Romantic novels often are told in alternating perspectives so that the reader gets the story from two' points of view. It gives the reader an opportunity to connect with the characters because their personalities show through their voices. Frequently, the technique makes the reader feel omniscient in that it foreshadows what's to come. I am recommending three young adult romances this month, that employ this device. Field Notes on Love by Jennifer Smith (The Statistical Probability of Falling Love) tells the story of Hugh and Mae, strangers who fall in love on a cross country train trip. You'd Be Mine by Erin Hahn follows Clay and Annie, two country music singers, who fall in love while on tour.The Me I Meant to Be by Sophie Jordan explores the familiar dilemma of falling in love with your best friend's ex.
Field Notes on Love opens as Hugh Wilkinson, one of the famous Surrey Sextuplets, contemplates heading to University with his siblings and his breakup with his girlfriend Margaret, which has left him with two tickets in her name for a rail trip across the United States . Looking for one last gasp of freedom before he is forced to head off to college (the scholarship he received is dependent on all 6 of the sextuplets attending), Hugh decides to advertise for another Margaret Campbell, so he can take the train trip. Mae Campbell, a distraught New York teen who has just been rejected from USC film school, sends him a video in response to his ad, hoping to gather material for a new film on the trip. They meet at NYC's Penn Station and after an awkward initial encounter, embark on their cross country trip in close quarters. As they travel, she interviews fellow passengers and he struggles with his ambivalence toward his planned future. His British charm and her no-nonsense tough girl persona make for fun feisty dialogue, as they fall in love through their shared experiences. This is an enjoyable contemporary twist on the romantic trope of strangers falling in love on a train.
In You'd Be Mine country music star Clay Coolidge won best new artist at the CMA's, but his bad boy behavior has him in trouble with his label. They insist that he include Annie Mather's band on his summer tour, or they will drop him. Annie comes from country music royalty, but after her mother's overdose and her dad's suicide, she is understandably wary of the lifestyle. Her passion for music wins out and she joins him on the tour, quickly eclipsing him with her standout performances. From the start of the tour fans are rooting for them to become a couple, but Annie has seen the pitfalls of celebrity romances. The story alternates between their views about the tour and each other, highlighting the difficulties in celebrities having normal lives. Annie and Clay bring out the best in each other musically and personally and can't fight their mutual attraction. The story is set in the world of country music, but one doesn't have to be a fan to love this bad boy/good girl romance, which comes out April 2nd.
The Me I Meant to Be introduces best friends Willa and Flor, who just broke up with Zach, Willa's next-door neighbor. Flor insists that her friends develop a "Girl Code," the first rule being that they stay away from a friend's ex. Willa signs it, even though she has secretly been in love with Zach throughout their childhood. After sharing an intense kiss with Zach at a high school party and finding out he has feelings for her, too, Willa is torn as to what's more important, love or friendship. Meanwhile, Flor is struggling with her dad's relationship with a girl half his age and her failing grades, which threaten her spot as captain of the soccer team. She begins falling for her smart sexy math tutor, Grayson, who won't give her the time of day. Each chapter begins with a new Girl Code rule, which is illustrated in the chapter. Although the reader gets two romances for the price of one, the real story is about Willa and Flor's relationship and thus alternates between each girl's first-person narration.
Friday, March 8, 2019
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award 2018 Winner and Nominees for 2019
The Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award 2018 Winner is The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas. As co-chair of the Blue Spruce Award committee, I am particularly thrilled that this ground-breaking book was nominated and voted on by teens, recognizing its importance. In addition to the Blue Spruce Award, the book received a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, a Michael J Printz Honor, the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, and the Goodreads Choice Award for best debut and best YA novel in 2017. For those of you not
familiar with the story, African American Starr Carter, the main character
in The Hate U Give, lives in a poor black urban
neighborhood, but attends a suburban prep school where she plays basketball and
has a white boyfriend. She successfully navigates these two very
different realities until the night she witnesses a police officer shoot and kill
her unarmed friend Khalil, when they are driving home from a neighborhood party. Although her parents want her to stay out of the news,
she is challenged to come forward about the injustices following the event.
