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Showing posts with label Mixed Racial/Cultural Identities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mixed Racial/Cultural Identities. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Poignant, Compelling MG Novel My Favorite Read of the Year So Far
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Imani Mandel is used to nosey questions from strangers. The 12-year-old has spent her whole life fielding them. Why is she Black when her parents are white? Who are her real mom and dad? How can she be Jewish when she's Black? Shouldn't she be celebrating Kwanza instead of Hanukkah?
Imani has grown up in an adoptive Jewish family, so her life makes sense to her. Still, she can't help but wonder about her birth family and the truths that are hiding in her DNA. For her upcoming bat mitzvah, Imani gets to choose a "big" present. She knows what she wants—her parents' permission to search for her birth family—but she doesn't know how to ask for it without gutting them.
For her bat mitzvah, Imani is supposed to do a research project about the Holocaust. When her great-grandmother dies, leaving her many books to her grandchildren, Imani is shocked to discover a diary forgotten among the other volumes. Even more amazing, it's the journal her great-grandmother Anna kept when she was forced to leave her native Luxembourg in 1941. At 12 years old, she fled to America by herself, reluctantly leaving her parents and five siblings behind. As Hitler's campaign to destroy the Jews heats up, she worries constantly about the family she left in Europe. What happened to Anna's family?
As Imani becomes immersed in her great-grandmother's story, she begins to understand her place in her adoptive family, her legacy as a Jew, and what it truly means to be her own unique self.
I had never heard of The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman until I came across Afoma Umesi's wonderful list of 67 Best Middle-Grade Historical Fiction Books. As the adoptive mother of a mixed-race daughter and a lover of World War II stories, I was immediately drawn to the novel's premise. It promised a compelling story about themes I find intriguing: identity, family history, heritage, adoption, DNA, etc. Did it deliver? Absolutely! The characters are sympathetic and likable, the plot is exciting and interesting, and the overall story is poignant and moving. When it comes to dual-timeline novels, I'm usually way more invested in the past story than the present. Not so with The Length of a String; I was equally intrigued by both story lines. Although the book deals with some difficult subjects, overall it's upbeat, uplifting, and empowering. So far, this is my favorite read of the year. I loved it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen and other children's books about the Holocaust)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, December 11, 2020
MG Fencing Novel Unique and Enlightening
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
At his old junior high, Donte Ellison didn't stand out at all. Now living in a Boston suburb and attending a snobby prep school, he feels like the whole world has turned white. Donte and his brother are both bi-racial, but Trey can "pass" with his lighter skin and straight hair—he's navigating their new school just fine while Donte is constantly bullied.
When Donte's main aggressor takes things too far, Donte decides the only way to get the kid to back down is to beat him at his own game: fencing. With no idea how to play the sport, Donte seeks out an old Black janitor who was once a fencing champion. Arden Jones reluctantly agrees to coach Donte, Trey, and a few other kids. As they learn how to fence, their confidence grows, and their team becomes one that's at least worth a second glance. Now that Donte's managed to channel his anger into mastering a new sport, can he prove himself to the bully? Is revenge even important to him anymore?
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee T. Frazier as well as the movie Life of a King. Rhodes' books have also been compared to those by Jason Reynolds and Jacqueline Woodson)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and racial slurs
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, January 27, 2020
MG Novel Straightforward, Thought-Provoking, and Entertaining
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Twins are rare enough, but 11-year-old Minni King and her sister, Keira, are more unusual still. Children of a Black mother and a white father, Minnie's skin matches her dad's while Keira's is the same shade as their mom's. Their parents have always assured them that what matters most is that they're all part of the strong, tight-knit King Family, but that doesn't mean their unique family doesn't attract plenty of stares and ignorant comments from people in their mostly white Pacific Northwest community.
When the girls' overbearing grandmother calls, insisting Minni and Keira come stay with her in Raleigh, North Carolina, in order to compete in the Miss Black Pearl contest, Keira's over the moon. She's vivacious and gorgeous, the perfect candidate for a
Mingling in a mostly Black society for the first time in her life, Minni feels very, very white. While she struggles to define her own Blackness, she also bristles at her grandmother's constant criticism of Keira. As the sisters each experience racism, prejudice, and confusion about their mixed ethnicities, they will both learn valuable lessons about identity, understanding, sisterhood, and family.
