Month: May 2021

BOOK NEWS: June 1, 2021

BOOK NEWS: June 1, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

As June kicks off tomorrow, I am starting a new full time job. I’m hoping to keep up with my blogging schedule, but know that there might be adjustments this summer as I see what I can manage in a healthy way. I am scaling back my Book News posts for sure, which you will noticed this month. I’m hoping to focus on the new things I am most excited about. With the VOLUME of new books releasing each week, it likely means I will miss something *you* would be excited by. If you have questions or are looking for specific recommendations, let me know. For now, here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Kids

Arnold the Super-ish Hero – A humble kid in a family of superheroes discovers that even without special “powers” of his own, he can be helpful to others. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite! – Burt would love to be a bug with super powers, but he’s not sure june beetles are very special. I’ll be reviewing this one soon, too.
Dear Librarian – A thank you to a librarian who helped a child during a difficult time.
Nia and the New Free Library – As a town tries to decide what to do with the space the library had been in, before it was destroyed by a tornado, Nia looks for ways to convince everyone that what they need most is a new library.
Strange Planet: The Sneaking, Hiding, Vibrating Creature – Nathan W. Pyle’s first picture book starring his alien characters who are captivated by the sneaking, hiding, vibrating creature in their house.
Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress – A picture book biography focused on Shirley Chisholm’s daring qualities.
Layla and the Bots: Cupcake Fix – Book 3 in the Layla and the Bots series. Layla and the bots want to build a cupcake machine to make the opening of the new community center special.
Mia Mayhem Rides the Waves – Book 11 in the Mia Mayhem series. This time, Mia’s family goes on vacation.
Pacey Packer, Unicorn Tracker: Horn Slayer (Graphic Novel) – Book 2 in the Pacey Packer series. While Pacey weakened the evil Arkane last time when she cut off his horn, she didn’t finish the job of defeating him, so she heads back to Rundalyn.
Pizazz – Pizazz shows readers the downsides to being a superhero. First in a new series.
Pup Detectives: The Soccer Mystery (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in the Pup Detectives series. Rider Woofson and the pup detectives start sleuthing when the school mascot and the star soccer player go missing.
She Persisted: Sonia Sotomayor – An early chapter book biography.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

