Kelly Jensen's Blog, page 2

I Had a Baby

It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? And by a minute, I mean…a few months. A lot has happened in my life since I last posted here. I’m reading a lot less and writing basically none, and that’s due mainly to the fact that I added a small human to my family in May. While I had an overall average pregnancy (no major complications, the usual aches and pains – uncomfortable but manageable), my birth and postpartum were pretty traumatic. I’m fine and so is the baby, but it was definitely not the birth experience I hoped for. However, now that we’re currently exiting the “fourth trimester” and kinda sorta getting the hang of taking care of a baby, I find myself with some time to do a little more than just feed the baby, burp the baby, change the baby, rock the baby, and try to squeeze in some food and sleep for myself.

As far as my reading life goes, I did read a few helpful pregnancy books before delivering, plus I occasionally page through a couple of baby-care books when I can. I’m also forcing myself to read a chapter or two of an actual print book – not related to babies, just for fun – every week. I thought I’d be able to continue my audiobook listening, but I’ve found it difficult to be able to focus enough on the stories while caring for the baby. Those tasks demand just enough of my mental energy to make following a book at the same time mostly impossible. Instead, I put on some low-energy television that I can still follow while only paying half attention to it (Survivor was our show of choice in the first month, but I mainly re-watch crime procedurals now).

I’m hoping to be able to get back into reading and writing more as the baby sleeps longer and my family gets more efficient and practiced with our baby-care duties. To kick off this goal, here’s a rundown of my recent reads.

Pregnancy and Baby-Related Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong – and What You Really Need to Know by Emily Oster

I dislike the clickbait subheads on Oster’s books, but I really appreciate her straightforward discussions about pregnancy and caring for an infant. She’s an economist who writes about where the “conventional pregnancy wisdom” comes from – namely, the studies behind the advice and guidance doctors, other mothers, and the internet give new parents.

I found this book super helpful for right-sizing the actual risk of my activities to my baby in utero, and the conclusions I drew are mainly that there’s a lot less risk than you’d think. Just as I expected, much of the guidance about what to avoid (anything that tastes good or is mildly exciting) is fear-mongering and not based on science. For the most part, the only things that will harm a fetus are binge drinking (small amounts of alcohol are fine and not shown to cause harm), excessive caffeine (two cups of coffee a day are fine), and smoking and other recreational drug use (any amount). Foods pregnant people are often told to avoid, like sushi, are fine to consume if they’re from a provider you trust and stored safely. In my area of the world, food-borne illness such as listeria has more widely been found in melon, ice cream, and prepared salads, none of which pregnant people are told to avoid.

Oster does a good job of laying out the facts about each study, including whether it’s a good study in the first place or if there’s actually been a study done on a particular piece of guidance at all (it’s really hard to do ethical studies on pregnancy!). She repeatedly emphasizes that she wants the reader to draw her own conclusions about what she should or should not do/consume, giving examples from her own life (she chose to continue to eat turkey sandwiches; a friend of hers chose to avoid them). For my part, it helped me as a first-time mother calm my fears about harming my child and made me feel a bit freer in those precious months before my life would change entirely.

Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool by Emily Oster

What I remember most from this follow-up to Expecting Better is that women who forego the epidural tend to push for shorter amounts of time and have faster recoveries. Because of this, I wrote in my birth plan that I wanted to wait and see how my pain was before getting the epidural. I ended up asking for it before I was even admitted to the hospital because the pain was so bad – I believe I would have passed out from it if I hadn’t gotten the pain relief. It was definitely the right choice for me and if I have another baby, I will take the epidural immediately again. (I also only pushed for about 15 minutes so it doesn’t seem like it had any effect on that!) This is another good book from Oster, though I admit not a lot of it stuck with me.

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, Second Edition by Myra J. Wick, M.D., Ph.D.

