After publishing the 2018 revision of What's New in Young Adult Novels? and Ideas for Classroom Use and before moving on to reviewing 2019 titles, I want to recommend four 2018 realistic novels, which explore the theme of being true to oneself. Rachel Cohn's latest My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life follows a 16-year-old foster child to Japan where she had been sent to live with the father she's never met. Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll focuses on three teens who bond while working in a store that sells unclaimed luggage from airports. In Stephanie Strohm's Love a la Mode two students meet and fall in love in culinary school in Paris. Finally Christina Hurley Deriso's Things I'd Rather Do than Die explores the relationship of a Christian athlete and an agnostic intellectual, who bond after being held at gunpoint and then locked together for several hours after a robbery.
In My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life Elle Zoellner, who has been bouncing around in foster care since her mother's incarceration, finds her life changed overnight, when she is whisked away to Japan to live with the father she's never met. Elle finds herself living in a 49th floor penthouse apartment and attending a prestigious international school with uber rich kids. Her father, who is a hotel mogul, is distant and her aunt and grandmother downright rude. But Elle embraces her new life, joining the track team and ingratiating herself with the popular "Ex-brats," of whom her dad approves. When Elle begins crushing on a fellow teammate, who is on the outs with the Ex-brats, things begin to change and she struggles to navigate her newfound privileged life. I really enjoyed this unconventional rags to riches story.
Unclaimed Baggage introduces Nell, who is devastated when she moves to Alabama, leaving her Chicago high school friends and boyfriend behind. She takes a job at a store that sells long lost luggage from airports, where she meets Doris and Grant. Doris is an outspoken agnostic, making her an outcast in her bible belt community. Grant, whose football career is in jeopardy after a drunk driving accident, is struggling to deal with his alcoholism. The three form a tentative friendship and begin working on their personal baggage. The story is told in alternating voices, giving the reader insight into what each teen is going through. When Nell's biracial boyfriend visits, he is assaulted and the three must come to terms with small town prejudice and where their loyalties lie. The characters are well-drawn and sympathetic, making this a charming read.
Love a la Mode is set at a culinary school in Paris, where Henry and Rosie fall in love amidst the pressures of competitive cooking. He is trying to prove himself and his dreams of becoming a chef to his strict Korean mother, who has other plans for his future. Rosie, a pastry chef from rural Ohio, wonders if she is up to the challenge, as she has little experience with main course cuisine. Their romance is thwarted by her cooking struggles and her flirtation with a fellow pastry chef, who is the school's celebrity chef owner's nephew. Witty banter, delectable portrayals of food obsessions and a rich cast of characters make this a winning rom-com that is a cut above.
Things I'd Rather Do Than Die is a catchy title that refers to one of the topics of conversion between high school seniors Jade Fulton and Ethan Garrett, when they are locked in a workout studio after being held at gunpoint at the gym where she works. For eight hours they share confidences and begin to realize the stereotypical attitudes they had about each other were unfair. She isn't just an agnostic intellectual and he isn't just a bible-toting dumb jock, as they formerly believed. Once they are rescued, they return to their normal lives, but the bond they have formed is difficult to ignore, much to Ethan's girlfriend's annoyance. As they deal with personal struggles, including Jade's dad's terminal diagnosis and Ethan's dad's alcoholism, they begin leaning on each other for support. The theme of being true to oneself is explored as they both reevaluate their goals and relationships. As Jade says, "If there is a God, maybe what he really values is people keeping an open mind." Their thoughtful conversations and struggles with following their hearts make this a compelling read.
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Saturday, December 1, 2018
New YA Fantasy Series: Ignite the Stars, Fire and Heist, Shadow of the Fox and The Darkest Star
It's time for the holidays and I always like to recommend new fantasy series for gift giving. This year's recommendations include Ignite the Stars, a sci-fi series by debut author Maura Milan, Fire and Heist, a fantasy involving shape-shifting dragons by Sara Beth Durst (The Queens of Renthia series), Shadow of the Fox, a Japanese mythology based fantasy by Julie Kagawa (The Iron Fey series), and The Darkest Star, a spinoff of the Lux series by Jennifer Armentrout (The Lux series).
Ignite the Stars is set in 8921 in the Olympus Commonwealth, the most powerful force in the galaxy. Ia Cocha, a criminal mastermind whose planet was destroyed by the Commonwealth, is captured and sent to their Royal Star Force academy on planet Apehelion. At first she is determined to escape, but slowly she begins to care about her cohorts, including Flight Master Knives, whose father captured her, and Brinn Tarver, Ia's roommate, who is hiding her half-Tawny heritage, which would endanger her safety. As Ia learns to trust her new friends, she discovers her brother, who she has always worshiped, is plotting against her. Chapters alternate between the three protagonists' perspectives as they discover that all is not as it seems in this action-packed sci fi adventure, which is filled with thrilling space battles and political intrigue.
Fire and Heist introduces the Hawkins family, who are wyverns, humans descended from dragons. They are obsessed with hoarding and stealing gold. Since her mother's disappearance, the main character Sky and her family are outcasts in the community. Now Sky is determined to steal a jewel from the leading wyvern family and in the process find her mother and restore her family's credibility. She gathers her crew, including her estranged boyfriend, who still loves her, but was forced to abandon her by his father, who owns the jewel. In attempting the heist, she uncovers a secret about the dragon society that changers her family's fortunes forever.
