Title: Well-Behaved Indian Women Author: Saumya Dave Reviewed by: Michaelene M
Well-Behaved Indian Women is Saumya Dave’s debut novel spanning the lives of 3 generations of women. Mimi is the grandmother who still lives in India and lately, has been curiously unreachable. Nandini is Mimi’s daughter and a mother of two who immigrated to America hoping for a better life for her children. Simran is a psychology student who begins to question her future career as well as her upcoming marriage to her best friend and high school sweetheart.
Though the story is told in two points-of-view–from Simran and her mother, Nandini–this is a layered, multigenerational story that explores what happens when one’s reality and expectations don’t match. All three are led to question where their lives are headed, if they made the right choices, and if changing course or pushing forward is the right path. From Nandini feeling as if she had to sacrifice her career for her marriage, to Simran who is caught between making her mother and fiancé happy and following her own course, even after everything is said and done.
The characterizations truly shine as readers are offered glimpses into mother-daughter relationships, the ups and downs of marriage, and the personal journey to change and acceptance–whether that’s based in tradition, modernity, or a little bit of both.
Readers searching for an intimate story will greatly connect with these multi-dimensional women and their journey to define their own identity and personal autonomy.
Well-Behaved Indian Women is available as a paperback in the library. Call us at 580-234-6313 to reserve this title.
Title: Sulwe Author: Lupita Nyong’o Reviewed by: Michaelene M
Sulwe is a picture book for young readers written by Academy-Award winning actress Lupita Nyong’o.
The book follows Sulwe, a young child whose skin is darker than anyone else in her family, and she is treated differently because of it. It isn’t until Sulwe’s swept amongst the stars and she learns a tale of two sisters that she begins to understand her beauty.
Nyong’o based Sulwe’s story on her own childhood experiences with colorism. The book is beautifully written with illustrations by Vashti Harrison that are particularly striking, each page alternating between soft pastels and deep navy that add a touch of magic and whimsy.
Sulwe is an uplifting, heartwarming tale that radiates warmth and embraces acceptance, self-esteem, and self-worth. Recommended for any young reader.
Sulwe is available as a physical book in the library and is also available as an e-book in the Oklahoma Virtual Library. Call us at 580-234-6313 to place a hold.
Welcome back to our new edition of Tween Scene for December. I hope you guys enjoyed our Thanksgiving column in Enid Buzz Monthly! This time we are going to talk a little bit about the holiday, CHRISTMAS! Let’s get to it.
What is Christmas you may ask? Well, Christmas is a holiday held on December 25th every year. It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Some people celebrate with parades, others also give presents throughout the family, or have family dinners. Hey, maybe all three!
“I celebrate Christmas by baking delicious peanut butter cookies for Santa with my dad and then waking up in the morning to open presents. My dad and I wear matching holiday pajamas. After we get done with that, I go with my Mom, her boyfriend, and my siblings to my grandmas to have a lunch feast and open presents there.” – Sophia
“I celebrate Christmas by first opening presents at my house then going to my grandmas with my family and having a big dinner, then opening presents there.” – Mallie
Let’s talk a little bit about the history of this wonderful holiday.
According to history.com, in the fourth century, it was made a holiday because church officials believed that they should make Jesus’s birth a holiday. Did you know that December 25th isn’t actually his birthday? Since the Bible never said when his real birthday is, a person named Pope Julius l chose this particular date. You might be wondering why? People believe it’s because the church chose December 25th in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. But sadly as time went on Christmas got canceled and was not a holiday anymore because when Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, canceled Christmas. Did you know that Christmas was outlawed in Boston Massachusetts!?! But….. the citizens of America decided that Christmas was a fun and enjoyable holiday and so it came back and they declared it a federal holiday on June 26, 1870. The more you know!
What Christmas means to us. “ Christmas to me means a fun holiday where you get together with your family and friends to have an enjoyable day all together opening presents, feasting, playing games and hopefully having snowball fights.” -Sophia
“Christmas to me means a time to open presents and hang out with family.” – Mallie
Well, we hope the people reading this, whether it’s adults, teens or kids, enjoyed our December column of Tween Scene in Enid Buzz Monthly. See you next month!
Enid is known as an entrepreneurial community. Many of our largest employers today started as a “micro enterprise”. Micro enterprises are our smallest businesses that have one sole proprietor and fewer than six employees. Often, these businesses are self-funded and can have a difficult time securing traditional financing. Understanding the challenges our smallest businesses face, the Enid Regional Development Alliance (ERDA) offers an annual competitive grant program targeted specifically at this audience.
