Book Review of Crafty Cat And The Crafty Camp Crisis by Charise Mericle Harper

As I mentioned in my review of Yellow Owl Workshop's Make It Yours here, I have always been into crafts. I was the kid who would rather receive a gift card to Michael's than Toys R Us any day. So, that, combined with my deep-seated love of graphic novels (especially the offbeat ones published by :01, the publisher of the Crafty Cat series), led me to request a free review copy of Crafty Cat And The Crafty Camp Crisis by Charise Mericle Harper and see how these two interests of mine would mesh. Note: The Crafty Camp Crisis is actually the second book in the series, but it is easy enough to pick up and follow along without having read book one. I didn't have access to the first volume, myself, and I was able to track with the story in volume two just fine.

I wasn't a big fan of the cover design. Though I liked how it featured both Birdie and her alter ego, Crafty Cat, and I thought it was cute that the title and author were displayed in dialogue bubbles, there was too much going on at once, with too many small details and not enough larger images, and the chaos got in the way of using the cover to gauge an overall mood or theme for the book.

However, the cover does give a good representation of the illustration style used within the text. The pictures have simple lines and a palette of only a few colors, and they look as if a child (albeit, a talented one) would've drawn them, giving an air of youthful fun. One of Harper's strengths is conveying facial expressions, and I noticed her characters eyes and mouths always seem to show very effectively how that person is feeling, which should help younger kids who aren't strong readers use context clues to read the dialogue. Also, the text is difficult to read in some graphic novels, so I appreciated that it was a little larger than normal and clearly legible here, as kids this young would probably simply give up, rather than trying to decipher print that was too small, or a font that didn't quite look like the lettering they're used to.

As one would expect of a graphic novel for 6-10 yr olds, the plot is kept relatively simple. Birdie (aka Crafty Cat) and her best friend Evan are excited to attend Monster Craft Camp at their school over the summer until Birdie's archnemesis Anya, a classmate with a bad attitude and a tendency toward mean-spirited actions shows up and does whatever she can to ruin the craftsperience Birdie has been eagerly anticipating.

Because of some specific choices about the way Harper told the story, I had trouble getting into the book from the very beginning. The way the narrative begins with an illustration of the earth, then with several panels of Crafty Cat assembling her craft supplies on the way to her first day of Monster Craft Camp struck me as odd. Wouldn't they have craft supplies there? I kept wondering that, and it pulled me out of the story. Also, near the beginning, Harper began using the convention of inanimate objects or animals talking, either to comment on the story, or to interact with the characters directly. (The first instance is a talking tulip saying something that adds absolutely nothing to the story. Then, there are birds on the roof, whose dialogue also does nothing to enrich the narrative. And, finally, there's a cloud. Its presence seems to have a purpose, and it actually interacts with Birdie, but their conversations don't make much sense, and quickly become annoying.)

More bothersome--and less about personal and stylistic storytelling preferences--was the way Birdie, who is supposed to be a kind, empathetic protagonist, pigeonholes the school custodian who is leading craft camp. This character isn't even given a name, and Birdie initially refers to her as, "the lady janitor." The character then responds that custodian is nicer than janitor, and that they can call her C.C. for "crafty custodian." ...really? So, just because somebody keeps a school building clean for a living, that means she doesn't get a name!? I think this is an offensive message to send the young kids to whom this book is targeted, especially because they're very likely to engage with custodians at their schools. Additionally, Birdie is dismayed to find that C.C. will be leading the crafting sessions, imagining that all of their crafts will be made out of cleaning supplies like mops, buckets, sponges, and gloves. That was an ignorant thing to include. Though Birdie doesn't mistreat C.C. and does show her a gesture of kindness at the end of the story, the book never addresses how Birdie judged C.C. for her blue collar job at the beginning of the narrative, which I felt sent entirely the wrong message, and was a missed opportunity to show some character development and make the protagonist more dynamic.

I did like how Harper showed an illustration of Crafty Cat turning back into Birdie as she exited her room on the way to Camp early in the story, though. I thought it might be helpful for younger children who are reading the book to understand the concept of an alter ego, even if that term is never used. I also appreciated how Birdie's best friend Evan seems to be a very energetic little boy who can almost behave in what's supposed to be a low-key crafting environment (which provides nice comic relief), and that Evan comes through for Birdie when it matters.

Also, after the story ends, the book includes a section with detailed illustrated instructions for making the five crafts featured within the narrative. This is a fun feature, especially for kids who picked up Crafty Cat in the first place because they love to do crafts themselves. However, it would be more useful if this section had been made so the instructions were pull-out cards, or if the book binding allowed the pages to remain flat when opened, as I can imagine 6-10 year olds struggling with keeping the pages open to the craft instructions while attempting to cut and glue.

Ultimately, because of the lackluster storytelling, the offensive, ignorant depiction of C.C., and the frustrating practical problem of how to keep the book open while using the crafting instructions, I don't recommend Crafty Cat and the Crafty Camp Crisis.

Book Review of Gone: A Girl, A Violin, A Life Unstrung by Min Kym

I first heard about Gone by Min Kym on the Blogging for Books website, where I noticed it was garnering five star review after five star review. I had never heard of Min Kym. Lindsey Stirling is my favorite violin soloist, and when it comes to classical solo string performers, I am much more of a cello listener. What could be so compelling about a memoir written by a violin soloist about having her instrument stolen? I remember wondering. And then, I recalled a television interview I'd seen years ago, in which blues guitar player B.B. King spoke emotionally about the experience of having his guitar Lucille stolen. Two things stuck out in my mind about that interview: 1) That King rushed back into a burning building to rescue his guitar, and that when he found out the fire was started because two men had been arguing over a woman named Lucille, he knew what he had to name his beloved instrument, and 2) That an instrument could be so integral to a musician that he would run into a burning building to save it, risking his life without hesitation. So, of course I requested a free review copy of Gone. I had to see if her story was as unique, interesting, and emotional.

Though I understand why each element of the cover design for this book was selected, I don't personally like it. Conversely, I think the author picture included in the back of this book is one of the best I've ever seen, and I think it would've made a wonderful cover for Gone! I find it more aesthetically appealing and memorable than the actual cover. Plus, I'm dying to ask Min Kym how, exactly, she gets her hair to do that. Clearly, if she decides to move on from the world of professional music performance, she could really rock the YouTube hair tutorial videos. Also, seeing this author photo left me with one question: Kym mentions owning and playing several different violins over the course of the memoir. Which one is pictured here?

On the surface, it seems as if Kym has succeeded despite overwhelming struggles. She emigrated from Korea and grew up in London. She was admitted to the renowned Purcell School for musically gifted children, where she excelled and people quickly realized she was a violin prodigy. With a father who was constantly absent due to work that took him abroad for long stretches of time, a sister she never mentions except in the context of playing the piano alongside Kym's violin, and a mother who had the highest expectations of her daughters, but only showed affection through food, possibly creating a toxic atmosphere in which Kym's anorexia thrived, (Strangely, this is only mentioned in the last chapter of the book.) Kym found herself in music.

