Who am I? What kind of person am I? How do other people see me? Can I be more than one thing? What box do I fit in?
These questions about identity are among the biggest concerns for many teens. So it's no surprise that so many novels written for young adults tackle this area of philosophical conflict. I read 10 Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah and Pink by Lili Wilkinson in the same week, having no idea that they share some interesting similarities. Both novels are by awesome Australian young adult authors and both stories take place in modern day Australia. But as I read each one, I found that the similarities go beyond the geographical: these two novels tackle the classic young adult issue of identity in some unique and specific ways.
SUMMARY: After the death of her beloved mother, Aisling feels terribly alone, even with her grieving father and familiar home. Then her father comes home from a visit to the capital with a new wife and two new step-daughters. While Ash is not thrilled, life doesn't seem hugely different. But then her father also becomes ill and dies. Now Ash is at the mercy of her bitter stepmother who decides that she will pay for her late father's debts by becoming the household's primary servant. Miserable, Ash yearns for her mother even more and when she encounters the strange and frightening fairy Sidhean, Ash thinks she might have finally found her route of escape. But then she meets the King's huntress Kaisa and Ash slowly stops wishing to disappear as their growing friendship reawakens her desire to live and to love. Now Ash must choose between fairy magic and the powerfully human magic of love and connection.
ONESMARTCUPCAKE THINKS: I've been wanting to read this novel for months! I was so excited to finally get a hold of it this past week and my anticipation was nicely rewarded. Ash is a great debut novel from Malinda Lo that successfully combines several little subgenres of YA fiction into a lovely and enjoyable narrative. First, Ash joins the ranks of other great fairytale retellings and for me, it is up there with Ella Enchanted in terms of favorite 'Cinderella' rewrites. But also, Ash takes another popular fantasy concept-dark and dangerous fairies-with equal success. So the novel is firstly a fun fantasy combining a familiar narrative outline with well known ideas like frightening fairies as well as the solid human experience and conflict that grounds all good fantasy novels. Ash is a sympathetic heroine and so the story's focus is neither the magic nor the fairytale aspect but Ash's very familiar struggles to grow and develop in difficult circumstances. Her fears, griefs, weaknesses, and strengths are evoked clearly through Lo's gentle and spare but descriptive prose.
The other highlight of the story is Ash's blossoming relationship with the Huntress Kaisa. Ash's initial interest in the role of the Huntress grows into an attraction to Kaisa herself as the two young women begin spending more and more time together. Kaisa teaches Ash to ride and hunt; Ash learns that the possibility for love still exists in the world. The sweet, slowly developing love between the two women fits perfectly into this delicate and unique fairy-tale of a novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to teens who enjoy other fairy-tale retellings.
SUMMARY: In his senior year of high school, Paul feels like he's got the perfect life. He's been dating Angie since middle school and beyond being his girlfriend, she's also his best friend. They sing together in church choir, are active members of Bible club at school, and enjoy just hanging out together. But then Manuel transfers to school and suddenly Paul's life doesn't seem so perfect. Manuel is the first openly gay teen to come to town, let alone attend Paul's high school. But on top of that, Manuel also claims to be a committed Christian--just like Paul and his friends. His increasing conversations with Manuel have Paul questioning not only his faith but also the feelings he has pushed away for years. But others have taken notice of Manuel's openness and their reactions are very different. When the tension at school boils over into a nightmare, Paul must decide who he is and where he stands.
ONESMARTCUPCAKE THINKS: I read Alex Sanchez' Rainbow Boys books a couples of years ago and found them enjoyable and insightful despite occasionally clunky or imperfect writing. My reaction to The God Box goes along the same lines. Sanchez has crafted a very readable book with appealing and relatable characters and good story infused with a keen awareness of current issues in teen's lives. Sanchez's writing is straightforward rather than lyrical but he captures the range of emotions experienced by his protagonist with clarity and compassion. The novel addresses the ongoing tensions between religion and sexuality without attempting to over-simplify or become preachy; instead Sanchez emphasizes the way this conflict affects real kids, like Paul and Manuel. Because of the subject matter, biblical analysis and theological debate play a large role in the story; kids who do not have an interest in such subjects may find these aspects of the novel annoying or uninteresting--although Sanchez has woven them into the narrative quite naturally. The novel also contains an upsetting and violent event (although the attack itself is not graphically described, the aftereffects are), so be just aware when recommending it.
