"Wendy's Ever After" by Julie Wright

Wendy’s Ever After (July 1, 2025) by Julie Wright.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Now a stunning young woman, Wendy Moira Angela Darling’s mom has marriage on the brain for her eldest child and only daughter since her dad passed away a year ago. Her days are filled with social calls and decadent balls, but her memories take her back to Neverland, Peter Pan and the lost boys. Wearing her frilly, elegant gowns, she thinks of fencing with foil, épée and sabre. With pixie dust, she dreams of soaring again. Instead, she’s stuck at a masquerade ball to appease her mother, but her dance card fills with Mrs. Connolly’s late friend’s son, Liam Blackwell. He’s in His Majesty’s Navy. This stranger is tall, handsome and mysterious. He’s charming yet elusive, and sometimes when he talks, it reminds her of Neverland. She’s already falling for this man, but returning to Neverland complicates matters, for it is not exactly how she remembers. Sure, there’s Pirate Cove and Mermaid Lagoon, even Skull Rock, but something is terribly wrong. Parts of the land are dying, and Neverland doesn’t feel like the happy, bright place of her memories. Now, as she navigates this beloved place, she must figure out if her heart belongs to the boy who’s never grown up or the man who’s somehow unfathomably, infuriatingly, captured her heart.

In 1909 England, Wendy returns to Neverland in this YA fantasy romance. The dynamic between Wendy and Liam is rather like a dance at once carefully executed and off-the-cuff. There is grace, but there’s stepping on toes, too. Their new and very topsy-turvy relationship is dramatic, but the realism of navigating such strong feelings for someone is relatable. I wish there’d been backstory to explain the shadow conjuror’s arrival, because its placement in the story is otherwise filler. Wendy’s inner monologue could also be annoying and had me picturing her as a child instead of the young woman she is. It’s a twisted fairy tale with shadows and darkness set in a familiar place. It’s a casual read, not a deep-thinking one, but still worth reading. It’s Neverland reimagined through a different lens.

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 14

Welcome to 2025’s “Happy Hodgepodge” post! This is the first of what I hope will be two Hodgepodge posts this year, despite the fact that it’s already September. What are you currently reading?

Cat & Cat Adventures: The Staff of Knowledge (July 23, 2024) by Susie Yi.

Junior fiction graphic novel.

<This is the fourth graphic novel in a series.>

The cats of the Spirit Task Force, Squash and Ginny, are preparing for another mission when Magnus, Lotus and Fern arrive. Magnus informs them that the Staff of Knowledge, once hidden in the Starry Sea, is now in the Human World. When Squash tries to celebrate finding it, the three orbs scatter, and the Spirit World starts leaking into the Human World. “The surge of magic has ripped the fabric between them.” It’s a disaster. They trace the first orb to the dreaded vet clinic. They’re not the only ones trying to obtain the orb. There’s a troublesome kangaroo rat, and there are helpful crows called Kee and Caw. What is their connection to the Staff of Knowledge? Hijinks are sure to ensue, though a sea of buttery popcorn from the fabled Popcorn Island probably isn’t so bad.

            Fans of cats and lovers of cuteness will want to soak up this Cat & Cat adventure if they haven’t already. The lesson is understanding that it’s okay to ask for help, that even when you think it’s your fault something happened doesn’t mean you need to rectify it all on your own. The bright, colorful illustrations and adorably drawn characters delightfully complement the sparse writing. It’s an entertaining, hijinks-filled adventure for emerging readers and those readers who are young-at-heart looking for something quick and enjoyable to read.

            Book 1: The Quest for Snacks

            Book 2: The Goblet of Infinity

            Book 3: Journey into Unibear City

Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories (Apr. 1, 2025) by Greg Pizzoli.

Early-Reader fiction chapter book.

<This is the first book in a series.>

In this collection of three stories, Earl and Worm are best friends, but their start is rocky, as highlighted in Lemonade. Earl is a happy-go-lucky early-bird who enjoys music and talking. Meanwhile, Worm is cranky and doesn’t like new things. When The Bad Idea comes around, Earl and Worm are solid friends, but the unexpected happens when a “very, very sneaky” idea becomes a bad idea and a lesson is also learned. And in The Poem, Earl and Worm are longtime friends. Worm is trying to come up with the perfect finish to her poem, which she thinks should rhyme. When Earl’s suggestions aren’t as helpful as Worm wishes, she storms off. But what if perfection isn’t in the rhyming, but in telling the truth?

            Watching their friendship grow and unfold is like watching flowers bloom on a sunny day. The humor is dry but sweet and the stories for early readers simple but entertaining. The text is good for read-alouds, and the illustrations are colorful and friendly. These stories showcase the ups and downs of friendship while managing to be delightful and emphasize that seeming opposites can not only coexist but be strong friends and learn from one another. What a charming early reader debut from Pizzoli!