I chose this as my pregnancy preparedness guide because I wanted an alternative to What to Expect When You’re Expecting, which had reviews that indicated even the most current edition had out of date information and the writing style spoke down to its audience. This is a straightforward, no-nonsense book from the experts that breaks down a pregnancy week by week, discussing what symptoms are normal, what symptoms are more serious and may require medical attention, and other useful ways to prepare for a new baby.

 

Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby’s First Years, Second Edition by Walter J. Cook, M.D., and Kelsey M. Klaas, M.D.

More of the same from the Mayo Clinic. This guide discusses common themes in the first half (feeding, sleeping) and then goes month-by-month in the second, covering milestones and normal growth.

 

 

 

Baby 411: Your Baby, Birth to Age 1 by Dr. Ari Brown and Denise Fields

This is a great dip-in, dip-out guide to everything baby. We’ve used it when we had a specific question or concern – just turn to that page and find the answer. It’s interesting to see what advice conflicts with the Mayo Clinic book or the pediatrician. The authors of Baby 411 suggest using distilled water, then boiling it, before mixing it with powdered formula (the former because of fluoride that newborns don’t need; the latter to sterilize the powder, which does not come sterilized). Our pediatrician says neither is necessary for an otherwise healthy newborn. So while there are many good books on the subject of babies, some discretion and decision-making will always be required.

 

Just for Fun There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool

This is the print book I’m currently making my way through. I bought it at the last Texas Book Festival pre-Covid; it was among the set of books I purchased that I read fairly quickly after buying them, which is unusual for me (like many a bookworm, I acquire many more books than I actually read). This was one of the few I hadn’t gotten around to yet. It’s an epic YA fantasy with an ensemble cast about a world whose Prophets disappeared many years ago – and a prophecy that speaks of the birth of a new Prophet that could either save or destroy everything. Five teenagers, some with magical powers, are each caught up in the adventure.

I’m halfway through it, which feels like a minor miracle considering my reading is constantly interrupted or simply relegated to the back burner in favor of other activities (mostly feeding myself and sleeping). I’m enjoying the book, but not loving it, and I think that’s largely due to the fact that it’s really difficult for me to push from my mind thoughts about what I Should Be Doing (laundry, listening for the baby waking up, washing bottles, tidying the house, etc., etc.) and focus on just reading. The book is a bit of a slow burn as Pool slowly reveals how each character is connected to each other and to the larger story. Chapters cycle through each character’s point of view, making this a good readalike for teens who enjoyed that aspect of Game of Thrones but want something a bit more on their level.

The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth

I had never heard of this author before, but I really enjoyed this story about the tense relationship between a woman and her mother-in-law, and what happens when the mother-in-law is found dead (presumably murdered). This is less domestic noir and more tragic family story with a bit of suspense thrown in. Hepworth is really good at crafting three-dimensional, difficult, but sympathetic characters, and the mother-in-law in this story stuck with me long after I finished the book and learned how she died. If you enjoy psychological thrillers but want something a bit less soapy, I recommend giving Hepworth’s books a try (I also read and can recommend The Good Sister).

 

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

This author duo specializes in melodramatic psychological thrillers with a huge twist (or two) at the end. They are a lot of fun, though not of the highest quality. I started this one on audio while pregnant and finished it while caring for a newborn. I got a bit impatient with it, though, knowing that there would be a trademark Hendricks/Pekkanen twist at the end, and I looked up spoilers online before finishing it. The twist isn’t nearly as clever or satisfying at the one in their first hit, The Wife Between Us, and it made the book mostly forgettable for me, but it was an enjoyable few hours that helped pass the time in those first few long nights with a newborn at home.

 

 

Rainbow Cakes on Book Covers

It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? I’ve had on my to-write list for a while a few things, one of which is a post reflecting on the fact this blog had its 14th birthday in April and how much has changed in both my life and in Kimberly’s lives since. I’ll get to it, but as a means of wading back into the world of book blogging for fun, how about a trend that is delicious and timely? I’m talking about rainbow cakes on book covers.

