Monday, May 11, 2020
Classic Connections
One of my favorite units in my book, What's New in Young Adult Novels? and Ideas for Classroom Use, is "Classic Connections" which recommends novels that incorporate elements of classic literature but with a twist. Pairing the new novel with the classic material gives students the opportunity to appreciate the clever variations that the modern authors imagine. Whether authors are reimagining a recognizable plot in a modern setting or just incorporating elements of a classic into their story, those familiar with the original material will delight in the connection. One of my favorite finds this month is By the Book by Amanda Sellet, which is basically an homage to Jane Austen's Emma, but references many other 19th century classics as well. Hood by Jenny Elder Moke tells the story of the daughter of Robin Hood and Maid Marien. Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan is a spin on "The Lady or the Tiger" and The Circus Rose by Betsey Cornwell reimagines the tale of Snow White and Rose Red.
In By the Book Mary Porter-Malcolm, a lover of 19th century literature, has transferred to public school after her charter school closes. When her best friend jilts her the first day at Millville High, Mary is forlorn. However, she is soon befriended by Arden, Lydia and Terry, a group of girls who value her literature inspired advice. She warns them against cads like Alex Ritter, whom she knows from her twin sisters' Shakespearean theater group, and they begin compiling a "Scoundrel Survival Guide." But as she works to find suitable matches for her friends and they for her, Mary finds herself succumbing to Alex's charms. As Mary's meddling leads to an emotional fallout and she struggles to make amends, she asks herself, "What would Jane Austen do?" The many classic works referenced in the book are explained in a clever Works Cited afterward to the Scoundrel Survival Guide. The classic connections are icing on the cake in this witty romantic comedy.
Hood, the story of Isabelle of Kirklees, finds the daughter of Robin Hood and Maid Marien living in a monastery with her mother Prioress Marien. In trying to defend some villagers, Isabelle kills a man and becomes the target of King John's right-hand man Wolf. For her protection her mother sends Isabelle on a mission to find her father, whom she's never met. Meanwhile, Marien has been taken prisoner and held as bait, so that Robin and his men will fall into Wolf's trap. Isabelle joins forces with Robin and his Merry Men to battle Wolf and defy the crown. The Robin Hood backstory and Isabelle's coming-of-age amidst the Merry Men add to this thrilling tale of daring do, set in a world readers know and love.
Tiger Queen is set in the desert kingdom of Achra which is suffering from a terrible drought. Water is being rationed and to make matters worse, the Desert Boys are stealing water from the wells. The punishment for stealing water is having to choose between two doors in the arena. Behind one door lies freedom and the other a vicious tiger. Kateri, an arrogant warrior princess, has promised her late mother she will protect her people. However, her father has dictated that Kateri has to fight against her suitors to win the right to rule. If she can beat all twelve, she can assume the throne and pick her own husband. Having bested the first eleven, Kateri must now fight her father's right-hand man and her trainer Rodic, who wants to be king. Knowing she can't defeat him, she escapes to the desert to beg Cion, leader of the Desert Boys to train her. He agrees and as she begins her training, she realizes things are not as they seem. Ultimately, she joins the Desert Boys to right what is wrong in the kingdom and take her rightful place as Queen.
The Circus Rose, a queer reimagining of "Snow White and Rose Red," focuses on Ivory and Rosie, daughters of the Circus Rose's ring mistress. After years on the road, they return to their birthplace, Port End, where fundamentalist preachers have taken over. Rosie is attracted to women, but is in love with the circus's trained bear, whom she insists is a girl. Ivory falls for Tam, a dark-skinned fey, neither male nor female, who has been hired as a magician. The circus stages a spectacular homecoming show, but disaster strikes during Rosie's tightrope act and the circus tent burns down. As they try to rebuild, performers are disappearing, as has their mother. Ivory takes over as ring mistress and enlists Tam's help in getting to the bottom of the mysterious disappearances. The present-tense, first-person narrative alternates between Rosie's pithy verse and Ivory's looping prose. This blend of fantasy and classic fiction will be available June 12th.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Romantic Escapes
As most of us are sheltering in place, we are finding lots of time for reading. Each day we read sobering news about new COVID19 deaths and I, for one, am looking for some romantic escapes in my reading. The enemies to lovers trope, common in romantic literature, is cleverly employed in the four novels I am recommending this month. Tweet Cute by Emma Lord pits Jack and Pepper, the children of restaurant owners, against each other, when they enter into a battle on social media over a grilled cheese recipe Jack's family accuses Pepper's mom of stealing. In Lucky Caller by Emma Mills, Nina and Jamie, best friends who had a misunderstanding that left them at odds, reunite when they collaborate on a radio broadcasting project. Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington introduces Sidney and Asher, frenemies whose parents force them to spend summers together. They spend their time pranking each other until a prank gone wrong gives them a common enemy. 4 Days of You and Me by Miranda Kinneally follows the relationship of rivals Lulu and Alex, over four years of ups and downs in this opposites attract story.
