Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

I tried to call and pay the dentist’s bill over the phone and realized, as it rang, that the office is closed on Thursdays; I called to excuse my sick son from school and no one answered, necessitating a message (I’m always leery of just leaving a message there). I did throw away an expired Sam’s Club coupon book, but now I’m back to reviewing.

I realized recently that I needed to swap out some of my graphic novels waiting to be previewed with others that are stronger candidates for possible Christmas/birthday gifts; unfortunately, in a spectacularly terrible example of timing, I chose Meredith McClaren’s Crumble as the first of those to read. Emily, her mom, and her aunt Gina share a family bakery where they sell desserts with emotions baked in. Emily’s mom travels a good bit, lecturing about the process, but aunt Gina is always there to be with Emily and run the bakery–until she dies in a car accident. Baking bad feelings into anything is against the rules, but baking has always made Emily happy before. Surely it’ll help with this?

Spoiler alert (except not really, because it’s right there on the back of the book): it doesn’t. In fact, it makes things worse in the long run. How is she going to fix things now?

Reading about dealing with a death in the family was really not the way to go this month, but that’s hardly the author’s fault. It does frustrate me as a parent to read about parents who are so wrapped up in their own feelings that their kids are drifting; Emily’s mom is facing significant financial worries as well as grief, however, and so it isn’t fair to judge. They do ultimately figure things out, and that’s the most important thing, right?

On to more cleanup now…

Here’s the deal, folks. I have sick/grieving kids home from school today and one of them is napping in the living room, which eliminates that room as an area to work on (as well as the kitchen, since most kitchen jobs are noisy). My morning project, therefore, is to start working through the backlog of papers and books at my computer that are waiting to be dealt with, and if I’m going to do that, I’ve got to review a couple of the books there so that they can leave the area. I’m planning on talking about the funeral and fall break during tomorrow’s regular post, because that matters more in the long run; today, however, is about immediate cleanup, and so you have this review. (Also at least one other, I hope. We’ll see.)

Elana K. Arnold’s Bat and the Case of the Yips is the 5th book in her Bat series, and it begins with an interesting development–Bat’s dad wants him to try baseball so badly that he tells Bat that if he does, he can start bringing Thor with him on every-other-weekends. Bat wants that enough to agree, and so he joins the team his dad is coaching. He soon hatches a plan, however, to start playing so badly that the team won’t want him, but his dad will still be bound to his end of the bargain. This goes…about as well as you’d expect. Not only is Bat miserable at the lying-without-words, but his friend Israel is obviously upset by his behavior. Bat learns some valuable lessons as the situation gets sorted out; what’s more, his dad has been learning some things about himself as well. This makes for a satisfying ending.

My one real complaint about the book is the same complaint I had about the last one; I want the adults in Bat’s life to try a bit more to explain the feelings of other people to him. I recognize that explaining feelings to a boy on the spectrum can be complicated, yes, but if it wouldn’t work, I want Arnold to spend a bit more time showing that to me. Too many of those adults seem to stop just short of a full explanation that draws parallels between Bat’s feelings and those of the others in his life, sighing and giving up instead. If those explanations are going to fail, well–I want to SEE them fail. Overall, however, Case of the Yips is a nice addition to the series.

Initially I was going to be firmer and say that Shakti falls into my “this is a bad title but titles are hard” category, but the more I think about it, the less sure of myself I am. So I’m simply going to say that I have doubts about Shakti being the best possible title for this graphic novel, but (again) titles are hard, and I have no idea what I’d pick instead.

I picked up the book last night because I showered early and figured I’d read in bed so I could also go to bed early, only then I got far enough in that stopping seemed like a waste of time. And so I finished it last night, and instead of going to bed early, well–I was on time, at least, and that’s something, right? Shakti is the story of a girl whose family moves to Amherst, Massachusetts (shoutout to Emily Dickinson!), and finds a trio of witches at the middle school. They have all of the teachers under their spell, but Shakti makes friends with the kids bullied by the witches, especially Xi. When the two of them discover the bullies/witches in the woods and realize what they’re up to, Shakti appeals to one of her mothers, a witch herself, to help. Powerful forces can be difficult to control, however, and when Shakti sets more in motion than she intends to, the stakes are suddenly much higher.

I have mixed feelings about this one. I absolutely love what Shakti has to do to fix things at the end–any book that teaches compassion and empathy as essential to conflict resolution deserves to be read–but I was hoping for a bit more resolution with the witches/bullies. Witchcraft is generally not my thing, but I did enjoy the cultural background of their beliefs, and while I didn’t mind the final conflict being over with quickly, well–it was over awfully quickly. Bottom line? This wasn’t necessarily my thing, but it was worthwhile nonetheless.

In other news, my dad’s funeral is Monday–that still feels surreal to say–and the obituary is written. My feelings are still complicated, because in many ways my dad has been gone for a while now, and yet the fact that he died feels at once both the same and radically different. I am touched–moved–humbled by the outpouring of love from extended family and friends.

