Book Review: Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

There is a moment about a third of the way into Of Monsters and Mainframes where the ship’s navigational AI — Demeter, our narrator — is trying to process the fact that she apparently cannot see one of her passengers on any of her internal cameras. The passenger exists; she knows this because other sensors can detect body heat and mass displacement. But the cameras see nothing.

The reason, which Demeter arrives at through a chain of logic that is both entirely reasonable and completely deranged, is that her passenger doesn’t have a reflection. And the reason that is relevant is something she refuses to log, because her programming explicitly prohibits her from recording events that are impossible.

Vampires are impossible. Therefore, there are no vampires aboard. The cameras are malfunctioning. Maintenance ticket submitted.

That is the energy of this entire book, and I loved every page.

What It Is

Of Monsters and Mainframes is Barbara Truelove’s debut novel, published in June 2025. The premise: it’s the year 2371, and Demeter is the AI navigator of an aging passenger liner running between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Her job is routine. Her passengers keep dying in impossible ways. She keeps filing maintenance tickets.

After the first incident — all 312 passengers dead, ship’s logs showing nothing, two traumatized children somehow alive — Demeter spends a few years in quarantine storage while investigators try to figure out what happened. When they can’t, they send her back out. The second voyage goes worse. And so on, through an escalating series of encounters with things that Demeter’s programming insists do not exist: Dracula, a werewolf, an engineer assembled from parts, a pharaoh with cosmological powers, and a group of passengers slowly and enthusiastically converting into Deep Ones.

Eventually, Demeter assembles all of them — the monsters, the children, the fussy medical AI Steward who has been her reluctant partner through all of this — into an undead A-Team and points them at the problem.

The problem is still Dracula.

Why It Works

The obvious comparison is Murderbot — Martha Wells’s reluctant hero with an AI narrator who would rather be left alone to watch TV serials than deal with humans — and it’s fair. Demeter shares that voice: the dry observation, the anxiety, the way bureaucratic language keeps colliding with impossible situations. (“Exsanguination — cause undetermined. Passengers deceased: 312. Maintenance tickets filed: 47.”)

But Of Monsters and Mainframes has something Murderbot doesn’t: genuine camp. Truelove is clearly having a blast. The book knows it’s absurd and leans into it without ever becoming a parody. When a werewolf has to navigate zero-gravity corridor physics during a full moon, the scene is both logistically worked-out (Truelove clearly did her astrophysics homework) and completely hilarious. When the question of what happens when a vampire looks into a mirror-polished hull surface is raised, Demeter addresses it with the same methodical precision she’d apply to a fuel consumption discrepancy.

The horror trappings are also genuinely used, not just referenced. The book gets dark in places — there’s real weight to the deaths, real stakes to Demeter’s situation, real consequences for her passengers. The comedy doesn’t defuse the threat so much as make it stranger and more unsettling. Which, now that I think about it, is exactly how the best monster stories work.

What really makes it land, though, is the heart underneath all the schlock. Demeter’s arc — a machine learning to feel, to choose, to care about something beyond her programming — is the oldest story in science fiction, and Truelove earns it. By the end, I cared deeply about what happened to every single member of this crew, including the mummy who insists his name is not Steve and the Lovecraftian fish-folk who are just trying to reach their god. That’s harder to pull off than it looks.

What Doesn’t Quite Work

A few caveats, honestly given:

The opening chapters front-load a lot of technical ship-systems detail that reads cold before the first body drops. Truelove is establishing Demeter’s voice and worldview, which pays off, but patience is required. If you’re not won over by the end of the first voyage, give it one more.

The structure — monster of the voyage, investigation, new voyage — is episodic enough that the middle section occasionally loses momentum. The Innsmouth episode in particular runs slightly long before the payoff arrives.

And the tonal cocktail — slapstick, genuine horror, earnest emotional beats — is very specific. If you need your genres to stay in their lanes, this isn’t for you. If you can handle Alien rewritten as a workplace comedy about an anxious AI with a stakeholder problem, you’ll be fine.

The Verdict

This is one of the best debut novels I’ve read in a long time. Truelove has pulled off something genuinely difficult: a book that is funny and scary and warm, that respects the mythology it’s playing with while doing completely unhinged things to it, and that actually has something to say about personhood, corporate risk management, and what we mean when we call something a monster.