As Shadow of the Fox, which involves Japanese folklore, opens, the time has come in Iwagoto when a dragon god will grant a millennial wish to anyone who possesses an ancient scroll. The last wish brought such destruction that the scroll was divided into three pieces and hidden. Now both the emperor's concubine Lady Satomi and the head of the Shadow Clan Lady Hanshou are determined to find the pieces so that they can be granted a wish. Tatsumi, demon slayer of the Shadow Clan, who is bound to the sword Kamigoroshi and the demon imprisoned within it, is tasked with finding the pieces. Yumeko, a Kitsune (half fox/half human spirit), who was raised in the Silent Winds temple, manages to escape with a part of the scroll when Lady Satomi sends demons to destroy the temple. She meets Tatsumi and convinces him to head off on a quest to the Steel Feather Temple to find the rest of the scroll. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers anxious for the sequel.
The Darkest Star, the first book in the romantic sci-fi Origin series, introduces 17-year-old Evie, whose father died in the Earth's successful war against the invading space aliens called Luxen. (detailed in the Lux series) When Evie joins her friend at a nightclub patronized by Luxen, who now wear armbands that neutralize their powers, she meets Luc, who is an Origin, a Luxen with heightened abilities. In the days that follow, girls begin disappearing from her school and Luc keeps turning up, whenever Evie is in danger. As the reader ultimately discovers, Evie and Luc's lives are inextricably linked and the suspense as to how and why makes this a real page-tuner.
Ignite the Stars is set in 8921 in the Olympus Commonwealth, the most powerful force in the galaxy. Ia Cocha, a criminal mastermind whose planet was destroyed by the Commonwealth, is captured and sent to their Royal Star Force academy on planet Apehelion. At first she is determined to escape, but slowly she begins to care about her cohorts, including Flight Master Knives, whose father captured her, and Brinn Tarver, Ia's roommate, who is hiding her half-Tawny heritage, which would endanger her safety. As Ia learns to trust her new friends, she discovers her brother, who she has always worshiped, is plotting against her. Chapters alternate between the three protagonists' perspectives as they discover that all is not as it seems in this action-packed sci fi adventure, which is filled with thrilling space battles and political intrigue.
Fire and Heist introduces the Hawkins family, who are wyverns, humans descended from dragons. They are obsessed with hoarding and stealing gold. Since her mother's disappearance, the main character Sky and her family are outcasts in the community. Now Sky is determined to steal a jewel from the leading wyvern family and in the process find her mother and restore her family's credibility. She gathers her crew, including her estranged boyfriend, who still loves her, but was forced to abandon her by his father, who owns the jewel. In attempting the heist, she uncovers a secret about the dragon society that changers her family's fortunes forever.
As Shadow of the Fox, which involves Japanese folklore, opens, the time has come in Iwagoto when a dragon god will grant a millennial wish to anyone who possesses an ancient scroll. The last wish brought such destruction that the scroll was divided into three pieces and hidden. Now both the emperor's concubine Lady Satomi and the head of the Shadow Clan Lady Hanshou are determined to find the pieces so that they can be granted a wish. Tatsumi, demon slayer of the Shadow Clan, who is bound to the sword Kamigoroshi and the demon imprisoned within it, is tasked with finding the pieces. Yumeko, a Kitsune (half fox/half human spirit), who was raised in the Silent Winds temple, manages to escape with a part of the scroll when Lady Satomi sends demons to destroy the temple. She meets Tatsumi and convinces him to head off on a quest to the Steel Feather Temple to find the rest of the scroll. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers anxious for the sequel.
The Darkest Star, the first book in the romantic sci-fi Origin series, introduces 17-year-old Evie, whose father died in the Earth's successful war against the invading space aliens called Luxen. (detailed in the Lux series) When Evie joins her friend at a nightclub patronized by Luxen, who now wear armbands that neutralize their powers, she meets Luc, who is an Origin, a Luxen with heightened abilities. In the days that follow, girls begin disappearing from her school and Luc keeps turning up, whenever Evie is in danger. As the reader ultimately discovers, Evie and Luc's lives are inextricably linked and the suspense as to how and why makes this a real page-tuner.
Thursday, November 15, 2018
New YA Mysteries: Little White Lies, The Guggenheim Mystery, The Cheerleaders and I Do Not Trust You
Mysteries are arguably the most popular genre in
fiction. Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys have captivated readers for
generations. In teaching the mystery
genre, analyzing the author’s use of classic mystery techniques can help
students understand why mysteries are such “page turners.” Foreshadowing, cliff hangers, and red
herrings are just a few of the techniques the authors use to keep their readers
coming back for more. This month I am recommending four new mysteries teens might enjoy. Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynne Barnes (The Naturals) features Southern belle debutantes sleuthing to solve a variety of mysteries. The Guggenheim Mystery by Robin Stevens (Murder Most Unladylike) reunites 12-year-old detective Ted Spark and his sister with their cousin Salim in NYC to solve an art heist mystery. Stevens was asked to write the book for Siobhan Dowd who died after writing The London Eye Mystery, the first book in the series. The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas (Little Monsters) focuses on two teens who attempt to uncover long buried truths about what actually happened when five high school cheerleaders died in separate "accidents" several years in the past. I Do Not Trust You by Laura Burns and Melinda Metz (Crave, Sanctuary Bay), a mystery thriller with a supernatural element, pairs Memphis Engel, a brainy history geek, with Ashwin Sood, a wealthy Brit with dark secrets, in a quest to find the missing pieces for a statue of the Egyptian god Set.