Clique Here – After an embarrassing incident, Lily is more than ready to change schools and re-invent herself as Blake. But when a friend from her old school shows up at her new school, Lily/Blake will have to figure out who she wants to be.
Ham Helsing, Vampire Hunter (Graphic Novel) – First in a new series about a reluctant vampire-hunting pig.
The Hidden Knife (Older Middle Grade) – A girl hidden by her mother, a former-queen. Wise gargoyles who train and coach. A school full of secrets and mysteries. This sounds great!
Marcus Makes a Movie – An illustrated novel by actor Kevin Hart. Initially Marcus feels “stuck” in his after school film class. But then he realizes he can use the class to help him bring a comic character he created to film. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Miles Morales: Shock Waves (Graphic Novel) – Miles heads up a fundraiser to help Puerto Rico after an earthquake, but the missing father of a classmate might have ties to the corporation backing his fundraiser, so he has to investigate.
The Monster Missions – Two kids living on an old cruise ship, scavenging for supplies from the drowned cities around them start to hunt sea monsters when they accidentally awaken a Hydra that is seeking revenge.
Super Secret Super Spies: Mystery of the All-Seeing Eye – First in a new series. A lonely girl is recruited to join the Illuminati as a spy who works with other kids to keep things on the planet spinning along as they should.
Upside Down Magic: Night Owl – Book 8 in the Upside Down Magic series. Nory and her friends are part of the all-school sleepover. Nory is hoping if their team wins the big competition that night, her best friend won’t change schools. Meanwhile, Sebastian is struggling with the loud noises from the event, but none of his friends seem to care.
Brick Science: STEM Tips and Tricks for Experimenting with your LEGO Bricks – Science experiments kids can do with Lego bricks.
Who Is Neil deGrasse Tyson? AND Who Was A. A. Milne? – The latest Who Was biographies.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Ace of Spades – Devon and Chiamaka have been chosen to be senior prefects at school, which also means either could become valedictorian. But when anonymous text messages start going out from someone calling themselves “Aces” and their secrets are revealed, Devon and Chiamaka must stop Aces before things get deadly. This is already on my library wishlist.
Better Together – “Parent Trap meets Freaky Friday.” Sisters raised with no knowledge of one another meet at a retreat and magically switch places when they go home. Once they are stuck living each other’s lives, they start looking for a way back to themselves. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Castle of Refuge – Book 2 in the Dericott Tale series, this one an adaptation of the story of the Ugly Duckling. Scarred by her sister in an act of malice, Audrey flees her home when her father decides to marry off his “damaged” daughter. She finds a home at Dericott Castle, working as a servant, and falling in love with Lord Dericott. But when the man she’s supposed to marry shows up hunting for her, Audrey and Edwin will have to see if their love can triumph. This sounds awesome!
A Chorus Rises: A Song Below Water novel – A teen influencer finds her fans turning on her for exposing a Siren to the world. So Naema heads to the Southwest to start over and re-create what she has lost. But when some of her new fans start turning on other Black girls, Naema will need to discover her true purpose.
Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms – From the same line and author as Loki: Where Mischief Lies. Gamora has been sent to Torndune to collect the heart of the planet. Nebula is in hot pursuit hoping to beat her “sister” to the prize and earn some credit for herself. Each aligns with different factions on the planet for help. But the closer they get to their prize, the more secrets are revealed about what they have really been sent to do.
Jay’s Gay Agenda (LGBTQ+) – As the only out gay kid in his town, Jay can only dream and plan what it would be like to be in a romantic relationship. But when his family moves to Seattle for his senior year, and Jay can start checking things off his “gay agenda,” he’ll find himself torn between his old life and his new one.
The Passing Playbook (LGBTQ+) – When Spencer transitioned last year, he experienced isolation and bullying. Now at a new school where no one knows him any other way, Spencer is finally getting to experience friendships and a chance to start for the soccer team. But when a new discriminatory law forces Spencer’s coach to bench him, Spencer has to decide if he will accept this or if he’s going to challenge it, which would mean coming out to his new community.
Poison Ivy: Thorns – Pamela Isley is keeping secrets and keeping people “out,” especially men who always seem to want something she isn’t willing to give. But when Pamela connects with a girl at school, she’s tempted to lower her guard. But Pamela – whose mother called her Ivy – has secrets that could turn deadly. I am fascinated by this one! I have been enjoying the DC YA graphic novels that have come out over the last few years.
A Sisterhood of Secret Ambitions – In 1926, a quintet of teens trained by the Society to snare powerful men are dropped off in a new city, charged with cozying up to a young man who is likely to one day become President.
Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous – The latest from the fantastic Suzanne Park! When Sunny accidentally films a PG-13 cooking video that goes viral, her parents send the social media influencer to a digital detox camp in Iowa. While she’s determined to do what it takes to find her way back online, there are some surprises in store for Sunny out on the farm. This is on my list for this week!
The (Un)Popular Vote (LGBTQ+) – A transgender guy with a politician for a father is supposed to be keeping a low profile and his past a secret, but he’s drawn into the election for student body president. This is on my list for this week, too.

Books for Adults

Dead Dead Girls (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Harlem Renaissance Mystery series. A kidnapping survivor gets drawn into a mystery when she notices that young Black women are being killed. This sounds excellent!
Girl One (Hardcover) – Josie is “Girl One,” one of 9 babies conceived without male DNA and raised in a compound. When the compound is attacked, the Girls and their Mothers scatter. When Josie’s Mother later goes missing, she starts looking for her “sisters,” believing they hold a key to the truth. I will be picking this one up for sure!
Murphy’s Slaw (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series. Charlie is resistant to going to the state fair with her friend, but when a vendor is murdered, Trooper Graham calls her in for help.
On Skein of Death (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Riverbank Knitting Mystery series. A knitting celebrity is coming to Libby’s new store Y.A.R.N., but when she is murdered, Libby starts looking for answers.
One Last Stop (Trade Paperback, LGBTQ+) – August meets a gorgeous girl on the train and develops a subway crush, but Jane is actually displaced in time from the 1970s. August will have to dig into all the things she tried to leave in her past in order to help Jane.
I’m Speaking Now: Black Women Share Their Truth in 101 Stories of Love, Courage and Hope (Trade Paperback) – New from Chicken Soup for the Soul.