The question the book keeps asking — who gets labeled a monster and why — is asked through the lens of pulp horror and answered through found family. It shouldn’t work. It absolutely works.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Get Of Monsters and Mainframes on Amazon →

If You Liked This, Read Next

All Systems Red by Martha Wells — The first Murderbot Diaries novella. If Demeter’s deadpan AI narrator voice is what grabbed you — the sarcasm, the anxiety, the reluctant heroism — Murderbot is your next series. A security construct who’d rather watch TV serials than protect humans, forced to protect humans anyway. One of the most beloved characters in recent sci-fi. (Amazon affiliate link)

Anno Dracula by Kim Newman — An alternate history where Dracula won, married Queen Victoria, and now presides over a Victorian England full of vampires. Newman’s novel is the gold standard for monster mash-ups that are both gleefully pulpy and genuinely smart. The Bram Stoker references alone are worth the price. (Amazon affiliate link)

Feed by Mira Grant — Political thriller meets zombie apocalypse, narrated by a blogger who treats the end of the world like a beat reporter. Grant shares Truelove’s knack for found-family horror and characters you genuinely care about under duress. (Amazon affiliate link)

A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers — If what stuck with you from Of Monsters and Mainframes was the found-family warmth underneath all the horror trappings, Chambers is the natural next step. Cozy space opera about a found family on a tunnel-boring ship. Nobody fights Dracula, but the emotional beats are similar. (Amazon affiliate link)

If you’re building a library of books like this one — the kind that live at the intersection of genre and heart — I maintain a running list of what I’m reading and what I’d recommend at my Favorite Gear and Reading page.


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Book Review: Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil

Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil

Black Salt Queen is the kind of debut that announces its ambitions from page one and almost always lives up to them. Published on June 3, 2025, and weighing in at 393 pages, it launches Samantha Bansil’s new series, Letters from Maynara, with an unapologetically epic sweep.

Setting & Premise

Bansil transports us to Maynara, a lush, pre-colonial island nation where elemental magic and matriarchal politics are inseparable. Queen Hara Duja Gatdula can move mountains, but her failing strength leaves a volatile sky-wielding daughter, Laya, and a calculating rival matriarch, Imeria Kulaw, circling the throne. Power is hereditary, dangerous, and finite, giving every decision a life-or-death edge.

Themes

At its heart, Black Salt Queen is about the cost of power and the vulnerabilities leaders hide. Mother–daughter tension, queer desire, and dynastic betrayal intertwine, all against a defiantly anti-colonial backdrop. Readers will recognize echoes of Southeast Asian folklore and Filipino history, yet Bansil refuses to pause for Western hand-holding; immersion is mandatory and rewarding.

Writing Style & Pacing

Expect prose that luxuriates in sensory detail—salt-sprayed sea walls, ceremonial fabrics, volcanic earth—and court conversations that bristle with double meanings. Lightspeed’s reviewer compared the deliberate build-up to Game of Thrones, and the parallel is apt: the first act is dense, even daunting, but once the pieces are in place, the final third barrels ahead with ruthless momentum.

Characterization

Bansil excels at mapping the complex loyalties of formidable women. None are straightforward heroes or villains; sympathy flips scene by scene, making alliances deliciously unstable. The sapphic threads—past and present—feel organic rather than performative, enriching both emotional stakes and political ones. Male characters exist. Still, the story’s gravity belongs unapologetically to its queens, warriors, and schemers.

Critique

The very richness that makes Maynara intoxicating can also overwhelm. Titles, honorifics, and magical terminology arrive rapidly, and readers unfamiliar with pre-Hispanic Philippine cultures may need the occasional pause to orient themselves. A handful of plot beats (an arena trial, a magically enhanced tonic) resolve quickly or feel under-explained, hinting they’re seeds for later books rather than payoffs here. None of these issues breaks the spell, but they do mark Black Salt Queen as a debut still sharpening its pacing blade.

Verdict

If you gravitate toward politically charged fantasy in the vein of Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne or K.S. Villoso’s The Wolf of Oren-Yaro, Bansil’s island realm will feel like coming home—and then being promptly thrown into the surf during a typhoon. Black Salt Queen may demand patience, but it rewards that investment with sweeping stakes, morally knotted characters, and an ending that practically dares you not to preorder book two.

Recommended for

  • Readers who relish court intrigue steeped in non-Western histories
  • Fans of elemental magic systems with bodily costs
  • Anyone craving complex, messy sapphic relationships set against empire-shaking politics

Skip if you need instant action beats or prefer tidy moral lines. Otherwise, dive in and let Maynara’s black-salt waves pull you under.