Find below a few book covers, all capital-R romance titles, featuring a delicious rainbow cake on the cover. I’ve done my best to find the designer information, and I’ve included the Amazon description for included titles so you can build yourself the tastiest reading list imaginable. Interestingly, all three books are out this year. I hope we’ll see more of this design incorporated into more books, too–it’s a perfect nod to queerness and sweetness, all at once.

Are there others that I’ve missed? Tell me about those delightful queer cakes in the comments below.

 

Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond. Cover design by Sarah Horgan.

 

Amy, a semicloseted queer baker and bartender in mid-2010s Oklahoma, has spent a lifetime putting other people’s needs before her own. Until, that is, she’s fired from her job at a Christian bakery and turns her one-off gig subbing in for a bridesmaid into a full-time business, thanks to her baking talents, crafting skills, and years watching rom-coms and Say Yes to the Dress. Between her new gig and meeting Charley, the attractive engineer who’s just moved to Tulsa, suddenly Amy’s found something—and someone—she actually wants.

Her tight-knit group of chosen family is thrilled that Amy is becoming her authentic self. But when her deep desire to please kicks into overdrive, Amy’s precarious balancing act strains her relationships to the breaking point, and she must decide what it looks like to be true to herself—and if she has the courage to try.

 

Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall (10/18/22). Cover design by Elizabeth Turner Stokes.

Paris Daillencourt is a recipe for disaster. Despite his passion for baking, his cat, and his classics degree, constant self-doubt and second-guessing have left him a curdled, directionless mess. So when his roommate enters him in Bake Expectations, the nation’s favourite baking show, Paris is sure he’ll be the first one sent home.

But not only does he win week one’s challenge—he meets fellow contestant Tariq Hassan. Sure, he’s the competition, but he’s also cute and kind, with more confidence than Paris could ever hope to have. Still, neither his growing romance with Tariq nor his own impressive bakes can keep Paris’s fear of failure from spoiling his happiness. And when the show’s vicious fanbase confirms his worst anxieties, Paris’s confidence is torn apart quicker than tear-and-share bread.

But if Paris can find the strength to face his past, his future, and the chorus of hecklers that live in his brain, he’ll realize it’s the sweet things in life that he really deserves.

 

 

D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins. 

D’Vaughn and Kris have six weeks to plan their dream wedding.

Their whole relationship is fake.

Instant I Do could be Kris Zavala’s big break. She’s right on the cusp of really making it as an influencer, so a stint on reality TV is the perfect chance to elevate her brand. And $100,000 wouldn’t hurt, either.

D’Vaughn Miller is just trying to break out of her shell. She’s sort of neglected to come out to her mom for years, so a big splashy fake wedding is just the excuse she needs.

All they have to do is convince their friends and family they’re getting married in six weeks. If anyone guesses they’re not for real, they’re out. Selling their chemistry on camera is surprisingly easy, and it’s still there when no one else is watching, which is an unexpected bonus. Winning this competition is going to be a piece of wedding cake.

But each week of the competition brings new challenges, and soon the prize money’s not the only thing at stake. A reality show isn’t the best place to create a solid foundation, and their fake wedding might just derail their relationship before it even starts.

A Few Brief Reviews

I had such good intentions to get back into blogging when I wrote my post back in January, and now it’s been over two months and I’m just getting around to it now. Life happens. The second trimester is over and I’m well into my third (8 months along!), and with it has returned fatigue plus some exciting (read: irritating) new pregnancy symptoms. I’ve been frantically trying to get all my ducks in a row at work so my coworkers aren’t overwhelmed while I’m on maternity leave, plus getting ready for the baby. As I’m sure is typical of first-time parents, I feel like there’s always something else to be done for baby prep, and it’s left little time for other things. But I wanted to get in a quick update here at Stacked.

Firstly, we chose Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson as our Cybils winner. We all really enjoyed this magical story about a socially anxious necromancer. You can read more about the book and why we chose it, plus more about the other winners, on the Cybils page here.

