Muff - or - How to keep your bunny with you all the time

 My hands get very cold. I wear mittens as soon as it is chilly. But when I started spinning angora fiber I had a thought that I might make an old-fashioned muff from the yarn.

Here's the yarn

I had vague ideas about knitting that muff. But when I finished my first ball of yarn I got a little bit of "good yarn anxiety" and put it away for a while. I finally got my yarn out again with a clearer plan. Instead of knitting, I decided to nalbind my muff, making the exterior with wool yarn (for sturdiness and extra warmth). The inner part is all angora and having your hands inside is like petting a rabbit constantly. I don't have directions for you because my approach to nalbinding tends more towards "vibes" than set patterns.

Book review - Every Story Ever Told

 

Title: Every Story Ever Told

Author: Ami Polonsky

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Similar books: Ruptured by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz

                      Sky Ropes by Sondra Soderborg

Rating:

Thoughtful

Summary (provided by publisher): Stevie Jane Cohen-Kaplan’s sheltered suburban life is shattered by a mass shooting at a festival in her town. In the aftermath, her brain feels broken. She can’t bear to visit her mom, recovering in the hospital under Stevie’s dad’s watchful eye, or to be pent up in her grandparents’ nearby Manhattan apartment.

To escape the apartment and her own thoughts, Stevie starts adventuring around New York City with her best friend, Avi, and a new therapy dog (in training). The trio starts chasing stories—about a neighbor’s life after the Holocaust, Stevie’s grandfathers who died of AIDS long before she was born, and even about her own mom’s activist upbringing. These stories may not bring Stevie all the way back to “normal,” but can they help her find a new version of herself?

My opinion: If Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close had been written for a child audience, the result might be something akin to this novel. It is a bit of a gut-punch read. These are capital B Big topics going on in this story - mass shooting, surviving the Holocaust, the AIDS crisis, and finding your way through PTSD. Each step of Stevie's journey is a painful one. She makes bad choices, can't explain her motivations. But we are deeply invested in her story from the beginning. A word on that beginning - the book opens before the shooting. Over the course of the first few chapters we live that shooting with her (as well as a couple of brief flashbacks). But while the events are described it is in the same fragmented way that Stevie experiences it. While there is no graphic violence there is blood and it may well be upsetting for middle grade readers. It is absolutely respectful but honest, so bear that in mind before selecting this book. 

More information: Every Story Ever Told releases October 29
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

Tangleroot by Kalela Williams

Consider the set-up here - a girl forced to spend the summer at an old plantation with her high-achieving mother who is searching for details about family history. We're going to expect secrets uncovered about the slave-owning history of the town and probably some modern racism along with a confrontation between the girl and her mother. And all of that is present. There's nothing supernatural here, no ghosts haunting the place (though the early chapters certainly would have allowed for it). Ultimately, it's not even about confronting racism, exactly. Instead Williams has used a town's racist past as a method of exploring identity. Noni picks apart the history of the families that lived at Tangleroot, certainly, but she also ends up examining herself. She's asking what motivates her and the kind of person she wants to be. This is less of a thriller, though it has some big reveals and dramatic moments, and more of a piece that asks us to question behavior and attitudes. Not only is this one worth reading, it's probably worthy of a second or third pass to truly explore the ideas at play.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

Lonely Places by Kate Anderson - Chase's family has been living on the road for years, roaming the country in a converted school bus. They've settled for the year in a lookout tower in the middle of Pando. It should be a chance for Chase to work and earn some money, for her sister Guthrie to heal from a trauma. But strange things happen in Pando and Chase fears loosing her sister forever.

What did you recently finish reading?

Every Story Ever Told by Ami Polonsky - After a mass shooting at a street festival, Stevie feels like she's falling apart. With her best friend and her newly acquired therapy dog, she tracks down bits of her mother's history and starts putting herself together again.

What do you think you'll read next?

Let it Glow by Marissa Meyer and Joanne Levy

Book review - Giddy Barber Explodes in 11

 

Title: Giddy Barber Explodes in 11

Author: Dina Havranek

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Wild Swans by Jessica Spotswood

                      Life Unaware by Cole Gibsen

Rating:

relatable

Summary (provided by publisher): Giddy Barber knows with certainty she’s going to become a mechanical engineer. What she doesn't know is the last time she smiled.

