You Gotta Read This!
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Title: Red Rising
Author: Pierce Brown Publisher: Del Rey (January 28, 2014) ISBN: 978-0345539809 Genre: Science Fiction Recommended Age Level: YA/New Adult 14+ Awards / Recognitions: Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Debut Goodreads Author 2014 Personal Rating: 5 / 5 Summary: 16-year-old Darrow is a Red, the lowest caste of civilization. He and his people live under the surface of Mars in slavish and hellish conditions in order to mine and harvest the precious element, helium-3, that is needed to terraform the surface of Mars and make it habitable and livable for the rest of humanity. He and his people have been told for generations that they are the pioneers of the planet Mars, and that due to their efforts, they will pave the way for civilization to one day be able to exist on Mars. Hard work and loyalty are rewarded while resistance and rebellion are swiftly and harshly punished. When Darrow’s wife is executed for a mild rebellious act, Darrow decides to exact vengeance on the ruling class, the Golds. He is recruited by a rebel group and quickly learns that his meager existence has all been a cleverly constructed lie in order to keep the Reds passive and complicit. In reality, the Reds are slaves to the large civilizations already on the fully terraformed surface of Mars that has been there for centuries. Sparked by a renewed hatred for the Gold and the structure of the society in which he is now aware of, Darrow is chosen to infiltrate the upper echelon of society in order to overthrow the repressive government. He is genetically and physically augmented in order to look like a Gold, and is admitted into Mars’ most prestigious school. At that point, he is on his own, and must navigate the brutal and ruthless world of the Golds as he and his other “classmates” are put to the ultimate test: a brutal war game that determines the fate of the young people in the top tier of the Golds. Determined to lead his people to a better life, Darrow will stop at nothing to not only survive this competition, but to come out on top to ensure his mission will succeed. Professional Reviews: “The characters are perfectly flawed, causing the reader to feel compassion and revulsion for both sides.” – Cindy Stevens, LibraryReads, 2014 “A fine novel for those who like to immerse themselves in alternative worlds.” – Kirkus Reviews, 2014 “Brown's debut novel is reminiscent of both Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games and William Goldman's The Lord of the Flies but has a dark and twisted power of its own that will captivate readers and leave them wanting more.” – Jane Henriksen Baird, Library Journal, 2014 “Pierce offers a Hollywood-ready story with plenty of action and thrills.” – Publishers Weekly, 2014 Personal Insights (upon my third re-read): This may just be one of my all-time favorite books and series…. Apparently my two related decals on my Jeep are not enough because I am seriously considering getting a tattoo based on this series. If you enjoy science fiction at all, take the time to read this book, and at least the two books that follow it. (Golden Son and Morning Star). It has been a long time since I have really fallen for a book series…Harry Potter and Eragon are probably the last two that I have felt this sucked into a world and simultaneously wish I could literally jump into the universe but also wipe my memory so I can experience the magic of reading it for the first time all over again! The world-building is fantastic, the characters are layered, flawed, and relatable, and each book somehow manages to get better than the one before it. Pierce Brown, you have outdone yourself. This book was actually one of the first books chosen for the book club that I started over two years ago, and it definitely helped set the tone and momentum to have kept us meeting all this time. For those who ARE interested in reading this series, I do recommend that you start with the original trilogy and see how you like it. The second trilogy, that takes 10 years after the events in book three (a bit like the Star Wars saga), has a very different tone and energy to it. It is still fantastic (at least the two of the three that are currently published) but I want to give the caveat that if you go into reading the second trilogy expecting more of the same compared to the original, you might be a tad disappointed. Below is my original book talk I made over a
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Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (1985): Andrew "Ender" Wiggin thinks he is playing computer simulated war games; he is, in fact, engaged in something far more desperate. The result of genetic experimentation, Ender may be the military genius Earth desperately needs in a war against an alien enemy seeking to destroy all human life. The only way to find out is to throw Ender into ever harsher training, to chip away and find the diamond inside, or destroy him utterly. Ender Wiggin is six years old when it begins. He will grow up fast.
But Ender is not the only result of the experiment. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway almost as long. Ender's two older siblings, Peter and Valentine, are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. While Peter was too uncontrollably violent, Valentine very nearly lacks the capability for violence altogether. Neither was found suitable for the military's purpose. But they are driven by their jealousy of Ender, and by their inbred drive for power. Peter seeks to control the political process, to become a ruler. Valentine's abilities turn more toward the subtle control of the beliefs of commoner and elite alike, through powerfully convincing essays. Hiding their youth and identities behind the anonymity of the computer networks, these two begin working together to shape the destiny of Earth-an Earth that has no future at all if their brother Ender fails. |
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (2018): Defeated, crushed, and driven almost to extinction, the remnants of the human race are trapped on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. Spensa, a teenage girl living among them, longs to be a pilot. When she discovers the wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this dream might be possible—assuming she can repair the ship, navigate flight school, and (perhaps most importantly) persuade the strange machine to help her. Because this ship, uniquely, appears to have a soul.
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4/30/2021 0 Comments
Loveless by Alice Oseman
Title: Loveless
Author: Alice Oseman
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN13: 9780008244125
Genre: YA/New Adult, Contemporary Realistic Fiction, Teen Romance
Topics/Themes: Self-discovery and identity, finding the true meaning of love
Diversity Tags: LGBTQIA+: Asexual, Aromantic, Lesbian, Pansexual Main Characters
Recommended Age Level: 17-21
Awards / Recognitions:
Summary (from GoodReads):
It was all sinking in. I’d never had a crush on anyone. No boys, no girls, not a single person I had ever met. What did that mean?
18-year-old Georgia has never been in love, never kissed anyone, never even had a crush – but as a fanfic-obsessed romantic she’s sure she’ll find her person one day.
As she starts university with her best friends, Pip and Jason, in a whole new town far from home, Georgia’s ready to find romance, and with her outgoing roommate on her side and a place in the Shakespeare Society, her ‘teenage dream’ is in sight.
But when her romance plan wreaks havoc amongst her friends, Georgia ends up in her own comedy of errors, and she starts to question why love seems so easy for other people but not for her. With new terms thrown at her – asexual, aromantic – Georgia is more uncertain about her feelings than ever.
Is she destined to remain loveless? Or has she been looking for the wrong thing all along?
Professional Reviews:
“There is so much more I could say about Loveless, but to sum up, I completely adored it. From the heartfelt treatment of sexuality, to the diverse cast, to the intense connection I felt with it, this is undoubtedly going to be a long-term favourite of mine. And Alice Oseman might just be a new favourite author.” – Eleanor Maher, “Bookstacked” Book Review, 2020 https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/loveless-review-alice-oseman/
“Loveless is a beautiful tale of self-discovery and self-acceptance, as well as a celebration of friendships. Alice Oseman offers one of her best works to date, unafraid to show the intricacies of human connection and the importance of valuing those around us to create a community of support and love in a world that always seems to go against us.” – Ankara C., “The Nerd Daily” Book Review, 2020 https://thenerddaily.com/review-loveless-by-alice-oseman/
Personal Insights:
I feel like this is an incredibly important book because it is one of the only ones I have found that has an asexual/aromantic teen as the main character (other than the two I mention in the Readalikes below). As it gets referenced in the book as Georgia is discovering her own identity, asexuality is a term that not a lot of people are familiar with, nor one that many understand even though it is considered part of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. While this book may technically be considered a teen romance story (and there is an incredibly adorable romance budding between secondary characters), the beauty of this story is that it shows that true friendship can be just as powerful of a kind of love, and just as fulfilling as romantic love.
It was fascinating when I was looking at the recommended readalikes on Goodreads and Novelist, because every single one recommended was for a teen romance, or, even more jarring, a smutty romance book (complete with a bare-chested male on the cover). Which is completely antithetical to the message this story is trying to convey, and shows just how little the publishing world understands or factors in this specific identity.
Just one more level of awesomeness, this book is also, #ownvoices! Alice Oseman came out as asexual shortly after publishing this book, so it’s very cool to know that the experiences that Georgia is facing come from very real experiences. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate this amazing author?? She is currently only 26 years old and has published numerous and very successful novels and graphic novels. Her first book, Solitaire, was published when she was only 17, and her graphic novel series, Heartstoppers, was just announced earlier this year to have a Netflix adaptation in the works! She is definitely an author to keep on your radar in the world of LGBTQIA+ fiction in the near future. You can check out a great article by Alice Oseman here where she talks about her life experiences with identifying as asexual here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z2fk3j6
As far as content goes, I wanted to make a note that this story is set in England, where the drinking age is 18. While the main character is 18, I would almost want to classify this book as “New Adult” if not the upper end of YA. I say that because the use of alcohol and partying is very much an integral part of the story, and for American readers, there is a different culture around alcohol (not to mention age of legality), so some might have a little harder time relating to the story in that regard.
Notable Quotes:
“Give your friendships the magic you would give a romance. Because they're just as important. Actually, for us, they're way more important.”
“I've learnt some things. Like the way friendship can be just as intense, beautiful and endless as romance. Like the way there's love everywhere around me - there's love for my friends, there's love for my paintings, there's love for myself.”
“In the end, that was the problem with romance. It was so easy to romanticise romance because it was everywhere. It was in music and on TV and in filtered Instagram photos. It was in the air, crisp and alive with fresh possibility. It was in falling leaves, crumbling wooden doorways, scuffed cobblestones and fields of dandelions. It was in the touch of hands, scrawled letters, crumpled sheets and the golden hour. A soft yawn, early morning laugher, shoes lined up together by the door. Eyes across a dance floor. I could see it all, all the time, all around, but when I got closer, I found nothing was there.”
Author: Alice Oseman
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN13: 9780008244125
Genre: YA/New Adult, Contemporary Realistic Fiction, Teen Romance
Topics/Themes: Self-discovery and identity, finding the true meaning of love
Diversity Tags: LGBTQIA+: Asexual, Aromantic, Lesbian, Pansexual Main Characters
Recommended Age Level: 17-21
Awards / Recognitions:
- None yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it won some soon since it only came out in July of 2020.
Summary (from GoodReads):
It was all sinking in. I’d never had a crush on anyone. No boys, no girls, not a single person I had ever met. What did that mean?