However, her confidence and her ability to speak up for herself were mostly non-existent. Kym found herself in a relationship with a manipulative man who had previously preyed on other Korean girls, finding them easy targets because the cultural values of submission and self-sacrifice with which they had been indoctrinated made them easy to control. Any time Kym succeeded in recognizing what she wanted and gravitating toward it, or meekly voiced her concerns in an attempt to stand up for what was important to her, he shut it down, ultimately leading to the theft of her beloved Stradivarius violin--a world-class instrument valued at more than many houses but, more importantly, the vessel through which Kym expressed herself emotionally and upon which she built her career professionally.

Gone is the story of Kym's upbringing, her training as a violin prodigy, her discovery of the violin that would define, amplify, and clarify her voice as a person, and as a performer, and the devastating loss of that gorgeous instrument. It differs a bit from a traditional memoir. For one thing, despite the fact that there are assuredly pictures of Kym from her extensive professional performance career, I found it odd and disappointing that they weren't included in the book. Also lacking were photos of the various violins Kym owned and played over the course of her life as a violin soloist, which would've been integral to the story, considering that the importance of her instrument is the essence of the book. And, since Kym goes into great (helpful, and interesting) detail about the parts of a violin, and which ones she tweaked in order to adjust each instrument to work for her as a performer, some diagrams displaying that information would've been useful and informative to the reader. I did appreciate, however, that Kym included generous amounts of information about luthiers, and about today's violin trade. I also enjoyed the parts where Kym would give context about the classical pieces she was working on at that point in the narrative, describing the feeling of the piece, or even going into personal detail about the life of the composer. These anecdotes served to educate me as a reader, but they also underscored for me how personal this music is to Kym, and how intimately she knows it.

However, there is one thing tied into Gone that I haven't seen with a memoir: music. At the very beginning of the book, there's a list of nine tracks which closely relate to the narrative. They are solo pieces recorded by Kym, which are described in the book at various points. In addition to the suggested listening list, those points are marked by a music note and a number in the margins, so readers know when to start each track. But, as wonderful a tie-in as this concept is, the music isn't available to listen for free on YouTube or Kym's website, and the book doesn't come with download codes. Instead, the reader is given instructions on where to purchase the music. So, the publisher expects readers to pay $25.00 for the book, and then pay more (about $15.00 on Amazon for the CD) to listen to the music for the full experience? And, many readers may not know they are supposed to buy music to go with the book beforehand, so they may have brought the book with them somewhere to read where they can't download the music. I feel like the cover price of the book should've been increased, and the book itself should have come with download codes or a CD of the music, this requiring only one purchase for the full experience. This aspect of Gone was poorly designed.

Overall, Min Kym's writing was refreshingly honest, self-aware, and beautiful in a simple, poetic way. There were some grammatical errors I feel her editor should've caught, but it's obvious that Kym knows how to tell a story. Also, Kym didn't shy away from aspects of her life that didn't put her in the best light. Gone isn't the story of a girl trying come off as perfect, though it so easily could've been. Kym writes vulnerably, and the result is powerful, endearing, and sad. It shows how integral an instrument can be to a musician, and how crucial it is for women to be taught as girls that what they say and how they feel matters, and that they shouldn't suffer the company of anyone who disagrees.

Highly recommended.

As a little sidenote, I just noticed this is my 100th review for Blogging For Books. This is a great program, and I really enjoy participating in it! I never would've discovered many books I've truly loved without BFB, Gone being one of them. 

Book Review of I See Reality: Twelve Short Stories About Real Life by YA authors, compiled by Grace Kendall

One of my earliest introductions to YA, the genre I hold nearest to my heart (and enjoy writing the most), was actually not a YA novel, but, instead, a collection of short stories by authors whose works had been banned or challenged, edited by none other than the famed Judy Blume, called Places I Never Meant To Be. Half of my lifetime later, with as much reading as I do, I've never been able to find a YA short story collection that captured the same feeling. I gave up long ago, acknowledging that it was magical enough to have captured lightning in a jar just the once. ...and then, lo and behold, my sneaky book ninja friend gifted me with an ARC of this little gem. By the time I'd sunk my teeth into the second story, I knew: I See Reality had filled a second jar.

Had I found this book on a bookstore or library shelf instead of piled in amongst other books in the best type of care package--a box unapologetically stuffed with books--I would've selected to read it because of two of the contributing authors whose work I've loved: Trisha Leaver and Heather Demetrios. I posted a review here of The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver, in case you're curious. (After eagerly awaiting it for way too long, the book still blew my socks off.)

Out of the twelve short stories included in I See Reality, I was moved by ten. All of them made me think, question, and gain new understanding. From Three Imaginary Conversations With You, in which Heather Demetrios introduces us to a high school senior who wants to break up with her older, controlling boyfriend to Kristin Elizabeth Clark's light touch when dealing with a gay protagonist finally gaining self awareness, each author brings unique characters in realistic situations to life in compelling and exciting ways. Kekla Magoon drives home the realities of poverty, racial identity, and abuse in Makeshift with such vivid sensory details that I felt WITH her characters--not FOR them. Jason Schmidt turns his narrative of a school shooting into the simplest and most touching story of a boy and a girl in Things You Get Over, Things You Don't. Prescription drug addiction and the pitfalls of high school romance come alive in Coffee Chameleon by Jay Clark. Marcella Pixley presents readers with a disturbing story of grief and mental illness in Hush, and Trisha Leaver speaks to everyone who hides his or her light under a bushel because of someone else's sins and other people's perceptions in Blackbird. In her untitled pithy short comic, Faith Erin Hicks makes a heartbreaking situation less painful with hilarity, while Jordan Sonnenblick sums up four years' worth of lessons in mere pages with The Sweeter The Sin. Capping off the whole emotionally reeling collection is The Good Brother, Patrick Flores-Scott's tale of two brothers: one who is in our country legally, and one who is here against the law.

If nothing else, that rundown should've illuminated the very breadth and variety of issues and situations the authors whose works are included in I See Reality have explored in depth. Whether your eyes caught the names of some of your favorite YA authors on the list of contributors, or you're just interested in good YA short stories depicting diverse characters in a multitude of difficult situations, I See Reality is a fantastic choice. I can't recommend this one enough!

Book Review of The Physics Of Everyday Things by James Kakalios

I like understanding how scientific concepts apply to common things in everyday life. For example, no science lesson sticks out in my mind more than the time my AP Bio teacher gave an in-depth explanation of how a hair dryer works. I don't know why, but I've always found that sort of thing fascinating. So, it was without hesitation that I requested a free review copy of The Physics of Everyday Things: The Extraordinary Science Behind an Ordinary Day by James Kakalios. And I thought I was in for a real treat--an entire book about what I'd loved so much from that class session. From the cover design, I surmised that the book was fun and pithy, possibly full of wordplay, and definitely jam-packed with full-color illustrations and diagrams to help readers understand the concepts being explained.