Aside from Cybils books, I’ve been reading mostly audiobooks, and most of those have been thrillers for adults that I don’t need to pay 100% attention to. Spoiler alert: most have been kinda bad. But still enjoyable! I go to the library’s Overdrive site, select audiobook thrillers available now, and basically choose the standalones that sound kind of interesting. Here are brief reviews of a few of them.

 

No One Will Miss Her by Kat Rosenfield

This one was pretty good. It’s one of those that relies on a big twist partway through the novel, and how much you enjoy the book will likely depend on whether you saw the twist coming – and whether you think it’s any good. It’s about two women, one suspected of killing the other, and is narrated by both – the dead one from beyond the grave. Characterization is good and I feel like the twist was well-executed and fun. I also appreciated that this one didn’t end like I thought it would.

 

 

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

This is another one that I thought was pretty good. It’s one of the growing body of books that addresses Covid-19 directly: a man and a woman meet in Dublin, start dating, and then lockdown hits. They’re not allowed to visit each other, so their solution is to…move in together. After only knowing each other a few weeks. This will go well, right? Of course, both people have their own hidden reasons for choosing to put their relationship on superspeed, and they both have a lot to hide from their pasts. Howard is good at unraveling all these secrets through the course of the book, not giving too much away at once but not holding it all for the end either, and again this one didn’t end like I thought it would.

 

While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams

I regret to write that I didn’t think this one was that great. It was…fine. I liked that it was about intrigue with the Supreme Court (a justice falls into a coma and gives power of attorney to one of his law clerks, who must unravel a huge international conspiracy while avoiding being assassinated), but I felt the pacing was off – it kind of dragged, surprising for a book with such an exciting premise. I didn’t love the narrator either.

 

 

Falling by TJ Newman

A pilot’s family is kidnapped mid-flight, and he’s told by the kidnapper that he must crash the plane or his family dies. The kidnapper tells the pilot he has a confederate on the plane, and he can’t trust anyone or call law enforcement. What will the pilot choose? Is there a way to save both his family and the plane full of innocent people? And where exactly is the kidnapper directing the pilot to crash the plane, and why? I really didn’t care for this one. It’s suspenseful, but left a bad taste in my mouth. My biggest issue was the main character’s (and other characters’) takeaway that the hijackers kind of had a point. Yuck.

This Week at Book Riot

It’s been quiet here! I plan to get some more posts up shortly, as I’ve got a little break between classes now (and maybe I should write about that?). In the meantime, here are the last two weeks’ worth of Book Riot posts:

A look back at vintage teen advice books and the guidance they imparted.

 

All of your spring 2022 YA paperback releases.

 

Goods and gifts for grammar nerds.

 

Badass book stickers for readers.

 

What are the most popular children’s books in each state? Watch for bad methodology here.

 

Awesome Greek YA retellings.

 

And here’s last week’s roundup of book censorship news.

 

This Week at Book Riot

Over on Book Riot this week…

The most successful book thief in American history.

 

A deep dive into what soft/quiet censorship is and why right now it’s being done by even those most ardent defenders of intellectual freedom.

 

On the topic of censorship, here’s last week’s roundup of censorship news, as well as a look at the difference between a book ban, a book challenge, and a curriculum update.

 

In defense of slow reading.

 

DIY kits for book lovers, ranging from embroidery to card catalog succulent planters.

 

And finally, this year’s Summer Scares picks are here. I love the YA slate so much.

This Week at Book Riot and Around the Web

 

Over on Book Riot this week…

 

How to use FOIA and what you can do with it to uncover local book challenges.

 

Gender Queer was challenged at the Coppell, Texas, public library. The way the director and his team responded is a template for how all libraries should. It’s an outstanding model to use to prepare.

 

Libraries in the US are more popular than ever, but library workers still don’t make a living wage.