With her parents overworked and unavailable, it falls to Giddy to make sure her siblings stay on track. But she’s exhausted. When you’re the person everyone else turns to, what do you do when you hit a wall?

Giddy finds an answer online—if you can’t handle how things are going, shake them up. Is it sound advice? Unclear. But is Giddy willing to try anything? Absolutely. Putting eleven days on the clock, she’ll change her routine. But soon it becomes clear that some problems are bigger than what an online column can fix—her family is fracturing, her anxiety is mounting, and all she knows is this: Something. Has. To. Give.

My opinion: We're hearing increasing reports of teens who are stretched to the limit and struggling with stress and depression. So Giddy's situation is timely. We see a character who is not only tightly wound and over scheduled, she's desperately unhappy and has no idea what would make her happy. The advice she follows sets me a bit on edge. Not only does she pick it up from what sounds like a pretty questionable source, her method of following it is deeply flawed. So her decisions can be pretty cringe-inducing. And the tension builds steadily throughout the book. The titular explosion feels increasingly inevitable. The resolution is ultimately satisfying and addresses some of her poor decision-making. Certainly, I wouldn't recommend that any reader follow Giddy's method of fixing their life but it's a solid illustration of how desperately wrong and over-burdened teen's life can turn.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Judgement of Yoyo Gold

 

Title: The Judgement of Yoyo Gold

Author: Isaac Blum

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Beyond the Mapped Stars by Rosalyn Eves

                     The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

Rating:

solidly contemplative

Summary (provided by publisher): Yoyo Gold has always played the role of the perfect Jewish daughter. She keeps kosher, looks after her siblings, and volunteers at the local food bank. She respects the decisions of her rabbi father and encourages her friends to observe the rules of their Orthodox faith. But when she sees her best friend cast out of the community over a seemingly innocent transgression, Yoyo’s eyes are opened to the truth of her neighbors’ hypocrisies for the first time. And what she sees leaves her shocked and unmoored.

As Yoyo’s frustration builds, so does the pressure to speak out, even if she can only do so anonymously on TikTok, an app that’s always been forbidden to her. But when one of her videos goes viral—and her decisions wind up impacting not only her own life but also her relationship with the boy she’s falling for—Yoyo’s world is thrown into chaos. She is forced to choose which path to take, for her community, for her family, and most importantly, for herself.

My opinion: There are plenty of books out there that feature characters in restrictive religious communities starting to look at the larger world for the first time. Mostly these books show the hypocrisy and stifling restriction of the religion. That's not quite what is happening here. Yoyo doesn't question her religion. Her belief in Hashem does not waver. Instead, she's questioning rules, restrictions. She's asking if all of these things are genuinely what is for her good. Or at least, that's how her journey starts. Without getting into spoilers, what I'll say is that I thought I had the direction of this plot figured out several times only to have the narrative shift in a small but significant way each time. The result is truly and introspective plot as Yoyo makes mistakes and keeps secrets, finding her way forward for herself. With a full cast of complex characters, this is an excellent read.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic novel spotlight - Heebie Jeebies

 

Heebie Jeebies by Matthew Erman

Looking for a ghost story that's more funny and exciting than scary? This might be the book for you. Combining a search for a lost treasure with social conflicts, Heebie Jeebies gives us s story of outsider kids looking for stability and understanding. It's not afraid to make jokes even as it digs into their characters and motivations. With a strong visual design and a solid plot, this is an entertaining read suitable for middle grade readers.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Dinosaurs Can Be Small

 

Dinosaurs Can Be Small by Darrin Lunde

Hooray for new dinosaur books! The appeal of this one is strong, starting with the cover. The cartoony, almost friendly, dinosaurs on that cover make you want to pick this book up. The text is fascinating as well. First Lunde presents us with a large dinosaur, typically one familiar to us, and gives a couple of facts about its size and advantages. Then we learn about a small dinosaur that shares some of its features, like horns or being carnivorous, and how being small presents its own advantages. While the text is simple it is compelling and will likely lead to repeat readings.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

Giddy Barber Explodes in 11 by Dina Havranek - Giddy's life is carefully controlled, centered on taking care of her siblings and getting perfect grades to secure her future. She barely has time to sleep or figure out why she is so desperately unhappy. A random blog post has her looking for a reset and trying new things for the first time. In just 11 days she'll either fix things or completely blow up.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Judgement of Yoyo Gold by Isaac Blum - The daughter of an Orthodox rabbi, Yoyo has always known who she is and what is expected of her. But when her best friend breaks the rules and is sent away, Yoyo finds herself questioning her community and the interpretation of her faith.