In Tweet Cute high achieving Pepper Evans, daughter of the owner of Big League Burger, gets into a Twitter war with Jack Campbell, whose family owns a deli named Girl Cheesing. The deli claims Big League has stolen the recipe for the Campbell family grilled cheese classic. Jack, an aspiring programmer, whose father expects him to take over the deli, tweets a snarky comment about the theft and Pepper's mother instructs her to respond. They get into a public battle that goes viral. Meanwhile, they are confiding in each other anonymously on a messaging app that Jack created. This reimagining of You've Got Mail, focuses on two teens, whose personal aspirations conflict with their family loyalties, unwittingly finding solace in one another.
Lucky Caller introduces Nina, an Indiana teen, whose absentee dad is a semi-famous radio host in California. She signs up for a radio broadcasting class during her senior year, hoping to connect with him. She is grouped with Sasha, Joydeep and Jamie, a random group with whom she is at odds, for the class project. Complicating matters, Nina and Jamie live in the same building and used to be friends until a misunderstanding makes things awkward between them. The group decides on a 90s music theme, but have a hard time finding listeners until they capture the attention of fans of a 90s band known as the Existential Dead. To attract more listeners, they advertise a mystery guest interview, whom Nina promises will be her father. However, the hints they have been tweeting have people convinced the guest is either the reclusive frontman of Existential Dead or a member of a hit boy band. As Nina works through issues with her dad, her mom's new fiance, her growing attraction to Jamie, and the radio broadcasting class project disaster, she learns important life lessons through her mistakes. Transcripts from her father's radio show and various class recordings add spice to this fun rom/com.
Meet Me at Midnight focuses on Sidney and Asher, competitive swimmers who have spent summers together with their families since they were 13. They should be friends, but instead they are enemies who spend their summers pranking each other. When a prank gone wrong gets both families evicted from their rental homes, their parents rent a house together for the remainder of the summer. The close proximity forces Sid and Ash to communicate, and they decide to join forces to get revenge against their former landlord. As their cooperation leads to undeniable attraction, they struggle to put their feud behind them and give in to love. Many of the pranks are recounted in hilarious detail and alternating voices give the reader insight into their evolving feelings for each other.
Four Days of You and Me refers to four class trips high schoolers Lulu Wells and Alex Rouvelis go on each May with their classmates. Lulu, an aspiring graphic artist, and Alex, a baseball player and class heartthrob, start off freshman year as enemies. When they both run for student council president, Lulu's campaign speech is about things she will do to make the school greener, whereas he tells jokes and says, "Vote for me, I already told my mom I won." Of course, he is the victor. On the first class trip to a science museum, they end up locked in an escape room and by the time they solve the puzzle, they are kissing instead of bickering. Sophomore year their romance is deep, but Alex's packed schedule leaves little time for Lulu and she breaks up with him. As the school years unfold, they go through the ups and downs of teenage romance. They reunite on the junior year trip to Manhattan and then senior year they focus on what life will be like when they head off to separate colleges. Things come to a conclusion on the senior trip to London. The narrative alternates between the trips and flashback chapters that fill in the gaps chronicling the relationship of these two engaging characters.This book comes out May 5th.
In Tweet Cute high achieving Pepper Evans, daughter of the owner of Big League Burger, gets into a Twitter war with Jack Campbell, whose family owns a deli named Girl Cheesing. The deli claims Big League has stolen the recipe for the Campbell family grilled cheese classic. Jack, an aspiring programmer, whose father expects him to take over the deli, tweets a snarky comment about the theft and Pepper's mother instructs her to respond. They get into a public battle that goes viral. Meanwhile, they are confiding in each other anonymously on a messaging app that Jack created. This reimagining of You've Got Mail, focuses on two teens, whose personal aspirations conflict with their family loyalties, unwittingly finding solace in one another.
Lucky Caller introduces Nina, an Indiana teen, whose absentee dad is a semi-famous radio host in California. She signs up for a radio broadcasting class during her senior year, hoping to connect with him. She is grouped with Sasha, Joydeep and Jamie, a random group with whom she is at odds, for the class project. Complicating matters, Nina and Jamie live in the same building and used to be friends until a misunderstanding makes things awkward between them. The group decides on a 90s music theme, but have a hard time finding listeners until they capture the attention of fans of a 90s band known as the Existential Dead. To attract more listeners, they advertise a mystery guest interview, whom Nina promises will be her father. However, the hints they have been tweeting have people convinced the guest is either the reclusive frontman of Existential Dead or a member of a hit boy band. As Nina works through issues with her dad, her mom's new fiance, her growing attraction to Jamie, and the radio broadcasting class project disaster, she learns important life lessons through her mistakes. Transcripts from her father's radio show and various class recordings add spice to this fun rom/com.
Meet Me at Midnight focuses on Sidney and Asher, competitive swimmers who have spent summers together with their families since they were 13. They should be friends, but instead they are enemies who spend their summers pranking each other. When a prank gone wrong gets both families evicted from their rental homes, their parents rent a house together for the remainder of the summer. The close proximity forces Sid and Ash to communicate, and they decide to join forces to get revenge against their former landlord. As their cooperation leads to undeniable attraction, they struggle to put their feud behind them and give in to love. Many of the pranks are recounted in hilarious detail and alternating voices give the reader insight into their evolving feelings for each other.
