On books about realistic moms

Moms are often given a bad rap in books - especially YA books. The mom is mean and evil or nonexistent or (at best) can't understand their child. Books about parents of adult children are even more confusing as that relationship becomes more nuanced and distant. Here are a few books that represent moms realistically and might give some power and strength to moms out there:

• Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb - Ronica Vestrit is a mom who is trying her hardest. She's spent years managing the family business while her husband sails around trading, while still trying to raise her two daughters well. Once her husband passes, Ronica is tasked with making some tough decisions, especially regarding her daughters. She makes plenty of mistakes and has a lot of learning to do about her children, but she's willing to admit to her mistakes and to give her daughters opportunities to make their own mistakes and learn their own lessons. Ronica is the kind of mom so many people have (or should have)- tough, no nonsense, and independent, but still humble enough to admit her shortcomings. Ronica's story arc throughout the series helps you (and her kids) see her as an active member of the family, not just as the mom.

• Woman No. 17 by Edan Lepucki - Told from the viewpoints of a wealthy mother struggling to connect with her children and a young artist trying to emulate her own mother, this story is all about motherhood. Lady Daniels is trying to write a memoir about raising her selectively mute teenage son while struggling to connect with him and tolerate her other toddler son. Esther has just graduated from college and been hired as a nanny by the Daniels, all for the purpose of spending the summer on her most ambitious art project ever - becoming her mother for the summer to better understand the woman who helped raise her. This story tells all about motherhood and learning about yourself, with all it's complexities and difficulties.

Pieces of Happiness: A Novel of Friendship, Hope and Chocolate by Anne Østby - Five friends retire together to Fiji and work to support each other, especially as they all go through the growing pains of growing old. Most relateable is Sina, whose relationship with her adult son is struggling as he continues to mooch off her and she struggles to set boundaries. This story shows some of the difficulties of being a good mom while sometimes having to play the bad guy in order to help your child grow.

• My Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck - This lovely and delightful picture book helps children to identify ways that they can tell their mom loves them - and is still an adorable read for adults.

Have you read any of these books? What realistic moms do you enjoy reading about? What books give you a positive look at parenting? What books can you relate to as a parent?

On upcoming or recently released books that I recommend

Ah, Netgalley. It’s both a blessing and a curse. There were so many more books that I wanted to finish to include on this list, but, alas, time has run out and it’s time to post. Nevertheless, here are a few books that caught my eye and gained my approval (and hopefully I’ll have more books read when it’s time to post another one of these):

• At the Broken Places: A Mother and Trans Son Pick Up the Pieces by Mary Collins and Donald Collins - April 25th - This memoir of a trans son and his mother and their experiences with his transition is interesting and powerful. This is an excellent resource for individuals who are looking for more information on a relative's transition or for people who would like to learn more about transgender issues and difficulties.

• The Gender Agenda: A First-Hand Account of How Girls and Boys Are Treated Differently By James Millar and Ros Ball - July 21st  - This fascinating record of one family’s experiences with gender is an interesting perspective on raising children. This family kept a Twitter diary for a few years to monitor how people treated and spoke to their daughter and son differently. They also give wonderful recommendations of books and movies that have positive (or interesting) gender representation for children. Recommended for gender-conscience parents or gender studies students.

• Children of the Divide by Patrick S. Tomlinson- August 1st - An interesting sci-fi novel with analogies to current events, Children of the Divide is intriguing and fun with memorable characters and situations. Recommended for lovers of sci-fi and for lovers of straightforward literary analogies.

• Pieces of Happiness: A Novel of Friendship, Hope and Chocolate by Anne Ostby - August 1st - Five best friends from high school reconnect forty years later and come together to work through their issues and to support each other in their difficulties as they explore their new lives in Fiji. Recommended for lovers of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

What upcoming or newly released books are on your radar? Are any of these on your TBR?