Mindy Kim and the Fun Family Vacation (Apr. 29, 2025) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

Junior fiction chapter book.

<This is the twelfth and final book in a series.>

Adventure is set to begin. Mindy and her family are in Korea, and it’s baby Charlie’s first international trip. Mindy’s most excited to visit Jeju Island, as it’s her first trip there, but the journey is off to a bumpy start. First, Charlie won’t stop crying on the plane, then it’s pouring rain. She wants to visit Hallasan (Mount Halla in English), Korea’s biggest mountain, and meet haenyeo, Jeju Island’s female free divers. (Some haenyeo can dive up to 60 feet deep without any equipment!) Jeju is so fascinating. Once its own country, locals speak the Jeju dialect, which is similar to Korean (e.g. harabeoji is grandfather in Korean and hareubang is grandfather in Jeju-mal). Jeju also has guardian statues made of volcanic rock, also referred to as hareubang. Mindy’s first visit to Jeju Island is set to be memorable, but will it be for the wrong reasons?

            The final chapter book in the Mindy Kim series ends how it should. The story looks like it’s swiveling toward in-the-eyes-of-a-child disaster before its tidy, positive wrap-up. This series has been a delight to read and meaningful to me, a Korean American (though I’m an adoptee with no connection to either birth parent). It’s realistic fiction for a youthful audience, engaging and absorbing, but easily accessible, and it may introduce some readers to another culture. It’s a valuable series highlighting family, culture, diversity and life lessons.

Mindy Kim Books 1-5: A compilation post

Mindy Kim Book 6: Mindy Kim and the Big Pizza Challenge

Mindy Kim Book 7: Mindy Kim and the Fairy-Tale Wedding

Mindy Kim Books 8-10: A compilation post

            Mindy Kim Book 11: Mindy Kim, Big Sister

One Drop (Mar. 11, 2025) by Kaitlin Sikes.

   Mel Cerri, illustrator.

Children’s picture book.

Zing! Zap! Plop! One drop of water waits to make its journey from cloud to aquifer, tributary to lake, eventually making it to the Atlantic Ocean. This one drop passes by an iceberg, rushes over an underwater waterfall and takes a turn into a mud castle moat. One day, the one drop “evaporates up, up, up into the clouds, where it waits…” What happens next?

            This adorable picture book is a visually dynamic story. Cerri’s illustrations are simple yet bold and vibrant. Despite the confines of a storybook, the art manages to feel expansive, the one drop’s enthusiasm evident as it traverses the world. I also really enjoy Cerri’s lettering art. Sikes’ prose is easy to follow along with, while encouraging young readers to understand terms like aquifer and estuary. There is educational backmatter to provide additional facts.

What Is the Story of Cinderella? (Feb. 4, 2025) by Dana Meachen Rau.

   David Malan, illustrator.

Early-Reader nonfiction chapter book.

<This is an official Who HQ book.>

Most know the story of Cinderella or Disney’s version of it, which is inspired by Charles Perrault’s famous version. The pumpkin carriage, the animals transformed into footmen, a fairy godmother and twinkling glass slippers. But do you know Rhodopis, Ye Xian or Zezolla? The variations of Cinderella stories over millennia is varied, but they all involve lost footwear. Multiple versions highlight kindness in spite of hardship and harsh treatment. Others are more “Grimm” and definitely involve bloody messes. The best-known versions are mentioned alongside lesser-known ones. There’s also a chapter dedicated to those actresses (and an actor) who have brought Cinderella to life from stage to screen.

            One of the many writers of Who HQ stories brings to the page one of the most well-known Disney princesses and her literary origins that began long before her animated film debut. The slim, early-reader nonfiction volume is informative yet dazzling and entertains across cultures and continents. Cinderella’s story – no matter the version or the original language – is there to charm and to inspire. It’s also for dreamers (singing A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes) and those who “keep building up impossible hopes.” I don’t need a prince, but I wouldn’t say no to attending a ball!

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 13

Here is my nonfiction compilation post for the year. I had hopes of completing a second one, but it’s already September and reading nonfiction is never my strong suit, so it’s moved onto being a 2026 goal.

Change the Recipe: Because You Can’t Build a Better World Without Breaking Some Eggs (Apr. 22, 2025) by José Andrés.

   With Richard Wolffe.

Food is powerful. Food can be an introduction to other cultures or regions. It can cement traditions, and it can be a love language. Food is sustenance and brings people together. José Andrés is best-known as a Michelin-starred chef, but he’s also a humanitarian, TV host, author, husband and father of three. The humanitarian leader founded World Central Kitchen (WCK) in 2010. It’s a nonprofit dedicated to feeding the hungry. They’re boots-on-the-ground asap after natural and man-made disasters. It’s going to be uncomfortable, but, “Don’t settle for the comfortable or the familiar. That will always be the safety net for a circus performer.” Andrés takes the lifetime of experience he’s gained so far and uses this book as a collection of life lessons. He reminds readers, “It’s up to us to change the recipe.” (The backmatter includes several recipes, as well as a moving eulogy to the seven WCK workers who were killed in Gaza.) Remember to build longer tables, not higher walls.