Four Days of You and Me refers to four class trips high schoolers Lulu Wells and Alex Rouvelis go on each May with their classmates. Lulu, an aspiring graphic artist, and Alex, a baseball player and class heartthrob, start off freshman year as enemies. When they both run for student council president, Lulu's campaign speech is about things she will do to make the school greener, whereas he tells jokes and says, "Vote for me, I already told my mom I won." Of course, he is the victor. On the first class trip to a science museum, they end up locked in an escape room and by the time they solve the puzzle, they are kissing instead of bickering. Sophomore year their romance is deep, but Alex's packed schedule leaves little time for Lulu and she breaks up with him. As the school years unfold, they go through the ups and downs of teenage romance. They reunite on the junior year trip to Manhattan and then senior year they focus on what life will be like when they head off to separate colleges. Things come to a conclusion on the senior trip to London. The narrative alternates between the trips and flashback chapters that fill in the gaps chronicling the relationship of these two engaging characters.This book comes out May 5th.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
New YA fantasy and sci/fi novels
Creative ideas abound in sci/fi and fantasy novels. The novels I will review this month include two fantasy adaptations of classic stories, as well as two novels focusing on the trending topic of humans falling in love with engineered beings. Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim is a gender swapping retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. Rogue Princess by B.R. Myers reimagines Cinderella in space. In The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow a human and a "labmade" alien, who resembles a human, cooperate to save Earth. In Ink in the Blood Kim Smejkal creates a world where people are controlled by a divine being who has her wishes tattooed upon her devotees.
Scavenge the Stars, the first book in a duology, introduces Amaya "Silverfish" Chandra, who is a prisoner on a debt collector's ship when the story opens. When against her captor's wishes she rescues a mysterious man, Boon, from drowning, he offers her riches and a chance at revenge against Kayman Mercado, the merchant who ruined her family. They escape and head to her former home of Moray, a city-state where opulence and desperate gamblers collide. Boon orchestrates Amaya's makeover and sets her up as a countess, who cons and manipulates people. As she navigates this game of deception, she finds herself crossing paths with Kayman's son Cayo, who is involved with the seedy Moray underworld, trying to get medicine to save his sister from a disease plaguing the city. Each working toward their own ends, they begin to fall for each other as they get caught up in complex schemes and discover revealing secrets about the past. Each chapter begins with literary quotes that foreshadow what is to happen. Alternating between Cayo and Amaya's perspectives, this tale of romance and revenge will capture reader's hearts and minds.
Rogue Princess finds Princess Delia fleeing an arranged marriage on a stolen spaceship. She is supposed to marry a prince who will secure an alliance and save her failing planet, but she is dreaming of true love. Aidan, a handsome stowaway on the royal spaceship, is a common thief who is fleeing his abusive family, complete with wicked stepbrothers, in hopes of making a new life for himself on a distant planet. Sparks fly when they discover each other and must work together to battle pirates and a planned coup to take over their planet. As they cooperate to thwart planetary revolution, Delia thinks Aidan is an undercover bodyguard, and he does little to disavow this notion. Uncovering a long-hidden secret and the truth behind the conspiracy threatens to derail their affection for each other in this charming interstellar twist on Cinderella, which is filled with romance and political intrigue.
The Sound of Stars is set on Earth two years after an alien invasion. An African American teen, Janelle (Ellie) Baker, survives the invasion of the Ilori and now is sequestered in a NYC high rise, while the aliens, who can't breath on Earth, complete a vaccine which will wipe out humanity and leave bodies available for the Ilori to inhabit for recreation. She is running an illicit library and is discovered by MORr1S (Morris), a "labmade" Ilori commander who resembles a human. He is captivated by music and offers her protection if she can smuggle him records and ipods. When Ellie ends up scheduled for execution, the two set off on a cross-country road trip to California, where Morris thinks he will be able to execute a plan that will save humanity. Along the way they bond over literature and music, in particular a boy band that is made up of a benevolent race of aliens masquerading as humans. The novel is told in four parts, alternating between the protagonists' perspectives and is filled with pop culture references and original songs. Political issues, such as the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements are explored, as Morris and Ellie make their way toward a solution that will save mankind and give them an opportunity for a life together.
Ink in the Blood focuses on Celia Sand and Anya Burtoni, who have served the Profeta religion as "inklings" for a decade. They can magically tattoo the Profeta faithful with images that offer divine guidance. As the girls become disillusioned with the religion, believing there is no deity, only a mortal bureaucracy that seeks to subvert free will, they decide to flee. Joining a seditious traveling theater troop, the Rabble Mob, they use their abilities to create a performance where they pose as an angel and the devil and supposedly read minds. They attract the attention of the Profeta Divine, a vengeful deity that actually exists. She hopes to expand her following by using their performances as propaganda and threatens their newfound theater friends if they don't cooperate. The complex characters with a wide variety of gender identities and sexual orientations are sympathetically drawn. As the battle between good and evil plays out, readers will care deeply about the strong friendships and delicate romances that are threatened in this thought-provoking tale. The cliffhanger ending will leave them anxious for the sequel in this fantasy duology.