REVIEW: Sixteen Scandals by Sophie Jordan

REVIEW: Sixteen Scandals by Sophie Jordan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Primrose Ainsworth has finally made it. After years of watching her older sisters enter Society and entertain suitors, it’s finally Prim’s turn. She’s turning 16, the magical age when she can finally stop waiting and start living.

But Primrose’s parents are consumed with final details for her sister’s wedding. And with another sister already out looking for a husband, their parents have decided that Primrose needs to wait another year. Or more.

With her birthday essentially ignored and her debut postponed, Prim decides to take advantage of the family’s distraction. She and her friend, Olympia, sneak out to Vauxhall for a night of fun.

When things in a tavern get out of hand, Prim is separated from Olympia, but she is rescued by a young gentleman. When his chivalry turns to criticism, she’s ready to ditch him as quickly as possible. But when she has to rescue him in turn, it seems as though they are better off together. While Prim should be focused on finding Olympia and getting home before either of them are caught, she finds herself distracted by this young man. But she must keep reminding herself that even if the touch of his hand makes her heart flutter, all she truly has is this one night of freedom.

Review

This was so sweet! I loved Prim and Jacob together. (And I despised Primrose’s mother. She’s the worst!) I was heartbroken for Prim as she was ignored and shunted aside, essentially a commodity for her parents to wheel and deal to Society whenever it was in their best interests. To them she seemed only to be a means to an end, and it was awful. I loved her plan to have one night of freedom that she could always hold onto that was hers and hers alone, even if it was super risky. The ending/resolution of all this was perfect.

Anyone who routinely reads Victorian fiction/romance will find some familiar pieces here. I don’t know that there was anything super original in the story, although there wasn’t any of the usual “she’s ruined for being unchaperoned” that I often find in books like this. But the characters are a delight! Their banter and bickering, flirting and pining, was right on target for me. I loved every bit of the relationship.

Readers who enjoy historical fiction and sweet love stories should give this a try!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

REVIEW: The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free, electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Visiting Frick Island is like going back in time. No cell service, no internet, no alcohol. They don’t even have enough kids to keep a school full; the kids take a ferry to the mainland for school.

Piper and Tom Parrish met in high school, fell in love, and got married all on Frick Island. But just a year into their marriage, Tom’s boat goes down during a storm. While the boat is found, Tom’s body is not. Piper refuses to believe he’s not coming home. She doesn’t even go to the memorial service those on the island planned.

Then one day, Tom was just… back.

At least for Piper. And because the islanders loved the young couple and were trying to help Piper in her grief, they went along with it, pretending that Tom was really there, right beside her.

Anders is a young reporter. On his first trip to Frick Island to cover their annual cake walk, he’s captivated by Piper. But she turns him away because, obviously, she’s married. Anders returns to do a story on how the island is disappearing due to climate change. That’s when he overhears the islanders talking about Piper and Tom. The situation – a whole island pretending a dead man is still around – is a story on its own. But then someone mentions that Tom’s accident wasn’t really an accident.

Review

This was a fascinating story, richer than just the invisible husband piece, although that piece was satisfying on its own. I enjoyed the characters – the prickly islanders, Piper, and Anders. The invisible husband plot was rounded out with threads about Anders’s job and family, about the island’s present and future struggles, and a few flashbacks of interchanges from before Tom’s death.

I got a kick out of the end. There were some nice twists to the story. I was captivated by all of it, waiting to see what Anders might uncover in the end.

If you are intrigued by the idea of an island of people going along with a grieving widow who thinks her dead husband is still with her, I encourage you to pick this one up so you can enjoy the whole story. (Some language.)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Rule of Threes by Marcy Campbell

REVIEW: Rule of Threes by Marcy Campbell

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley  and Chronicle books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Maggie’s trying to get adjusted to being in middle school – new teachers, new building, new kids. And she’s noticing her friends are changing. Maggie, Olive, and Rachel have a small design business – Best Foot Forward – but Rachel’s been acting strangely and seems more interested in boys and a new friend.

Smack in the middle of that, Maggie discovers her dad had an affair before she was born. He has a son from this other relationship. And when Tony’s mom has to go into rehab, Tony ends up on Maggie’s doorstep, rocking the entire household.

Maggie is a designer. She understands the rules of design and she follows them. But it starts to feel like nothing in her world is following the rules any more.

