Josh and Gemma Make a Baby should have delighted me. This book seemed to promise what I love about romance novels, which is how fun romance tropes can open up an exploration of complex emotional and relational dynamics. And perhaps that is what this novel delivered for some readers. Unfortunately, Josh and Gemma missed the mark for me. I was underwhelmed by the dynamic between the hero and heroine, not least because Gemma really didn't seem to be that interested in Josh's life, or, like, anything about him?

Having said that, I expect this book to find its readers. I can't think of a romance novel that deals with infertility to recommend over Josh and Gemma, which speaks to a gap that think book is filling, perhaps. I can imagine that for readers who have similarly struggled with IVF, following Gemma and Josh through their journey to creating a family may be very affirming. 

Thank you to NetGalley, Swift & Lewis and Sarah Ready for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Hamilton and Me is Giles Terera's fascinating actor's journal from his time as Aaron Burr in the West End production of Hamilton: An American Musical. Terera is a thoughtful and deliberate actor whose background in Shakespeare shone through in his insights into Aaron Burr's character and how different aspects of the production provide nuances first time viewers or even big time fans of the musical may have missed. Perfect for Hamilton fans, of course, but also anyone interested in the theatre industry.

TO TEACH? 🍎
I dream of teaching Hamilton! There is certainly ample material in the musical to cover in an English, drama or civics class. In which case, Terera's book may provide some useful analytical insights to support classwork. 
This would also be useful reading for drama students, I imagine! 🎭

True Loaf is a delightfully atmospheric modern day folkloric quest narrative for middle grade readers. I've always felt there's something a bit magical about cooking or baking for other people, so I felt the vibes strongly when protagonist Riley's quest involved searching for a particular ingredient.

The first fifteen pages of this story feel like they could be the inciting incident of a middle grade novel, but that isn't what True Loaf is. A second act with Riley amongst the fae is not what Johnson promises or delivers. Rather, Johnson has crafted a modern fairy story in the tradition of Balkan folklore, as she outlines in the bonus article at the end of the ebook.

🍎 TO TEACH?
Before I realised how short it is, I expected True Loaf to perhaps be an addition to my wide reading recommendation list for middle grade students. Having read it though, I predict I will be using it more substantially as a model text for crafting new folklore tales in a creative writing unit. Don't sleep on this one. There is also plenty of scope for creative writing in the fantasy genre, extending the action beyond the story's end. 

Thank you to NetGalley and L. Austen Johson for providing a copy for review. 

How Does the Show Go On? is a full-colour guide to how Disney Theatrical produces Broadway musicals (and to a lesser extent, plays), up to an including its most recent tour de force, Frozen. While it could be cynically read as an extended advertisement for Disney shows, the clear and comprehensive explanations of theatre jargon and the myriad roles backstage make this an imaginative treasure trove for any young theatregoers or musical fans (or me, a 30-year-old teacher would-be stage-manager-in-another-life, patiently waiting for an opportunty to stage a high school musical!)

 🍎 TO TEACH?
Considering the potentially prohibitive expense of going to the theatre, I love to give my students the opportunity to explore the joys of drama, especially musical theatre (my own theatrical form of choice!) This book will live on my bookshelf at work. I have no doubt I will find many using for it when teaching Shakespeare and the foudnations of other types of drama. 

Though I am not a big reader of poetry outside of the classroom, dipping into F.S Yousaf's Serenity over this holiday period was a delightful reprise from the busyness of the end of the year. Each poem feels like an edifying conversation with a wise friend, offering a moment of clarity about some aspect of this messy experience we call being human. 

With poetry, I often find that it's best to get a sense of the language. Here's an excerpt from one of my favourite poems: 
"Your soul is a guest 
that calls your sacred vessel home."

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

This Christmas time loop romance is a delightful diversion for a moment of respite in the flurry of the end of the year. In a Holidaze delivers friends to lovers romance with the sweet scent of pining, a lovely sunshiney hero, and a fully realised supporting cast of family and friends. The Groundhog Day premise is the perfect conceit for the change-adverse heroine. Christina Lauren continue their pattern of maintaining some distance in sex scenes of their standalone, compared to their much more explicit early romance series. In a Holidaze is an easy choice for Christmas reading for anyone who loved the time travel machinations of Palm Springs. 

The middle grade cousin of Carmen Sandiego, the 39 Clues series is a globetrotting mystery perfect for young armchair travellers. One False Note, the second installment by Gordon Korman, suffers in the inevitable comparison to Rick Riordan's opener The Maze of Bones. Fun if somewhat unfocused, this is a fun episode in the Cahill siblings' race to the 39 clues.