18-year-old Georgia has never been in love, never kissed anyone, never even had a crush – but as a fanfic-obsessed romantic she’s sure she’ll find her person one day.
As she starts university with her best friends, Pip and Jason, in a whole new town far from home, Georgia’s ready to find romance, and with her outgoing roommate on her side and a place in the Shakespeare Society, her ‘teenage dream’ is in sight.
But when her romance plan wreaks havoc amongst her friends, Georgia ends up in her own comedy of errors, and she starts to question why love seems so easy for other people but not for her. With new terms thrown at her – asexual, aromantic – Georgia is more uncertain about her feelings than ever.
Is she destined to remain loveless? Or has she been looking for the wrong thing all along?
Professional Reviews:
“There is so much more I could say about Loveless, but to sum up, I completely adored it. From the heartfelt treatment of sexuality, to the diverse cast, to the intense connection I felt with it, this is undoubtedly going to be a long-term favourite of mine. And Alice Oseman might just be a new favourite author.” – Eleanor Maher, “Bookstacked” Book Review, 2020 https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/loveless-review-alice-oseman/
“Loveless is a beautiful tale of self-discovery and self-acceptance, as well as a celebration of friendships. Alice Oseman offers one of her best works to date, unafraid to show the intricacies of human connection and the importance of valuing those around us to create a community of support and love in a world that always seems to go against us.” – Ankara C., “The Nerd Daily” Book Review, 2020 https://thenerddaily.com/review-loveless-by-alice-oseman/
Personal Insights:
I feel like this is an incredibly important book because it is one of the only ones I have found that has an asexual/aromantic teen as the main character (other than the two I mention in the Readalikes below). As it gets referenced in the book as Georgia is discovering her own identity, asexuality is a term that not a lot of people are familiar with, nor one that many understand even though it is considered part of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. While this book may technically be considered a teen romance story (and there is an incredibly adorable romance budding between secondary characters), the beauty of this story is that it shows that true friendship can be just as powerful of a kind of love, and just as fulfilling as romantic love.
It was fascinating when I was looking at the recommended readalikes on Goodreads and Novelist, because every single one recommended was for a teen romance, or, even more jarring, a smutty romance book (complete with a bare-chested male on the cover). Which is completely antithetical to the message this story is trying to convey, and shows just how little the publishing world understands or factors in this specific identity.
Just one more level of awesomeness, this book is also, #ownvoices! Alice Oseman came out as asexual shortly after publishing this book, so it’s very cool to know that the experiences that Georgia is facing come from very real experiences. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate this amazing author?? She is currently only 26 years old and has published numerous and very successful novels and graphic novels. Her first book, Solitaire, was published when she was only 17, and her graphic novel series, Heartstoppers, was just announced earlier this year to have a Netflix adaptation in the works! She is definitely an author to keep on your radar in the world of LGBTQIA+ fiction in the near future. You can check out a great article by Alice Oseman here where she talks about her life experiences with identifying as asexual here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z2fk3j6
As far as content goes, I wanted to make a note that this story is set in England, where the drinking age is 18. While the main character is 18, I would almost want to classify this book as “New Adult” if not the upper end of YA. I say that because the use of alcohol and partying is very much an integral part of the story, and for American readers, there is a different culture around alcohol (not to mention age of legality), so some might have a little harder time relating to the story in that regard.
Notable Quotes:
“Give your friendships the magic you would give a romance. Because they're just as important. Actually, for us, they're way more important.”
“I've learnt some things. Like the way friendship can be just as intense, beautiful and endless as romance. Like the way there's love everywhere around me - there's love for my friends, there's love for my paintings, there's love for myself.”
“In the end, that was the problem with romance. It was so easy to romanticise romance because it was everywhere. It was in music and on TV and in filtered Instagram photos. It was in the air, crisp and alive with fresh possibility. It was in falling leaves, crumbling wooden doorways, scuffed cobblestones and fields of dandelions. It was in the touch of hands, scrawled letters, crumpled sheets and the golden hour. A soft yawn, early morning laugher, shoes lined up together by the door. Eyes across a dance floor. I could see it all, all the time, all around, but when I got closer, I found nothing was there.”
Readalikes (Summaries found on GoodReads)
*These recommendations are based more on the fact that they were the only two other books
I could find with asexual main characters rather than any similarity in tone/pacing/content.*
I could find with asexual main characters rather than any similarity in tone/pacing/content.*
Rick by Alex Gino (2020) - Rick's never questioned much. He's gone along with his best friend Jeff even when Jeff's acted like a bully and a jerk. He's let his father joke with him about which hot girls he might want to date even though that kind of talk always makes him uncomfortable. And he hasn't given his own identity much thought, because everyone else around him seemed to have figured it out. But now Rick's gotten to middle school, and new doors are opening. One of them leads to the school's Rainbow Spectrum club, where kids of many genders and identities congregate, including Melissa, the girl who sits in front of Rick in class and seems to have her life together. Rick wants his own life to be that ... understood. Even if it means breaking some old friendships and making some new ones. | Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann (2018) - Alice had her whole summer planned. Non-stop all-you-can-eat buffets while marathoning her favorite TV shows (best friends totally included) with the smallest dash of adulting--working at the library to pay her share of the rent. The only thing missing from her perfect plan? Her girlfriend (who ended things when Alice confessed she's asexual). Alice is done with dating--no thank you, do not pass go, stick a fork in her, done. But then Alice meets Takumi and she can’t stop thinking about him or the rom com-grade romance feels she did not ask for (uncertainty, butterflies, and swoons, oh my!). When her blissful summer takes an unexpected turn, and Takumi becomes her knight with a shiny library employee badge (close enough), Alice has to decide if she’s willing to risk their friendship for a love that might not be reciprocated—or understood. |
Title: You Should See Me in a Crown
Author: Leah Johnson
Publisher: Scholastic Press (2020)
ISBN13: 978- 1338503265
Genre: Realistic Fiction, YA, Romance
Topics/Themes: Stepping outside your comfort zone, coming-of-age, first love, navigating friendship
Diversity Tags: BIPOC: Black Main Character, LGBTQIA+: Lesbian Main Character, Death of a parent/raised by grandparents
Recommended Age Level: 14-19
Awards / Recognitions:
Summary: Senior Liz Lighty is on track to graduate at the top of her class and head to her dream college, Pennington, to study medicine and play in their world famous orchestra. Her plan is to become a hematologist to work with patients who have Sickle Cell Anemia, the blood disorder that took her mother’s life and her little brother is struggling with. When her music scholarship unexpectedly falls through, Liz realizes that she must take matters into her own hands since her grandparents cannot afford to pay for her college. Her solution: run for prom queen in the annual competition that her school and small town are weirdly obsessed with because the prize is a scholarship that would more than pay for the rest of her tuition. Though it goes against every fiber of her spotlight-avoiding being, Liz will not let anything get in the way of her dreams to make it to Pennington, not even the gauntlet of public events and social media that she despises. Although she is the top of her class, Liz has always struggled with feelings of not fitting in as “too black” or “too poor” in her rich, midwestern school. Launching herself at this prom queen campaign, Liz must confront these fears head on as she meticulously works to create an image for herself. When Liz begins to fall for the smart and funny new girl, it seems she must make the impossible decision of whether stopping at nothing to achieve her dreams or finding love and being true to herself are more important.
Professional Reviews:
“Johnson puts a fresh spin on this novel with an unlikely romance, heartwarming friendships, and the tension of being Black, poor, and queer in a small town. Readers will revel in the growth of the entire cast, as their high-school years come to an exciting and wildly unanticipated close. A feel-good title for sure.” – Melanie Kirkwood, Booklist, 2020
“Readers will fall in love with this refreshing book that celebrates the beauty of individuality.” – Cicely Lewis, School Library Journal, 2020
“Johnson does an excellent job of portraying the anxiety and internalized self-hatred from being different in a mostly white, affluent small town. The queer prom romance you didn’t know you needed.” – Kirkus Reviews, 2020
Personal Insights: Since this story took place in a fictional town just outside of non-fictional Indianapolis, I loved the many references to Indiana, and felt an added connection to the culture and environment that Liz found herself in in this story. I was also a big fan of how much this story was able to pack in and address: not only is it a beautiful queer romance story, but it’s also a fantastic success story about a Black girl finding her way in a very white school.
Also, yet another great examples of an #ownvoices story by a LGBTQIA+ and Black author! You can read more about the author’s journey and writing of the book here: https://electricliterature.com/leah-johnson-you-should-see-me-in-a-crown/
Notable Quotes:
“I never needed this race, or a hashtag, or the king to be a queen. I was born royalty. All I had to do was pick up my crown.”
“And I know then what I've always known: Campbell is never going to make a space for me to fit. I'm going to have to demand it.”
“Silence and shame aren’t the same thing—not by a longshot. But sometimes silence is simpler.”
“Loyalty between lifelong friends is complicated and runs deep. More deeply, even, than I think you realize, until just how different you and your friends have become is practically unavoidable.”
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann (2019) - High school finally behind her, Winnie is all set to attend college in the fall. But first she's spending her summer days working at her granny’s diner and begins spending her midnights with Dallas—the boy she loves to hate and hates that she likes. Winnie lives in Misty Haven, a small town where secrets are impossible to keep—like when Winnie allegedly snaps on Dr. Skinner, which results in everyone feeling compelled to give her weight loss advice for her own good. Because they care that’s she’s “too fat.”
Winnie dreams of someday inheriting the diner—but it'll go away if they can't make money, and fast. Winnie has a solution—win a televised cooking competition and make bank. But Granny doesn't want her to enter—so Winnie has to find a way around her formidable grandmother. Can she come out on top?
The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding (2018) - Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other people's lives. While her friends and sister have plunged headfirst into the world of dating and romances, Abby has stayed focused on her plus-size style blog and her dreams of taking the fashion industry by storm. When she lands a prized internship at her favorite local boutique, she’s thrilled to take her first step into her dream career. She doesn't expect to fall for her fellow intern, Jordi Pérez. Abby knows it's a big no-no to fall for a colleague. She also knows that Jordi documents her whole life in photographs, while Abby would prefer to stay behind the scenes.