Nope. That couldn't be further from the case. The Physics of Everyday Things took a reader who was excited to learn about science and turned that opportunity into a snooze. There were no color illustrations of any sort within the book. The only diagrams were boring and very minimalist. Kakalios' idea of an "ordinary day" is somewhat asinine, except for a high-powered employee of a Fortune 500 company--I'm pretty sure that isn't going to be the demographic for this book. The pages within are mostly wall-to-wall print, thick with long scientific terms. And Kakalios does little to temper this dry material and information-dense text (most of his efforts therein come in the form of awkwardly using second person POV, which completely does not work in this application).

All in all, I truly have no idea who would want to read this book. Readers who would willingly slog through all of the scientific terms with a complete lack of visual interest would be better served by more advanced book, or an actual textbook, and would probably be annoyed with the second person usage and tired scenarios used to present the information (You Go To The Doctor, You Go To The Airport, You Take A Flight), which come across as ill-contrived as a pizza delivery at the beginning of a bad porn film. And readers who might feel buried underneath all of the scientific terms and hungry for the brightly-colored pictures and helpful diagrams the cover design promised would probably just give up and stop reading well before the end of Chapter One. Not recommended.

Book Review of The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

As a writer, reader, and lover of YA, I heard about The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver almost a year before its release, and I was so excited that I actually marked the date in my planner in addition to immediately adding it to my book wishlist. I entered a contest to win an ARC, but didn't get one, so you can bet I had this title on preorder. All that to say: there was a lot of anticipation about this book for me, and I certainly wasn't disappointed! Merely reading the premise: that identical twin sisters are in a car accident, one survives, the other doesn't, and the surviving twin assumes the identity of the deceased twin was enough to get me interested, and the more I found out about the book, the more I knew it would be a must-read. But, in an epic book blogger fail, I forgot to post my review of this gem, and it has been sitting around in draft form ever since. As I went to post my review of I See Reality, a YA short story anthology with a short story by Trisha Leaver included, I wanted to refer back to this post, and that's when I realized my mistake. I love the cover design so much that, until my bookshelf got too crowded--what a good problem to have--it had actually earned a face-out.

For those of you who are dubious that a mix-up like that could happen, I point you to this story: which actually took place at the college I attended for undergrad while I was a student there, in which two completely unrelated girls were involved in a van crash and were misidentified as each other. They didn't even look like they could be sisters! ...so, one could see how this is certainly possible with identical twins. Also, because of this issue, I kept noticing that Leaver set up lots of circumstances to explain the questions of any potential doubters (Maddie was wearing Ella's clothing, when asked her name by first responders right after the accident, Ella was struggling to utter Maddie's name in a feeble attempt to ask about Maddie's condition, and Ella was driving Maddie's car at the time of the accident).

As the story continued past the car accident, what I found most powerful and compelling about The Secrets We Keep was that Ella, the quiet, studious, independent sister seemed 100% sure that her identity was devoid of value--that nobody would miss her. That misconception, combined with the crowds of people vociferously showing their support for "Maddie" right after the accident caused Ella to confuse popularity with personal value. ...not to say that Maddie didn't have value as a person, but just to say that she wasn't a better or more worthwhile person simply because she was more popular than Ella was. It took actually stepping into Maddie's (highly uncomfortable) shoes and pretending to be her sister for several weeks to realize that, while Maddie might have had many supporters and admirers, Ella was the beneficiary of unconditional love. Though not a "people person," her strong and meaningful relationships with her best friend (and potential boyfriend), her parents, and her art make the choice of which twin to be, which seems like a no-brainer to her at first blush, a truly difficult decision as time passes.

The Secrets We Keep deals genuinely and movingly with many serious issues: self-value and awareness, the true meaning and cost of popularity, personal ethics, the lesson that what we do can have a sometimes life-altering impact on others, substance use and abuse/underage drinking and drug use, grief, and unconditional love. If you enjoyed If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman, you may just like this book even more. This is one of the most powerful pieces of YA I've read in a long time. Highly recommended.

Book Review of The Misadventures Of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae

The Misadventures Of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae is one of those books I've been wanting to read since it came out last year. So, when I opened my Glommable Glombox here and discovered a shiny new copy, I was stoked! I got even more excited when I saw it had been blurbed by Mindy Kaling, as I've read and enjoyed both of her memoirs--link to my review of Why Not Me? here. I found the cover of Misadventures instantly charming. Everything from Rae's awkward facial expression to her quirky ensemble was endearing to me. The bright, bold colors gave me a hint about the bright, bold personality I hoped would emanate from the memoir.

As I read more of Misadventures, I realized it was like a mashup of Kaling's memoirs (WOC whose body type doesn't align with societal standards struggles to fit in, but is considered a dork by her peers, and uses humor to gloss over here glaring social inadequacies), and Born A Crime by Trevor Noah (POC with one parent born in Africa, who has spent years living there, and who looks at Black culture part as a participant and part as an amateur Sociologist, through the veil of humor), of which my review is here. Since those are all ingredients I find supremely compelling within a memoir, and I loved Kaling's and Noah's books, I was left perplexed that I didn't enjoy Rae's own take on social awkwardness, Black identity, extended family living in Africa, and body image struggles. After all, it was well-written, equally balanced in apt observations and shameless self deprecation, and full of charming 90s pop culture references.

Rae, herself, is an empathetic narrator. I found myself rooting for her from page one. But, ultimately, I think my sense of humor just isn't compatible with her humor writing style. And, even though I didn't enjoy reading this half as much as I thought I would, I came away from the experience with a newfound appreciation for the unique and timely public persona Issa Rae has crafted. That said, if you're a fan of hers, you'll want to give The Misadventures Of Awkward Black Girl a try. 

Book Review of Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Since I enjoyed Mindy Kaling's first book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), so much, I jumped at the chance to get a free copy of her second book, Why Not Me?, for review from Blogging For Books. It did not disappoint.

I love that Kaling's writing is witty and approachable. I love that her take on women's issues and her attitude about Hollywood are both totally real and grounded. I love that every facet of this book, from the back cover design to the endpaper graphics, from the photos to the author bio is completely in line with Kaling's identity and absurdly hilarious.

My favorite part of Why Not Me? was easily the section with the chapter about beauty advice here Kaling talked about hair. She uncovered the--let's be honest, no longer surprising--truth that pretty much everyone on TV has fake hair. The picture of "her" before all of the Hollywood styling (a photo of Gollum from LOTR made me laugh out loud... not just because I have a friend who has hair thinning due to some medical problems who recently described herself as having had "Gollum hair," but also because I admired the ladyballs (yeah, just like in Easy A) to admit that nobody looks like they do on screen in real life, and to encourage the women reading her book not to compare themselves and their appearances to a standard of beauty she herself can't even attain without a whole team of stylists and a barrage of beauty products.

If you like Kaling herself and find her funny, enjoy her TV show, or devoured her first book, grab this one for sure!

