Book Blogs- 17-25
I found this story to be incredibly relatable. Although I didn't experience the horrific dental drama that Raina did, the way she expressed how she was feeling during her middle school years reminded me of my own experience growing up. I think every middle school girl goes through a period of transition when it comes to friendships. Raina told this part of the story with a gentle honesty, while teaching young readers how true friends should (and shouldn't) treat each other. Raina doesn't hold anything back- even telling readers how she wasn't so kind to Sammy- and respects her audience without talking down to them. Some of the dental focused parts of this book were hard to get through- I was actually cringing while she described the things the Dentist did. Yet, through her bravery, Raina doesn't make the dentist seem scary. The illustrations are bright and cheery, reflecting Raina's positive attitude throughout all the pain and hardship her middle school years brought.
Saenz, Benjamin Alire. (2014). Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe. NY: Simon & Schuster. Aristotle is a fifteen year old boy who is miserable. His brother is in prison, and his parents act like he never existed by refusing to speak about him. One summer day, he meets a boy named Dante at the pool. The two become instant friends and become inseperable. Dante and Ari are both Mexican-American, but they couldn't be more different. Ari holds a tough exterior. He regularly gets into fights, has trouble processing and communicating his feelings, and struggles with the relationship he has with his family. Dante is whimsical, openly loving towards his family and friends, extremely likable, and loves literature and poetry, but he often struggles with being a Mexican-American. One day, the two stumble upon a few boys who are shooting birds with a B.B. gun. The two scare the boys away, and bury the sparrow. Soon after, Ari begins having fever dreams and ends up with a terrible case of the flu. He continues to have horrible fever dreams, and though his stoic Vietnam veteran father is typically quiet and seems far away, he sits with his son and worries over him during his dreams. This comforts Ari, but also makes him angry. He doesn't understand why his father can't be open about his feelings, his brother, and his experiences with war. After Ari recovers from the flu, Dante's father takes a one year position at a college in Chicago, meaning Dante and his family will be moving for the next school year. That same day, Ari and Dante discover an injured bird lying in the street. Dante is comforting the bird when a car comes down the street. Ari pushes Dante out of the way and takes the car's blow. He ends up in the hospital with his legs in a cast. Dante feels terribly guilty, but Ari makes him promise to never discuss the accident again. Dante moves away to Chicago, and the two write to each other as they navigate the school year without each other. Dante admits that he has kissed a girl at his new school but that he would rather be kissing boys. After Ari's Aunt passes away, he notices that no one in his extended family attends her funeral. His mother explains that it is because the family didn't respect her lifestyle, as she was a gay woman. After the funeral, Ari's mother finally agrees to tell Ari what landed his brother in prison. He was arrested for murdering a prostitute after hiring her and finding out she was a transvestite. All of this weighs heavily on Ari as he struggles to identify his feelings towards Dante. When Dante is jumped for being seen kissing another boy, Ari is furious. When Dante admits his love for Ari, he isn't quite ready to say it back. However, after the two boys' families grow closer, he learns that his family will always accept his true feelings towards Dante, and that he has to be honest with himself and those who he loves. He and Dante kiss, and admit their love for each other. Ari feels a weight lifted off him for being honest and unashamed of his feelings.
This story was an emotional roller coaster. I felt Ari's anger. I felt Dante's happiness and carefree attitude. I felt Ari's father's pain reliving his war memories. I felt his mother's pain discussing how she lost her son to prison. Saenz is honest and vulnerable in his story telling. Often couples in YA literature are talking and acting much older than they are meant to be, but this was not the case for Ari and Dante. Their relationship was true to their ages, but you could feel the deep love and affection they held for each other in a romantic way but also in their friendship. The themes covered in this story were: honesty, communication, acceptance, identity, gender roles, masculinity, and sexuality. I would recommend this story to anyone of high school age.
