Brainstorm 359: Characters thriving with ADHD

I was just asked today for some ADHD books so I thought I'd channel that into today's Brainstorm. Here are just three fiction books featuring characters learning to thrive with ADHD, and despite being fiction contain real helps for those living with ADHD or better understanding for those around people with ADHD. There's a wide-spectrum of genres and reading levels here to appeal to a wide range of readers. To see my full summaries/reviews of each title plus any content notes/trigger warnings, please scroll below. 

My Full Summaries & Reviews

My Whirling Twirling Motor by Merriam Sarcia Saunders, ill. by Tammie Lyon

Charlie feels like he has a whirling, twirling motor inside of him that makes him often late or inattentive or accidentally unkind. When his mom says she wants to talk to him after he's tucked in bed he is worried. Is he in trouble again?

A reminder that kids with ADHD need a little grace too and positive things to focus on. There's information and recommendations for teachers and parents working with ADHD kids in the back of the book. I can see this being a very helpful book for any families with ADHD kids and teachers too.

New from Here by Kelly Yang

Knox may struggle in school, but overall he likes his life in Hong Kong. So when his parents announce that he, Mom, his older brother Bowen, and little sister Lea are all leaving for the US in early 2020 due to the growing danger of covid spreading from China but Dad and their dog are staying behind, Knox is not happy. His parents think it will be like SARS again, and that the States will be safer. But Dad is the only one in the family who gets Knox and his idiosyncrasies. And California may be fun during summers, but Knox is really not sure about going there for a long period of time. Knox loves Mom, but Dad is the one who knows how to cook and take care of the house. He has so many worries, and he isn't the only one.

Knox and his family have a lot of adjustments after they get to the States. They realize that online schooling with Hong Kong isn't sustainable so they have to adjust to California public schools, they are adjusting to Mom running the house, she loses her job and has to start job hunting, the kids decide to see if they can help their Dad find a job so he can join them in the States (and also try to fundraise to get him a ticket to come), Knox learns that he has ADHD when he's enrolled in the California school and starts to figure out why he does some of the things he does and feels things he does, the kids try to find new friends, and unfortunately, they face racism both in school and the neighborhood from those who blame them for the virus or think that because they are Asian they are carriers. Kelly Yang has a note in the back of the book about how this book was heavily based on her own family's experience during 2020. I really like the growth in the relationships of the 3 siblings as they come together to help out their parents. Knox will really help readers learn about the challenges and the super abilities of those with ADHD. I don't think I've read another character who more clearly articulates what it is like to have ADHD. The racism experienced by the family is sadly very realistic, but Knox and the others learn to respond in positive ways and the overall message of the book is so great. The ending of this is so heartwarming and powerful. Tissues may be required for some readers. Though this is set in a very certain time period, the messages and themes covered are universal and I can see this being popular for a very long time.

Notes on content: No swearing. No sexual content. Some sibling fighting and playground bullying. Some racist comments and actions, but Knox and readers learn how to respond to this in positive ways and learn what combats hate. Homelessness is discussed (both present and past). Money is tight for several families. Fear of covid is part of the story. Deaths from covid are mentioned but none happen on page. 1 person runs away from home but is found within 24 hours.

The No-Brainer's Guide to Decomposition by Adrianna Cuevas

Frani Gonzalez is used to being a bit strange. First off, some would give her a 4 letter label, but she likes to think that she has an active spider in her brain named Arañita who hops from web to web of thoughts in her brain at lightning speed. Sometimes Arañita creates problems, like making her late to school or distracting her during conversations so she doesn't hear what the person said or messing up the steps in the intake procedure for new specimens. And that brings us to the second strange part, Frani lives on the Central Texas Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, otherwise known as a body farm. Her father is the professor who oversees the acres of land where human specimens are laid out to decay and scientists study the process, and Frani loves to be his assistant. Her older sister Essie finds it gross and tries to ignore it. It's summer break, so Frani is excited to get to help out more with the research. One of the other scientists, Dr. Tanaka has brought his son, Benji along, and while she is showing Benji around the farm they stumble across something unusual. A teenage boy who should be very dead but is walking and talking to them. Frani and Benji decide to try and help the boy they dub Mateo figure out what happened to himself, but as more corpses become undead, they have to bring in their fathers and the campus police chief to help figure out what is turning the specimens into zombies and how to stop them because most aren't anywhere near as friendly as Mateo.