Review

What a fascinating story! It’s not often you’ll find a middle grade novel dealing with the fallout of an extramarital affair. But this is handled really well, and the focus stays on Maggie and Tony, two great characters. I loved watching Maggie’s compassion and empathy for Tony grow over time.

The design pieces were a fun way to develop Maggie as a character and as a metaphor for the changes she is dealing with in her life. It was a great thread all the way through the story from the way Maggie approaches the world to her relationship with her grandmother struggling with Alzheimer’s to the decorating contest at school.

Maggie’s family is walking through a lot of big things. And I loved how committed they were to each other through all of it. Don’t miss this great family story for readers 10 and older! (Drug use/abuse/overdose/rehab, marital infidelity)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BOOK NEWS: May 25, 2021

BOOK NEWS: May 25, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s the final release week of May – let’s take a look at the new books out this week.

Books for Kids

Memory Jars – While Freda can save her favorite blueberries for later by turning them into jam, she discovers she can’t save all of her favorite things the same way.
Good Dog: Fireworks Night – Book 4 in the Good Dog series. Bo’s friend Scrapper isn’t a fan of summer fireworks.
Scaredy Squirrel in a Nutshell (Graphic Novel) – First in a new graphic novel series starring the delightful Scaredy Squirrel.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Diana and the Underworld Odyssey – Sequel to Diana and the Island of No Return. Diana goes toe-to-toe against Hades and an unexpected villain when Artemis brings word that children are going missing from around the world. I enjoyed the first book, and the two chapter teaser I read for this one was fantastic! This is on my list for this week.
How to Become a Planet – A girl struggling with depression makes a plan to help her get back to “normal” so she doesn’t have to move to the city with her dad.
Marvel-Verse Loki (Older Middle Grade, comics collection) – Part of a collection of books focused on one or two Marvel characters at a time. This book collects pieces of 5 or 6 comics (100+ pages) that focus on Loki. This one is on my list.
Aetherbound – The latest from E. K. Johnston. When her family starts to view her as a waste of food on their long space voyage thanks to a genetic mutation, Pendt sneaks off ship and joins the Brannick twins in a scheme to take over a space station and create their own destiny. I have had this on my list for months.
Every Body Shines: Sixteen Stories About Living Fabulously Fat – An anthology featuring fat main characters.
The Ivies – The Ivies at Claflin Academy are five young women determined to get into an Ivy League university – by any means necessary.
Not My Problem (LGBTQ+) – When Aideen agrees to help a peer who is overwhelmed with her extracurriculars – by pushing her down the stairs so she sprains her ankle – she finds herself getting approached by more kids at school who need her fixing abilities. I am intrigued by this one!
Pumpkin (LGBTQ+) – A companion novel to Dumplin’. Waylon is biding his time until he can leave his small home town. But when he throws caution to the wind and creates an audition tape for a TV drag show, his whole school ends up seeing it and someone nominates him for prom queen. When his twin sister’s girlfriend is also nominated to be prom king, the two decide to team up and throw the prank back in their classmates’ faces. This is on my library list.
Sixteen Scandals – When Prim decides to go rogue on her 16th birthday, her plan almost blows up in her face. But she is rescued by a mysterious stranger – who isn’t who he says he is. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

 