Little White Lies, the first book in the new Debutante series, introduces eighteen-year-old mechanic Sawyer Taft, who struggles to make ends meet and feels more like a parent than a daughter to her absentee mother. She is astounded when her estranged Southern belle grandmother shows up, offering her half a million dollars if she participates in debutante season. Although she is conflicted, Sawyer ultimately accepts. Not only will the money pay for college, it will also give Sawyer an opportunity to find out who her biological father is. But she gets a lot more than she bargained for when her newfound friends involve her in kidnappings, theft, and high society scandal. This layered mystery is a fun romp through makeovers, gorgeous clothing, twisted relationships and romantic liaisons.
In The Guggenheim Mystery Kat and Ted Spark are back, after solving the mystery of their cousin Salim's disappearance in The London Eye Mystery. Now they are visiting him in NYC, where his mother has taken a job at the Guggenheim Museum. While the three are visiting the museum, a smoke bomb goes off and when the smoke clears, a Kandinsky painting is missing. Salim's mother is being framed for the crime and Ted is determined to clear her name. Ted, who is on the autism spectrum and has unusually keen observations skills and appreciation of patterns, enlists the help of Kat and Salim to solve the mystery. They use deductive reasoning to work through a list of suspects.Ted narrates their adventures using amusing meteorology metaphors and allusions to Homer's Odyssey. Well integrated clues help readers to solve the puzzle along with the characters in this engaging middle level mystery.
The Cheerleaders opens as a a grieving town is coming up on the anniversary of the death of five of their high school cheerleaders. Two died in a car accident, two in a horrific murder and the fifth in an apparent suicide. The suicide victim's sister Monica begins to suspect that her sister Jen's death was not a reaction to the death of her friends and decides to investigate. Told in alternating chapters from Monica's first person perspective and Jen's third person flashbacks, the mystery unravels as Monica looks into some anonymous letters she found in her stepfather's desk, along with her sister's phone. Stepdad was the police officer who killed the supposed murderer. The letters intimate that all is not as it seems. The car accident and the murders are linked and the real culprit is still at large. Monica becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, alienating her friends and aligning her with people tied to the mystery. Jen's chapters slowly reveal her disenfranchisement from her friends and then horror and guilt over their deaths. Readers will enjoy guessing the outcome of this complex well-written mystery.
After her archaeologist father's apparent death in a plane crash, Memphis "M" Engel, the protagonist in I Do Not Trust You, throws herself into attempting to finish his life's work: translating an ancient map written in a secret language. Then she meets Ashwin Sood, a member of a cult which worships the ancient Egyptian god Horus. He informs her that her father is alive and being held captive by the cult. He will trade her father for the map which describes the locations of five different pieces of a statue of Set, a relic which has the power to destroy the world. The statue is sought by not only his cult, but also the cult which follows Set. Instead, M convinces him to join her on a global search for the missing pieces. Although they must collaborate to decipher the clues, with her translating the hieroglyphics and providing vast historical knowledge and his providing the funds, they do not trust each other. When his supernatural abilities are revealed, they begin to confide in each other and join forces to thwart the two cults, whose rivalry threatens world collapse. Their whirlwind travels through the catacombs of Paris, a sacred forest in Norway, the ruins of a submerged temple in Egypt and beyond, make for a suspenseful journey, as readers root for the two to finally trust each other and outwit those who are trying to stop them. I was captivated by all the historical information used to decode clues and lead them from the discovery of one piece after another. All and all, it's a fun and compelling romantic mystery.
Little White Lies, the first book in the new Debutante series, introduces eighteen-year-old mechanic Sawyer Taft, who struggles to make ends meet and feels more like a parent than a daughter to her absentee mother. She is astounded when her estranged Southern belle grandmother shows up, offering her half a million dollars if she participates in debutante season. Although she is conflicted, Sawyer ultimately accepts. Not only will the money pay for college, it will also give Sawyer an opportunity to find out who her biological father is. But she gets a lot more than she bargained for when her newfound friends involve her in kidnappings, theft, and high society scandal. This layered mystery is a fun romp through makeovers, gorgeous clothing, twisted relationships and romantic liaisons.
In The Guggenheim Mystery Kat and Ted Spark are back, after solving the mystery of their cousin Salim's disappearance in The London Eye Mystery. Now they are visiting him in NYC, where his mother has taken a job at the Guggenheim Museum. While the three are visiting the museum, a smoke bomb goes off and when the smoke clears, a Kandinsky painting is missing. Salim's mother is being framed for the crime and Ted is determined to clear her name. Ted, who is on the autism spectrum and has unusually keen observations skills and appreciation of patterns, enlists the help of Kat and Salim to solve the mystery. They use deductive reasoning to work through a list of suspects.Ted narrates their adventures using amusing meteorology metaphors and allusions to Homer's Odyssey. Well integrated clues help readers to solve the puzzle along with the characters in this engaging middle level mystery.
The Cheerleaders opens as a a grieving town is coming up on the anniversary of the death of five of their high school cheerleaders. Two died in a car accident, two in a horrific murder and the fifth in an apparent suicide. The suicide victim's sister Monica begins to suspect that her sister Jen's death was not a reaction to the death of her friends and decides to investigate. Told in alternating chapters from Monica's first person perspective and Jen's third person flashbacks, the mystery unravels as Monica looks into some anonymous letters she found in her stepfather's desk, along with her sister's phone. Stepdad was the police officer who killed the supposed murderer. The letters intimate that all is not as it seems. The car accident and the murders are linked and the real culprit is still at large. Monica becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, alienating her friends and aligning her with people tied to the mystery. Jen's chapters slowly reveal her disenfranchisement from her friends and then horror and guilt over their deaths. Readers will enjoy guessing the outcome of this complex well-written mystery.