What do you think you'll read next?

HappyHead by Josh Silver

Non-fiction book review - The Science Behind Vampires, Witches, and Ghost

 

The Science Behind Vampires, Witches, and Ghosts by Joy Lin

Based on the title you might expect this book to be a science based defense of the idea of monsters. It is certainly more sceptical than that. Each section begins by establishing a few agreed upon "facts" about a monster and then examining what that would mean scientifically. For instance, we establish that a vampire has fangs. First we look at the form and function of fangs in the natural world. Then we apply the knowledge we gain from observation to the monster in question. The result is a simple and creative way of encouraging kids to think critically about thew world and the stories they are told. This is a fun way of celebrating spooky season while also educating.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Stash-buster shrug

I had an idea to make a knit project in a random striped pattern and settled on a simple shrug, made by knitting a rectangle and sewing a simple cuff at the ends. I picked four colors of yarn, not knowing if I'd have enough of just two to finish the project. For each stripe I rolled a 10-sided die to determine the number of rows.

Non-fiction book review - Salt, Pepper, Season, Spice

 

Salt, Pepper, Season, Spice by Jacques Pasquet

Maybe you've wondered where spices come from. Even if you haven't, this book is surprisingly fascinating. It doesn't delve especially deeply into the origins or history of any individual spice but it does provide a brief overview. This includes region, varieties, and historical trivia. The text is easily understood with an accessible vocabulary, making it interesting for young readers and parents alike. And because each section is fairly short you can read it all at once or in fits and starts without difficulty. For anyone with an interest in food or culture, this book is worth a look.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

Tangleroot by Kalela Williams

Tangleroot promises a tale of a girl unraveling a town's racist past and her mother's expectations. It could be thrilling and thought-provoking. Let's find out.

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

I Am Kavi by Thushanthi Ponweera - Kavi gets the opportunity of a lifetime - to move to the city and attend an exceptional school. She doesn't mean to lie to her new classmates but in order to make herself more interesting she does just that.

What did you recently finish reading?

Find Her by Ginger Reno - It's been five years since Wren's mom went missing and Wren hasn't stopped looking. Scouring message boards and following her mom's case has made her skilled at finding things. Now she's using that finding skill to discover what is happening to animals around town

What do you think you'll read next?

The Judgement of Yoyo Gold by Isaac Blum

Book review - The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science

 

Title: The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science

Author: Kate McKinnon

Genre: humor

Similar books: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett

                     How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Rating:

silly and delightful

Summary (provided by publisher): So, you want to be a young mad scientist. Congratulations! Admitting it is the first step. The second step is reading the (definitely true) tale of the Porch sisters…

Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee Porch do not belong. They don’t belong in the snooty town of Antiquarium, where all girls have to go to etiquette school and the only dog allowed is the bichon frise. They don’t belong with their adoptive family, where all their cousins are named Lavinia and their Aunt has more brooches than books. And they certainly don’t belong at Mrs. Wintermacher’s etiquette school—they’re far more interested in science. After getting kicked out of the last etiquette school that would take them, the girls expect to be sent away for good... until they receive a mysterious invitation to new school.

 Suddenly the girls are under the tutelage of the infamous Millicent Quibb—a mad scientist with worms in her hair and oysters in her bathtub. At 231 Mysterium Way, the pizza is fatal, the bus is powered by Gerbils, and the Dean of Students is a hermit crab.  Dangerous? Yes! More fun than they’ve ever had? Absolutely! But when the sisters are asked to save their town from an evil cabal of nefarious mad scientists, they must learn to embrace what has always made them stand out, and determine what side they’re on—before it’s too late!