As the white adoptive mother of a bi-racial child, I'm always glad to find books like The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee T. Frazier (who is the daughter of a Black father and a white mother). They open my eyes to issues my daughter will likely face in her life and aid me in knowing how to help her through them. While The Other Half of My Heart tackles issues like race and identity in a blunt, straightforward way, the story is also funny and entertaining enough to keep middle graders reading. The plot's a bit loosey-goosey, but the story moves fast enough to prevent it from getting dull. While the tale is predictable, I still found it enjoyable overall. I listened to this one as an audiobook and especially liked the narrator, Bahni Turpin.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other novels about being Black (or bi-racial) in a white world, including The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods; Black Boy, White School by Brian F. Walker; Sell-Out by Ebony Joy Wilkins; SLAY by Brittney Morris; etc.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a free audiobook of The Other Half of My Heart through a promotion at Audible.
Monday, December 30, 2019
Stand-Out YA Novel Eye-Opening and Moving
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High school senior Jay Reguero is floating through his comfortable, complacent American life without really knowing—or caring—what he's going to do next. When he hears that his cousin, Jun, has been killed in The Philippines as part of President Duterte's aggressive war on drugs, he's outraged. For the first time, he feels real passion about something and that's clearing his cousin's name. Jay hasn't seen his cousin in years, but there's no way kind, earnest Jun—the boy who wrote Jay countless thoughtful letters, even when Jay didn't bother to reply—could have gotten himself caught up in anything as dirty as drug dealing. It just doesn't make sense.
Full of shame, Jun's immediate family refuses to talk about the incident or hold a proper funeral for him. Jay wants justice, so he convinces his parents to let him travel to The Philippines, ostensibly to become better acquainted with his homeland and the relatives he hasn't seen for so long. Once there, he does everything he can to find out what really happened to Jun, risking both his place in his uncle's home and his safety in his search for answers. As Jay digs into Jun's life as well as that of Jun's domineering police chief father, he comes to a shocking, infuriating conclusion. Determined to confront his uncle and get justice at any cost, Jay finally gets the real, astonishing truth, which rocks his entire world.
Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay is a timely, hard-hitting novel that explores an underrepresented place and an issue that has been underexplored in the media and in fiction. Ribay's descriptions of The Philippines make it obvious that he's been there—the details brought to mind the sights, smells, and phrases that I remember from the year I lived in the country. While I think Ribay's depiction skews more toward the negative than the place really deserves, the vivid setting does create an authenticity that makes the story even more poignant. Patron Saints of Nothing features a cast of complex, sympathetic, flawed characters about whom I came to care very much. Its plot kept me turning pages wanting to know what was going to happen to them all. Although the novel is sad, it's also moving and, ultimately, hopeful. Unique and touching, it's a stand-out book that deserves all the accolades it's gotten.
(Readalikes: I can't think of anything like Patron Saints of Nothing. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, depictions of illegal drug use, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, December 27, 2019
Despite Saggy Middle, YA Novel a Compelling, Moving Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As Northern California's reigning middle-weight Brazillian jiu-jitsu champion, 16-year-old Katina "Kat" King is known for being as tough as steel. When she becomes the victim of an attempted assault, it throws her, plaguing her with debilitating nightmares and panic attacks. Although she's not one to run from her problems, Kat's single mother insists Kat needs a change of scenery. She sends her to Boston to live with "Ms. Vee," a family friend who's originally from Sierra Leone. As the mixed-race daughter of a white mother and a Black father (whom she's never met), Kat's used to getting strange looks—no one gives her a second glance when she's out with Ms. Vee, whose skin tone matches Kat's own. For this reason and more, Kat feels safe and protected under the watchful eye of her frail caretaker. So, when Ms. Vee encourages Kat to attend her church's youth group meeting, Kat reluctantly goes as a favor to the woman who has taken her in.
Adopted from India by white parents, 18-year-old Robin Thornton understands what it means to get weird looks from strangers. Although his parents have done what they can to help him connect with the land of his birth, he still struggles with his neither-here-nor-there identity. When Robin meets Kat at youth group, he senses that beneath her prickly exterior lies a girl who just might get him better than anyone else ever has.