In 2021, ERDA will award (2) $10,000 grants to two micro enterprises. The funds received through this grant can be used for any business expense necessary for the operation, management, formation, or expansion of the company.
In 2020, ERDA awarded its first Micro Enterprise Grant to Latoya Peyton, owner of Sunny Moon Daycare. The $5,000 grant allowed Ms. Peyton to purchase new equipment, receive training, and buy educational material for the children in her care.
Small business owners are an integral part of Enid and economic growth in the community. This year, the impact of COVID-19 has been felt by many of our small businesses. In response to the need, ERDA is expanding our grant program by awarding two grants in this cycle and by increasing the grant amount. We are hopeful that these funds can help our local entrepreneurs to rebuild and grow following the economic turmoil of this past year. Grant funds may be used for rent, payroll, inventory, software, marketing, equipment, renovations, and other business expenses.
Applications will be scored on the viability of the business, the potential for growth, and the overall economic impact. Recipients must be willing to partner with ERDA and Autry Technology Center on their success through coaching and other business assistance. Priority is given to companies who make a product.
Those interested in applying for the grant may turn in an application by 5:00 pm on April 30, 2021, by emailing it to trent@growenid.com or delivering it to the office at 2020 Willow Run, Ste. 100. For more information and to download the application, visit www.growenid.com/local-incentives or contact Trent Misak at 580.233.4232 or trent@growenid.com.
Column by: Dana Hammons, Garfield County Master Gardener
December for a gardener feels like eternal purgatory, an exile from the sun and soil that feeds our soul. So instead of focusing on growing, let’s focus on showing. Winter isn’t void of the color green, let’s not forget about the many evergreens that not only thrive in winter but strut their stuff during the holiday season.
The many traditions, customs, and beliefs associated with evergreens go back thousands of years. Many customs that have been passed down through the years were from the times of the ancient Egyptian, Roman, and Pagan civilizations, and later adopted into the Christian faith to draw the unholy into the light. There are so many traditions, where does one begin? Well, let’s just take a look at a few of the more known customs of today.
The early Romans viewed evergreens as sacred and represented not only eternal life, they were also worn atop the head as a status symbol.
Head of a Man Wearing a Laurel Wreath, LACMA
They would mark the solstice with a feast known at Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Romans knew the solstice meant that soon their orchards and crops would be green and fruitful once again. To celebrate the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs.
They were also one of the first cultures to begin decking their halls with boughs of holly as it was believed to have protective powers. It was often hung in doorways to chase away evil spirits, or to at least get caught in its prickly leaves. The Christian faith came to know holly as a symbol of the thorny crown that Jesus wore while on the cross. The prickly leaves symbolized the thorns that were crushed into His skin while the red berries symbolized the blood that ran from down His head.
Nativity of Jesus by Gerard van Honthorst
Even the Druids, who were considered wizards and magicians, saw evergreens as sacred symbols of life itself and used them in most rituals and decorations. Today we deck our halls with glorious evergreens not only for the traditions handed down, but for the rich color, and smells, that bring a joyous burst of life to a long, dark winter.
Mistletoe also has a fascinating history. The ancient Druids and Scandinavians found mistletoe to be especially important because it was considered a symbol of love and forgiveness. It was thought to have magical powers for fertility and new life, and also considered an aphrodisiac. This notion was carried into the English Victorian era where the practice of kissing under the mistletoe became fashionable. A practice we still like to do today.
The most universal custom of the holidays, the Christmas tree, has traditional roots from long ago that don’t belong to just one religion or people. Predating Christianity, the evergreen tree itself has been used by many civilizations as a symbol of eternal life, birth, fertility, fortune, and hope for a good future.
The earliest time in which we find our traditional Christmas tree referenced is in 16th century Strasbourg, Germany, now part of France. Every family, rich or poor, would decorate fir trees with fruits, pastries, candles, nuts, and colored papers during the holiday season. It’s not until the 17th century that we start to see tree decorations really glam up when a movement in the European royal courts introduced the use of gold and silver leaf on their ornaments.
With the influx of German immigrants to the new world, and influences from Europe, we start to see the modern Christmas tree we know and love taking hold in America during the early 19th century.
