Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

I’m pretty sure I’ve only got one more review in me today, so I’ll have to settle for ALMOST no waiting reviews to start off 2020. Still, I’m feeling pretty good about my progress overall! Here’s review #5…

I was crazy excited to receive an ARC of Lucy Knisley’s Stepping Stones; I have graphic novel-obsessed children, and this is Knisley’s first foray into middle grade fiction. (Her adult graphic memoirs have been on my list for quite a while now, but other people keep putting them on hold at the library.) I read it first–because I always get first shot at library books, unless the kids get them from their school library–and then my 10- and 13-year-olds read it. The former said it was good, although the mother’s boyfriend was kind of mean. The latter said it was good, and when I mentioned that I didn’t love the mother’s boyfriend, she suggested that it probably made the story more relatable to kids. (Hmmm.) As for me–I thought it was good as well, but I did not love the mother’s boyfriend. Not at ALL.

Now, I realize that adults are not always going to BE lovable when viewed from a kid’s point of view. As a parent (and a teacher), however, I cringed at most of what Walter says to Jen. We don’t see Jen’s mom advocating for her daughter, either, and while I recognize that blended families are complicated, I was uncomfortable at the dynamic portrayed. I actually assumed, as a reader, that part of the end of the book would involve a confrontation and growth in Walter and Jen’s relationship, but Knisley sidestepped what I felt were real issues, reserving the moments of change and positive growth for the girls and mom. Bottom line? I enjoyed reading Stepping Stones, but the adult behavior frequently bothered me. Neither of my girls seemed bothered at the same level, so I doubt that aspect of the story is going to be a problem for its target audience–but I’m not sure that that’s a good thing; I’d rather my girls be inspired to self-advocate, instead of letting certain behaviors go. Ultimately, I think kids may quite like this one, but I’d encourage parents to read it as well. Adult-child dialogues inspired by Stepping Stones might be the very best thing to come out of Knisley’s story.