After her archaeologist father's apparent death in a plane crash, Memphis "M" Engel, the protagonist in I Do Not Trust You, throws herself into attempting to finish his life's work: translating an ancient map written in a secret language. Then she meets Ashwin Sood, a member of a cult which worships the ancient Egyptian god Horus. He informs her that her father is alive and being held captive by the cult. He will trade her father for the map which describes the locations of five different pieces of a statue of Set, a relic which has the power to destroy the world. The statue is sought by not only his cult, but also the cult which follows Set. Instead, M convinces him to join her on a global search for the missing pieces. Although they must collaborate to decipher the clues, with her translating the hieroglyphics and providing vast historical knowledge and his providing the funds, they do not trust each other. When his supernatural abilities are revealed, they begin to confide in each other and join forces to thwart the two cults, whose rivalry threatens world collapse. Their whirlwind travels through the catacombs of Paris, a sacred forest in Norway, the ruins of a submerged temple in Egypt and beyond, make for a suspenseful journey, as readers root for the two to finally trust each other and outwit those who are trying to stop them. I was captivated by all the historical information used to decode clues and lead them from the discovery of one piece after another. All and all, it's a fun and compelling romantic mystery.
Friday, October 5, 2018
Classic Connections: Pride, Always Never Yours and She Loves You Yeah Yeah Yeah
Literature and film are filled with classic connections - stories that incorporate elements of the classics but with a twist. Many YA authors are following this time honored tradition of
retelling a classic story in a modern setting
or incorporating elements of a classic into a
modern tale. Pairing the new novel with the classic material gives students the opportunity to appreciate the clever
variations that the modern authors imagine. This month's recommendation are three such novels. Pride by Idi Zoboi (American Streets) is a retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, set in present day Bushwick, New York. Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley and her husband Austin Siegemund-Broka introduces Megan Harper who tries out for a small part in Romeo and Juliet and ends up with the lead. She Loves You Yeah Yeah Yeah by Ann Hood incorporates the Beatles' history and songs into a novel about a sixth grade girl, who thinks meeting the Beatles at their concert in 1966 will solve all her social problems.
In Pride, Ibi Zoboi sets Jane Austen's classic in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. Zuri Benitez, who is of Haitian-Dominican heritage, is worried about gentrification of her diverse community, when the African-American Darcy family moves into a renovated mansion across the street from her family's apartment building. Zuri, a poet with ambitions of attending Howard University, clashes with the arrogant Darius Darcy when she meets him, but her sister Janae, a college freshman, is smitten with his brother Ainsley. The story continues to follow the classic with the Wyckham character, Warren, pursuing Zuri, while talking younger girls including Darius's sister, into taking revealing selfies. The Mr. Collins character is the nephew of the Benitezs' Oshun-worshiping godmother and apartment building owner, who will inherit the building when she dies. When Zuri goes to an open-mic night to share her poetry, she is surprised to meet Darius and his sister there, and the ice between them begins to thaw. Those unfamiliar with Austen's work will still love this classic story of pride in one's community and prejudice through misunderstanding. Encouraging a reading of the original will allow students to appreciate how incredibly clever the author is in adapting the story to a modern day setting and problems.
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet provides the backbone for Always Never Yours, with each chapter beginning with a relevant quote from the play. In the novel high school senior, Megan Harper has dreams of attending a prestigious directing program, but she must have at least one acting credit on her application. She auditions for the smallest part in her school's production, but is cast as Juliet. Megan has always considered herself a "Rosaline." Her seven ex-boyfriends have all found true love right after dating her. To make matters worse, her last boyfriend left her for her best friend, and now he is her co-star. Complications ensue! Crushing on a new stagehand, Will, Megan enlists the help of Owen Okita, a new drama kid, who spends much of his time writing lyrics for Will's emo band and gets her in ways no other boy ever has. But Megan, who can't see that he's obviously her perfect match, struggles to find what she truly wants. Their witty repartee makes this a deliciously fun read. The husband and wife authors are high school sweethearts who fell in love over a shared love of the bard, which is reflected in this wonderful romantic comedy.
She Loves You Yeah Yeah Yeah revisits 60s Beatlemania through a story of sixth grader Trudy Mixer, who is a Beatles fanatic and president of her school's fan club. When the once-popular club dwindles to three members and her best friend joins the future cheerleaders, Trudy is determined to remedy things by going to the Beatles concert in Boston and meeting Paul McCartney. Her dreams almost come true when her dad buys four concert tickets, but then he is called away on a business trip. She and the other three club members, awkward Peter, uncool Jessica and unkempt Nora, decide to head to Boston on their own. Riding the train for the first time and attempting to make their way to Suffolk Downs Racetrack where the Beatles play for 25,000 people is fraught with problems, but the teens ultimately are rewarded, learning valuable lessons along the way. Beatles song titles are used as chapter headings that thematically relate to what's happening in the story. Having attended a Beatles concert in 1963 in Indianapolis, Indiana when I was thirteen, I relived the emotions riding on actually seeing my heroes, and the joy at being one of the screaming masses as they sang the songs I knew and loved. This well-written middle school tale not only is a treasure trove of Beatles history, it also explores issues teens of every generation face.
