Early Book Review: Good Enough: A Cookbook: Embracing the Joys of Imperfection, in and out of the Kitchen by Leanne Brown

Good Enough: A Cookbook: Embracing the Joys of Imperfection, in and out of the Kitchen by Leanne Brown is currently scheduled for release on January 4 2022. After writing and launching Good and Cheap, the cookbook with a social purpose that has over 500,000 copies in print, Leanne Brown went into a tailspin. She was burnt out and depressed, and fell into a pattern of using guilt and fear to get herself back into facing the day. Her dream of becoming a cookbook author was turning into a nightmare. Something had to change. What changed, and how, is the journey of Good Enough, a deeply personal cookbook with a profoundly uplifting, relatable message.  A generous mix of essays, stories and nearly 100 dazzling recipes, Good Enough is about self-compassion, and knowing it's OK to have a cheese plate for dinner. About the practice of gratitude, and ten breakfasts to start your morning right, like Creamy Hands-Off Scrambled Eggs. About cooking as self-care, and healing your spirit with a comforting Salmon Dinner Pie. About overcoming barriers like social anxiety, and embracing entertaining with Smoky Honey Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Fennel Slaw. About knowing it’s hard but you’re completely worth it—and indulging yourself with My Spicy Umami Noodles. About giving yourself permission to feel great—so go ahead, have another Sticky Toffee Cookie. There are no judgments here. And ultimately, it's about embracing the joy of imperfection to find peace and happiness in and out of the kitchen. Because good enough is great.

Good Enough is a cookbook that embraces mindfulness and kindness, toward ourselves and others. We all have moments of being overwhelmed, burned out, depressed, or just out of it enough that putting in the effort to feed ourselves (and/or our families) seems like it is too much. This book offers a judgement free look at how we can be prepared enough to already have most necessary ingredients around so that we do not have to make an extra trip to the store, and the understanding to know that a dinner of snack like foods is just fine if that is what we want or all that we can handle on any given day. It gives great recipes and tip to make cooking less stressful, and offers readers the sense of forgiveness and kindness that so many of us offer others while failing to provide it for ourselves. The majority of the book is not the recipes, but essays and suggestions for self care and taking care of yourself even when it might feel like it is too much effort. Looking at the last two years, I think this book could be a helpful and interesting read for many. I would have preferred more recipes, preferably with more photographs of the food. I also had some serious issues with formatting in the digital galley- however I am going to hope that formatting will be a non issue with the final version of the book.

Good Enough is a book about self care and kindness towards ourselves, with a selection of recipes and cooking tips to make the process more mindful than stressful.

Early Book Review: Where Did We Come From?: A Simple Exploration of the Universe, Evolution, and Physics by Chris Ferrie

Where Did We Come From?: A Simple Exploration of the Universe, Evolution, and Physics by Chris Ferrie is a nonfiction picturebook currently scheduled for release on January 4 2022. Discover how our universe came to be; first the quark then the particle, first atom then the molecule, first the sun then the solar system, first the earth then the life, first the love then the child. Little scientists will learn all about how the universe evolved in this unique science book for kids from the creator of the Baby University series, Chris Ferrie. The "first/then" pattern provides a deceptively simple introduction to the beginning of life, evolution, scientific inquiry, and more! It's the perfect love letter for science-loving families.

Where Did We Come From? is a perfect picturebook for science focused family. The language pattern is simple enough for the youngest listeners, but I think some of the vocabulary will need to be explain (there is a glossary in the back) for many young readers or listeners to get some understanding.I like that the artwork used bold lines and colors, making this a good book to read together, either one on one or in a group settling.  I think this is a fun gift book for scientist parents, and those looking to start science and physics discussions with young children, at home or in school, but it is not likely to be a requested reread.  

Book Review: Heroes (Royal Academy Rebels) by Jen Calonita

Heroes is the third book in the Royal Academy Rebels series by Jen Calonita. I highly recommend reading this series in order, and perhaps reading the Fairy Tale Reform School series first as well, because the two come together in this installment. 