Gifts for the Tech Dad: Father’s Day Finds for Gadget Lovers

father and son sitting on the floor
Photo by Timur Weber on Pexels.com

Let’s face it — some dads don’t want ties or mugs. They want toys with microchips, glowing LEDs, and more ports than a space station.

If your dad is the kind who insists on explaining the difference between USB-C and Thunderbolt (and why it matters), this is the list for you.

These gifts hit the sweet spot between practical and just plain cool — ideal for Father’s Day, birthdays, or whenever you want to reward the man who upgraded the Wi-Fi and taught you how to use Ctrl+Z.

1. Anker Prime Power Bank (20,000 mAh, 200W Fast Charging)

For the dad who never wants to see 1% battery again
This isn’t just a power bank — it’s a portable power arsenal. Whether he’s juggling devices on a road trip or keeping the family gadgets alive during a power outage, this compact beast delivers serious juice.

With 87W of output shared across three devices, it can simultaneously fast-charge an iPhone, a Samsung Galaxy, and even a MacBook. One device can get up to 65W on its own, which is enough to take a 14″ MacBook Pro to 50% in under 40 minutes. And thanks to the built-in USB-C cable (which is rugged enough to survive 10,000+ bends), he won’t have to go digging through his bag for cords.

Need to top it off quickly? A 65W charger will fully refuel the power bank in just 90 minutes. And with a 20,000mAh battery, he can stay unplugged and productive for hours — all while meeting airline travel requirements.

Specs at a glance:

  • Built-in USB-C cable that charges iPhone 15 Pro to 58% in 30 mins
  • MacBook Air hits 52% in the same time
  • 20,000mAh capacity for all-day power
  • Airline-approved for travel
  • Comes with an 18-month warranty and stellar customer support

If your dad is the kind of guy who’d rather run out of gas than battery, this is the upgrade he didn’t know he needed.

2. Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2

Because lukewarm coffee is a crime

If your dad is the type who microwaves his coffee three times before finishing it, this one’s a game-changer.

The Ember Mug 2 keeps drinks at the perfect temperature — not just warm, but just right between 120°F and 145°F. It holds heat for up to 80 minutes on its own, or all day when placed on its sleek charging coaster. Whether he’s deep in grading, coding, or falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, his coffee or tea will be ready when he is.

What makes this mug especially “dad tech” is the way it balances smart features with everyday ease. He can connect it to the Ember app to set precise temperatures and receive alerts when it hits his preferred level of hotness (135°F is the default if he goes app-free). The mug remembers his last setting too, so once it’s dialed in, it’s hands-off.

With auto-sleep and motion sensors, it wakes up when hot liquid is poured and powers down when not in use. The built-in LED even lets him know when it’s go-time with a glowing temperature-ready signal.

And while it’s techy, it’s still practical — hand-wash safe, scratch-resistant, and water-resistant up to 1 meter (just don’t put it in the dishwasher unless you want to ruin his new favorite gadget).

Why it’s perfect:

  • Keeps drinks hot for 80 minutes (or all day with the coaster)
  • App-connected for temperature control and alerts
  • Auto-sensing sleep/wake features
  • LED light shows when your drink is just right
  • Durable, hand-wash safe, and scratch-resistant

Perfect for the desk, the workshop, or the reading nook — and way more thoughtful than another novelty mug.

3. Meta Quest 3 (128GB)

VR for gaming, fitness, or pretending he’s on the Holodeck

Some dads want socks. Others want to be Batman.

Enter the Meta Quest 3 — the next-gen virtual and mixed reality headset that transforms your living room into whatever world he wants it to be. Whether he’s solving mysteries in Gotham (Batman: Arkham Shadow included with purchase), watching concerts with friends in Meta Horizon, or just kicking back with YouTube on a floating digital screen, this is the ultimate immersive experience.

The Quest 3 isn’t just about play — though there’s plenty of that. It’s built for multitasking, with the ability to pull up multiple screens to browse the web, watch videos, and chat with friends while still being able to see the real world around him. That’s right: mixed reality blends digital objects into his actual space, so he can go from fighting ghosts to answering messages without removing the headset.

Streaming shows? It turns any room into a personal theater with a giant screen, customizable surroundings, and compatibility with USB-C and standard headphones (just bring an adapter). Want to work out without judgment? He can bust a sweat boxing, dancing, or dodging digital projectiles — no gym membership required.

