My children are fans of Jennette McCurdy in her various Nickelodeon roles (roles she despised), so it was perhaps inevitable that I would listen to her biography, I’m Glad My Mom Died.
Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to not listen to this book with my kids, because, watch out, as the title implies, this book is dark. Like pitch-black dark. It’s really a remarkable tale of Jennette’s abuse at the hands of a family member (her mom) and the erosion of her own identity to fulfill her mother’s wishes. And the hits keep coming! When you think, “this is terrible,” another thing comes along and you’re like “this is more terrible.” And that happens from the beginning to the end of this book!
I listened and didn’t read this book which I feel is the appropriate format because Jennette narrates her own tale. I think if you are triggered by familial abuse you may want to either steer clear of this book or read it, that may make it more palatable. Ultimately, this is a tale of recovery, because Jennette has been doing the work to get better. This book is Exhibit A.
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher My mother’s favorite children’s story was a Golden Book edition of The Gingerbread Man by Nancy Nolte; she’d often read it to my sister and I and now our children as well. You probably have heard a version of it about a gingerbread man who runs away and no one can catch. What isn’t really ever explained is how the gingerbread man came to life in the first place. Kingfisher’s A Wizard Guide to Defensive Baking might give a hint at how it could take place.
The hero of A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, Mona is a fourteen-year-old who despite having some wizarding powers, works in her aunt’s bakery. That’s because unlike other wizards, her powers work solely on baked goods; her familiar is a sourdough starter and she can create gingerbread man golems. However, when a body turns up at the bakery, Mona’s life begins to change and she learns that her powers might be just what is needed to save the city from dark forces. You can borrow it as a digital audiobook from Hoopla; Patricia Santomasso gives a stellar performance which brings the spunky young heroine to life.
Fairytale Baking by Christin Geweke Warning, listening to Kingfisher’s work might leave you desiring sugary delights, but Christin Geweke’s Fairytale Baking has plenty of sweet treats if you love to bake to cure your cravings.
Fairytale Baking recipes are broken into five sections, before each section is a story that provides loose inspiration towards the recipes that follow. The fairytales included are Snow-White and Rose-red (Classic Beauties); Hansel and Gretel (Sweet and Scrumptious); Mother Holle (Icing Sugar and Chocolate); The Star-Money (Divine Baking) and The Princess and the Pea (Airy Delights). She also includes some helpful hints at the beginning of the book such as the proper use of gelatin and how to substitute ground nuts for some of the flour in a recipe.
You’re sure to find something you want to try in recipes Geweke describes as the type which, “marries exquisite classics with contemporary ingredients,” Like many classic fairytales from the Brothers Grimm, there are spins on German favorites like Baumkuchen Triangles and an Orange and Pistachio Kugelhopf or like the influential work of Charles Perrault, French delicacies such as Spiced Macarons and Crème Brulee Tartlets. But every country and region have their own classic stories and hence there are also treats like the Austrian Light Sachertorte, Italian Tiramisu Cake and Asian inspired Matcha and Vanilla Cookies. I’d like to try the Chocolate Hazelnut Swiss Roll and Macadamia Cupcakes now that the summer’s heat is receding and it is perfect time to have the oven on to take away the morning chill.
Do you have a favorite fairytale inspired book or baked treat? Share it with us in the comments!
Written by: Aimee Harris Information and Digital Services Manager