I really appreciate how Frani's narration of this story will help build empathy and understanding among readers for those with ADHD, and also allow readers with ADHD like Frani's to feel seen. The adventure allows Frani to process how she feels about her brain (she doesn't like it much of the time) and eventually come to a place of more acceptance and appreciation by the end, but also feeling ok to reach out for help when she needs it. Mateo (who they find out is really named Santiago) has a rather tragic story and his part of this tale is bittersweet. Frani keeps waiting for new boy Benji to dump her as a new friend for being too weird, but he's a great guy and handles all the weird and gross stuff he gets thrown into with a great attitude. He's a good friend when Frani needs it. Frani's older sister Essie is pretty awful to her the few scenes when she is on page, constantly telling Frani she's going to mess things up and she isn't trustworthy, but there is a bit of a breakthrough by the end of the book. Profe (Frani's dad), Dr. Tanaka, and the police chief get 5 stars for being pretty cool adults in a middle grade book and sharing the load in the whole solving the zombie problems thing. I found that a breath of fresh air. How often are adults treated like the tweens' teammates in problem solving in middle grade adventures? I love forensics stories, strong science-based fantasy/scifi, and have read books about real body farms. I was pleasantly surprised that the body farm aspects of the book felt on point, true to life, and scientifically sound to me, and it was a fantastic setting for a middle grade horror story. The method used to reanimate the dead was also science based and made sense, even if I don't think it would work in real life. Obviously, the whole body farm setting is not for all middle graders. Know the tween or teen you hand this to and make sure they can handle people studying death and the decay process and realistically describing reanimated corpses and how they'd fall apart if trying to walk or jump or such.

Notes on content: Language: None; Sexual content: None; Violence: Some zombies come after Frani and Benji and others but they pretty easily get away. Most of the dead at the body farm died of disease or natural causes and donated their bodies to science. One person died of a rattle snake bite off page. Tranquilizer darts and injections are used to capture and un-animate zombies. In some tumbles and other incidents Santiago loses more and more parts, he has a finger and ear in his pocket by the end and one arm got stitched back on.; Ethnic diversity: Frani's family appears to be Hispanic American and so is Santiago. From their last name, I'm guessing the Tanakas are Japanese American. Others among the dead and living are white and Black American. ; LGBTQ+ content: It is mentioned Essie has a girlfriend; she is never on page.; Other: The natural decay process after death is talked about a lot. A body farm is realistically described. Someone did the zombie experiment on purpose without thinking of ethical concerns. Essie is not very understanding of Frani's challenges with ADHD most of the book and is quite harsh.

Brainstorm 358: Cryptid Mythology Meets History & Science

For this week's Brainstorm we have some books that look at the truth behind cryptid tales, their origins, and what real creatures or fake news may be behind the fantastic stories. To see my full summaries/reviews of each title plus any content notes/trigger warnings, please scroll below. 

My Full Summaries/Reviews:

Catching Cryptids: The Scientific Search for Mysterious Creatures by Kim Long, ill. by Nicole Miles

This is one part survey of different cryptids from around the world and one part introduction to various tech and scientific methods useful in field research. Long introduces a variety of different cryptids, looks at what kind of animal it could be or could be mistaken for such a creature, whether anything similar has been found, what kind of scientific equipment and methods could be used to find evidence of the creature, and other similar cryptids around the globe.

