Library Loot ~ October 24-30

Because Helen @ Helen's Book Blog assigned a rating of 5 out of 5 to this young adult novel that is based on a true story, I want to read it, too.

The Queen of Water ~ by Laura Resau, based on the true story of Maria Virginia Farinango, 2011, YA fiction (Ecuador)

Born in an Andean village in Ecuador, Virginia lives with her large family in a small, earthen-walled dwelling.  In her village of indigenas, it is not uncommon to work in the fields all day, even as a child, or to be called a longa tonta — stupid Indian — by members of the ruling class of mestizos, or Spanish descendants.  When seven-year-old Virginia is taken from her village to be a servant to a mestizo couple, she has no idea what the future holds.  Virginia quickly grows accustomed to the conveniences and luxuries of mestizo life.  But promised pay and visits to her family are quickly forgotten, as is her boss' pledge to send her to school.  Beaten and told that the sole purpose of indigenous girl is to serve, Virginia must fight to hold on to her spirit and humor.  She teaches herself to read and write and performs science experiments in secret.

Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions ~ Rachel Held Evans, 2010, memoir (227.3083 Eva)

Rachel Held Evans recounts her experiences growing up in Dayton, Tennessee, a town that epitomized Christian fundamentalism during the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925.  With fearless honesty, Evans describes how her faith survived her doubts and challenges readers to re-imagine Christianity in a postmodern context, where knowing all the answers isn't as important as asking the questions.  She asks questions she never thought she would ask and learns that it must adapt to change and evolve.  Her spiritual journey went from certainty, through doubt, to faith.

A Year Without Autumn ~ by Liz Kessler, 2011, children's fiction

A girl stumbles into the future — and must change its course to save a friendship.  Jenni Green's family vacation has finally arrived!  Even though she has to deal with her annoying little brother, her slightly overbearing dad, and her very pregnant mom, she gets to spend a week with her bestest friend in the world, Autumn.  But twelve-year-old Jenni's world turns upside down when she takes an old elevator to visit Autumn and discovers that everything has changed:  not only is her friend in a different condo, but tragedy has struck Autumn's family, Jenni's mother has had her baby, and everyone is a year older.  When Jenni realizes that the elevator caused her to skip a whole year, she tries to go back, but soon finds that fixing things won't be as easy as pressing a button.  How can she alter the past and keep her family and Autumn's from falling apart?  With honesty and insight, Liz Kessler explores how the bonds of family and friendship can endure through time.

All in Sync: How Music and Art Are Revitalizing American Religion ~ by Robert Wuthnow, 2003, religion (291.37 Wut)

Contemporary spirituality is increasingly encouraged by the arts because of its emphasis on transcendent experience and personal reflection.  This kind of spirituality, contrary to what many observers have imagined, is compatible with active involvement in churches and serious devotion to Christian practices.  The absorbing narrative relates the story of a woman who overcame a severe personal crisis and went on to head a spiritual direction center where participants use the arts to gain clarity about their own spiritual journeys.  Clergy and lay leaders are rethinking the role of the imagination, especially in connection with traditional theological virtues.  He also shows how churches and arts organizations sometimes find themselves at odds over controversial moral questions and competing claims about spirituality.

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire @ The Captive Reader and Marg @ The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share titles of books they’ve checked out of the library.  To participate, just add your post to their Mister Linky any time during the week.  And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries this week.