Then the youth group's pastor announces he's heading up a service trip to Kolkata to help victims of human trafficking. Both Kat and Robin see the trip as a life-changing opportunity. Kat wants to empower women and children so they won't be victims again by teaching them martial arts moves. Robin longs for answers that might be found at the Kolkata orphanage where he once lived. As the two embark on the trip to India, they will journey closer—not just to a friendship that will sustain them both, but also to their honest, most true selves.
Forward Me Back to You by Mitali Perkins is an engaging novel about identity, friendship, love, and strength in all its various forms. The characters are sympathetic and likable. Plotwise, the story is compelling, but it also gets wordy and overly long. I got bored in the middle, which seems to go on and on and on. One of the things I really like about the story is how religion is woven into the story, showing that faith doesn't have to be weird or fanatical (as it's portrayed in so many novels), but can be a natural, positive part of life. I also appreciate that it's a mostly clean novel, which is becoming more and more rare in the world of YA lit. While I didn't end up loving Forward Me Back to You, overall it's an interesting, moving story that teaches some important lessons. I liked it for the most part.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, Shine Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger, and A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Forward Me Back to You from the generous folks at Macmillan for the purpose of Cybils Award judging. Thank you!
Monday, December 23, 2019
Color Me In Authentic, But Has Issues
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Although she's the daughter of a Black mom and a white, Jewish dad, 15-year-old Navaeh Levitz has never had to think much about her mixed ethnicity. With her light skin, she can "pass" as white, blending in well enough in the affluent New York City suburb where she lives. As far as her Jewish roots, her father is not religious and has never pressed the family to attend synagogue. All that changes when her dad's affair leads her parents to a bitter divorce.
When Navaeh and her mom move to Harlem to live with Navaeh's grandparents, she experiences some major culture shock. Not only is she dealing with her mom's severe depression, but she also has to listen to her cousins mock her for not being Black enough to understand the prejudice they deal with every day because of their darker skin. As if that's not enough, Navaeh's father decides out of the blue that she needs to have a bat mitzvah. He sics a rabbi on her tail to help her cram for the big event that Navaeh doesn't even want to have. Stuck in the middle, Navaeh has to decide who she really is, where she fits in, and how to make the various pieces that define her come together to create a harmonious whole. A tall order, even when you're not dealing with warring parents, in-your-face cousins, a dogged rabbi, and all the heavy emotions that come with falling in love for the first time. What's a stressed-out, confused girl to do?
As the adoptive mother of a bi-racial daughter, I'm always interested in books like Color Me In, a debut YA novel by Natasha Diaz. Racial identity, racism, and finding one's own voice, are themes I'm fascinated by, so this story sounded like it was right up my alley. Navaeh's search for herself is by far the best part of Color Me In, especially because Diaz is a mixed-race woman who's no doubt struggled with the same questions Navaeh does. It lends Navaeh's fictional experiences credibility and authenticity. Unfortunately, our heroine does not really have a concrete story goal to drive the plot of Color Me In, leading the novel to feel overwritten and way too long. It meanders here, there, and everywhere, touching on lots of different issues, some of which are explored in the story and some that aren't. Add to that cliché characters, tired stereotypes, and a main character who's whiny, self-centered, and victim-y, and yeah, this debut has some issues. While I didn't end up loving this novel, I do think Diaz writes well; I'll keep an eye out for whatever she does next.
(Readalikes: I've seen Color Me In compared to Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo several times, although I haven't read Poet X. The book does remind me of the following novels I have read: SLAY by Brittney Morris, The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow, The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods, and Black Boy, White School by Brian F. Walker.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a few F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, nudity, and depictions of underage drinking/partying and illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Debut Novel Offers Poignant, Heart-Wrenching Look at 1800s Native American Assimilation
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
With her successful lawyer husband and posh Philadelphia home, Alma Mitchell appears to be just another sheltered, well-to-do society woman. No one would guess she spent her childhood in the wilds of Wisconsin, mingling with the "savages" her father was attempting to tame at The Stover School for Indians. As the only white child at the boarding school, Alma watched with fascination—and growing horror—as her brown-skinned classmates were stripped of their birth names, their native language, and their unique culture. Forever changed by her experience in Wisconsin, Alma has buried the scars and secrets of her past in an effort to assimilate into a society that no longer feels like her own.