Scavenge the Stars, the first book in a duology, introduces Amaya "Silverfish" Chandra, who is a prisoner on a debt collector's ship when the story opens. When against her captor's wishes she rescues a mysterious man, Boon, from drowning, he offers her riches and a chance at revenge against Kayman Mercado, the merchant who ruined her family. They escape and head to her former home of Moray, a city-state where opulence and desperate gamblers collide. Boon orchestrates Amaya's makeover and sets her up as a countess, who cons and manipulates people. As she navigates this game of deception, she finds herself crossing paths with Kayman's son Cayo, who is involved with the seedy Moray underworld, trying to get medicine to save his sister from a disease plaguing the city. Each working toward their own ends, they begin to fall for each other as they get caught up in complex schemes and discover revealing secrets about the past. Each chapter begins with literary quotes that foreshadow what is to happen. Alternating between Cayo and Amaya's perspectives, this tale of romance and revenge will capture reader's hearts and minds.
Rogue Princess finds Princess Delia fleeing an arranged marriage on a stolen spaceship. She is supposed to marry a prince who will secure an alliance and save her failing planet, but she is dreaming of true love. Aidan, a handsome stowaway on the royal spaceship, is a common thief who is fleeing his abusive family, complete with wicked stepbrothers, in hopes of making a new life for himself on a distant planet. Sparks fly when they discover each other and must work together to battle pirates and a planned coup to take over their planet. As they cooperate to thwart planetary revolution, Delia thinks Aidan is an undercover bodyguard, and he does little to disavow this notion. Uncovering a long-hidden secret and the truth behind the conspiracy threatens to derail their affection for each other in this charming interstellar twist on Cinderella, which is filled with romance and political intrigue.
The Sound of Stars is set on Earth two years after an alien invasion. An African American teen, Janelle (Ellie) Baker, survives the invasion of the Ilori and now is sequestered in a NYC high rise, while the aliens, who can't breath on Earth, complete a vaccine which will wipe out humanity and leave bodies available for the Ilori to inhabit for recreation. She is running an illicit library and is discovered by MORr1S (Morris), a "labmade" Ilori commander who resembles a human. He is captivated by music and offers her protection if she can smuggle him records and ipods. When Ellie ends up scheduled for execution, the two set off on a cross-country road trip to California, where Morris thinks he will be able to execute a plan that will save humanity. Along the way they bond over literature and music, in particular a boy band that is made up of a benevolent race of aliens masquerading as humans. The novel is told in four parts, alternating between the protagonists' perspectives and is filled with pop culture references and original songs. Political issues, such as the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements are explored, as Morris and Ellie make their way toward a solution that will save mankind and give them an opportunity for a life together.
Ink in the Blood focuses on Celia Sand and Anya Burtoni, who have served the Profeta religion as "inklings" for a decade. They can magically tattoo the Profeta faithful with images that offer divine guidance. As the girls become disillusioned with the religion, believing there is no deity, only a mortal bureaucracy that seeks to subvert free will, they decide to flee. Joining a seditious traveling theater troop, the Rabble Mob, they use their abilities to create a performance where they pose as an angel and the devil and supposedly read minds. They attract the attention of the Profeta Divine, a vengeful deity that actually exists. She hopes to expand her following by using their performances as propaganda and threatens their newfound theater friends if they don't cooperate. The complex characters with a wide variety of gender identities and sexual orientations are sympathetically drawn. As the battle between good and evil plays out, readers will care deeply about the strong friendships and delicate romances that are threatened in this thought-provoking tale. The cliffhanger ending will leave them anxious for the sequel in this fantasy duology.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Blue Spruce Award Winner and Nominees
The winner of the 2019 Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award is Scythe by Neal Shusterman, The first book in his Arc of the Scythe trilogy introduces a world where humanity has conquered death. There is no aging, no disease, no poverty, no war. Earth is ruled by an omniscient "cloud" called the Thunderhead and to deal with overpopulation, a group of humans called Scythes randomly cull the population. Against their wishes, the main characters, Citra and Rowan, are chosen to train to be scythes. The sequels Thunderhead and The Toll are also available for this thought-provoking and engrossing series. The 2020 nominees are unusually heavy on historical fiction. I will review those titles in this month's blog, as well as briefly mention the other nominees.
Allies by Alan Gratz is a fictionalized account of D-Day, which weaves together individual experiences from six different operations in settings across Europe. The narrative covers a sea invasion, French citizens and Resistance fighters on land, soldiers arriving by air, but focuses repeatedly on Dee, a German fighting on the American side and hiding his identity from his best friend Sid, a Jewish American soldier. The account is historically accurate, but covers a very diverse cast of main characters. In the end all the stories come together, showing that it took a great deal of cooperation to defeat the Nazis in WWII.
Like a Love Story by Adi Nazemian is set in NYC in the 80s and examines the AIDS epidemic through the eyes of three teenage friends. Judy, whose uncle is living with AIDS, has befriended Art and defends him against homophobic classmates. When Reza, who is questioning his sexuality, arrives, things get complicated. Reza pairs off with Judy, even though it's Art he's really attracted to. When Reza finally admits he's fallen for Art, Judy is shattered. Her uncle, who is not long for this world, helps them navigate this rift in their friendship and what it means to be part of the LBGTQ community during this devastating time.