Princess Devin didn't come to Royal Academy for fame, glory, or a crown. All she's ever wanted is to be a Magical Creature Caretaker. Just when Devin gets up the courage to ask about following her passion, disaster strikes. The evil Rumplestiltskin and Alva cast a curse that nearly destroys Enchantasia, a new villain is on the rise, and the students of Royal Academy find they now have to share their castle with the delinquents from the notorious Fairy Tale Reform School.Devin feels stuck—how can she think about going her own way when her kingdom clearly needs her now more than ever?

Heroes is an entertaining and engaging read, and a wonderful addition to the series. Devin is still trying to find her way to being an animal caretaker, but the world still seems to be in danger and everything seems to be problematic. She does not know who to trust, including herself. I liked that she has some serious character development in this book, even if she really frustrated me at many, many points in the story. I enjoyed getting to see Anna and Tara more in this book, but would have enjoyed more character development or depth from the rest of the group. I thought the mystery and danger aspects were well done, and thought there were some surprises in play, for instance some that I thought would be involved with the big bad were not, and some that I did not suspect at all were. I liked the way the story and world were build and grew. I think fans of the two series thus far will need to read this, and that this series might just be a favorite for a large group of middle grade and teen readers.

Heroes is another great installment to the series and world that Calonita has created. I hope to revisit this world and its characters again soon. 

Early Book Review: Cinder the Fireplace Boy; And Other Gayly Grimm Tales by Ana Mardoll

Cinder the Fireplace Boy; And Other Gayly Grimm Tales by Ana Mardoll is currently scheduled for release on Jan 4 2022.  This collection of inclusive fairy tale retellings also features eight original illustrations by artist Alex Dingley.

Once upon a time there lived a beautiful prince who kissed a frog, a cinder-smudged child who hid a secret, a princess who climbed a long braid of golden hair for love, a thumb-sized boy with the courage of a giant, and a valiant little tailor whose wit was as sharp as her needle. These stories and many more await you in this collection of classic fairy tales, lovingly retold and featuring characters who receive wonderfully queer happily-ever-afters! Let these new takes on the Brothers Grimm warm your heart and nurture your yearning to see yourself reflected in beloved favorites.

Cinder the Fireplace Boy; And Other Gayly Grimm Tales is a wonderful collection of fairy tale retellings missing the various forms of prejudice that can be seen in the originals. The spirit of each story holds true, with some tweaks that make them more inclusive and engaging for all readers. I like that there were some very well known stories included, like Rapunzel and Hansel and Gretel, as well as lesser known stories- some of which I do not remember ever having encountered before. All of them captured my attention and had me fully engaged. The story length of each story helped me break out of a reading slum, that had made it hard for me to become invested in what I had been reading lately.  I dove into this book, and will be revisiting some of the stories again in the near future. I think readers that have always enjoyed reading fairy tales, and enjoy seeing them evolve, will definitely want to pick this up. Readers that have been put off by the prejudices and attitudes found in many of the originals might want to give collection a try to see a new take on the old tales. 

Early Book Review: Incubators: A Graphic History by Paige V. Polinsky, Josep Rural

Incubators: A Graphic History, written by Paige V. Polinsky and illustrated by Josep Rural, is currently scheduled for release on January 1 2022. When babies are born early, they often have trouble surviving. But special containers called incubators help babies grow by keeping them warm and protected. At first, people in the medical world were skeptical about incubators. But some trailblazing doctors believed in the technology—and put it on display across Europe and the United States. "Incubator exhibits" showed the public how incubators saved lives. The controversial displays led people to accept this medical innovation. Meet the doctors who invented the incubator, and follow the incubator's fascinating rise with this graphic history.

 

Incubators is a well written and illustrated history of incubators. I have know several families that have benefited from the science of preemie care and incubators, so it was good to get an overview of the different doctors and scientists that have  worked so hard to develop and innovate incubators in order to save the lives of premature infants and other ill or recovering infants that have needed the extra help. The book felt short to me, mainly because I know there must have been so much involved in the initial builds for prototypes and  getting everything right. Some of the trail and error is covered in the book, but I felt like this was a well done overview of important people and moments in the history of incubators. I think the book offers readers a great start on the topic, and explains everything very well. The illustrations are extremely well done, with a good page lay out to balance the text. I really liked that the author included source notes, suggestions for further reading, a glossary, and an index. Sadly these are things often overlooked. 