Fifteen years after fleeing Wisconsin, Alma reads a shocking newspaper article that propels her right back into the past she's been trying so hard to forget. An old friend from the Stover School, Asku "Harry" Muskrat, is being charged with the murder of a federal agent. The smart, sweet boy Alma knew would never commit such an act. Determined to right a past wrong, she begs her husband to represent Asku. When the two confront the angry Native American, Alma is shocked by what she sees. The boy could never have harmed anyone, but what about the man? With Asku's life on the line, Alma will find the truth and free her old friend, even if it means reopening the wounds and heartaches of her past.
Between Earth and Sky, a debut novel by Amanda Skenandore, offers a sharp, heart-wrenching look at the U.S. government's troubling efforts to assimilate Native Americans into "polite" society after the Indian Wars of the 1800s. It's a fascinating subject, made even more intriguing through Senandore's use of lyrical prose, sympathetic characters, and a compelling (if a little slow) plot. Although the novel is depressing, it's also affecting and eye-opening without being sentimental or preachy. Overall, I enjoyed this thought-provoking book.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language; violence; and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, February 09, 2017
Intriguing Premise Falls Flat in Debut Sci Fi-Ish Teen Drama
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
With her best—and only—friend off on an exciting foreign exchange student adventure, Tara Krishman is starting her junior year alone. As the only person of color (Tara's dad is Indian, her mom Caucasian) in her posh Connecticut high school, she already feels out-of-place. Without her BFF by her side, Tara knows it's going to be a long, lonely year.
Then, something incredible happens: a new planet is discovered. Terra Nova seems to mirror Earth, even down to individual people. Tara can't help but imagine another Tara in an alternate world. Is Other Tara friendless or popular? Shy or bold? Scared or courageous?
Weirdly, a small shift has occurred in Tara's real world. When she receives an unexpected invitation to a party at the home of a super popular girl, Tara's thrown into the "it" crowd. Suddenly, relationships she's only dreamed of are becoming real. At the same time, things at home are changing. Obsessed with Terra Nova, Tara's mom runs off to join a doomsday cult. Her dad can't cope; neither can Tara, not really. How can her life be going so wrong at the same time it's finally going so right? How will these events, both cosmic and domestic, alter the course of Tara's life? What will they teach her about family, friendship, and who she is as a person?
I grabbed Mirror in the Sky, a debut novel by Aditi Khorana, off the shelf because it had been voted a teen favorite by patrons of my local library. The premise sounded interesting, so I decided to give the book a shot. And? Well, it was interesting, just not quite as interesting as I wanted it to be or interesting in the way I wanted it to be, if that makes sense. Although the story sounds very sci-fi, it's not. At its heart, Mirror in the Sky is a story about an ordinary teen girl trying to navigate her way through what is fast becoming an extraordinary year. It's a blend of family conflict, friend drama, and awkward teen romance. Terra Nova exists in the story only as a tool for reflection. Bummer, that, because I found the mirror planet to be the most intriguing aspect of the novel's plot. Tara and her friends just aren't that engaging—almost to a one, they are selfish, whiny, negative, petty, melodramatic, etc. Also, unrealistic. What teens have this much freedom (where are their parents?) and vocabularies that allow them to toss around words like heteronormative and matrilineal in casual conversation? Anyway, for me, the most compelling aspects of the novel remained the least developed. In the end, then, Mirror in the Sky left me feeling unsatisfied. It may be a teen favorite, but it didn't do a whole lot for me ...
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), sexual content, and depictions of underage drinking and illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Intriguing Coming-of-Age Story Based on Author's Real Life Mixed-Race Experience
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After a traumatic event that leaves her an orphan, 11-year-old Rachel Morse moves from Chicago to Portland, Oregon, to live with her paternal grandmother. Having been raised by her white-skinned Danish mother, not her African-American father, the bi-racial tween experiences culture shock living in the "black" part of her new city. With her light brown skin and blue eyes, no one's quite sure what to make of Rachel. Least of all herself. As she struggles to deal with not just her grief, but also finding her identity—racially, socially, emotionally, economically—she will make some startling discoveries about herself, her family, and what really happened on that rooftop in Chicago.