            From humble beginnings to smashing successes, kitchens to conflict zones, Andrés’ newest authorial bestseller is part memoir, part manifesto and all lively. His rise to celebrity chef is fascinating and his growth into food philanthropist is inspirational. His conviction that food brings us closer together and that each of us is capable of contributing to positive change in the world is palpable throughout this slim volume. “We’re all in this country together. We’re all on this planet together. Your success is my success. We the People.” His insights are heartwarming and funny. His wisdom is hard-won and ever-growing. His heart is big, his patriotism apparent and his dedication to feeding the hungry is unrivaled. Let’s all bring food to the table like we’re having the biggest, most joyous potluck. We all have the power to help!

Growing Up Urkel (Nov. 19, 2024) by Jaleel White.

“Did I do that?” – Steve Urkel, Family Matters. Jaleel White’s memoir takes readers on his journey, from booking a commercial when he was three to landing one of the most iconic and memorable character roles of the 1990s to beyond TGIF. Readers like me may not have known Steven Urkel was only supposed to be a one-episode arc. He shares with readers his naïveté in dealing with the “game” of show business. He talks of his parents’ goal of him going to university, their joy when he was accepted at UCLA and the tricky balance of being a college student while also being an actively working famous actor. He isn’t shy about the high highs and the low lows, his luxury rides and name-dropping. He says his story is “a testament to the power of perseverance, authenticity, and reinvention.”

            I checked this book out from my local library. I rooted for it and for White, having grown up loving Family Matters and the entire TGIF lineup. I pictured reading his memoir to be nostalgic. It wasn’t. I struggled like I might not make it across the finish line. Don’t misread me. White’s book is insightful, and his journey is memorable. He’s seen so much and therefore has a lot of industry knowledge and a plethora of experience. I don’t doubt that his parents raised him with core values, but it’s hard to believe in his multiple-times-mentioned humility when he’s seeking out the hot girls and the “it” people and overdoing the name-dropping. There’s who he played hoops with, whose places he went to and the nightclubs he once attended with a mega rapper. He also dropped names of those in important positions before ticking off their less desirable attributes and said that he doesn’t give into pettiness, except for that one time when he wanted the pro dancer to sit in coach. Then there’s one moment in Chapter 15 where he can’t even be bothered to list an actress’ name, just that the movie starred “an unknown young actress,” after all these previous chapters of name-dropping. His story didn’t feel authentic to me and overall has a veneer of pettiness. Jaleel White could be the nicest guy in the world, but that’s not the impression given from the book. Yes, he’s lived a life many of us will never live. He writes his memoir like it’s an ode to the big life he’s led, but he’s really continuing to live in his own shadow. He may have grown up Urkel, but it doesn’t truly seem like he’s grown up.

In Gad We Trust (Jan. 14, 2025) by Josh Gad.

It’s easy to hear the name Josh Gad and think of his smashing success as the original Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon on Broadway or his ultra-popular voice role of Olaf in the worldwide popular Frozen film franchise or his turn as LeFou in the iconic, live-action Beauty and the Beast movie. As tends to be the case with people, Josh Gad is so much more than his famous roles. For the first (and possibly last) time, Josh Gad gives readers a “Tell-Some” on a variety of personal topics. He talks of his parents’ divorce and the lasting impact it’s had on his life. He shares his struggle with weight and being typecast, his take on fatherhood and growing up Jewish. He talks of his history as a speech and debate team member and, at the time he was writing his book, he was “somehow the most decorated speech competitor in the country, a stat that still humbles me to my core and boggles my mind.” (Note: The National Forensic League has since changed its name to the National Speech & Debate Association.) He talks of working with some who have passed like Robin Williams and Chadwick Boseman. No topic is off-limits. He encourages us to keep moving forward and take a chance at those riskier choices. Because that’s what he has done, and through the struggles and the lows, there have been incredible highs and a charismatic snowman who likes warm hugs.

            From what I’ve seen Gad in, he’s an entertaining performer. Now having made his adult debut with a memoir, he’s an entertaining author. His stories are reflective and transformative. The man admits loving to talk about himself, but any arrogance is offset by his vulnerability, especially when readers can see themselves in their own vulnerable moments, from body issues to losing loved ones (family and friends alike) to dealing with all forms of racism and discrimination. His characters may be known for garnering laughter, but Gad undoubtedly needed all the mental toughness he could muster to get where he is today. Gad’s story is conversational and cheeky, heartfelt and hilarious. I knew he had comedic talent, but he’s also a gifted storyteller, and this book has depth.