Lovely War by Julie Berry blends fact with fantasy. Set in a Manhattan hotel during WWII, Greek God Hephaestus catches his wife Aphrodite with his brother Ares. To exonerate herself, she weaves a story of love during wartime, which focuses on four different characters. Aubrey, an African American musician, Colette, a bereaved Belgian singer, Hazel, a British pianist and her lover James. Alternating between past and present, the story finds Colette and Hazel volunteering in France, where they meet Aubrey, who quickly falls for Colette. Meanwhile, James is on the front experiencing firsthand the devastation of war. As the mortals' stories play out, Aphrodite is teaching her husband about the ups and downs of true love.
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys focuses on Francisco Franco's fascist rule of Spain. Set in Madrid 1957, the story introduces 18-yr-old Daniel Matheson, who is staying at the luxurious Castellana Hilton with his Texas oil baron dad and Spanish mother. He meets Ana, a hotel employee, who worries about losing her job, as he pursues a relationship with her. Trying to find a subject for his entry into a photo competition, Daniel goes out each day and captures disturbing images of local people trying to survive under Franco's regime. He goes to Ana's village and meets her parentless siblings and becomes aware of a government and church collusion, which involves stolen children. Ultimately he heads back to the U.S, with his parents and newly adopted sister and submits an award-winning portfolio. Eighteen years later he returns to Spain with his sister and reconnects with Ana. Official quotations from academic and foreign service archives are interspersed among the chapters.
Additional Blue Spruce nominees include
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - 1st in a sci fi series about intergalactic travel
Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau - Graphic novel about about two boys who fall in love over baked goods.
Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte - Fantasy about a thief and an upstanding citizen who work to solve a murder mystery, falling in love in the process.
Guts by Raina Telgemeier - Graphic novel about author conquering childhood anxieties.
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell - Graphic novel about a girl in a toxic relationship with a popular girl who is using her.
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir - 3rd book in the An Ember in the Ashes series.
To learn more about the Blue Spruce Award go to https://www.coloradobluespruceaward.org/
Allies by Alan Gratz is a fictionalized account of D-Day, which weaves together individual experiences from six different operations in settings across Europe. The narrative covers a sea invasion, French citizens and Resistance fighters on land, soldiers arriving by air, but focuses repeatedly on Dee, a German fighting on the American side and hiding his identity from his best friend Sid, a Jewish American soldier. The account is historically accurate, but covers a very diverse cast of main characters. In the end all the stories come together, showing that it took a great deal of cooperation to defeat the Nazis in WWII.
Like a Love Story by Adi Nazemian is set in NYC in the 80s and examines the AIDS epidemic through the eyes of three teenage friends. Judy, whose uncle is living with AIDS, has befriended Art and defends him against homophobic classmates. When Reza, who is questioning his sexuality, arrives, things get complicated. Reza pairs off with Judy, even though it's Art he's really attracted to. When Reza finally admits he's fallen for Art, Judy is shattered. Her uncle, who is not long for this world, helps them navigate this rift in their friendship and what it means to be part of the LBGTQ community during this devastating time.
Lovely War by Julie Berry blends fact with fantasy. Set in a Manhattan hotel during WWII, Greek God Hephaestus catches his wife Aphrodite with his brother Ares. To exonerate herself, she weaves a story of love during wartime, which focuses on four different characters. Aubrey, an African American musician, Colette, a bereaved Belgian singer, Hazel, a British pianist and her lover James. Alternating between past and present, the story finds Colette and Hazel volunteering in France, where they meet Aubrey, who quickly falls for Colette. Meanwhile, James is on the front experiencing firsthand the devastation of war. As the mortals' stories play out, Aphrodite is teaching her husband about the ups and downs of true love.
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys focuses on Francisco Franco's fascist rule of Spain. Set in Madrid 1957, the story introduces 18-yr-old Daniel Matheson, who is staying at the luxurious Castellana Hilton with his Texas oil baron dad and Spanish mother. He meets Ana, a hotel employee, who worries about losing her job, as he pursues a relationship with her. Trying to find a subject for his entry into a photo competition, Daniel goes out each day and captures disturbing images of local people trying to survive under Franco's regime. He goes to Ana's village and meets her parentless siblings and becomes aware of a government and church collusion, which involves stolen children. Ultimately he heads back to the U.S, with his parents and newly adopted sister and submits an award-winning portfolio. Eighteen years later he returns to Spain with his sister and reconnects with Ana. Official quotations from academic and foreign service archives are interspersed among the chapters.
Additional Blue Spruce nominees include
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - 1st in a sci fi series about intergalactic travel
Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau - Graphic novel about about two boys who fall in love over baked goods.
Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte - Fantasy about a thief and an upstanding citizen who work to solve a murder mystery, falling in love in the process.
Guts by Raina Telgemeier - Graphic novel about author conquering childhood anxieties.
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell - Graphic novel about a girl in a toxic relationship with a popular girl who is using her.
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir - 3rd book in the An Ember in the Ashes series.