Then again, nothing is going as expected this summer. She's competing against the girl she's kissing to win a paid job at the boutique. She's somehow managed to befriend Jax, a lacrosse-playing bro type who needs help in a project that involves eating burgers across L.A.'s eastside. Suddenly, she doesn't feel like a sidekick. Is it possible Abby's finally in her own story?
But when Jordi's photography puts Abby in the spotlight, it feels like a betrayal, rather than a starring role. Can Abby find a way to reconcile her positive yet private sense of self with the image that other people have of her?
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King (2012) - Astrid Jones desperately wants to confide in someone, but her mother's pushiness and her father's lack of interest tell her they're the last people she can trust. Instead, Astrid spends hours lying on the backyard picnic table watching airplanes fly overhead. She doesn't know the passengers inside, but they're the only people who won't judge her when she asks them her most personal questions--like what it means that she's falling in love with a girl.
As her secret relationship becomes more intense and her friends demand answers, Astrid has nowhere left to turn. She can't share the truth with anyone except the people at thirty thousand feet, and they don't even know she's there. But little does Astrid know just how much even the tiniest connection will affect these strangers' lives--and her own--for the better.
Author: Leah Johnson
Publisher: Scholastic Press (2020)
ISBN13: 978- 1338503265
Genre: Realistic Fiction, YA, Romance
Topics/Themes: Stepping outside your comfort zone, coming-of-age, first love, navigating friendship
Diversity Tags: BIPOC: Black Main Character, LGBTQIA+: Lesbian Main Character, Death of a parent/raised by grandparents
Recommended Age Level: 14-19
Awards / Recognitions:
- Stonewall Honor Book (2021)
- ALA - Rise: A Feminist Book Project List (2021)
- Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction (2020)
Summary: Senior Liz Lighty is on track to graduate at the top of her class and head to her dream college, Pennington, to study medicine and play in their world famous orchestra. Her plan is to become a hematologist to work with patients who have Sickle Cell Anemia, the blood disorder that took her mother’s life and her little brother is struggling with. When her music scholarship unexpectedly falls through, Liz realizes that she must take matters into her own hands since her grandparents cannot afford to pay for her college. Her solution: run for prom queen in the annual competition that her school and small town are weirdly obsessed with because the prize is a scholarship that would more than pay for the rest of her tuition. Though it goes against every fiber of her spotlight-avoiding being, Liz will not let anything get in the way of her dreams to make it to Pennington, not even the gauntlet of public events and social media that she despises. Although she is the top of her class, Liz has always struggled with feelings of not fitting in as “too black” or “too poor” in her rich, midwestern school. Launching herself at this prom queen campaign, Liz must confront these fears head on as she meticulously works to create an image for herself. When Liz begins to fall for the smart and funny new girl, it seems she must make the impossible decision of whether stopping at nothing to achieve her dreams or finding love and being true to herself are more important.
Professional Reviews:
“Johnson puts a fresh spin on this novel with an unlikely romance, heartwarming friendships, and the tension of being Black, poor, and queer in a small town. Readers will revel in the growth of the entire cast, as their high-school years come to an exciting and wildly unanticipated close. A feel-good title for sure.” – Melanie Kirkwood, Booklist, 2020
“Readers will fall in love with this refreshing book that celebrates the beauty of individuality.” – Cicely Lewis, School Library Journal, 2020
“Johnson does an excellent job of portraying the anxiety and internalized self-hatred from being different in a mostly white, affluent small town. The queer prom romance you didn’t know you needed.” – Kirkus Reviews, 2020
Personal Insights: Since this story took place in a fictional town just outside of non-fictional Indianapolis, I loved the many references to Indiana, and felt an added connection to the culture and environment that Liz found herself in in this story. I was also a big fan of how much this story was able to pack in and address: not only is it a beautiful queer romance story, but it’s also a fantastic success story about a Black girl finding her way in a very white school.
Also, yet another great examples of an #ownvoices story by a LGBTQIA+ and Black author! You can read more about the author’s journey and writing of the book here: https://electricliterature.com/leah-johnson-you-should-see-me-in-a-crown/
Notable Quotes:
“I never needed this race, or a hashtag, or the king to be a queen. I was born royalty. All I had to do was pick up my crown.”
“And I know then what I've always known: Campbell is never going to make a space for me to fit. I'm going to have to demand it.”
“Silence and shame aren’t the same thing—not by a longshot. But sometimes silence is simpler.”
“Loyalty between lifelong friends is complicated and runs deep. More deeply, even, than I think you realize, until just how different you and your friends have become is practically unavoidable.”
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann (2019) - High school finally behind her, Winnie is all set to attend college in the fall. But first she's spending her summer days working at her granny’s diner and begins spending her midnights with Dallas—the boy she loves to hate and hates that she likes. Winnie lives in Misty Haven, a small town where secrets are impossible to keep—like when Winnie allegedly snaps on Dr. Skinner, which results in everyone feeling compelled to give her weight loss advice for her own good. Because they care that’s she’s “too fat.”
Winnie dreams of someday inheriting the diner—but it'll go away if they can't make money, and fast. Winnie has a solution—win a televised cooking competition and make bank. But Granny doesn't want her to enter—so Winnie has to find a way around her formidable grandmother. Can she come out on top?
The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding (2018) - Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other people's lives. While her friends and sister have plunged headfirst into the world of dating and romances, Abby has stayed focused on her plus-size style blog and her dreams of taking the fashion industry by storm. When she lands a prized internship at her favorite local boutique, she’s thrilled to take her first step into her dream career. She doesn't expect to fall for her fellow intern, Jordi Pérez. Abby knows it's a big no-no to fall for a colleague. She also knows that Jordi documents her whole life in photographs, while Abby would prefer to stay behind the scenes.
Then again, nothing is going as expected this summer. She's competing against the girl she's kissing to win a paid job at the boutique. She's somehow managed to befriend Jax, a lacrosse-playing bro type who needs help in a project that involves eating burgers across L.A.'s eastside. Suddenly, she doesn't feel like a sidekick. Is it possible Abby's finally in her own story?
But when Jordi's photography puts Abby in the spotlight, it feels like a betrayal, rather than a starring role. Can Abby find a way to reconcile her positive yet private sense of self with the image that other people have of her?
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King (2012) - Astrid Jones desperately wants to confide in someone, but her mother's pushiness and her father's lack of interest tell her they're the last people she can trust. Instead, Astrid spends hours lying on the backyard picnic table watching airplanes fly overhead. She doesn't know the passengers inside, but they're the only people who won't judge her when she asks them her most personal questions--like what it means that she's falling in love with a girl.
As her secret relationship becomes more intense and her friends demand answers, Astrid has nowhere left to turn. She can't share the truth with anyone except the people at thirty thousand feet, and they don't even know she's there. But little does Astrid know just how much even the tiniest connection will affect these strangers' lives--and her own--for the better.
Title: In Other Lands
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Big Mouth House (2017)
ISBN13: 978-1618731203
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, YA
Topics/Themes: Found family, self-discovery, coming-of-age, navigating friendships/romantic relationships, violence is not the answer
Diversity Tags: Main Characters: LGBTQIA+: Gay, Bisexual
Recommended Age Level: 14-19
Awards / Recognitions:
Summary: This is the tale of Elliot. Elliot is 13 years old, smart, witty, and only a tiny bit obnoxious… On a class field trip, he sees a wall that no one else can see, and on the other side of that wall is a magical world called “The Borderlands”. In the Borderlands, technology doesn’t work, but there are magical creatures, such as elves, dwarves, harpies, and even mermaids. Elliot has the opportunity to leave his world behind in exchange for this new one and to study and train to help protect this magical land. Without a second thought Elliot jumps at the chance because who wouldn’t want to study an entirely new land and its equally amazing magical creatures. As he begins his training, he meets fellow recruit Serene, a strong independent elven warrior, who also happens to be the most beautiful girl that Elliot has ever laid eyes on, and her friend Luke, the blond-hair, blue-eyed, annoyingly likeable human. Over the next several years, Elliot must navigate and find his place in this strange new world that is obsessed with war and violence with the help of his begrudging allies (NOT friends, mind you) Serene and Luke. “Amid shifting relationships, the threat of war, and substantial growth among the characters, Elliot’s razor-edged wit and general inability to keep his mouth shut make for blissfully entertaining reading.” (Publishers Weekly, 2017)
Professional Reviews:
“Smart explorations of gender stereotypes, fluid sexuality, and awkward romance only add to the depth and delight of this glittering contemporary fantasy.” – Publishers Weekly, 2017
“A stellar, if dense and lengthy, coming-of-age novel; those with the patience to sit through our hero's entire adolescence will find it a wholly rewarding journey.” – Kirkus Reviews, 2017
Personal Insights: This book was snarky, hilarious, and so very entertaining (but also had some serious and heartfelt moments). Brennan’s writing style and format of this book feels very different than a “normal” novel, and more like an internet fan-fic written in installments……which is in fact how this story came to be! In the author’s notes, Brennan explains that this story started out as a short story she wrote on her blog that people loved so much, she just kept adding to the story. While this style may not be for everyone, I thought it was a great way to make the story just a little bit different and unique.
One of my favorite things about this story is how the stereotypical ideas of gender get flipped on their head and poked fun at. For instance, the Elvish culture is matriarchal, and to an extreme: the men are the “gentler sex” who stay home and take care of the family while having domestic hobbies, while the women are the leaders and breadwinners. The women elves are all incredibly sexist towards men and vocal about it (think stereotypical sexist language that was frequently used by men all throughout history, but if women were saying it about men) One of the main characters, a female elf, is constantly at odds with the human males in her classes, and the culture clashes make for some highly entertaining, but also incredibly thought provoking moments.
Notable (and also some hilarious) Quotes:
“And he did not want to be loved as a second choice, as a surrender. He had spent his whole life not being loved at all, and he had thought being loved enough would satisfy him. It would not. He did not want to be loved enough. He wanted to be loved overwhelmingly. (...) He had never been chosen, so he had never had a chance to know this about himself before now: he wanted to be chosen first.”
“I am not winning any arguments because I know how to hurt someone. How does that prove that you're right? How does being stronger or more vicious prove anything, except that all this talk about honor is stupid? Where's the honor in being better at hurting somebody? Telling me I have to do this is insulting, as if I can't win any other way. As if I can't win in a better way.”