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, a debut novel by Heidi W. Durrow, is loosely based on a real news story and strongly based on the author's experience as a person of mixed race. Because of the latter, Rachel's voice exudes authenticity, making her an intriguing narrator. Her story is compelling not just because of the mystery that runs through the novel, but also because it's a tender tale about growing up and all the confusion, chaos, and consternation that comes along with that rite of passage. Race and identity are big themes in the PEN/Bellwether Prize-winning book (2008); the points it makes on the subjects are both interesting and very discussion-worthy. Although The Girl Who Fell From the Sky is sad and depressing, overall I found it engrossing. Not amazing, but absorbing enough to keep my attention, meaningful enough to make me think.
(Readalikes: Reviews compare it to The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, which I haven't read.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a few F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Blackbird Fly An Important Story About Fitting in and Finding Yourself
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Analyn "Apple" Yengko and her mother moved from The Philippines to Louisiana eight years ago. Eight years. So, why does Apple's mother still insist on cooking weird Filipino foods, speaking in Cebuano, and acting so different, so un-American? All 12-year-old Apple wants is to be like the other kids. Isn't it enough that she has brown skin and black hair when everyone else is white and blonde? Does her mom have to emphasize the fact that they're not born-and-raised Americans?
Apple already feels like a misfit, but when she lands on the Dog Log—a list of the ten ugliest girls in her middle school—things go from bad to worse. No one in Louisiana can understand her humiliation, so she turns to the only people who can make her feel better: the Beatles. Escaping into music (Apple wants to be a songwriter) is helpful, but what she really needs is to escape for real. She already has an exit plan, one that involves busking in the Big Easy. All she needs to live out her dreams is a guitar. As soon as she can convince her mother to buy her one (ha!), Apple will leave Chapel Spring forever. And she'll never feel out of place again.
Of course, dreams are never that easy to achieve. There will be some major bumps along the way. Also, some new friendships that just might change everything for a lonely Filipino girl who just wants to belong ...
Back in the Stone Age (the 90s seem so long ago!), I spent my junior year of high school as an exchange student in the southern Philippines. That year abroad changed me—it broadened my view of the world; introduced me to a place marked by awe-inspiring beauty, loving people, and stark poverty; and gave me experiences I couldn't have gained anywhere else (yes, eating dog was one of them). The Philippines will always have a special place in my heart because of my year there. Thus, I'm always excited when I come across a book about the country and its culture. There aren't many, so I was thrilled to hear about Blackbird Fly, a debut novel by Erin Estrada Kelly, who is, herself, Filipino-American. The story echoes her experience growing up in Louisiana as one of very few Asian people. Apple's tale is heartbreaking, but ultimately hopeful as she finds acceptance and comes to terms with her complex culture and identity. As Kelly says in a blog post on the subject, "Otherness is universal." Kids will empathize with Apple because they understand feeling different. They will root for her because they long for acceptance, too. Through Apple they will learn valuable lessons about empathy, inclusion, and celebrating the differences that define each of us. For all these reasons, I enjoyed Blackbird Fly. It's an important book, one that will strike a chord with anyone who's ever felt "other"—and, really, who hasn't?
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other culture clash middle grade/YA novels like Just Like Me by Nancy J. Cavanaugh; The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods; Black Boy White School by Brian F. Walker; Skunk Girl by Sheba Karim; Sell-Out by Ebony Joy Wilkins; When the Black Girl Sings by Bil Wright; etc.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), and mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Blackbird Fly from the generous folks at Harper Collins. Thank you!
Thursday, October 22, 2015
2 Lonely, Homesick Girls + 1 Magical Book = Adventures of a Highly Unusual—and Immensely Enjoyable—Nature (With a Giveaway!)
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"It had just dawned on her to wonder what the book might want from her" (87).
Kai Grove has never met the great-aunt with whom she'll be living for the summer. Lavinia Quirk, a shockingly spry 86-year-old who listens to hip hop, resides in a house that's just as wonky as she is. So, really, 12-year-old Kai shouldn't be surprised when she finds a strange old book among the eclectic offerings on her aunt's shelf. Titled The Exquisite Corpse, it tells an old-fashioned tale about a boy who discovers magic. Not all that unique, perhaps, until Kai writes in the book and it writes back. At first she thinks she's imagining things or that Lavinia's playing a joke on her, but soon, she can't deny that something very real—and extremely strange—is happening to her. Kai came to Texas wanting an adventure; it seems she's found it.