In Pride, Ibi Zoboi sets Jane Austen's classic in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. Zuri Benitez, who is of Haitian-Dominican heritage, is worried about gentrification of her diverse community, when the African-American Darcy family moves into a renovated mansion across the street from her family's apartment building. Zuri, a poet with ambitions of attending Howard University, clashes with the arrogant Darius Darcy when she meets him, but her sister Janae, a college freshman, is smitten with his brother Ainsley. The story continues to follow the classic with the Wyckham character, Warren, pursuing Zuri, while talking younger girls including Darius's sister, into taking revealing selfies. The Mr. Collins character is the nephew of the Benitezs' Oshun-worshiping godmother and apartment building owner, who will inherit the building when she dies. When Zuri goes to an open-mic night to share her poetry, she is surprised to meet Darius and his sister there, and the ice between them begins to thaw. Those unfamiliar with Austen's work will still love this classic story of pride in one's community and prejudice through misunderstanding. Encouraging a reading of the original will allow students to appreciate how incredibly clever the author is in adapting the story to a modern day setting and problems.
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet provides the backbone for Always Never Yours, with each chapter beginning with a relevant quote from the play. In the novel high school senior, Megan Harper has dreams of attending a prestigious directing program, but she must have at least one acting credit on her application. She auditions for the smallest part in her school's production, but is cast as Juliet. Megan has always considered herself a "Rosaline." Her seven ex-boyfriends have all found true love right after dating her. To make matters worse, her last boyfriend left her for her best friend, and now he is her co-star. Complications ensue! Crushing on a new stagehand, Will, Megan enlists the help of Owen Okita, a new drama kid, who spends much of his time writing lyrics for Will's emo band and gets her in ways no other boy ever has. But Megan, who can't see that he's obviously her perfect match, struggles to find what she truly wants. Their witty repartee makes this a deliciously fun read. The husband and wife authors are high school sweethearts who fell in love over a shared love of the bard, which is reflected in this wonderful romantic comedy.
She Loves You Yeah Yeah Yeah revisits 60s Beatlemania through a story of sixth grader Trudy Mixer, who is a Beatles fanatic and president of her school's fan club. When the once-popular club dwindles to three members and her best friend joins the future cheerleaders, Trudy is determined to remedy things by going to the Beatles concert in Boston and meeting Paul McCartney. Her dreams almost come true when her dad buys four concert tickets, but then he is called away on a business trip. She and the other three club members, awkward Peter, uncool Jessica and unkempt Nora, decide to head to Boston on their own. Riding the train for the first time and attempting to make their way to Suffolk Downs Racetrack where the Beatles play for 25,000 people is fraught with problems, but the teens ultimately are rewarded, learning valuable lessons along the way. Beatles song titles are used as chapter headings that thematically relate to what's happening in the story. Having attended a Beatles concert in 1963 in Indianapolis, Indiana when I was thirteen, I relived the emotions riding on actually seeing my heroes, and the joy at being one of the screaming masses as they sang the songs I knew and loved. This well-written middle school tale not only is a treasure trove of Beatles history, it also explores issues teens of every generation face.
Monday, September 24, 2018
New YA Sports Novels: The Prodigy, Here to Stay, Rebound and Attucks!
Although young adult sports novels frequently involve thrilling play by play, they also usually include additional conflict that the protagonist must navigate with integrity and determination. New books by four award winning authors explore the stories of young people who deal with personal challenges while playing competitive sports. In The Prodigy by John Feinstein, a 17-year-old golf phenom not only competes in the Masters but also struggles to resist going pro before he is ready. Here To Stay by Sara Farizan focuses on JV basketball player Bijan Majidi who scores the winning basket in a varsity game, propelling him to newfound popularity that in turn attracts racist bullying. Rebound, the prequel to The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander, finds the twins' father Charlie Bell channeling his grief over the death of his father into a newfound love for basketball. Finally, Attucks!: Oscar Robertson and the Basketball Team that Awakened a City by Phillip Hoose tells the tale of the fabled 1955 Crispus Attucks Tigers, the first all-black team to win a state championship in a racially integrated tournament.
After making it to the finals in the U.S. Amateur championship, 17-year-old golfer Frank Baker, The Prodigy, earns an invitation to the Masters, where he captures the attention of sponsors and greedy agents with his spectacular performance. His single dad, who is struggling to pay bills, wants Frank to turn pro, but Frank knows he is not ready. Frank's swing coach enlists the help of a sports journalist to guide Frank through the challenges of standing up for himself in the cutthroat world of competitive golf. Award-winning sportswriter John Feinstein enthralls us with riveting play by play on real courses with famous golf pros, officials and journalists. The realistic golf jargon, as well as a subplot about Frank possibly losing his amateur status, add to the suspense of his thrilling feats and comebacks during the tournament. In the end a climactic act of sportsmanship shows him to be an honorable young man who deserves to be the master of his own destiny.
In Here to Stay Sara Farizan (Lambda Literary Award winner for LBGT YA fiction) introduces JV basketball player Bijan Majidi who enjoys newfound popularity when he scores a winning basket while subbing on his prep school's varsity team. He also attracts the attention of his crush Elle Powell, who enlists his help in her crusade to change the school mascot The Gunner to a something non-violent. However, Bijan's Jordanian and Persian background provokes a cyberbully to post a picture of him as a terrorist entitled "Our New Mascot." His outraged single mother wants him to protest this hate crime, but he resists until the bully also targets two of his lesbian friends. He then realizes the issue goes beyond himself and he launches a courageous public campaign to find out who is behind the attacks. Bijan's first person narrative alternates with a humorous imaginary live analysis of his life from his two favorite NBA commentators. The suspenseful mystery examines a variety of societal issues in an engaging timely read.