This was a fascinating read. You learn how scientists find real rare animals, like using radar or environmental DNA or camera traps or a whole host of other things. I had heard about some of these methods, but some were brand new to me (like the environmental DNA…that was fascinating). The book realistically shows how you would go about developing a plan to find a rare creature. It highlights some past cryptids that have been discovered to be inspired by real creatures, like the giant squid inspiring kraken tales. There were a whole host of cryptids in here I had never heard of before. And I felt like it dealt with things very scientifically. For example, they say something like…‘We’ve got numerous reports of people saying they saw a creature with these attributes.” And then they research if any known animals match the description, and then scientifically describe how to narrow down the search field and what equipment would be most useful. The science nerd in me loved this. It was done in a very readable and engaging way, and is a fantastic read for any would-be scientists.

Notes on content: Language: None, Sexual content: None, Violence: Animals that are predators or have been said to attack others are mentioned, nothing graphic., Ethnic diversity: Cryptid examples come from all over the globe, LGBTQ+ content: None specified, Other: Beware of high science content (but done in a fun and engaging way)!

Loch Ness Uncovered: Media, Misinformation, and the Greatest Monster Hoax of All Time by Rebecca Siegel

Rebecca Siegel relates how prior to the 1900s, there were no rumors of a monster in Loch Ness. It wasn't until one woman claimed she saw something in 1933 that rumors started to fly. Siegel relates how the rumors built, how photos were stage, the role King Kong played in the building of the myth, how it helped a struggling economy, and the lengths people have gone to prove or disprove Nessie's existence. In conclusion, Siegel's gives readers pointers in recognizing fake news and not spreading modern day rumors.

This was a fascinating read. I had no idea there was no literature or record of tales of the Loch Ness monster until 1933. This was a fantastic bit of research, investigative reporting, engaging nonfiction writing, and making connections to modern day fake news and how to be savvy readers. Highly recommended.

Notes on content: Language: There might have been 1 minor swear in a quote, Sexual content: None, Violence: Deaths of people from old age or in wars is mentioned, Ethnic diversity: Scottish, South African, and more, LGBTQ+ content: I don't remember anyone mentioned, Other: Part of the story involves a staged hunt for the monster, staged footprints, and a staged photograph (the one on the cover). Debates as to motives people had for sharing tales of sightings.

What Do We Know about the Kraken? (What Do We Know About...?) by Ben Hubbard, ill. by Robert Squier

An examination of the earliest appearances of stories about sea monsters, most specifically the kraken. The book then explores what real creature might have sparked these stories, such as perhaps the giant squid and how our knowledge of the giant and colossal squids have grown in the past couple hundred years.

This was the best What Do We Know about... book I've read so far. I like how it examined the relationship between sea monster stories/myths and our lack of knowledge about what lives in the worlds' oceans, and how discoveries about giant squids and colossal squids seem to explain where many of the kraken stories may have come from. Hand this to curious readers, random fact sponges, and sea monster fans.

Notes on content: Language: None, Sexual content: None, Violence: Fictional stories of sea monster attacks wrecking ships and drowning sailors are mentioned. Whale/squid battles are recounted and the injuries they can leave on each other, Ethnic diversity: Kraken-like tales from around the globe are related. Scientists from Europe, Japan, and New Zealand are highlighted, LGBTQ+ content: None, Other: Inspections of dead squid are described and some illustrations are included.

Brainstorm 357: Animal Investigators

This week's Brainstorm features some animal investigators that are either the sleuths themselves or help a human in solving a mystery. To see my full summaries/reviews of each title plus any content notes/trigger warnings, please scroll below. 

My Full Summaries & Reviews

Dogsled to Dread (A Miss Mallard Mystery) by Robert M. Quackenbush

Miss Mallard has been invited as the guest starter for the annual sled dog race. But really, the people who invited her really want her to look into the Totem Avenger who is terrorizing the neighborhood. He steals a sled dog puppy in broad daylight right in front of several witnesses!

Another nice little mystery with Miss Mallard. Make sure you study the illustrations and see if you can spot the clues before Miss Mallard! I like that in this one you can figure it out before Miss Mallard if you do pay close attention.