Matson, Morgan. (2010). Amy & Roger's Epic Detour. NY: Simon & Schuster. Amy Curry has recently lost her father in a tragic car accident that she blames herself for. Since she hasn't had the courage to drive since the accident, she is shocked when her mother tells her she will be responsible for getting the family car from California to their new home across the country, in Connecticut. Amy's mother has arranged for their family friend's college student son, Roger, to drive with Amy. Roger, who is dealing with his own emotional baggage following a painful break up with his ex, convinces Amy to steer off the rigid course her mother set for them. They decide to take a scenic route, visiting places and people they have always wanted to see. They visit Yosemite, go on the loneliest road in America, visit the Kentucky Derby, Graceland, and eat at just about every fast food joint across the continental U.S. Along the way, the two form a bond, and develop a deep love for each other. Together, they are able to move on from their difficult and tragic pasts, and share an optimistic look toward the future.
I absolutely loved this book. I loved that Matson included photos, postcards, receipts, and even an (awesome) playlist as a companion to the story. It took me along for the ride and put me in Amy's head space. Although the topics in this book are heavy (death, addiction, etc.), Matson gave this story a lighthearted feel with all of the nostalgia and the teen romance between Amy and Roger. This story was a love letter to America in the best way.
Mullin, Mike. (2012). Ashfall. IN: Tanglewood. Alex is left alone for the weekend in his home town of Cedar Falls, Iowa, while his family visits his uncle in Illinois. He envisions a weekend of friends and video games, however, his world is turned upside down when the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupts. The eruption causes horrible storms, power outages, and fallen ash covering just about everything in America. Alex seeks refuge in the home of his neighbors, Darren and Joe. but is quickly shown what dangers now threaten him when he experiences violence and looting. He decides he must get to his parents, and sets off on foot to find them. He trudges through ash and tries to find food and shelter where he can. He comes across an enormous "NFL sized" escaped convict called Target. When Target fails to recruit Alex into his "crew", he tries to kill Alex with an axe, who narrowly escapes and runs to a barn owned by the Edmunds family. Darla, their daughter who is the same age as Alex, teaches him the ways of the farm. They are used to being self sufficient and have experience with growing their own resources. When Target comes seeking revenge, he brutally rapes and murders Mrs. Edmunds. Darla and Alex run away, eventually catching back up with Target and killing him. They continue on their journey, finding food and shelter where they can. They have several run ins with near death, but rely on each other to make it through. They are captured by soldiers and stripped of their weapons and food. They hatch a plan, escape, and eventually make it to Alex's uncle's house. Alex's uncle explains that Alex's parents left weeks ago to search for him. Alex promises to stay put with his uncle until his parents return. Darla comes up with a plan to trade food as currency. The story ends with Darla and Alex uncertain about their futures, but optimistic about what's to come.
I was amazed at Mike Mullin's ability to blend science and geography so seamlessly into a thrilling, fast paced story. This was a real page turner. I had to keep reading to find out how Alex would deal with each challenge thrust in his path. There were times where this story was completely unsettling, and I wondered how well I would handle the situations Alex and Darla faced. I loved Alex and Darla's relationship. It developed slowly, but because of their dire situation, they had no choice but to rely on each other and trust each other fully. I appreciated that Darla was the self-sufficient "fixer". She was no damsel in distress, and I really respected that. This is the first story in a trilogy of the same name.
Cohn, Rachel, & Leviathan, David. (2011). Dash & Lily's Book Of Dares. OR: Ember. With the help of her brother and his boyfriend, Lily decides to take a chance and leaves a red notebook full of clues inside her favorite bookshop, The Strand, hoping to find a boyfriend. Dash, who has recently broken up with his foreign girlfriend Sophia, finds the notebook and out of boredom decides to take the bait. He follows the clues, leaving the red notebook with the shop clerk, and the adventure begins. Throughout the rest of the winter Dash and Lily take turns daring each other and leaving clues in the notebook for the other to follow. They end up all over New York City, doing dares that are out of both of their comfort zones. They pour their hearts out into the notebook, finding it easier to communicate with a stranger than with those around them. When it is finally time for the two to meet face to face, their expectations of each other fall short. After an incident involving crimes against children lands them both in jail, they are able to fully open up to each other in person the way they had in their notebook, and are happy with how the notebook has changed them for the better.