Book Review of Where The Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

I remember how Something Like Normal got me through several tedious hours during an extended hospital stay. So, when I came across Where The Stars Still Shine, also by Trish Doller, on a list of recommended YA titles that portrayed PTSD well, I knew I had to check it out from my local library. However, I'm not a fan of the cover design, because I feel it doesn't capture the mood or themes of the book at all. I don't know if I'm like other readers of Where The Stars Still Shine, but I spent the entire time desperately wanting to see the inside of that Airstream, so I wish that had been incorporated into the cover concept somehow.


Where The Stars Still Shine opens twelve years after Callie's mom Veronica--a woman clearly not fit to be a custodial parent, who is off her meds for Borderline Personality Disorder--has kidnapped her and raised her on the run, so as to keep Callie away from her father and extended family in Florida. When Veronica is pulled over for driving a stolen car on yet another one of their last-minute moves to flee from yet another one of her scary boyfriends who is inappropriate with Callie (There have been many--hence Callie's PTSD.), Callie finds herself suddenly in the custody of a father she hasn't seen in over a decade, and amidst a huge extended Greek family in a Florida tourist town, not quite knowing where she fits in.

There were many things to like about Where The Stars Still Shine. I particularly enjoyed the contrasts shown between modern Greek-American culture and Greek-themed performances and products meant for tourists. I also appreciated Doller's representation of Callie's PTSD, which was both apt and sensitively done. The awkwardness and difficulty Callie experiences in renegotiating her relationship with her dad upon their reunion feels realistic, and develops both characters well. And her friendship with cousin Kat keeps things lively and interesting. Also, this book features one of the most hilariously-run bookstores I've ever encountered in fiction. (I would love to browse through its cheeky shelf-talkers, maybe even more than browsing for the books themselves!)

One small thing that bothered me--and is so typical in YA--is that Doller gave Callie, a girl who refuses to attend school, and who hasn't been enrolled in years, a deep-seated love of books and reading. Of course, I have nothing against characters who like to read! But, the problem comes in when, like in Callie's case, this trait, which is oft mentioned and shapes a minor sideplot of the story, feels as if it was taken from the author's own life and has been plunked down onto a character for whom it is the most unlikely of fits. In addition to the fact that most kids who enjoy reading wouldn't be totally opposed to attending school, there's the added issue that none of the books mentioned really felt like they had any connection to Callie's character, reflecting things she was trying to work through, or themes from Where The Stars Still Shine itself.

I feel like this happens quite a bit in YA, and it is an example of lazy writing, because authors do it when they don't want to do the work of truly developing a character on the page so, instead of showing readers who that person is, they try to give cultural benchmarks like "girl who would pack books when given five minutes to pack everything she wants to take before a last-minute move," or "angsty better-than-your-pop-music-listening-self teen character who is a fan of the Smiths," or, really, any of hundreds of YA characters who are featured in books set in the past few years and have inexplicable preferences for 80s movies and music, just because that's when their authors were growing up.

Ultimately, though, I found Where The Stars Still Shine to be a quick and enjoyable read--not for the romance plot, but for the family issues, the new hometown struggles, and the bits about Greek-American culture. Also, I enjoyed the setting of Tarpon Springs (which is described fairly accurately in the book, from what I can tell). It felt unique and also homey. I'd recommend this book to fans of Finding Carter and The Face On The Milk Carton.

Book Review of When We Collided by Emery Lord

I checked out When We Collided by Emery Lord from my local library after encountering it on a roundup of YA books that do a good job portraying characters with mental illness. However, it did not live up to that promise, which was surprising, because the author's note alludes to this being an #ownvoices title. Ultimately, it felt like a  less well-written Sarah Dessen novel mixed with many plot points shamelessly copied from Party Of Five. The cover design was a disappointment to me. With Vivi's keen interest in fashion and her job at the pottery studio, and the picturesque vacation town setting, I feel like there were many aspects from the plot to draw on that would've been visually pleasing while still related to the story.

Vivi is staying with her mom in Verona Cove for the summer and working at a paint-your-own-pottery studio. She loves vintage fashion, and often sews her own clothing and undertakes other creative projects. She also has bipolar disorder. Jonah is helping to take care of his younger siblings and keep his large family together, as well as trying to keep the family's restaurant running in the aftermath of his dad's sudden death. His mom is mostly non-functional, due to grief-induced depression. When We Collided is the story of Vivi and Jonah's relationship over the course of a summer.

Aside from weak writing, plot and logic inconsistencies, and a general feeling that most of the aspects of this book were shamelessly taken from other sources and smashed together, my main complaint about When We Collided is how Emery Lord dealt with bipolar disorder and mental illness through the character of Vivi. The author's note is written in such a way that makes me think this is an #ownvoices book, inspired, at least in part, by Lord's own experiences with mental illness. That's why I found her free usage of words like crazy and insane when describing Vivi shocking. More than that, Vivi is written like just your average MPDG YA character: she has a flair for original and vintage fashion, she's impetuous and moody, she breezes into the life of a guy with real substance and shakes everything up, seemingly just because she can. 

This treatment of Vivi's character--and of Jonah's responses to her behavior--made the whole story feel like one tired YA trope, instead of a true look at what it means to be in a relationship with someone who has bipolar disorder. Vivi doesn't come across as an empathetic character who has a health challenge--she comes off as selfish and immature when she leverages charm and originality to get away with everything she does. To me, When We Collided didn't read as a YA summer relationship/romance-y type novel that also dealt with serious issues, as much as it read as kind of a horror story: Jonah got hooked by Vivi, and then I waited on the edge of my seat to see just how much she was going to wreak havoc on his already stressful life. It felt to me like Jonah was Vivi's victim, more than he was her love interest. I feel that's entirely the wrong way to present a character with bipolar disorder, and a relationship between that character and another one. For those reasons, I absolutely don't recommend When We Collided by Emery Lord.

Book Review of The Princess Saves Herself In This One by Amanda Lovelace

The Princess Saves Herself In This One by Amanda Lovelace came out a few months ago, but I haven't been in a poetry mood since its release, so I didn't check it out until now. It has been on my TBR since I heard the title, which is simply irresistible, and I finally got to borrow a copy and see what Lovelace's debut poetry collection was all about. On her website, she says of this volume,  "i explore a wide variety of topics relating to child abuse, intimate partner abuse, sexual assault, eating disorders, self-harm, alcoholism, death, suicide, cancer, grief, and others." So, yeah, it felt pretty heavy at times. But, she also balanced out her adept reflections on traumatic experiences and difficult feelings with poems that celebrated her love of books in general, and Harry Potter specifically. I appreciated the minimalist cover design.

As someone who would rather do pretty much nothing more than read, but struggles to build friendships, this poem echoed through my mind long after I finished reading it.

And I enjoyed these two poems because they both made me smile. I loved the simple truths they conveyed about how girls are made to feel versus how they should be free to feel. Strong feminist overtones tinged the whole book--even its darkest parts--with a sense of hope for the future. ...if not the writer's own hope for herself, then her hope for the next generation of women.

Sometimes, Lovelace's voice is light and sarcastic. Others, like when she talks about her mother's abuse, the eating disorder that stemmed from her doctor telling her mother that Lovelace was overweight and the resulting over-restrictive diet she was put on, and her journey through the deep waters of grief, as family member after family member died around her are dark and velvety. Still, no matter what she's writing about, her treatment of the subject matter is perfectly balanced between relatable and profound. Highly recommended.

