Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Feb 14

6

Review & Giveaway: Hidden In Plain Sight by Jane Allen Petrick

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on February 6, 2014
Posted in American History • Art • Biography • Book Tours • Books Read in 2014 • My Past Giveaways  | 5 Comments

Today it is my immense pleasure to kick of the Hidden In Plain Sight tour! Wow, this book blew me away!

Book Description:

Publisher: Informed Decisions Publishing, October 8, 2013
Category: Nonfiction – multicultural; cultural/social issues; biography & memoirs; art criticism
Tour Dates: February, 2014
Available in: ebook, 143 pages
Norman Rockwell’s America was not all white. As early as 1936, Rockwell was portraying people of color with empathy and a dignity often denied them at the time. And he created these portraits from live models.
Hidden in Plain Sight: The Other People in Norman Rockwell’s America unfolds, for the first time, the stories of the Asian, African, and Native Americans who modeled for Norman Rockwell. These people of color, though often hidden in plain sight, are present throughout Rockwell’s more than 4000 illustrations. People like the John Lane family, Navajos poignantly depicted in the virtually unknown Norman Rockwell painting, “Glen Canyon Dam.” People like Isaac Crawford, a ten year old African-American Boy Scout who helped Norman Rockwell finally integrate the Boy Scout calendar.
In this engrossing and often humorous narrative, Jane Allen Petrick explores what motivated Norman Rockwell to slip people of color “into the picture” in the first place. And in so doing, she persuasively documents the famous illustrator’s deep commitment to and pointed portrayals of ethnic tolerance, portrayals that up to now have been, as Norman Rockwell biographer Laura Claridge so clearly put it, “bizarrely neglected”.
Hidden in Plain Sight: The Other People in Norman Rockwell’s America is an eye opener for everyone who loves Norman Rockwell, everyone who hates Norman Rockwell and for all those people in between who never thought much about Norman Rockwell because they believed Norman Rockwell never thought much about them. This book will expand the way you think about Norman Rockwell. And it will deepen the way you think about Norman Rockwell’s America.
My Thoughts:
When Jane Allen Petrick asked me if I wanted to read her book, Hidden In Plain Sight, I knew I had to, after reading the description.  You see, I always thought that the great American artist, Norman Rockwell was raciest.  I never read anything about him, so my perception came purely from the paintings of his that I saw.  The people were always white in them.  
It turns out, that I want in the minority with that perception however, in Hidden In Plain Sight, Jane Allen Petrick sets us straight. There are actually quite a few paintings where he address social and civil rights issues.  Petrick even writes about the real life African American, Chinese American, and Native American models he used in his paintings.  She has had the privilege of meeting some of the models and they shared their stories of meeting and modelling for Norman Rockwell.
So why haven’t many of see this other side of Rockwell?  Those of you my age and older, may remember some on the Saturday Evening Post magazine’s, Norman Rockwell covers.  He was under contract to create all those covers for them.  They would only allow paintings of wholesome looking white people.
This book is such a gem.  I felt like I got to know some of the models along with Petrick.  It read more like a memoir than a biography, one that I couldn’t put down.  I read it in one sitting and was up until the wee hours of the morning.  I found it absolutely fascinating.  This a book I think all Americans should read.  I just hope that Jane allen Petrick writes a follow up.  I cannot recommend it highly enough!
5/5
I received an ebook copy for my honest opinion.
View the Trailer:

About Jane Allen Petrick:

 
Jane Allen Petrick is the author of several books on topics ranging from biography to workplace issues. She was a bi-weekly columnist for the Knight Ridder Newswire, and her articles have appeared in numerous publications including theNew York Times, the Denver Post and theWashington Post.  Kirkus Review describes her book, Hidden in Plain Sight: The Other People in Norman Rockwell’s America as “smart, nuanced” and written with “clarity and insight.”
Born and raised in Connecticut, Jane earned a BA in economics from Barnard College and received her Ph.D. in organizational psychology from Saybrook University. Retired as a vice-president of ATT Wireless, she is now an adjunct professor at Capella and American Sentinel Universities, and has provided consultation in organizational behavior and diversity competence to numerous corporate clients including IBM, Nextel and Xerox.
Jane Allen Petrick was chosen as one of the “100 Best and Brightest Business Women in America” by Ebony Magazine.
Long a passionate supporter of cultural and historic preservation, Jane has contributed to local preservation efforts in both Florida and New York State. A licensed tour director, Jane conducts cultural heritage tours on the East Coast, from the Everglades to the Maritimes.
Jane and her husband, Kalle, divide their time between New York’s Hudson Valley and Miami, Florida.
Buy Hidden in Plain Sight:
Thanks to Jane Allen Petick, we are giving away ebooks editions of Hidden In Plain Sight.  This giveaway is open internationally and ends on March 1, 2014.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious Books Feb 6 Review & Excerpt
Serendipity Feb 7 Review
Most Happy Reader Feb 13 Review
Book Lover’s Journal Feb 14 Review
Every Free Chance Feb 17 Review
Every Free Chance Feb 18 Interview
Dr. Bill’s Book Bazaar Feb 18 Review
I’d Rather Be At the Beach Feb 20 Review
From L.A. to LA Feb 21 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt Feb 24 Interview
From Isi Feb  25 Review
My Devotional Thoughts Feb 26 Review
My Devotional Thoughts Feb 28 Interview
Mina’s Bookshelf Feb 28 Review
Indies Reviews Behind the Scenes Feb 28 Live Blog Talk Radio Excerpt 8 pm cst