Like Kai, Leila Awan has traveled to a faraway place seeking new experiences, preferably romantic, exciting ones like those she reads about in her favorite novels. Staying with her uncle's family in Lahore, Pakistan, should offer Leila plenty of unique opportunities; so far, though, she's got little to Skype home about. Then, she finds an intriguing book in her uncle's library, The Exquisite Corpse. Leila's hoping the tale inside will be "both utterly romantic and moderately gruesome" (21). What she finds is something rare, something magical, something that freaks her out completely. When Leila writes in the book, it writes back. Completely creeped out, she tries to destroy the book. It resists her attempts, relocating itself and demanding her attention. Little does Leila know, a girl her age on the other side of the world is having similar struggles with her copy of the same strange book.
As the story inside The Exquisite Corpse continues to unfold, both girls find themselves enraptured by the romance and mystery of a couple named Ralph Flabbergast and Edwina Pickle. Their real-life struggles in Texas and Pakistan are confusing enough without the addition of this crazy magic. And yet, it's as if destiny is drawing them to it, to each other. The question is: Why? Are they supposed to change Ralph and Edwina's fate? What about their own? What will happen to them all when the story finally comes to an end?
In the introduction to A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic by Lisa Papademetriou, the author talks about the invisible threads she believes connect people who are meant to find each other. Through the adventures of Kai and Leila, she explores this most fascinating of concepts. The fact that she uses a magic book to do it just makes the premise all the more compelling. With an imaginative storyline, fun characters, and an intertwining plot that jumps between the present and the past, A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic is an enchanting, multi-layered novel. Both a rollicking yarn and a poignant tale about finding one's true self, it's a bewitching read that I enjoyed immensely. If you like upbeat middle grade stories sprinkled in fairy dust, this one's for you.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of novels like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brasheres and When the Butterflies Came by Kimberley Griffiths Little)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs)
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic from the generous folks at HarperCollins. Thank you!
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Friday, July 17, 2015
Overhyped Everything I Never Told You Meant to Be Discussed More Than Devoured
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
The Lees are an atypical family trying to live an average American life in a small Ohio town during the 1970s. They're trying so hard to be just like everyone else that 16-year-old Lydia is about ready to explode from the pressure. Her father, the Harvard-educated son of Chinese immigrants, pushes her to be a peppy All-American girl with a thriving social life. Her mother, a white woman who gave up her dreams of medical school when she got pregnant with Lydia's older brother, is desperate for Lydia to become the doctor she never had the chance to be. With no real friends and no great ambition to live out her mom's fantasies, Lydia fears disappointing both of them. As her parents' favorite child (neither her older brother nor younger sister are malleable enough to warrant much attention), Lydia cannot let this happen.
When Lydia's body is discovered in a nearby lake, it sends her family into a tailspin. Each member grieves in their own way, while hiding his/her own secrets from the others. The already dysfunctional Lees become even more so as they try to figure out what really happened to Lydia. As they search for answers, each will have to turn inward and search the depths of their own complicated hearts to discover some shocking truths—not just about Lydia, but about their family, their ambitions, and what is truly most important in life.
So, the thing about hype is that few books can ever really live up to the kind of grandiose expectations readers are often encouraged to demand of them. Everything I Never Told You, a debut novel by Celeste Ng, is a perfect example. While it offers an intriguing premise; spare, but strong prose; and some interesting thoughts on race, it's not blow-you-out-of-the-water amazing. I appreciate the story for its nuanced and fascinating look at an "ordinary" family, even if none of the characters are particularly likable. Because the Lees are such a hot mess, the story is a sad, depressing one. Although it's ultimately hopeful, I'm not sure I can say I enjoyed this novel. I found it engrossing, yes, but not really satisfying. It's not a page turner, a gentle family saga or a fun, happy beach read—it's a serious, haunting study of a group of unhappy individuals. With its emphasis on the damaging nature of secrets, selfishness, and sameness, Everything I Never Told You is, perhaps, a book that's meant to be discussed more than devoured. In the end, then, I found it to be an evocative story, just not a necessarily enjoyable one. If that makes any sense ...