“If you must know, she is the one soul destined for my own, and we are going to be together forever,” he declared loftily. “That’s weird,” Luke told him. “We’re thirteen.”
“I don’t need you to explain to me the concept of a magical land filled with fantastic creatures that only certain special children can enter. I am acquainted with the last several centuries of popular culture. There are books. And cartoons, for the illiterate.”
“There isn’t any kind of relationship that’s all problem-free delightful unicorns. You can’t have a relationship without issues and prejudices. The way to be equals is if both people agree to be equals, and treat themselves and each other as equals, despite all that.”
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (2017) - Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.
That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.
Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.
The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic by F.T. Lukens (2017) - Desperate to pay for college, Bridger Whitt is willing to overlook the peculiarities of his new job—entering via the roof, the weird stacks of old books and even older scrolls, the seemingly incorporeal voices he hears from time to time—but it’s pretty hard to ignore being pulled under Lake Michigan by… mermaids? Worse yet, this happens in front of his new crush, Leo, the dreamy football star who just moved to town.
Fantastic.
When he discovers his eccentric employer Pavel Chudinov is an intermediary between the human world and its myths, Bridger is plunged into a world of pixies, werewolves, and Sasquatch. The realm of myths and magic is growing increasingly unstable, and it is up to Bridger to ascertain the cause of the chaos, eliminate the problem, and help his boss keep the real world from finding the world of myths.
Winger by Adam Smith (2013) - Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids in the Pacific Northwest. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.
With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Publisher: Big Mouth House (2017)
ISBN13: 978-1618731203
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, YA
Topics/Themes: Found family, self-discovery, coming-of-age, navigating friendships/romantic relationships, violence is not the answer
Diversity Tags: Main Characters: LGBTQIA+: Gay, Bisexual
Recommended Age Level: 14-19
Awards / Recognitions:
- Locus Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Novel (2018)
- Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Nominee for Adult Literature (2019)
- Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for YA Fantasy & Science Fiction (2017)
- Lodestar Award Nominee (2018)
Summary: This is the tale of Elliot. Elliot is 13 years old, smart, witty, and only a tiny bit obnoxious… On a class field trip, he sees a wall that no one else can see, and on the other side of that wall is a magical world called “The Borderlands”. In the Borderlands, technology doesn’t work, but there are magical creatures, such as elves, dwarves, harpies, and even mermaids. Elliot has the opportunity to leave his world behind in exchange for this new one and to study and train to help protect this magical land. Without a second thought Elliot jumps at the chance because who wouldn’t want to study an entirely new land and its equally amazing magical creatures. As he begins his training, he meets fellow recruit Serene, a strong independent elven warrior, who also happens to be the most beautiful girl that Elliot has ever laid eyes on, and her friend Luke, the blond-hair, blue-eyed, annoyingly likeable human. Over the next several years, Elliot must navigate and find his place in this strange new world that is obsessed with war and violence with the help of his begrudging allies (NOT friends, mind you) Serene and Luke. “Amid shifting relationships, the threat of war, and substantial growth among the characters, Elliot’s razor-edged wit and general inability to keep his mouth shut make for blissfully entertaining reading.” (Publishers Weekly, 2017)
Professional Reviews:
“Smart explorations of gender stereotypes, fluid sexuality, and awkward romance only add to the depth and delight of this glittering contemporary fantasy.” – Publishers Weekly, 2017
“A stellar, if dense and lengthy, coming-of-age novel; those with the patience to sit through our hero's entire adolescence will find it a wholly rewarding journey.” – Kirkus Reviews, 2017
Personal Insights: This book was snarky, hilarious, and so very entertaining (but also had some serious and heartfelt moments). Brennan’s writing style and format of this book feels very different than a “normal” novel, and more like an internet fan-fic written in installments……which is in fact how this story came to be! In the author’s notes, Brennan explains that this story started out as a short story she wrote on her blog that people loved so much, she just kept adding to the story. While this style may not be for everyone, I thought it was a great way to make the story just a little bit different and unique.
One of my favorite things about this story is how the stereotypical ideas of gender get flipped on their head and poked fun at. For instance, the Elvish culture is matriarchal, and to an extreme: the men are the “gentler sex” who stay home and take care of the family while having domestic hobbies, while the women are the leaders and breadwinners. The women elves are all incredibly sexist towards men and vocal about it (think stereotypical sexist language that was frequently used by men all throughout history, but if women were saying it about men) One of the main characters, a female elf, is constantly at odds with the human males in her classes, and the culture clashes make for some highly entertaining, but also incredibly thought provoking moments.
Notable (and also some hilarious) Quotes:
“And he did not want to be loved as a second choice, as a surrender. He had spent his whole life not being loved at all, and he had thought being loved enough would satisfy him. It would not. He did not want to be loved enough. He wanted to be loved overwhelmingly. (...) He had never been chosen, so he had never had a chance to know this about himself before now: he wanted to be chosen first.”
“I am not winning any arguments because I know how to hurt someone. How does that prove that you're right? How does being stronger or more vicious prove anything, except that all this talk about honor is stupid? Where's the honor in being better at hurting somebody? Telling me I have to do this is insulting, as if I can't win any other way. As if I can't win in a better way.”
“If you must know, she is the one soul destined for my own, and we are going to be together forever,” he declared loftily. “That’s weird,” Luke told him. “We’re thirteen.”
“I don’t need you to explain to me the concept of a magical land filled with fantastic creatures that only certain special children can enter. I am acquainted with the last several centuries of popular culture. There are books. And cartoons, for the illiterate.”
“There isn’t any kind of relationship that’s all problem-free delightful unicorns. You can’t have a relationship without issues and prejudices. The way to be equals is if both people agree to be equals, and treat themselves and each other as equals, despite all that.”
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (2017) - Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.
That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.
Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.
The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic by F.T. Lukens (2017) - Desperate to pay for college, Bridger Whitt is willing to overlook the peculiarities of his new job—entering via the roof, the weird stacks of old books and even older scrolls, the seemingly incorporeal voices he hears from time to time—but it’s pretty hard to ignore being pulled under Lake Michigan by… mermaids? Worse yet, this happens in front of his new crush, Leo, the dreamy football star who just moved to town.
Fantastic.
When he discovers his eccentric employer Pavel Chudinov is an intermediary between the human world and its myths, Bridger is plunged into a world of pixies, werewolves, and Sasquatch. The realm of myths and magic is growing increasingly unstable, and it is up to Bridger to ascertain the cause of the chaos, eliminate the problem, and help his boss keep the real world from finding the world of myths.
Winger by Adam Smith (2013) - Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids in the Pacific Northwest. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.
With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.
Title: Felix Ever After
Author: Kacen Callender
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (2020)
ISBN13: 978-0062820259
Genre: Realistic Fiction, YA
Topics/Themes: Finding love, self-discovery, navigating friendships
Diversity Tags: #ownvoices, Main Character: LGBTQIA+: Transgender, BIPOC: Black
Recommended Age Level: 14-19
Awards / Recognitions:
Summary: 17-year-old Felix Love is secretly terrified he is one marginalization too many to ever find true love. Being Black, queer, and transgender, he realizes he has a pretty good life. Hell, it’s a pretty damn good life, given what many people like him have had to go through in the past. He has a loving and supportive father, even if he sometimes calls Felix by his deadname every once in a while. He has a best friend, Ezra, who is there for him no matter what. And he is on track to graduate high school and pursue his lifelong dream of being an artist. And yet, Felix still feels like he is missing something….
Felix’s pretty decent life gets harshly interrupted when someone plasters his pre-transition photos and his deadname all over the school’s art gallery and an internet troll anonymously starts harassing him and sending him transphobic messages. Felix plots a course of revenge against his leading suspect, which launches him into a reevaluation of the people he surrounds himself with and sets him on a new journey of self-discovery.
Professional Reviews:
“Callender populates Felix’s world with a cast of queer, trans, and racially diverse individuals, genuinely reflecting the lives of many who work hard to build a supportive chosen family. From its stunning cover art to the rich, messy, nuanced narrative at its heart, this is an unforgettable story of friendship, heartbreak, forgiveness, and self-discovery, crafted by an author whose obvious respect for teen readers radiates from every page.” – Rob Bittner, Booklist, 2020
“Full of warmth, love, and support, this is an important story and an essential purchase.” – Amanda MacGregor, School Library Journal, 2020
“This top-notch depiction of a messy, complicated, romantic young artist navigating the bumpy road to self-love and self-determination sticks its landing at every turn.” – Publishers Weekly, 2020
Personal Insights: I love books that push my own boundaries, and this is definitely one of those books! I have been on a personal mission for the past year to try and add more LGBTQIA+ fiction to what I read in order to broaden my horizon and get a view of the world through eyes that are not my own. Not only does this book address many struggles that someone who is transgender faces, it also gets into the nuances of gender identity as Felix grapples with finding a label that fits him. Is he truly transgender if that label doesn’t describe him 100% of the time? Why does he even feel the need to have a label in the first place?
This book is also a wonderful example of #OwnVoices: not only is the author, Kacen Callender, Black and transgender like his protagonist Felix, but the narrator for the audiobook, Logan Rozos, is also Black and transgender. There is some wonderful representation embedded into every facet of this story!
Notable Quotes:
“It can be easier, sometimes, to choose to love someone you know won't return your feelings. At least you know how that will end. It's easier to accept hurt and pain, sometimes, than love and acceptance. It's the real, loving relationships that can be the scariest.”
“It could've been easy to say I was hurt because I'm trans, because someone singled me out for my identity, but there's something weird about that - something off, about suggesting that my identity is the thing that brought me any sort of pain. It's the opposite. Being trans brings me love. It brings me happiness. It gives me power.”
“I want to be in love. I’ve never, you know—felt the kind of passion great artists talk about. I want that. I want to feel that level of intensity. Not everyone wants love. I get that, you know? But me—I want to fall in love and be broken up with and get pissed and grieve and fall in love all over again. I’ve never felt any of that. I’ve just been doing the same shit. Nothing new. Nothing exciting.”
