Why Do We Fight?: Conflict, War, and Peace by N. Walker

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie Aitken
Keyword(s):  
General Nature ◽  
Young Reader ◽  
War And Peace ◽  
School Life ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Suez Crisis ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
History Of ◽  
The University

Walker, Niki.  Why Do We Fight?: Conflict, War, and Peace.  Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2013.  Print.In this work, Niki Walker explores the general nature of conflict.  She relates basic aspects of international politics - the existence of power elites, the formation of alliances, the rise of disputes - to the politics of school life.  Along the way, she defines such terms as “negotiation,” “mediation,” “arbitration” and “sanctions.” She mentions examples of 20th century warfare: the post WWII Cold War, the Suez Crisis, and outlines the history of the current crisis in Afghanistan. The role of the United Nations is discussed.  Most impressive is her insertion of pertinent quotes; for example, the chapter entitled “Cooperation or Combat?” begins with the words of Indira Gandhi: “You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.”Walker is an experienced writer of non-fiction for children and this work demonstrates her typical proficiency.  The book is well organized with good transitions between successive chapters.  The index is rather brief, but the terms therein are consistent with the text.  There is an informative list of sources.In a departure from her usual literary style, Walker occasionally attempts to use trendy language.  There is a risk here: the vernacular of today’s young reader may be rejected as dated by tomorrow’s.  This quibble aside, the book is highly recommended for use with upper elementary students.  In particular, it could be a useful resource for Remembrance Day activities. Reviewer:  Leslie AitkenHighly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsLeslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special and university collections.  She is the former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.

scholarly journals Oscar Peterson: The Man and His Jazz by J. Batten

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Luyk
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Music Criticism ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
The Social ◽  
Jazz History ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Many ◽  
The University ◽  
Adult Reader

Batten, Jack. Oscar Peterson: The Man and His Jazz. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2012. Print. This young adult non-fiction novel explores the life of the legendary Canadian jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson. Beginning with an account of Peterson’s 1949 breakthrough performance at Carnegie Hall as part of the influential Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) concert series, Batten traces the seventy year musical career of Oscar Peterson in an engaging and insightful style. This book seamlessly combines a personal and musical biography of Peterson with a history of the development of jazz from the 1920s to the time of Peterson’s death in 2007. True to the title of the book, Batten’s is indeed one about both the man and his music. From Peterson’s humble upbringing as the son of immigrants from the West Indies living in poverty in Montréal, the influence of his family on his personal and musical development is a consistent theme throughout the book. Batten does not hold back when describing the social conditions Peterson was operating under throughout his career. The racism Peterson encountered both at home and abroad, as well as the drug use prominent among jazz musicians is honestly explored, as are the personal tragedies Peterson faced, including his failed marriages and consistently poor health. Peterson’s many longtime musical collaborations are explored in great detail, with Batten highlighting the influential performing and recording achievements of his career. From his longtime relationship with the jazz promoter Norman Granz, through the many iterations of Peterson’s famous trio, Batten doesn’t leave out the details at any point. The addition of multiple photographs, quotes from Peterson’s teachers and collaborators, and a selected bibliography and discography add to the historical richness of this title. This book is recommended to the young adult reader with an interest in jazz history, and the life and accomplishments of one of Canada’s most cherished musicians.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Sean LuykSean is the Music Librarian for the Rutherford Humanities and Social Sciences Library at the University of Alberta. Sean holds an MA in Music Criticism and B.Mus from McMaster University, as well as an MLIS from the University of Western Ontario.

The Lowdown on Denim by T. L. Kyi

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Polkinghorne
Keyword(s):  
Hip Hop ◽  
Cultural Economic ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
National Geographic ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
The University ◽  
Commodity History

