“Ageless Wisdom”, from The Nib’s Pandemic issue, recently published at their website. This was originally a sketchbook comic that I’d posted to Instagram in June of 2020, as my kids were wrapping up what was definitely the worst part of the pandemic in terms of virtual school. Everything closed up so suddenly when the virus hit, the teachers really didn’t have time to prepare, they really didn’t do much that was engaging online that whole time. When they went back this past September, there were still lots of days of virtual instruction, but the Summer had given the school some time to come up with a much better, more stimulating online curriculum.
I’ve got a lot of mixed feelings about the message here. I believed it at the time, it really wasn’t the moment to expect the most from ourselves. But, we’re dealing with the repercussions now. Spring has arrived, there’s more opportunity to get outdoors again, the vaccines are being distributed, I’m really hoping we can undo some of the damage of all those months locked indoors.
An early review of The Fifth Quarter was posted online today at the Mom Read It blog. From the writeup:
The Fifth Quarter is a good sports story and a good school story. Lori is a relatable character; she’s a fourth grader dealing with some big feelings: she’s got two younger siblings constantly clamoring for her parents’ attention; she gets frustrated by friends who don’t share her consuming passion for basketball, and may even be slightly threatened when a new friend shows up to play what she may feel is “her” sport. When her mom decides to run for public office, it adds another layer of frustration and stress to Lori’s life; it’s even more competition for her mother’s time, helping her mom campaign will take time away from basketball practice, AND since her mother is running against a school friend’s father, she’s worried that it will affect her friendship. That’s a lot for a fourth grader! Her parents are supportive and encouraging, and her friends stand firm and call Lori out when they see her being unreasonable, letting readers know that it’s okay to feel these things, but not okay to act negatively on those feelings. Readers will see themselves in Lori, and hopefully, her friends, too. A smart book that respects its readers, with artwork that realistic fiction graphic novel readers will recognize and enjoy, The Fifth Quarter is good reading for all graphic novel/realistic fiction readers.