DC/10: The Power Of Vine
Let’s Ask The Readers how we’re doing!
Well, obviously we’re doing awesome: $2839 raised, 2427 students helped, and…it’s not telling me how many projects completed, so I’ll have to get back to you. I do know we polished off a project for one Mrs. Radway, which is fitting. Awesome job!
Why not donate to the project that’s challenging chick-lit bias? It’s only got $75 left; we could finish it today!
And! An Ask The Readers challenge from Reader Daisy! Find the book(s) and she’ll donate to the projects of your choice!
If someone comes up with the answer to either of these ridiculously vague stumpers, I’ll give $25 to the project of their choice. That’s $50 total. If some completely amazing human can answer both, I’ll give $75 to the project of their choice.
In both cases, I remember just one scene from each book. Here they are:
#1: In this book, there was a child (a boy, I think) who had itchy bumps between his fingers, and he was always looking for places to secretly scratch them without his parents seeing and telling him to knock it off. He liked tree bark for this problem, but his very favorite was lace curtains. This could have been fiction, but I think it was a memoir. I think the scene happened early in the book. I read this in the ’90s.
#2: I think this was also a memoir, but am not positive. In this one, the narrator had a hearing problem and she (I think it was a female) was worried it was serious, it would be permanent, etc. Then at some point, she was relieved to learn it was just tinnitus. I remember this vividly because I was just a kid and had never heard of that before. I remember her exclaiming something like, “Tinnitus! Just tinnitus!” I’m pretty sure I read this in the ’80s. I was young, but it could have been an adult book that my parents had.
Thanks, readers!
Daisy
Don’t forget that the DC10 challenge page is right here. Send questions, puzzles, and project suggestions to me, bunting at tomatonation dot com!
Tags: Ask The Readers books DC10 Kate DiCamillo you can't spell "readers" without "rad"
Could #1 be At War With My Skin by John Updike?
The Planetarium project is finished! Yay Nation!
Na-TION! Na-TION! Na-TION!
MJ, good thought. The timing and tone makes sense. Let me find a copy of that article and I will get back to you. Thanks!
If you click on the word Raised at the top of the DC-10 page it will show you the completed projects. 27 at this moment.
Ooh, good tip. And if you click on “Students,” you can read the notes from teachers. Awww.
Follow up for MJ: In addition to the nonfiction piece you mentioned, looks like Updike also wrote a short story on the same topic. They were both published in the New Yorker 30-40 years ago. I am attempting to interlibrary-loan copies, so it will take me a few days to get back to you. Thanks again.
Book #2 for Daisy….
Could this be the book? http://www.amazon.com/Jody-Deborah-Kent/dp/059032442X
Hi MJ – I have confirmed that #1 is not At War With My Skin. Still waiting for the fiction piece.
#2 – possibly! Let me ILL that book and I will let you know. Thanks so much for your help.
Something else that has occurred to me is that maybe the MC in #2 thought she was going crazy rather than going deaf….hearing voices, etc.
Sarah,
I will keep looking and asking those who are better read than I am.
MJ
It’s not the Updike fiction piece either, which is also completely disgusting and I do not recommend it!
I ILLed the Jody book and will let you know when it arrives. I really appreciate your help.
Daisy,
Have you read Jody yest?
MJ
Hi MJ! I just finished Jody yesterday and am sorry to say it wasn’t the book. (It was 1980-tastic, though, in that sad teen series way, so I was glad to have read it.)
Since you have put in so much effort on both of my requests, I would like to donate $25 to the project of your choice anyway, even though you didn’t quite nail them. What would you like me to donate to?
Daisy,
It was fun trying to figure them out. Good luck in your quest. This friend has a red clock project. She can use a little push. Thank you!
MJ
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=1210708&challengeid=208861
Done. Thanks again, MJ.