Books for Adults

The Apocalypse Seven (Trade Paperback) – Seven strangers in a post-apocalyptic Cambridge, Massachusetts, fight for their lives and for answers as to what happened to the world around them.
Beyond a Reasonable Donut (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Deputy Donut Mystery series. Emily and Nina are working at the Friday the 13th festival when a string of bad luck hits – stolen product, stolen cash, vandalism, and murder.
Chasing Romeo (Trade Paperback) – First in a new series. A psychic points Chloe at her soul mate, but there’s one problem. It could be one of seven men, and she only has a week to find him. Chloe hires a private investigator to help her search – and he doesn’t believe in love or soul mates. This sounds fun!
Death in Bloom (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Flower House Mystery series. Sierra is licking her wounds after trying to launch a singing career in Nashville. Working at the Flower House is just a stop-gap measure – until someone drops dead and the shop owner disappears, leaving Sierra to manage the shop and his Corgi pup.
The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit (Hardcover) – Book 14 in the Domestic Diva series. Sophie is working a home decorating festival when her friend Nina calls needing a ride from the airport. When one of Nina’s traveling companions later turns up dead, Sophie is sleuthing again.
The Guncle (Hardcover, LGBTQ+) – “Gay Uncle Patrick” finds himself temporary guardian of his niece and nephew when their mother dies and his brother has a health crisis. While he’s a great uncle on short visits, taking over full-time parenting is a whole new ballgame.
Hang the Moon (Trade Paperback, LGBTQ+) – A dating app creator – and true believer in love and OTPs – reconnects with his childhood crush who has no interest in romance and is just biding her time until she leaves the country.
Heart & Seoul (Trade Paperback) – A random comment at her adoptive father’s funeral sends Hara to Seoul to look for her roots. I have this on my library list already.
How to Find a Princess (Mass Market Paperback, LGBTQ+) – Book 2 in the Runaway Royals series by Alyssa Cole. Makeda has grown up with her grandmother’s stories about a fling with the prince of Ibarania, but now an investigator has shown up looking for the long-lost heir. She plans to take Makeda back to Ibarania, but the situation is more fraught than either of them realize. I adored Cole’s Reluctant Royals series, but I haven’t been able to dig into this series yet.
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island (Trade Paperback) – When her husband’s boat capsized and his body was never found, Piper carried on like nothing happened, like he was still by her side all the time. A journalist on the island for a fluff piece stumbles onto the story of an entire island pretending to interact with an invisible man and thinks it is the career-making story he’s been looking for. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Legacy (Hardcover) – When Adrian was 7, she met her father for the first time, when he tried to kill her. Now, as an adult, she is receiving menacing messages and death threats. Her mother dismisses them, and Adrian starts to think they are nothing – and then the murders start. I already have this one on hold at the library!
Murder at St. Winifred’s Academy (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Ferrera Family Mystery series. When a Hollywood starlet from the 50s is found dead in her dressing room for a production of Arsenic and Old Lace, Alberta is the only one who thinks the death is suspicious.
Murder in a Scottish Garden (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Scottish Shire Mystery series. Paislee is on the case when a man is murdered at an estate while her son’s class is there for a field trip.
Pint of No Return (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Shake Shop Mystery series. Trinidad takes over one of her ex’s business locations to open her shake shop even though she knows it means living in the same town as his other two ex-wives. But when a neighboring business owner is found dead, and one of the other ex’s is the prime suspect, Trinidad starts investigating.
The Preacher’s Daughter (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Infamous Amish series. Planning to leave town to escape her father’s shame, Elizabeth takes a temporary position helping an elderly Amish woman. But when the woman’s grandson returns, with his own difficult history with the law, sparks fly.
Scorpion (Hardcover) – A grieving spy throws herself into her next assignment – tracking a serial killer/assassin who leaves numeric codes on his victims’ bodies.
Star Trek Year Five: Weaker Than Man (Paperback Graphic Novel) – Collects comics 13 through 19 of this series about Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise.
The Stepsisters (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Susan Mallery centers around rival stepsisters who respond to a plea for help from the younger sister they have in common. But while the tensions between them start to thaw, one thoughtless act could undo all the progress they have made. This sounds fascinating!
Talk Bookish to Me (Trade Paperback) – A struggling novelist finds inspiration when her infuriating first love shows up in the wedding party she is in. But if she is going to finish this book, she might have to give into old feelings and take another chance with her heart.
The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism (Trade Paperback) – A frank and funny primer on menopause. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

 

REVIEW: Black Canary: Breaking Silence by Alexandra Monir

REVIEW: Black Canary: Breaking Silence by Alexandra Monir

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a print copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The heroes of Gotham’s past are dead and buried. The Court of Owls reigns with ruthless oppression, especially over women and girls. They are forced to follow a strict public dress code, and they are barred from college and from various occupations. They aren’t even allowed to sing or play sports.

But Dinah Lane once heard a girl sing, and she’s never gotten it out of her mind. No one else believes her, but she knows what she heard. It’s what drove her into the overgrown park to find the old opera house. Rumors say there’s a hidden vault there of recorded voices. Dinah wants it. The Owls want to destroy it.

The Owls are watching Dinah since that night in the park. They find her secret stash of contraband, and she’s routinely searched. But if they discover what else she’s capable of, they will do everything in their power to destroy her.