When you decorate for this holiday season, try to include some fresh evergreens into your decor. Regardless if it’s store-bought, from the lot, or found in the backyard, fresh evergreens will brighten your spirit and your senses this holiday season. Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and God bless
Staying Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) is an evidence-based, falls prevention class that is designed for older adults. It focuses on flexibility, strength training, cardio, and balance work. Performing exercises that improve strength, balance, and fitness is an important activity that adults can do to stay active and reduce their chances of falling. If done regularly, either seated or standing, (two to three times a week) a SAIL class will improve your overall health and balance. It will be the key to keeping you more active and will decrease the risk of falling. SAIL classes. SAIL is one of OHAI’s most popular classes and is now being offered online, so you can join and SAIL anytime!!
It works… you will be stronger, have better balance, feel better, and this will help you stay active and independent.
It’s safe… the instructors are experienced and skilled, and exercises have been tested with seniors.
It’s fun…you’ll meet other seniors and make new friends.
Every year, one out of three adults aged 65 or older will experience a fall, but less than half will tell their healthcare provider, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2016, the United Health Foundation, America’s Health Rankings Senior Report, ranked Oklahoma as 38th in the nation for falls in adults aged 65 and over. Unintentional falls result in death for 92.3 per 100,000 Oklahoma adults in 2015, compared to 86.5 per 100,000 in 2014. (OK State Department of Health).
The Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative (OHAI) in coordination with the National Council on Aging and the Long-Term Care Authority Area Agency on Aging in Enid to provide Staying Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) classes in Northwest Oklahoma.
Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, SAIL classes are currently being offered on the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative’s Facebook page as well as on the ZOOM virtual platform. To find a schedule of all of the OHAI classes, you can go to OHAI’s website at www.ohai.org or you can email devon-murray@ouhsc.edu or call our Northwest Center of Healthy Aging at (580) 297-5137. All of OHAI’s classes are available to everyone, at no charge.
Testimonials from Current Participants:
“I just want to let you and OHAI know how much I appreciate these Facebook Live classes. The Tai Chi and SAIL classes have been a lifesaver for me since I cannot go back to the gym for exercise classes yet. Thanks for making this available in our home.”
“I did today’s SAIL this afternoon. My dog was excited, he kept flopping on the floor in front of me and rolling around on his back! Can I count his session, too?”
Many of us take the annual Thanksgiving experience for granted. The turkey, the sides, the overload of desserts. Which family will we visit this year? Who is bringing their famous pecan pie? It’s so easy to get caught up in the food, family, and football aspects of the holiday.
What if we had nowhere to celebrate or even eat at Thanksgiving? What if our family was out of our lives for reasons beyond our control? What if we had nowhere to eat or sleep? Or, what if we just need some help with gathering the grocery items that are normal staples in our pantry?
There are many people in Enid that ask themselves those questions not only on Thanksgiving but every day of the year. In this issue, we take a closer look at several of the local organizations that make it a priority to give back at Thanksgiving, even while facing the challenges of COVID-19.
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Bread, 616 W. Randolph, is a soup kitchen founded by St. Frances Xavier Catholic Church. The church started seeing a need for food for the homeless in Enid as far back as 1958, when Father Paul Gallatin, then a pastor at St. Francis, started serving sandwiches to the needy out of the church rectory. The current location was made possible by a building campaign in 2001. Meals are served five days a week under the direction of Val Ross.
Earlier in September of this year, Our Daily Bread was forced to close for two weeks for quarantine due to COVID-19. According to Ross during our phone interview, “During Pre-COVID times, we would serve 100-150 for lunch. From March 2020 to the present, that number increased to 400-500, reaching a peak of 570 meals in late August.” The kitchen provided only to-go service during the coronavirus outbreak in order to lower the risk of exposure.
During the emergency closure, Dan Scheidel, Executive Director of United Way of Enid, spearheaded arrangements for assisting Our Daily Bread, even though the Our Daily Bread is not a partner agency. “During COVID, we expanded our net,” explains Scheidel. “We thought, ‘how do we help everyone?’”
For two weeks, breakfast and lunch were served on-site by the Salvation Army Canteen. Volunteers were sourced from the American Red Cross, City of Enid, local grocers, businesses, churches, and organizations. “It was so great that the Salvation Army was able to serve at the location everyone was used to,” Scheidel adds.
