Who's Bigger? (short story) by Leanne Dyck

 What I learnt by watching children play...

photo by ldyck

Two children square off in the playground. 

"I'm bigger," says one.

"No, you're not." The other balances on tiptoes. "I am."

While hoping, "Now, I'm bigger."

While jumping, "Now, I am bigger."

"Now, I am. I am. I am. Me," they chorus as they leap for the sun.

Soon their chorusing is replaced by peals of laughter. Gone is the memory of who is bigger. Still, they jump. Until... They lie exhausted and content on the grass. 

'found art'

art by ?

photo by ldyck

March...

March 8             International Women's Day 

 March 8 - 11      Canada Reads

photo by ldyck

March on this blog...

March 3        Author Reading

                    The Lure of Yarn 

                    Leanne Dyck

March 7        Book Review

                        Dirty Birds

                    Morgan Murray

March 10       Author Reading

                       Annie

                        Leanne Dyck 

March 14        Short Story

                        Catch It

                        Leanne Dyck

March 17        Author Reading

                        Like Magic

                        Leanne Dyck

March 21         Book Review

                        The Barren Grounds

                        David A. Robertson

March 24        Author Reading

                        Let the Sunshine in

                        Leanne Dyck

March 28         Short Story

                        Five Dollars

                        Leanne Dyck

March 31        Author Reading

                        A Confession

                        Leanne Dyck

                    

Book Review: The Parkour Club by Pam Withers and Arooj Hayat (YA)

 Building bridges of understanding with fast-paced prose.

Published in Canada by Pam Withers and Arooj Hayat

Published in 2020

Disclaimer:  Pam Withers and I are friends--and she gave me this book to review.

Bronte Miller's dad Frank is a famous war correspondent who covers all of the Middle East. A year ago Bronte moved with her parents to what Frank calls, '"one of the safest neighbourhoods in one of the safest cities in the Middle East."' (p.2)

Bronte loves her life in Alexandria, Egypt. She's actively involved in the Alexandria Parkour Academy and she even has a boyfriend.

Bronte describes Sarfraz, her 'secret boyfriend', as 'gentle and mysterious' (p. 6) Unfortunately, he's rather cold and distant to Bronte--even refusing to be seen with her in public.

When a bomb goes off in their neighbourhood, Bronte's mom Karen drags Bronte back home to Richland, Washington, USA. To put it mildly, Bronte is upset by this uprooting. So much so that Karen can't help but notice. She tells her daughter, '"Have you considered talking to a counsellor, Bronte? You seem to have anger issues, and you're sad and tired a lot."' (p. 31)

On the other hand...

Karam Saif is a new student at Three Rivers High School and is enrolled in Bronte's grade eleven class. 

Karam left all he knew in his beautiful city of Aden, Yemen behind him. His entire family was killed as they attempted to flee. He is now alone in what Bronte calls, 'A country that insists in believing that the desperate refugees fleeing from terrorists are the terrorists themselves.' (p. 129) And yet, with unshakable positivity, Karam is eager to embrace his new life.

Karam Saif is a Muslim refugee. Bronte Miller is a white privileged American. Can they build bridges of understanding?

Karam:  '"I believe parkour teaches us to incorporate unexpected obstacles without losing stride. It teaches flexibility and resilience and acceptance."' (p. 37)

Pam Withers writes in her Author Notes:  'we [both she and her co-author Arooj Hayat] both hope the book will inspire cross-cultural, cross-religious insight and tolerance.' 

Interview with Pam Withers

on Wednesday, February 24

Online Author Reading of...

photo by ldyck

Ice Angel (short story)

by Leanne Dyck

meeting a magical child on a dark night

on Wednesday, February 28

Short Story...

photo by ldyck

Who's Bigger

learning from watching children play

photo by ldyck

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Author David A Robertson wins Freedom to Read Award

25 books by Black Canadian authors

Sharing my author journey...

Thoughts about February 21 - 27 Freedom to Read Week

"Where are you from?" is a question I'm eager to answer...

Her First Crush (poem) by Leanne Dyck

 Do you remember giggling? Do you remember your heart soaring? Do you remember your first crush?

Her First Crush

She meets with other girls to speak his name,
to giggle, 
to share their dreams of him.

Seeing him in the schoolyard,
in the classroom
makes her heart race

If he smiles at her
If he says, hi
Her heart dances
It hops
It skips
It flies out her mouth
spins around three-times in mid-air
until it lands back in her throat to rest in her chest

At home
her lips against her palm
she practices kissing him

She falls asleep
 arms wrapped around
what others see as a pillow
but what she imagines is his chest

In her dreams
they are alone 
together

He fills her thoughts
enlivens her dreams
for a week
a month
a year
until another boy captures her eye

Wednesday, February 17

Virtual Author Reading

to celebrate

I Read Canadian Day

Storytime (short story)

by Leanne Dyck

And...

A Bedtime Story (short story)

by Leanne Dyck

Sunday, February 21

Book Review

The Parkour Club

by Pam Withers and Arooj Hayat

photo by ldyck

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Sharing my Author Journey...

'selfie' photo by ldyck

A friend has dubbed Mayne Island's barely there snowflakes "snowflickers". Wanting this word to catch on, I've been working it

Book Review: How It All Blew Up (YA) by Arvin Ahmadi

 How It All Blew Up was based on author Arvin Ahamdi's 2018 trip to Rome and is about learning how to live your truth.

'"It's hard enough living one life; no one should have to go through the trouble of living two."' (p. 260)

Eighteen-year-old, Amir Azadi is Muslim, Iranian, and gay. It's too big a mouthful for him to repeat to his parents so he keeps the gay part a secret. He keeps his secret until he is blackmailed. Then he...runs away. He runs away to Rome; he runs into the heart of his tribe.

Buy this book

How It All Blew Up

Arvin Ahmadi

Published by Viking

an imprint of Penguin Random House

Published in 2020

How It All Blew Up is composed of short chapters. I globbed the story up in huge mouthfuls. This reader-friendly book explores meaty topics such as prejudice. What it's like to be Muslim in North America. What it's like to be a gay youth with traditional, religious parents. Thank you Arvin Ahmadi for helping to open my eyes. 

Virtual Author Reading

Wednesday, February 10

Island Storyteller on Stage (short story)

by Leanne Dyck

This short story was inspired by my life

Poem

Sunday, February 14

The Crush (poem)

by Leanne Dyck

This poem was inspired by St. Valentine's Day

Do you remember your first crush?

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Sharing my Author Journey...

I summarized my 2021 writing goals as hatch (writing a manuscript), dispatch (sending a manuscript to publishers), and patch (rewriting a manuscript). All January I...