Kwame Alexander's latest novel-in-verse, Rebound, a prequel to his Newbery winner, tells the story of Josh and Jordan Bell's father and how he came to play basketball. The summer of 1988 Charlie Bell is reeling from the unexpected death of his father. He buries himself in comic books and ends up getting sent to his grandparents after a brush with the law. His no-nonsense grandfather puts him to work in the sweltering heat and takes him to the Boy and Girls club where he shoots hoops with his cousin Roxie, who lures him into playing with her team. Slowly but surely, "Chuck" begins to heal through the love of family and friends, as well as his newfound love of the game. Comic-style illustrations of Chuck fantasizing about being a basketball superhero by Dawud Anyabwile complement Alexander's wordplay in this must read for fans of The Crossover.
Hailing from Indianapolis and an ardent basketball fan, I am excited to share a new non-fiction book that comes out October 23rd - Attucks!: Oscar Robertson and the Basketball Team that Awakened a City. This true story of the all-black Indianapolis high school, Crispus Attucks, tells the story of how a sports team led to the integration of a segregated city. When the Crispus Attacks Tigers won the Indiana state championship in 1955, it showed the world that black athletes are not inferior. Led by the future NBA star Oscar Robertson, the brilliantly coached team of boys, raised in poverty, dominated championship play. They were the first championship team from Indianapolis and the first all-black team to win a racially open tournament, ultimately leading to integrated teams in the future. Although National Book Award winner Phillip Loose tells the history of the high school, he focuses on the role Oscar Robertson played which makes the story more intimate, giving us a Birdseye view of the racism he and others experienced.
After making it to the finals in the U.S. Amateur championship, 17-year-old golfer Frank Baker, The Prodigy, earns an invitation to the Masters, where he captures the attention of sponsors and greedy agents with his spectacular performance. His single dad, who is struggling to pay bills, wants Frank to turn pro, but Frank knows he is not ready. Frank's swing coach enlists the help of a sports journalist to guide Frank through the challenges of standing up for himself in the cutthroat world of competitive golf. Award-winning sportswriter John Feinstein enthralls us with riveting play by play on real courses with famous golf pros, officials and journalists. The realistic golf jargon, as well as a subplot about Frank possibly losing his amateur status, add to the suspense of his thrilling feats and comebacks during the tournament. In the end a climactic act of sportsmanship shows him to be an honorable young man who deserves to be the master of his own destiny.
In Here to Stay Sara Farizan (Lambda Literary Award winner for LBGT YA fiction) introduces JV basketball player Bijan Majidi who enjoys newfound popularity when he scores a winning basket while subbing on his prep school's varsity team. He also attracts the attention of his crush Elle Powell, who enlists his help in her crusade to change the school mascot The Gunner to a something non-violent. However, Bijan's Jordanian and Persian background provokes a cyberbully to post a picture of him as a terrorist entitled "Our New Mascot." His outraged single mother wants him to protest this hate crime, but he resists until the bully also targets two of his lesbian friends. He then realizes the issue goes beyond himself and he launches a courageous public campaign to find out who is behind the attacks. Bijan's first person narrative alternates with a humorous imaginary live analysis of his life from his two favorite NBA commentators. The suspenseful mystery examines a variety of societal issues in an engaging timely read.
Kwame Alexander's latest novel-in-verse, Rebound, a prequel to his Newbery winner, tells the story of Josh and Jordan Bell's father and how he came to play basketball. The summer of 1988 Charlie Bell is reeling from the unexpected death of his father. He buries himself in comic books and ends up getting sent to his grandparents after a brush with the law. His no-nonsense grandfather puts him to work in the sweltering heat and takes him to the Boy and Girls club where he shoots hoops with his cousin Roxie, who lures him into playing with her team. Slowly but surely, "Chuck" begins to heal through the love of family and friends, as well as his newfound love of the game. Comic-style illustrations of Chuck fantasizing about being a basketball superhero by Dawud Anyabwile complement Alexander's wordplay in this must read for fans of The Crossover.
Hailing from Indianapolis and an ardent basketball fan, I am excited to share a new non-fiction book that comes out October 23rd - Attucks!: Oscar Robertson and the Basketball Team that Awakened a City. This true story of the all-black Indianapolis high school, Crispus Attucks, tells the story of how a sports team led to the integration of a segregated city. When the Crispus Attacks Tigers won the Indiana state championship in 1955, it showed the world that black athletes are not inferior. Led by the future NBA star Oscar Robertson, the brilliantly coached team of boys, raised in poverty, dominated championship play. They were the first championship team from Indianapolis and the first all-black team to win a racially open tournament, ultimately leading to integrated teams in the future. Although National Book Award winner Phillip Loose tells the history of the high school, he focuses on the role Oscar Robertson played which makes the story more intimate, giving us a Birdseye view of the racism he and others experienced.
Sunday, August 19, 2018
New YA books by Popular Authors: Kiersten White, Meg Wolitzer and Mary Pearson
Several popular YA authors have penned new books that I would like to recommend this month. The two hundredth anniversary of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has inspired, not only a movie about her starring Elle Fanning, but also a retelling of the book by Kiersten White (And I Darken series), called The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, told from the point of view of the wife of the monster's creator. Meg Wolitzer (Belzhar, The Interestings) has written The Female Persuasion, a coming-of-age novel which focuses on a young college student who gets involved with a feminist icon. Mary Pearson's (The Remnant and The Jenna Fox Chronicles) Dance of Thieves is the first book in a new fantasy adventure series, set in the kingdoms of the Remnant universe.