Review

This was a fun version of the Black Canary/Green Arrow origin story. I was fascinated by the oppressive system that has taken over Gotham. I would have liked a stronger explanation of how the Silencing worked – why only singing and not also speaking voices, why was the loss of singing/music such a big deal? It sounds cheesy when you try to explain it to someone who hasn’t read the book, but the metaphor is clear and it works in the story.

There’s not a ton of character development. But I enjoyed the main characters. The villains – and their mouth pieces and minions – were as awful as you’d expect. There’s a bit more blood and violence than I was expecting, but it fit with the darkness of the Owls.

Fans of the DC Icons series – Wonder Woman: Warbringer (prose – ♥♥♥♥ and graphic novel), Batman: Nightwalker (prose and graphic novel), Catwoman: Soul Stealer (prose; GN releasing soon), Superman: Dawnbreaker (prose only – ♥♥♥) – should definitely pick this up to continue the line. All of the books stand alone, so new readers can start here and go back and pick up the rest of the series. I have thoroughly enjoyed these stories (well, the Superman book was a disappointment) and characters, and I’d love to see more in the future. (Violence)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter

REVIEW: The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book releases next week on May 25, 2021.]

Summary and Review

This is a straight-talking exploration of menopause from the author of The Vagina Bible. The author is an OB/GYN who has gone through the menopause transition, so she has both personal experience as well as professional. She covers everything from the history of the thinking about menopause to the biological processes and common symptoms and also the not-so-obvious health changes associated with aging and the hormonal changes of menopause.

The thing I appreciated most about this was the feeling that I was sitting down for coffee with someone who would pull no punches, but who also had no agenda. The author very clearly calls out the darker, bleaker parts of women’s health and the patriarchy. I loved that honesty (although the information was also infuriating). And while the medical pieces may feel technical at times there is also some humor to balance it out.

This is too technical to be a “favorite” book for me, but at the same time it feels perfectly positioned to be read by millions of people who menstruate – those approaching middle age and wondering what’s coming, those in the transition wondering what’s normal, and those who have reached menopause who are now considering how it will impact their future health. This could be the weirdest, or the most brilliant, book club selection ever! If you are “of a certain age,” I recommend you pick this one up! (Some language, frank conversation about biology and biological processes)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = Excellent resource

BONUS REVIEW: Taking Up Space by Alyson Gerber

BONUS REVIEW: Taking Up Space by Alyson Gerber

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Edelweiss and Scholastic in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

In middle school, Sarah is starting to notice how her body is changing as she gets older. Nothing feels “normal” or “right.” And she feels like it is impacting how she plays basketball. And basketball means everything to Sarah.

So she starts thinking about what she can do to change things. Maybe like eating less and following the “rules” about food would help. Health class gives her some ideas. Her mom has a lot of food rules, too. In fact, there are times when Sarah’s mom forgets to go shopping, leaving nothing in the house for dinner or breakfast. Sarah’s dad travels for work, so he eats on the run a lot of the time. But Sarah’s a kid – she can’t just pick something up for herself.

And on top of all the other food drama – and basketball drama, and friend drama – Sarah starts cooking with her crush so they can try out for a kids cooking show. But so much of what they are cooking is against Sarah’s new rules.

When Sarah’s friends start to comment on how little she is eating, and it starts to negatively impact her on the court, everything comes to a tipping point.

Review

I really felt for Sarah in this! The author does an excellent job conveying Sarah’s thinking about food (and other topics) and showing how that impacts what Sarah thinks about herself. There’s a lot of conflicting information – and misinterpreted information. And then there’s the role Sarah’s parents play in the bigger picture of Sarah’s eating and food-related issues. I enjoyed the hopeful, supportive, yet direct way Sarah’s situation is handled.

Food and disordered eating is a huge piece of the story. And it could be overwhelming or triggering for some readers (TW). But that’s not the only thread in the story. There are some great basketball moments and some meaty friendship pieces to the book as well. The author does a great job here, as well, showing Sarah taking what she is learning in counseling and applying it to other areas of her life. I loved the positive messages in the book about therapy, too.

