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Emily C Gardner

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Distracting With Pretty
The Wondering Years by Knox McCoy
25 Bunny Books perfect for Spring
17 Wintery Children’s Books
A Bible Literacy Book Flight

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I feel like I’m the last person to read this highly acclaimed middle grade novel about August Pullman, whose facial differences have prevented him from attending mainstream school until 5th grade. Wonder chronicles August’s first year at school from various people’s perspectives, which I wasn’t expecting but absolutely loved. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What could have landed as overly saccharine or pandering hits the perfect balance of eye opening, heartwarming and witty. I listened to this on audio while scrapping wallpaper (what else?). My kiddos jumped in around the halfway point and while not everything was necessarily 4 and 6 year old appropriate, they were totally sucked in to the story. Highly recommend!

“Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.” // Great Is Thy Faithfulness ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As normal life remains at a standstill, it’s been a comforting juxtaposition to look out my windows - to see the the rosy points of new peonies poking through a mat of old leaves, to watch the grass wake with verdant intensity from a winter slumber, to wonder when the swelling buds on forsythia and lilacs will burst forth sprays of color. I may spend a varying portion of every day feeling grieved, angry, frightened and exhausted, but nature pushes on with a constancy only God could orchestrate. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Even amidst the unknown, may I, too, remain constant in my acknowledgement that God is faithful and full of mercy and abounding in love. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ About the book // SECOND NATURE: A Gardener’s Education by Michael Pollan. I haven’t had much energy or focus to read lately. Most nights will find me firmly planted on the couch with chocolate and Brooklyn 99. However, I’ve been continuously drawn back to the steady voice of Michael Pollan musing about lawns and roses and woodchucks while scraping what seems like a football fields worth of wallpaper in my kids’ room. Hearing someone talk about the same obstacles and glories that I’m discovering as we experience our own land come to life for the first time gives me a sense of companionship in a time of isolation.

A little over half way through #middlegrademarch. How’s it been going? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My March thus far: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ • A KIND IF PARADISE - perfection. • THE MYSTWICK SCHOOL OF MUSICRAFT - a solid fantasy with good series potential. • THE STORY SEEKER - read 60 pages then abandoned. Just couldn’t get in to it. • THE THIEF KNOT - started yesterday and feeling good about it 😊 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Any winners for you so far?

Probably since I’m an introvert, I’ve always viewed my home as a bit of a refuge. But now more than ever, our homes - whatever style they may be - are acting as a port in this storm. As I was mentally processing this weekend about the weeks ahead that will be tied pretty close to these walls, I was most convicted about my need to shift expectations - of myself and of this place. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Projects at @themustardhouseny will stop because I know beauty in this season isn’t going to be freshly painted walls, it’s going to be clean and cozy spaces to rest, play, and learn. Beauty isn’t going to be new countertops, it’s going to be impromptu cookie making and consistent homemade meals. Beauty isn’t going to be mended fences and a leaf free lawn, it’s going to be stick houses and bike rides. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I want to choose grace-filled expectations so that, God willing, my family will look back on these weeks and months and remember a calm mom who was able to listen well and find joy in this unexpected season. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What’s a grace-filled expectation you can choose for yourself?

I’m sure there’s a difference between fantasy and science fiction or there wouldn’t be two distinct genres, but I’ve always muddled them together in my mind. The Library of Ever fell surprisingly flat for me and I’m realizing it’s probably because I actually prefer fantasy to science fiction. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The idea of stumbling into an other worldly library sounds like a great premise for book. However, I spent most of The Library of Ever thinking the success of Lenora, the young hero, was just not feasible. The plot and action lacked a subtlety that could have helped me suspend my disbelief a bit more. After getting some Alice Through The Looking Glass vibes on the last couple pages, I can see where the author might be heading, so I will read the sequel since I own it. But it’s not something I’m clamoring to read...

When life is on the crazier side, there are a couple genres that can entice me away from Netflix and cookies (well, the cookies are coming along for the ride no matter what) - middle grade and romance. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m not offended by a little sexiness in my books, but I definitely err on the side of prude when it comes to romance. Which is why the Proper Romance series from @shadowmountainpub (#partner) has become a favorite. These are closed door romances (sex and such happens off the page) set in an array of time periods, from contemporary to medieval and beyond. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I haven’t loved every one (I’m looking at you, Check Me Out which was set in a library but I abandoned after 10 pages), but they’ve been more hit than miss. If you’re looking for a place to start, may I suggest Lies Jane Austen Told Me and the Mayfield Family Series... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Have you read any Proper Romances? What genres will pull you away from Netflix?

The joys of being in a new library system - getting to read more Lucy Knisley! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ That being said, the subject matter of Displaced was a bit of a tough hang for me. Lucy documents a Caribbean cruise she takes with her 90+ grandparents. She confronts her grands’ decline with honesty and I was left feeling rather fragile (you can ask @iamtimgardner) about the mortality of my loved ones. (I DO believe that God created us to be eternal beings but that doesn’t necessarily eliminate the pain of death on earth.) So, yeah, this is a heavier Knisley... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Looking forward to Something New!

Can there be too many middle grade fantasy series that I enjoy? No, I didn’t think so either... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In The Mystwick School of Musicraft, flute playing Amelia Jones has to fight for a coveted spot a this prodigious school. She has to battle ghosts from her past to find her true identity as a musician and a person. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Though the characters and world building lacked the depth/complexity of say a Nevermoor or Greenglass House, I loved the storyline, the musical emphasis (I am NOT musical) and set up for potentially more books. One of my beefs with middle grade is when all of the action or challenges the protagonist faces could be solved if they just said something to an adult. I appreciated that Amelia’s drama could mostly only be fixed by her own self or her comrades. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Mystwick was a great way to kick off #middlegrademarch.

A Kind of Paradise was the best kind of middle grade - age appropriate but universally charming. Introspective but fun. I loved @amyrebeccatan’s love letter to libraries and wish Beverley, Sonia and Lenny worked at my local branch. Amy has another book coming out in May and I can’t wait! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Speaking of not being able to wait... It’s not quite #middlegrademarch but I’ve already started on this stack. I think there’s a theme with my picks 📚

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