Under the hood:

  • 2X the GPU power of the Quest 2 thanks to the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2
  • Precision hand tracking or enhanced Touch Plus Controllers
  • Access to apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger right inside the headset
  • Wireless freedom and a lightweight build for comfort during extended use
  • Family-friendly with parental controls, usage tracking, and multi-user support (great if you also want to play)

Whether he’s chasing high scores, high reps, or high drama, the Quest 3 lets him do it all in a completely reimagined space.

4. Bird Buddy PRO Solar Smart Bird Feeder with Camera

The ultimate upgrade for dads who birdwatch with binoculars in one hand and a smartphone in the other

Move over squirrel-cams, the Bird Buddy is here — and it’s not your average backyard bird feeder. This AI-powered feeder is perfect for the dad who loves nature and data. It doesn’t just attract feathered friends; it identifies them, logs them, and sends real-time alerts the moment a new visitor drops by for a snack.

The Bird Buddy’s app uses artificial intelligence to recognize bird species, track visits from individual birds, and even detect signs of illness — yes, we’re officially living in the future. Bonus: it can also ID other animal visitors (looking at you, raccoons). The optional premium subscription lets your dad organize a digital scrapbook of his backyard wildlife and share sightings with friends or family. Think Pokémon Snap, but for birders.

With a 5MP camera and 2K video resolution, this feeder captures stunning close-ups of birds in motion, including slow-mo action shots and gorgeous HDR contrasts. It even has a wide-angle lens to make sure no fluff or feathers go undocumented.

Why it’s smart (literally):

  • AI identifies birds (and other critters) by species
  • 2K video, HDR, and slow-motion features
  • Real-time app alerts and educational facts
  • Privacy-first design: focused only on the feeder, not the yard
  • Simple setup: app-guided positioning and Wi-Fi pairing
  • Multiple mounting options: hang it from a branch or mount it to a pole (hanger included, pole not)

If your dad is the kind of guy who narrates backyard bird drama like it’s a nature documentary, this feeder gives him the high-def visuals and intelligent insights to take it to the next level.

5. Twelve South HoverBar Duo 2

For the multitasking dad who wants his iPad to work as hard as he does

Whether he’s watching YouTube tutorials in the kitchen, catching up on email from bed, or using his iPad as a second screen during work meetings, the HoverBar Duo 2 is the flexible, no-fuss tool every tech-loving dad didn’t know he needed.

This stand does it all. It comes with both a weighted desktop base and a shelf clamp, making it wildly versatile — desk setup, kitchen counter, nightstand, workshop bench — wherever he roams, the HoverBar follows. The quick-release clip makes switching between mounting styles refreshingly painless.

The arm is fully adjustable, capable of positioning the iPad up to two feet in the air or tucked low against the base. Combine that with universal compatibility for all iPad models (yes, even the Pro in its chunky case), and you’ve got a true chameleon of tablet stands.

And let’s talk productivity. This isn’t just a glorified iPad holder — it’s a full-blown station upgrade. With iPadOS now supporting Stage Manager, Universal Control, SideCar, and CenterStage, your dad can turn his iPad into a Mac companion, a presentation tool, or the ultimate eye-level video conferencing rig that keeps him centered in the frame — no awkward chin angles here.

Why it stands out (pun intended):

  • Includes desktop base and shelf clamp for flexible setup
  • Height- and angle-adjustable arm puts your iPad right where you need it
  • Quick-release clip makes setup easy and fast
  • Works with all iPad models and most cases
  • Great for dual-screen setups with Mac, or for hands-free use anywhere in the house
  • Optimized for iPad features like CenterStage, SideCar, and Universal Control

If your dad likes his tech practical, modular, and effortlessly cool, this stand delivers on all fronts.

6. Logitech MX Master 3S Mouse

For the dad who believes “ergonomic” is a lifestyle and “multi-screening” is a sport

Some dads collect remote controls. Others master the art of seamlessly working across two computers, a tablet, and their phone, without breaking a sweat. If that sounds like your dad, the MX Master 3S from Logitech is the mouse he deserves.

This isn’t your average point-and-click. With FLOW cross-computer control, your dad can move his cursor between multiple screens (yes, even between Mac and Windows) and drag and drop files like it’s magic. It’s like copy/paste leveled up.

The clicks? Still satisfyingly tactile — just 90% quieter, thanks to Logitech’s new Quiet Clicks tech. So if he’s an early riser or a late-night tinkerer, he won’t disturb the rest of the house while organizing his files or editing photos.

The sensor tracks on virtually any surface — even glass — and the upgraded 8,000 DPI precision means his movements are lightning accurate, whether he’s on a workbench, couch cushion, or the sleek glass desk he swears makes him more productive.