“It’s like every identity I have . . . the more different I am from everyone else . . . the less interested people are. The less . . . lovable I feel, I guess. The love interests in books, or in movies or TV shows, are always white, cis, straight, blond hair, blue eyes. Chris Evans, Jennifer Lawrence. It becomes a little hard, I guess, to convince myself I deserve the kind of love you see on movie screens.”
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
Birthday by Meredeth Russo (2019) - Two kids, Morgan and Eric, are bonded for life after being born on the same day at the same time. We meet them once a year on their shared birthday as they grow and change: as Eric figures out who he is and how he fits into the world, and as Morgan makes the difficult choice to live as her true self. Over the years, they will drift apart, come together, fight, make up, and break up—and ultimately, realize how inextricably they are a part of each other.
I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver (2019) - When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school.
But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.
Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin (2016) - Riley Cavanaugh is many things: Punk rock. Snarky. Rebellious. And gender fluid. Some days Riley identifies as a boy, and others as a girl. The thing is…Riley isn’t exactly out yet. And between starting a new school and having a congressman father running for reelection in uber-conservative Orange County, the pressure—media and otherwise—is building up in Riley’s so-called “normal” life.
On the advice of a therapist, Riley starts an anonymous blog to vent those pent-up feelings and tell the truth of what it’s REALLY like to be a gender fluid teenager. But just as Riley’s starting to settle in at school—even developing feelings for a mysterious outcast—the blog goes viral, and an unnamed commenter discovers Riley’s real identity, threatening exposure. Riley must make a choice: walk away from what the blog has created—a lifeline, new friends, a cause to believe in—or stand up, come out, and risk everything.
Author: Kacen Callender
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (2020)
ISBN13: 978-0062820259
Genre: Realistic Fiction, YA
Topics/Themes: Finding love, self-discovery, navigating friendships
Diversity Tags: #ownvoices, Main Character: LGBTQIA+: Transgender, BIPOC: Black
Recommended Age Level: 14-19
Awards / Recognitions:
- Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee Young Adult Fiction (2020)
Summary: 17-year-old Felix Love is secretly terrified he is one marginalization too many to ever find true love. Being Black, queer, and transgender, he realizes he has a pretty good life. Hell, it’s a pretty damn good life, given what many people like him have had to go through in the past. He has a loving and supportive father, even if he sometimes calls Felix by his deadname every once in a while. He has a best friend, Ezra, who is there for him no matter what. And he is on track to graduate high school and pursue his lifelong dream of being an artist. And yet, Felix still feels like he is missing something….
Felix’s pretty decent life gets harshly interrupted when someone plasters his pre-transition photos and his deadname all over the school’s art gallery and an internet troll anonymously starts harassing him and sending him transphobic messages. Felix plots a course of revenge against his leading suspect, which launches him into a reevaluation of the people he surrounds himself with and sets him on a new journey of self-discovery.
Professional Reviews:
“Callender populates Felix’s world with a cast of queer, trans, and racially diverse individuals, genuinely reflecting the lives of many who work hard to build a supportive chosen family. From its stunning cover art to the rich, messy, nuanced narrative at its heart, this is an unforgettable story of friendship, heartbreak, forgiveness, and self-discovery, crafted by an author whose obvious respect for teen readers radiates from every page.” – Rob Bittner, Booklist, 2020
“Full of warmth, love, and support, this is an important story and an essential purchase.” – Amanda MacGregor, School Library Journal, 2020
“This top-notch depiction of a messy, complicated, romantic young artist navigating the bumpy road to self-love and self-determination sticks its landing at every turn.” – Publishers Weekly, 2020
Personal Insights: I love books that push my own boundaries, and this is definitely one of those books! I have been on a personal mission for the past year to try and add more LGBTQIA+ fiction to what I read in order to broaden my horizon and get a view of the world through eyes that are not my own. Not only does this book address many struggles that someone who is transgender faces, it also gets into the nuances of gender identity as Felix grapples with finding a label that fits him. Is he truly transgender if that label doesn’t describe him 100% of the time? Why does he even feel the need to have a label in the first place?
This book is also a wonderful example of #OwnVoices: not only is the author, Kacen Callender, Black and transgender like his protagonist Felix, but the narrator for the audiobook, Logan Rozos, is also Black and transgender. There is some wonderful representation embedded into every facet of this story!
Notable Quotes:
“It can be easier, sometimes, to choose to love someone you know won't return your feelings. At least you know how that will end. It's easier to accept hurt and pain, sometimes, than love and acceptance. It's the real, loving relationships that can be the scariest.”
“It could've been easy to say I was hurt because I'm trans, because someone singled me out for my identity, but there's something weird about that - something off, about suggesting that my identity is the thing that brought me any sort of pain. It's the opposite. Being trans brings me love. It brings me happiness. It gives me power.”
“I want to be in love. I’ve never, you know—felt the kind of passion great artists talk about. I want that. I want to feel that level of intensity. Not everyone wants love. I get that, you know? But me—I want to fall in love and be broken up with and get pissed and grieve and fall in love all over again. I’ve never felt any of that. I’ve just been doing the same shit. Nothing new. Nothing exciting.”
“It’s like every identity I have . . . the more different I am from everyone else . . . the less interested people are. The less . . . lovable I feel, I guess. The love interests in books, or in movies or TV shows, are always white, cis, straight, blond hair, blue eyes. Chris Evans, Jennifer Lawrence. It becomes a little hard, I guess, to convince myself I deserve the kind of love you see on movie screens.”
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
Birthday by Meredeth Russo (2019) - Two kids, Morgan and Eric, are bonded for life after being born on the same day at the same time. We meet them once a year on their shared birthday as they grow and change: as Eric figures out who he is and how he fits into the world, and as Morgan makes the difficult choice to live as her true self. Over the years, they will drift apart, come together, fight, make up, and break up—and ultimately, realize how inextricably they are a part of each other.
I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver (2019) - When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school.
But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.
Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin (2016) - Riley Cavanaugh is many things: Punk rock. Snarky. Rebellious. And gender fluid. Some days Riley identifies as a boy, and others as a girl. The thing is…Riley isn’t exactly out yet. And between starting a new school and having a congressman father running for reelection in uber-conservative Orange County, the pressure—media and otherwise—is building up in Riley’s so-called “normal” life.
On the advice of a therapist, Riley starts an anonymous blog to vent those pent-up feelings and tell the truth of what it’s REALLY like to be a gender fluid teenager. But just as Riley’s starting to settle in at school—even developing feelings for a mysterious outcast—the blog goes viral, and an unnamed commenter discovers Riley’s real identity, threatening exposure. Riley must make a choice: walk away from what the blog has created—a lifeline, new friends, a cause to believe in—or stand up, come out, and risk everything.
Title: Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer series #1)
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (March 28, 2017)
ISBN13: 978-0316341684
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Topics/Themes: Personal Identity, The Power of Stories, Imagination, and Dreams
Recommended Age Level: 14-19
Awards / Recognitions:
Summary: Lazlo Strange loves books and stories. Growing up an orphan, his dreams and imagination have been his only safe haven, and ones he feeds and nourishes from the myths and fairytale section of the Great Library of Zosma he now works for. Specifically, since he was 5 years old, he has been enraptured with the mythical city of Weep: a place of unimaginable happiness and opportunity. Lazlo dreams of someday crossing the massive desert that supposedly separates Zosma from the city of Weep, leaving his life behind. But his lot in life as a lowly librarian, not to mention the dangers of traversing the desert, prevent him from ever being able to fulfill his dream. That is, until, the Godslayer and his band of legendary warriors from Weep appear in Zosma. In one day, Lazlo, and the rest of Zosma, find out that Weep is far from mythical, is in fact very real, and it has a very real problem of its own. Lazlo jumps at the chance to not only visit the city he loves, but to help rescue it from whatever caused it to disappear from history 200 years before. In the adventure that follows, Lazlo uncovers more than a lifetime of mysteries surrounding Weep, including how the name “Godslayer” was earned as he pieces together the identity of a blue-skinned goddess that continues to appear in his dreams.
Professional Reviews:
“The characters are carefully, exquisitely crafted; the writing is achingly lovely; and the world is utterly real. While a cliff-hanger ending will certainly have readers itching for book two, make no mistake—this is a thing to be savored.” – Maggie Reagan, Booklist 2017
“Gorgeously written in language simultaneously dark, lush, and enchanting, the book will leave readers eager for the next.” – Jane Putch, Publishers Weekly 2017
Weep [the main city in the story] becomes a laboratory in which Taylor examines slavery, trauma, memory, and appropriation, ending this first installment with a cliffhanger that leaves readers wondering if healing is even remotely possible. Lovers of intricate worldbuilding and feverish romance will find this enthralling.” – Kirkus Reviews 2017
Personal Insights: This book is 100% going to be on my top list of the year. I normally don’t go for the romance side of things, but even with the romance aspects, the fantasy world building and story far surpassed anything else I have read in while. The fantasy components had a unique spin of influence from middle eastern culture and there was a diverse set of characters represented, both racially and in terms of sexual orientation.
I will say that this story has some very heavy topics, namely the aftermath of sexual assault, that are key components of the story that would definitely require a more mature mindset (middle school would probably be a bit too young for readers) Everything is tastefully done, however, and there are no graphic scenes as it is more hinted at in the memories of some of the characters.
The romance itself has some elongated steamy scenes, but there are no explicit details. Any sex that does occur is skimmed over, focusing more on the kissing, hand-holding, and gentle caresses. Like I said earlier, this component is not my cup of tea, but I do know that there are many readers out there who eat this stuff up (my wife being one!)
I listened to this book via audiobook, and the narrator, Steve West, does an amazing job with the performance. I would highly recommend listening to this book!
Notable Quotes:
“You’re a storyteller. Dream up something wild and improbable," she pleaded. "Something beautiful and full of monsters."
“Beautiful and full of monsters?"
“All the best stories are.”
“It was impossible, of course. But when did that ever stop any dreamer from dreaming.”
“I think you’re a fairy tale. I think you’re magical, and brave, and exquisite. And I hope you'll let me be in your story.”
“And that's how you go on. You lay laughter over the dark parts. The more dark parts, the more you have to laugh. With defiance, with abandon, with hysteria, any way you can.”
“You think good people can't hate?" she asked. "You think good people don't kill?"[...}"Good people do all the things bad people do, Lazlo. It's just that when they do them, they call it justice.”