Kyi, Tanya Lloyd. The Lowdown on Denim. Illus. Clayton Hanmer. Toronto: Annick Press, 2011. Print. It’s springtime: time to pick up a pair of the latest blue jeans for the new season. This year, however, thanks to The Lowdown on Denim, young fashionistas can also read about their pants, and consider the cultural, economic, political, and environmental issues surrounding them. The Lowdown on Denim provides an entertaining introduction to how jeans have evolved, who makes them, and what they’ve meant throughout the world. Author Tanya Lloyd Kyi, based in British Columbia, has created a wide variety of curiosity-sparking non-fiction titles; including 50 Underwear Questions (reviewed by T. Chatterley in this issue) and 50 Poisonous Questions (reviewed by K. Frail in Vol. 1, No. 1, 2011). Here, she applies an unobtrusive narrative frame; protagonists JD and Shred are sent to detention, having been caught blue-handed running their teacher’s jeans up the school flagpole. In detention, JD and Shred are tasked with writing a report on the history of jeans, which, as Shred points out, “have been around way longer than Google”. Kyi takes her protagonists on a tour of jeans beginning in the mid-19th century, and illustrator Clayton Hanmer carries the reader along by placing JD and Shred in each time and place along the way. They begin by panning for gold in California in garments woefully lacking in ruggedness. They go on to explore wartime periods, the cold war, rock’n’roll, disco, punk, hip hop, and more. Throughout, Kyi and Hanmer also touch upon issues including trade globalization, factory working conditions, marketing strategies, gender norms, and pesticide-intensive cotton. Hanmer’s award-winning illustrations are well-known thanks to publications such as OWL Magazine, National Geographic Kids, and The Globe & Mail, as well as several books. Here he effectively captures JD and Shred’s bewilderment at their whirlwind tour, while highlighting key moments of insight. The Lowdown on Denim is unfortunately mistitled. Kyi and Hanmer have actually given us The Lowdown on Jeans Beginning with Levi Strauss. Readers may unfortunately be left with the impression that jeans were a solely American invention; denim fabric’s European origins, for example, go unmentioned. Despite this, The Lowdown on Denim is a detailed, readable, engaging commodity history. It will draw in pre-teen and early teen readers, and could serve as a great launching point for a variety of classroom discussions and projects. Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Sarah PolkinghorneSarah is a Public Services Librarian at the University of Alberta. She enjoys all sorts of books.

scholarly journals Black Cat Bone: the Life of Blues Legend Robert Johnson by J. P. Lewis

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Sivak
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Education ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
The United States ◽  
Older Children ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Library And Information Studies ◽  
Poetic Text ◽  
History Of ◽  
The University

Lewis, J. P. Black Cat Bone: the Life of Blues Legend Robert Johnson. Illus. Gary Kelley. Mankato: Creative Editions, 2006. Print.Although this book is designed as a large-format picture book, Black Cat Bone is more likely to appeal to older children (middle school and adolescents) as a poetic text, with its rich illustrations and unusual narrative flow. The foreword of the book addresses a reader who knows some about blues musicians, as well as has some hint of the history of blues music in the United States. The language of the text is not trying to tell a linear story, but to be more evocative of a time, and of some of the historical context. The book actually has several texts: the address of the historical context that bookends the work, the bluesy poems which make up the majority of the text, excerpts from Johnson's own lyrics, and a footer running throughout the book, which provides aphoristic summaries of Johnson's story: “He was destined for legend not a field hand's work.” Each text tells a part of the interpretation of Johnson's story. With the images, it adds up to a faceted narrative of the man and his musical legacy. The illustrations alternate between impressionistic pastels in deep dark colours, reinforcing the air of mystery around Johnson's life as understood by popular culture. Kelley's other illustrative style is reminiscent of Indonesian shadow-puppets, dramatic and exaggerated in their execution. A particularly lovely example is show in full on the cover, a depiction of Johnson and the devil facing each other, each with a hand on the guitar. This image is reproduced in the text, split by the page turn in a clever design turn. Recommended: 3 stars out of 4Reviewer: Allison SivakAllison Sivak is the Assessment Librarian at the University of Alberta Libraries. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Library and Information Studies and Elementary Education, focusing on how the aesthetics of information design influence young people’s trust in the credibility of information content.

The Cys-loop pentameric ligand-gated ion channel receptors: 50 years on

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 771-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janna L. Kozuska ◽  
Isabelle M. Paulsen
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channel ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
50Th Anniversary ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Electrophysiological Studies ◽  
Ligand Interactions ◽  
History Of ◽  
Entire History ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The University

This year, 2011, the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Alberta celebrated its 50th anniversary. This timeframe covers nearly the entire history of Cys-loop pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (pLGIC) research. In this review we consider how major technological advancements affected our current understanding of pLGICs, and highlight the contributions made by members of our department. The individual at the center of our story is Susan Dunn; her passing earlier this year has robbed the Department of Pharmacology and the research community of a most insightful colleague. Her dissection of ligand interactions with the nAChR, together with their interpretation, was the hallmark of her extensive collaborations with Michael Raftery. Here, we highlight some electrophysiological studies from her laboratory over the last few years, using the technique that she introduced to the department in Edmonton, the 2-electrode voltage-clamp of Xenopus oocytes. Finally, we discuss some single-channel studies of the anionic GlyR and GABAAR that prefaced the introduction of this technique to her laboratory.

Seraphina by R. Hartman

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kymberly Sobchyshyn
Keyword(s):  
The Novel ◽  
Ancient History ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Library And Information Studies ◽  
Information Studies ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
The University ◽  
New Religion

Hartman, Rachel. Seraphina. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 2012. Print.Rachel Hartman’s debut novel, Seraphina, is a fantastical journey into a world where humans and shape shifting dragons live among each other. The novel follows Seraphina, a strong and intelligent female character with a talent for music, as she is caught between two races. Hartman has masterfully created a new religion, culture, language, political system, and multiple species in order to fully immerse the reader in Seraphina’s world.Hartman’s dragons, a unique breed of cold, unemotional mathematicians, are mostly intrigued and confused by what they consider to be overly emotional and artistic humans. The strong differences between the two races are cause for tension, but Seraphina has a mysterious gift of being able to understand how dragons think and why they react to humans in such curious and sometimes dangerous ways.Seraphina is a story of political unrest and adventure, with a little romance added in for good measure. Not only is the book a quick and entertaining read, but the glossary is not to be missed. That’s right, the glossary! Hartman created much of the foreign vocabulary in the novel, and the glossary is the place where her sense of humour and criticism of the world she has created really shine through. Some of the more challenging vocabulary in the novel is defined in the glossary so readers who might feel discouraged by the language should know that the author has invented most of these words. For a good laugh and some added detail about Seraphina’s world, the glossary is a great way to finish. Seraphina is the first in what Hartman has planned to be a series.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Kymberly SobchyshynKymberly is currently in her second year of schooling to obtain a Master’s in Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta. In her free time she enjoys traveling, ancient history, and reading of the fiction and non-fiction variety.

scholarly journals A review of the plants of the Princeton chert (Eocene, British Columbia, Canada)

Botany ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (9) ◽  
pp. 661-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen B. Pigg ◽  
Melanie L. DeVore
Keyword(s):  
Middle Eocene ◽  
Plant Evolution ◽  
Ecological Interactions ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Additional Dimension ◽  
History Of ◽  
London Clay ◽  
Okanagan Highlands ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The University

The Princeton chert is one of the most completely studied permineralized floras of the Paleogene. Remains of over 30 plant taxa have been described in detail, along with a diverse assemblage of fungi that document a variety of ecological interactions with plants. As a flora of the Okanagan Highlands, the Princeton chert plants are an assemblage of higher elevation taxa of the latest early to earliest middle Eocene, with some components similar to those in the related compression floras. However, like the well-known floras of Clarno, Appian Way, the London Clay, and Messel, the Princeton chert provides an additional dimension of internal structure. In the present study, we outline the history of Princeton chert plant research, starting with Boneham and others, and extending into studies by Stockey and her students and colleagues. These studies were undertaken primarily at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. We then re-examine the individual elements of the Princeton chert flora, using the framework of the currently recognized Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG III) phylogeny and in light of recent fossil discoveries. We hope that this update will bring to mind new aspects of the significance of the Princeton chert flora to Paleogene paleobiology, biogeography, and plant evolution.

scholarly journals Skraelings by R. & S. Qitsualik-Tinsley

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandy Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Oral Storytelling ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
History Of ◽  
Age Appropriate ◽  
The University ◽  
Blue Eyes

Qitsualik-Tinsley, Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley.  Skraelings. Illus. Andrew Trabbold. Iqaluit, NU:  Inhabit Media, 2014. Print.This volume is the first in the Arctic Moon Magick series.  In it writing duo, Rachael and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, have recreated an Inuit world at the time of Viking contact, presented through the eyes of a young Inuit hunter, Kannujaq.  In his travels, he comes across people of the Tuniit culture, of whom he has only heard legends.  He meets Siku, a boy-shaman, whose name means “ice” and is named for his blue eyes.  The Tuniit have been attacked in the past by Vikings from Greenland.  They return each spring and Kannujaq finds himself in the middle of a battle, where he becomes a reluctant warrior. The title Skraelings, which means “Weaklings”, is a Viking taunt to the Tuniit.This is a well written chapter book for ages 12 and older and the language is age-appropriate. There are a few black and white drawings that complement the text.   While much of the story proceeds logically along the plot line,  occasionally, the authors break in, not as narrators, but simply to give the reader additional information.  For example:  "Oh, we forgot to tell you:  Shamans were pretty clever when it came to the things that plants and other natural materials could do" (p. 26). While this is unusual in a novel and breaks the flow of the story, it is completely in keeping with oral storytelling and is rather endearing.  However, this book should not be mistaken for simple story.  It is an engaging read, culminating in a final plot twist that demonstrates the authors’ broad and compassionate understanding of the regional history of the Eastern Arctic. This is an excellent work and unique in young adult Arctic literature.  It should definitely be included in junior high and middle school libraries and public libraries everywhere.Recommendation:  4 stars out of 4Reviewer:  Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines.  Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give. 

scholarly journals Starfields by C. Marsden

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandy Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
The People ◽  
First Choice ◽  
History Of ◽  
Depth And Complexity ◽  
The University

