Book Review: Kid Gloves by Lucy Knisley

Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos by Lucy Knisley
Published: February 26th, 2019 by First Second
Genre: Graphic memoir
Format: ARC
Source: Gift
Goodreads
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If you work hard enough, if you want it enough, if you’re smart and talented and “good enough,” you can do anything.

Except get pregnant.

Her whole life, Lucy Knisley wanted to be a mother. But when it was finally the perfect time, conceiving turned out to be harder than anything she’d ever attempted. Fertility problems were followed by miscarriages, and her eventual successful pregnancy plagued by health issues, up to a dramatic, near-death experience during labor and delivery.

This moving, hilarious, and surprisingly informative memoir not only follows Lucy’s personal transition into motherhood but also illustrates the history and science of reproductive health from all angles, including curious facts and inspiring (and notorious) figures in medicine and midwifery. Whether you’ve got kids, want them, or want nothing to do with them, there’s something in this graphic memoir to open your mind and heart.

I saw this while scouring titles on NetGalley and I knew immediately that I wanted to read it. I had my own struggle conceiving before I had Rosie and I feel like even if I hadn't, I'm still so interested in other parents' stories. 

Unfortunately I wasn't as blown away by Kid Gloves as I thought I would be. By all accounts, people really enjoy Knisley's books, and I did enjoy this, but it wasn't amazing for me. It was incredibly informative, though. I learned a lot about the history of women's reproductive health. I also enjoyed the art style, which is enough reason for me to go ahead and check out this author's other books. I found a lot of the content to be relatable, particularly the arduous battle to find the right birth control, and the weird, changing relationship you have with your body as you go through the process of trying to become pregnant, finally becoming pregnant, and then having your baby. 

There was one moment in this book that really stuck with me, more than anything else. After Knisley experienced a miscarriage, she entered into therapy. Her therapist told her to treat herself with kid gloves. Knisley had been through a lot by that point, and her therapist intructed her to treat herself with the same gentleness she'd treat a child. I'm going through hell right now, and I was when I was reading this book. This message was something I really, really needed to hear and this book delivered it to me at the exact right moment.

In spite of all that, I was still a bit let down. I expected more. Whether that was more of the emotional side of things, more of the medical side of her experiences, or more of the scientific information about reproduction, that doesn't matter. But the book tackled all of those things and it's very short. There simply wasn't enough space given to adequately address each topic. We just got a taste of each thing, but not enough meat.

That said, I think it's still an enjoyable read for anyone who is a parent and even for those who'd like to become a parent some day. Of course if you find miscarriages to be triggering, I'd stay far away from this. But it had a great balance of heart and humor and information.

Rosie Reads Hibernate With Me

Hibernate With Me by Benjamin Scheuer & Jemima Williams
Published February 12th, 2019 by Simon and Schuster
Goodreads

Hibernate with Me is a gentle reminder that no matter how sad, small, or scared you feel, you are always worthy of love, and that brighter days are always ahead.

Sometimes you feel small. Sometimes you feel shy.
Sometimes you feel worried, and you might not know why.

Sometimes you want nobody to see.
Darling, you can hibernate with me.

If you feel scared or lost, or even just a little shy, love means there will always be a place to hibernate together.

A place that’s cozy, warm, and safe.

Before I became a parent I knew nothing of the world of picture books. But after two years of doing this, I am almost as obsessed as Rosie is. Picture books have featured some of the most beautiful art I've ever seen. Hibernate With Me is one of the most beautiful books Rosie and I have read together. I want to decorate her bedroom with Jemima Williams' artwork. You can see what I mean here in this video, as well as take a listen to the official Hibernate With Me Song.

Rosie has a handful of favorite things, chief among them being books and animals. There's really nothing she loves more than pointing out all the animals she knows wherever we go. So when I saw this cute little picture book starring bears living in the forest, I knew it would be a hit and I was right. She excitedly flipped through the pages shouting about the bears! and counting the butterflies.  The language is simple enough but still evocative that she understands what's going on. And the illustrations are vivid and bright and she loves pointing out things that are familiar to her, like the honey for the bears' tea and of course, the stars.