“Life won't just happen to you boy, he said. You have to happen to it.”
“As for fairy tales, he understood that they were reflections of the people who had spun them, and were flecked with little truths - intrusions of reality into fantasy, like toast crumbs on a wizard's beard.”
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
Daughter of Smoke & Bone (series #1) by Laini Taylor - Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
Deeplight by Frances Hardinge (2019) - The gods are dead. Decades ago, they turned on one another and tore each other apart. Nobody knows why. But are they really gone forever? When 15-year-old Hark finds the still-beating heart of a terrifying deity, he risks everything to keep it out of the hands of smugglers, military scientists, and a secret fanatical cult so that he can use it to save the life of his best friend, Jelt. But with the heart, Jelt gradually and eerily transforms. How long should Hark stay loyal to his friend when he’s becoming a monster—and what is Hark willing to sacrifice to save him?
Shadow and Bone (#1 in trilogy) by Leigh Bardugo (2012) - Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (March 28, 2017)
ISBN13: 978-0316341684
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Topics/Themes: Personal Identity, The Power of Stories, Imagination, and Dreams
Recommended Age Level: 14-19
Awards / Recognitions:
- Printz Award Nominee 2018
- Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction 2017
- South Carolina Book Award Nominee for Young Adult 2020
Summary: Lazlo Strange loves books and stories. Growing up an orphan, his dreams and imagination have been his only safe haven, and ones he feeds and nourishes from the myths and fairytale section of the Great Library of Zosma he now works for. Specifically, since he was 5 years old, he has been enraptured with the mythical city of Weep: a place of unimaginable happiness and opportunity. Lazlo dreams of someday crossing the massive desert that supposedly separates Zosma from the city of Weep, leaving his life behind. But his lot in life as a lowly librarian, not to mention the dangers of traversing the desert, prevent him from ever being able to fulfill his dream. That is, until, the Godslayer and his band of legendary warriors from Weep appear in Zosma. In one day, Lazlo, and the rest of Zosma, find out that Weep is far from mythical, is in fact very real, and it has a very real problem of its own. Lazlo jumps at the chance to not only visit the city he loves, but to help rescue it from whatever caused it to disappear from history 200 years before. In the adventure that follows, Lazlo uncovers more than a lifetime of mysteries surrounding Weep, including how the name “Godslayer” was earned as he pieces together the identity of a blue-skinned goddess that continues to appear in his dreams.
Professional Reviews:
“The characters are carefully, exquisitely crafted; the writing is achingly lovely; and the world is utterly real. While a cliff-hanger ending will certainly have readers itching for book two, make no mistake—this is a thing to be savored.” – Maggie Reagan, Booklist 2017
“Gorgeously written in language simultaneously dark, lush, and enchanting, the book will leave readers eager for the next.” – Jane Putch, Publishers Weekly 2017
Weep [the main city in the story] becomes a laboratory in which Taylor examines slavery, trauma, memory, and appropriation, ending this first installment with a cliffhanger that leaves readers wondering if healing is even remotely possible. Lovers of intricate worldbuilding and feverish romance will find this enthralling.” – Kirkus Reviews 2017
Personal Insights: This book is 100% going to be on my top list of the year. I normally don’t go for the romance side of things, but even with the romance aspects, the fantasy world building and story far surpassed anything else I have read in while. The fantasy components had a unique spin of influence from middle eastern culture and there was a diverse set of characters represented, both racially and in terms of sexual orientation.
I will say that this story has some very heavy topics, namely the aftermath of sexual assault, that are key components of the story that would definitely require a more mature mindset (middle school would probably be a bit too young for readers) Everything is tastefully done, however, and there are no graphic scenes as it is more hinted at in the memories of some of the characters.
The romance itself has some elongated steamy scenes, but there are no explicit details. Any sex that does occur is skimmed over, focusing more on the kissing, hand-holding, and gentle caresses. Like I said earlier, this component is not my cup of tea, but I do know that there are many readers out there who eat this stuff up (my wife being one!)
I listened to this book via audiobook, and the narrator, Steve West, does an amazing job with the performance. I would highly recommend listening to this book!
Notable Quotes:
“You’re a storyteller. Dream up something wild and improbable," she pleaded. "Something beautiful and full of monsters."
“Beautiful and full of monsters?"
“All the best stories are.”
“It was impossible, of course. But when did that ever stop any dreamer from dreaming.”
“I think you’re a fairy tale. I think you’re magical, and brave, and exquisite. And I hope you'll let me be in your story.”
“And that's how you go on. You lay laughter over the dark parts. The more dark parts, the more you have to laugh. With defiance, with abandon, with hysteria, any way you can.”
“You think good people can't hate?" she asked. "You think good people don't kill?"[...}"Good people do all the things bad people do, Lazlo. It's just that when they do them, they call it justice.”
“Life won't just happen to you boy, he said. You have to happen to it.”
“As for fairy tales, he understood that they were reflections of the people who had spun them, and were flecked with little truths - intrusions of reality into fantasy, like toast crumbs on a wizard's beard.”
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
Daughter of Smoke & Bone (series #1) by Laini Taylor - Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
Deeplight by Frances Hardinge (2019) - The gods are dead. Decades ago, they turned on one another and tore each other apart. Nobody knows why. But are they really gone forever? When 15-year-old Hark finds the still-beating heart of a terrifying deity, he risks everything to keep it out of the hands of smugglers, military scientists, and a secret fanatical cult so that he can use it to save the life of his best friend, Jelt. But with the heart, Jelt gradually and eerily transforms. How long should Hark stay loyal to his friend when he’s becoming a monster—and what is Hark willing to sacrifice to save him?
Shadow and Bone (#1 in trilogy) by Leigh Bardugo (2012) - Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.
Introduction to the book from the author, Laini Taylor! |
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Title: The Field Guide to the North American Teenager
Author: Ben Philippe
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (January 8, 2019)
ISBN13: 978-0062824110
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Young Adult
Topics/Themes: Friendship, New School, Identity, Navigating High School
Recommended Age Level: 14-19
Awards / Recognitions:
Summary: 16-year-old Norris Kaplan must adapt to life in Austin, Texas when his mother gets a new job at the university there. It wouldn’t be so bad, except that Austin is literally the polar opposite of Montreal, Canada, where Norris has lived up until now. Not only does no one care about hockey and the heat is unbearable, but his best friend is still in Montreal and he is a black French-Canadian kid in the middle of cowboy country. Snarky and witty Norris has resolved to build an ironclad emotional barrier to keep everyone out to protest his new life while secretly keeping a “field guide” journal of everyone he meets to humor himself. All he has to do is keep his head down and run out the clock for a year, which is when his mother promised they would move back if he truly didn’t like it there. But his loud-mouth and sarcastic ways attract more attention than he planned from unexpected friend and foe alike, not to mention falling head-over-heels for a girl. Suddenly his straightforward plan to get back to Montreal gets a lot harder than he expected.
Professional Reviews:
“Readers looking for a diverse, fun, coming-of-age tale need not look any further than this fantastic debut.” – Reindardt Suarez, Booklist 2018
“A witty debut with whip-smart dialogue that will find much love among fans of authors like John Green and Jason Reynolds.” – Kristin Lee Anderson, School Library Journal
“Philippe has a gift for dialogue and touches on a few instances of racism with sensitivity and humor in this crowd-pleaser.” – Publishers Weekly, 2018
Personal Insights: This book is jam-packed with such wit and snark, that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud many times while reading this book. On top of that, Philippe is able to seamlessly add several deeper layers to this story such as immigrant heritage and racial identity that allow this story to transcend a stereotypical high school fiction book. Norris as a character is likeable while still exhibiting realistic flaws that pushes this clichéd setting into a unique and compelling story.
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
The Absolutely True Story of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie and Ellen Forney (2007) - Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.
Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by Ellen Forney that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.
Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles (2020) - Del has had a crush on Kiera Westing since kindergarten. And now, during their junior year, she’s finally available. So when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at their church, Del’s right behind her. Though he quickly realizes he’s inadvertently signed up for a Purity Pledge.
His dad thinks his wires are crossed, and his best friend, Qwan, doesn’t believe any girl is worth the long game. But Del’s not about to lose his dream girl, and that’s where fellow pledger Jameer comes in. He can put in the good word. In exchange, Del just has to get answers to the Pledgers’ questions…about sex ed.
With other boys circling Kiera like sharks, Del needs to make his move fast. But as he plots and plans, he neglects to ask the most important question: What does Kiera want? He can’t think about that too much, though, because once he gets the girl, it’ll all sort itself out. Right?
Frankly in Love by David Yoon (2019) - High school senior Frank Li is a Limbo--his term for Korean-American kids who find themselves caught between their parents’ traditional expectations and their own Southern California upbringing. His parents have one rule when it comes to romance--“Date Korean”--which proves complicated when Frank falls for Brit Means, who is smart, beautiful--and white. Fellow Limbo Joy Song is in a similar predicament, and so they make a pact: they’ll pretend to date each other in order to gain their freedom. Frank thinks it’s the perfect plan, but in the end, Frank and Joy’s fake-dating maneuver leaves him wondering if he ever really understood love--or himself--at all.
Author: Ben Philippe
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (January 8, 2019)
ISBN13: 978-0062824110
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Young Adult
Topics/Themes: Friendship, New School, Identity, Navigating High School
Recommended Age Level: 14-19
Awards / Recognitions:
- William C. Morris Award (YA Debut) 2020
Summary: 16-year-old Norris Kaplan must adapt to life in Austin, Texas when his mother gets a new job at the university there. It wouldn’t be so bad, except that Austin is literally the polar opposite of Montreal, Canada, where Norris has lived up until now. Not only does no one care about hockey and the heat is unbearable, but his best friend is still in Montreal and he is a black French-Canadian kid in the middle of cowboy country. Snarky and witty Norris has resolved to build an ironclad emotional barrier to keep everyone out to protest his new life while secretly keeping a “field guide” journal of everyone he meets to humor himself. All he has to do is keep his head down and run out the clock for a year, which is when his mother promised they would move back if he truly didn’t like it there. But his loud-mouth and sarcastic ways attract more attention than he planned from unexpected friend and foe alike, not to mention falling head-over-heels for a girl. Suddenly his straightforward plan to get back to Montreal gets a lot harder than he expected.