Mimi Lee Gets a Clue (A Sassy Cat Mystery, #1) by Jennifer J. Chow

Mimi Lee has just opened her own pet grooming shop in the Hollywood area hoping to cater to the wealthier pet owners in L.A. But starting a new business and building a clientele is not easy. Her benefactor is doing her best to recommend friends, and through them Mimi starts to notice similar problems in puppies coming from one particular breeder. But the day after she reports him, he ends up dead and Mimi is the detective's prime suspect. She decides that to clear her name she needs to do some of her own sleuthing. And she has a most unusual partner. Her sister gave her a big fluffy white rescue cat she dubbed Marshmallow, and it turns out Marshmallow can talk. But only to Mimi. At first Mimi doesn't know what to do with her new feline that causes her to question her sanity, but it turns out when investigating a crime it can come in handy to have a partner who can speak to the animals. Can Mimi and Marshmallow figure out who really killed the breeder before Mimi goes down for the crime?

I was afraid that the talking cat elements would make this feel cheesy, but since Marshmallow only talks to Mimi (and telepathically at that) and since Chow wrote Marshmallow in a very convincing cat voice, this actually felt like a very realistic mystery. It is actually easy to forget there are any fantasy elements. Marshmallow is snarky and temperamental, and I can totally picture cats I've known talking just like him. Oh, and I loved his additions to the story. Don't get me wrong. Mimi is likable, and a fairly pleasant sleuth to follow around. I liked the elements of her Malaysian-American heritage that are woven into the story. Malaysian characters are few and far between in American lit, let alone in the mystery genre. Being in Thailand, I know several students and teachers who will absolutely love the fact that we'll soon have a Malaysian American character on the shelves, and will gobble up Mimi's Ma's phrases. The mystery definitely kept me guessing. The LA aspects were done very authentically (I lived in the area for a few years) and I loved the fact that she actually had Marshmallow and Mimi cold outside in a couple scenes! No one ever admits that LA can get chilly, but it totally does from Nov-Mar. The development of a little romance for Mimi with the lawyer was done cutely, and those elements felt like this was a blend of mystery and Hallmark movie. I'll definitely be looking to add more of the Sassy Cat Mysteries to our library very soon, and I want to check out more of Jennifer J. Chow's other books too. Hand this to cat lovers who like cozy mysteries and those who are looking for Malaysian American characters.

Notes on content: No language issues that I remember. No sexual content beyond a tiny kiss. A murder is mentioned but absolutely no gory details. Animal abuse/neglect is part of the story, but genetic defects and poor living conditions are the worst described and there's a happy ending for all the animals.

Owl's Outstanding Donuts by Robin Yardi

Alfred the owl notices some shady goings on with 2 people and a truck in the middle of the night outside the donut shop in Big Sur. He knows the stuff those people are dumping isn't good for the area, so he wakes up the girl who lives with the donut lady. Mattie is woken by an owl. Which is strange. But even more strange is the white truck and two suspicious people. The next day she tries to recruit her best friend, Sasha, and Sasha's little sister, Beanie, to help her figure out who is dumping gloop. Beanie is enthusiastic, but Sasha thinks Mattie is making up the owl stuff. The investigation gets more important when Mattie's aunt's donut shop is threatened, just as she's starting to feel at home in Big Sur after her mom's death. But solving the crime may require Mattie to address her biggest fears that have been building since her mom died.

This reads entirely like contemporary fiction except for the chapters from Alfred's perspective and then it drifts just ever so slightly into magical realism. It's a nice little mystery, with lots of donuts (it is wise to have donuts on hand for the reading of this...or to make sure there's no way you can get them, depending on your dietary needs). I really liked the Big Sur setting. It was so fun to follow the girls around their woodsy mountain area, traipsing through streams, and climbing trees. Along with the mystery there's a good dose of time devoted to character development. Mattie is still figuring out her relationships with her new full-time neighbors (who used to just be summer friends), and also dealing with unresolved mental issues after her mom's tragic death. If you like believable mysteries with an extra savvy owl, forest settings, lots of donuts, and plenty of time getting to know the characters, snatch this up.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. At one point violence is somewhat threatened, but everyone ends up ok. A past fatal car accident comes up, and fears that have resulted from that.