Obviously there’s a lot here for kids to sink their teeth into – the friendship issues, the cooking and cooking show pieces, the basketball, and the food/eating parts. This would be an excellent choice for a read-aloud or for book groups. I highly recommend this one! Some other great middle grade books that deal with disordered eating include Goodbye, Mr. Terupt, Everything I Know About You (♥♥♥♥½), and Still a Work in Progress (♥♥♥♥♥). (TW: Disordered eating/thinking about food)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Alice Fleck's Recipes for Disaster by Rachelle Delaney

REVIEW: Alice Fleck’s Recipes for Disaster by Rachelle Delaney

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

To celebrate her last day of elementary school, Alice’s father gives her a phone. Sure, it’s a hand-me-down from his girlfriend, Hana, but a phone is a phone when you are about to start middle school.

Hana also has a gift for Alice. She entered Alice and her dad into a contest to win a spot on Culinary Chronicles, a TV cooking show. And they won.

Alice has learned the hard way that kids her age aren’t interested in the history of food and cooking, Victorian recipes, and the other things Alice and her dad love. But she doesn’t feel like she can say no to her dad or to Hana. Thankfully, Culinary Chronicles is on an obscure network, so no one will see her on TV. And it’s the nicest of the reality cooking shows with a lot of comradery on set. That’s the saving grace of this whole thing.

But when Alice and her dad get to the set, they discover Culinary Chronicles has been bought out by the most popular reality TV station. And they’ve changed the sweet format to something more cut throat. The judge is awful, and none of the contestants are having any fun. And it starts to look like someone is deliberately sabotaging the show. Alice and some new friends are determined to figure out what is really going on.

Review

This was fun. I wish the mystery elements and Alice’s team up with the other sleuths had started sooner and carried through the book. That was my favorite part of the story, but it cropped up late making the story feel a little uneven for me. The story begins with a focus on Alice and the drama of her dad having a girlfriend as well as her mixed feelings about her passions since it made finding friends at school so difficult. And those threads run from start to finish, but the mystery takes over for the last third or so.

I enjoyed all the ways Alice grows during the book – from her relationship with her dad and Hana to her shame over loving the things she loves. There’s a nice piece here about finding your people and embracing who you are rather than being ashamed of it. I loved that piece of the story.

Kids who love cooking shows and books about cooking (A Place at the Table, The Donut Fix and The Donut King, The World’s Greatest Chocolate-Covered Pork Chops, Summer of a Thousand Pies, From the Desk of Zoe Washington, etc.) should definitely pick this one up! The publisher’s information says this is for readers 10 and up.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

BOOK NEWS: May 18, 2021

BOOK NEWS: May 18, 2021

Posted on by Jaymie

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Nerdycorn – A STEAM-minded unicorn, tired of being teased for being different, has to decide if she will fix the equipment and save the Sparkle Dance Party for the unicorns who have been so mean to her.
Fox Tails: The Giant Ice Cream Mess – When their mom says the fox siblings can only have one scoop of ice cream each, how will they choose what flavors to get?
Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs After Dark (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the first Magic Tree House book.
Pixie Tricks: The Pet Store Sprite – Violet teams up with her cousin Leon to send a water sprite back to the Otherworld.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