Book Review of Yellow Owl Workshop's Make It Yours by Christine Schmidt

I requested a free copy of Yellow Owl Workshop's Make It Yours: patterns and inspiration to stamp, stencil, and customize your stuff by Christine Schmidt from Blogging For Books for the purposes of review because I've been wanting to get back into crafts lately. This type of creativity isn't something I do all the time, but every once in a while, I get a yen to put stamps to paper, dye fabric in intricate patterns, or feel a brush glide over clay beneath my hand. I especially enjoy saving money on gifts or decorated items by making them myself. However, when the book arrived, I must admit that I was a little disappointed in the cover design. Though I could see the possibilities in each project showcased on the cover, how much the finished products contrasted sharply with my personal aesthetic made me wonder if Make It Yours was really going to enable me to make anything mine...  or if I'd just be churning out craft projects I didn't love and wouldn't want to use or give away.


However, the more of this book I read, the more I realized that most of these projects are highly customizable, and simply by selecting colors or creating patterns that fit into my own personal tastes, I'd still be able to follow the steps included and make the projects in Make It Yours truly mine. Here are some of the projects I've added to my to-do list from this book:

• The Laundry Bag (This seems like an easy, low-budget project to decorate a personalized laundry bag that would be more fun than work. I'm going to file this one away under, "Ideas for high school graduation gifts," and bust it out the next time I need to come up with a present for a college-bound grad.)

• The Custom Monogram (I maintain relationships with several penpals, and I'm a bit of a stationery fiend, so the idea of creating my own custom stationery is appealing. In the past, I've done several things with pre-made rubber stamps, but creating my own monogram stamp--and perhaps monogram stamps for others, to make gifts--is very appealing to me, especially because this project is simple and easy, and will enable me to use plain paper and envelopes I already have on hand, keeping my costs low. However, if you don't have paper and envelopes, and you don't want to buy them, there are even patterns included along with directions for making your own.)
• The Logo Stamp (Similarly, this project also involves creating your own stamp, although this one uses a Carve-a-Stamp block or rubber block, so it is a significantly more advanced. I did this one time in a middle school art class and loved it, so I'm eager to try again with the new application of a logo... perhaps for this blog? I appreciate that Schmidt included not just the step-by-step instructions for actually making the stamp itself, but also lots of tips, tricks, and things to keep in mind when designing your own logo.)
• The Art Deco Dresser (This one is more of a long-term goal, and is the big kahuna of my list. We currently have a plain dresser in need of a new paint job that I use to hold most of my medical supplies, and this advanced project involving gold leafing with patterns included in the back of the book in one of my favorite styles, Art Deco, will be just the thing to make it look new again.)

The reason I wanted to review Make It Yours specifically is because I heard that Yellow Owl Workshops was infamous for taking things to the next level: by Schmidt's lead, you don't just stamp--you create your own stamps, you don't just tie-dye--you board clamp to create straight lines on the fabric, you don't just paint pottery--you DIY Delftware-style. This is a benefit and a drawback of the book, depending on what your level of ability, experience, and budget might be. If you've done lots of crafts at home and you're ready for something more advanced, if you aren't intimidated by projects that have lots of steps, and if your budget (or your craft supply stockpile) can withstand several projects requiring 10-25 tools or supplies necessary to complete them, but you're looking for something new and different to kick things up a notch, this is exactly the right book for you.

But, if you're a beginner at crafts who doesn't have many of the basic skills down and has a small budget (or lacks a stockpile of supplies, as many beginners do), then you may ultimately find Make It Yours frustrating and intimidating. While there are several projects in the book that only require a few supplies, and don't employ advanced crafting skills, I doubt somebody who purchased Make It Yours with the intention of only doing those projects would feel it was worth the investment. My guess is that they'd probably just feel frustrated at their lack of experience or resources, and regret not having chosen a book that was more suited to their needs and goals.

I love the large size of this book, and the fact that it is paperback to keep the cost down, but seems durable. I really don't understand why the publisher would have made such a book's binding so it doesn't lay flat in an open position. I mean... you expect me to spend hours following your steps through a craft that takes potentially dozens of actions and tools or supplies on my part, and you also expect me to fight to keep the book open whilst I do it!? I also appreciate that patterns and templates for many of the projects are actually included in the back. I don't like that not all of the projects in the book have clear lists of supplies needed or difficulty ratings, and I don't understand why something that seems so crucial to the chosen format wasn't maintained throughout the book. The big, colorful illustrations add lots of visual interest, and also serve as explanations where the step-by-step instructions might still leave questions as to what the finished product should resemble. I like that Schmidt seems to have really thought through what a home crafter's experience would be when working through the steps of each project, and she included as much information as possible to help with any obstacles her readers might encounter without heaping on so many details that it would become overwhelming. I don't like how the book is organized, more by how the patterns look than what their purpose is. I'd prefer to be able to turn to a section on textile crafts, one on papercrafts, one on gifts, one on things that could be used for a small/home-based business, etc.

Ultimately, I recommend Yellow Owl Workshop's Make It Yours only for serious, experienced crafters ready for more advanced projects that require lots of time, skills, and supplies,

Book Review of York: The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby

Since I read Bone Gap, I've added Laura Ruby to my list of must-read authors, so I was very excited when I received an arc of The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby in the mail, free from the publisher for the purpose of this review. Unlike Bone Gap, however, The Shadow Cipher is a middle grade book, and the cover says it is geared toward kids ages 8-12 or grades 3-7. The Shadow Cipher serves an underserved audience: younger, more advanced readers, with higher critical reading abilities and higher lexile scores. From working in a bookstore for several years, I know that kids in that demographic are hungry for longer books (this one clocks in at 448 pages) that have content their parents or teachers will deem age-appropriate, that don't condescend to them, and have a more advanced plot with plenty of twists and turns to keep them on their toes as they read. I was just such a kid, and having to choose between books teachers might have frowned upon me reading because of their "inappropriate" content, and books that I zipped right through because they were short and too easy to read was a constant problem. Ah, if only The Shadow Cipher had been around for me! And, the best part? The Shadow Cipher is the first book in the York series, so there will be more to come.

I must say, though, I'm not a fan of the cover. While it does accurately depict the three main characters, it doesn't represent the setting well. Most of the book is set in the mysterious and wondrous Morningstarr apartment building, and a cover featuring either the interior or exterior of that all-important structure would've been much more effective.

I am ultra picky about MG titles. I have my favorite authors in that reading level (E. L. Konigsberg, Kirsten Miller, Lois Lowry, Blue Balliett), and I've found many other reading ventures to be disappointing. The Shadow Cipher felt like a mix of Kiki Strike by Kirsten Miller and Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, which is a huge compliment coming from me, and it also reminded me of another beloved title: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.