Khalil is painted as a drug dealing thug and the officer is not
charged. Starr, who has known Khalil since childhood, realizes she owes it to
him to speak out, even if it endangers her family. Thomas' debut focuses on topics that are very current, police brutality and racism in America, and examines them on a very personal level.
The 2019 nominees include four books previously reviewed in this blog, including Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, Warcross by Marie Lu, Furyborn by Claire Legrand and The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon. Additional nominees are as follows.
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
While helping plan her father's wedding, senior Lara Jean struggles with choosing a college and questions how graduation is going to change her relationship with her boyfriend (3rd book in the series.)
Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham
When Rowan finds a skeleton on her family's property, investigating the brutal, century-old murder leads to painful discoveries about the past. Alternating chapters tell the story of William, another teen grappling with the racial firestorm leading up to the 1921 Tulsa race riot, providing clues to the mystery.
Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre
Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that's made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead of moving with her family to Mars. Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan - a race of sentient aliens ships - to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers. (The Honors, Book #1)
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
In a world where disease has been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed by professional reapers known as scythes. Two teens must compete with each other to become a scythe- a position neither of them wants. The one who becomes a scythe must kill the one who doesn't. (Arc of a Scythe Trilogy, Book #1)
The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan
Magnus Chase, son of Frey, the god of summer and health, isn't naturally inclined toward being a brave warrior. Still, with the help of his motley group of friends, he has achieved deeds he never would have thought possible. But Magnus's biggest challenge will be facing his own inner demons. Does he have what it takes to outwit the wily trickster god, Loki? (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book # 3)
Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Kiko Himura yearns to escape the toxic relationship with her mother by getting into her dream art school, but when things do not work out as she hoped, Kiko jumps at the opportunity to tour art schools with her childhood friend, learning life-changing truths about herself and her past along the way.
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
In a near-future NYC, where a service alerts people on the day they will die, teenagers Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio meet using the Last Friend app and are faced with the challenge of living a lifetime on their End Day.
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
In every generation on the island of Fennibirn, a set pf triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. But becoming the Queen crowned isn't solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown. (Three Dark Crowns Trilogy, Book #1)
To read more about the award and find book talks for the new nominees go to http://www.coloradobluespruceaward.org
The 2019 nominees include four books previously reviewed in this blog, including Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, Warcross by Marie Lu, Furyborn by Claire Legrand and The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon. Additional nominees are as follows.
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
While helping plan her father's wedding, senior Lara Jean struggles with choosing a college and questions how graduation is going to change her relationship with her boyfriend (3rd book in the series.)
Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham
When Rowan finds a skeleton on her family's property, investigating the brutal, century-old murder leads to painful discoveries about the past. Alternating chapters tell the story of William, another teen grappling with the racial firestorm leading up to the 1921 Tulsa race riot, providing clues to the mystery.
Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre
Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that's made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead of moving with her family to Mars. Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan - a race of sentient aliens ships - to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers. (The Honors, Book #1)
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
In a world where disease has been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed by professional reapers known as scythes. Two teens must compete with each other to become a scythe- a position neither of them wants. The one who becomes a scythe must kill the one who doesn't. (Arc of a Scythe Trilogy, Book #1)
The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan
Magnus Chase, son of Frey, the god of summer and health, isn't naturally inclined toward being a brave warrior. Still, with the help of his motley group of friends, he has achieved deeds he never would have thought possible. But Magnus's biggest challenge will be facing his own inner demons. Does he have what it takes to outwit the wily trickster god, Loki? (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book # 3)
Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Kiko Himura yearns to escape the toxic relationship with her mother by getting into her dream art school, but when things do not work out as she hoped, Kiko jumps at the opportunity to tour art schools with her childhood friend, learning life-changing truths about herself and her past along the way.
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
In a near-future NYC, where a service alerts people on the day they will die, teenagers Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio meet using the Last Friend app and are faced with the challenge of living a lifetime on their End Day.
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
In every generation on the island of Fennibirn, a set pf triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. But becoming the Queen crowned isn't solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown. (Three Dark Crowns Trilogy, Book #1)
To read more about the award and find book talks for the new nominees go to http://www.coloradobluespruceaward.org
Saturday, January 5, 2019
New YA Realistic Fiction
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.
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, 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.
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