Professional Reviews:
“Readers looking for a diverse, fun, coming-of-age tale need not look any further than this fantastic debut.” – Reindardt Suarez, Booklist 2018
“A witty debut with whip-smart dialogue that will find much love among fans of authors like John Green and Jason Reynolds.” – Kristin Lee Anderson, School Library Journal
“Philippe has a gift for dialogue and touches on a few instances of racism with sensitivity and humor in this crowd-pleaser.” – Publishers Weekly, 2018
Personal Insights: This book is jam-packed with such wit and snark, that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud many times while reading this book. On top of that, Philippe is able to seamlessly add several deeper layers to this story such as immigrant heritage and racial identity that allow this story to transcend a stereotypical high school fiction book. Norris as a character is likeable while still exhibiting realistic flaws that pushes this clichéd setting into a unique and compelling story.
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
The Absolutely True Story of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie and Ellen Forney (2007) - Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.
Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by Ellen Forney that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.
Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles (2020) - Del has had a crush on Kiera Westing since kindergarten. And now, during their junior year, she’s finally available. So when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at their church, Del’s right behind her. Though he quickly realizes he’s inadvertently signed up for a Purity Pledge.
His dad thinks his wires are crossed, and his best friend, Qwan, doesn’t believe any girl is worth the long game. But Del’s not about to lose his dream girl, and that’s where fellow pledger Jameer comes in. He can put in the good word. In exchange, Del just has to get answers to the Pledgers’ questions…about sex ed.
With other boys circling Kiera like sharks, Del needs to make his move fast. But as he plots and plans, he neglects to ask the most important question: What does Kiera want? He can’t think about that too much, though, because once he gets the girl, it’ll all sort itself out. Right?
Frankly in Love by David Yoon (2019) - High school senior Frank Li is a Limbo--his term for Korean-American kids who find themselves caught between their parents’ traditional expectations and their own Southern California upbringing. His parents have one rule when it comes to romance--“Date Korean”--which proves complicated when Frank falls for Brit Means, who is smart, beautiful--and white. Fellow Limbo Joy Song is in a similar predicament, and so they make a pact: they’ll pretend to date each other in order to gain their freedom. Frank thinks it’s the perfect plan, but in the end, Frank and Joy’s fake-dating maneuver leaves him wondering if he ever really understood love--or himself--at all.
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The official book trailer! |
A brief interview with the author, Ben Philippe |
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2/4/2020 0 Comments
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Title: Scythe
Author: Neal Shusterman
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (November 22, 2016)
ISBN: 978-1442472426
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended Age Level: YA 13-18
Awards / Recognitions:
Summary: In the future, humans have conquered death. No more dying, no more disease, no more crime, all thanks to the Thunderhead, an omniscient evolution of AI and "the cloud". Humans have handed the reigns for control and leadership of just about every facet of life over to the Thunderhead, from government to entertainment, from jobs to healthcare, and in exchange the Thunderhead has created a utopia, a literal heaven on earth, where humans can live out their lives in blissful paradise for as long as they please. In a world where people live indefinitely, overpopulation is the only concern, and the only facet of life that the Thunderhead does not control. Enter the Scythes, an organization of people feared, yet treated like celebrities, whose sole job is to "glean" people to keep the population in check. When someone is gleaned that is the only permanent and irreversible death that a human faces. When two teens, Citra and Rowan, are each paid a visit from a well-known Scythe, the last thing they expect and the last thing either of them wants, is to be offered an apprenticeship to become Scythes themselves. They are immediately thrown into a vastly different world, both competing against each other and having to rely on each other as they are trained to become masters of death. Their morals are tested as they come to find that the world of Scythes is far more complicated, and far more corrupt, than anyone on the outside can imagine. Citra and Rowan find themselves in the middle of a growing schism between two factions, and their training and apprenticeship end up becoming a major tipping point in the outcome of this play for power. Neal Shusterman, in this award-winning series opener, pushes boundaries and forces the reader to confront some deep philosophical questions about the roots of our own humanity. "In a world without death, what becomes of life? Instead of exploring the ways in which men are monsters, this book deals in what happens to men when there are no monsters. When our reach does not exceed our grasp, when comfort is more easily obtained than struggle, when our essential humanity doesn’t burn out but becomes slowly irrelevant, what becomes of us?" (Reagan, 2016)
Reagan, M. (2016, November 22). Where Lives Are Long and Death Is Gone: Neal Shusterman’s SCYTHE. Booklist. Retrieved from https://www.booklistreader.com/2016/11/22/books-and-authors/where-lives-are-long-and-death-is-gone-neal-shustermans-scythe/
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
Unwind by Neal Shusterman (2007): The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state, is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman (2015): Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the worst thing she'd ever been through. That was before her planet was invaded. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating craft, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. But the warship could be the least of their problems. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their biggest threat; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady plunges into a web of data hacking to get to the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: Ezra.
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (1975): Doomed to - or blessed with - eternal life after drinking from a magic spring, the Tuck family wanders about trying to live as inconspicuously and comfortably as they can. When ten-year-old Winnie Foster stumbles on their secret, the Tucks take her home and explain why living forever at one age is less a blessing that it might seem. Complications arise when Winnie is followed by a stranger who wants to market the spring water for a fortune.
Author: Neal Shusterman
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (November 22, 2016)
ISBN: 978-1442472426
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended Age Level: YA 13-18
Awards / Recognitions:
- ALA Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book
- ALA/YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults - Top Ten
- ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
- Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award Winner
Summary: In the future, humans have conquered death. No more dying, no more disease, no more crime, all thanks to the Thunderhead, an omniscient evolution of AI and "the cloud". Humans have handed the reigns for control and leadership of just about every facet of life over to the Thunderhead, from government to entertainment, from jobs to healthcare, and in exchange the Thunderhead has created a utopia, a literal heaven on earth, where humans can live out their lives in blissful paradise for as long as they please. In a world where people live indefinitely, overpopulation is the only concern, and the only facet of life that the Thunderhead does not control. Enter the Scythes, an organization of people feared, yet treated like celebrities, whose sole job is to "glean" people to keep the population in check. When someone is gleaned that is the only permanent and irreversible death that a human faces. When two teens, Citra and Rowan, are each paid a visit from a well-known Scythe, the last thing they expect and the last thing either of them wants, is to be offered an apprenticeship to become Scythes themselves. They are immediately thrown into a vastly different world, both competing against each other and having to rely on each other as they are trained to become masters of death. Their morals are tested as they come to find that the world of Scythes is far more complicated, and far more corrupt, than anyone on the outside can imagine. Citra and Rowan find themselves in the middle of a growing schism between two factions, and their training and apprenticeship end up becoming a major tipping point in the outcome of this play for power. Neal Shusterman, in this award-winning series opener, pushes boundaries and forces the reader to confront some deep philosophical questions about the roots of our own humanity. "In a world without death, what becomes of life? Instead of exploring the ways in which men are monsters, this book deals in what happens to men when there are no monsters. When our reach does not exceed our grasp, when comfort is more easily obtained than struggle, when our essential humanity doesn’t burn out but becomes slowly irrelevant, what becomes of us?" (Reagan, 2016)
Reagan, M. (2016, November 22). Where Lives Are Long and Death Is Gone: Neal Shusterman’s SCYTHE. Booklist. Retrieved from https://www.booklistreader.com/2016/11/22/books-and-authors/where-lives-are-long-and-death-is-gone-neal-shustermans-scythe/
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
Unwind by Neal Shusterman (2007): The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state, is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman (2015): Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the worst thing she'd ever been through. That was before her planet was invaded. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating craft, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. But the warship could be the least of their problems. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their biggest threat; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady plunges into a web of data hacking to get to the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: Ezra.
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (1975): Doomed to - or blessed with - eternal life after drinking from a magic spring, the Tuck family wanders about trying to live as inconspicuously and comfortably as they can. When ten-year-old Winnie Foster stumbles on their secret, the Tucks take her home and explain why living forever at one age is less a blessing that it might seem. Complications arise when Winnie is followed by a stranger who wants to market the spring water for a fortune.
Below is my own personal book talk
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Below is the official book trailer
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2/4/2020 0 Comments
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Title: Red Rising
Author: Pierce Brown
Publisher: Del Rey (January 28, 2014)
ISBN: 978-0345539809
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended Age Level: YA/New Adult 14+
Awards / Recognitions: Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Debut Goodreads Author
Personal Rating: 5 / 5
Summary: 16-year-old Darrow is a Red, the lowest caste of civilization. He and his people live under the surface of Mars in slavish and hellish conditions in order to mine and harvest the precious element, helium-3, that is needed to terraform the surface of Mars and make it habitable and livable for the rest of humanity. He and his people have been told for generations that they are the pioneers of the planet Mars, and that due to their efforts, they will pave the way for civilization to one day be able to exist on Mars. Hard work and loyalty are rewarded while resistance and rebellion are swiftly and harshly punished. When Darrow’s wife is executed for a mild rebellious act, Darrow decides to exact vengeance on the ruling class, the Golds. He is recruited by a rebel group and quickly learns that his meager existence has all been a cleverly constructed lie in order to keep the Reds passive and complicit. In reality, the Reds are slaves to the large civilizations already on the fully terraformed surface of Mars that has been there for centuries. Sparked by a renewed hatred for the Gold and the structure of the society in which he is now aware of, Darrow is chosen to infiltrate the upper echelon of society in order to overthrow the repressive government. He is genetically and physically augmented in order to look like a Gold, and is admitted into Mars’ most prestigious school. At that point, he is on his own, and must navigate the brutal and ruthless world of the Golds as he and his other “classmates” are put to the ultimate test: a brutal war game that determines the fate of the young people in the top tier of the Golds. Determined to lead his people to a better life, Darrow will stop at nothing to not only survive this competition, but to come out on top to ensure his mission will succeed.
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008): In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (1985): Andrew "Ender" Wiggin thinks he is playing computer simulated war games; he is, in fact, engaged in something far more desperate. The result of genetic experimentation, Ender may be the military genius Earth desperately needs in a war against an alien enemy seeking to destroy all human life. The only way to find out is to throw Ender into ever harsher training, to chip away and find the diamond inside, or destroy him utterly. Ender Wiggin is six years old when it begins. He will grow up fast.
