It’s time for Show Us Your Books with Jana and Steph. Feel free to link up or hop around and find some new titles!
Show Us Your Books: December 2021
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Slay Like a Mother: How to Destroy What’s Holding You Back So You Can Live the Life You Want by Katherine Wintsch
Copy for review; all opinions are my own
Review: No, I am not a mother. However, when I was sent this book, I was told that non-mothers could get a lot out of it too, and I do agree. I think it’s definitely a book mostly for people who have kids, but I appreciated the various thoughts and “lessons.” For example, the author talks a lot about internalizing negativity and how you wouldn’t say all the bad things you say to yourself to someone you loved, like a friend or child. It’s a good concept to keep in mind, because I’m definitely someone who keeps things in and I’m more likely to disparage myself than anyone else I know. But how is that fair to me and the person I want to be?
Wintsch also focuses a lot on the difference between struggles and suffering. When it comes to being a mom, it’s a struggle, but struggling doesn’t have to equal suffering. I think this is a good idea to keep in mind for life in general. There will be struggles and uphill battles, but you can focus on ways to diminish your own suffering. Definitely a good book for new parents!
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
personal copy; all opinions are my own
Review: I absolutely loved this book. I don’t think there’s going to be a sequel, but I really wish there would be! This is such a fascinating premise for a book. The main character, Anna, is a hench. She does boring work, like working in databases and creating Excel Sheets, for supervillains. However, after she’s severely injured by a superhero, she starts realizing that the heroes might be more destructive and reckless than the villains. This new research gets her hired by the super of all villains, Leviathan. It’s not long before Anna becomes more “villain” than “hero” in her pursuit for justice.
This is a really interesting look at the regular, everyday people that live and work amongst superheroes and villains. It’s not something we often think about when watching DC or Marvel films, so I really liked how in-depth the author went with this idea. Anna isn’t always someone you root for, in terms of the things she ends up doing, but at the same time, she’s still very much an empathetic character. Plus, I really loved all the secondary characters and I feel like almost all of them were well-written, 3-D characters. This is a book I would definitely recommend to superhero fans – or anyone else interested in the premise!
Three Graphic Novel Reviews
Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter
review copy; all opinions are my own
Review: Allergic is such a good middle grade graphic novel! Many kids are allergic to animals, and I think this book will help them realize that they aren’t alone. Plus, for those that don’t have allergies, it will hopefully help them be more empathetic. The book focuses on Maggie who is desperate for a dog, but when they go to adopt, she breaks out in hives and it’s soon realized that she has an allergy to anything with feathers or fur. This rules out a lot of pet options for animal-lover Maggie. I really felt for Maggie, and I just wanted her to find a pet that she could really love and care for, and also come to terms with her allergies so she wasn’t so sad all the time. Lloyd did a great job depicting all the emotions, and the illustrations by Nutter were bright and fun!
The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
review copy; all opinions are my own
Review: This was a really good YA graphic novel about Morgan. She has a great family, and good friends, but she’s desperate to leave the island she lives on for college so she can finally be open and free. You see, Morgan likes girls, but she doesn’t feel like she’s ready to come out to the people who have known her for years. Then she meets Keltie, a selkie who essentially lives as a seal, unless she’s kissed by someone and can gain legs. Keltie and Morgan get to know each other through the book, and I loved learning more about Keltie’s life in the sea. I also appreciated how Keltie made Morgan want to be more brave and open in her own life. Well-written and wonderfully illustrated.
Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse
personal copy; all opinions are my own
Review: This is another middle grade graphic novel. The book begins with Effie being dropped off with two aunts she’s never met before, as her mom has passed away. It doesn’t take long before she realizes that her aunts are not ordinary – they are actually magic! Effie really felt like most middle schoolers, which I loved. I could easily understand her actions and motivations. Plus, the magic aspect was a lot of fun, and this is just the first book in a series, so I can’t wait to continue. The second book is out now.
Previous Reviews On the Blog
Cranky Chicken by Katherine Battersby
You can read my full review here
Cranky Chicken was such a cute read. I would recommend it for early readers, though it would make a nice read-aloud book too. Cranky Chicken is just that…a cranky chicken. He meets a really kind – and fast – worm named Speedy who decides that the two of them should be friends.
The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
You can read my full review here
A lot of my complaints come from the characters not being more honest with each other. I think it could have been a better book without all of the lies, miscommunications, and secrets. In the end, I gave this one 3 stars. I’d be curious to see what the author does next though as this is her debut!
I have a few posts that I’d like to share before you leave my blog today!
Win Your Choice of December 2021 Book – Open to International Entries and Ends on December 31
Book Gift Guide: Adult Fiction and Nonfiction
Book Gift Guide: Babies to Middle School
Book Gift Guide: Young Adult
Simon liked reading Allergic.
Thanks for the listing of the graphic novels I plan to read more of them in 2022.
Thanks for the listing of the graphic novels I plan to read more in 2022.
I’m not all that into superheroes but Hench sounds interesting!
Great post! I enjoyed a couple of those graphic novels.
Slay Like a Mother sounds interesting.
Allergic looks great! I was one of those kids who was allergic to pets. My whole family was, actually, so we couldn’t have a dog or cat even though we did try a hypoallergenic breed or two.
It’s awesome that kids today can have a graphic novel to explore their feelings about being allergic to pets. It always made me a little sad.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by earlier.
I also read The Matzah Ball and thought it was just an okay read. Slay Like a Mother looks like an interesting read.
I just finished The Matzah Ball over the weekend. I liked it but I can definitely see where you’re coming from with all of the lying and deception.
I’ll have to show my kids the graphic novel reviews 🙂 Hench does sound like an interesting premise! Thanks for sharing, and enjoy your holidays!
Hench sounds so good!
You read so many books I haven’t heard of! I am trying to finish a romantic Christmas book right now. Lol. Let’s hope I can find time to finish it before Christmas! LOL! Story of my life!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
These are all new to me, but I’m always on the lookout for fun graphic novels! The Girl From the Sea looks right up my alley!
Slay like a mother and Hench sound like interesting books and the book Allergic sounds so sweet.
Loving the Graphic Novels might have to check some out.
Love the eclectic mix! I wish I’d had a book like Allergic as a child.
I love reading graphic novels and I wish my library had more of them.
I’m not a huge fan of self-help books (or parenting books, and I am a parent) but Slay seems like it’s not quite as awful as some others.
Hench sounds fun! I’ve heard both good and okay things about The Matzah Ball, it does sound cute though!
My daughter enjoyed Allergic and Witches of Brooklyn! I am going to check out Slay like a Mother! Love that premise. The superhero one sounds extremely unique!!!
I have Allergic in my school library and want to read it when we go back in January. The Witches of Brooklyn is in our book competition this year at school and it was good. I have What the Hex to read next too. Thanks for sharing!