READING CORNER
CLASS CLOWN
Book recommendations from That’s editorial team.
Superfluous Screen Time
Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Ghosts
A mother in Shenyang took her 10-year-old daughter to the hospital for an eyesight exam. It was revealed that the girl’s myopia, nearsightedness caused by an abnormality of the shape of the eye, had devolved beyond 200 degrees. The girl’s doctor asserted that it was a result of long-term online classes and holding her face too close to the screen. On Weibo, the hashtag concerning the girl’s rapid myopia has been read 73 million times. Reading books and looking at a computer or phone screen are both considered ‘near work’ and have been linked to eyestrain and subsequent conditions. However, virtually everyone regularly does some form of ‘near-work’ but only a small group of the population develops nearsightedness.
By Katie and Kevin Tsang Ages 6-12 This fun romp is told in the first person by a young boy who is intent on disproving the notion that he is, as was said by his peers, a ‘scaredy-cat.’ This book is the first in a series concerning all the things that Sam Wu is not afraid of, ranging from sharks to zombies to the dark. Sam Wu reminds us that it’s natural to have reservations about the unknown, but we can overcome our fears and build confidence in the process.
The Night Diary By Vera Hiranandani Ages 11-17 After her mother passes away, Nisha continues writing letters to her in her diary. Although heart-wrenching, this story teaches us courage and about the complexity of an international world as the half-Muslim, half-Hindu protagonist navigates a newly partitioned India. This book won the Newbery Honor in 2019 and is perfect for a young reader just slightly too innocent for Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner .
ECO HOME
Ice Ice Baby Instead of walking all the way downstairs to get a free bag of ice from the begrudging bubble tea barista, why not buy your very own countertop ice machine. Cool off and stay hydrated with a virgin vodka water at any time of day. Elevate your highball game with a Hicon ice machine that makes a tray of cubes in just six minutes. Gone are the days of asking the Family Mart cashiers, who have never drank a cold beverage in their lives lest they fall mortally ill, if the bags of ice on offer are made for human consumption. AUGUST 2022 | 37