I read this book pretty compulsively, drawn in by my concern and compassion for the likable protagonist and his friends as well as my interest in the larger topic of religion and sexuality. The God Box stands out for its generally unique subject matter in the growing world of LGBTQ fiction for young adults. It gracefully and bravely addresses topics frequently left untouched by other current writers in the sub-genre, such as being gay and religious or coming out within a certain ethnic and cultural context (in this case Mexican and American Hispanic). This novel would be a good fit for interested teens of the high school age range. I also think that it touches on an important but frequently unaddressed topic and so would be a good read for librarians, teachers, or parents as well.
I'm back! Somehow I've managed to plow through a few more of my books for review in between grad school work, interning, and my small attempts at a social life and so I allowed myself to grab a few more on a recent library visit. So I am able to once again join in the In My Mailbox party! IMM is a fantastic meme in which bloggers list the books that they received over the last week via mail/bookstore/library. It's hosted by the lovely Story Siren over at her awesomeblog. For more info, look here. So this week in my "mailbox," I got:
All of my IMM picks this week come from one of my lovely local libraries.
I'm very excited about these books; they've all been on my radar for a while now and it's great to get my hands on them at last! Look out this week for reviews for a few of my past IMM books, such as The God Box and Forget-Her-Nots. What was in your mailbox this week?
SUMMARY: Cass and Julia had been best friends since they were kids; even Julia discovering her theatrical destiny at drama camp and getting a boyfriend hadn't changed that. Throughout their junior year, Julia claimed to be at work on a secret project. But before she could reveal it to Cass or her drama club friends, Julia was killed in a car accident. Still reeling from the unexpected tragedy, they discover that the secret project was in fact a musical titled "Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squads" and led by Julia's devastated boyfriend Oliver, the group decides to make Julia's dream come true by producing the musical. But Cass has never felt like she truly fit in with Julia's theater crowd. And she doesn't think she can take a summer of painting sets and hearing Julia in every line of the play. Especially when Heather, the girl who bullied her in middle school, has somehow been cast in the lead role. So, Cass sets out to undertake the cross-country trip she and Julia had planned--alone on her touring bike with Julia's ashes in tow. When Cass returns in August, she realizes that she's changed in big ways. But then so has Heather. But through all the drama, the show must go on.
ONESMARTCUPCAKE THINKS: This book has been on my 'to read' list for quite some time. The title intrigued me and then seeing that it could work towards my Debut Authors Challenge pushed it way up on my list. Overall, I enjoyed A Love Story. The novel is divided into two distinct alternating settings: the recent past of Cass' bike journey and the current events since her return. While I normally don't mind such a format, I felt it worked less effectively in this novel. Although both sections were significant in exploring Cass's development through the course of the story, the shifts between them occasionally felt awkward and sudden. However, I did enjoy the gradual revelations about Cass's growth as the two portions of the story played out simultaneously. The concept of a solo cross country trip on a bike is a bit of a unique take on the classic road trip story and Horner utilizes details about this style of the travel to tie the reader into Cass's experience more closely. Also, the solo and self-reliant aspects of biking allows for an extra emphasis on self-discovery and reflection on Cass's part. The obvious connection between Cass' physical actions and her emotional journey shines strongly with the more transparently physical bike as well.
I liked that Cass's process of understanding and embracing her sexuality worked hand in hand with her coming to terms with Julia's death. The difficulties of grief and identity development are interconnected in the story of Cass' entrance to the complex adult world. I also enjoyed the romance between Cass and Heather. Their rehabilitated friendship blossoms into a new chance at a happy, open relationship for each girl. Also, their contrasting pasts reveal two different but equally challenging paths to self-acceptance. Overall, A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend was an enjoyable and touching read about the sometimes painful process of growing up.
SUMMARY: Nina Bermudez, Avery Dekker, and Melanie Forrest have been an inseparable trio known as the Bermudez Triangle for years.Now, the summer before their senior year of high school they will be spending a significant amount of time apart for the first time.While Nina goes off to Stanford for a ten-week summer program, Avery and Mel stay at home in upstate New York and begin jobs waitressing at P.J. Mortimer’s Fine Food and Drinks Emporium.Within those ten-weeks, some big events happen in the separate lives of the Triangle.Nina falls for the sweet eco-activist Steve but must also face the fact that he lives in Oregon and so she likely won’t see him after the summer until they hopefully both end up at Stanford the next fall. Meanwhile, Mel has finally had a real kiss—with Avery.When the trio is reunited, relationships will change and the next year will be full of confusion, revelations, and division.Can the Bermudez Triangle survive?