As for serving a Thanksgiving meal, it is actually the one day of the year that Our Daily Bread takes a much-needed holiday. The Knights of Columbus step in to serve a full traditional spread across the street at St. Francis Xavier Church. “Thanksgiving seems to bring out a lot of volunteers, but there are people coming to us every day because of financial insecurities,” Ross explains.
The mural outside Our Daily Bread depicts Christ standing among the needy in a breadline.
Salvation Army
Salvation Army Captain Amanda Brittle was called upon by Scheidel and was instrumental in organizing volunteers and donations for the Our Daily Bread relief effort. “We are blessed to have every spot filled,” she reports on the day of our interview. Captain Amanda and her husband, Captain David, filled the administrative posts at the Enid Salvation Army, 518 N. Independence, only a few months prior. “We are so thankful for how giving the Enid community is,” says Captain Amanda.
Charlee Lainson, Case Manager, pauses with Salvation Army Captains Amanda and David Brittle outside the shelter.
The Salvation Army provides shelter for homeless or uprooted individuals, helps with utility bills and groceries, has resources for family needs, and offers spiritual assistance. Their annual Angel Tree Project prioritizes critical help for children who would otherwise not have Christmas gifts to open. Charlee Lainson, Case Manager, tells of how she was assisted by the Salvation Army programs in the past and is proud to say she’s come “full circle” in being able to help others.
As for Thanksgiving Day, the Salvation Army goes all out with a “huge” dinner, according to Lainson. Ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, cheesy hash browns (Lainson’s contribution), green beans, stuffing, and assorted pies are served “restaurant-style” in the dining area, and this year they are prepared to social distance, if necessary. Church volunteers from Enid First Assembly help serve the feast and all guests also take home a Bakery Basket filled with pastries, apples, oranges, mints, and the like. Monetary donations through one of the Salvation Army’s “mail appeals” are essential to providing the complete Thanksgiving dinner each year, according to Captain Amanda.
Chef Brian Chance chats with Toni Hitner in the Salvation Army kitchen as they prepare the day’s lunch to be served at Our Daily Bread.
Chef Brian Chance has worked for the Salvation Army for four years and counting. He explains that he is able to special order a lot of the holiday trimmings such as cranberry sauce, brown sugar, and marshmallows from the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Locally, Jumbo Foods arranges for 300 low-cost turkeys for the event as well as for food boxes containing other traditional items for families. The center regularly receives large food donations from Jumbo, Walmart, and Aldi with most everything being utilized. The center’s year-round Pantry Program provides grocery assistance to families. Chef Chance explains that the kitchen provides at least one hot meal a day, 365 days a year. The only exception may be a sack meal when he does an annual dismantling of the kitchen.
Toni Hitner is vitally important in their kitchen, too. She began by volunteering her time and now works from 6:00 am to 10:00 am at the Salvation Army before going to her second job as Deli Manager at Jumbo Foods West. When Our Daily Bread was shut down, she single-handedly cooked chili for over 300 people. (Chance was on disaster relief in Beaumont, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana at the time.) Hitner is another alumnus of the shelter and is appreciative of the Salvation Army for helping her in the past, and enjoys being able to make a contribution to lifting up others now. “You have to work hard for what you get in life,” says Hitner. “I didn’t understand that early on…now I do.”
It becomes evident that staff at the Salvation Army are no strangers to giving back. In fact, over half of their workers are doing so in one capacity or another. According to Capt. Amanda, Chef Chance uses his talents to give back to fellow culinary students who have fallen on hard times. Chance comments, “As long as my heart’s full, who needs a (full) wallet? I don’t want for anything.”
Loaves and Fishes
Loaves and Fishes, 701 East Maine, is not classified as a meal service, but is a grocery assistance program relying mainly on the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. “Retail recovery” from Vance AFB Commissary and the local Walmart stores is the next largest provider, with private donations, food drives, wholesale purchases of dairy products and groceries along with produce from Faith Farm, a nearby production and teaching garden leases by Loaves and Fishes, making up the remainder of needed items.
The large mural on the Loaves and Fishes building beautifully illustrates a helpful hand sharing fresh produce.
With COVID-19 entering the picture in early 2020, Loaves and Fishes made the difficult decision to only distribute boxed food in a drive-thru setting instead of continuing to allow visitors the opportunity to make their own food choices from their indoor pantry. A citywide food drive was also canceled in an effort to keep the needed 400+ volunteers safe from contracting the virus. The demand for grocery assistance increased by 25%, and without private contributions, meeting the needs of Enid’s hungry would have been crippled.
