman is THE graphic novel series right now, and HUGE with teens. It is a romance-- but very, very fluffy and youthful.
Iron Widow, by Xiran Jay Zhao (has not read this one)
Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo (has not read this, but read a different series by the author- Shadow, and Bone. Both excellent)
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber

'And one word of caution: one of my personal gripes with the current YA market is an author named Sarah J. Maas whose books really are more like adult romance than YA, but that's where she is shelved. Her books may be great for older teens (more like 18, I only read one and it was not to my taste) but they are not an appropriate choice for a young kid with an advanced reading ability.
**************************************************
From past experience I, Branching Out, would suggest trying to borrow books for teens through inter-library loans if possible rather than purchasing them (or if they don't have the book in their catalogue, try putting in a request for purchase through your local public library). Reading is such a personal endeavour, and is ultimately about finding the right book, at the right time.