(Readalikes: Reminded me of The Disapparation of James by Anne Ursu)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a couple of F-bombs, plus milder invectives) and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, January 06, 2015
Unique Hawaiian Setting Makes YA Dystopian Stand Out From the Crowd
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
It's been three years since Leilani moved to the Big Island with her family and Hawaii still doesn't feel like home. Being hapa (half-Hawaiian, half-white) has a lot to do with it. As does her epilepsy, a condition that marks her as even more different than her peers. It's only while she's surfing the wild blue waves that 16-year-old Lei feels completely at peace with herself and her surroundings.
Then, the unthinkable happens. While Lei and her dad are in Oahu for an experimental epilepsy treatment, electronics fail. Amid the confusion, they learn the world's being pummeled by tsunamis and other "natural" disasters. Driven by panic and fear, people all over Honolulu are scrambling to get off the island, or at least stockpile as much food and water as they can. Riots, looting and gang warfare takes over the streets. Above it all, a strange new starscape fills the sky with an ominous warning—things have changed. Drastically.
All Lei and her dad want is to get home. With all the chaos, it's likely Lei's mother, grandfather and younger sister are already dead. Still, they have to know. Thus begins a hellish journey from Oahu to the Big Island. Fraught with danger at every turn, it's a nightmare trip that may ultimately end in disappointment. Or worse. As Lei fights her way across the islands, she finally begins to understand her unique connection to her mother's native land—and the part she may play in saving it.
Loaded with Hawaiian culture and folklore, The Islands at the End of the World by Austin Aslan offers a fresh take on a common theme. Although the tale as a whole isn't all that new and different, the atmospheric setting definitely makes this one stand out. Add in sympathetic characters with a compelling story goal, an action-packed plot, an exciting sci fi twist, and you've got yourself an entertaining YA thriller. The Islands at the End of the World will appeal to anyone who loves disaster/dystopian novels, but craves something a little bit different.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other YA disaster/dystopian novels, although no specific titles are coming to mind.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, scary images, and depictions of illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, February 03, 2014
A Rose Is A Rose, Unless It's a Blossoming Violet
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Violet Diamond is used to standing out. That's what happens when you're the only brown-skinned, nappy-haired girl in your town, in your school, even in your family. It doesn't bother the 11-year-old all that much. Except when it does. If only her African-American dad was still alive, then she wouldn't look so out of place. Violet knows her mother and half-sister—both pale blondes—couldn't care less about the color of her skin, it's just that sometimes, she really wishes people could look at the three of them and see a matched set.When Violet gets a chance to connect with her father's family, her world opens up like it never has before. She doesn't completely match the Diamonds either, nor does she feel perfectly comfortable with them, but the better she gets to know them, the more whole she feels. As she explores the black side of her bi-racial makeup, she asks herself some tough questions: Is she black or is she white? With which side of the family does she identify most? To which does she really belong? And, most important of all, does a family have to match in order to count? In order to love?
I'm always thrilled when I find books for young readers that feature girls of color, especially those who are bi-racial like my adopted daughter. She's only five, but you should have seen her face light up when she spied the cover of The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods—"That girl looks just like me, Mom!" she exclaimed. Although my little girl is too young to read it now, I have no doubt that the themes of the book will resonate with her as she grows older. The story brings up issues that are especially relevant to bi-racial children, but really, Violet's out-of-place feelings will be familiar to all readers since we've all felt that way at one time or another. I definitely empathized with our heroine and felt that she was working through issues that need to be addressed more in children's literature. That being said, I thought the plot got a little wobbly in places. Also, I would have liked more subtlety, as the story sometimes seemed heavy-handed and preachy. All in all, though, I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: Black Boy, White School by Brian F. Walker; Sell-Out by Ebony Joy Wilkins; When the Black Girl Sings by Bil Wright)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for intense situations
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond from the generous folks at Penguin. Thank you!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
TTT: They Get Me Every Time ...