 

Sweet celestial bookmarks.

 

I’ve been around the internet as well!

 

Over on School Library Journal, how #TikTok is a boon for young readers.

 

I was a guest on WNYC’s On The Media podcast talking about book challenges and what the media is getting wrong right now..

 

I was also briefly on Illinois Public Media’s The 21st talking about book challenges.

 

And here’s last week’s roundup of book challenges and censorship stories from around the web and why buying challenged books doesn’t solve the issue of First Amendment infringement.

Hear Me on WNYC’s On The Media

 

No formal post today, as I’m in the midst of catching up on homework for school (I guess I never noted here that I’m going back to school for a second masters–this time in counseling). But last week I had the honor and privilege of being a guest on WNYC’s On The Media podcast as part of a show on book challenges and bans across the country.

You can tune in here.

If you’ve been looking for resources on managing book challenges and bans, I’ve been writing about tools, resources, and the state of the situation right now. I’ve pulled much of it into a handy and shareable Instagram carousel.

This Week at Book Riot

Over on Book Riot this week…

 

Some of the best journalistic nonfiction you can read.

 

Nostalgic bookish goods, featuring Book It and Reading Rainbow homages and more.

 

Last week’s censorship news roundup.

 

This Week at Book Riot

 

Over on Book Riot this week….

 

A middle school principal in Kent, Washington, quietly pulled three queer books from the library shelves.

 

A roundup of excellent gothic YA books.

 

A host of gorgeous blank notebooks and journals to add to your stash.

 

Nellie Bly died 100 years ago this week. Get to know this legendary, groundbreaking investigative journalist.

 

I tried out three “blind date with a book” options. Here’s what I learned.

 

Finally, last week’s censorship news roundup, with a look at the ways censors encourage one another.

Debut YA Novels: January 2022

As we approach the end of the first month of a new year — it’s been both the fastest and slowest January ever, somehow — let’s take a look at this month’s debut YA novels.

 

 

This round-up includes debut novels, where “debut” is in its purest definition. These are first-time books by first-time authors. I’m not including books by authors who are using or have used a pseudonym in the past or those who have written in other categories (adult, middle grade, etc.) in the past. Authors who have self-published are not included here either.

All descriptions are from Goodreads, unless otherwise noted. If I’m missing any debuts that came out in January 2022 from traditional publishers — and I should clarify that indie/small presses are okay — let me know in the comments.

As always, not all noted titles included here are necessarily endorsements for those titles. List is arranged alphabetically by title. Starred titles are the beginning of a new series.

 

January 2022 Debut YA Novels

 

*The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder

Fi is a bookish treasure hunter with a knack for ruins and riddles, who definitely doesn’t believe in true love.

Shane is a tough-as-dirt girl warrior from the north who likes cracking skulls, pretty girls, and doing things her own way.

Briar Rose is a prince under a sleeping curse, who’s been waiting a hundred years for the kiss that will wake him.

Cursed princes are nothing but ancient history to Fi–until she pricks her finger on a bone spindle while exploring a long-lost ruin. Now she’s stuck with the spirit of Briar Rose until she and Shane can break the century-old curse on his kingdom.

Dark magic, Witch Hunters, and bad exes all stand in her way–not to mention a mysterious witch who might wind up stealing Shane’s heart, along with whatever else she’s after. But nothing scares Fi more than the possibility of falling in love with Briar Rose.

Set in a lush world inspired by beloved fairytales, The Bone Spindle is a fast-paced young adult fantasy full of adventure, romance, found family, and snark.

 

Cold The Night, Fast The Wolves by Meg Long

After angering a local gangster, seventeen-year-old Sena Korhosen must flee with her prize fighting wolf, Iska, in tow. A team of scientists offer to pay her way off her frozen planet on one condition: she gets them to the finish line of the planet’s infamous sled race. Though Sena always swore she’d never race after it claimed both her mothers’ lives, it’s now her only option.

