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Monday, November 08, 2010
Flygirl Soars With the Spirit of the WASP
1:00 AM
(Image from Indiebound)"The dreams of one little colored girl don't matter to a world at war. But they matter to me" (18).
All Ida Mae Jones has ever wanted to do is fly. Since the moment her father firs
t hoisted her into his Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny," she's been addicted to hurtling through the clouds. Now that fuel's being rationed due to the war, Ida can't even carry on her father's crop dusting business. She's been grounded and it's killing her. With her father dead and her brother off at war, Ida knows her family needs her at home. Still, she refuses to lose sight of her goal: As soon as she saves enough of the money she's making cleaning houses, she's headed straight to the Coffey School of Aeronautics in Chicago. It's the only institution where a colored woman like herself can get a pilot's license. No matter how many floors she has to scrub, Ida Mae's determined to reach her goal.
t hoisted her into his Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny," she's been addicted to hurtling through the clouds. Now that fuel's being rationed due to the war, Ida can't even carry on her father's crop dusting business. She's been grounded and it's killing her. With her father dead and her brother off at war, Ida knows her family needs her at home. Still, she refuses to lose sight of her goal: As soon as she saves enough of the money she's making cleaning houses, she's headed straight to the Coffey School of Aeronautics in Chicago. It's the only institution where a colored woman like herself can get a pilot's license. No matter how many floors she has to scrub, Ida Mae's determined to reach her goal.
When she sees an advertisement for the newly formed WASP (Women's Airforce Service Pilots), Ida Mae knows it's a golden opportunity, not only to get herself back into the air but also to help her country. Although the ad doesn't forbid colored women from applying, Ida Mae's not about to take the chance. With her light skin and "good" hair, she's always been the envy of her friends - if anyone can "pass" as white, it's her. When she's sent to Texas for training, Ida Mae's filled with gut-twisting anxiety. "Passing" in Slidell, Louisiana, is one thing, getting caught in the Lone Star State could end with a noose around her neck. But, she has to try. Between proving herself to the WASPs naysayers, remembering not to act like a housemaid, and attempting to forget the white man who occupies too many of her thoughts, Ida Mae's got her work cut out for her. She may lose everything she knows - her family, her friends, her very self - in the process, but nothing will stop Ida Mae from flying. Nothing.
Embracing the soaring spirit of the WASP, Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith is the triumphant story of a woman determined to make her dreams come true, no matter what. Although it touches on dark subjects, the novel has a gentle cadence that makes it affecting in a quiet, understated way. At times Ida Mae's plight seems a little too easy and a tad unrealistic (How is it that none of her new friends ever ask to see a family photo?), but I still found Flygirl immensely compelling. The fact that it didn't end with a neatly tied-up finale made it even better. I loved it.
(Readalikes: It reminds me of the movie Amelia. I can't think of any books, though. Can you?)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for mild language (no F-bombs) and very mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I bought Flygirl with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Farm-Fresh YA Series Satisfies ... to the Last Drop (Um, Word)
1:00 AM
(Image from Indiebound)(Note: Although this review will not contain spoilers for Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its prequels. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
After 5 months of helping her older brother get back on his feet (so to speak), D.J. Schwenk is ready for life to get back to normal. Not girl-making-headlines-by-joining-the-football-team normal, but D.J.-blending-into-the-background normal. It doesn't take long for her to realize that normal is so not happening. First, there's her locker, which the girls from the basketball team have decorated to welcome her back. That's definitely never happened before. Then, there's Beaner acting all lovestruck. What's that all about? And, finally, there's the mound of recruiting letters from colleges all over the Midwest. For D.J., who's only a junior. Looks like she has to decide - and fast - what to do after high school. It's overwhelming, especially when the only thing D.J. really wants to do is milk cows, shoot some hoops and hang out with Brian Nelson. Who, by the way, is keeping his distance from a certain dairy farming girl football player.
D.J. should be elated by how everything in her life is turning out. She's being courted by the best college basketball teams in her region, she's going out with a guy who's proud to be her boyfriend (unlike certain QBs who pretend not to know her when they pass each other at Taco Bell), and her family actually seems to be on the mend. So, what's the big problem? Well, for one thing, it's not enough for her to just read the letters from the basketball coaches, she has to respond to them. Like, with a phone call. Talking isn't exactly her strong suit, especially when she's not even sure she's cut out for District III basketball. To add to the pressure, she needs a scholarship in order to afford college; to win one, she has to show leadership on the court. That means speaking up during games, something she generally leaves to everyone - anyone - else. And with Beaner? He's as comfortable as her favorite athletic shorts, but that's it. She's not in love with him. As for her family? Well, not everything has changed.
Front and Center, the satisfying conclusion to Catherine Gilbert Murdock's charming series about an oversized girl dairy farmer, follows the always empathetic D.J. as she makes pivotal decisions about her future. It really is impossible not to feel for her, laugh with her and root for her as she navigates the bumpy road to adulthood. I got a little bored with all the sports talk, but I still found this to be an enjoyable installment in a story I've enjoyed from the start. With all the dark, broody YA books on the shelf, this trilogy stands out with a sweetness that's home grown and down-to-earth. It tackles tough issues, but does so in a way that's fresh, funny and inspiring. I love it!
