Three Viewpoint Thursday: BEFORE I FALL

Here at the Young Adult Literature Review, three of us get together every few weeks to chat about a book that we have all read. Our recent selection is BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver. This is Oliver’s debut novel. Since this is a chat, the transcript below does contain many spoilers. If you have read the book, we would love you to help continue the discussion by commenting in the comment section.

********** SPOILERS ************************

Aly: So basically what did everyone think? Did it live up to the hype? Did you like it? Hate it?

Vi: Okay. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. I had bouts where I was sucked in and had to keep reading, and then the protagonist would annoy me and I'd want to leave the book forever. It was kind of a weird feeling. I'm not sure about the hype, but there's a lot in here that struck me as bordering on 'literary' fiction. The protagonist would have some deep thoughts that were very interesting, and then she'd go and do something seriously childish, so it was definitely different for me.

Renee: I loved this book, which was surprising because I was kind of skeptical going into it because I wasn't thrilled by THE LOVELY BONES, and I thought it would be the same thing. But it wasn't. I liked how strong the characters were and how different each day was that she kept reliving. It didn't feel as repetitive as I thought it would. And I agree that it had a literary fiction feel to it, which might also be why I loved it so much...

Aly: I realized about 20 pages in that I really dislike chick-lit and high school drama and mean girls and was having a "what was I thinking suggesting this book?" but probably the last 150-200 pages I couldn't put it down. I have trouble with stories where I don't connect with the main characters. Lindsey, Elody, Ally, and Sam were not girls I would ever like in a million years. But the fact that Sam seemed to learn from her experience and evolve and change helped me feel better towards the end. I know a lot of people really loved this book so I was curious to read it. Still mixed feelings but guess I am glad that I did. So, what about the length of the book and the fact that there are 7 days?

Vi: I liked that each day wasn't completely repetitious, and that they took Sam into different aspects of the day and the lives of the people around her. It helped me like her more as she came to realize that she couldn't really hide, but everyone else tried to hide things, too, if that makes sense. Despite the fact that the book is so long, it didn't feel like anything dragged. It was nice to see the various cast of players and how it all eventually worked out on the seventh day.

Renee: I agree. Since each day revealed different people's stories it didn't feel repetitive at all. And it did help me to like Sam, because as she would see the "truth" behind people, beyond her catty mean-popular girl type-casting, I felt like I kept looking forward to how things would be different the next day. And it definitely didn't drag, for me.

Aly: At first I was afraid that the days would be really similar and I liked that a chapter represented a day as the book progressed (well sort of). I did like seeing the back stories as they were revealed and the motivations. And also the "truth" but I was a little confused at the end. Is Sam the only one who dies? Did she get to change it for everyone else?

Vi: As far as I understood it, she's the only one who died. She shoved Juliet out of the way, and heard Juliet's voice as she was dying. But, if someone else has a better explanation...

Renee: I think Sam is the only one who died, as far as I know. I think that was her "mission" or something, to be like a martyr I think.

Aly: That was the part that was confusing at first it seemed that all of them died (well the 4) and then as she tweaked things it was almost as if she was trying to save everyone, knowing that she couldn't really save herself. And that was what seemed really sad. Anyway, was there something that really stood out for you with this story? A character? The writing?

Renee: I loved the writing style, but I really loved the character development. My two favorite characters were Kent and Lindsey, for completely different reasons. I loved Kent because he seemed like such a sincere guy and not the usual bad-boy-turned-good romantic male you see in YA a lot. He was just very loveable.

Renee: I liked Lindsey, because even though I didn't like her as a "person," I liked her as a character. She was very interesting and obnoxious and cruel, but she was obviously making up for her own vulnerabilities and insecurities and I thought she was very sad and complex. I liked that even though she was obviously flawed, she was a good friend to Sam and their gang and in her own way cared. I feel like so many books have girls who defeat the mean popular girls, but very few try to humanize those mean girls, so that was a nice change.

Vi: Very true about the mean girls, Renee. I felt like the author really did an amazing job at portraying all of the characters as having flaws, but good points as well. That's probably what stood out the most for me. And, of course, I had to love Kent. He's such a great character!

Aly: I think that was part of what I thought Oliver did really well. I think she portrayed the whole mean girls/high school drama very well. Not over glamorizing anything or under playing things. I was very pleased when Sam began to see Rob as a jerk. I liked that Juliet had a chance. And I adored Kent. I loved that he was more than what appeared on the surface in some ways and that Sam had a chance to see this.

Aly: So would you recommend this? Would you read more from Oliver? I know her next book seems to be getting some hype already?

Renee: I would definitely read more from Oliver, because I liked her writing style. And I would recommend this, but probably only to 16/17 yr olds or older, because the book does give a very frank (and therefore, not particularly wholesome) picture of the lives of some teens. And like Vi said, it did feel kind of literary fiction adult-ish, like Curtis Sittenfield.

