Early Book Review: Barely Functional Adult: It'll All Make Sense Eventually by Meichi Ng

 Barely Functional Adult: It'll All Make Sense Eventually by Meichi Ng is currently scheduled for release on November 24 2020. This collection of four color, never before seen, short stories holds a mirror to our past, present, and future selves. Featuring a swaddled Barely Functional Adult as its protagonist who says all the things we think but dare not say, this book is equal parts humorous and heartbreaking as it spans a spectrum of topics from impostor syndrome, therapy, friendships, first loves, letting go of exes, to just trying to find your purpose in the world. 

Barely Functional Adult had a little more text than I was expecting, but I really enjoyed the read. The illustrations are charming and cute, and I recognized the artist's work as something I have enjoyed in the past. As an introvert that has struggled with some of the same thoughts, I related to the personal narrative. I liked the honesty and frankness of the text, and think that there are a great many people that could relate to the book. We are all just struggling in our own way through life, and seeing that no one choice is perfect, and feelings might be troublesome but most are universal, can make readers feel less alone. Impostor syndrome and not really knowing what we are supposed to be doing are pretty common, and I hate to break it to you- age does not lessen the possibility of these feelings. While this is marketed mainly at readers that share the author's generational labels, I think everyone can find something here to relate to, including middle and high school students. I tell my own kids all the time that the adults they see are faking it just as much as they are- and that reminder that we are all just getting through life a day at a time is good for all of us. I do not mean all that to mean this book is depressing, rather that it foster the knowledge that none of us are alone, and that there is hope and humor to be found in it all.

Book Review: Bird Brain: Comics About Mental Health, Starring Pigeons by Chuck Mullin

Bird Brain: Comics About Mental Health, Starring Pigeons by Chuck Mullin is a collection of brutally honest, brilliantly weird comics exploring what it’s like to live with mental illness, using pigeons. When Chuck Mullin began experiencing anxiety and depression as a teenager, she started drawing comics to help her make sense of the rollercoaster. Eventually, she found that pigeons—lovably quirky, yet universally reviled creatures—were the ideal subjects of a comic about mental illness. The book is organized in three sections—"Bad Times," "Relationships," and "Positivity"—and featuring several short essays about the author’s experiences. 

Bird Brain is a comic collection that I related to on some levels, and not so much on others (I am more of an emotion stuffer than a crier), because we are all different. I loved how honest Mullin is about how she has felt, and the changes that she has made in her life. Like Mullin I have never shared the disdain for pigeons, and find them fun and cute. I liked the stories she shared, and the artwork. I think the only thing I might have changed is the inclusion of resources, like hotlines or online communities, that readers might use for support if they want or need some connection. However, since the book was originally published in the UK, I understand that it would take getting some different information for each publishing market.

The acknowledgement that self love and the love of others is not mutually exclusive, and that improving mental health is a journey, was important to me. So many of the platitudes people throw at people dealing with any kind of mental distress (clinical or situational)  are more harmful than helpful- because if people could just smile and feel better don't you think they would? If only it were so easy. I also like that Mullin points out that medication can be part of the solution- but is not the only part and is not for everyone. Side effects and allergies can make medication more problematic than what they are supposed to help, but if he right dose of the right med is found it can make life significantly better for some. I really love the clear point that we are all different, and effect to different therapies and tools accordingly- working with a professional to find the right combination is important and can very greatly depending on the person. 

Bird Brain is an honest and relatable collection that will speak to anyone that has suffered through anxiety and/or depression. I think it would also be a great read for those with loved ones that are dealing with them to help them understand what it feels like. 

Book Review: Calm the F@ck Down: How to Control What You Can and Accept What You Can't So You Can Stop Freaking Out and Get On With Your Life by Sarah Knight

Calm the F@ck Down: How to Control What You Can and Accept What You Can't So You Can Stop Freaking Out and Get On With Your Life by Sarah Knight is a self help book for those with too much anxiety in their lives. It is a no-f*cks-given guide to taming anxiety and taking control of your life. Do you spend more time worrying about problems than solving them? Do you let unexpected difficulties ruin your day and do "what ifs" keep you up at night? Sounds like you need to CALM THE F*CK DOWN. Just because things are falling apart doesn't mean YOU can't pull it together. Calm the F*ck Down explains:The Four Faces of Freaking Out--and their Flipsides How to accept what you can't control, Productive Helpful Effective Worrying (PHEW)The Three Principles of Dealing With It, and more.

Calm the F@ck Down is a down to earth, honest book that acknowledges the reality of both anxiety disorders and the situational anxiety. I like that the author not only recognizes the existence and validity of the anxiety readers might be struggling, but makes it clear that she has been there and not only understands what readers might be feeling but makes it clear that those emotions are real, and not something that ignoring or pretending that they do not exist will help. Knight has struggled with anxiety and found tools that work for her, and shares those tools, her experiences, and hope with readers that they can find tools that will work for them. 

I really enjoyed the blunt and honest talk, and thought the regular reminders that she is not a doctor but is sharing what works for her in hopes it can help others with plenty of support for seeing a professional for help was well done and might give someone the encouragement to seek help if they need it. This balance of suggestions and support is pretty perfect. I also enjoyed the humor that is liberally sprinkled through the book, I find the ability to laugh at myself, and situations, to be helpful to me and it seems that Knight feels the same way. I think this book is a helpful and fun read for those that deal with anxiety (both capital A and lowercase, situation anxiety) to focus their energy and effort in productive ways. 

Book Review: Margo Thinks Twice by Monica Arnaldo

Margo Thinks Twice by Monica Arnaldo is a picture book. Margo is an imaginative, adventurous little girl who has just one problem — worry has found its way into her life. She sometimes feels nervous and uncomfortable, especially inside the wild world her imagination creates. Whenever her mom gives instructions, Margo’s mind turns the everyday advice into worst-case scenarios. Mom tells Margo to be careful with the craft glue, and Margo imagines becoming stuck to all the furniture and decorations in her room. Mom advises Margo not to swing too high, and Margo envisions ending up on the roof.

Margo Thinks Twice is a picture book about a young lady that takes the words of her mother to heart. Every warning her mother gives leads Margo to consider the worse case scenario, the illustrations of which a fun and contain little clues toward the final conclusion. Now, I both really like this book, and have some reservations with it. I thin the illustrations are wonderful- they capture Margo’s very real worries while still including humor and additional important information. I like that at no point, even in the illustrations, are Margo’s fears mocked or belittled. Her worries are treated as legitimate and important by her mother, along with a solution that can help both of them worry a little less about everything being perfect.

I was not thrilled with the worries it left me, as a mom, that I might be causing anxiety in my kids with such simple requests and common phrases, and that they haven’t told me. Granted both my kids tell me everything, included things that I have no need to know, such as the exact number of goldfish they ate or left behind at lunch, so I am not overly anxious. However, it is not necessarily that it raised my awareness of how some seemingly simple things can be anything but to my children- or anyone really. Literature, and art of all sorts, is intended to get people thinking and maybe make them a little uncomfortable- or at least wake them up a little or insight emotion. So, that this mean the author has done their job.