But the tundra is a treacherous place, and as the race unfolds and their lives are threatened at every turn, Sena starts to question her own abilities. She must discover whether she’s strong enough to survive the wild – whether she and Iska together are strong enough to get them all out alive.

 

 

 

 

Icebreaker by A. L. Graziadei

Seventeen-year-old Mickey James III is a college freshman, a brother to five sisters, and a hockey legacy. With a father and a grandfather who have gone down in NHL history, Mickey is almost guaranteed the league’s top draft spot.

The only person standing in his way is Jaysen Caulfield, a contender for the #1 spot and Mickey’s infuriating (and infuriatingly attractive) teammate. When rivalry turns to something more, Mickey will have to decide what he really wants, and what he’s willing to risk for it.

This is a story about falling in love, finding your team (on and off the ice), and choosing your own path.

 

 

 

*The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman

Vira is desperate to get out of her mother’s shadow and establish her legacy as a revered queen of Ashoka. But with the country’s only quarry running out of magic–a precious resource that has kept Ashoka safe from conflict–she can barely protect her citizens from the looming threat of war. And if her enemies discover this, they’ll stop at nothing to seize the last of the magic.

Vira’s only hope is to find a mysterious object of legend: the Ivory Key, rumored to unlock a new source of magic. But in order to infiltrate enemy territory and retrieve it, she must reunite with her siblings, torn apart by the different paths their lives have taken. Each of them has something to gain from finding the Ivory Key–and even more to lose if they fail. Ronak plans to sell it to the highest bidder in exchange for escape from his impending political marriage. Kaleb, falsely accused of assassinating the former maharani needs it to clear his name. And Riya, a runaway who cut all family ties, wants the Key to prove her loyalty to the rebels who want to strip the nobility of its power.

They must work together to survive the treacherous journey. But with each sibling harboring secrets and their own agendas, the very thing that brought them together could tear apart their family–and their world–for good.

 

Love Somebody by Rachel Roasek

Sam Dickson is a charismatic actress, ambitious and popular with big plans for her future. Ros Shew is one of the smartest people in school–but she’s a loner, and prefers to keep it that way. Then there’s Christian Powell, the darling of the high school soccer team. He’s not the best with communication, which is why he and Sam broke up after dating for six months; but he makes up for it by being genuine, effusive, and kind, which is why they’re still best friends.

When Christian falls for Ros on first sight, their first interaction is a disaster, so he enlists Sam’s help to get through to her. Sam, with motives of her own, agrees to coach Christian from the sidelines on how to soften Ros’s notorious walls. But as Ros starts to suspect Christian is acting differently, and Sam starts to realize the complexity of her own feelings, their fragile relationships threaten to fall apart.

This fresh romantic comedy from debut author Rachel Roasek is a heartfelt story about falling in love–with a partner, with your friends, or just with yourself–and about how maybe, the bravest thing to do in the face of change is just love somebody.

 

The Temperature of You and Me by Brian Zepka

Sixteen-year-old Dylan Highmark thought his winter was going to be full of boring shifts at the Dairy Queen, until he finds himself in love with a boy who’s literally too hot to handle.

Dylan has always wanted a boyfriend, but the suburbs surrounding Philadelphia do not have a lot in the way of options. Then, in walks Jordan, a completely normal (and undeniably cute) boy who also happens to run at a cool 110 degrees Fahrenheit. When the boys start spending time together, Dylan begins feeling all kinds of ways, and when he spikes a fever for two weeks and is suddenly coughing flames, he thinks he might be suffering from something more than just a crush. Jordan forces Dylan to keep his symptoms a secret. But as the pressure mounts and Dylan becomes distant with his closest friends and family, he pushes Jordan for answers. Jordan’s revelations of why he’s like this, where he came from, and who’s after him leaves Dylan realizing how much first love is truly out of this world. And if Earth supports life that breathes oxygen, then love can only keep Jordan and Dylan together for so long.