Month: November 2020

Once Upon a Unicorn

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Curious is a unicorn. He doesn’t quite seem to fit in with the other unicorns, because his Scientific Mind makes him interested in things the rest of them don’t care about.

Midnight is a night mare. She can’t quite seem to keep her fire under control, and that makes it hard for her to be included with the rest of the nightmares.

Everyone knows that unicorns and night mares don’t like each other. It’s just not how things work. But when Curious and Midnight cross paths while on an Experiment and a Plan (respectively), they’ll have to work together to escape from pumpkin-headed fae, figure out what the fairy queen is up to, and maybe save their world.

What I loved most:

I picked up Once Upon a Unicorn on a day when life was feeling heavy and I wanted to escape the world for a while. Anders built such a fun, rich, beautiful world – and it was a delight to escape to. I love unicorns, so trust me – I have read a lot of unicorn books (see my post on Welcome to Unicorn School for another one of my fav unicorn stories). I’ve never encountered anything quite like the night mares found in this story (which are clearly NOT the opposite of unicorns – just ask Midnight). I appreciate the way that Curious’s and Midnight’s eccentricities were strengths, and essential to who they were. I am also a sucker for any chosen family stories, and I adore how Curious and Midnight overcame their prejudices to create a solid bond. I loved this story as an adult, and I know that any kids reading it will be just as swept up into this world as I was.

Read this book if you like:

Unicorns, fantasy worlds, enemies-to-friends scenarios, fae, laughing while on adventures

Book details:

  • Author: Lou Anders
  • Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
  • Date of Publication: August 25, 2020
  • Age Recommendation: 4th – 7th grade
  • Look up Once Upon a Unicorn on WorldCat to find it at library near you!

Bedlam

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Dr. Kenneth Rosenberg is a psychiatrist who has been working in the field of mental health since the 1980s. Bedlam is his exploration of the way that mental health has been treated in the United States. This book is an in-depth journey through Serious Mental Illness (SMI). Much of the book centers around schizophrenia, but other SMIs such as depression and bipolar disorder are also addressed. Through analysis of both individual stories of SMI and the overarching framework that governs the way that America views mental health, Rosenberg talks about medications, mental institutions, and the intersection between mental health and the criminal justice system. I listened to the audiobook (narrated by the author), and really loved it in this format.

What I loved most:

My undergraduate degree is in Psychology, and I wanted to be a therapist for a long time. I’ve always been fascinated by mental health, and by the way our culture views people who struggle with mental disorders. I couldn’t help but devour this book. Rosenberg did a great job of balancing people’s stories of their own issues with SMI, and a wider view of the way our society currently deals with mental health. I am always more captivated by personal stories – I love memoirs, because I love exploring people’s cognitive patterns, and how they make the decisions they make, and how they have become who they are today. However, I also know that it’s crucial to take a step back and examine the larger systemic issues around mental health treatment. This book gave both perspectives to help develop a more full understanding of mental health in the United States.

Read this book if you like:

Psychology, sociology, memoirs, history (but not the dry, date-focused kind of history – the engaging, people-and-system-focused kind of history)

Book details:

  • Author: Kenneth Paul Rosenberg
  • Publisher: Avery
  • Date of Publication: October 1, 2019
  • Age Recommendation: Adult
  • Check out Bedlam on WorldCat to find it at library near you!

We Could Be Heroes

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Jamie and Zoe both have no memory prior to two years ago… when they both woke up in separate apartments, with mysterious notes indicating that they might have extraordinary powers. Now, Jamie is the Mind Robber, stealing money from banks to furnish his dream of retiring to a remote island to read memoirs and play with his cat. Zoe is a fast food delivery person, and also low-key does vigilante work as the Throwing Star. Their paths cross at a memory-loss support group, where they realize the similarities of their memory loss and abilities can’t be a coincidence. We Could Be Heroes comes out in January, and I’m going to call it in advance as one of 2021’s best reads. Make sure you grab a copy when it’s available!

What I loved most:

I heard Mike Chen speak at a virtual library conference, and I was intrigued the moment I heard the concept of his book. There are countless superhero/villain plots out there, but We Can Be Heroes stands out for its unique plot. I loved that the female character was the one with strength and speed powers, whereas the male character had mental powers. I loved the witty banter between Zoe and Jamie. I loved that the two main characters were a male and a female, and that there wasn’t a romantic relationship between them. Basically, I loved everything about this book.

Read this book if you like:

Marvel movies, superheroes, adventures, origin stories

Things to be aware of:

This book is intended for adults, but I think it would also have tons of crossover appeal for kids in high school. There is some swearing, but there isn’t sexual content that would make it inappropriate for a younger audience.

Book details: