I read this story, told in verse, and thought it was Superb. I also read some of the reviews and have to disagree with those who thought this was too I read this story, told in verse, and thought it was Superb. I also read some of the reviews and have to disagree with those who thought this was too brief. Read the Prelude and the first few pages of the story, and that's how this story should be - I actually pictured some people standing around or sitting together at a table, while each person shared their point of view, about what happened from May 1st - 4th @ Kent State University, when unfortunately, 4 students were killed and 9 were wounded during protests about the Vietnam War.
Deborah Wiles did a fabulous job in illustrating each person's voice by using different fonts, different sized fonts, all caps, etc. I could actually visualize what each person might look like, based on the font / size that Wiles used for each speaker.
Most everyone seems to be represented - students, friends of the deceased, professors, residents of the City of Kent, as well as a member of the Ohio National Guard.
First, although my library has this as Fiction, because it is a Graphic Novel, this is actually an extremely well-researched piece of history about thFirst, although my library has this as Fiction, because it is a Graphic Novel, this is actually an extremely well-researched piece of history about the May 4th [1970] Shootings at Kent State University in Ohio.
I had the opportunity to watch an online interview that author / illustrator, Backderf participated in at my library. The research and details that he described were fascinating. His illustrations for this historical piece that begins on April 30, 1970 are outstanding and really do paint a picture of what occurred during the days leading up to and the events that took place on May 4th.
My only issue, and its not Backderf's fault, is that this, as with all of the books from this time, does not tell the full story, and no history ever will, because we will never know fully what went through the minds of the guardsmen who actually fired directly at the students on May 4th. It seems they (men who are living and dead) have taken a vow of silence and are taking "their side" to their graves.
What I can surmise after reading this book is that A LOT was wrong during the days leading up to and the actual event - It's easy to sit here, over 50 years later, look back and make judgments, but I wasn't there - my mother was pregnant with me at the time, but again, I was not there, during the heat of the battle, sorta speak, but I do have a lot of questions ... still, and I know that they will never be answered.
What I do appreciate most about Backderf's account is the detailed information about Kent State, the National Guard, Students for a Democratic Society, the FBI / CIA, etc. These brief paragraphs pack quite a punch and provide readers with important background information about who was who and more!
At the end of the book is a couple of pages of information about after the shootings, and after this are the NOTES about where Backderf got his information, completed his research, etc.
As we head towards the 50th Anniversary of the Kent State shootings (in May 4, 2020), I expect this is just the first book that we will see on this toAs we head towards the 50th Anniversary of the Kent State shootings (in May 4, 2020), I expect this is just the first book that we will see on this topic. It was a very interesting book with many never before seen photographs; Ruffner also wrote an intriguing account of this tragic event.
If you were a part of this day, as Ruffner was, it is hard to be completely objective for what occurred, but Ruffner seems to be as objective as possible, based on what he personally witnessed through the lens(es) of his cameras.
However, does it tell the whole story? Like I said, Ruffner includes many new photographs, but I don't know that they tell the entire story. I almost wish that there were the Facebook Live type videos of today available for this [and other] events from the past.
Being from Southeast Ohio, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
I have to admit that going in I did know some of this history, but I learned a lot more, espBeing from Southeast Ohio, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
I have to admit that going in I did know some of this history, but I learned a lot more, especially with regards to Manasseh Cutler, General Rufus Putnam, and the other pioneers, who were part of the Ohio Company, and many of whom were veterans of the Revolutionary War.
This book is about how Marietta, Ohio and the surrounding area was settled and developed, and the families who were key during this history. It looks at the adversities these families faced - indians, the terrain, the river, sickness, and more!
Included is information about the earliest years of Ohio University, Blennerhassett Island, and the difficulty of traveling from this area of the state.
One thing that I found especially fascinating was found in the Acknowledgments when McCullough told what led him to the writing of this book. This journey began back in 2004, when then president of Ohio University, Dr. Robert Glidden, invited McCullough to deliver the commencement address in tribute to the university's 200th anniversary.
McCullough knew relatively little about the university and in his early efforts to learn more about the start of this educational institution, he learned that the oldest building on campus was called Cutler Hall. This led him to the story of Manasseh Cutler, and the rest, as they say, is history - both literally and figuratively.
