Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

I just finished Kathryn Ormsbee’s Growing Pangs (again, I just got up off the couch!), and I’m thrilled that a)it’s definitely going to work as a Christmas gift this month and b)I got it at Britt’s book fair for $3. What’s not to love? It’s actually surprisingly similar to Shannon Hale’s Real Friends; Katie’s having friend issues (although not at all the same kind) and she’s struggling with compulsive thoughts that make growing up more difficult than it already is; she even has red hair like Shannon! (Please tell me I’m remembering that right, the cover’s accurate, and Shannon really does have red hair…) Growing Pangs is also the story of the author’s own struggles growing up, giving it a solidly real feel (right down to the unfortunate truth that some real-life events lack the level of resolution readers might hope for). The story works, and girls struggling with changing friendships and personal worries will both see themselves in Katie and feel seen–and isn’t that what we want our children to do when they read? (Of course, we also love it when they can escape outside themselves–really, we just love it when they read.) I’m more ho-hum about the artistic style, but the illustrator and the author struggled in similar ways growing up, which makes their collaboration work regardless. If you have a latter elementary schooler or middle grader with friend struggles and/or mental health struggles, don’t miss this one.*

*And if you don’t? It’s still good!