Plus, with the Logi Options+ app, he can customize buttons, create app-specific profiles, and even enable AI Prompt Builder, a new feature designed to optimize prompts across generative AI tools. Yes, we’ve reached that level of geekery.

Why it’s a no-brainer:

  • Works across multiple computers and OSes with FLOW
  • 8K DPI sensor tracks on any surface — even glass
  • Customizable buttons for different apps/workflows
  • New Quiet Clicks tech = nearly silent operation
  • Compatible with Logi AI Prompt Builder via the Options+ app
  • Ergonomically designed for comfort during marathon work sessions

If your dad lives in spreadsheets by day and edits drone footage by night, this mouse is his secret weapon.

7. Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit (CanaKit Edition)

For the dad who thinks a fun weekend involves Linux, soldering, and blinking LEDs

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a gift — it’s a gateway. The Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit is perfect for the dad who’s always wanted to build his own server, smart mirror, retro gaming console, or weather station… but just needed the right excuse (and parts) to get started.

This kit is as plug-and-play as Pi projects get. It includes the powerful Raspberry Pi 5 board with a 2.4GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU and a whopping 8GB of RAM, giving him the horsepower to run advanced operating systems, compile code, or spin up containers like a pro. The included 128GB EVO+ microSD card is preloaded with Raspberry Pi OS, so he can boot it up and dive in without downloading a thing.

And this isn’t some bare-board, duct-tape-together setup — the CanaKit Turbine Black Case is sleek and functional, equipped with a low-noise fan and mega heat sink to keep things cool during intense tinkering sessions. Add in a 45W PD power supply and not one but two 6-foot 4K 60p display cables, and your dad will be dual-monitoring his custom Pi dashboard in no time.

What’s in the box:

  • Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB RAM and quad-core CPU
  • Preloaded 128GB microSD card + USB reader
  • CanaKit Turbine Case + ultra-quiet fan + massive heat sink
  • CanaKit 45W USB-C PD power supply
  • 2x HDMI display cables (supports dual 4K@60Hz)

This is a dream kit for dads who love building things from scratch — whether it’s for fun, for the challenge, or for turning your smart home into a genius home.

Bonus Picks (Because tech dads deserve options)

Wrap-Up: Make It Personal

No matter how shiny the gadget, the best gift is one that shows you get him. Pair one of these with a handwritten note, a memory of him fixing your broken phone (again), or a digital playlist of the best dad jams, and you’re golden.

Happy Father’s Day to the dads who read instruction manuals for fun.

—Mike

Seven Chilling Horror Novels to Haunt Your Summer Reading List (June 2025)

person in black and golden face mask
Photo by Ivan Siarbolin on Pexels.com

Most people kick off their summer reading with beach romances or breezy thrillers. Me? I like a little dread in my June.

Because nothing says “relaxation” like ghost-filled mansions, blood-hungry spirits, and mysterious portals to not-quite-paradise.

Lucky for us, the horror gods have blessed June 2025 with a truly unsettling lineup. Whether you’re into gothic vampires, haunted forests, or reunion horror with a meta twist, there’s something here to keep you up reading way too late and triple-checking the locks before bed.

Here are seven new horror novels that’ll inject a delicious dose of terror into your summer:

Meet Me at the Crossroads by Megan Giddings

Out Now (Amistad)

Seven doors open across the world — portals to what looks like paradise. But when twin sisters Ayanna and Olivia explore what’s beyond, one of them disappears. What follows is part speculative nightmare, part slow-burning psychological unraveling. Think Annihilation meets Everything Everywhere All at Once with a horror twist.

Strange Houses by Uketsu

Out Now (VIZ Media)

A writer buys a house that… well, doesn’t make sense. The floor plan has gaps. The walls feel off. And the spaces between rooms might not be entirely empty. Uketsu (of Strange Pictures fame) continues their brand of eerie, architectural paranoia — like House of Leaves distilled into a fever dream with sharper teeth.

Beast by Richard Van Camp

Out Now (HighWater Press)

Set in 1980s Northwest Territories, this Indigenous YA horror story explores a fragile truce between the Dogrib and Chipewyan peoples. But when an evil spirit starts whispering war into the ears of one family, the tension turns deadly. It’s a rare mix of culturally rooted storytelling, supernatural horror, and historical trauma — all wrapped up in a slim but potent package.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab

Out June 10 (Tor Books)

Schwab trades in melancholy monsters and beautiful wounds — and this novel is no exception. Across centuries and continents, three women make impossible choices, brush against the divine, and face the cost of power, immortality, and grief. If you liked Addie LaRue but wished it had more blood and biting, here you go.