Ultra-intelligent and observant Tess and Theo Biedermann, fraternal twins, and their resourceful and charming friend and neighbor Jaime Cruz (all three seventh-graders) are trying to save their beloved Morningstarr apartment building from an evil real estate developer by solving the infamous centuries-old Old York Cipher, an encoded puzzle built into the very fabric of this alternate reality version of New York city by Tess and Theodore Morningstarr (after whom the Bidermann twins were named). Though many tourists and puzzle mavens alike have attempted to solve the cipher, none have succeeded in claiming the promised treasure awaiting the victor at the end of the riddles. Can three seventh-graders do what countless adults have failed to accomplish, and also save their beloved home?

The characters and story were so engaging that reading this book in one sitting was a total breeze--I didn't want to put it down! Two of my favorite characters are some of the most unexpected personalities to appear in the book. Six-year-old Zelda "Cricket" Moran pairs ballet tutus with skull and snake bedecked t-shirts and bridal gowns accessorized with gas masks... or, maybe it was scuba gear? Clueless adults might pass over her quirky ensembles as those of a child merely playing dress-up, but Cricket is always costuming herself for a part... sometimes, a role so obvious someone who didn't know her would miss it completely. She trafficks in the highly-prized commodity of secrets, and has the powers of observation only a child frequently ignored by those who assume they're more important than she could possess without attracting notice. Cricket also busts out SAT words like there's no tomorrow, and she uses them correctly and sincerely, which made me smile every time.

The Biedermann twins' Aunt Esther is introduced when she presents them with a large spotted cat, and says, "I have brought you an animal. This animal is called Nine Eighty-Seven. I have also brought you some Fig Newtons. But not for the animal." From there, both her eccentricity and her keen awareness of what matters most to her young relatives and her treatment of those priorities as sacrosanct reign supreme in her ultimately witty and endearing characterization.

Pleasingly for this diverse book reviewer, Shadow Cipher is rife with diversity. Of the main characters, Jaime Cruz's grandmother actually emigrated to the US from her native Cuba, and the Bidermanns are Jewish--Ruby incorporates plenty of Cuban and Jewish cultural references and Yiddish words, and all of the Jewish references are completely on-point and were delightful, appropriate, and enjoyable to me as a Jewish reader. Also, Tess seems to have some sort of unspecified anxiety disorder, resulting in her having a service animal--the cat, Nine Eighty-Seven. Though her disorder is referenced (respectfully and consistently), it is never explained explicitly. Ruby seems to go out of her way not to call things or people "crazy" or "insane," instead using words like "bananas" is sometimes used to describe strange or unbelievable situations, thus making The Shadow Cipher very sensitive in terms of neurodiversity.

My one complaint about this book is the HUGE cliffhanger of an ending and the fact that I can't find the release date of book two anywhere. Highly recommended.

Book Review of Touch by Courtney Maum

I won an ARC of Touch by Courtney Maum from the publisher. I entered the giveaway for one simple reason: I was enamored of the cover design. Something about how the title was printed vertically, in rainbow-hued smears that looked like the result of fingerpaints and black scrawl that called to mind a hurried grocery list scribbled on a stray Post-It more than it did a publisher's typeface really appealed to me. It felt visceral. It felt human. It felt alive.

As I began reading the story of Sloane, an American ex-pat and professional trend forecaster living in Paris with her longtime boyfriend and oft business collaborator, I realized all of those cover design elements weren't simply employed because of their sensory appeal--they tied into the themes of the book rather profoundly.

Sloane is returning Stateside for a six-month trend forecasting gig at a high-powered tech company mere minutes from the family from which she's become all but estranged since her Dad's death three years ago. As her Parisian boyfriend Roman withdraws from her in favor of temporary fame and neo-sensualism, Sloane realizes what she craves (and, what other humans are sure to crave in this increasingly isolated digital age) is simple: human touch and face-to-face connection. Delivering this message runs directly at odds to her mission at the tech company, where gadgets and sensationalism reign supreme, but fits into her newfound--or newly realized--desire for familial relationships and human closeness.

Touch deals deftly, albeit with some sensationalism of its own, with ultra-relevant issues of the day. Featuring characters who feel tethered to their phones at the expense of relationships and relationships that have suffered the death of effective communication, Maum has written a book which manages to be both engrossing and applicable to her readers' lives. It feels like one part chick lit with all of its attendant tropes and requisite plot points, and one part futuristic dystopian novel with its searingly honest look at technology's role in our lives. Its contrast of touch vs. technology wrapped up in a chick lit package reminded me strongly of another book: My (not so) Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella, of which my review is here. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for intelligent chick lit, or a dystopian look at technology with the classic rom com will-the-or-won't-they plotlines. Touch comes out May 30th.

Book Review of B, or If I Should Have A Daughter by Sarah Kay

It is so typically counterintuitive that a piece of spoken word poetry will translate well into the printed word form of a book that, although this has been my favorite poem for several years, it never occurred to me to look for it in print until about a year ago when our WiFi signal was down and I really wished I could experience this poem... right then. When it was working again, I was lucky enough to discover a beautiful little bound volume of B. It is perfect in its size, shape, and simplicity. Needless to say, I purchased it ASAP! I just realized I'd never posted a review, which means there might be several other Sarah Kay fans who aren't aware of this printed edition's existence, or poetry lovers who haven't heard of her at all, so I needed to rectify that immediately.

Sarah Kay is my favorite spoken word poet. We have some common ground, as her father is Jewish. Her mother is Japanese American. Kay's poetry is full of big dreams, small observations with startling truths, witty wordplay, and beautiful phrases. She is as sincere as she is stubborn and genuine. Kay's voice always feels fresh and original. She always has something interesting, useful, and entertaining to share.

B, or If I Should Have A Daughter explains Kay's parenting philosophy in depth. Every time I read or listen to this poem, I find myself thankful that she wrote and shared it, grateful that she's involved in the lives of so many kids, and hopeful that one day she will have a daughter, because if more parents thought this deeply and cared this much about what kind of job they'd do raising kids they hadn't even met yet, I believe the world would be a better place.

Here's a video of Kay performing the poem as a spoken word piece:

Reading B in print is an entirely different experience from watching the performance. There's a calmer, quieter energy. It feels a bit less playful, and more contemplative. It is less boisterous, less confident, and more tentative. Sophia Janowitz's illustrations bring B to life in a new way, adding subtle details and interpreting the text without distracting from it or taking over the experience of the poem.

Ultimately, I'm thrilled with the quality of this printed edition of B. I love having a copy of my favorite poem bound and on my bookshelf. I think this would make a wonderful gift for any woman about to have a daughter, and great reading for anyone who simply loves excellent poetry. Highly recommended.

Book Review of The Lost & Found by Katrina Leno

I borrowed The Lost & Found by Katrina Leno from the library because I loved Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid and Playlist for the Dead by Michelle Falkoff (the two authors whose blurbs were on the back cover). I find blurbs to be a very hit-or-miss way of finding new books I enjoy: just because an author whose work I like also liked a particular book, that doesn't necessarily mean I'll like it. Usually, I have to read 2-3 things recommended by a certain author before I can get a feel of whether or not that author's reading preferences mesh well with my own. There are authors whose writing I love, but whose reading recommendations I consistently don't enjoy, and there are authors whose writing I don't like, but who give great book recs. Unfortunately for me, if our opinions of The Lost & Found were any indication, my reading tastes don't match up with Michelle Falkoff's or Adi Alsaid's. I was mostly disappointed by this one. The cover, while quite appropriate to the story, was very meh.