This is uncharted territory.

Here’s what’s going on, folks–my father’s condition worsened considerably last week and over the weekend, and he passed away this morning. That’s why I missed Friday’s post; it’s also why my posting for the next week and a half is going to be spotty at best, nonexistent at worst. Don’t give up on me long term, okay?

I’d like to write a post about my dad, but it’s not in me right now. I suppose that’s going to have to wait.

I have an intermediate nonfiction title I’ve been waiting to review for at least a week and a half, folks. The problem is that the subject matter is heavier, meaning the review will take more concentration, and I just wasn’t feeling that today. And so, in a spectacularly ‘whatever, it’s not like I don’t know I’m a little odd’ sort of move, I finished up the short graphic novel that I started last night so that I can review that instead. I’m guess I’m feeling a special kind of lazy.

Anyway. Brittany Long Olsen’s The Happy Shop popped up on my radar because of another book by the same author, only for a surpassingly ‘too stupid to share’ reason, I ended up reading this one first. (Last night and today, in fact, as previously mentioned.) I was hoping it might be a contender for one of my youngest daughter’s Christmas graphic novels, but at 140 pages, it’s a bit too short for how quickly she goes through them. She’ll still enjoy reading the library copy, however, and if you’ve got a slower reader who’s drawn to stories about feelings, this one’s an especially good option.

Happy Shop centers around Darcy, whose mom has just moved the two of them to a new country for her dream job. Missing her friends and struggling to understand the accents of those around her, Darcy holes up in her room until her mom sends her out for some grocery shopping. It’s then that she discovers ‘The Happy Shop’, a store that sells happy feelings collected in jars by one of the owners. After accidentally breaking a few of the jars, she ends up working at the shop after school to pay off her debt; it’s then she discovers that the business is struggling. Is there a way for the shop to become successful again–and can Darcy help make it happen?

This really is a lovely little story about feelings and adjusting to change; the art matches the feel quite nicely. Its length does make for less character development than an older reader might wish, but the target audience shouldn’t mind. My one real complaint is that I prefer more concrete resolution from an ending than we’re given. This may well be an intentional, stylistic choice, but I’m afraid I’m too OCD to fully enjoy an implied happy ending–what my daughter(s) will think remains to be seen! In the meantime, it’s a short, cozy graphic novel, something like a mug of flavored hot chocolate on a chilly day. I’m looking forward to the author’s other book(s)!

That’s what my hubby and I have been doing in the last 14 hours, folks. Last night when we came home from Sunday dinner in Clearfield, my phone screen got a crack in exactly the wrong place in it; my best guess is that my keychain swung into it on my way into the house, but I heard nothing and noticed nothing until my phone reset and then wouldn’t let me use touch ID. While my hubby was researching new phones for me–because yes, no phone is a first world problem, but getting texts from my children, among other things, is kind of important–my mother-in-law called the home phone to say that my hubby’s work backpack had been left up there. Unfortunately, his work laptop was in it. So I drove back up and back (luckily my hubs managed to bring up Spotify, so I had music) last night to get his backpack, and he’s leaving work for a while today to meet me at the store and get a new phone set up for me. Because life happens.

In the meantime, I’m pulling Tall Water out of my stash of completed books waiting to be reviewed, because I need to not let myself get any further behind in that department. A graphic novel by SJ Sindu and Dion MBD, Tall Water has been on my radar since it was named an Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor book in January; I ended up picking it up to read in September, and since (being YA) it’s a little old for my 11-year-old and unlikely (for different reasons) to appeal to my older girls, it can now head back to the library. (Have I mentioned before that my son does NOT prefer graphic novels?) It was, however, quite an interesting read.

Nimmi, although of mixed heritage, has grown up in America with her father, with only letters to and from and a few phone calls with her mother in Sri Lanka. When his career (he’s a journalist) sends him back there, however, she’s driven to go, too, despite his adamant refusal for safety reasons. She books her own ticket and surprises him at the Sri Lankan airport; presented with a fait accompli, he takes her to meet her mother. Unsurprisingly, she’s unprepared for the reality of a country at war (parent perspective–maybe her dad’s reasons for refusing were actually legit?), and that’s before the tsunami hits.

Tall Water is a fascinating look at a conflict too few people are aware of; it’s based on some of Sindu and her family’s actual experiences and is a passionate cry for relief for those who are suffering. The LGBTQ+ element is subtle and takes a (far) back seat to Sri Lanka itself, which is the true focus of the story. I did, unfortunately, find it somewhat difficult to follow what happened during the tsunami itself, and while that may have been intentional as a representation of the chaos and confusion of the actual experience, more clarity for the reader would have been preferable. Nimmi’s American boyfriend is also effectually dropped from the plot once she leaves for Sri Lanka, which is problematic as he’s left taking care of her cat. Overall, the picture Sindu paints is worth seeing, but the mechanics of its story are sometimes uneven.