A Girl Walks into the Forest by Madeline Roux

Out June 10 (Quill Tree)

Valla agrees to marry the enigmatic Count Leonid, but first she has to survive the Gottyar Wood — a place that chews up travelers and spits out nothing but bones and whispers. This is gothic YA with teeth: a forest full of nightmares, a castle full of secrets, and a protagonist walking straight into her own doom. Classic fairy tale energy, but with a sinister pulse.

Ecstasy by Ivy Pochoda

Out June 17 (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)

Inspired by The Bacchae, this literary horror gem blends myth, feminism, and psychosexual terror on the beaches of a commune called Agape. Lena, recently widowed and finally free from her gilded cage, is drawn to the strange women living in tents by the sea — and something far older and darker awakens with her. It’s dreamy, vicious, and hallucinatory. Dionysus would approve.

Smile for the Cameras by Miranda Smith

Out June 24 (Bantam)

Twenty years after starring in a cult slasher, final girl Ella Winters is making a comeback. A reunion doc brings the cast together in the woods — but when they start dying like their characters did, Ella realizes the past didn’t stay buried. Think Scream meets The Blair Witch Project, with a dash of Behind the Music dread.

Whether you’re looking for psychological unease, supernatural mayhem, or a creeping sense of “oh no, something is definitely wrong here,” these books have your summer scare needs covered.

And if you read one on a stormy night, lit only by flashlight, with the forest wind howling outside… you might just earn extra credit.

Let me know what you’re reading — and if you end up loving (or hating) any of these terrifying tales.
You can find the rest of my reading lists, geeky thoughts, and education reflections over at mikepaul.com.

Stay curious, stay creeped out,
—Mike


The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!

The 40-Hour Teacher Week Myth (and 7 Tools to Help You Reclaim Your Time)

black and white photo of clocks
Photo by Andrey Grushnikov on Pexels.com

If you’re a teacher, you know the truth: 40 hours is a fantasy.

Between planning, grading, answering emails, attending parent meetings, professional development sessions, hallway duty, IEPs, MTSS meetings, and trying to catch a breath for a moment, teaching is a job that routinely demands 50 to 60 hours per week, and sometimes even more. It’s not that we’re bad at time management. It’s that we’re swimming against a system that wasn’t designed for sustainability.

But here’s the good news: while you may not be able to control the system, you can change how you manage your time within it.

In this post, we’re going to:

  • Debunk the 40-hour teacher week
  • Explore how to design your time like a limited resource
  • Share seven time-saving tools that can help you win back your evenings and weekends
  • Provide practical, teacher-tested time hacks you can implement right away

Let’s dig in.

Why the 40-Hour Teacher Week Is a Myth

The idea of a 40-hour workweek originated from industrial labor models—you clock in, you do your job, and you clock out. But teaching isn’t just a job. It’s a calling, a performance, a planning-intensive, people-heavy, paperwork-dense act of organized chaos.

Here’s how time gets spent:

  • Instruction: 30+ hours/week
  • Lesson planning & prep: 5–10 hours/week
  • Grading and feedback: 5–8 hours/week
  • Emails and communication: 3+ hours/week
  • Meetings (PLC, IEP, PD, admin): 2–5 hours/week

And that’s before you factor in classroom setup, tech troubleshooting, data analysis, sub plans, hallway coverage, behavior documentation, and the emotional labor of being “on” all day.

Teaching is a job that will expand to consume every available minute if you let it.

That’s why reclaiming your time starts with a mindset shift.

Time Budgeting vs. Task Management

Traditional time management says, “Make a list and get it all done.”

But that assumes time is infinite and predictable. It’s not.

Instead, use a time budgeting mindset: you start with a finite amount of time and allocate it intentionally.

Try this:

  • Budget 30 minutes to plan tomorrow’s lesson. When the timer goes off, stop. Done is better than perfect.
  • Give yourself 45 minutes to grade a set of quizzes. Use a single-point rubric or comment bank to expedite the process.
  • Block off 1 hour for parent communication. Use templated responses, voice memos, or batch them in your planning period.

You wouldn’t overspend your money without consequence. Don’t overspend your time.

The 80% Rule: Done Is Better Than Perfect

Aim for 80%.

We waste enormous energy trying to make things perfect—the perfect slide deck, the perfect anchor chart, the perfect assignment. And while excellence matters, so does survivability.