 

Incubators is a well written and drawn history of incubators. It is accessible and engaging for a wide ranging audience. 

Early Book Review: Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee

Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee is a companion to the best-selling and award-winning Dragon Pearl  (which I loved) and is currently scheduled for release on January 4 2022. This is another space opera inspired by Korean mythology,but told from the point of view of a nonbinary tiger spirit. Sebin, a young tiger spirit from the Juhwang Clan, wants nothing more than to join the Thousand World Space Forces and, like their Uncle Hwan, captain a battle cruiser someday. But when Sebin's acceptance letter finally arrives, it's accompanied by the shocking news that Hwan has been declared a traitor. Apparently the captain abandoned his duty to steal a magical artifact, the Dragon Pearl, and his whereabouts are still unknown. Sebin hopes to help clear their hero's name and restore honor to the clan. Nothing goes according to plan, however. As soon as Sebin arrives for orientation, they are met by a special investigator named Yi and his assistant, a girl named Min. Yi informs Sebin that they must immediately report to the ship Haetae and await further instructions. Sebin finds this highly unusual, but soon all protocol is forgotten when there's an explosion on the ship, the crew is knocked out, and the communication system goes down. It's up to Sebin, three other cadets, and Yi and Min to determine who is sabotaging the battle cruiser. When Sebin is suddenly accused of collaborating with the enemy, the cadet realizes that Min might be the most dangerous foe of all.

Tiger Honor was a hard start for me, mainly because I had to go back and reread my review of Dragon Pearl and remember what I knew about some of these characters and this world, and were we all left off in the first book. Once I got back into the setting and characters were settled on my head I was able to get lost in that world again. I liked the character development for Sebin, and seeing a different perspective of the Star Forces and systems and relationships involved. I thought Swbin had a relatable story arc, as we have all had our expectations and thoughts of someone we loved and trusted challenged at some point in our lives. This exploration of world views and the larger picture is important, and well done here. I thought the character building for Sebin's fellow cadets, and the challenges they faced was also well done, with a nice balance of adventure or danger and introspection. I am hoping that the series is continued, as I just felt like I was getting to know the characters as a group when this installment of the story ended. I enjoyed the read, and think it was well done. I do recommend revisiting Dragon Pearl before reading this, or enjoying it on its own with no prior knowledge of the other book. It can be fully enjoyed in either fashion.

Tiger Honor is a well written and entertaining read. 

Early Book Review: Absurd Words: A Kids' Fun and Hilarious Vocabulary Builder for Future Word Nerds by Tara Lazar

Absurd Words: A Kids' Fun and Hilarious Vocabulary Builder for Future Word Nerds by Tara Lazar is currently scheduled for release on January 2 2022.  This is a dictionary-thesaurus hybrid,  a user-friendly, engaging book about the power of words. Grouped into themes (“word squads”) and paired with pop culture, etymology, and history facts, readers explore not only what the words in the book mean, but where they came from, uses in pop culture, how to use them! To go even further, readers are encouraged to create their own words (“crashwords”), anagrams, and more.

Absurd Words is full of great information and vocabulary. I like that the book pointed out that the English language  borrows heavily from other language, and that is always evolving. New words are made, some go out of fashion, and some shift meaning drastically. I was very glad to see the pronunciation included, as someone that knows the meaning of more words than they can correctly pronounce thanks to reading and some years of latin, it was good to double check my instincts on some of the words. I did learn a few words in the book, which is always nice. The extra bits of information, including pop culture references and information about the roots and history of certain words, were interesting and help keep readers engaged. I thought it was well organized and can stand up to a straight read through, browsing, and as a reference resource for readers looking for just the right word.  

Book Review: Acoustics (Portland Symphony) by London Price

Acoustics is the first book in the Portland Symphony series by London Price. My sister told me to stay away from her roommate. I promised I would. But I didn’t. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I mean, yeah, maybe it was predictable when I started asking about his AI research and finding reasons to hang out, even when my sister wasn’t home. Looking back, we never should've slow danced alone like that. But with Chance, goofing around melted into messing around easier than butter on hot bread. It’s not fair to keep our relationship a secret, but how can I tell my sister I betrayed her trust? And when the truth comes out, how can I keep both the people I care about most?

