May 07 2026

Chernobyl, Life, And Other Disasters by Yevgenia Nayberg

It’s so rare to find a memoirist whose art is as engaging as her prose, but Yevgenia Nayberg truly is phenomenal in both fields. You can very much tell that she’s a trained artist, even before she goes into the details of her academic beginnings in this arresting memoir of growing up in Kyiv in the 1980s.

Genya knows from the age of five that she wants to be an artist, just like her animator mother. After she turns eleven, she’s going to apply to the same prestigious art school that her mother went to. Her mother warns her that the school’s unofficial quota system — where Jews can only ever make up 1% of the student body — means that Genya will have to work at least twice as hard as everyone else to get in. When Genya realizes that this mostly means private art classes with two other students whose company she enjoys tho, it becomes even less of a burden than anticipated. But when strange news comes out of nearby Chernobyl and multiple people, including her art tutor, pack up and leave the area, will Genya’s dream of following in her mother’s footsteps be stopped in its tracks by forces that not even the strong-willed youngster can overcome?

Told with the wry humor of a kid intelligent enough to see through many, but not all, of the things that adults tell her in order to make life ostensibly easier, this is a terrific portrayal of what it was like to grow up Jewish and quietly iconoclastic in Soviet Ukraine. Genya’s battles begin when she fights to be seen as a little girl instead of the boy her mother not so secretly wishes she was, and continue as she grows older and refuses to be anyone but herself. Her struggle for self-determination in a system designed to make her biddable and quiet is compelling, even in seemingly small rebellions like getting the better of her obnoxious cousin Masha.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/05/07/chernobyl-life-and-other-disasters-by-yevgenia-nayberg/

May 06 2026

Hello, Beautiful by Traci N Todd & Loveis Wise

I adore Loveis Wise’s work, which moved me to tears in the astonishing What I Must Tell The World, a children’s biography of Lorraine Hansberry. I wasn’t quite as moved here, but their art is spectacular throughout, in a book about encouraging young children to feel their feelings and embrace their entire selves.

Hello, Beautiful depicts a mixed race child with their parents and Black grandmother. The adults form a close-knit unit who nurture and raise the baby together. Over the course of the book’s pages, said baby is exhorted to be their own person no matter the highs and lows that life may throw at them. Inner strength is beauty, and honoring your feelings while also looking for the humanity in others is essential.

The text is written as a love letter from a caregiver to a young child, but also contains loads of advice for how to be truly beautiful. In a world where Black bodies are devalued based on skin color or other supposedly African features, this is a really important sentiment to relate. Black kids need to hear that they’re beautiful because they’re authentic and brave and eager to live in community, a message they’re not often afforded in the United States Of America.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/05/06/hello-beautiful-by-traci-n-todd-loveis-wise/

May 05 2026

Intense graphic novels for your new adult needs!

Galaxy: As the World Falls Down by Jadzia Axelrod came out today! It’s probably my favorite graphic novel of the year so far, and I encourage you to let it ease you into a season of intense New Adult graphic novels of various genres.

on the cover of galaxy as the world falls down by jadzia axelrod and rye hickman, the title character swoops into spaceGalaxy: As the World Falls Down is a sequel to Galaxy: The Prettiest Star, which came out from DC in 2022. In As the World Falls Down, Galaxy is trying to figure out both what her role in superhero circles will be, and what her life might be like post-high school. I have very high expectations for Jadzia Axelrod’s writing, and they are delightfully met here. Jess Taylor’s art for the first book was lovely, and Rye Hickman’s art for the second is similarly beautiful, with comedic and weird moments that really land. I literally laughed aloud, I literally teared up about love, and I enthusiastically told my family about scenes from the book over dinner.

Also, I get a lot of the references in this book, like the David Bowie lyric in the title, but there were also a lot of things that were obviously cultural references I didn’t recognize, like a reference to the Hirschfeld Archives. If I had glossed over that reference, my reading experience still would have been great, but that’s not who I am as a person. I looked up the references I didn’t get immediately, and learned new stuff, which I appreciate. I do recommend rereading Galaxy: The Prettiest Star right before you read Galaxy: As the World Falls Down, so that all the personalities and backstories will be fresh in your mind and you can concentrate on the amazing DC cameos that happen in the second book.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/05/05/intense-graphic-novels-for-your-new-adult-needs/

May 04 2026

Initiates Oracle by Marcella Kroll & Adam Smith

subtitled Occult Hermetic- and Egyptian-Inspired Rituals for Profound Transformation (as stated in the guidebook.)

I can be pretty iffy on Oracle decks, as they don’t have the same established metaphysical journey going on in their cards as Tarot cards too. I have, unfortunately, been burned enough by Oracle decks that I thought would be cohesive to no longer have any interest in purchasing my own. But I was super intrigued when this Initiates Oracle was pitched to me, as it really makes no claims to be like any of the other decks I’m familiar with, Tarot or otherwise.