I was so excited to read this book because I loved Rachel Cohn & David Leviathan's other YA novel, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. This book had the same feel; teen hipster angst, eccentric and diverse characters (a gay Jewish couple, Christmas obsessed family, Dash's best friend Boomer), teen romance that develops slowly, while being a great love letter to New York City. I think the theme of expectations vs. reality is really relevant with the age of the internet and app style dating. It can be easy to talk with anonymity and it's just as easy to put the highlight reel of your life out there. However, when it comes down to meeting people and developing relationships, there's nothing that takes the place of physical interaction. Rachel and David are experts at co-authoring. The way they write is so seamless, I forget it is written by two different people. They both take great care when developing their character, and have created a writing style that is perfectly reflective of the themes in this story.
Discussion Questions:
Why might it seem easier to talk to a stranger about our problems?
How did Dash and Lily's expectations of each other fall short?
Do you think Lily or Dash compromised their values by doing some of the dares?
How did having two authors contribute to the writing style of this book?
Morgenstein, Erin. (2011). The Night Circus. NY: Doubleday. Set in the late 1800s, Prospero and Mr. A.H- are both magicians who have their own theories on the way magic should be harnessed and performed. The two men have created a competition to determine whose way is best. Prospero begins training his young daughter, Celia, through tough and often gruesome practicing sessions for the competition. Mr. A.H- adopts a boy named Marco and begins training him through books and formal training, but he remains a cold and distant mentor figure. The setting for the competition is a circus, called Le Cirque des Rêves .The circus appears randomly, without warning, and is only open at night. Celia, who performs in the circus, and Marco, who takes an assistant role, anonymously set up elaborate and beautiful exhibits for the circus inhabitants as part of their competition. As each learns more about the other through their incredible displays, they begin to fall in love. The performers of the circus become a family, with children being born while on the road, elaborate midnight dinner parties thrown at the founder's mansion, and inspiring a group of superfans that call themselves "dreamers" who follow the circus wherever it goes. As the competition continues, Marco and Celia both tire of the intense focus it takes to keep the circus running. Celia eventually learns that Tsukiko, a member of the circus, was once in a competition of her own that ended with suicide of the other player. Tsukiko informs Celia that the only way the competition will end is with death of one of the players- meaning Marco or Celia must die, which will destroy the circus and all that it has built. Marco and Celia entrust the twins, Poppet and Widget (who recruit a dreamer they met on the road, Bailey) to run the circus, as they step into the bonfire and let it consume them. Trapped inside the circus as ghosts, Marco and Celia are finally at peace and are able to be together.
Erin Morgenstein has created a stunning, incredible world inside Le Cirque Des Reves. The entire concept of the circus drew me in, and the descriptions of each and every thing inside of it was so lush and lyrical I found myself begging for it to be real. While at times I found the story line slow and hard to get through, I'm glad I pushed through. The relationships between both Celia and Marco and their mentors were dark and disturbing, which gave a sense of vengeance and relief when they finally escaped their grasps. I wish there had been more behind the story of why Prospero and Mr. A.H- decided to have this competition. I was waiting for a big plot twist or reveal which never really came. The cloud maze and circus foods were described with such detail I could see and practically smell them in my room as I read. I hope they will make a movie of this some day, as I think it would be fantastic to see the circus lived out on the big screen.
YALSA Quick Picks 2018
McManus, Karen M. (2017). One Of Us Is Lying. NY: Delacorte Press.
