To Timbuktu: Nine Countries, Two People, One True Story Casey Scieszka illus. Steven Weinberg
Casey and Steven meet while studying abroad in Morocco. They then return to their colleges on opposite sides of the country. After graduation, they move to Beijing to teach English for 6 months before backpacking through SE Asia and then going to Mali for a year, where Casey has a Fulbright to study the role is Islam in education.
There are a few things that make this book transcend the genre of “here’s a tale of my crazy adventures abroad”. One is Casey’s frank honesty in her writing, especially about the strain certain things put on their relationship. The other is Steven’s illustrations-- there’s a picture on every page and I most appreciated the crazy patterns he puts on the Malian fabric (which Casey assures us are not made up.)
They see many problems with gentrification of Beijing and the destruction of the hutong and with backpacking culture (going to a place to see the ‘unknown’ changes it) and they see both sides of the issue without taking sides. I think these issues are often glossed by travel memoirs or writers aren’t self-aware enough to see that they’re part of the problem (especially when writing about how tourism has spoiled a place that you’re a tourist in.) Casey handles such things really well.
They capture China so perfectly. It made me a bit heartsick, actually. Especially when talking about the street food.
It’s a great book, but I’m not sure it’s a YA book. (I read it because it’s a Cybil’s nominee.) It’s mostly a post-college adventure and I’m not sure on the teen appeal.
Oh, and if you’re wondering, Casey Scieszka does mention her father is a children’s book author. :)
Book Provided by... my local library
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I have promised you tales of BINGO, have I not? Tales to curl the very insides of your soul. Tales that recount my magnificent victory over Lady Luck, Charlie Chance, and Sarah Serendipity! And recount my tale I shall, but first! Some mood music to set the tone.
That’s the stuff!
A week and a half ago I asked you, my faithful readers, to sponsor me in the 826NYC Dueling Bingos challenge. Not only did you respond in kind but for a while there I was wiping the floor with the competition. Then the competition bit back, but for quite some time we were really riding the wave of most-money awesomeness. I promised that in return I would give you one heckuva recap of the event. And recap I shall!
Oh, the outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Betsy Bird that day. Having just finished moderating two brilliant panelists at NYPL for my Children’s Literary Salon (Stephen Roxburgh and Jennifer Perry, and it went beautifully) I immediately sped after work with husband in tow from Manhattan to Brooklyn on a Saturday night. If you know the New York subway system then you’ll realize what a miracle it was to get there precisely on time.
I decided to wear something appropriately Bingo-ish. I don’t know what constitutes correct Bingo attire, but I figured it should probably involve a lot of dots, right? Here’s what it looked like during the Lit Salon:
Thanks to Melanie Hope Greenberg for the pic. So with dress, husband, camera, and Flip camera in tow we burst through the doors of 826NYC.
A quick word about the actual physical doors of 826NYC. Each 826 venue (there are many throughout America) is fronted by a faux storefront that covers up the true nature of the facility in an amusing fashion. In New York, the front is a Superhero Supply Store. Inside you can buy many of the fun “superhero” products that they sell.
Inside the place filled up fast. That was when we heard the rules behind the game. You see, in dueling bingo you have an actual opponent. Whoever you sit across from is your rival. Then there are three games of lightning quick speed and whoever gets the best of three is crowned the ultimate winner. Easy peasy.
To make the game a bit more lively you can take the money folks have donated in your name and “buy” extra bingo cards and even balls for the caller with your preferred number and letter. So if you look at these cards:
2 Comments on Dueling Bingos: Emphasis on “Duel”, last added: 8/12/2010
What a fun re-cap! I love Bingo and wish I could have been there. Nancy and I *did* make it to 826NYC’s ping pong fundraiser a while back, and I can back up Jon Scieszka on Mike Myers’ skillz. His appearance at the table was the highlight of the night. (Although people paying Catherine Keener to slap them was also strangely entertaining.)
Mama-Mama-razzi! (sung to Lady Gaga)
Thanks Betsy! Always a pleasure to visit your Salon.