Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

That’s what this morning was, folks. I headed to the library after dropping something off at the elementary school to find a sign saying SLC libraries were closed until noon because of the snow; from there I went to Walmart, where they wouldn’t let me make my return (even for store credit!) because it was over 90 days, I pulled into their curbside pickup only to receive (as soon as I’d parked!) a text saying my order was delayed and not yet available, and I headed to PetSmart from there only to find they’re currently out of small crickets. Seriously? And so here I sit, eating (admittedly tasty) leftover soup for lunch, preparing to review Christina Soontornvat’s The Tryout so I can slip it back to the library without my 13-year-old catching a glimpse of it. (She’s getting it for Christmas, so I’d prefer she NOT see the library copy I previewed just lying around.)

The good news is that Soontornvat’s debut graphic novel is excellent; it hits the kinds of themes that matter to middle schoolers–friendship shifts, the lure of popularity, efforts to try new things–without being unrealistic or bogging down in the awfulness. (Books that make me squirm half the time are painful for me, because I lived through junior high once already, you know?) It also paints a strong picture of the complexity of being half Thai in not-metropolitan Texas, and experiencing different perspectives through other people’s eyes can only help our ability to relate to those around us. This is a graphic novel that both kids and adults should be happy with, and I’m excited to put it under our Christmas tree!

(Our NAKED tree. But still.)