A bit dry in places, but overall, a fascinating look at the history of Kent State's Airport, as well as some information about the Akron Municipal AirA bit dry in places, but overall, a fascinating look at the history of Kent State's Airport, as well as some information about the Akron Municipal Airport and Mid-City Airport in Darrowville. There is also an interesting history of the Flight Education program at Stow Field aka Paton Field. After reading this and the adversity that this program / field has faced, it is amazing that this program still exists and a new building (opened this fall) has been built for the Aeronautics programs....more
I read an earlier edition of this book a few months ago and once again, authors, Deb Thompson and Tonya Prater knock this out of the park!
Activities aI read an earlier edition of this book a few months ago and once again, authors, Deb Thompson and Tonya Prater knock this out of the park!
Activities are arranged by topic: Food & Drink, Music & Entertainment, Sports & Recreation, Culture & History, and Shopping & Fashion. Often, there is more than one place to find a particular thing to do. For example, "Get Sand Between Your Toes at Area Beaches:" These authors recommend either Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor or Edgewater Beach in Cleveland.
Scattered throughout the book are tips to further enhance your adventures and at the end of the book are Suggested Itineraries, a list of Activities by Season, and an Index!
Excellent!
P.S. I found a lot of new stuff, here - much different (in a positive way) than the first edition, and I copied a few things for future reference....more
An interesting history on the development of the Metro Parks in Summit County, Ohio.
It was a little tough to get through [this short book], because iAn interesting history on the development of the Metro Parks in Summit County, Ohio.
It was a little tough to get through [this short book], because it was written in columns like a newspaper article, making it difficult to concentrate for more than a few pages at a time. ...more
Fabulous! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would like to visit some of the places that Delamotte mentioned!
Places are divided into sections: Food anFabulous! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would like to visit some of the places that Delamotte mentioned!
Places are divided into sections: Food and Drink, Music and Entertainment, Sports and Recreation, Culture and History and Shopping and Fashion.
Though no photographs / maps, the author provides a brief essay about each place, along with a street address, city, phone number, and website. Sprinkled throughout are Pro Tips that ARE pro tips about the place.
For example, "Eat Your Way Through East 4th Street," provides specific suggestions of restaurants to try. The website is:east4thstreet.com and the Pro Tip is: "No East 4th experience is complete without a shuttle through downtown with Ride on Cleveland Pedicabs. These cyclists know every nook, cranny, and alleyway in the city and they'll be you most knowledgeable tour guides."
Other interesting entries include: STAY at the Lakehouse Inn and Winery in Geneva, Sample Oh-So-Cleveland Cuisine, with a list of a few places to try, Get Lucky At the St. Patrick's Day Parade - the Pro Tip is to "Be on the lookout for the bagpipe band Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes and Drums making appearances in bars and restaurants throughout the city," - See Double at the Twins Day Festival in Twinsburg, Monkey Around at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Explore the Jewels of the Emerald Necklace, Touch Down at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Speak Your Mind at the City Club, See What's Under the Sea at the Cleveland Aquarium, Get Intergalactic at the NASA Glenn Visitor Center at the Great Lakes Science Center, Take a Literary Tour of Cleveland (and there are FIVE locations for where to do this), Have a Simply Wonderful, Quirky Holiday (and there are FIVE locations for where to do this, including the Christmas Story House), Explore the landscape of Lake View Cemetery, Be Sailors for a day at the steamship William G. Mather and the USS Cod, etc.
The authors (according to the back of the book) are bloggers and travel writers. However, after reading througI was super disappointed with this book!
The authors (according to the back of the book) are bloggers and travel writers. However, after reading through this, I wonder if either of them have ever actually been to Cleveland!
First, the book is organized alphabetically, i.e. A Christmas Story House, A City Farm, Bessie: Lake Erie's Sea Serpent, Cleveland's Franklin Castle, Cuyahoga Valley National Park Beaver Marsh, etc.
For each entry, the authors provide a little history / information about the place. In an informational box, we get a What, Where, Cost, and Pro Tip. Some of the information provided was okay, while other information ... For example, for "A River Runs Through It," the authors are talking about the various bridges that cross the Cuyahoga River, as it twists and turns through the city. The What is "Bridges," Where: Various Locations (but we don't know where), Cost is Free, and the Pro Tip is to "Park at the nearby Westside Market and walk to the Hope Memorial Bridge. A pedestrian lane is available." For this entry, there are no addresses, websites, or a map that might provide some guidance.
