Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

That means, folks, that I’ll be using the break to spend time with family, so you’re going to want to look for me (probably) next Wednesday. In the meantime, however, I finished listening to Wendy Mass’s Finally, the second book in her ‘Willow Falls’ series. I confess, I started out the book with are these parents for REAL? on repeat in my head; by the halfway mark, however, I was enjoying it enormously. (In retrospect, I don’t know that Rory’s parents are supposed to come off as completely realistic, given that the ‘Willow Falls’ books are more magical realism, and I probably should have realized that earlier.)

Perhaps I should back up a bit, though. Rory Swenson’s parents have been telling her for years that she can do this, that, and the other–get her ears pierced, get a cellphone, stay home alone–when she turns 12, and Finally begins shortly before her 12th birthday. As any adult could predict, of course, not all of these new privileges turn out quite how Rory expects (ah, the joys of growing up), and her life is suddenly far more complicated than anyone could have imagined. It’s really a heck of a ride, and my own experiences with allergies and bunny ownership just enriched the experience. For every kid desperate to do all the grown up things, well–this is the book for you. (And your parents.) And for everyone else?

Yeah, you should read it, too.

General Conference is always a good weekend, even if the thermometer is still stubbornly refusing to leave the 80s until MAYBE the end of the week. And to cap it off, I finished reading Black Leaders in the Civil Rights Movement: A Black History Book for Kids aloud to my youngest. She’s consistently interested in the Civil Rights Movement–Claudette Colvin is one of her favorite historical figures, if you can call her that when she’s still alive–and so this was an interesting read for both of us. As an adult, of course, I didn’t need a reiteration of each acronym in each chapter, but it did make sense for a reference sort of book for kids, and my youngest was into it to the end. There are both well-known and less well known activists referenced, and a good mix of men and women, which makes for a well-rounded reading experience. (Is that a thing? I’ve been fighting the sleepies this afternoon and so this is not my best work…) It’s accessible for mid-elementary age–simply written without feeling too young–and if you’re looking for a read-aloud for Black History Month this February, this is a solid choice for parents and teachers alike.

In the meantime, we’re still trying to solidify logistics for fall break, which is making me a little crazy, but perseverance is the key, right? Wish us luck…

I am a day late, yes, but I have no regrets–last night I showered relatively early and my hubby and I both read in bed, which is how I managed to finish Let’s Go, Coco!. It was another graphic novel I was pondering for a gift–I’m trying to get a jump on Christmas, since I gave my 15-year-old The New Kid for her birthday–but after finishing it, I’m going to give it a pass. If my kiddos find it and bring it home, fine, but the basketball focus doesn’t really fit any of my girls, and the non-binary/LGBTQ+ element isn’t so much our thing. There were some things I really liked about it, however, so if those two elements appeal to you, you may want to try it.

In the first place, Coco definitely has some anxiety going on, and watching her use her brother’s advice to fight it is lovely. I also loved her eventual realization of what a toxic friendship is and her steps to deal with it–that was gold. I can’t say I loved the art so much, though. Fox (the author’s name is Coco Fox, and she calls the book a (sorta) true story) does a fantastic job showing tears coming and bursting out, as well as other negative emotions–pain, shock, fear–but her positive emotions are drawn with noticeably less detail, and Maddie’s dad’s beard weirded me out.

Anyway. Those are my thoughts on that one, so you can make your own decision. I’m looking forward to eating breakfast and watching General Conference now, so I’m signing off. And if you’re looking for messages about Jesus Christ and hope in spite of what’s wrong with the world, here’s the link; I’d love you all to watch as well!

https://www.youtube.com/user/LDSGeneralConference

Sharon Creech is a lovely writer, and when she’s writing about a family that moves from the city to Maine and gets involved with an eccentric woman and her animals–of course it’s going to be good. In this case, I enjoyed it when we listened to most of it in the car on the way home from Idaho months ago, and when I finished listening to it on my own; it being a verse novel, however, with a trace of shape poem going on, I decided to speed read a physical copy before I reviewed it.

I just got to it, and I enjoyed it even more as a physical read.

It’s a mixed blessing, however, to read about Maine in the month of October. It’s lovely to imagine being there, surrounded by trees with the breeze coming off the ocean, but since I’m doing it from a desert-y steppe climate with at least a week more of highs in the 80s ahead–like I said, a mixed blessing. Still, Zora the cow and Mrs. Falala are fantastic characters, and Moo is a funny, poignant, and timeless sort of book. Maybe I’ll tack it on to my sister’s birthday present…