ONESMARTCUPCAKE THINKS: I’ve been planning to read Maureen Johnson for a while. Actually, I feel slightly ashamed that I haven’t been reading her since she first started publishing.But being an English lit major for four years limited my recreational reading time.So I’m still playing catch up on awesome YA fiction.
Anyway, I’ve finally started reading Maureen Johnson and I’m definitely not going to stop anytime soon! The Bermudez Triangle was a great, fun, and unique read.The characters are all individuals with three-dimensional personalities and emotional lives.Also, it does something I really appreciate; it tells the ‘after’ story. What do I mean by that vague phrase? Well, in many movies and books, the story builds up to an important event; the heroine falls in love or gets her first kiss.But here, Johnson places these big moments at the beginning of the narrative and then spends the majority of the novel exploring what happens afterwards.The story expands on life after that first kiss and the struggles of making summer love work in the real world.Also, she allows the relationships to be messy and imperfect, which I also greatly appreciate.
The Bermudez Triangle also does a wonderful job portraying the complexities of teen sexuality and romantic relationships.The novel’s characters are diverse and the narrative spends equal time on the straight, gay, and questioning characters.Johnson treats each girl’s journey through love, heartbreak, and recovery with balanced details and obvious sympathy.I loved reading a novel where sexual identity plays a role but does not become a single identifier of a character’s role or personality.Also, Johnson works to explore the universal difficulties in maintaining friendships and balancing relationships with friends and lovers. Johnson’s story is a pretty successful attempt to show the lives of three young women with honesty and respect.I felt emotionally invested from the first few pages and thoroughly enjoyed the entire reading experience. Also, Johnson writes with great humor and elegance and so her writing, like all good writing, is a pleasure to read.
4 ½ / 5 STARS
Now, I can’t close this post without noting the controversy that has surrounded this book in recent years.Although I had been planning to pick up at least one of Maureen Johnson’s books this summer, I picked this book first because I heard about the censorship issues it faced in 2007.I first heard about the Bartlesville, Oklahoma challenge to this book via catching up on John and Hank Green’s Brotherhood 2.0/Vlogbrothers videos.On a side note, they’re hilarious and awesome and everyone should watch them; I’m proud to say I am a belated but now devoted Nerdfighter! Anyway, back to The Bermudez Triangle challenge.In April 2007, the Bartlesville school district decided to pull The Bermudez Triangle from the shelves of the Mid-High school library.The objections seem to be primarily that the book “has no moral fiber” and promotes immoral actions, such as homosexuality. It should be also noted that the book contains essentially nothing sexual beyond kissing between girls or between boys and girls. Maureen Johnson recounted the saga that followed in detail here on her blog so I won’t go into all the details—better to hear from the witty author/blogger herself! But if you don’t already know the story and you care about teenagers, books, and our first amendment rights, please go and check it out; you can trace the story through her archives beginning in April 2007. The conclusion to the so-called ‘Battle of Bartlesville’ was that the book was allowed to stay in the library but only on a reserve shelf where it could be checked out for school use with a parent’s permission.So, as Johnson wrote on her blog, the ending was sort of success (in that the book is still on the shelves) but in more significant ways it was almost worst than a full banning.I mean, because this fun and touching novel contains a romantic relationship between two girls, it has been relegated to a separate shelf.What kind of message does that send to a confused and nervous young woman or man who is thinking about her or his sexuality?How would that make even an openly gay teen feel? Situations like this are the reason that I am perhaps very sensitive and a little hard-line about censorship.
In conclusion, if you haven’t read The Bermudez Triangle or any of Maureen Johnson’s other YA fiction, you should remedy that as soon as possible! I for one am glad that I did!
So since I’m new to this whole blogging thing, I’m also new to the idea of online reading challenges.I can’t believe the fun I’ve been missing out on! So I’m going to be jumping onto two 2010 challenges very late in the game this week in an attempt to get into the swing and so be ready to go all out next year. The first challenge I’m joining is the GLBT Challenge 2010.
The Challenge is located at the Blog That Dare Not Speak Its Name, which was developed specifically to house this challenge and accompanying informational posts and mini-challenges by Amanda of The Zen Leaf.The challenge began in January 2010 and runs through December 2010.It also has three levels of participation:
-Lambda Level: Read 4 books.
-Pink Triangle Level: Read 8 books.
-Rainbow Level: Read 12 or more books.
Also, overlap with other reading challenges is acceptable.
