Category: Doreen

Deepa, M.D. by Priya Swaminathan

I kept having to put this Middle Grade novel off but am so glad I could finally make the time for it! Deepa is a precocious 12 year-old who missed out on her entire first year of middle school while she was being treated for leukemia. Now she’s determined to get back to being a …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/10/13/deepa-m-d-by-priya-swaminathan/

Tantalizing Tales — October 2026 — Part Two

As the days grow ever shorter in the countdown to Halloween and beyond, we have more awesome upcoming books for your consideration! First up is a rarity: a full-length prose novel inspired by a comic book series instead of the other way around. James Tynion IV and Kiersten White — two creators I greatly admire! …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/10/09/tantalizing-tales-october-2026-part-two/

Before We Sail by Carlos Yacolca & Michelle Lino

with letters by Diego Revelo and design by David Escobedo. This seven-part graphic novella that first appeared in David Lloyd’s Aces Weekly online comics art magazine has recently been nominated for a Ringo Award for Best Webcomic, no small feat for a first time author! As I type, the comic is only available at the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/10/08/before-we-sail-by-carlos-yacolca-michelle-lino/

Our Favorite Day Of The Week by Ashley Franklin & Rahele Jomepour Bell

This is a terrific multicultural children’s book that brilliantly underlines how differences can serve to bring people together, because everyone is allowed to make their own choices about what they do and don’t like for themselves. The picture book starts off with Musa, who’s excited to finally be able to tie his shoes by himself …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/10/07/our-favorite-day-of-the-week-by-ashley-franklin-rahele-jomepour-bell/

Can You Solve The Murder? by Antony Johnston

In a word: no. Lol. I’m usually quite good at solving mysteries because I’m good at two other things: understanding human behavior and understanding storytelling. Foreshadowing might as well be my hairdresser, as it generally tells me everything I need to know before it becomes common knowledge. That, I think, was a large part of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/10/06/can-you-solve-the-murder-by-antony-johnston/

The Secret World Of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham

This would have been way more successful for me were it the overly wordy storyboard for an anime — most likely a repetitively depressing one like Berserk — than an actual book. And look, I get it. Depression sucks. It’s a legit mental illness that you can’t just will yourself out of. But that doesn’t …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/10/05/the-secret-world-of-briar-rose-by-cindy-pham/

Tantalizing Tales — October 2026 — Part One

The first weekly roundup of October has three awesome titles to choose from, beginning with a globe-trotting historical mystery reminiscent of both classic Sherlock Holmes and James Bond. A E Goldin’s Death On The Pearl River is the sophomore novel of the Ben Canaan mystery series. It’s 1856 and young Ben has established himself as …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/10/02/tantalizing-tales-october-2026-part-one/

Fantome Oracle Deck by La Muci Design

Happy October, dear readers! I had a torrid time figuring out what to review to kick off the month, but what better choice than another amazing deck from La Muci Design! I’ve actually had this in my possession for quite a while, but only got around to opening the package I’d backed via Kickstarter last …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/10/01/fantome-oracle-deck-by-la-muci-design/

Spooky Scouts by Kimberly Shrack

I never know what surprises my kids any more. I recently sent my fifteen year-old this (to me, hilarious) video, and he responded with “Mom, what the fuck?!” Now, I thought you could see the end coming from a mile away, but he’d apparently never heard of the story of the Girl with the Green …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/09/30/spooky-scouts-by-kimberly-shrack/

I Won’t Pretend These Missiles Are Stars by The Cartoonist Collective

subtitled Life in Iran During the 12-Day War. And, to be more precise, by The Cartoonist Collective in Tehran. Anonymity grants the artists and writers of The Cartoonist Collective the freedom to say what they really think about the Twelve Day War during which Israel attacked Iran, ostensibly to curb Iran’s nuclear capabilities. There’s no …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2026/09/29/i-wont-pretend-these-missiles-are-stars-by-the-cartoonist-collective/