High School students Bronwyn, Addy, Cooper, and Nate couldn't be more different. Bronwyn is the smart one, Addy is the popular one, Cooper is the athlete, and Nate is the troubled one. They all end up in detention together for offenses they claim they were framed for. There is another boy joining them in detention named Simon. Simon runs a gossip app called About That, which posts rumors about students in the school. About That is known for being harsh with nothing off limits, with the rumors being true most of the time. While in detention, the students witness a minor car accident in the parking lot of the school. When the detention teacher leaves to check on the students involved in the accident, Simon goes into anaphylactic shock after drinking from a cup of water. Bronwyn runs to the nurse to find an EpiPen, but she can't find any, and Simon dies. As the police begin investigating, they discover drafted posts that Simon intended to post onto About That, but hadn't yet. The posts are about the four students with Simon during detention, giving them all different motives for murdering Simon. Addy, Cooper, Nate, and Bronwyn grow closer as they begin meeting to discuss how this all could have happened. Addy deals with relationship issues, Cooper's sexuality is no longer a secret though he tried hard to keep it, Bronwyn faces the consequences of cheating on an exam, and Nate takes the blame since he is a troubled teen who no one expected to have much of a future anyway. Bronwyn and Nate develop a more intimate relationship, and she teams up with a lawyer to get him out of jail after he is arrested when wrongfully accused of Simon's murder. In the end, Simon had more of a handle on his own death than anyone could have expected.
This story is a page-turner. I read through it very quickly, eager to figure out what happened to Simon. Karen McManus paced it exactly right- dropping little bombs throughout the story while saving the big one for the end. I liked how each person was able to tell their story from their own perspective. Each time I read someone's perspective, I was sure they didn't do it- until I read the next person's perspective and was sure that they didn't do it. McManus makes a point that you never really know what another person is going through, and that everyone has their own demons to face. This book would be great for fans of The Breakfast Club, Gossip Girl, or Pretty Little Liars.
YALSA Quick Picks 2014
This book compiles a list of questions about sex, drugs, bodies, and emotions and provides answers in a non-judgmental way. The answers are brief and to the point, but there is a list of trusted resources that students can seek for further information. Of course, anyone can ask these questions to their parents, and this book doesn't discourage this at all. Rather, it provides a safe space for young adults to get answers to questions they may be embarrassed to talk about. Though anyone could look up these questions on the internet, who knows what kind of images or false information might pop up. This book protects readers by giving them safe and reliable sources and facts; not opinions. The I would recommend starting with a book like It's Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris, and using this book as a supplement a few years later. Many of these questions are considered "taboo" by society, but the answers are important for teens and young adults to have verified from a trusted source, rather than hearing misinformation from their friends. I would also recommend gifting this book, or having it on the bookshelf at home for teens to read on their own, as I'm not sure they would actually seek it out based on the title and the embarrassment it might bring. It's important for libraries to have a copy as well for this reason.
New York Times Best Seller June 2018
Alice is an extremely unlikable character at first. She is angry, she lashes out, and she is judgemental when it comes to others. However, that is what actually made me like her. I respect that Melissa Albert created an anti-hero in Alice. She experienced many traumatic events over her life, and a picture perfect girl who has it all together wouldn't be realistic. I also loved Ellery Finch, and that he was the first to develop the crush instead of Alice falling instantly head over heels. Ellery was sweet, gentle, and gave Alice the space she needed to work through her emotional issues while still being there to support her. The story itself is incredibly unique. I was fascinated from the beginning when I discovered it was about the dark side of fairy tales. With so much emphasis on princesses and happy endings in fairy tales, it was refreshing and thought provoking to think of them from another perspective. Albert is a wizard with descriptive writing. Her metaphors and the way she has Alice process things was like poetry. It was just as captivating as the story itself.
A great activity to accompany this book would be to have students imagine a dark side of a popular fairy tale. They could rewrite it in whatever style they like- poetry, graphic novel, prose, etc. I think the results would be fascinating!
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