Because I’m entering late, I’m going to aim at the Pink Triangle Level of 8 books.Because I’m not required to post a list when I begin the challenge, I’m just going to jot down some possibilities here; I promise to post a final list at the end as well as keep track as I go along!
I coincidentally just completed a great YA book with GLBT themes and characters and so it will be my first review for this challenge.Look out for a review of Maureen Johnson’s The Bermudez Triangle likely tomorrow to start this challenge off!
Today is a very special day.Today is the first day I am actually blogging about something directly library-related! Woohoo! As a passionate library-lover and librarian-in-training, I try to keep up to date on all that is going on in the library world.When I caught the full details on this story via the School Library Journal article last week, I knew would have to blog about it.While I am a generally passionate person who cares a great deal about many issues, there are a few issues that get me particularly riled up.Censorship is definitely one of those especially riling issues.
So what happened? Well, earlier this April the library director of the Burlington County Library System, Gail Sweet, requested the Library Commissioners’ approval in the pulling of Revolutionary Voices: A Multicultural Queer Youth Anthology from the shelves.Apparently this event was prompted by a request for the book’s removal by the 9.12 Project, a conservative group created by Glenn Beck.From emails gathered by the ACLU of New Jersey via a Freedom of Information Act, it appears that a formal request for the book’s removal was never made; Ms. Sweet and a colleague simply decided that the book should be removed from the shelves and were then supported by the library commissioners.When a librarian within the system asked the reason behind the book’s removal, Sweet replied with merely two words: “child pornography.”It might be good to note here that Revolutionary Voices was named one of the best adult books for high school students by School Library Journal in 2001 and has been recognized by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) as a unique resource that is one of the first to really be applicable to “queer and questioning youth of every color, class, religion, gender, and ability.”
So why does this rile me up?Well, first of all, my decision to pursue library science was based on a combination of factors but one of the main reasons was the American Library Association’s incredibly strong stance on censorship and our first amendment rights.Librarians are ideally the defenders of such rights who aim to work against censorship.So, librarians would ideally be the ones resisting requests for the removal of books rather than those doing the requesting.My librarian idealism is deeply offended by the concept of a librarian giving in to such a challenge in the first place. However, the ALA also recognizes the difficult situations librarians can find themselves in concerning their collections and so recommends that every library have a written policy that details the selection process used in choosing materials for the collection.Also, many libraries use a formal process to handle challenges.These measures protect against allowing a single opinion to determine the content of the library’s collection, which is a shared source of free information for diverse populations. In this situation, the procedures were all ignored; materials were completely removed from the library shelves without any official request and based on the opinions of two people supported by a committee that did no further investigation.Frankly, this behavior just undermines the authority of libraries and librarians around the country and the world to work for free speech and open access to information.And, so it riles me.I mean, not be completely cheesy or anything, but I really believe that free speech, free press, and open access to information are basic human rights and the key building blocks to a successful democracy.Libraries and librarians currently play one of the most important roles in defending these rights.And so it breaks my little idealistic heart to hear about things like this happening.
Well, there was my censorship rant.In other news, I already struggled with WFMAD by forgetting to do my writing yesterday. But I did a make-up this morning and I vow not to forget again! Laurie has posted some great prompts on her blog every day so if you are participating and running low on ideas, check it out! But, to end on a happy note, I received the coolest little gift ever yesterday: my friend sent me a Time Turner from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! AWESOME! Look how cool it is:
I can be even more like Hermione! YES! It is now one of my great geek treasures, right up there with my Jane Austen bobble-head.Anyone else out there have some favorite geeky possessions? Or an opinion about this NJ censorship business? I promise to respond to comments promptly!
SUMMARY: In two separate Chicago suburbs, there are two high school boys who share both a certain sense of dissatisfaction with their lives and a name. Will Grayson and will grayson are going about their separate lives, unaware that each is spiraling towards an unexpected but somehow fated encounter with the other. That one significant meeting in the famous Chicago adult bookstore Frenchy’s causes the boys’ lives to intersect in exciting and disruptive ways.
ONESMARTCUPCAKE THINKS: So, I’m going offer full disclosure here. I am GIGANTIC fan of John Green and David Levithan. When I heard that they were publishing a book together, I had nearly died from the potential awesomeness overload. Even the thought of such a combination gave me a young adult literature awesomeness attack! So, needless to say, I’ve been looking forward to this book for a while. I had to wait until I got access to my former high school library (where I’m working this summer) to get my hands on it. And then I saved it for the right moment to read. But about two weekends ago, that moment came. I read the entire novel in about two to three hours on rainy bus rides to and from Philiadelphia with my ipod blocking out the combined noise of Rocky and giggling teenagers. But Will Grayson, Will Grayson (WGWG for short) was worth the wait.