To learn more about the Blue Spruce Award go to https://www.coloradobluespruceaward.org/
Saturday, January 11, 2020
YA Debut authors
The new edition of my book What's New in Young Adult Novels? and Ideas for Classroom Use is now available on Lulu.com. In looking back at 2019, I found three romances by debut authors that I haven't covered in this blog that might be just the thing to kick off 2020. Frankly in Love, by David Yoon (yes, Nicola's husband), is a William C Morris Debut nominee for 2020. This romance focuses on a group of Korean-American teens, who call themselves "the Limbos," who are trying to bridge the gap between parental expectations and fitting in at school. Heartstrings and Other Breakable Things by Jacqueline Firkins is a reimagining of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park that takes place in present day Massachusetts. When The Stars Lead to You by Ronni Davis introduces an aspiring astrophysicist, whose summer romance leads to heartbreak as the young couple battle prejudice and ultimately a mental breakdown.
In Frankly in Love, Frank Li is a second generation Korean American whose family socializes once a month with other Korean families. The kids call themselves the "Limbos" because they are caught between two worlds. After his sister is disowned for dating a black man, Frank enters a fake relationship with Joy, another Limbo, so that he can date his white girlfriend Brit and she can date her non-Korean boyfriend. It seems like the perfect plan until they actually fall for each other. Then Frank's dad falls ill, the group dynamics change and complications ensue. This complex exploration of family, identity and first love is a delightful debut that will appeal to a wide audience.
Heartstrings and Other Breakable Things, a reimagining of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, introduces Edie Price, who after three years in foster care is taken in by her wealthy aunt in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Her two cousins Maria and Julia decide to embrace her as a makeover project. Meanwhile literary Edie is trying to secure a scholarship to college and nurse a crush on boy-next-door Sebastian Summers.When a notorious wealthy bad boy takes an interest in her, Edie finds she must put first impressions aside and get to know more about Mansfield high society and her adoptive family. She is determined to follow her late mother's advice, "If you let your heart drive, don't forget to bring your brain." Although seemingly a lightweight romance, this novel is filled with witty dialogue and includes a subtle examination of societal expectations and prejudice.
When the Stars Lead to You follows bi-racial Devon Kearney who has been an aspiring astrophysicist since watching the stars in Yellowstone as a kid. She prioritizes school above all else, until the summer she is 16 and she falls in love with Ashton, a wealthy boy she meets at a party at her cousin's beach resort. They spend an idyllic summer together, but on their final day together, he is a no-show. A year passes with no word and then he appears at her school the first day of senior year. As they reconnect, she finds that his parents disapproved of her and he caved to the pressure. Complicating matters, he has mental health issues, which threaten their future together. Devon struggles to decide whether to focus on school or her boyfriend's issues. Astronomy facts are laced throughout the story, keeping the reader aware of all she would be giving up if she continues to let Ashton's problems dominate her energies. The open ending is very satisfying, showing there are no easy answers when dealing with mental health issues.
In Frankly in Love, Frank Li is a second generation Korean American whose family socializes once a month with other Korean families. The kids call themselves the "Limbos" because they are caught between two worlds. After his sister is disowned for dating a black man, Frank enters a fake relationship with Joy, another Limbo, so that he can date his white girlfriend Brit and she can date her non-Korean boyfriend. It seems like the perfect plan until they actually fall for each other. Then Frank's dad falls ill, the group dynamics change and complications ensue. This complex exploration of family, identity and first love is a delightful debut that will appeal to a wide audience.
Heartstrings and Other Breakable Things, a reimagining of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, introduces Edie Price, who after three years in foster care is taken in by her wealthy aunt in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Her two cousins Maria and Julia decide to embrace her as a makeover project. Meanwhile literary Edie is trying to secure a scholarship to college and nurse a crush on boy-next-door Sebastian Summers.When a notorious wealthy bad boy takes an interest in her, Edie finds she must put first impressions aside and get to know more about Mansfield high society and her adoptive family. She is determined to follow her late mother's advice, "If you let your heart drive, don't forget to bring your brain." Although seemingly a lightweight romance, this novel is filled with witty dialogue and includes a subtle examination of societal expectations and prejudice.
When the Stars Lead to You follows bi-racial Devon Kearney who has been an aspiring astrophysicist since watching the stars in Yellowstone as a kid. She prioritizes school above all else, until the summer she is 16 and she falls in love with Ashton, a wealthy boy she meets at a party at her cousin's beach resort. They spend an idyllic summer together, but on their final day together, he is a no-show. A year passes with no word and then he appears at her school the first day of senior year. As they reconnect, she finds that his parents disapproved of her and he caved to the pressure. Complicating matters, he has mental health issues, which threaten their future together. Devon struggles to decide whether to focus on school or her boyfriend's issues. Astronomy facts are laced throughout the story, keeping the reader aware of all she would be giving up if she continues to let Ashton's problems dominate her energies. The open ending is very satisfying, showing there are no easy answers when dealing with mental health issues.
Saturday, December 14, 2019
LGBTQ issues in new YA Novels
Sexual identity issues have always been a
problem for teens, but today's society is more tolerant and students are more
comfortable discussing them. Many schools have curriculums that include counseling
students about being open to diversity in people’s sexual preferences. Reflective of this tolerance is the growing
body of young adult literature that focuses on this issue or includes it in a
subplot. LGBTQ characters are routinely included in new young adult novels, regardless the genre. A wildly popular new realistic novel, Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston focuses on the bi-sexual son of the U.S. President, who falls in love with a British prince, who is a closeted gay. Exile from Eden, Andrew Smith's sequel to the sci/fi award winner Grasshopper Jungle, finds Austin and Robby still living in the underground bunker with their son Arek and his best friend Mel. Kiersten White's new fantasy novel, The Guinevere Deception, reimagines the Arthurian legend where Lancelot is a gay female.