But Ender is not the only result of the experiment. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway almost as long. Ender's two older siblings, Peter and Valentine, are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. While Peter was too uncontrollably violent, Valentine very nearly lacks the capability for violence altogether. Neither was found suitable for the military's purpose. But they are driven by their jealousy of Ender, and by their inbred drive for power. Peter seeks to control the political process, to become a ruler. Valentine's abilities turn more toward the subtle control of the beliefs of commoner and elite alike, through powerfully convincing essays. Hiding their youth and identities behind the anonymity of the computer networks, these two begin working together to shape the destiny of Earth-an Earth that has no future at all if their brother Ender fails.
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (2018): Defeated, crushed, and driven almost to extinction, the remnants of the human race are trapped on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. Spensa, a teenage girl living among them, longs to be a pilot. When she discovers the wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this dream might be possible—assuming she can repair the ship, navigate flight school, and (perhaps most importantly) persuade the strange machine to help her. Because this ship, uniquely, appears to have a soul.
Author: Pierce Brown
Publisher: Del Rey (January 28, 2014)
ISBN: 978-0345539809
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended Age Level: YA/New Adult 14+
Awards / Recognitions: Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Debut Goodreads Author
Personal Rating: 5 / 5
Summary: 16-year-old Darrow is a Red, the lowest caste of civilization. He and his people live under the surface of Mars in slavish and hellish conditions in order to mine and harvest the precious element, helium-3, that is needed to terraform the surface of Mars and make it habitable and livable for the rest of humanity. He and his people have been told for generations that they are the pioneers of the planet Mars, and that due to their efforts, they will pave the way for civilization to one day be able to exist on Mars. Hard work and loyalty are rewarded while resistance and rebellion are swiftly and harshly punished. When Darrow’s wife is executed for a mild rebellious act, Darrow decides to exact vengeance on the ruling class, the Golds. He is recruited by a rebel group and quickly learns that his meager existence has all been a cleverly constructed lie in order to keep the Reds passive and complicit. In reality, the Reds are slaves to the large civilizations already on the fully terraformed surface of Mars that has been there for centuries. Sparked by a renewed hatred for the Gold and the structure of the society in which he is now aware of, Darrow is chosen to infiltrate the upper echelon of society in order to overthrow the repressive government. He is genetically and physically augmented in order to look like a Gold, and is admitted into Mars’ most prestigious school. At that point, he is on his own, and must navigate the brutal and ruthless world of the Golds as he and his other “classmates” are put to the ultimate test: a brutal war game that determines the fate of the young people in the top tier of the Golds. Determined to lead his people to a better life, Darrow will stop at nothing to not only survive this competition, but to come out on top to ensure his mission will succeed.
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008): In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (1985): Andrew "Ender" Wiggin thinks he is playing computer simulated war games; he is, in fact, engaged in something far more desperate. The result of genetic experimentation, Ender may be the military genius Earth desperately needs in a war against an alien enemy seeking to destroy all human life. The only way to find out is to throw Ender into ever harsher training, to chip away and find the diamond inside, or destroy him utterly. Ender Wiggin is six years old when it begins. He will grow up fast.
But Ender is not the only result of the experiment. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway almost as long. Ender's two older siblings, Peter and Valentine, are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. While Peter was too uncontrollably violent, Valentine very nearly lacks the capability for violence altogether. Neither was found suitable for the military's purpose. But they are driven by their jealousy of Ender, and by their inbred drive for power. Peter seeks to control the political process, to become a ruler. Valentine's abilities turn more toward the subtle control of the beliefs of commoner and elite alike, through powerfully convincing essays. Hiding their youth and identities behind the anonymity of the computer networks, these two begin working together to shape the destiny of Earth-an Earth that has no future at all if their brother Ender fails.
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (2018): Defeated, crushed, and driven almost to extinction, the remnants of the human race are trapped on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. Spensa, a teenage girl living among them, longs to be a pilot. When she discovers the wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this dream might be possible—assuming she can repair the ship, navigate flight school, and (perhaps most importantly) persuade the strange machine to help her. Because this ship, uniquely, appears to have a soul.
Title: The Beast Player
Author: Nahoko Uehashi (Translated by Cathy Hirano)
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (March 26, 2019)
ISBN: 978-1250307460
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age Level: YA 13+
Awards / Recognitions:
Professional Summary and Review: Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2019
“Can humans bridge the gulf that separates them from beasts ? Is it love that binds all sentient life—or fear? In this translation of the first entry in international-award-winning Japanese author Uehashi's ( Moribito, 2014, etc.) hit series, 10-year-old Elin idolizes her mother, a skilled beast doctor for Toda, fearsome battle serpents. When some Toda die mysteriously, Elin's mother is sentenced to death. Elin escapes and finds a kind beekeeper in the mountains who raises her as his own. As she grows into adulthood, she discovers her love for all living creatures and a unique gift for communicating with the magical Royal Beasts . But the nation's political structure is fragile. Soon Elin is thrust into deadly civil conflict and must decide whether to use her beloved animal friends as tools of war. The author creates complex societies and fantastical creatures with imaginative, immersive detail. In a refreshing change for Western readers, the central issue hinges on neither individual power nor romantic love but kindness balanced against responsibility, and the narrative jumps among the perspectives of numerous characters in a more digressive style than they may be accustomed to. It's lovely to watch Elin blossom from a quiet, curious child into a compassionate, thoughtful young woman with a steadfast moral compass—even if that compass sometimes leads her astray. A richly detailed coming-of-age fantasy epic that rewards the patient and contemplative reader.”
Personal Review:
The above Kirkus Review is a fantastic summary and review of this book in my opinion. It is hard to summarize just how rich and complex the world is that Uehashi has created in this book, but the last line of the Kirkus review is right: this is not your stereotypical YA fantasy novel. While there are high energy action scenes, what gives this book its clout is the precarious cultural and political climate that is so masterfully painted. It is a refreshingly original tale with fantastical creatures to match, that will leave a lasting impression on any lover of fantasy stories.
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McPhillip (1974): Sixteen when a baby is brought to her to raise, Sybel has grown up on Eld Mountain. Her only playmates are the creatures of a fantastic menagerie called there by wizardry. Sybel has cared nothing for humans, until the baby awakens emotions previously unknown to her. And when Coren--the man who brought this child--returns, Sybel's world is again turned upside down.
Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman (2018): In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons get to be whomever they want. Tess, stubbornly, is a troublemaker. You can’t make a scene at your sister’s wedding and break a relative’s nose with one punch (no matter how pompous he is) and not suffer the consequences. As her family plans to send her to a nunnery, Tess yanks on her boots and sets out on a journey across the Southlands, alone and pretending to be a boy. Where Tess is headed is a mystery, even to her. So when she runs into an old friend, it’s a stroke of luck. This friend is a quigutl—a subspecies of dragon—who gives her both a purpose and protection on the road. But Tess is guarding a troubling secret. Her tumultuous past is a heavy burden to carry, and the memories she’s tried to forget threaten to expose her to the world in more ways than one.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini (2003): When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.
Author: Nahoko Uehashi (Translated by Cathy Hirano)
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (March 26, 2019)
ISBN: 978-1250307460
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age Level: YA 13+
Awards / Recognitions:
- Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book
- Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year
- Michael L. Printz Honor Award
Professional Summary and Review: Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2019
“Can humans bridge the gulf that separates them from beasts ? Is it love that binds all sentient life—or fear? In this translation of the first entry in international-award-winning Japanese author Uehashi's ( Moribito, 2014, etc.) hit series, 10-year-old Elin idolizes her mother, a skilled beast doctor for Toda, fearsome battle serpents. When some Toda die mysteriously, Elin's mother is sentenced to death. Elin escapes and finds a kind beekeeper in the mountains who raises her as his own. As she grows into adulthood, she discovers her love for all living creatures and a unique gift for communicating with the magical Royal Beasts . But the nation's political structure is fragile. Soon Elin is thrust into deadly civil conflict and must decide whether to use her beloved animal friends as tools of war. The author creates complex societies and fantastical creatures with imaginative, immersive detail. In a refreshing change for Western readers, the central issue hinges on neither individual power nor romantic love but kindness balanced against responsibility, and the narrative jumps among the perspectives of numerous characters in a more digressive style than they may be accustomed to. It's lovely to watch Elin blossom from a quiet, curious child into a compassionate, thoughtful young woman with a steadfast moral compass—even if that compass sometimes leads her astray. A richly detailed coming-of-age fantasy epic that rewards the patient and contemplative reader.”
Personal Review:
The above Kirkus Review is a fantastic summary and review of this book in my opinion. It is hard to summarize just how rich and complex the world is that Uehashi has created in this book, but the last line of the Kirkus review is right: this is not your stereotypical YA fantasy novel. While there are high energy action scenes, what gives this book its clout is the precarious cultural and political climate that is so masterfully painted. It is a refreshingly original tale with fantastical creatures to match, that will leave a lasting impression on any lover of fantasy stories.
Readalikes: (Summaries from GoodReads)
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McPhillip (1974): Sixteen when a baby is brought to her to raise, Sybel has grown up on Eld Mountain. Her only playmates are the creatures of a fantastic menagerie called there by wizardry. Sybel has cared nothing for humans, until the baby awakens emotions previously unknown to her. And when Coren--the man who brought this child--returns, Sybel's world is again turned upside down.
Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman (2018): In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons get to be whomever they want. Tess, stubbornly, is a troublemaker. You can’t make a scene at your sister’s wedding and break a relative’s nose with one punch (no matter how pompous he is) and not suffer the consequences. As her family plans to send her to a nunnery, Tess yanks on her boots and sets out on a journey across the Southlands, alone and pretending to be a boy. Where Tess is headed is a mystery, even to her. So when she runs into an old friend, it’s a stroke of luck. This friend is a quigutl—a subspecies of dragon—who gives her both a purpose and protection on the road. But Tess is guarding a troubling secret. Her tumultuous past is a heavy burden to carry, and the memories she’s tried to forget threaten to expose her to the world in more ways than one.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini (2003): When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.