Tiny review because I love this author's books: There was a part of Record of a Spaceborn Few that tore my heart out. However, it wasn't gratuitous in any way. It fit the overall story, allowing it to grow into  a full circle conclusion. As usual, Becky Chambers writes sci-fi that has depth and relevancy to our planet and our place in space. I recommend the Wayfarers series, of which this is book 3,  as well as her Monk & Robot books.

Crows in the forest

 against rained-soaked sky

two crows swirl, land as one on

a fir's highest branch

#haiku while walking, and, no, you won't find crows in the photo

I had only a cell phone, no telephoto, so their lovely

duet, their synchronized landing remains a moment past

Beacon

 

on the old footbridge

a red leaf glows luring

the weary traveler

Haiku while walking

haiku in the mist

 I went mist-bathing

this December morning in

the still green graveyard

A little haiku while walking in the rain-not-rain.

after the storm

wind swirls fallen leaves

mountain peaks pierce the mist

after the storm

 

haiku thoughts on this November 6, 2020

I won't easily forget Forget Me Not

 

I read Forget Me Not, a middle-grade story, in a day--not because it's a slim verse/vignette novel, which it is, but because it sucked me into Calliope's world. The writing is beautiful and the story compelling.

Calliope has Tourette syndrome (as does the author, Ellie Terry). I suspect most of us have little knowledge of this neurological disorder except that we heard that people with it can't control themselves and yell obscenities in public. But for Calliope it's something to try to hide even when she can't stop her tics (pulling her hair, winking, tapping, repeating words), but of course kids notice.

To make her situation worse, her mother keeps moving them so Calli has started new schools ten times in her short life. When she moves to a new town and meets Jinsong, she hopes she's found a friend but nothing comes that easy when you're different.

There is sadness in this story but also hope and resilience. Calli's voice is in free verse while Jinsong's is in prose vignettes.

Here is a sample verse of Calli's voice as they arrive in a new place:

We roll to a stop
in St. George, Utah:

bright blue skies,
hills the color of rust
speckled by sagebrush

unlike any town I've seen,
looks like someone took a paintbrush,
dipped it in a sunset

wish that pretty paintbrush
could sweep away this feeling
of hot air suffocating me.