Canned pumpkin is in ready supply in the pantry room.
“We have had to place the shopping experience on hold,” Lydia Kelley, Executive Director, explains. “We had to take away the choices, but are providing a way for food to make it to tables that need it. Through drive-thru box distribution, participants are given shelf-stable items such as tuna, peanut butter, cereal, rice, and pasta as well as fresh produce (based on donations of local gardens). Eggs, milk, cheese, and yogurt complete the boxes.”
On Loaves and Fishes website, a client comments: “I can’t afford meat and fresh fruit and I love that Loaves and Fishes always has those items.”
Fresh green beans gathered from Faith Farm, bagged potatoes and shelf-stable milk will be welcome on local tables.
Forgotten Ministries
Jeremiah and Sarah Herrian, Directors of Forgotten Ministries, relocated to Oklahoma in 2010 when they recognized a need for helping the “forgotten” in the Enid area.
The Herrians met while living in California. A pivotal moment came when they were invited by a group of church friends to visit Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. According to Jeremiah, “Skid Row consists of 10,000 homeless in a four-block radius filled with gangs, drive-by (shootings), stabbings… I had never seen anything like this, especially in the United States. This single visit truly changed my life.” They later married and opened a mission in Skid Row just six days after their honeymoon.
On an extended trip to visit family in Enid, the pair realized a real need for additional community resources for the homeless and struggling citizens. After moving here, they organized an event called “The Walk,” which involves participants carrying a cross and walking through numerous cities in a month’s time doing service projects and feeding the needy. It was there that Peggy Grisham, Forgotten Ministries Executive Assistant, met the Herrians. “It changed my whole life,” recalls Grisham. “I began volunteering and have been with Forgotten Ministries for 10 years.”
Peggy Grisham, Executive Assistant pauses in the planning room at Mercy House.
The ministry is totally run by volunteers and private donations and receives no federal assistance, according to Grisham. “The Church Has Left the Building” is more than a motto. It is put into action by the variety of outreach programs offered: Mercy House, Paradise Garden, The Oasis, Refuge at the Well, and Kids Program, located at 1714 South 4th. Five80 Coffeehouse and Copper Tap Roasting Company, downtown Enid, are also an important part of the ministry.
The Mercy House is a seasonal homeless shelter, open July through August and November through February, providing clothing, food, and housing for people in need. It is also where a traditional Thanksgiving dinner is held and it is open to all to attend. In fact, evening meals at the Mercy House are always open to everyone, any night November 1 through February 29, according to Grisham.
Another program called “Park Outreach” at Don Haskins Park, 515 E. Maine, happens regularly on Tuesday evenings throughout the year including special events for Thanksgiving and Christmas. On the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving, 10-20 turkeys are given out by raffle in addition to a sit-down meal being served in the park. Crowds gather to enjoy food and fellowship provided by Forgotten Ministries and many volunteers.
Youth and Family Services
Youth and Family Services was founded in 1974 to provide temporary shelter and addresses the special needs of children age 0-17 affected by abuse, neglect, and delinquent behavior. At the time the Garfield County Jail was the only temporary shelter for many of these youth. The center also offers family, individual, and group counseling as well as programs in tutoring and mentoring.
The shelter has beds for eighteen youth and is run by seven volunteers and two staff members. Living away from familiar surroundings is difficult at any time of year, but at the holidays it can be especially tough. Tenille Chesnut, Shelter Supervisor, hasn’t spent Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day with her daughter in 22 years. She is always found at the shelter, sharing her day with the residents. Joanna Moats, Residential Director, and Tree Perkins, Director of Development agree that Chesnut stands out as the “rock and heart of the shelter.”
Joanna Moats, YFS Residential Director, deeply appreciates the giving spirit of Tennille Chesnut, YFS Shelter Supervisor
Thanksgiving Day starts at 7:00 am when Chesnut prepares for the meal. “The kids help me by peeling potatoes. Some have never had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner,” says Chesnut. She always sits down with the group and discusses the menu beforehand. “One boy had never heard of deviled eggs, so I made two dozen that year…I think he ate half!” she chuckles.
While preparing and eating their holiday dinner, they watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (one of the few times television is allowed during a meal), next comes the National Dog Show and then the group watches football. The Transitional Living Program youth, ages 18-22 are also welcome to attend the holiday meal with the youth at the shelter. “But, no phones at the table!” says Chesnut.
