“First, I got myself born. A decent crowd was on hand to watch, and they’ve always given me that much: the worst of the job was up to me, my mother being let’s just say out of it.”
Barbara Kingsolver’s opening line is a great introduction to Demon, our young hero, who will become part of the reader’s heart and soul. It’s a magnificent tale of heartache, addiction, family, and poverty set in the Appalachia Mountains. From the very beginning Demon is burdened with tough choices. His mother is young and grieving over Demon’s dead father. He and is mother occupy a doublewide trailer near another family, the Peggot’s who are raising their grandson because his mother is in jail. He loses important parts of his family and gains others. He shows us the hardship of foster care. This is your cast of characters: people down on their luck trying to do their best but often failing in an area of our country that has been torn apart. I loved the book so much I could start the first page again and as I finished the last paragraph I shed some tears.
I’m glad I finished the book when I did because I was able to devote a good amount of time to it even reading a few pages before school and during lunch. I’m feeling overwhelmed with a too long to-do list and the knowledge that I’m on too many committees. I’m on rotation this year for observation and need to complete my professional portfolio by March 1st. I have a book fair coming my way in March. I have a district-wide tech conference and planning for our school’s literacy night both in February. Beyond that I’m on our district’s equity committee, and our teacher’s association, as well as daily lesson planning. I spent most of my Sunday planning for Black History Month and a connected research project for 3rd-6th graders. Whew. I need a night off.
On the relaxing side I have kept up almost daily with Adriene’s January yoga challenge and that keeps me together most days. I’m headed there now to connect and wind down for the night.
Be well.
Peaceful Reader 