Synopses & Reviews
Reconnect with the natural world through essays that blend science and prose. In her debut work, Josephine Woolington turns back the clock to review the events that have challenged Pacific Northwest wildlife in an effort to provide a deeper sense of place. Only then can we imagine how these imperious effects might be overcome.
Join Woolington as she sheds light on the diverse species whose populations are slowly declining from the lands, seas, and skies of the Pacific Northwest. Only by acknowledging this truth can we understand that our impact on the Earth is deeper and far more significant than we ever imagined. Through interviews with local educators, Indigenous leaders, scientists, and artists from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Haida Nation, the Yakama Nation, the Makah Tribe, and beyond, we are invited to decenter our singular perspective in favor of a more empathic, collective approach.
The flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest are resilient. As they adapt to a world far removed from its wonders, we must realize our own interconnectedness to nature and to one another. Woolington colors the rich history of the Pacific Northwest within the eye of its beholder so that society can learn to live intentionally in the land that sustains us all. From the coastal tailed frog to the sandhill crane, the yellow-cedar to the camas flower, these stories reimagine what it means to live mindfully in the colorful region we call home.
Review
“Josephine Woolington is a model of a particular kind of curiosity that is at root a form of love — love for the plants and animals and geography that together make up the place she occupies. Where We Call Home is an invitation to pay attention to and become intimate with the world beyond the self. And it is a welcome addition to the literature of the Pacific Northwest.” Scott F. Parker, author of A Way Home: Oregon Essays and Being on the Oregon Coast
Review
“Josephine Woolington's first book is part natural history and part human history, offering unique insights that shed light on the threats facing some of the Pacific Northwest's most iconic species. Its lyrical language and delightful descriptions illuminate scientific and Native American perspectives, providing context for understanding where people fit into the natural world.”
Todd McLeish, author of Saving Narragansett Bay and Return of the Sea Otter
About the Author
Josephine Woolington is a writer, musician, and educator. She previously worked at several newspapers in Oregon, where her work was read by both regional and national audiences via The Associated Press. During her time at The Register-Guard in Eugene, she received an award for best education coverage from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. In addition to journalism, she's a musician and music educator. She's toured nationally and internationally with different artists, and she writes, records, and performs her own music as well. She earned two bachelor's degrees from the University of Oregon in journalism and political science and received the school's highest award for excellence in journalism. Her artistic, mindful perspective and curiosity about all living things guide her creative endeavors. She lives in her hometown of Portland with her love and their fur child, Gladys the cat. Follow her musings on Instagram @josephine_antoinette_, and on Twitter @j_woolington.
Ramon Shiloh (Creek, Cherokee, Filipino, African) is an award-winning author and the illustrator of several books. In 2018 Shiloh was invited to host a Chef's Table at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. Shiloh focuses many of his efforts on supporting Indigenous children. He uses his knowledge of food, art, and culture to help Native youth develop a love for cooking that connects them to both good health and their histories in our ever-changing world.