(Readalikes: Dairy Queen and The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
PG-13 for (non-graphic) make out scenes and references to homosexualityTo the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, November 05, 2010
A Little I-Can't-Believe-I'm-Old-Enough-to-Have-A-12-Year-Old Bookishness
6:39 AM
What were you doing 12 years ago today? I was making my way to the hospital, trying to breathe through some fierce labor pains. At 29 weeks along. I was sure the doctors were going to take one look at me, laugh, and send me home. Didn't happen. Instead, I gave birth to a tiny little boy who weighed only 3 lbs. 6 oz. After a roller coaster ride through the NICU, he came home in time for Christmas. Today, he's a sweet, funny 12 year old who's as tall as I am. Where does the time go?
Follow My Book Blog Friday is hosted by Parajunkee. Her question this week is a toughie: Who are your favorite authors?
Anyway, it's Friday - time for my two favorite book blogging events. I haven't participated in either for a couple of weeks, so I'm ready to do some Hoppin' and Followin'. How 'bout you?
The Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy For Books. This week, she asks: What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog? She's also issuing a mini-challenge that kind of goes along with the question, so check that out.
- I guess the answer to this question is kind of obvious based on the fact that I participate in the Hop and Follow Friday almost every week. Of course, I want followers! And by followers I mean people who officially Follow me on Google Connect, people who subscribe via feed reader, those who check in regularly without any kind of reminder, and especially those who leave comments. I love my readers! I do realize, though, that there are hundreds of book blogs out there. If you don't have time to check mine, I completely understand.
My Google Reader, I have to tell you, is full of book blogs. Several hundred, in fact. All of which I check on at least monthly. I just love book blogs and when I leave a comment on yours saying that I'll be back, I mean it.
Yes, I have stopped following blogs, but usually it's only when the blog goes inactive, the blog's content is offensive, or I go months without looking at it. That doesn't happen often, though.
How about you?
Follow My Book Blog Friday is hosted by Parajunkee. Her question this week is a toughie: Who are your favorite authors?
- I'm too indecisive to have a favorite anything, but here's a list of some of the authors whose work I consistently enjoy:
- Jodi Picoult
- Tana French
- Adriana Trigiani
- Maeve Binchy
- Kathy Reichs
- Robyn Carr
- Cassandra Clare
- J.K. Rowling
- Many, many, many more
Who are your favorites?
Have a wonderful Friday, everyone. Happy Hopping, Following and, of course, reading!
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
And My Hands-Down Favorite Book of the Year Is ...
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
In a prison as vast as Incarceron, prisoners don't even bother dreaming of escape. Ever
yone knows it's impossible. According to legend, only one man has ever made it to the Outside, but that's just a story, told and re-told with endless embellishment. There's nothing left beyond Incarceron anyway, so what's the point of running away? The only thing that matters is survival. And even that seems impossible most days.
yone knows it's impossible. According to legend, only one man has ever made it to the Outside, but that's just a story, told and re-told with endless embellishment. There's nothing left beyond Incarceron anyway, so what's the point of running away? The only thing that matters is survival. And even that seems impossible most days.
Finn hates his hardscrabble life in the Wing. Planning raids, stealing from other gangs, pandering to the sadistic Winglord - it's all so degrading, so pointless. It's a cold, miserable way to live, especially since Finn remembers the light and warmth of the real world. At least he thinks he does. The memories are vague, but they're there. At least he thinks they are. Everyone else laughs at his visions of Outside, scoffs at his desire for escape. Even Finn doesn't know what's real and what's not, he just knows he has to leave the dungeon that's housed him for as long as he can remember. Gildas, an elderly scholar, believes Finn when no one else does. Maybe - probably - they're both crazy. Still, Finn can't live the desperate gang life for one more day. He'll either find Outside or die trying.
A startling discovery leads Finn to a girl named Claudia. She claims to be the daughter of Incarceron's warden, professes to live outside its walls. Maybe she's just as deluded as the rest of them, but Finn can't deny the feeling that he knows her - knew her - somehow. Doomed to marry a man she doesn't love, Claudia promises to help Finn in exchange for a favor of her own. The question is how can they help each other when their only connection is a curious bit of magic? Defeating Incarceron will take more than parlor tricks, especially since the prison isn't your average jailhouse. It may be made of steel and stone, but Incarceron is alive and it's not about to let anyone evade its clutches.
Incarceron, a brilliant new novel by Welsh poet and sci fi/fantasy master Catherine Fisher, introduces a dystopian trilogy that's sure to rival Hunger Games in popularity. With fully-realized characters; a mysterious and complex storyworld; constant action; and even some good, old courtly intrigue, it's an engaging mix of everything that makes a book worth reading. I whipped through all 442 pages in one sitting, empty stomach and stinging eyes be darned. If a raging fire had engulfed my house, you probably would have found my charred remains poised on the edge of my recliner, peepers still glued to the page. And no, I'm not exaggerating. Incarceron is, hands down, the best book I've read all year.
P.S. I know some of you were worried after this post, but I'm happy to report that a copy of Sapphique, the next book in the series, is winging its way to me even as we speak. My wonderful friend Amanda secured me a copy, earning my absolute, undying devotion. Click on over to her fabulous blog and show the girl some love. She deserves it!
Grade: A
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for mild language (no F-bombs), mild sexual innuendo, gore, and intense action scenes
To the FTC, with love: I bought Incarceron with some of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
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