Today's Top Ten Tuesday prompt is: Non-bookish Freebie. You can make a list about literally anything as long as it doesn't have to do with books (unless you really want it to be about books—that's okay, too). My mind always goes blank when confronted with freebie topics, especially if they're not about reading, so I did a slight twist on Jana's idea from the last time we did this prompt: Top Ten Most Memorable Places I've Visited. In the many years I've been doing TTT, this is a topic I've never done. Woo hoo!

As always, this fun weekly blogging event is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.

I'm not the most well-traveled person in the world, but I added it up and, not counting the United States where I live, I've visited nine countries (eleven if you add in airport layovers in Peru and Japan). I'll cross two more—Jordan and Israel—off in December, provided our tour doesn't get cancelled. In addition, I've been to 33 of the 50 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C. In October, I'll be visiting three new-to-me Southern states, which will put me at 36. I've been around a little bit, so I thought it would be fun to share the ten most memorable places I've visited in my country and around the world. In no particular order, they are:

1. The Columbia River Gorge (southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon, U.S.A.)—I'm a bit biased having been born and reared in this GORGEous National Scenic Area, but it really is a stunning place featuring majestic Mt. Hood, the glittering Columbia River, lush forests, gushing waterfalls, and more.

Runners-up in Oregon: the rugged coast, especially Astoria and Tillamook

2. Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmarte (Paris, France)—This beautiful basilica sits atop a hill, giving it a sweeping view of Paris, especially if you climb up the steep, claustrophobic stairs to the dome. The view at the top is almost as breath-stealing as the hike to get there!

Runner-up in Paris: the Palace of Versailles

3. Boracay Island (the Philippines)—White sand beaches, crystal clear water, swaying palm trees...what could be more relaxing? Ahhh...take me back!

Runner-up in the Philippines: Camiguin Island

4. Capilano Suspension Bridge (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)—My maternal grandmother's second husband (who also happened to by my grandfather's first cousin) was Canadian. They lived in the Vancouver area before he died in the early 1990s, so I visited them there many times as a kid. This suspension bridge and the park that surrounds it was one of my family's favorite attractions there.

Runner-up in Canada: beautiful Victoria, British Columbia

5. Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Washington, D.C., U.S.A.)—Washington, D.C., is full of interesting, important sites, but the one that stands out to me is this one. My uncle was killed in the war when he was just 22 and seeing his name on that vast wall along with all the other fallen soldiers is just...sobering. I've been there twice and was equally moved by the experience both times.

Runner-up in Washington, D.C.: the gorgeous Library of Congress 

6. Whitby (England, Yorkshire, U.K.)—My mother's maiden name is Whitby and, while none of us has ever been able to make a connection between the city and our family, she has always wanted to check it out. I have, too, so last year on a trip to the U.K., my husband and I made a point to stop there. We spent a fun day exploring the old town, strolling its cobblestone streets, shopping in cute boutiques, climbing the 199 steps to see the Abbey ruins and cemetery, and enjoying the stunning views from up high.

Runners-up in England: Chester, the Lake District, and the Dales

7. Dunn's River Falls (Ocho Rios, Jamaica)—This mighty waterfall is a big tourist attraction and, no wonder, it's awesome!

Runner-up in Jamaica: the beaches (I haven't seen much of Jamaica, honestly. Both times I've been there, I mostly stuck around the resort.)

8. Castell Conwy (Conwy, Wales, U.K.)—After a whirlwind two-week family trip to England, Scotland, Wales, and Paris in 2021, I asked my kids what their favorite part of our vacation was and they both said Castell Conwy. Conwy is a vibrant market town with a scenic riverside setting. My kids had a blast running all over the grounds of Castell Conwy, exploring the ruins. The views from the castle's towers are simply spectacular.

Runner-up in Wales: Snowdonia

9. Culzean Castle (Ayrshire, Scotland, U.K.)—My father's ancestors come from the proud Clan Kennedy of Ayrshire. Of all the clan's castles, Culzean is the grandest and most beautiful. Its clifftop setting is as picturesque as can be.

Runners-up in Ayrshire: Dunure Castle and Turnberry Lighthouse (even though its owned by He Who Shall Not Be Named, the grounds are open to the public and the views are stunning)

10. Salto del Laja/Laja Falls (south central Chile)—Although the most memorable site I visited in Chile was the El Chiflon del Diablo under-the-ocean mine in Lota, it was an uncomfortable and rather terrifying experience, so I'm going to highlight this lovely waterfall instead. It was much more pleasant. 

Runner-up in Chile: the scenic Bio Bio River, which reminds me of the Columbia River (see #1)

There you go, ten of the most memorable places I've been. Have you traveled to any of them? Where are the most memorable spots you have visited? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Even though Isabel in Bloom by Mae Respicio is more of a Spring/Summer read than a Fall/Winter one, I loved the infusion of sunshine it gave my end-of-the-year reading. Its hopeful, life-affirming message is uplifting no matter what the season! 