In Red, White and Royal Blue Alex Claremont-Diaz, the half-Mexican son of the first female president of the United States, meets Prince Henry, backup heir to the English throne and it's hate at first sight. After their verbal sparring at an international wedding leads to a scuffle and them falling into the wedding cake, they are required to pose as best friends on a publicity tour. Not surprisingly, their hate turns to attraction and after their first kiss, they contrive to find ways to be together. Of course, their bromance is eventually discovered and leaked to the press during Alex's mom's reelection campaign. Strategizing how to handle their relationship evolves from denial to breakup to acknowledgement in this clever take on the rom/com genre. The sexual encounters are fairly explicit, so I would recommend this for high school readers.
Exile from Eden: or, After the Hole, the post-apocalyptic sequel to Grasshopper Jungle, finds Arek, the son of Austin and Robby, crushing on his best friend Mel and living in the underground bunker with her, his two dads, mother and grandmother. Ten-foot-tall praying mantises have wiped out most of the human population, but they are dying off. Austin and Robby set off in a small plane to find other survivors and when they don't come back, Arek and Mel go on their own RV road trip to find them. Meanwhile in alternating chapters readers learn about earlier years in the hole, as well as the tale of a 12-year-old wild boy "Breakfast" and his chimpanzee friend, Olive. Philosophical passages and reflection on the paintings of Max Beckmann mix with Arek's longing for Mel and his fear of his hyper-religious grandmother's threat to circumcise him. As with the first book, sexual longing is explored in detail, making this also a book for more mature readers.
The Guinevere Deception, the first book in the Camelot Rising trilogy, alters many details in the Arthurian legend. Lancelot is a woman, Mordred is Arthur's right hand man and Guinevere is an impostor sent by Merlin to protect Arthur. Magic has been banned in Camelot, so Guinevere must wield her magical powers in secret, as she strives to discover threats to Arthur's well-being. Meanwhile, Arthur is out fighting battles, trying to save his kingdom. This fresh take on the Arthurian legend has a decidedly feminist twist and will appeal to fans of the original, if only to see how this very popular author changes it up.
In Red, White and Royal Blue Alex Claremont-Diaz, the half-Mexican son of the first female president of the United States, meets Prince Henry, backup heir to the English throne and it's hate at first sight. After their verbal sparring at an international wedding leads to a scuffle and them falling into the wedding cake, they are required to pose as best friends on a publicity tour. Not surprisingly, their hate turns to attraction and after their first kiss, they contrive to find ways to be together. Of course, their bromance is eventually discovered and leaked to the press during Alex's mom's reelection campaign. Strategizing how to handle their relationship evolves from denial to breakup to acknowledgement in this clever take on the rom/com genre. The sexual encounters are fairly explicit, so I would recommend this for high school readers.
Exile from Eden: or, After the Hole, the post-apocalyptic sequel to Grasshopper Jungle, finds Arek, the son of Austin and Robby, crushing on his best friend Mel and living in the underground bunker with her, his two dads, mother and grandmother. Ten-foot-tall praying mantises have wiped out most of the human population, but they are dying off. Austin and Robby set off in a small plane to find other survivors and when they don't come back, Arek and Mel go on their own RV road trip to find them. Meanwhile in alternating chapters readers learn about earlier years in the hole, as well as the tale of a 12-year-old wild boy "Breakfast" and his chimpanzee friend, Olive. Philosophical passages and reflection on the paintings of Max Beckmann mix with Arek's longing for Mel and his fear of his hyper-religious grandmother's threat to circumcise him. As with the first book, sexual longing is explored in detail, making this also a book for more mature readers.
The Guinevere Deception, the first book in the Camelot Rising trilogy, alters many details in the Arthurian legend. Lancelot is a woman, Mordred is Arthur's right hand man and Guinevere is an impostor sent by Merlin to protect Arthur. Magic has been banned in Camelot, so Guinevere must wield her magical powers in secret, as she strives to discover threats to Arthur's well-being. Meanwhile, Arthur is out fighting battles, trying to save his kingdom. This fresh take on the Arthurian legend has a decidedly feminist twist and will appeal to fans of the original, if only to see how this very popular author changes it up.
Monday, November 11, 2019
YA Historical Fiction
Historical fiction is defined as novels in which a story is made up but is set in the past and sometimes borrows true characteristics of the time period in which it is set. Reading historical fiction is my favorite way to learn history! This month I am recommending new young adult historical fiction novels. The Downstairs Girl by Stacy Lee (Outrun the Moon) is set in the Reconstructionist South and focuses on a Chinese- American girl who anonymously writes an "agony aunt" column for the local newspaper. Across the Broken Shore by Amy Trueblood is set in San Francisco during the construction of the Golden Gate bridge and involves a young woman who aspires to become a doctor. Enchantee by Gita Trelease is the first book in a new magical realism series set during the French Revolution. Camille uses "magic ordinaire" to disguise herself as an aristocrat, who gambles at the palace of Versailles.