This difference is further reinforced by the fact that the only spread suggested in the accompany guidebook is essentially a single card draw. There is some excellent step-by-step information on setting intentions, reflecting on the draw and integrating insights around it, but this deck is essentially built less to tell a story that highlights chapters in a journey (as most traditional decks are) than it is to have the querent think deeply about the energy of their present moment and how they can use that going forward. To that end, each card here acts almost as a set of cards, holding within them the present and future — and to a much lesser extent the past — as they help guide querents towards peace and power.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/05/04/initiates-oracle-by-marcella-kroll-adam-smith/

May 01 2026

Tantalizing Tales — May 2026 — Part One

It’s already May! (and yes, you should definitely sing that in a ramen-haired Justin Timberlake voice, lol.) I’m not sure why, but the first ten days of May are always so hectic for me, between annual string performances, random selections (Jeopardy! last year and jury duty this year) and my beloved Arsenal entering their statistical best month of the season. And this year we really have a chance at winning so much, my friends! It’s actually overwhelming!

Anyway, to help (me) stay calm and avoid hyper-fixating, we have a whole slew of terrific books to enjoy, both upcoming and recently published. Our first book is a Young Adult novel that is very much up my alley, as our main character does everything in her power to find justice for her slain sister in Jennifer Pearson’s Drop Dead Famous.

International singing superstar Blair Baker is back in her hometown for a triumphant homecoming concert. The celebration quickly turns to chaos, however, when the crowd realizes that the figure rising on a platform for a grand stage entrance is, shockingly, very dead.

Blair’s younger sister Stevie is devastated, not only by Blair’s death but by the eerie echoes of powerlessness that continue to haunt the surviving Baker sibling. Years ago, Stevie had been denied the chance to find justice for someone else close to her. This time, she won’t let the opportunity slip through her fingers, as she relentlessly pursues the truth despite the discouragement of certain people around her.

The more she learns about her big sister’s glamorous life, tho, the more danger she unwittingly puts herself in. The monster of global stardom will go to great lengths to protect its dark underbelly from exposure, but is it a danger closer to home that Stevie should really be fearing?

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/05/01/tantalizing-tales-may-2026-part-one/

Apr 30 2026

Amy Gets Eaten by Adam Kay & Henry Paker

Honestly, seems appropriate to be reading and reviewing this on the day I spent way too much time making sure my doctor had the relevant sample she needed. But hey, maybe we’ll finally figure out why I’ve been so sick these last few months!

Anyway, Amy is a piece of corn on the pizza of a medium-sized boy named Noah. As she travels through his digestive system with her other pizza topping friends — including a bit of tomato, onion and, perhaps less expectedly, egg and raisin — she explores her surroundings and tries to give courage to her companions, as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Amy Gets Eaten is a quick, often funny primer on how food moves through the body, which does an excellent job of not judging anyone’s eating habits (well, with the exception of the chocolate cake with ketchup: I definitely agree with the authors that that is weird.) This picture book very much demystifies the basics of eating, digestion and elimination, and serves as a great introduction for kids who want to know how bodies turn food into poop.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/30/amy-gets-eaten-by-adam-kay-henry-paker/

Apr 29 2026

Let’s Make Cocktails! by Sarah Becan

subtitled A Comic Book Cocktail Book.

This is, bar none, one of the best illustrated reference guides to learning about and making cocktails for beginners that I’ve ever seen. Sarah Becan’s approach to mixology is as refreshing as some of the drinks she features in this volume, and I say that both as someone who bartended for years and who taught people how to mix drinks for their own delectation (and who loves the occasional tipple myself, naturally.) The way she’s written this book not only demystifies the process but also provides brief histories of each of the drinks, an added boon for trivia nerds like myself.

Let’s Make Cocktails begins by first explaining what a cocktail is and how that odd name came to be (or, at least, the best guesses for it.) As with most home bartending guides, it then discusses the setup of a basic home bar. In addition to a low-pressure introduction to the many different kinds of spirits and mixers, Ms Becan talks about the different kinds of glassware, tools, ice and garnishes most often used by modern bartenders, and how you don’t have to be in possession of them all in order to have a setup that works for you. She does, however, recommend that you know how to make your own simple syrups, and provides instructions for various kinds that serve almost as a way to ease into the rest of the book’s recipes.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/29/lets-make-cocktails-by-sarah-becan/

Apr 28 2026

Through The Garden Gate by Sharon Rose & Erin Brown

This is a beautifully illustrated fairy tale for modern children that could, perhaps, use a few more pages to better explain some of the story diversions it takes while chronicling the magical adventures of its young protagonist.

Said protagonist Miles is boooooooored, in the manner of all kids with too much time and not enough hobbies. His mother suggests that he goes next door to help Miss Mary with her garden, and to visit with her dog Sunny. Gardening sounds super dull to Miles, but who doesn’t love hanging out with cute pets? So off Miles goes to see if his older neighbor needs any help a/o company.