The Perfect Spot (Dot the Ladybug) by Kallie George, ill. by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

Dot the ladybug is an expert on dots and finding them, so her friend Jots wonders if she can also find spots. Dot trots off confidently in search of a spot, but does so before Jots can fully explain what he's looking for. Will Dot fail Jots?

This was a cute little adventure/mystery picture book for beginning readers with a great lesson about listening, and an easy teaching opportunity about synonyms (dots and spots) and homonyms (spot = dot, spot=location). The illustrations are very fun too. It isn't often you get such a well-developed plot in a leveled reader.

Brainstorm 356: 3 Overcomer Biographies

For this week's Brainstorm I have 3 fascinating biographies of people who overcame hardship. To see my full summaries/reviews of each title plus any content notes/trigger warnings, please scroll below. 

Full Summaries & Reviews

On the Corner of Chocolate Avenue: How Milton Hershey Brought Milk Chocolate to America by Tziporah Cohen, ill. by Steven Salerno

A picture book biography of Milton Hershey, how he went from poverty to prosperous businessman, persevered through many failures along the way in first the caramel and then milk chocolate businesses, and used his money to help children in poverty like he was.

I never knew that Hershey started out by making caramels and first made his name that way. His rise from poverty and his perseverance through numerous failures is inspiring, as is the way he used his money to start a school for kids in poverty that is still ongoing through his generous legacy. This is a heartwarming picture book biography and interesting background on a brand name sweet producer.

Saving My Assassin by Virginia Prodan

The autobiography of Romanian Virginia Prodan who grew up under Ceauşescu in a family that treated her like she wasn't a full member of the family. They would have her work while the rest of the kids had summer vacation, and she did chores while the others rested. Virginia was driven to find truth, and she thought the best way would be to become an attorney. She passes the law school entrance exams and makes it through law school to become a successful attorney. While practicing law Virginia meets some people with surprising joy and meets Christ through them. She then starts representing Christians in the Romanian courts arrested for possessing Bibles, churches who are denied permission to rebuild after the police vandalize them, and more. She successfully wins many cases by using laws about religious freedom that Ceauşescu's forces overlooked. This makes her a hero on the Voice of America reports and a target for the Securitate. They arrest her multiple times and when intimidation doesn't work, start sending assassin's after her. But it doesn't work out the way they planned.

This was a pretty astounding autobiography. Virginia Prodan has not had an easy life, but she has witnessed God work in some pretty amazing ways both through her and those around her. Her story is inspirational and I'm glad she shared it with the world. I'm not sharing too much here because I don't want to spoil it for other readers. Definitely worth the read.

Notes on content: Language: None; Sexual content: Nothing beyond some kisses.; Violence: Securitate beatings are mentioned and at least one is described. Deaths in jail are mentioned. A couple assassination attempts, but given the fact Virginia wrote this book you know they aren't successful.; Ethnic diversity: Most of the people are Romanian, but you also meet some people from the American Embassy who take an interest in Virginia.; LGBTQ+ content: None; Other: Unjust treatment by family and state leaders. Religious persecution. Virginia's husband is a gambler and it strains their marriage.

Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson, ill. by Brian Rea

The autobiography of James Robinson, focusing on how growing up with anomalous retinal correspondence - a condition he’s dubbed “whale eyes” to make it easier to understand - impacted his childhood and youth and adulthood, especially his feelings about reading. He then explains how he decided to make a documentary about himself as a young adult to help others understand why he looks the way he does and the challenges he has in visual perception. And then how that opened the doors for future employment, more documentaries, and this book.

Back when I did tutoring I accidentally ended up working with several kids with visual acuity issues, one was similar to James’ issue, but not exactly the same. The fact that kids who perceive the world differently can teach themselves to adapt and survive in a world not catered to their conditions is astounding. I loved hearing how James’ documentary helped others feel seen, and his further documentaries are doing the same for people with other “invisible” issues. He’s doing important work, and this book is part of that. I hope reading this helps the younger generation be more understanding and empathetic. It’s a good reminder that you never know what is going on in someone’s life. It was also so interesting to hear how he’s trying to change the Hollywood use of people with misaligned eyes to not just portray those who are crazy or evil. I need to get a copy of this for our library.