In The Downstairs Girl Chinese-American Jo Kuan lives in 1890 Atlanta with her guardian, Old Gin, in the abolitionist quarters underneath the home of the publisher of a failing newspaper. When she loses her job as a milliner's assistant, she returns to a job as a lady's maid to the cantankerous daughter of a society maven. She overhears the publisher talking about bolstering newspaper sales with an "agony aunt" column, so she begins anonymously submitting a column that offers advice on fashion, women's suffrage, and prejudice that sparks controversy and raises subscriptions. Her sharp wit and questions about her identity are the talk of Atlanta. Subplots about Jo's parentage and her romance with the publisher's son complement her first-person narrative, which sheds light on the struggles of women and people of color in the Reconstructionist South. The well-researched narrative raises important questions about how we understand the past, as well as the ways that understanding shapes the present.
Across the Broken Shore is set during the fall of 1936 in San Francisco. Willa MacCarthy, who is plagued by guilt over an incident in the past, agrees to join a convent and make her Catholic family proud. However, secretly she longs to be a doctor. When her brother Paddy has an accident in the family bar, she hurries him to the family doctor, only to find the Dr. Katherine Winston has taken his place. Willa, who has been reading Gray's Anatomy, jumps in to help with Paddy's treatment. Dr. Winston offers her a job and encourages her to follow her dreams. Willa accompanies her to a field hospital to administer first aid for men working on the Golden Gate Bridge, and she also begins treating sick people in a Hooverville near the bridge. When Willa meets Sam, an ironworker on the bridge, she dares to dream of a different life. The author says she was inspired by the history of the Golden Gate Bridge construction and by an actual female physician who practiced nearby.
Enchantee, the first book in a new series, introduces Camille and her sister Sophie, who are struggling to survive during the French Revolution. After their ne'er-do-well brother steals their meager savings, the daring and passionate Camille uses her gift of magic to create a double identity. As Baroness Cecile Descharlots, she games at Versailles, even as she is befriending nobility. Her Indian aeronaut boyfriend, Lazare, and the nefarious Vicomte Sequin vie for her attention. Meanwhile, the bourgeoisie are threatening revolt against the decadence of the French court of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette. When Camille's double life begins to fray and Sophie disappears, she must take desperate measures to save their lives. Many realistic historical elements add to the story, including the decadent lifestyle of Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV, the outrage of impoverished Parisians, experiments with balloon aeronautics, and prejudice against queer and biracial characters. Historical footnotes and a French glossary are included. The sequel Liberte will be released in 2020.
In The Downstairs Girl Chinese-American Jo Kuan lives in 1890 Atlanta with her guardian, Old Gin, in the abolitionist quarters underneath the home of the publisher of a failing newspaper. When she loses her job as a milliner's assistant, she returns to a job as a lady's maid to the cantankerous daughter of a society maven. She overhears the publisher talking about bolstering newspaper sales with an "agony aunt" column, so she begins anonymously submitting a column that offers advice on fashion, women's suffrage, and prejudice that sparks controversy and raises subscriptions. Her sharp wit and questions about her identity are the talk of Atlanta. Subplots about Jo's parentage and her romance with the publisher's son complement her first-person narrative, which sheds light on the struggles of women and people of color in the Reconstructionist South. The well-researched narrative raises important questions about how we understand the past, as well as the ways that understanding shapes the present.
Across the Broken Shore is set during the fall of 1936 in San Francisco. Willa MacCarthy, who is plagued by guilt over an incident in the past, agrees to join a convent and make her Catholic family proud. However, secretly she longs to be a doctor. When her brother Paddy has an accident in the family bar, she hurries him to the family doctor, only to find the Dr. Katherine Winston has taken his place. Willa, who has been reading Gray's Anatomy, jumps in to help with Paddy's treatment. Dr. Winston offers her a job and encourages her to follow her dreams. Willa accompanies her to a field hospital to administer first aid for men working on the Golden Gate Bridge, and she also begins treating sick people in a Hooverville near the bridge. When Willa meets Sam, an ironworker on the bridge, she dares to dream of a different life. The author says she was inspired by the history of the Golden Gate Bridge construction and by an actual female physician who practiced nearby.
Enchantee, the first book in a new series, introduces Camille and her sister Sophie, who are struggling to survive during the French Revolution. After their ne'er-do-well brother steals their meager savings, the daring and passionate Camille uses her gift of magic to create a double identity. As Baroness Cecile Descharlots, she games at Versailles, even as she is befriending nobility. Her Indian aeronaut boyfriend, Lazare, and the nefarious Vicomte Sequin vie for her attention. Meanwhile, the bourgeoisie are threatening revolt against the decadence of the French court of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette. When Camille's double life begins to fray and Sophie disappears, she must take desperate measures to save their lives. Many realistic historical elements add to the story, including the decadent lifestyle of Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV, the outrage of impoverished Parisians, experiments with balloon aeronautics, and prejudice against queer and biracial characters. Historical footnotes and a French glossary are included. The sequel Liberte will be released in 2020.
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