“For the sake of trust building, the third chapter will follow the second. But then we will jump directly to chapter five, do you understand? No chapter four. Why? Because sometimes things don’t go like they should.” ― Allie Brosh, Solutions and Other Problems
Title: Solutions and Other Problems
Author; Allie Brosh
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: September 22, 2020
Goodreads Synopsis:
Allie Brosh returns with a new collection of comedic, autobiographical, and illustrated essays.
Solutions and Other Problems includes humorous stories from Allie Brosh’s childhood; the adventures of her very bad animals; merciless dissection of her own character flaws; incisive essays on grief, loneliness, and powerlessness; as well as reflections on the absurdity of modern life.
My Thoughts:
This is a different pick for me. Most of my picks are novels or traditional memoirs. But, this was a fun read that dealt with heavy topics. The format made it a really quick read. I would recommend it for anyone who likes Jenny Lawson’s writng.
Welcome to my stop for the TBR And Beyond Tours for Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper
Book Info:
Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper by Brie Spangler
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Publishing Date: April 11, 2023
Synopsis:
A heartwarming graphic novel about a baseball-obsessed 7th grader, trying to find her place in the sports world and her family.
In their tiny corner of Fox Point, Rhode Island, Gemma Hopper’s older brother, Teddy, is a baseball god, destined to become a Major League star. Gemma loves playing baseball, but with her mom gone and her dad working endless overtime, it’s up to her to keep the house running. She’s too busy folding laundry, making lunches, getting her younger twin brothers to do their homework, and navigating the perils of middle-school friendships to take baseball seriously.
But every afternoon, Gemma picks up her baseball glove to pitch to Teddy during his batting practice–throwing sliders down and away, fastballs right over the middle (not too fast or he’ll get mad), and hanging curveballs high and tight.
Could baseball be Gemma’s ticket to the big leagues or will it mean the end of her family as she knows it?
My Review:
After Gemma’s mother left, she carries the burden of holding the family together. This doesn’t leave a lot of time to pursue her passion for baseball. Her brother, Teddy, is the baseball star of the family. But, when a video of her pitching goes viral it looks like it might be her big chance too.
This book does a great job of realistically portraying the impacts of a mother abandoning her family. Gemma and Teddy both feel responsibility beyond their years, and feel resentment towards each other. Beyond the home, the issues carry into school as Gemma is assigned a school project about her family history. She’s also faced with typical changes in teenage friendships, when her oldest friend seems more interested in impressing popular kids than Gemma’s feelings.
Despite the problems explored in the story, Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper, doesn’t feel like a “heavy” book. The graphic novel format adds a lightness by showing the emotions through pictures. The focus on baseball also makes it high interest for young readers. It was very refreshing to have a sports-centered book with a female protagonist.
Author/illustrator of children’s picture books and YA novels, Brie Spangler loves to draw and write stories and drink massive amounts of caffeine, but not quite Dave Grohl “Fresh Pot!”/require hospitalization levels. Writing down the ideas in her head was scary as a kid, so she turned to making pictures instead. Brie worked as an illustrator for several years before she began to write and immediately became a frothing addict. BEAST is her debut novel.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing with a free ebook copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Description:
Jordan, Drew, Liam, Maury, and their friends from Riverdale Academy Day School are heading out on a school trip to Paris. As an aspiring artist himself, Jordan can’t wait to see all the amazing art in the famous City of Lights.
But when their trusted faculty guides are replaced at the last minute, the school trip takes an unexpected–and hilarious–turn. Especially when trying to find their way around a foreign city ends up being almost as tricky as navigating the same friendships, fears, and differences that they struggle with at home.
Will Jordan and his friends embrace being exposed to a new language, unfamiliar food, and a different culture? Or will they all end up feeling like the “new kid”?
My Thoughts
Usually when the first book in a series is as unique as The New Kid, the rest of the series can be a dissapppointment because it doesn’t feel as fresh. But this series keeps getting better. I would recommend reading them in order, so that you know the characters and their relationships.
The kids at Riverdale Academy Day School don’t go on run-of-the-mill field trips. They go places like Paris, Alaska and the Civil Rights Trail. Jordan is in the group that goes to Paris. In this new setting, the kids discover things about each other they never knew.
It is tough to find books with the silliness kids love while also making them think. Craft openly says he writes books he wished he had as a kid, and kids today are grateful to have them. School Trip is filled with puns and dad jokes that had me laughing out loud. But, it also addresses head-on the issues POC face. I loved that the kids had a natural, open dialogue about their feelings.
Jordan wants to go to art school, but his mom is convinced Riverdale Academy Day School will provide him with the best opportunities for his future. The exclusive private school, with little diversity, is a whole new culture for Jordan. He struggles to balance two worlds while staying true to himself.
My Thoughts:
Many teachers, myself included, are often guilty of picking books we find meaningful rather than books that are interesting to kids. New Kid is a perfect mix of both. The graphic novel format and humor make it appealing to kids. At the same time, it deals with relevant social issues. While it’s specifically about microaggressions that students of color face, anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong can relate.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publication Date: September 13, 2022.
Summary:
When Skye’s grandmother moves to a retirement community, Skye is not allowed to go with her. Instead, she is sent to live with her Uncle Anish in Area 51. Yes, that Area 51. Rumors of alien landings in Area 51 are true, but there’s a lot more to the story. It’s not some UFO crash site, it’s a place where beings from the entire universe can live in peace. The catch is you can’t leave or communicate with the outside world; it would be too dangerous if the truth ever got out.
The same day Skye arrives a group of zdstrammers go missing. It seems like too much a of coincidence for everyone to believe that they happened to disappear at the exact time Skye appeared. Skye’s uncle soon becomes the first suspect, but she knows he’s innocent. Skye teams up with her new alien buddy, Elvis, a mean kid from school, Zane, to solve the crime. Her pet hedgehog, Spike and Elvis’s dog, Pickles come along for the ride.
My Thoughts:
This was the perfect book for engaging middle grade readers. It’s filled with action, aliens, fart jokes and funny illustrations. I love the characters names. What kid won’t laugh at Agent Belcher and Agent Fartz? The story itself is very entertaining, but the drawings really enhanced the book. In most of the illustrations, Spike, the hedgehog, holds up signs with his own commentary (usually asking for pizza).