My opinion: If you like offbeat kids' books, this may be the book for you. Every detail of this novel is seemingly random nonsense but it works together quite well. McKinnon gives us a trio of outsiders trying to find their place in a restrictive world, thrown into a chaotic school that happens to suit them exactly. For all of it's silliness there is a heart at it's center that speaks to the need to belong and be accepted that we all experience. This is a quick read that provides fun at every turn.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Hysterical Girls of St Bernadette's

 

Title: The Hysterical Girls of St. Bernadette's

Author: Hanna Alkaf

Genre: magical realism

Similar books: A House Unsettled by Trynne Delaney

                      The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde

Rating:

nicely balanced

Summary (provided by publisher): For over a hundred years, girls have fought to attend St. Bernadette’s, with its reputation for shaping only the best and brightest young women.

Unfortunately, there is also the screaming.

When a student begins to scream in the middle of class, a chain reaction starts that impacts the entire school. By the end of the day, seventeen girls are affected—along with St. Bernadette’s stellar reputation.

Khadijah’s got her own scars to tend to, and watching her friends succumb to hysteria only rips apart wounds she’d rather keep closed. But when her sister falls to the screams, Khad knows she’s the only one who can save her.

Rachel has always been far too occupied trying to reconcile her overbearing mother’s expectations with her own secret ambitions to pay attention to school antics. But just as Rachel finds her voice, it turns into screams.

Together, the two girls find themselves digging deeper into the school’s dark history, hunting for the truth. Little do they know that a specter lurks in the darkness, watching, waiting, and hungry for its next victim…

My opinion: There is a lot going on in this book and it moves kind of slowly, making it a dense read, but it's worth it. It takes these complex, heavy ideas and combines them into a single plot. That could easily become overwhelming or underexplored in a lesser novel. In Alkaff's hands, though, it all weaves together in a sensible, understandable way. It's not a fun read, exactly, but it is a fascinating one and well worth the effort.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6: horror

October means it's time for my annual list of horror stories. Who doesn't love a good scare in October? It's almost required to prepare for Halloween by scaring yourself silly. Here are six horror books of varying degrees of scariness published in the last six months.

6 new horror novels:

1. The Boohag Flex by Justina Ireland
2. The Lamplighter by Crystal J Bell
3. So Witches We Became by Jill Bagochinski
4. Read at Your Own Risk by Remy Lai
5. It Came from the Trees by Ally Russell
6. The Midnight Game by Cynthia Murphy

NANOWRIMO

 Hi friends

Just a note to say that I'll be participating in National Novel Writing Month in November. I'll still be posting but perhaps not as frequently as normal.

Graphic novel spotlight - Taxi Ghost

 

Taxi Ghost by Sophie Escabasse

This book could have been tired and standard. The set-up is pretty common - a girl starting puberty discovers that she now has supernatural abilities. Right from the moment Adele discovers she can talk to ghosts, though, Escabasse presents us with unique twists. For one thing, the major female influence in her life - her grandmother - doesn't train her to use her abilities. All her grandmother wants to teach her is how to keep ghosts away. And the ghosts themselves are deeply involved in local affairs. They have unusual rules (riding in cars, an inability to walk in snow, etc) that present odd challenges that add to the charm of the book. More than just a story of ghosts and justice, Taxi Ghost explores the change that we can make and the value of listening. With detailed illustrations this is a book that can be enjoyed repeatedly.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon - The Porch sisters have been kicked out of every etiquette school in town and are beginning to suspect they don't belong anywhere. But then they receive a mysterious invitation.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Epic Story of Every Living Thing by Deb Caletti - Harper's family has always been just her and her mother. But a chance encounter on social media introduces her to a half sibling and eventually to her sperm donor father. Overwhelmed by pandemic anxiety and a recent breakup Harper throws herself into learning about her father as a way of understanding herself.

What do you think you'll read next?

Chasing the Shy Town by Erika McGann

Hair pins take 2

 Over the summer I made some floral hair pins. They turned out fairly well but I wasn't completely happy with the look. They are tidy but not very dynamic. So I tried a different design, gathering the petals more. And this is the result.

These will join the other style on my Etsy shop.