I greatly enjoyed this book. It seems to combine the best of both of these brilliant authors and yet result in a unique novel that feels like a true collaboration, not a simple cut and paste job. WGWG does not quite shine as brightly as the very best of either author’s individual work; instead it stands out as something new and unique. Green and Levithan’s witty characters and honest representation of emotions blend well together, maintaining a single, cohesive story throughout their separately written, alternating chapters. I loved both Will and will as well as the variety of other supporting characters, especially the geek goddess Jane and will’s mother. However, I must admit (like nearly every other reviewer) that the brilliant and bedazzling Tiny Cooper completely steals the show in this particular novel. The creation of the fabulous Tiny somewhat epitomizes the collaboration going on here; he fits into the familiar but distinct worlds of both authors’ bodies of work while also demonstrating the themes usually highlighted by both. Tiny is a completely original individual who sees no need to change himself in order to fit in or meet the approval of others. Even in his most vulnerable moments Tiny refuses to lose the confidence and pride in himself that he has obviously worked hard to gain. Additionally, he demonstrates the great optimism about humanity and the power of human connections and relationships that Levithan and Green seem to illustrate in their previous novels.
This book left me with the happy, sort of floating feeling I usually get from wonderful stories. The novel manages to explore the messy and frequently painful realities of all kinds of relationships while also illustrating the beautiful moments of true understanding and connection possible within them. WGWG is elegantly written in a combination of sardonic humor, quirky wit, and transcendent simplicity. But then, would we expect any less from these rock stars of the YA lit world?
SUMMARY: Liam Geller appears to live a golden life.He embodies the concept of ‘Mr. Popularity:’ well dressed, very well liked, and attractive.But while Liam is able to gain the attention of the most beautiful girls in school, keep his wardrobe impeccably fashionable, and remain loved by his classmates, he constantly manages to screw up in ways that upset and anger his demanding CEO father the most.When Liam is actually kicked out of the house right before his senior year begins, it is his father’s brother—a gay, glam-rocking DJ—who takes Liam into his trailer in upstate New York and introduces him to a whole new world.Liam decides to use this unexpected turn of events to his advantage and attempts transform himself into the studious, successful ‘nerd’ his father obviously wants him to be.However, his ‘Aunt’ Pete has struggled to be true to himself his entire life and refuses to allow Liam to erase his real personality and interests simply to please someone else.
ONESMARTCUPCAKE THINKS: I’m pretty sure this book has been on my ‘to read’ list for about a year. And I’m so glad I finally remembered to grab it out of the stacks last week! King of the Screwups is a delightful read with an unconventional male protagonist and a great take on the classic “to thine own self be true” narrative.Liam is an endearing character—a golden boy with a good heart and a complete lack of confidence in his own abilities.Liam’s popularity hasn’t made him arrogant but instead given him the idea that being likable is his only talent.Meanwhile his father’s inability to see beyond his own standards for success and happiness have placed Liam in an inescapable position; he wants desperately to please his father but his father’s constant pressure and displeasure has made Liam gives up.While Liam is quite a lovable character, his father is the opposite: a completely hate-able character.
But while Liam’s difficult relationship with his father is frustrating and saddening to watch, his developing relationship with his ‘aunt’ Pete is exciting to follow.Although the two clash and fight, their interactions are ultimately a source of growth for each.I also really enjoyed the little details Going wove into Liam’s narration, such as the specific fashion brands and modeling information, which build Liam into a more complete and unique character.The narrative is humorous but heartfelt. This fun novel manages to send out a positive message about identity, self-confidence, and individuality without becoming preachy or simplistic. It helps that the characters are generally individualized and well developed and the first-person narration combines winning humor, earnestness, and honesty.
This is a short review but although I greatly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to lots of people, I don’t feel the urge to gush about it for extended lengths of text. So I’ll leave it at this: if you’re in the mood for a fun and ultimately encouraging read, check out King of the Screwups.
and Pink by Lili Wilkinson
in the same week, having no idea that they share some interesting similarities. Both novels are by awesome Australian young adult authors and both stories take place in modern day Australia. But as I read each one, I found that the similarities go beyond the geographical: these two novels tackle the classic young adult issue of identity in some unique and specific ways. 
Ash
by Lauren Myracle
by Diana Peterfreund
by Malinda Lo
A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend