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Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Dec 11

29

Mini Review: Oregon Trail: The Road to Destiny by Frank young, Illustrated by David Lasky

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on December 29, 2011
Posted in American History • Books Read in 2011 • Historical Fiction • Oregon  | 8 Comments

Back of Book Description:

Join the Weston family as it sets out on the Oregon trail from St. Louis in 1848 with all of its worldly belongings in a prairie-schooner wagon pulled by a team of oxen. 
 
Narrated by eleven-year-old Rebecca Weston, this is the tale of a historic trip across more than 2,000 miles of untamed land with remarkable encounters with wildlife, Native Americans, and Natural wonders.   but the trip is also full of peril- illness, drought, raging rivers to cross- that threatens the families chance of ever reaching its destination of Salem, Oregon.  Come along and experience firsthand one of the great American adventures- A brave family in Search of a better life.
My review:

This is a graphic novel aimed at children ages 9 and up.  However, it can be enjoyed by all ages, including adults.  The writing is easy to understand and very descriptive and the illustration matched what I imagined from the writing.  It is illustrated in creative and crisp black and white images.

This book would be a great tool to teach children about the Oregon Trail.  It kept me turning the pages to find out what happens next and I’ sure children would have the same experience.  I didn’t pay that much attention to history in school.  I found the old text books dull and boring.  This book is very engaging.

5/5
I won this book from Rose City Reader.

Did you review this book?  Please leave the link in the comments.

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Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Apr 10

21

Grease Town by Ann Towell

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on April 21, 2010
Posted in American History • Books Read in 2010  | 9 Comments

Grease Town is a young adult historical fiction novel. The story is told through 12 year old Titus Sullivan. His parents both died and he is being raised by his Aunt Sophie. His older brother, Lemuel decides to move to Oil Springs , Ontario where their Uncle Amos lives, to try to make his fortune in the oil business. Titus wants to go along to get away from their overbearing Aunt but Lemuel says he’s too young.

Titus sees Lemuel off and then sneaks into the back of his wagon. He is discovered much later when his brother stops to water the horse. He figures that he has gone too far to go all the way back so they continue to Oil Springs. However, they take along a passenger, John who promises to pay $20 for the trip. Titus knows right away that John is bad news and Lemuel figures it on soon after. They end up leaving him at their last stop. They figure that it isn’t that far to walk or hitch a ride with someone else.
When Titus and Lemuel arrive at Oil Springs they get a big welcome with their Uncle Amos. He is surprised to see Titus and scolds him and makes him write a letter to his Aunt Sophie right away.
Oil Springs is a dirty town in a swamp. The well water has to be boiled before you can safely drink it and there is so much oil in the swamp water that it easily catches fire, as Titus witnesses soon after his arrival.
Titus makes friends with a black boy named Moses and they do just about everything together. However, Titus and Moses runs into John frequently. He is racist and makes trouble for them and later, the entire town.
From the book description, I thought that Titus was going to learn about the Underground Railroad from Moses but that is not the case. I expected this book to go into at least some detail about it but it does not. Also, we don’t figure out that Titus himself is a white boy until later in the book. I think it was important to know this from the start. Johns, character is very predictable. The read figures out right away that John will be the villain of the story.
I enjoyed the story overall. The characters were memorable and the writing, simple but good. I just think that it could have been so much more.
3/5
I won this book from Library thing’s Early Reviewers Program. Thanks to Sylvia Chan of Tundra Books.
Have you reviewed this book? Please leave a link to your review in the comments and I will link it to my review.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

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