Written in verse, this middle-grade novel concerns a 12-year-old girl from the Philippines who has just moved to California to live with her mother. She has been raised by her grandparents for most of her life while her single mother worked in the U.S., visiting her native country only occasionally. Isabel is nervous not only about relocating to a foreign place, but also about living with a woman she barely knows. In the Philippines, she has her friends, her beloved grandparents, the lush garden she helps care for, and the sights, sounds, and tastes she's used to. What is there for her in America? 

Just as Isabel feared, she feels like a complete outsider in San Francisco. When she discovers a neglected garden at her school, though, she sees a glimmer of hope. Could resurrecting the Garden Club be the key to finding belonging in her strange new life? Or will her efforts be shut down before she—and the garden—really gets the chance to blossom?

Isabel in Bloom addresses some serious issues, including Asian hate, but overall, it's a sweet, wholesome novel with a happy ending (that comes too easily, but still...). It provided a perfect palate cleanser for me after a series of darker reads. Isabel is a sympathetic character. Even if we've never had to start over in a new place, all of us have been the "new kid" in one situation or another. It's easy to empathize with Isabel as she navigates life in a foreign environment, tackles homesickness, and learns to trust a parent she hardly knows. I loved watching our heroine use her unique talents and skills to not just find belonging for herself but also to inspire her classmates to help others in their community. Her story is inspiring, teaching valuable lessons about teamwork, speaking up about things that are important, the power of the natural world to bring people together, service to others, etc. Because I lived in the Philippines briefly as a teenager and it still holds a special place in my heart, my favorite part of Isabel in Bloom is the descriptions of life in that country. Reading about the smell of sampaguita flowers, the taste of bibingka cakes, the mano po gesture used to show respect to the elderly, and more brought back happy memories of things I'd almost forgotten. For all these reasons, I very much enjoyed this nostalgic, edifying read.

(Readalikes: Reminds me a bit of Blackbird Fly by Erin Estrada Kelly and New From Here by Kelly Yang)

To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Isabel in Bloom from Cindy over at Kiss the Book, who got it free from an American Library Association conference. Thank you!

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Analyn "Apple" Yengko and her mother moved from The Philippines to Louisiana eight years ago.  Eight years.  So, why does Apple's mother still insist on cooking weird Filipino foods, speaking in Cebuano, and acting so different, so un-American?  All 12-year-old Apple wants is to be like the other kids.  Isn't it enough that she has brown skin and black hair when everyone else is white and blonde?  Does her mom have to emphasize the fact that they're not born-and-raised Americans?

Apple already feels like a misfit, but when she lands on the Dog Log—a list of the ten ugliest girls in her middle school—things go from bad to worse.  No one in Louisiana can understand her humiliation, so she turns to the only people who can make her feel better: the Beatles.  Escaping into music (Apple wants to be a songwriter) is helpful, but what she really needs is to escape for real.  She already has an exit plan, one that involves busking in the Big Easy.  All she needs to live out her dreams is a guitar.  As soon as she can convince her mother to buy her one (ha!), Apple will leave Chapel Spring forever.  And she'll never feel out of place again.

Of course, dreams are never that easy to achieve.  There will be some major bumps along the way.  Also, some new friendships that just might change everything for a lonely Filipino girl who just wants to belong ...

Back in the Stone Age (the 90s seem so long ago!), I spent my junior year of high school as an exchange student in the southern Philippines.  That year abroad changed me—it broadened my view of the world; introduced me to a place marked by awe-inspiring beauty, loving people, and stark poverty; and gave me experiences I couldn't have gained anywhere else (yes, eating dog was one of them).  The Philippines will always have a special place in my heart because of my year there.  Thus, I'm always excited when I come across a book about the country and its culture.  There aren't many, so I was thrilled to hear about Blackbird Fly, a debut novel by Erin Estrada Kelly, who is, herself, Filipino-American.  The story echoes her experience growing up in Louisiana as one of very few Asian people.  Apple's tale is heartbreaking, but ultimately hopeful as she finds acceptance and comes to terms with her complex culture and identity.  As Kelly says in a blog post on the subject, "Otherness is universal."  Kids will empathize with Apple because they understand feeling different.  They will root for her because they long for acceptance, too.  Through Apple they will learn valuable lessons about empathy, inclusion, and celebrating the differences that define each of us.  For all these reasons, I enjoyed Blackbird Fly.  It's an important book, one that will strike a chord with anyone who's ever felt "other"—and, really, who hasn't?

(Readalikes: Reminds me of other culture clash middle grade/YA novels like Just Like Me by Nancy J. Cavanaugh; The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods; Black Boy White School by Brian F. Walker; Skunk Girl by Sheba Karim; Sell-Out by Ebony Joy Wilkins; When the Black Girl Sings by Bil Wright; etc.)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), and mild sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished copy of Blackbird Fly from the generous folks at Harper Collins.  Thank you!