Oooh, I love today's TTT topic: Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up a Book. It's going to be a fun one. Before I get started, though, you need to know that this fabulous bookish meme is hosted by the fine ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish. If you haven't done TTT before, hop on over to their blog, get all the details, and join in. It's a good time, I promise! Okay, so words/topics on books that pretty much guarantee I'll pick them up:
1. Adoption—Even before my husband and I became adoptive parents, I loved stories about adoption. They made me cry, they made me hope, they just made my mother's heart happy. Now, especially, I always nab up books—particularly novels—about adoption. Given my tender feelings toward the subject, it's difficult for me not to be touched by these kinds of stories.
2. Racial Identity—Although I'm so white my skin burns just from glancing at the sun, my beautiful adopted daughter has the creamy, milk chocolate-colored skin that can only come from a racially-mixed heritage. Because she's being raised in a white family who lives in a predominantly white community, I worry about how she'll come to view the fact that she's bi-racial. I'm hoping she'll grow up loving every aspect of herself, including her mixed ethnicity. Because I think about these issues a lot, I'm always interested in books that examine racial identity, particularly from the point of view of characters who are, like my daughter, both Caucasian and African-American. Also, books about interracial relationships, African-American history, the Civil Rights movement, racism, etc.
(Favorites: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee; A Time to Kill by John Grisham; Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson; Jericho Walls by Kristi Collier; The Help by Kathryn Stockett)
3. Books—This is probably an obvious one, but I'm always drawn in by books about books, reading, and the love of literature.
4. Small Towns—Books set in small towns always seem to appeal to me. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that I was raised in a tiny hamlet, complete with its own cast of quirky characters. I love the quaintness and comfort such places exude, especially when they're just a cover for something much more sinister (in fiction, anyway).
(Favorites: The Big Stone Gap series by Adriana Trigiani; The Grace Valley and Virgin River series by Robyn Carr)
5. Dystopian/Post-apocalyptic—Either of these adjectives will do it for me every time. I've been loving on this genre ever since I read Hunger Games and, even though it's lost some of its oomph, I still salivate over new dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels.
(Favorites: The Hunger Games trilogy [The Hunger Games; Catching Fire; Mockingjay] by Suzanne Collins; the Under the Never Sky [Under the Never Sky; Through the Ever Night] series by Veronica Rossi; Ashes series [Ashes; Shadows] by Ilsa J. Bick; Orleans by Sherri L. Smith; The Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi; The Shades of the Moon series [Life As We Knew It; The Dead and the Gone; This World We Live In] by Susan Beth Pfeffer, etc.)
6. "Psychological Thriller"—Those words always lure me in. I'm a sucker for a good, mind-bending adventure.
(Favorites: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn; The Hollow City by Dan Wells; Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson)
7. NOLA—Closely tied to #1 and #2, are books about Louisiana in general, New Orleans in particular My adopted daughter was born near The Crescent City and has Cajun roots. So, yeah, I'm always looking for more information on the history, culture and lifestyle of people in this vibrant area of the country. Many novels are set in and around The Big Easy, so I've got a wealth of them to explore.
(Favorites: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys; The Healing Spell and Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little; Orleans by Sherri L. Smith)
8. "Atmospheric"—This word makes me seriously giddy. I will forgive plot flaws, cardboard characters, static dialogue and really, just about anything for a vivid, engaging setting. Places in books can be just as swoon-worthy as the people!
(Favorites: The Grace Valley series by Robyn Carr; The Virgin River series by Robyn Carr; The Truth About Love & Lightning by Susan McBride; The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling)
9. Family Saga—I like family sagas for the same reason I enjoy reading books in a series: you get to know the characters really, really well. And family relationships are always so interesting to me, both in fiction and in real life. As long as the family saga in question has an overlying plot that keeps the story from getting to stale, I'm in!
(Favorites: Adriana Trigiani's adult books; anything by Maeve Binchy; The Truth About Love & Lightning and Little Black Dress by Susan McBride)
10. Family Secrets—Closely tied to #9 is this phrase. Tons of these books are published every year and while some are better than others, it's pretty much a guarantee that I'll pick up a novel that promises a good yarn full of juicy family secrets.
(Favorites: Tomorrow River by Lesley Kagen; The Memory of Water by Karen White; The Truth About Love & Lightning by Susan McBride)
What about you? Which words/phrases/topics make you snatch up a book? And do you have any suggestions for good reads that fall under the categories I listed? You know I'd love to hear them!
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