April Book Bracket 2025

 April Book Bracket

April was a busy month, particularly since it involved preparing for Easter, and then an alumni choir concert. However, it was great to see that I still had a good reading month.

Edge of Extinction: The Ark Plan, by Laura Martin**

Sky acts on a late-found note from her father, who disappeared years ago, and lives the wild adventures of life in the dinosaur-infested world outside her post-apocalyptic life in the tunnels.

Why I picked it up: This book was recommended by Sarah McKenzie of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast. I'd tried listening to it about this time last year, but wasn't in the right headspace for it then. I was looking for an audiobook to try and this one came to mind.

My impressions: If you're going to have a post-apocalyptic world with a key character being a female with red hair (that seems to be a bit of a trope?), it really needs to include dinosaurs. It was so dangerous to be around even small dinosaurs that most scenes that took place after a certain point in this story had more at stake than a Marvel superhero movie. The book was originally meant to be the first half of a single book, but it looks like this is part one due to length. (I did some quick research on the author's website.) I'm definitely excited to listen to the next book, and this experience goes to show, once again, that just because a book isn't right for you at a certain time doesn't mean you have to put it down for forever. As a book taking place in a post-apocalyptic world, it doesn't seem to have much of the typical social commentary I would expect - just some depictions of a heavy-handed authoritarian government doing sketchy things - but maybe there will be more to come in the next book? But, honestly, I won't be upset if this is just an adrenaline ride set in a post-apocalyptic world and didn't have any deep things to say about something that's wrong with our society. Because, dinosaurs. Rawr. I think this book is a lot of fun, but it's kind of intense because the author isn't scared to write about blood, injury by mauling, and death by dino, although these are not super graphic...only somewhat. This book would be good for middle school students who can handle some of the more intense scenes, but I enjoyed it quite a bit and wanted to know what happened next.

Manners Begin at Breakfast: Modern Etiquette for Families, by Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece

A real-life princess provides a cute book about modern etiquette, as it can be taught in families.

Why I picked it up: I saw this in an ad online either on Facebook or Pinterest, and was intrigued. I had no intention of reading it any time soon, but I stepped into the newly-renovated library branch that is closest to my house, and I couldn't help but notice it was in the new release section. So, of course, I couldn't help but check it out...

My impressions: I think this is a great book for people in any stage of life who want to know what's what in the world of good manners. Though geared towards parents teaching children, I was able to learn a thing or two and pick up some pro tips. I had a training recently about the negative effects of screen time on language development, and was fascinated to see that she was pretty spot-on with everything she shared in the realm of tech etiquette. Cute illustrations and a chapter about family etiquette - with an emphasis on the importance of family - were great as well. There were a few comments about how it's good for kids to be exposed to all sorts of lifestyles and family situations through what they see online...my own beliefs differ, but moments like that came up only once or twice and were quick to move past. I have tried to be better about not talking with my mouth full because of this book; there is a lot in it that is informative and helpful, and always shared in a kind way. I had a vague sense that these etiquette "rules" were maybe more her own personal take and the result of reflecting current norms, but that doesn't mean the guidelines are inaccurate. I think the only thing missing would be examples of how to phrase things. For example, at the end of each chapter, the author shared questions she'd received through the years, and said, "Establish [this boundary], but say it kindly." What would an example of tackling a delicate topic like that be? A good book for quick and dirty look at etiquette, this would be good to have on hand as a resource when raising kids.

Girl, Arise! by Claire Swinarski**

The hostess of "The Catholic Feminist" podcast discusses what it means to be a Catholic and a Feminist at the same time.

Why I picked it up: Well...I got the Audible subscription going again and this book was available for free this time around. I think a good friend read it and posted about it on her site, so I was interested to see what I would think about it.

My impressions: If I were to summarize this book, it would be something like, the author encourages Catholic women to go out there and live their faith vibrantly, even if it's not in traditional gender role ways. Swinarski verbalizes well the belief that I've had for years, which is that, sometimes, it seems like Catholic women aren't always invited to the same rigor of spirituality of men (thinking of Catholic conferences and talks geared towards women vs. men). She also hits on a lot of points that I have pondered through the years, although I've never been one to call myself a "feminist". I don't connect with her as far as personality goes, as I'm more on the meek-and-mild side, I'd say, with a yearning for stay-at-home-mom-ness, even if I don't think I'd be able to do it myself. If I'm remembering my friend's review of this book, I think I have to agree that Swinarski's descriptions of some Catholics seem to dip into stereotypes, and I just don't quite know what to do with those. She had some things to say that called me out - such as trying to be better about not buying fast fashion, or how we're called to love our neighbors, our actual neighbors, and not just our fellow parishioners who agree with us. There's some good food for thought here. I'm not sure that I approach life with the same go-get-'em attitude as her, but there were quite a few things I agreed with her on, and some things to think over. A quick listen, it was a pretty good one, and is most relevant to Catholic women and, perhaps, feminists who'd like to understand how the Church is pro-women.