Chesnut recalls one boy, aged 13 or 14 who was actually approved to reunite with his parents at Thanksgiving time. He was finding it difficult to leave the familiarity of the shelter, so Chesnut gave him the choice to go with them or stay with his “shelter family”. He decided to stay and spend Thanksgiving Day with Youth and Family Services, much to the surprise of his parents.
The staff tries to make the shelter experience as pleasant as possible for the children who stay there. There are firm boundaries and rules to abide by, but when some residents have been transferred to other shelters, they plead to come back to Youth and Family Service. “Several have even come back to work with us,” says Moats. “Many of our residents are here from word of mouth or being referred by other shelter kids.
Tennille Chesnut, YFS Shelter Supervisor, proudly stands by snapshots of her “shelter family.”
As with many things in life, it’s the people who make the difference. Giving back at Thanksgiving, and every day of the year, is desperately needed in Enid. The organizations spotlighted here are inspirational in showing how giving back not only helps the recipient but blesses the giver.
Title: When No One is Watching Author: Alyssa Cole Reviewed by: Michaelene M
Major changes are happening in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Gifford Place. Realtors are buying people out of their homes and new stores are cropping up where local shops used to be. And as new neighbors move in, no one sees the old neighbors move out. When long-time resident Sydney Green finds herself on a tour of Gifford Place and the guide omits her neighborhood’s black residents and community, Sydney is determined to start her own tour and preserve the history of Gifford Place.
But as she and her unlikely research assistant, Theo, uncover more history, present events escalate from all directions. They’ll need to fit all the pieces together before it’s too late.
Alyssa Cole’s When No One is Watching starts out as one woman’s mission to preserve her neighborhood’s history before it suddenly morphs into a suspenseful thriller. It’s told in two points of view: that of Sydney, who experiences unexplained happenings and paranoia as gentrification changes her beloved neighborhood, to that of Theo, a white man who moves into the neighborhood to renovate a house with his ex-girlfriend and finds himself drawn into the close-knit community of Gifford Place.
Sydney doesn’t trust Theo, but as they grow closer, their research takes an unexpected turn. There is a slight romantic subplot, but the focus of the story remains on the comings and goings of the neighborhood’s occupants and Gifford Place, itself, as the community deals with racism, social injustice, and gentrification.
This timely novel will leave readers wondering, “What’s going on?” until the very last page.
When No One is Watching is available as a digital ebook and audiobook on the Oklahoma Virtual Library. Place a hold by downloading our virtual library with the Overdrive or Libby app on any device.
Don’t have a library card? Need help placing an item on hold? Call us at 580-234-6313.
Title: The Inheritance Games Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Reviewed by: Michaelene M
What’s a girl to do when she learns she’s inherited a stranger’s billionaire estate? That’s for high school student Avery Grambs to figure out as her life—and that of her sister’s—is turned upside down. Especially since not everyone is happy to welcome Avery into the family, and no one quite knows why Tobias Hawthorne left Avery Grambs his fortune. She has to navigate a new school, get acquainted with Hawthorne’s four very different, and somewhat eccentric grandsons, and live full-time with a family that may just want her dead.
Avery will have to evade paparazzi and get used to 24/7 security, all the while trying to answer the question—who exactly is the billionaire Tobias Hawthorne, and why did he leave HER an inheritance?
This reads like a game of Clue, and anyone who loves a good mystery with, a hefty dose of drama, and a splash of romance will definitely enjoy Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Inheritance Games. There are puzzles to solve, secrets to uncover, and connections to make—and break. This is the first book in the series, so all the questions are not answered by the end of the book. Recommended for diehard fans of Erin Watt’s The Royals series and readers of Jennifer Armentrout. The Inheritance Games is available as a physical book in the library. Place a hold using our catalog at http://bit.ly/2P2LlH2 or call us at 580-234-6313.
The Gloss Mountains beneath a star trailed sky. Photo by Patrick Wine.
Breathe in. It’s the smell of a good ol’ fashioned bonfire in the Oklahoma countryside. The crisp autumn air glides blissfully over the crackling fire as the gentle western breeze stirs the fallen leaves around you. Soothing chords from James Taylor’s Fire and Rain softly flow from the radio set atop an old cottonwood stump. Crickets echo their jovial midnight tunes as the owls hoot and howl in the not-so-distant woods. With a nice cold brew and a bag of marshmallows puffed for the pickin’, the stage is primed for a magical evening. Surrounded by a trove of your closest friends and family, you know this is the laid-back, worry-free life that folks dream about elsewhere. With the crackle of the fire and a stir of the timbers, a herd of luminous sparks course skyward on their migration towards the twinkling stars above.