Frannie and Louis meet on a web community for teens dealing with trauma. After years of exchanging messages with no identifying information included, each one suddenly and miraculously receives a letter leading him or her from opposite sides of the country to Austin, Texas, where they decide to meet face-to-face for the first time, bringing their respective best friends--cousin Arrow and sister Willa) along for the ride.

...which all sounds like it could be the making of a good YA novel, if a little too convenient with the double letters arriving at pretty much the same time plot device, but whatever. Leno used up most of my suspension of disbelief of random things happening just because they were convenient for the story with those two plot points aligning. So, when very poorly written elements of magical realism that feel like one deus ex machina after another swooping in to wrap up yet another loose end of the story keep happening, and that turns out to be the style in which Leno decided to write the entire book, well, I completely lost interest. I couldn't find the end of this one fast enough when I realized this messy nonsense was supposed to be the crux of the plot. 

However, for all of its faults, diversity is something Leno mostly did well in The Lost & Found. Louis and his twin sister Willa are half Indian. Willa is also a double amputee with two prosthetic legs, and I felt Leno's representation of her was sensitive and thoughtful. Willa's character was so much more than her disability or her challenges, and I really enjoyed how she didn't fit into the common tropes for disabled characters in YA. Louis has panic attacks and is dealing with a past of self harm--issues that are creeping back up for him over the course of the story. Frannie's cousin and bestie Arrow is Vietnamese and adopted. Frannie's mother is Schizophrenic, and Frannie wonders if she's genetically predisposed to the same fate, but this is the one area I had a problem with, because Frannie's mom wasn't written about with any sort of dignity or respect as a person with mental illness. (The words "crazy" and "insane" were used often in reference to Frannie's mother.)

Ultimately, I really don't recommend this book. Between the offensive ways Leno chooses to refer to a Schizophrenic character and some of the worst magical realism in YA I've ever read, I honestly don't understand how anyone could enjoy it. This is one of those stories where the execution in no way lives up to the premise. If you're looking for some fabulous YA magical realism with great diversity, try American Street by Ibi Zoboi--link here for my review--or The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma--link here for my review.

Book Review of The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

This review was written in February 2015, right before The Walls Around Us was released the next month. I'm posting it here on the blog for the first time because I wanted to refer back to it in another review recommending YA magical realism with diversity, and also because it's an amazing book, and if any of you guys haven't heard about it, you might want to check it out! A bit of a reading update--since I wrote this review, I've read 3 other books by Nova Ren Suma, and some short stories. She has become one of my favorite authors--a must-read anytime her new works are published.

I have to be honest... when I got this ARC in the mail, I wasn't expecting much. I hadn't heard of the author before, and was only aware that this buzzy new YA book coming out in March was supposed to shake its readers to the very core. To me, the cover design was both loud and tacky. Also, it didn't translate into any kind of mood or theme to prepare me for what I was about to read.

...but then, I started reading. It was difficult to get into, at first. Part of my frustration was being unable to get a firm footing as far as the two settings of the book: a dance studio and its surrounding world, and a juvenile detention facility, both in modern day upstate New York. But pinpointing that, along with trying to untangle how the three narrators: Amber, Orianna, and Violet are related to each other took some work, and without having read any of Suma's other writing, or having a clear understanding of what this book set out to deliver, well, I wasn't sure if it was worth it or not.

All of a sudden, however, somewhere around 100 pages in, which is usually the point when the last few stragglers unsure of whether or not they want to be reading a book if they're waffling about it usually throw in the towel and decide to be done, that feeling dissolved. All I can say is, similar to the feeling Violet, a teenage ballet dancer, describes after she's done dancing and a hush falls over the audience and nobody is clamoring for the exits, I just sat there, probably for a good 20 minutes after I finished reading this book... simply being quiet and sad, moved, confused, and awed by the journey on which this author whom I hadn't fully trusted had taken me, despite my doubts. Her two other YA books (Imaginary Girls and 17 & Gone) didn't get added to my wishlist so much as flew onto it.

I don't want to say too much, because I don't want to ruin the mystique the book held for me, as I came to it from a place of almost completely no context, but I do want to do two things: urge anyone who likes YA to read it, and reassure those readers that, if they share the feelings I had, there are many valid reasons to push through until the 100 page mark, or so, and, that if you do, you won't even notice the next hundred plus pages as they whip by. 

This book has a profoundly moving story, beautiful imagery and symbolism, and gives a realistically graphic portrayal of life in a juvenile detention facility. There's much diversity, and it is done thoughtfully, in ways that add to the characters and the story. But, more than that, Suma opens up new worlds to her readers, who may not realize for quite some time exactly that they intertwine more than they collide.

The publisher has been describing it as "Orange Is The New Black Swan," and that totally fits. Highly recommended.

Glommable Glombox #1: A Review and Unboxing

I'm lucky enough to have won a Glombox from Glommable at Glommable.com, and it just arrived, so I thought I'd do an unboxing post. If you aren't familiar with the website (or the new box), they're both focused on the intersection of books and pop culture, with a mix of high-brow and low-brow, and all that's in between. The box felt like it was curated by Rory Gilmore and Mindy Lahiri. The card enclosed inside the top of the box explained both the website and the rationale for its contents pretty well, although it didn't adequately explain that this isn't actually a subscription box, but is instead a sweepstakes, of which there were 10 winners, but I dug around a little bit for that info. You can see the card nestled inside the box atop the turquoise tissue paper that concealed all of the other contents. I particularly love the humor and snark with which the card was written.

That's a pretty strange decision, and I wonder why Glommable won't be offering a subscription option for these, since I predict there will be a demand for them. Each of the prize boxes' contents was valued at $100 USD. Fortunately for you readers, though, most of these items are available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, so let's get to unpacking!

Once I opened the tissue paper, the first fun little trinket in the box was a card explaining Mabel, Glommable's mascot. Attached was an enamel pin featuring her charmingly strange little likeness, pictured below. You can see how all of the Glombox's contents are nestled atop colorful little blue paper shreds, which would've been charming and fun... except that they were a dark sky blue, and the tissue paper was a teal/turquoise color, so they actually clashed with each other. Also, I think Mabel is cute, but since I have absolutely no use for enamel pins whatsoever, I have no idea what I'm going to do with her. ...suggestions?

Once I moved the top layer of paper shreds aside, I discovered this glossy sheet of silly photobooth-style photos of Anna Kendrick wearing the outfit she wore on the cover of her recently published memoir, Scrappy Little Nobody. Stuck through the one square not featuring a photo of Kendrick is another enamel pin, this one decorated with the words 'scrappy little nobody'. Though I've truly enjoyed some of Kendrick's performances, I have actually already read Scrappy Little Nobody, and I can't say I cared for it much. In fact, I didn't post a review because I disliked it too much to finish the book. That's okay, though. Sometimes, a person who is a solid stage performer has talent or charisma that doesn't translate to the page, and I felt that was the case with Kendrick.