A good quote: "The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women. If we spend our days discussing the perils of Facebook and that mean thing that political leader said, so will the rest of the world. If we spend our days racing toward holiness, helping our neighbors, and fighting for justice, so will the rest of the world." - Introduction

Edge of Extinction: Code Name Flood, by by Laura Martin**

Sky and company continue their quest to the heart of Lake Michigan, and then to another compound, to try to thwart the evil plan of the Noah to destroy all dinosaur life - which would also kill hundreds of people and render life topside impossible.

Why I picked it up: I was eager to continue the dystopian story started in the first book!

My impressions: It's hard for me to say which of these two books were better, especially since they were originally written as a single story. It took a little bit to get back into the swing of things, as there had to be a little recap to orient the reader, but things got thrilling pretty quickly. The pacing was great for the rest of the book, after maybe the first 25%, and I was eager to learn how everything went. I noted that there wasn't any specific commentary in this second book about the woes of society that led to this state of affairs - as I expect to see in dystopian tales - but, again, I'm not upset that this was just an honest adventure that was filled with dinosaurs. It utilized well the man vs. nature and man vs. man conflict elements to create an exciting story. The conclusion was satisfying, and I'd recommend this book to middle-grade students and older who can handle some intense scenes and some dinosaur-inflicted injury.

Impossible Creatures, by Katherine Rundell*

In the backyard of his grandfather (who has his own secret history), Christopher discovers a portal to a place filled with the mythical creatures of legend, and teams up with a girl his age, Mal, and some other vibrant characters to restore the magical health of this land and its creatures.

Why I picked it up: My nephew told me that he really liked this book from his school's Battle of the Books list and, since I've gotten him accustomed to talking books with me, I figured it would behoove me to read the book myself to share in his reading experiences that he talks to me about.

My impressions: The ending was a little rough for me, but the book had an overall message of embracing life, because even though it is hard and there is much evil, it is also beautiful with overwhelming goodness. I took issue with some elements of the author's style. Specifically, she described many actions that characters did to show, rather than tell - which is great - but her descriptions of those actions also were more poetic or "literary" than I would have liked? I know it's silly of me to critique, but it was a style that didn't jive with me. I also was irritated by the kids in the story disobeying elders - multiple times - and, more often than not, having something positive happen, like a breakthrough of a difficult situation or the forwarding of the plot in some way that wouldn't necessarily have happened without disobedience. I'll save my soapbox on the denigration of obedience in modern children's literature for another time. One last thing I didn't love was one worldbuilding element had some weird, but relatively mild, reincarnation/avatar stuff going on. There were lots of things to like about this story - adventure, the bringing together of all sorts of exciting, and sometimes terrifying, mythical creatures, a background romance that doesn't steal much focus at all, and some really moving moments. There was even a feast celebrating the returning hero which, for me, hearkened back to Redwall's homecoming feasts. Every adventure should end with a feast, in my opinion. It sounds like there's a sequel to this book out already, but I'm not sure that I will read it. This book could be a good fit for upper elementary and middle school readers who enjoy fantasy fiction, but there are some pretty sad parts and it would probably be good for parents to just know about what's in the story before handing it to kids.

Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi*

This classic Italian fairy tale tracks the mischief and grief that the wooden marionette, Pinocchio, causes for himself after he is created by his father, Geppetto, and adopted by the Fairy with Azure Hair.

Why I picked it up: I had to read this one for one of my book clubs. I wasn't anticipating liking it, so I obtained a free version in the public domain, rather than paying $15-$20 for the recommended version that included special commentary. Besides, I ended up getting some good commentary on it when I read Vigen Guroian's Tending the Heart of Virtue.

My impressions: This isn't necessarily a book that I foresee myself longing to read again, but I found it mostly enjoyable, and had more depth to it than I was anticipating; I can see why it's a classic. I've heard this book described as "dark" several times, but that isn't the word that I'd use for it. As a tale that is mostly pretty energetic and light-hearted, it certainly has elements that I found unsettling (I have come to realize I'm uncomfortable with transformations of humans into animals that are not instantaneous). There is indeed a scene where Pinocchio is hung and almost dies, and one in which he is almost drowned in his donkey-form, both of which could be pretty rough for some readers, but they were treated pretty lightly and moved on quickly to the next childish mishap, so it's not as dark as I thought it would be. What I really loved about this book is that it felt to me like a sort of depiction of the soul as it is clouded by sin, repents, makes good resolves, and yet keeps messing up. There is growth that the reader can see in Pinocchio; he steadily becomes better as the story progresses, even with the very serious errors that he continues to commit. The author gets close to preaching through the words of some of his characters, but never sounds too preachy. The conclusion seemed almost too abrupt, but it was quite excellent. It's a relatively quick read for an adult, but I think adults and children could potentially enjoy this story, with no additional commentary required to appreciate it. Just be aware of those parts mentioned above if you or your child are more sensitive readers.