Notes on content: Language: None; Sexual content: None; Violence: I don’t remember any.; Ethnic diversity: James’ family is white American.; LGBTQ+ content: None specified.; Other: Discrimination based on appearance. School unwilling to make accommodations (or does so sparingly). Misunderstanding someone with a disability.

Brainstorm 355: The Inklings in books

Do you know who the Inklings were? A group of Oxford professors and their friends who would get together to share their writings, critique each others' work, and just spend time together. The group's most famous members were C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. In the past year and a half I've read 4 fictional books that feature the Inklings as characters and a nonfiction highly illustrated biography/graphic novel about them. I thought I'd share those with you today. I was impressed by how all of these books honored the memory, works, faith, and legacy of the Inklings and their associates (Dorothy Sayers also features prominently in all the fiction books though she wasn't an official Inkling). My full summary and review of each book including any content notes/trigger warnings is down below for those who don’t have access to GoodReads.

Full Summaries, Reviews & Content Notes

The Ink of Elspet (The Inkwell Chronicles, #1) by J.D. Peabody

After a horrible railway accident, clergyman Marcus Drake’s belongings are carefully handed over to his son and daughter, Everett and Bea, by a nurse who tended him at the crash and promised to pass his things on to only them. The children have no idea that the contents of that briefcase are what caused the accident. Marcus was being chased by someone who wanted the Ink he carried very badly, and will stop at nothing to get their hands on it and find its source. Soon Everett and Bea find themselves on a wild adventure with members of the Inklings on a quest to find their father and free him from sinister hands and also protect the Well of Elspet, the last remaining source of the magical ink that inspires artists, musicians, and others around the world to create astounding things.

I like how Peabody grounded this story in post-WWII England and used the historic railway crash and historic figures to do that. I loved how Dot, Jack, and Ronald were the children’s guides and mentors on this quest. Weaving in real life Inklings or those tangential to the Inklings (Dorothy Sayers, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien) to know about and be agents that work to protect this magical Ink that inspires them and other creatives was very fun. I also liked that Peabody didn’t spell out who each of those 3 were. He gave hints, and it allows adults reading with kids to introduce them to these real people, or if kids go searching for the Inklings and use those nicknames they can figure out the inspiration for these characters themselves. It could provide a good opportunity to discuss with reader why Peabody chose these 3 people to include in his story. That said, it is also clearly a fantasy adventure story and not true history (though I think Dot, Jack, and Ronald would all be honored to be included in this one). I liked the growth that Everett and Bea experience through their adventure. I like the imagination of the world Peabody has built. His characters are also memorable, from the good guys to the bad guys headed by the Commander who wants to destroy all Ink. The story takes the characters from London, England to Aberdeen, Scotland and they meet several allies along the way like the noble Conductor and Gilroy who accompany them when the Inklings have to take an alternate route. Peabody has another boy join the adventure along the way, Trey, who has amnesia but does know about the Ink somehow and wants to help and see if he can figure out where he’s supposed to be along the way. His inclusion helps Everett realize some important things about himself and prompts some much-needed growth. The author is a Christian and he wove in Christian principles into the story without necessarily making anything an allegory and avoiding being preachy. It’s a wholesome and heartfelt fantasy adventure that is also exciting and imaginative. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and the future adventures of Bea and Everett.

Notes on content:

Language: None; Sexual content: None; Violence: There are deaths in the train wreck, but nothing is vividly described. The bad guy keeps Marcus a prisoner and drugs him to try and get information out of him. The bad guy’s pet crow pecks Marcus until he bleeds at times. One person is bit by a dog pretty badly. Trey is in bad shape when they find him, but the ink can heal in the right hands.; Ethnic diversity: The Drake family, Dot, Jack, and Ronald are all white British, Trey is half Scottish, half Indian.; LGBTQ+ content: None specified.; Other: The Commander mean guy is pretty mean to even his allies, turning some into puppies if they disobey him, abandoning others if they fall behind.