Bottom line? Worth reading, but not what I would necessarily call essential. You’ll have to decide for yourself on this one!

Today was the sort of day that starts out slowly but gets busier as it goes on; I napped and puttered around doing household tasks this morning, but my son had a doctor’s appointment at 3:15 and then my senior danced at the homecoming game tonight. I was exceptionally pleased, then, that this Cool Beans Salad, which I totally made in stages, was as good as it was. I replaced the bell pepper with tomato because I don’t care for bell peppers, but the only other change I made was to replace half the chili powder with smoked paprika.* (Because we like smokiness but we’re generally too wussy for chipotle chili powder.) I mixed the dressing and added the beans earlier in the day and I think it upped the flavor; both my middles gave it a thumbs middle to up, and I’m eating more at 11 pm because it’s good. (Although digestively speaking a definitely questionable choice.) Y’all should definitely give it a try!

*Oh, and I substituted red beans for the kidney beans, because I prefer them.

The reason I’ve been MIA for the past week is that my dad went into memory care on September 21st; my sister went out of town on the 23rd, and so I drove up to Idaho myself to stay with my mom. It’s (unsurprisingly) been hard for us all, but his steep decline over the past few weeks has now made it physically impossible for my 81-year-old mother to be his caretaker. We’re all at peace with the decision, but witnessing his further decline is a special kind of heartbreaking.

What I am grateful for was the chance (with my mother-in-law’s help on the home front) to spend the time with my mother. We have very different personalities and sometimes frustrate each other, but it truly was a help to have me there, and I felt truly blessed to be able to be that help. (Also grateful that my sister pushed me into asking my m-i-l for the help, because my hubby’s work schedule would not have permitted him to take over the daytime chauffeuring duties.) My older girls were both a help at home, and I’m feeling blessed by my family.

Now. Since I was in the car by myself for 5 hours twice in the last week or so, I enjoyed being able to listen to whatever audiobook I wanted, and on the way up I finished listening to Hena Khan’s Drawing Deena, which I definitely enjoyed. (Although every time the audiobook narrator pronounced the artist’s name as Van ‘Goff’ it weirded me out. Is it not Van ‘Go’? Never have I ever heard anyone say Van ‘Goff’ before!) Deena is an American girl whose parents grew up in Pakistan, and she worries about more things than her parents realize. As she tries to help her mother’s business grow (maybe then she won’t overhear her parents arguing about money?), she also looks for ways to improve her art while trying to be a good friend and cousin. Eventually, however, she realizes that in order to do that, she needs to get a handle on her anxiety.

My only real issue with this book is the somewhat uneven pacing of the anxiety arc; otherwise, Deena’s parents could have been fleshed out a bit more, but Deena’s journey is one older elementary kids ought to appreciate. It portrays anxiety in both a relatable and a helpful way, and I enjoyed the small business aspect of the plot. I’ll let you know how my artistic and anxious children enjoy it!

To wit: I just finished The BIG Adventures of Babymouse: Besties!, which I’ve had in my library pile for a good long while; Goodreads, however, lists it as ‘Not Yet Published’ and gives an expected publishing date of January 2, 2079. (Note: if I’m still alive at that point, I will be 99 1/2.) Why? No one knows. But Besties! is as insightful and entertaining as the rest of Babymouse’s adventures, so I wouldn’t wait until the last quarter of the century to pick it up. In it we meet Kara, an adorable and seemingly perfect koala that seems to be charming her way into the heart of Babymouse’s friend group. Has Kara replaced her–and even appropriated her best friend, Wilson? You can guess what the end result will be, but Babymouse is consoled on her journey of understanding by an unexpected source, making for some fantastic panels. Don’t miss this one!*

On the homefront, my dad–my amazing, flawed, loving dad, who dementia has reduced to a shell of himself–is scheduled to enter a care center today. It’s more than time, as the strain of his caretaking has been weighing more and more heavily on my 81-year-old mother, but it’s going to be a difficult transition for both of them. I can’t be there today–my son’s very first high school jazz band concert is tonight, and I wouldn’t miss that–but I’ll be spending a great deal of time with my mother later this week, so I’ll likely not post until a week from Wednesday. If you’d like to send prayers, thoughts, or good vibes their way, our family would appreciate them.

*It’s clear that many people have already not missed it, so to speak. I generally mend rips in library book pages, but more than half of this one’s over 200 pages had at least small rips on the bottom. I didn’t have the will to mend more than the worst one or two.

My kiddos didn’t have school today* AND I have some significant family things going on, so I’m afraid you don’t get much today. Let’s hope for a quieter day on Monday…

*I will say, however, that my living and dining rooms look much better now than they did this morning; there will also be fewer chores tomorrow. Which is something.