Tom Powers / Michigan in Books Review of U.P. Reader #4

Review by Tom Powers, Michigan in Books

U. P. Reader, 4th Volume
Mikel B.Classen, editor

U.P. Reader Volume #4 released April 2020

This fourth annual showcase of the best short works by U. P. writers once again entertains, enlightens, and most importantly raises the awareness of the literary talent to be found north of Big Mac. The 45 pieces included here include U.P. history, poetry, short stories, reportage, humor, biographical essays, a U.P. notable booklist, and section of award-winning essays by young people.

I was delighted to see Larry Buege has once again climbed aboard his literary hobby horse and describes a homeowner’s confrontation with an infestation of the Amorous Spotted Slug (A.S.S.). Larry has been writing about A.S.S. in earlier U. P. Readers in a noble but fruitless effort to make these gastropod mollusks Michigan’s state slug. I would also like to encourage Buege to write about the whale sightings in Lake Superior and take up the equally important cause of naming a Michigan state whale.

There is a transcript of a talk by Karen Dionne, author of the “Marsh King’s Daughter,” in which she recounts her journey from being a moderately successful author of two environmental thrillers to the wildly popular author of the above book. Her talk also gives tips to would-be novelists and what she learned about writing that led to being a bestselling author. The Whiteout by Rich Hill tells the dramatic story of his friend Allen who went ice fishing on the great lake and couldn’t find his way to shore when a whiteout struck and died.

A most unexpected and fascinating piece by Deborah K. Frontiera tells the story of the formation of U. P. sandstone, most of which is told from the stone’s point of view. Over the course of a million years and tons of pressure, the deposited sand became sandstone. In the 1800s it was mined and shipped to Calumet where the stone was used to build St. Anne’s church. The sandstone has seen the church sold and turned into an antique shop. A few years later the building was bought with donations and with a state grant was beautifully restored and became the Keweenaw Heritage Center. Other works describe shipwrecks and heroic rescues, a tribute to a father, the descent of a mother into dementia, and the story of a U.P. deer camp.

There is a lot to enjoy in this fine collection of short works by a surprising abundance of very good writers found north of the Straits of Mackinac.

U.P. Reader: Bringing Upper Michigan Literature to the World, 4th Volume, Mikel B Classen editor. Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association, 2020, $16.95 pb.

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Randolph the Christmas Moose

978-1-61599-499-1
$14.95
A Yuletide Fable of Empowerment
In stock
1
Product Details
UPC: 978-1-61599-499-1
Brand: Loving Healing Press
Binding: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Author: Gerry Gibson
Illustrator: Matt Taylor
Pages: 52
Publication Date: 05/01/2020

Randolph the Moose lives with his mother in the Great White North. After a chance encounter with the reindeer from Santa Claus’ sleigh-pulling team, Randolph finds new joy in trail running as he trains to join the reindeer in Santa’s flight school. But when the head elf places him at the workshop loading dock instead (due to his tremendous bulk), Randolph has to use his brains and work ethic to earn respect at his new job… and even save Christmas.

Imagine Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer, except...

  • Randolph has a healthy self-image
  • Randolph has a more positive outlet for his feelings
  • Randolph runs, but not away from his problems
  • Randolph is pro-active, refusing to let Santa’s workshop define him as a moose

BE YOUR OWN MOOSE!

"Randolph the Christmas Moose empowers kids to find the unique leader within themselves and to not allow stereotyping to limit their potential."
--AUSTIN HIGHSMITH GARCES, author of The Miracle Tree and actor in Dolphin Tale 1 and 2

"em>Randolph the Christmas Moose, filled with humor and character building, shares a twist to a familiar tale to produce an important message about how children can be hard-working, determined and true to themselves."
--ADAM DOVICO, educator and author of When Kids Lead, The Limitless School and Inside the Trenches

"This is a charming and funny story that will not only entertain kids, but also help them understand that other people's opinions don't define them."
--LINDSAY THOMPSON, filmmaker and writer for PBS' Arthur

"Randolph the Christmas Moose addresses many important childhood themes, including acceptance, endurance and bullying, without sounding 'preachy.'"
--SUE ELDER, Ed.D., public and elementary school librarian, educator and bibliophile

Learn more at www.GerryGibsonAuthor.com

From Loving Healing press www.LHPress.com

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