The Inklings Detective Agency by John R. Kelly

In December of 1936 the Inklings members are called upon by a most unexpected visitor asking them to look into some deaths under mysterious circumstances of members of a secret society. It appears the deaths were ruled accidents or natural causes but the fact that the deaths both occurred on the day of a full moon one month apart and that both men are part of the same secret society that dabbles in occult matters have other members worried someone is out to get them and one of them could be dead on the next full moon in a few weeks. Jack Lewis, his brother Warren, John Tolkien, Lord Cecil along with some of the other regular members agree to look into the matter, and conscript a few other friends and contacts, like Charles Williams for his knowledge on secret societies, Agatha Christie for her knowledge of poisons, and Dorothy Sayers for her keen mind. But can they figure out who is behind these deaths before the next full moon?

The author clarifies that this is completely an imagined scenario, but he teaches university level classes on the Inklings and clearly knows the time period and the people involved well enough to imagine a plausible mystery for them to solve and include lots of solid historical bits about their real lives as well. This is the 4th fictional book I've read this year that has the Inklings included as characters (the other 3 were a middle grade series for kids called The Inkwell Chronicles), and I like how such fiction introduces readers to these writers and thinkers of the last century. This one had me worried about how dark it would get involving a secret society messing around with the occult, but it doesn't get super dark. And Sayers would be happy to tell you it upholds all the rules of mystery writing as outlined by the Detection Club.

Notes on content:

Language: None; Sexual content: None; Violence: A past murder is revealed that was a bit bloody but mostly off page, and the two present ones which are mostly poisonings. Things get super dicey for several others when the murderer catches on to what they know and someone gets a concussion and is a little bloody, others are in danger of poisoning and one does succumb but most are ok. Some other murder and mystery investigations are mentioned.; Ethnic diversity: British, Irish, Scottish; LGBTQ+ content: None specified.; Other: The secret society leader is akin to a cult leader and very manipulative of people. Minimal details about what a secret society dabbling in the occult would get in to.

The Mythmakers: the Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien by John Hendrix

A graphic novel/heavily illustrated text biography of authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, their lives, their friendship, how they impacted each other's work, their passion for myth, and how they changed the perception of fantasy fiction in culture.

I've read a couple books on both Lewis and Tolkien individually and the Inklings as a group. This was by far my favorite of any of them. I like how Hendrix balanced being concise, providing the right amount of depth, conveying Lewis and Tolkien's points of view, and also showing the impact of the works of these men. I've read too many others that ignore their faith and how that impacted their works or seemingly purposefully misunderstood their intentions and goals in writing. As a fellow Christian, Hendrix honors their faith, gets their intentions and does a good job interpreting those for a modern audience (because sometimes the issue is a misunderstanding of the word choice of their personal correspondence/writings, failing to understand the past meaning of those words in their context and misconstruing the meanings with more modern meanings). And let's not forget, Hendrix illustrated the entire book. There are sections in graphic novel format, with our narrators, a wizard and a lion (and a raccoon and thistle in the appendixes), who help set the stage, explain related topics in the appendixes, and transition readers from one part to the next. These sections have speech bubbles and an obvious graphic novel format. Then the biographical parts of the book are in more traditional text blocks, but have illustrations all around them. It's an impressive piece of artwork and authorship. And as a Tolkien and Lewis fan, I really appreciated how masterfully it was all done.

Notes on content:

Language: None; Sexual content: Some kisses between husbands and wives are mentioned.; Violence: Experiences of both men in WWI are explored. Deaths and injuries are mentioned, there are some illustrations but they are not gory, just sobering. Both men lost parents when they were children. Deaths of friends and family from disease and old age are mentioned.; Ethnic diversity: Tolkien was white British born in Africa, Lewis was white Irish. Most of their friends were white British. Lewis eventually married a white American woman.; LGBTQ+ content: None; Other: Tolkien's perfectionism is talked about and Lewis' tendency to jump into things. Christian faith is a key topic of the book. Hendrix carefully parses what Lewis and Tolkien meant by myth, at first it may appear offensive to include certain things as myths, but once the full meaning comes to light, it isn't.