Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

Yes, I’ve been gone for more than half a month, and yes, I have events to catch up on (now that I’ve done the laundry), but we don’t have internet at home right now, so I’m choosing to start by composing and posting book reviews–or at least, one book review–at Britt’s house. Which probably means that it won’t have a working link until Sunday, but we’ll survive, right?

So.  Before we ever left on our Barlow family cruise–which is a big part of what I need to catch up on, but not all of it–I actually managed to finish reading Planet Omar:  Unexpected Super Spy.  (We’re definitely not going to talk about how long it’s been sitting on my shelf instead of being handed off to my son.)  Unexpected Super Spy picks up more or less where Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet leaves off; Omar and Charlie having become friends with Daniel, the three of them are planning epic Nerf blaster battles when Omar discovers that his family’s mosque is going to close down unless they can raise enough money to replace the roof.  Determined to save it, he embarks on an equally epic fundraising journey (with Charlie and Daniel’s help), only to have the money they raise turn up missing.  Who’s the thief?  Can they find it?  Can the mosque be saved?

The solution to the mystery is kind of fabulous, I have to say.  More than that, however, I appreciate the reality of the sibling dynamics and the portrayal of solid friendships.  (Also the lack of bathroom and gross-out humor.) Omar’s world is an enjoyable place to be, and I love that it’s accessible to my kiddos.  (And me.)  Now, here’s hoping the delay in getting the sequel to him won’t detrimentally affect my son’s enjoyment of it…