Marsden, Carolyn.  Starfields.  Sommerville, MA.:  Candlewick Press, 2011. Print. This book makes me sad, not for the content, but for the unrealized potential.  The central premise, parallel stories of a modern-day girl in rural Mexico and an ancient Mayan boy-priest, is an interesting one. However, there are several problems with the execution of this work.  When writers fictionalize the culture, religion and history of a group of people, they have a duty to know that group well enough to speak for them.  In addition to thinking carefully about ethical issues that surround cultural appropriation and telling stories that are not theirs to tell, writers must respect their subjects by representing the depth and complexity of their world. California writer Marsden states in her notes that she “gathered information from the photographs and accounts of those who’ve spent time among the contemporary Mayans.”  She also indicates that she has “spent time in Mexico and Belize and … also called upon [her] own personal experience of Mayan culture”. However, many passages read as though they are descriptions of photographs.  The presentation of the people and their relationships also lacks depth. The crisis in this story is the rather clichéd building of a road to the remote village, which is causing environmental damage and threatening traditional ways of life.  It seems absurd, in a land-based society, that a young girl is the only person who could notice that there is an environmental crisis going on. Further she only knows this because a new friend, Alicia, visiting from the city with a research team, points it out to her.  Rosalba is too frightened to speak to the elders until an ancestral boy-priest tells her in a dream to weave images of dead corn fields into her work.  This causes the elders to recognize that there is something wrong with her and then, she has the courage and opportunity to alert them to the crisis. One expects less reality of the story of the boy-priest, because it must, of course, be imaginary.  However, when Rosalba thinks that he has made physical contact with her, and he confirms this in his story line, the plot unexpectedly moves temporarily out of modern day reality into fantasy. There are undeveloped themes throughout the book.  For example Rosalba’s parents were Zapatista revolutionaries, but we learn very little about them. We just know that they would fight for their land.  The title, “Starfields”, refers to the night sky, which both the boy-priest and Rosalba can see.  The starfields are important in Mayan mythology and religion, however, the theme is not developed.  These, combined with the presence of a number of Mayan and Spanish words, which have to be looked up in a glossary and the parallel stories, which do not intersect until close to the end of the book, make for a choppy, disconnected and frustrating read. While sophisticated young adult readers may make their way through it, it would not be a first choice for libraries with limited budgets.Recommended with reservations: 2 out of 4 starsReviewer: Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines.  Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.

scholarly journals Because of You: A Book of Kindness by B. G. Hennessy

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Huck
Keyword(s):  
Personal Responsibility ◽  
English Literature ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Young Reader ◽  
World Peace ◽  
Single Individual ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Compact Size ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Hennessy, B G. Because of You: A Book of Kindness. Illus. Hiroe Nakata. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press, 2011. Print. Because Of You was originally published in 2005 and was the second collaboration between author B. G. Hennessy and illustrator Hiroe Nakata. The popular book has now been issued in a smaller hardcover edition that preserves the layout of the original in a compact size that would be useful to parents who want to stow the book in a bag for use on the go. The book uses simple but effective means to introduce the idea of kindness and link it to the related concepts of friendship, world peace and personal responsibility. Watercolour illustrations by Nakata convey a gentleness and warmth that match the message of the text. The first half of the book enumerates different ways of showing kindness: loving, caring, learning, sharing and helping. The text follows a pattern for each example that asks the young reader first to consider the benefits he or she has received from that type of kindness, and then to imagine the opportunity he or she has to reciprocate. The second half of the book begins by summing up the examples in order to define them as kindness, and then figures friendship as mutual kindness between two people, and world peace as a species of friendship. The book concludes by linking the enormous task of achieving world peace to the power of "something small and precious" that the young reader can contribute. In the final illustration, a child, holding a globe, literally has 'the whole world in his hands.' The text does a good job of presenting abstract concepts like kindness and world peace in terms that a child can understand. Throughout the book, the repeated phrase "because of you" is used to address the young reader and personalize the message, while the phrase "there is one more person who can..." emphasizes the impact a single individual can have. Kindness is never characterized as an imperative or a responsibility, but rather as a choice one is free to make. The subtext is that kindness means more because it is chosen. Kindness may be the currency of friendship, but it relies on personal commitment, not on debts and accounts. Once or twice the text feels a bit laboured, such as the phrase "and there is one more person who can share feelings and ideas, as well as things," which mixes the abstract and the concrete, or metaphorical and literal sharing. The patterns of repetition in the text do not achieve the regularity of a meter, so each sentence relies on its own internal structure for rhythm. In spite of the linear, cumulative nature of the message, the text works best aurally when spoken at a slow pace that sets off each sentence and gives individual words ample room. Unfortunately, the smaller size of the reissued text does not naturally lead the reader to choose that pace, at least not quite like the larger format edition does. This is, however, a small complaint of an otherwise excellent book. Interested libraries might consider acquiring the original edition.   Reviewer: John Huck Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars John is a metadata and cataloguing librarian at the University of Alberta. He holds an undergraduate degree in English literature and maintains a special interest in the spoken word. He is also a classical musician and has sung semi-professionally for many years. 

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