Miss Mary introduces him to her new baby chicks before teaching him how to dig up crabgrass. At first it’s tough work, but once he gets the hang of it, he takes pleasure in a job well done. While doing so, he notices a small, closed gate beyond the California poppies. Miss Mary says, with a twinkle in her eye, that he’s free to explore once he’s done with the crabgrass that’s crowding out her flowers. He definitely takes her up on the offer, and soon finds himself in a magical place of fanciful creatures and fascinating plants.

I really loved how Sharon Rose melded this fairy tale with educational facts about the plants she highlights. I don’t recall ever hearing of the Boquila vine before but definitely want to see one in person now! I also really appreciated that she brought up how weeds are just plants that people don’t want growing in a certain place, tho with a well-written note as well about invasive species.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/28/through-the-garden-gate-by-sharon-rose-erin-brown/

Apr 27 2026

How To Survive The End Of The World by Katy Doughty

with the subtitle A Graphic Exploration Of How To (Maybe) Avoid Extinction. And while this book is aimed at teens, I think that anyone with an interest in science and the many different ways in which the world could end will gain a lot from this well-researched and innovatively drawn volume.

Never has the end of life as we know it been depicted in such a warmly realistic manner. Katy Doughty examines all the different science-based ways in which the end of the world has captured the human imagination in recent years — with a quick nod to the end times prophesied by various faiths and cultures over the centuries — and discusses their likelihood in a level-headed manner. She not only draws on established research but also consults with various scientists and activists who make excellent cameos here as they talk about their areas of expertise, whether they be in epidemiology, anthropology, climate justice or more.

Critically, Ms Doughty doesn’t just talk about a global extermination event for humanity, but also about the kind of rapid, destabilizing change that would mean the death of our old ways of life and the emergence of something new, strange and not necessarily for the better… but also not necessarily for the worse. That said, the interview with Dr Lawrence Gross regarding the trauma of such devastating change is really excellently done, both in how sorrowful it made me feel for the past and how hopeful it made me feel for the future.

And that’s basically the thesis of this book, that no matter what happens, human beings have already and always shown extraordinary resilience, and that our history to date is a powerful testament to who we are as a species. We’re not perfect, and we have done some truly terrible things to each other. But in a world with no guarantees, the fact that we’ve also done amazing things and, perhaps even more importantly, that we persist in doing good is perhaps enough, if not to justify our ongoing survival outright, then as an epitaph on a worthwhile existence in the face of inevitability.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/27/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world-by-katy-doughty/

Apr 26 2026

Paladin’s Strength by T. Kingfisher

In the world of the White Rat, the gods call clergy and paladins to their service. Clergy are straightforward enough; they minister to the faithful, they administer the affairs of people and property affiliated with the deity, they perform the necessary rites, and so forth. Paladins are holy warriors for their faith; filled with the god’s energy, they smite the enemies of the faith. Paladins can enter a berserker state, fighting with superhuman strength and ignoring wounds as the god enters them and lends them power. Not all gods call paladins — the White Rat, for example, does not — but all paladins are called. The paladins of the Saint of Steel served happily and faithfully, right up until the day their god died.

Paladin's Strength by T. Kingfisher

Kingfisher gave more detail in Paladin’s Grace, the first of presently four novels that follow the lives of the seven surviving paladins of the Saint of Steel, as they try to rebuild their lives after they lost what gave them meaning and direction. Paladin’s Strength takes place several years after the death of the Saint, and follows a brief but indeterminate period after the events of Paladin’s Grace. It’s not strictly necessary to have read the previous book — this novel’s story is independent — but Kingfisher provides more background than in this one.

T. Kingfisher is a keen practitioner of the arresting first sentence, and Paladin’s Strength is no exception: “Clara stood outside a stranger’s tent, holding a naked sword in her hands.” (p. 1) To make a hilarious opening scene short, Clara if offering the sword to the leader of a small caravan who wish to pass through the lands of the Arral. A misunderstanding of local customs has already led to the caravan leader killing a young man. Now, peace is to be bought in a peculiar way. Because the young Arral lost his challenge, his family must offer the victor his sword and something of value from his household. Not to put too fine a point on it, that something is Clara, who is not Arral and can be offered without too much loss to the household. The leader, whose name is Istvhan (I pronounced it the Hungarian way, EESHT-vahn, because it spelled so close to István, the Hungarian version of Steven), does not want to take in Clara but is eventually persuaded that rejecting her would cause violent offense, and the caravan still has to pass through several days’ journey of Arral lands.

Along the way to agreement, Clara reveals that she is a nun, a lay sister of the Order of St. Ursa. Raiders recently sacked and burned her convent, and kidnapped the sisters who survived the fire. Clara had been kidnapped as well but got free. She was following them and working up ways to free the others when she ran afoul of the Arral, which in turn led to the novel’s opening scene.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/04/26/paladins-strength-by-t-kingfisher/