Bravelands: Shadows on the Mountain – First in the new Bravelands: Curse of the Sandtongue series. While the different animals usually keep to their own kind, all of the animals will need to step up against a terrifying new evil in their home.
Jude Banks, Superhero – Jude feels responsible for the death of his favorite person, his sister Katie. While Jude and his family wrestle with their grief, Jude meets Clementine who also lost a sibling. But while Katie always called Jude a “superhero,” he’s not sure he can help save Clementine. This is on my list for this week.
Just Pretend (Graphic Novel) – A girl going through a lot of changes – friendships, living in two different homes after her parents’ divorce – uses her stories and writing to help her adjust. This looks perfect for fans of Emmie and Friends, Smile (♥♥♥♥), Real Friends (♥♥♥♥), etc.
Kate In Between – Looking for a fresh start, Kate joins a group of popular girls at school, even though they are targeting her childhood friend. Kate manages to stop their latest cruelty, which could have killed Haddie. When video of the incident goes viral, Kate is viewed as a hero. But she knows she was really part of the problem. Does she keep her true involvement a secret and hope no one finds out? Or does she risk it all for the truth?
Not All Heroes – Zinnia’s family have moved to a new community to give them a fresh start after the death of her younger brother. And in this new town Zinnia finds real friends who, like her, want to make a big difference. But when the Reality Shifters start to lose their way, can Zinnia help them find their way again? This sounds awesome!
Ophie’s Ghosts – On that awful night in 1922 when Ophie lost her father and her home, she discovered she can see ghosts. Now her mother has gotten her a job as a maid in an old mansion, and Ophie is privy to the history and secrets of the old manor thanks to the ghosts she encounters there.
Taking Up Space – The author tackles disordered eating in this book about a girl who is struggling at home and on the basketball court when her mother forgets to feed her. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
That Thing About Bollywood – When their parents are struggling and might be breaking up, Sonali’s brother copes by constantly crying, something Sonali would never do. But when Sonali gets upset during a field trip, she breaks into song like she’s in a Bollywood show. Soon everyone in Sonali’s life is breaking into song like that’s completely normal. Somehow Sonali’s mis-managed emotions have caused this shift in her world. And she isn’t sure how to fix it. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Turtle in Paradise (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the original story.
Don’t Breathe a Word – In 1962, six students at Hardwick went into the bomb shelter, but only five came out. Decades later, outsider Eva is asked to join the elite Fives, a secret society at Hardwick charged with keeping the school’s many secrets. Sounds fascinating!
Enduring Freedom – Two young men – one a studious Afghan teen, the other a young American soldier – meet on the streets of Afghanistan after the events of 9/11 where they find they have more in common than they might have guessed. But can they ever be true friends and allies considering the worlds they come from? From the author of If You’re Reading This (♥♥♥♥).
It Goes Like This (LGBTQ+) – When their hometown is devastated by storms, four ex-best friends and bandmates reunite for one last show. This is on my list for this week.
Last Chance Books – When a chain bookstore moves in across the street from her family’s book shop, Madeline declares war on the shop and the bookseller who is taking all of her customers. This is on my library list.
Made in Korea – She wants to take her halmeoni (grandmother) to Paris. He needs to pay for the music school he knows his parents won’t support. They are each trying to make money from selling Korean cosmetics at school. As they compete to be the best business at school, sparks fly between the two rivals. I have this on my library list, too.
Off the Record – A young journalist finds herself in over her head when she wins the chance to do a celebrity profile which puts her in the position to hear scandalous stories from woman after woman. Now she’ll have to decide what to do with the secrets she has learned. This is another one on my library list.
Shipped – Real life rivals at school are unknown friends in their online fandom. As they get closer to a cosplay meetup at a local con, their rivalry at school heats up with a scholarship at stake and a class project that could show them how much they actually have in common. YES, please! This one I actually have on hold already at the library. It sounds right up my alley.
Tokyo Ever After – First in a new series. Izzy discovers her previously unknown father is the Crown Prince of Japan. But being a princess also means dealing with scheming relatives, the weight of centuries of tradition, and a cranky bodyguard who could be so much more. This sounds fun, too! This is such a great month for readers. TONS of books to enjoy.

 

Books for Adults

An Amish Surprise (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Berlin Bookmobile series. Miriam is afraid she is losing her husband over her inability to have children. When she discovers she is pregnant, she’s afraid to tell him right away in case she miscarries again, so instead she turns to the librarian who runs the Berlin Bookmobile for pregnancy books. But Calvin, who is not falling for another woman, has a secret of his own. This is a must-read for me.
The Break-Up Book Club (Trade Paperback) – Four women who seem to have little in common on paper bond over the struggles of life through their book club. This is another one for my list.
The Soulmate Equation (Hardcover) – The latest from Christina Lauren. A struggling single mom has sworn off dating until a new DNA-based matchmaking company catches her attention. And they find her a 98% match. Unfortunately it’s to the company’s grouchy co-founder. Jess is NOT interested. But the company offers to pay her to give the match a little more time, and she needs the money. This sounds fun. I’ll definitely be picking this one up at some point.
Star Trek Discovery: Wonderlands (Trade Paperback) – Find out what happened for Michael Burnham in the year she was waiting for Discovery in the future. I cannot WAIT for this one!
The Summer Seekers (Trade Paperback) – An eighty-year-old woman longing for adventure instead of the residential home her daughter wants her in goes on a road trip with a young twenty-something who is struggling to get her own life together.
Star Wars Mandalorian: Guide to Season One (Hardcover) – A behind-the-scenes look at season one of The Mandalorian.