Connections Over Compliance: Rewiring Our Perceptions of Discipline, by Lori L. Desautels

An educator and researcher explains how we can discipline differently in schools for students who come from backgrounds of adversity, who usually don't respond well to traditional discipline.

Why I picked it up: I had one more professional development day to fill at school, and since I was tired of watching videos online, I got permission to do a "book study."

My impressions: I read this book in a single day, excluding the in-depth appendix of resources and activities to try in the back, the introductions I skipped, and the paragraphs I skimmed here and there. I was initially not enjoying the book, in part due to its continual referencing the COVID pandemic. This book was set to release initially right around when the pandemic shut everything down, and it seems like the author had time to make edits to include allusions to the cultural crisis at that time. I've listened to audiobooks in the last few years that mention the pandemic, but this is maybe the first book whose references to COVID have been less fun for me. I also struggled with the first quarter of the book or so, because it seemed like the author was saying discipline just doesn't work in schools and never has. I eventually came to realize that what she was saying is traditional discipline doesn't work for some students, namely, the ones who have the biggest behaviors, the ones who are most disruptive to the classroom environment. That realization helped me get on board with more of what she was saying, but I was disappointed that it took so long for that distinction to become clear. Maybe the misunderstanding was more on me. In any case, I think she has some good things to say. Take this quote: 

"This doesn't mean giving students a pass for misbehavior. There are still consequences for poor choices, but regulating the feelings and sensations that a student experiences is the initial step, one that is critical for a sustainable change in behavior." (p. 101)

This essentially says that the first thing we need to do for kids who really struggle with big outbursts is to teach them better ways to regulate their bodies and emotions. However, we also don't just let students off the hook, either. I liked when she had stories of real life that drew from her experiences, but I found myself wishing for more of those engaging stories during some parts. She shows how reframing discipline can help improve the way school teams interact with students who have the most difficult and dangerous behaviors. However, it's not an exact science. This approach takes a lot of time and availability from adults in the school for students who struggle with operating by school expectations, and makes me wish there was a way to help students cope with difficult situations that wasn't the main responsibility of the schools. I also wonder about at what point we do involve more traditional consequences for students who have been deeply affected by childhood adversity; the author doesn't explain at what point it maybe is appropriate to say it's just too dangerous for certain behaviors to be happening in a certain environment. This could be a good book for educators and those who have questions about why school discipline may look different for different students, but it's not a book that I'd necessarily recommend others to read for fun.

The Spear, by Louis de Wohl

This work of historical fictions gives a story of the life of Cassius Longinus, the centurion who thrust his spear into Jesus' side after Jesus died at the crucifixion.

Why I picked it up: This book had been on my to-read list for a while, and a friend and I agreed that we'd read it together during Lent.

My impressions: This book was an exercise in changes of fortune, leaving me gripped by the tale at some moments, very frustrated at others, and very uncomfortable at yet other moments. I thought the author did a good job of bringing together stories from the Gospel and giving some of the lesser-thought about ones (at least for me) a life, such as Jesus talking about the deaths of those killed by Pilate through a tower collapsing on them. After reading Ben Hur and watching The Chosen and The Robe, it was interesting to see how this author approached the social and cultural workings of the Holy Land at the time when Jesus lived, with similarities and differences showing up in various aspects. This was certainly a better read than the drawn-out Ben Hur, but I'd hesitate to recommend it wholesale because of some very uncomfortable aspects, such as a marriage with a huge age gap that experiences some pretty intense drama. Two characters attempt suicide. I did appreciate how many strings were tied up by the end - that was a good touch. Some of the action scenes and dramatic developments were exciting and written well.  I think this book could be one to consider reading during Lent, but I don't think it's as impactful as other books - especially when one recalls the excellence of What Jesus Saw From the Cross.

Bracket Play

Well, this is one of those months I feel sheepish for the book I picked as best of the month. It was a weird mix of books to put in a bracket together. I paired the first of the dystopi-dino books with Impossible Creatures. This dino book won this matchup - Impossible Creatures had some good elements, but it didn't quite hit all the right notes for me. The good-manners book was paired with the other informational book, and it won because I enjoyed it a lot more and had more topics that I think would be of interest to more people. The next two matchups were a bit odd - a modern Catholic women's thoughts on feminism and faith versus a historical fiction story about the life of a saint who encountered Christ, and then the second dystopi-dino vs. the old classic Pinocchio. The Spear won this round, being more memorable and having some great parts in it. I figured Pinnochio could win this first round, mostly because it had some good depth to it and I knew the first dino book was still in competition.

The second round still had weird matchups, with the dino adventure beating a book about manners, and the life of a saint winning over a children's tale about a puppet that grows in virtue. Ultimately, I didn't give the win to the religious book. I felt it was a bit awkward, especially since the winning book didn't have any depth beyond what you'd expect for an adventure in a dino-infested world. But, it's the book that I already mentioned to someone as one that I've read recently and enjoyed. It was a lot of fun, and I guess it wins this month.