Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

When I’m in need of some fluffy reading, I’m a Regency romance sort of person, while my 11-year-old would re-read her favorite graphic novels every week if she could. Breena Bard’s Trespassers is likely to be her version of fluff; while it lacks the depth of Svetlana Chmakova’s or Victoria Jamieson’s books, it’s got fluctuating friend dynamics, a summer lakeside getaway, and a people-oriented mystery. (Also one miniscule editing fail that amused me greatly. We’ll see if she spots it!) Bard’s art is less expressive than is my preference, but it gets the job done, and the plot line I was keeping an eye on as ‘potentially older than my 11-year-old needs’ developed quite differently (in a pleasantly surprising sort of way) than I was expecting. All in all, Trespassers has some depth and a fun mystery; graphic novel fans should enjoy this one.

My friend Andrea picked School of Charm for Book Club ages ago; I started it over two years ago and then got sidetracked by the holidays. For one reason or another it’s been languishing in the pile by my bed since then, waiting for me to get back to it–until now. Remember how I’ve been deliberately working on my “Currently Reading” list? I realized that School of Charm would probably make a good read aloud for my 11-year-old, and–hallelujah!–we finished it on Monday.

Here’s the thing. There’s a lot to capture my interest here–when Chip’s dad dies, she and her family move in with their maternal grandmother in North Carolina, whom the children have never met. While Chip’s mother, grandmother, and older sister are part of the beauty pageant life, and little Ruthie is young enough to fit in anywhere, Chip is a tomboy who spent much of her time with her father. As a result, she doesn’t know where to fit in with her family anymore. When she sees a sign nearby for “Miss Vernie’s School of Charm”, she decides that perhaps that will help; so begins a rocky journey to find her place in her new home.

So far, so good, right? Totally up my alley. The problem is that this is one of those books where the problem doesn’t get appreciably better until the very end; 90% of the book is suffering through the problem, and the solution feels comparably sudden. That’s never been my jam–I like reading about the process of recovery–and in this case, Chip’s unhappiness and her family’s attitudes are incredibly painful to read about as a parent. I’m not saying it’s not realistic–grief is hard, and when it necessitates other significant life changes, it can cause people to act in all kinds of uncharacteristic ways–but it made for a difficult reading experience.

Of course, on the other hand, I think my girlie enjoyed it. Perhaps this is just a book best enjoyed by its intended audience.

It wasn’t long ago that I read Jamie Sumner’s Roll With It, which I found interesting and thoroughly likable (as expected, my 11-year-old LOVED it). I was consequently stoked when I realized our library had gotten Sumner’s newest book, Tune It Out, in eaudiobook format. On hold it went, and that 11-year-old of mine has been waiting somewhat impatiently for me to finish and pass on the hard copy to her. I finally finished it a bit ago, and I have to say–wow.

I tell you what, WOW.

Roll With It is good, folks, don’t think it isn’t, but Tune It Out is great.* It deals with tough things with hope and sensitivity (and ALL the feels). Lou’s life with her single mom in their truck is one that too many children in this country can relate to, as is her sudden removal from that life. Her sensory issues, however, make her situation all the more complex, which is what gives Lou’s story so much depth. Her adjustment to life with the aunt she barely remembers (and the uncle she’s never met) is bumpy and complicated, but it also proves to be a journey to a level of wellness she’s never experienced before. By the end, I wanted to give her a standing ovation–and NOT just for her performance. If you have an older elementary or middle school student, don’t miss this one.

*It almost feels like the author’s personal experience with a child with cerebral palsy gives Roll With It a bit of a consciously informative vibe, while Tune It Out is pure story.