Acoustics is a trans romance series set in Oregon. It contains robot talk, found family, and a happily ever after. It’s not intended for readers who don’t want to read explicit LGBTQ sex scenes. CW for the death of a fish. I really loved the characters in this book, including the main and secondary characters. Colby knows better than to date his sister's roommate. He does not want to hurt her, but cannot seem to stop himself. Chance is a fantastic character, and I love the balance of shy tech guy and dominant nature in the bedroom. My favorite part of the book is the frank and honest discussions Chance and Colby have. They  talk about everything I think most people should before getting intimate- covering what they are comfortable with, hard limits, and so on- even holding themselves to that when other choices could have been made. I loved the caring and thoughtful nature of their relationship, even when they were trying to 'just be friends'. The support and honest caring between all of the characters made me want to be part of this circle of friends and family. I cannot wait to see what comes next in the series so I can see them all again. My only big complaint was that it ended too soon.

Acoustics is a wonderful romance with well written characters, I look forward to the next book in the series. 

Book Review: Protect Me Not ((Un)Professionally Yours) by Natasha Anders

Protect Me Not is the second book in the (Un)Professionally Yours series by Natasha Anders. I did not read the first book, and do not think that the lack negatively impacted my reading experience. 

Victoria Hollingsworth does not need a surly, uncommunicative bodyguard cramping her style, following her everywhere, and intimidating any would-be male callers. She’s a florist for goodness sake, not a princess or a pop star. Having a massive, mysterious bodyguard always hovering is an inconvenience. And yet… there he is, Tyler Chambers, her unwanted protector, ultra-serious, no-nonsense, and off-the-charts hot. Vicki doesn’t want, or need, him as a bodyguard. Yet, disturbingly, he may be everything she wants, and needs, in a man.Ty hates his current long-term assignment. It’s mind-numbingly tedious. Vicki Hollingsworth is a pain in the butt who talks too much, laughs a lot, and frequently tests his patience. And her life isn’t exactly filled with intrigue and action. Ty is ready for this job to be over. He has just a couple of months left before reassignment. He’s mere weeks away from being out of here. The last thing he needs is to find his cute-as-a-button charge irresistibly attractive. She’s not his type. Wholesome, adorable, and sweet, Vicki is the kind of woman who needs long-term commitment. And all Ty has to offer is a few short weeks of far-from-wholesome pleasure.How much chaos can one little florist introduce into his regimented life? 

Protect Me Not is a contemporary romance. I liked the connection and back and forth between the characters, and thought a great deal was done right with the characters. Vicki is a little too trusting and naive but also seems aware of her privilege and the love of those in her life. Tyler has problems with letting people in, but also seems to be aware of it on some level, but not necessarily ready to make adjustments. I liked the honest discussions that are had, even when they know they are lying to themselves on some level. I think the way Tyler's walls ad past are handled, and how the support system is always there and playing their role even what it is not blatantly obvious. I enjoyed the secondary characters, and the hints as to who might be the next pairing off in the series that are included here. I enjoyed the read, and I thought the slow burn and forbidden romance aspects were very well done, although I will admit to getting a little bored and eager for an ending at some point. I did like that emotional issues had to be recognized and dealt with rather than ignored, which is too often the case, particularly for male characters. 

Protect Me Not is a solid romance with well written characters.

Book Review: Doris' Dear Delinquents by Emma Ward

Doris' Dear Delinquents is a picturebook written and illustrated by Emma Ward. It was a silver medal winner of the 2020 Key Colors Illustrators Competition. Doris the gharial crocodile has her motherly hands full with twenty-six misbehaved hatchlings. Follow along on a journey through the alphabet as she tries to bring peace back into her home.

Doris' Dear Delinquents is a charming alphabet book that many adults reading along with young readers will appreciate as well. Doris is a crocodile mom just trying to get her home under control, the the personalities and expected sibling trouble with twenty six energetic hatchlings is making things hard. I could sympathize with her, and still find the situation amusing. I liked the choices for names ad adjectives to show the alphabet, with fun and quirky happenings making it all work. I thought the illustrations were fun and charming, and frankly made my day. I think will be a fun read one on one, alone for emerging readers, or in a group story time setting.