So, of course, the next item was a hardback copy of Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick.

But, this one is autographed. I'm sure that, if I were a bigger fan of the book, or of Kendrick in general, there would've been some *squee*ing happening at this point.

Underneath that, There was a copy of Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh. I love that book! In fact, I love it so much that I already own it.... I've followed the blog forever, and I really enjoy Allie Brosh's honesty about mental illness--the way she writes about her own struggles with Anxiety and Depression is both hilarious and somehow helpful to readers who might be dealing with similar issues. Also, I love that her lack of what traditional art scholars may call "talent" with drawing (aka, the people she draws look like the people I'm able to draw), doesn't hold her back from telling completely entertaining stories about her life. I wish, instead of including two extra items (the enamel pin and the photos) themed on Scrappy Little Nobody, Glommable had chosen to add some Hyperbole and a Half swag... as long as it wasn't yet another enamel pin!

However, I was thrilled to see that the next item was a copy of The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae, because this is actually on my TBR list! Also, as a diverse book blogger, I'm excited because it means I've got another #ownvoices title by a diverse author on my shelf. Expect a review sometime soon. (I had to put one of the other books back inside the box underneath it because those pesky little paper shreds kept obscuring the cover when I tried to take a picture and the book was sinking into them like a very small child in the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese.)

The next title I unearthed was You're Never Weird On The Internet (almost) by Felicia Day. I don't have much of a frame of reference for this book--actually, it was the only item in the box that I wasn't familiar with in one way or another)--so I had a pretty neutral reaction when I pulled it out. A memoir with a bonus chapter included and a foreward by Joss Whedon piqued my interest, though, so this one has been added to my TBR to read and review. Have any of you guys read it? What are your thoughts?

Just when I thought I'd reached the bottom of the Glombox, I moved all of the blue paper shreds of doom (TM) aside to discover that there was one last surprise... a Pusheen coloring book!

This was a nice addition to the box because it was the only book-like thing included that had the sole purpose of frivolity, with no serious element at all. But, I found myself wishing that the Glombox curators had included a little Pusheen goody, like maybe a pen, or a sheet of stickers instead of the Kendrick photos or one of those tiresome enamel pins that also have no actual use.

Here's my favorite page from the coloring book:

(I actually saw some memo pads with this design on them on an endcap in the stationery section in B&N, but I couldn't afford them, so I had to drag myself away.) That makes me extra pumped that this coloring book, and this particular design, was included in the box. I'm thinking of framing this page and hanging it in my closet for a little inspiration when I'm getting dressed and I have trouble deciding how fancy to be. Now, here's a question for you: I have a Doctor's appointment tomorrow. Do you guys think the dress code is merely kind of fancy, or actually super fancy? I mean, do I need to be tracking down a unicorn before I show up there tomorrow?

Ultimately, I'm super grateful to have won a Glombox, and it definitely motivated me to check out Glommable.com, which is a website I'd heard about a time or two in passing previously, but wasn't on my radar much before. I have no idea why they aren't offering this as a subscription, unless the sweepstakes is merely a test run before they start a subscription service (which could be a smart way to do things). 

Overall, I enjoyed the contents of the box. They struck a good balance between high culture and low culture/serious and humorous. I would've enjoyed a more cohesive theme, and I would've liked if they stayed away from those seemingly purposeless enamel pins entirely. As someone who loves to send care packages, I was particularly taken with the size and shape of the box (it was a very attractive square-topped box with a lid that tucked into the front and folded upward from a hinged back). I felt the presentation could've been a little better--maybe fancier?--by simply attaching the explanation card to the inside of the box lid, choosing tissue paper and paper shred packing materials that matched or coordinated with each other, and maybe having one other decorative element within the packaging itself. I also would've liked to see a little more diversity amongst the authors whose works were included within the box. Since that is such a selling point, and a hot-button issue in both publishing and pop culture today, it surprises me that the Glommable curators would be so tone-deaf on this point. Still, this is their first crack at the whole Glombox thing, and there's always the next box!

Book Review of Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner is another one of the inaugural batch of YA titles recently added to the Blogging For Books program. So, when I read several blurbs likening it to Looking For Alaska (which I loved), I thought I must request a free copy of this book for the purpose of review. I haven't read Zentner's first novel, The Serpent King, but now that I've finished Goodbye Days, it definitely holds a place on my TBR list. Before I get into why Goodbye Days turned Zentner into a must-read author for me, can we talk about its artful cover design for a second? I love the simplicity of the color palette, the word bubbles' resemblance to a text convo, and the textured web debossed into the cover, meant to signify a shattered windshield. I don't think this cover could be more apropos for the story, or more pleasingly elegant in its simplicity.

Goodbye Days tells the story of Carver Briggs, the only remaining member of a friend group of four guys who jokingly called themselves The Sauce Crew. The book opens in the wake of the deaths of Mars, Eli, and Blake--Carver's friends who perished in a car crash when Mars took his eyes off of the road while behind the wheel to answer a text from Carver. While dealing with his own grief, loss, and guilt in the aftermath of the accident, Carver begins experiencing panic attacks, and the book chronicles his sessions with an amazing therapist.

Goodbye Days tackles a multitude of complex issues with aplomb. From wrestling with the question of who is at fault, both legally and morally, for the accident to addressing that oft uncomfortable verbal space between parents and their teenage sons and daughters, Zentner does not shy away from tough queries--even if he doesn't have answers for them at the ready. Goodbye Days prominently features issues of mental health in a way that is productive, empathetic, and realistic. It features a young female character who is Filipino and has Caucasian adoptive parents, empowering her to frequently call out comments and actions that may be sexist or racist in a way that is neither condemning of the speaker, nor allowing herself to become a doormat. It also highlights a dysfunctional father/son relationship between a high-achieving Black Judge and his son, the parameters of which have been set by the ultra-strict father, based upon his own personal struggles trying to get ahead in the world as a Black man. It features a gay character who dies closeted to a very loving relative because he worried that her religious beliefs wouldn't allow her to accept his identity, and it deals with this plotline with super sensitivity. It also chronicles severe child neglect and abuse, but somehow does not allow the book to get sidetracked by the disheartening images described.

All in all, I can see the reasons why people might compare Goodbye Days to Looking For Alaska, but I think comparison to any of Chris Crutcher's books would be more apt. Zentner's writing features the same emotional truth, appearance and clash of characters weighted down by eerily lifelike problems, and stark contrast of adults who couldn't be more helpful with those who couldn't be more harmful to the teen characters he introduces on the page. Just as with Crutcher's books, this is a winning combination--one that lends the power and verisimilitude that keep Goodbye Days from being preachy, overwrought, or smacking of condescension. Highly recommended for those who like YA that artfully balances humor with solemnity.