The caption for the Peter B. Lewis Building at Case Western Reserve says that it is on the campus of "Western Case Reserve." Seriously!
For the "Belly Up to the Bar" entry, there is nothing in the Information Box to tell you that this is Great Lakes Brewery. The What is "Brewery," the Where is 2516 Market Ave. the Cost is Free to see bullet holes, and the Pro Tip is Elliot Ness is buried in LAKESIDE (not Lakeview, the actual location) cemetery.
For the Eternal Ever After entry, we are talking about President Garfield's Memorial at Lakeview Cemetery. Again, we are not told this is at Lakeview Cemetery, but the black & white photo makes it obvious. The What is "President Garfield Memorial," and the Pro Tip? "Don't miss a visit to the Garfield Memorial crypt." Honestly, You cannot make this stuff up!
I have no idea where the authors were going with the article on "Invention of Potato Chip Manufacturing." This is not about Shearer's, but the location is Cleveland. Really? I had no idea that this would be in a book called "Secret CLEVELAND!"
In the essay about the various festivals in the area, we are not provided any information about where (specifically) these festivals are located. Also, at least one of the festivals is not actually in Cleveland (or Cuyahoga County for that matter). "Twin Day Festival" which is Twins Day is located in Twinsburg, Ohio, which is in Summit County.
"Little Free Libraries" are NOT unique to Cleveland!
And, these are just the tip of the iceberg. There are two entries for Holden Arboretum - one at the front of the book and one at the back. There are also two entries for Playhouse Square, one right after the other.
Each entry is accompanied by a black & white photo, but in the middle of the book are some color photographs with page references.
This is Secret Cleveland, but the authors also went outside of the city / county, which is fine, but tell us where you're talking about. People outside of Ohio are not going to know that Cedar Point is located halfway across the state!
There are so many other unique places that these authors could have included, but didn't. Ladies, come visit the area and stay for a few days! There is a lot to see and do in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County that you did not mention here!
For a better read, "100 Things to do in Cleveland Before You Die" by Nikki Delamonte!
It provided many suggestions for trails I've either hiked or would like to check out. The information is organized in sI thoroughly enjoyed this book!
It provided many suggestions for trails I've either hiked or would like to check out. The information is organized in sections, alphabetically by state - Illinois, Indiana, and then Ohio. Within each section, trails are also arranged alphabetically. Information provided for each trail include: the name of the trail, a detailed map of the trail (trail and surrounding area, parking locations and locations of restrooms, etc), codes for what the trail is good for - bicycling, hiking, accessible, etc. There is also a brief narrative about the trail, the county or counties it is located in, the locations of the trail's endpoints, the mileage, the type of trail - greenway, rail-trail, non-rail-trail, rail-with-trail, etc. Finally, there is a roughness index, information about the surface of the trail, and directions for how to get to each trail.
At the beginning of the book is a well-written "How to Use" section for this book. There is also a comprehensive index, and many color photographs!
I usually don't like books that have received a lot of hype, but I found this story to be very readable, even though it often seemed to read like a soI usually don't like books that have received a lot of hype, but I found this story to be very readable, even though it often seemed to read like a soap opera.
One little quirk is that when Ng writes about the river that Cleveland sits on, you know the one that burned. She says this is the Chagrin (means sad, according to her), but the river she seems to be talking about is the Cuyahoga, not the Chagrin, which runs further east.
Otherwise, Ng seemed to be able to tie all of her threads, together. However, I would love to see a sequel to see what happens to Izzy and Mia and Pearl.
I loved reading about the different places around Cleveland that are no longer in existence for various reasons, but the one thing that would have madI loved reading about the different places around Cleveland that are no longer in existence for various reasons, but the one thing that would have made this book better would have been for the author to include a picture of what that "space" looks like today.
Still, a good addition to literature showcasing Cleveland's history....more
This was a fascinating look at the home, and eventual re-development of the land that was once John D. Rockefeller's residence, in Cleveland, Ohio.This was a fascinating look at the home, and eventual re-development of the land that was once John D. Rockefeller's residence, in Cleveland, Ohio....more
A fascinating look into the history and development of the Summit Country (Ohio) Metro park System. I learned a lot about how many of the parks / traiA fascinating look into the history and development of the Summit Country (Ohio) Metro park System. I learned a lot about how many of the parks / trails got their names. ...more
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