The jewels of the night sky kiss your eyes with a display of wondrous beauty. But something catches your eye. A quaint and relatively dim star appears to move across the sky. It must be a satellite. It glides through Cassiopeia until it finally joins the shadow of our celestial home. The gentle breeze returns your attention to the warmth of the glowing fire.
The Milky Way over Oklahoma. Photo by Patrick Wine.
“Hey, hey, listen”, one of your friends says. Everyone freezes.
“Do you hear that? Nothing”. You realize the cricket songs have faded into nothingness. The hair on the back of your neck raises; a primal sign, often accustomed to a sixth sense, danger is imminent. The music sputters on the radio. Static. Then, Sweet Baby James resumes. Everyone stares at it with mistrust. Mmmm. Mmmm. Your phone vibrates. Your parents are calling. It must be important at this time of night. “Hey, is everything ok?”, you say with a semi-worried tone.
“Are you watching the news…Hey, kiddo. We just wanted to see how you’re doing.” Something strange is happening. Mmmm. Mmmm. Mmmm. Your friends receive similar phone calls. They react in the same manner. “What’s going on?”, you say into the phone. “Oh, we’re just wanting to see where you’re at. That’s all.” You look at the news on your phone. It glitches, but everything seems normal.
Looking up, it’s daytime. You’re in your childhood home. You rise. How did you get here? You cautiously walk forward. Your leg burns…It’s on fire! You jump back and extinguish it. You can feel the heat of the fire and hear the sounds of its timbers. But you can’t see it; only your childhood home. You call out to your friends. They answer. None of you can see each other.
The radio begins to play Midnight, The Stars and You. You’re parents emerge from the kitchen with a freshly baked apple pie and smile. You know this isn’t real, but how can it not be. Ah-ha! You open Maps on your phone and geolocate. There’s a sinking feeling. You are, in fact, at your childhood home. How do you continue?
This image compares two new views of the Eagle Nebula’s Pillars of Creation captured by Hubble. On the left the pillars are seen in visible light, capturing the multi-colored glow of gas clouds and wispy tendrils of dark cosmic dust
The experience we just shared is the central plot of a film I am currently developing. But unlike most thriller/horror films, this story is based on the scientific principles of physics and electromagnetism. Humans can see only a fraction of the EM spectrum. In fact, we can only see 0.0035% of the light that bombards both our planet and our bodies every second. The other 99.9974% includes the radio waves we communicate on as well as the powerful gamma rays emitted by cosmic events. During an astrophysics course at CU, I pondered what could happen if an ET was able to emit and absorb all wavelengths of light, including radio and visible.
The electromagnetic spectrum from lowest energy/longest wavelength (at the top) to highest energy/shortest wavelength (at the bottom). (Credit: NASA’s Imagine the Universe)
Well, for starters, they could control every detail of the world you see. By absorbing every wavelength of light reflecting from objects around you and emitting selective light into your retina, you would only be able to see the objects, scenes, or people they wanted. Like a projector inside your head. Scary, right? But it doesn’t stop there.
The grains of a wooden fence cascade into photonic rain. Photo by Patrick Wine
If you communicate using a phone, radio, or walkie talkie, think again. Each and every one of these devices relies on the transmission of light from one source to another. Our hypothetical ET could easily manipulate, communicate, or destroy these means of communication. Try wax cylinders or vinyl records instead. If ET was feeling purely destructive, they could emit gamma rays that would destroy pretty much everything. Thankfully, this ability is near impossible.
The light trails of Colorado aspen ambush the sensor with blissful photons. Photo by Patrick Wine.
Light is perhaps the most fundamental parts of our universe. Up until the last few years, light was our only way to unlock the mysteries of the universe. NASA and other space agencies use different telescopes tuned to nearly every wavelength of light to perform this daunting task. As we go about our daily lives, we often take this universal medium for granted. So, next time you turn on a light bulb, I challenge you to curiously think about the manner through which light plays a role in both your life and the universe in which we live. It might illuminate a new frequency of your being and, in doing so, could save us from the plot of this film.