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein introduces an orphaned 17-year-old, Elizabeth Lavenza, who has been taken in by the Frankensteins as their son Victor's companion. Although a genius, he is prone to rages and her sole purpose is to socialize him. When he heads off to college and doesn't write, she fears she will lose her position and follows him to renew their relationship. When she finds him and discovers his experiments on immortality have resulted in a monstrous creation, she does everything she can to shield him from discovery. However, the more involved she gets, the more she realizes that Victor may really be the monster. Elizabeth, who was a minor character in the classic, is a strong protagonist and the message as to what truly makes a monster is thought-provoking. Those familiar with the original story will enjoy this creative re-imagining, but it can be easily be read as a standalone. It comes out September 25th.
In The Female Persuasion Greer Kadetsky, the over-achieving child of former hippies, is devastated when her parents fail to follow through on applying for financial aid for Yale and she is relegated to attending her fallback school, while her boyfriend Cory heads to Yale without her. Her first week at college she is sexually harassed by an abusive frat guy and finds the courage to fight back after hearing an inspirational speech given at her college by feminist, Faith Frank. After graduation Cory pursues a career in finance, and Greer finds a job at Faith's foundation which supports women around the world. Greer's relationship with Faith plays out over a decade, as she moves from idolizing her to becoming a colleague and critique. An unexpected family tragedy derails Cory's future, and he and Greer part ways as their world's diverge. As they struggle to find their way back to each other, they must come to terms with what they want out of life. The romance, however, takes a backseat to Greer's relationship with Faith. The thoughtful exploration of women's issues is very timely and is sure to appeal to more mature readers.
Dance of Thieves is set in the Remnant universe with some familiar characters and politics, but it is not necessary to have read that series to enjoy this book. Kazi is an orphan, who has risen in the ranks of the new Queen's elite guard, due to her abilities as a thief. When she is sent to Tor's Watch in search of a war criminal, she meets Jase Ballenger who has just inherited his father's position as leader of an outlaw nation that doesn't recognize the Queen. Jase and Kazi are snatched by slavers and chained together, so when they escape, they must work together to make it back to civilization. Although at odds politically, Jase and Kazi are drawn to each other, despite constantly lying to each other about their true motivations. The complex tale of warring territories, competing kingdoms and changing loyalties is sweetened by the star-crossed romance between the two. Told in alternating chapters from Kazi and Jase's points of view, this action-packed fantasy is a page-turner, which is sure to have readers anxious for the next book in the series.
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein introduces an orphaned 17-year-old, Elizabeth Lavenza, who has been taken in by the Frankensteins as their son Victor's companion. Although a genius, he is prone to rages and her sole purpose is to socialize him. When he heads off to college and doesn't write, she fears she will lose her position and follows him to renew their relationship. When she finds him and discovers his experiments on immortality have resulted in a monstrous creation, she does everything she can to shield him from discovery. However, the more involved she gets, the more she realizes that Victor may really be the monster. Elizabeth, who was a minor character in the classic, is a strong protagonist and the message as to what truly makes a monster is thought-provoking. Those familiar with the original story will enjoy this creative re-imagining, but it can be easily be read as a standalone. It comes out September 25th.
In The Female Persuasion Greer Kadetsky, the over-achieving child of former hippies, is devastated when her parents fail to follow through on applying for financial aid for Yale and she is relegated to attending her fallback school, while her boyfriend Cory heads to Yale without her. Her first week at college she is sexually harassed by an abusive frat guy and finds the courage to fight back after hearing an inspirational speech given at her college by feminist, Faith Frank. After graduation Cory pursues a career in finance, and Greer finds a job at Faith's foundation which supports women around the world. Greer's relationship with Faith plays out over a decade, as she moves from idolizing her to becoming a colleague and critique. An unexpected family tragedy derails Cory's future, and he and Greer part ways as their world's diverge. As they struggle to find their way back to each other, they must come to terms with what they want out of life. The romance, however, takes a backseat to Greer's relationship with Faith. The thoughtful exploration of women's issues is very timely and is sure to appeal to more mature readers.
Dance of Thieves is set in the Remnant universe with some familiar characters and politics, but it is not necessary to have read that series to enjoy this book. Kazi is an orphan, who has risen in the ranks of the new Queen's elite guard, due to her abilities as a thief. When she is sent to Tor's Watch in search of a war criminal, she meets Jase Ballenger who has just inherited his father's position as leader of an outlaw nation that doesn't recognize the Queen. Jase and Kazi are snatched by slavers and chained together, so when they escape, they must work together to make it back to civilization. Although at odds politically, Jase and Kazi are drawn to each other, despite constantly lying to each other about their true motivations. The complex tale of warring territories, competing kingdoms and changing loyalties is sweetened by the star-crossed romance between the two. Told in alternating chapters from Kazi and Jase's points of view, this action-packed fantasy is a page-turner, which is sure to have readers anxious for the next book in the series.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Summer Escapist Fantasy: Sky in the Deep, Furyborn and Ash Princess
It's summer and time for some action-packed, fast-paced escapist reading. The Viking-inspired fantasy Sky in the Deep by debut author Adrienne Young introduces a culture where two clans are pitted against each other in an age old conflict, until they must band together to fight a common enemy. Furyborn, the first in a new trilogy by Claire LeGrand, alternates between two stories, set a thousand years apart, about two women, the savior Sun Queen and the destructive Blood Queen, who will impact the fate of the Aritas empire. Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian imagines a world where a captive princess attempts to retake her kingdom by entering into a relationship with the son of the man who enslaved her people.