From a grown-up's perspective, this is one of those kids' books that will make the parent cry. Maybe it's just me but I am an absolute baby when it comes to books like these. Hibernate With Me features lines like "Sometimes things can feel confusing. Sometimes things feel grey. But if you're ever feeling lost, I'll help you find your way." The whole message of simply being there for our children as they experience their emotions.. I don't know, guys. It gets to me. I'm getting a little weepy just typing this out.

 If you have kids, this would be the perfect addition to their growing library. Especially with the accompanying song to sing along to, you'll get years of reading out of this story. If you don't have children but you're the type to collect picture books, add this to your list as well. The artwork alone is beautiful enough to frame and hang on the wall.

Book Review: Bloom

Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau
Published by First Second on February 12th, 2019
Genre: Graphic Novel, Contemporary
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Pages: 368
Goodreads
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Now that high school is over, Ari is dying to move to the big city with his ultra-hip band―if he can just persuade his dad to let him quit his job at their struggling family bakery. Though he loved working there as a kid, Ari cannot fathom a life wasting away over rising dough and hot ovens. But while interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easygoing guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. As they become closer over batches of bread, love is ready to bloom . . . that is, if Ari doesn’t ruin everything.

Writer Kevin Panetta and artist Savanna Ganucheau concoct a delicious recipe of intricately illustrated baking scenes and blushing young love, in which the choices we make can have terrible consequences, but the people who love us can help us grow.

This was damn near perfection!

So I actually received this book from Fierce Reads all the way back in October. Greetings from past Bekka! I read this the very next day after getting it and it was so, so great. Funny, endearing, full of heart, I recommend it to literally anyone.

Ari is stuck in the age old battle of dreams vs familial obligation. His parents own a bakery and the business isn't doing so well. He feels lots of pressure to stick around and help his family's business. But in his heart, he longs to move to the city with his friends and band-mates and strike out on his own as a musician. There's a lot of tension between Ari and his father in particular. I think the author managed to capture that feeling so well and make it so relatable. Maybe we don't all have family businesses at stake but I do think a lot of know what it's like to want something different for yourself than your parents may have imagined. Then comes Hector, who is in the area because his grandmother recently passed and he is tasked with the job of cleaning out and selling her house. While he's there, he takes a job at the bakery to potentially replace Ari, if Ari ever actually gets it together enough to move.

I loved their relationship. It gave me exactly all the warm, fuzzy, shippy feelings that I needed. They are so, so cute together. What I really loved was how Hector sort of challenged Ari. Despite what Ari thinks, he kind of has it easy in almost all areas of life. But Hector isn't here for the entitlement. And he also isn't here for Ari being a jackass to fit in with his jackass friends. Ari's relationship with Hector helps him grow into a much, much better person. Not that he was terrible or anything, but he was insecure and had a lot of growing to do. And I just loved Hector himself. He was just so free with his heart, welcoming anyone in. He was such a good friend to everyone he knew. And he was wholly himself, secure in the best way possible. When shit hit the fan, as it inevitably does with romcoms, I was heartbroken for him. For the entire cast, honestly. I was even surprised at my depth of feelings for Ari's dad.

I had a few minor quibbles, though. First, while I loved the art and the spare, light blue color palette, I thought Hector's illustrations were a little inconsistent. He looked very different from one frame to the next, and it happened pretty often. I recognized him because he had darker skin and a certain hair texture. Speaking of the hair texture, there was a character who appeared for no more than 5 pages maximum, but he was drawn with one thousand times the amount of detail that Hector was given. Justice for Hector please. I also thought the ending was a bit rushed. I would have gladly read 100 more pages to get the pacing right.

Seriously, though, this book is my happy place. In the last year or so, First Second has been hitting the nail right on the head with adorable, happy-making graphic novels. This romance, born over kneading bread and icing cupcakes, is just another in a long list of faves from them. It's a romance, it's coming of age, it's a story about family and friendship and growing up. There's something here for everyone and I highly recommend it.