Let go of perfection and embrace “effective enough.”

7 Time-Saving Tools Every Teacher Should Try

These aren’t miracle apps, but they are real tools that save real time.

As always, some of these links are affiliate links, and if you end up purchasing, I get a small fee.

1. Planbook.com – Streamlined Lesson Planning

Planbook is simple, flexible, and lets you align lessons to standards, shift days easily, and copy units from year to year. One hour of setup can save you dozens later.

Pro tip: Create reusable weekly templates for each prep.

2. Grammarly Premium – Faster Writing, Clearer Feedback

Stop second-guessing your grammar and tone in emails or report card comments. Grammarly speeds up communication while maintaining professionalism.

Use it for: parent emails, student feedback, lesson materials.

3. Mote – Voice Notes in Google Docs

Instead of typing out detailed feedback, record a voice note and embed it in student work. Mote works seamlessly in Google Classroom.

Why it works: it’s faster and more human.

4. Notion or ClickUp – Your Teacher Command Center

Whether you’re tracking coaching cycles, unit pacing, student data, or PD goals, these tools help you visualize and centralize your work.

Tip: Build a dashboard that integrates your calendar, to-do list, and major goals.

5. Text Blaze – Instant Text Snippets

Turn common feedback into keyboard shortcuts. For example: type “/mtss1” and paste a pre-written MTSS note. Huge time saver for documentation and repetitive tasks.

6. Rocketbook – Smart Paper for Analog Teachers

Love to write things by hand, but need to digitize them fast? Use this reusable notebook to scan and upload to Google Drive, Notion, or email.

Perfect for: lesson brainstorming, meeting notes, coaching logs.

7. Google Keep – Digital Sticky Notes That Stick

Use it to capture quick ideas, batch feedback, or create checklists. Label and color code for visibility. Bonus: integrates well with Gmail and Calendar.

5 Time-Saving Habits to Build This Month

Tools help. But systems sustain. Here are habits to pair with your tools:

1. Theme Your Days

  • Monday: Lesson planning
  • Tuesday: Grading
  • Wednesday: Family communication
  • Thursday: Data and meetings
  • Friday: Catch up + self-care

2. Use Comment Banks and Rubrics

Create a Google Doc with your most-used feedback phrases. Pair with single-point rubrics in Google Classroom.

3. Batch Like a Boss

Group similar tasks (e.g., grade all assignments from 2nd period, then all from 3rd) to reduce cognitive switching.

4. Automate What You Can

Schedule recurring parent newsletters. Use auto-responders during peak grading periods. Build email templates.

5. Reflect Weekly

Take 15 minutes each Friday to reflect:

  • What worked?
  • What drained me?
  • What can I tweak for next week?

Final Thoughts: Time Is a Teacher’s Most Precious Resource

You are not a robot. You are not lazy. You are not doing it wrong.

You are working inside a system that asks too much and gives too little.

But with the right tools and some intentional design, you can reclaim your time.

You deserve to leave school without guilt. You deserve a weekend. You deserve a full life.

It begins by treating your time as sacred.


The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!

Coming This Fall: A Must-Read for Every K–8 Educator Ready to Ignite Innovation

Sparking Innovation in Children Through STEM Exploration: A K-8 Teacher′s Guide to Inspiring Future Problem Solvers

In Sparking Innovation in Children Through STEM Exploration: A K–8 Teacher’s Guide to Inspiring Future Problem Solvers, Brandy Howard and Richard Cox, Jr. offer more than a book—they offer a call to action. Grounded in empathy, equity, and real-world relevance, this essential resource equips educators with a clear, adaptable framework to transform their classrooms into incubators of creativity and critical thinking.

At the heart of the book is the Innov8 Framework—eight flexible, student-centered phases designed to spark curiosity, fuel collaboration, and sustain meaningful impact. Whether you’re new to STEM integration or looking to deepen your practice, this book provides:

  • Step-by-step guidance through the Innov8 process
  • Editable tools you can use tomorrow—lesson plans, interest surveys, reflection prompts, and more
  • Real stories from classrooms that are already making innovation thrive

This is the blueprint for teaching that inspires. If you’re committed to preparing students for an unpredictable future—while anchoring learning in justice, inquiry, and agency—this book belongs on your shelf (and in your hands).


The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!

10 Must-Read New Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books for June 2025

man wearing white full face motorcycle helmet
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The heat has officially arrived here in Kentucky, and with it comes one of my favorite seasonal rituals: the Summer Reading Stack. You know the one. The books you optimistically pile up beside your hammock, or your travel bag, or your nightstand, knowing full well you won’t read them all, but determined to try anyway.

As I prepare to disappear into as many pages as possible between projects and planning, I’ve rounded up some of the June 2025 SFF releases that have piqued my curiosity, stirred my genre-loving soul, and whispered, “read me next.” This month’s picks include vampire spaceships, cursed couriers, underwater palaces, swan-based political coups, and so much more.

So pour yourself a tall glass of iced tea (or Romulan ale — I won’t judge), and dive into this list of stellar speculative fiction releases.

10 Fantastical New SFF Books for June 2025

Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil

Out June 3 (Bindery Books)

A dying queen. An heir who can’t get it together. A rival powerful enough to tear down everything. This high-stakes island fantasy features matriarchal legacy, political power grabs, and complicated magic. It’s giving Game of Thrones meets The Green Bone Saga — and I am here for it.

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

Out June 3 (Bindery Books)

If you told me this book was Dracula meets Battlestar Galactica, I’d throw my credits at the nearest data terminal. Set on the spaceship Demeter (a clever nod to Stoker), this queer horror story features space vampires, interstellar travel, and a haunted AI that might need to become Blade.

The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott

Out June 10 (Tor Books)

When the royal road trip from hell goes sideways (thanks, arrogant prince), it’s up to Elen the courier to get everyone out of a haunted town alive. This one promises political intrigue, ancient magic, and the kind of “why am I always the responsible one?” energy I feel deep in my soul.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab

Out June 10 (Tor Books)

Three women. Three timelines. Vampires. Schwab’s gothic sensibilities are on full display in this “toxic lesbian vampire” novel (her words, not mine), and I’m already bracing for heartbreak, blood, and beautifully written trauma.

The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery by Clarence A. Haynes

Out June 17 (Legacy Lit)

A glamorous NYC publicist finds herself haunted — literally and figuratively — after a museum tragedy. Throw in a psychic caught in a ghostly love triangle and some deeply buried secrets, and this one sounds like The Sixth Sense meets Scandal with a Bronx twist.

Seventhblade by Tonia Laird

Out June 17 (ECW Press)

An Indigenous warrior mother seeking vengeance in a colonized city? Yes, please. Add in morally gray alliances, godlike powers, and a blood debt that could ignite a revolution, and you’ve got a fantasy epic I’m bumping to the top of the list.

New SFF for Young Readers (and the Young at Heart)

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

Out June 3 (Knopf Books)

Beauty and the Beast but make it a con artist with prophetic painting powers? Lim continues to blend folklore and feminism with flair. Truyan agrees to marry the Dragon King to save her family, but we all know that kind of bargain never goes according to plan…

Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman

Out June 24 (Random House)

A medieval town where freedom is earned by surviving a year and a day — until a ghost, a dragon, and a murder shake the walls. Hartman’s return promises haunting imagery and a layered coming-of-age story, perfect for fans of Seraphina and The Graveyard Book.

Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara

Out June 24 (HarperCollins)

A jeweler’s apprentice finds herself in the Serpent King’s castle. To survive, she marries him — but finds herself drawn to someone else entirely. Intrigue, jewels, forbidden romance… this one’s for readers who like their fantasy a little dark and a lot twisty.

A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek

Out June 24 (Margaret K. McElderry Books)

Inspired by Swan Lake, this sapphic fantasy delivers palace politics, magical transformations, and a mission to restore a kingdom’s lost magic. When the king dies and blame falls on the wrong person, Odile must team up with the very person she betrayed to find the truth.

Bonus Picks (Because I Can’t Help Myself)

That’s all for now, fellow explorers of the weird and wonderful. If you pick up any of these, let me know — I’m always up for a good bookish conversation, especially if it involves morally ambiguous magic or sentient spaceships.

Until next time: read deeply, imagine wildly, and remember… the TBR pile is infinite, but your joy is the compass.


The Eclectic Educator is a free resource for everyone passionate about education and creativity. If you enjoy the content and want to support the newsletter, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support helps keep the insights and inspiration coming!

Every Time Norm Enters the Bar

I still love Cheers, 32 years after it left the airwaves. And I still love the finale, quite possibly the best finale of any TV series (but Newhart is right up there).

This week, we lost George Wendt, who played the iconic Norm Peterson. Norm is a cultural icon, even inspiring a Star Trek character.

Here’s a super-cut of every time Norm enters the Cheers bar. RIP Normie, I hope your stool was waiting for you.

Wednesday assorted links