Sky in the Deep focuses on the fjord-dwelling, Sigr-worshiping Aska clan and the mountain-dwelling, Thora-worshiping Riki clan, who battle every five years over a religious blood feud. It is once again time to fight, but Eelyn, an Aska warrior, is still mourning her brother Iri, who died in the previous war. Imagine her dismay, when she sees him fighting for the Riki this time around. When she is taken prisoner by Fiske, a Riki warrior, Iri manages to save her life, but she is enslaved. At first she is furious with Iri, but the longer she is with the Riki people, the more she realizes that they are no different from her Aska clan and begins to understand his defection. Then the vicious Herja clan attacks both the Aska and the Riki settlements and Eelyn, Iri and Fiske determine that the only way to survive is for the two clans to band together to defeat the Herja. Fighting alongside Fiske, Eelyn slowly develops an affection for the Riki and envisions a future where they live together in peace. Epic battles, fierce loyalties and gentle romance make this a must-read this summer!
Furyborn, the first book in the Empirium trilogy, is set in the fantasy world of Aritas and alternates between two stories set a thousand years apart. A prophecy suggests that two women will be born, the savior Sun Queen and the destructive Blood Queen, who will impact the ultimate fate of the Empire. Rielle, who wields elemental magic, is forced to undergo seven trials to discover her true identity and ascend the throne. A thousand years later Eliana, a bounty hunter, joins the rebels who are fighting the Empire. The stories of magic, angels and saints in Rielle's era are thought to be myths in Eliana's. However, when her mother disappears, Eliana attempts to rescue her and gets embroiled in a cosmic battle that has been ongoing since Rielle's reign. There is a great deal of world building in this introduction to the trilogy, but the two stories are cleverly interwoven and fast-paced once each heroine begins her quest.
Ash Princess, a complex and thrilling series starter, introduces Theodosia, a royal prisoner, who lives with her captors, the Kalovaxians, who murdered her mother, the Fire Queen of Astrea and enslaved her people. The Queen's Guardians, who drew power from magical gems found in Astrean caves, are gone and her people are forced to work in the mines, harvesting the magical gems for the Kalovaxian Kaiser. Theodosia, who is now known as Thora, is forced to wear a crown of ashes and is punished every time the rebels, who swear allegiance to her, act out. After being forced to kill the last Guardian, rumored to be her father, Thora vows to retake her kingdom. She has the sympathy of the Kaiser's son, Prinz Soren, the friendship of Lady Cress, whose father heads the Kalavoxian army, and the loyalty of Blaze, who leads the rebels. The princess agrees to remain a prisoner to spy for the resistance, plotting to overthrow the Kaiser and take back her kingdom. The plucky heroine, the love triangle, and the twists and turns in the plot that set up the climatic ending make this a sure-fire winner that readers won't want to put down.
Sky in the Deep focuses on the fjord-dwelling, Sigr-worshiping Aska clan and the mountain-dwelling, Thora-worshiping Riki clan, who battle every five years over a religious blood feud. It is once again time to fight, but Eelyn, an Aska warrior, is still mourning her brother Iri, who died in the previous war. Imagine her dismay, when she sees him fighting for the Riki this time around. When she is taken prisoner by Fiske, a Riki warrior, Iri manages to save her life, but she is enslaved. At first she is furious with Iri, but the longer she is with the Riki people, the more she realizes that they are no different from her Aska clan and begins to understand his defection. Then the vicious Herja clan attacks both the Aska and the Riki settlements and Eelyn, Iri and Fiske determine that the only way to survive is for the two clans to band together to defeat the Herja. Fighting alongside Fiske, Eelyn slowly develops an affection for the Riki and envisions a future where they live together in peace. Epic battles, fierce loyalties and gentle romance make this a must-read this summer!
Furyborn, the first book in the Empirium trilogy, is set in the fantasy world of Aritas and alternates between two stories set a thousand years apart. A prophecy suggests that two women will be born, the savior Sun Queen and the destructive Blood Queen, who will impact the ultimate fate of the Empire. Rielle, who wields elemental magic, is forced to undergo seven trials to discover her true identity and ascend the throne. A thousand years later Eliana, a bounty hunter, joins the rebels who are fighting the Empire. The stories of magic, angels and saints in Rielle's era are thought to be myths in Eliana's. However, when her mother disappears, Eliana attempts to rescue her and gets embroiled in a cosmic battle that has been ongoing since Rielle's reign. There is a great deal of world building in this introduction to the trilogy, but the two stories are cleverly interwoven and fast-paced once each heroine begins her quest.
Ash Princess, a complex and thrilling series starter, introduces Theodosia, a royal prisoner, who lives with her captors, the Kalovaxians, who murdered her mother, the Fire Queen of Astrea and enslaved her people. The Queen's Guardians, who drew power from magical gems found in Astrean caves, are gone and her people are forced to work in the mines, harvesting the magical gems for the Kalovaxian Kaiser. Theodosia, who is now known as Thora, is forced to wear a crown of ashes and is punished every time the rebels, who swear allegiance to her, act out. After being forced to kill the last Guardian, rumored to be her father, Thora vows to retake her kingdom. She has the sympathy of the Kaiser's son, Prinz Soren, the friendship of Lady Cress, whose father heads the Kalavoxian army, and the loyalty of Blaze, who leads the rebels. The princess agrees to remain a prisoner to spy for the resistance, plotting to overthrow the Kaiser and take back her kingdom. The plucky heroine, the love triangle, and the twists and turns in the plot that set up the climatic ending make this a sure-fire winner that readers won't want to put down.
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