Vi: I actually have someone in mind that might like this. I do think that, because of the literary feel to it, not everyone will take to it. I'm still sort of border-line, myself. I'd also definitely call this "new adult" and would not really recommend it to anyone younger than about 15, although mostly it's because there's a certain maturity in the writing that anyone younger might have trouble with, not that it's overly explicit about anything.

Aly: I think there are actually "younger" teens like Freshmen who will like it because it is chick-lit and because they read at a higher level. I wouldn't put it in a middle grade library because if you tried to limit it to 8th grade then everyone wants to read it. I think some teen readers might find it "literary" but I think it actually moves kind of quickly from the middle to the end. So if they had the attention to hang in...but I probably wouldn't be recommending it to all teens. I would more likely be selective. As for "new adult"...I'm not sure that I agree. I think DUST OF 100 DOGS is very much either new adult or adult with a crossover interest for upper teens because the character doesn't seem particularly YA...but in this case the characters are strictly in the high school age group participating in high school stuff...if you know what I mean.

Vi: I say new adult mostly because the content reminds me of that in BALLADS OF SUBURBIA. I got a more mature vibe. I wouldn't even really say it's a "crossover" novel, because it deals with more high school dramas, but the thoughts and ideas and development of the main character push it into an older category for me. Some more mature younger readers could "get" it, but I think the difference would come when some readers get the entertainment value and some get the real issues it's dealing with. It kind of makes me think of Nirvana's music - it was popular because some teens decided it was catchy, but the ones who really "got" the music were few and far between.

Aly: Any other thoughts on the book? I am kind of feeling like I am missing something but I think we covered most things?

Vi: I think we covered it pretty well.

Renee: Agreed. I think we got most of it, although I was curious about why Sam's reliving her life 7 times was never really explained. Did it have to be exactly 7 days, or if she completed her final mission/martyrdom on day 4 would that have been it? I didn't need the answer to that question to enjoy the book, but I guess I was kind of curious about it...

Aly: I thought it was kind of hinted at by Sam at one point when she mentioned some movie? Or am I making this up?

Vi: I'm not sure. Maybe? Maybe the significance was just that it was a week? She referenced GROUNDHOG DAY day at one point, but there weren't just seven days in that.

Renee: Like I said, I enjoyed it without getting an answer, and I didn't see GROUNDHOG DAY, so I didn't know if I was missing something.

Aly: I would have to check but it didn't necessarily bother me. Also didn't see GROUNDHOG DAY so it wasn't exactly as if I was checking.

*************

Thanks Vi & Renee for participating in the chat. I know that I love discussing books with other book people and in discovering new books. As usual, this was fun. Now, if you have read BEFORE I FALL, how would you respond to the questions?

* Aly

Book Review: Chasing Brooklyn

Author: Lisa Schroeder
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (January 10, 2010)
Pages: 412
Reading Level: YA
Source: Own

Description from GoodReads:
Restless souls and empty hearts.

Brooklyn can’t sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca died a year ago, and now their friend Gabe has died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there, waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca chasing her through her dreams.

Nico can’t stop. He’s always running, trying so hard not to feel the pain of missing Lucca. But when he begins receiving messages from his dead brother, telling him to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.


A few months ago I read and reviewed Lisa Schroeder’s IT’S RAINING CUPCAKES. You can read my review here. I had her YA books I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME and FAR FROM YOU and CHASING BROOKLYN on my TBR list. In preparation for her book signing at Vroman’s (check out my post on her visit here), I delved into I HEART YOU and found myself completely absorbed in Ava’s story. It was my first novel in verse and I had been hesitant to read “novels in verse” before since I tend to really not like poetry. Yet Schroeder managed to capture the emotions and mood with amazing clarity and depth. I wanted to go around handing out copies of it because it was such a powerful little story.

Next I quickly picked up FAR FROM YOU and found myself just as absorbed. I kept thinking I need to go to sleep and instead I kept turning pages wanting to know what was going to happen to Ali and her family. The emotions and feelings so real but tapered with so much hope.

I saved CHASING BROOKLYN until after Lisa’s signing. I discovered from listening to her talk about how her books came about that CHASING BROOKLYN is technically a companion novel to I HEART YOU. Schroeder indicated that her editor felt that Ava from the first book was left in a good place and was there another story that could be explored. The result was Schroeder’s story of Nico and Brooklyn which became a gift for fans of I HEART YOU. Set in the same world the story further explores loss, love, grief, and healing from a slightly different angle. Without spoiling the story for anyone, Brooklyn’s boyfriend Lucca died in a car accident. As she struggles to deal with her loss, Lucca’s brother Nico reaches out to her based on what he believes is the prompting of his brother. I will stop there because anything further will spoil it for you. However, I will say, I have a new fictional crush – Nico has some wonderful qualities and he cooks.

It was fun to watch Schroeder’s growth as a writer but how throughout all 3 books you see these deep emotions that are so beautifully paired with a message of hope. I would highly recommend her books to any teen and even reluctant readers will find her stories easy to read but with powerful lessons/messages. I have also mentioned Schroeder’s books to several counselors that I know because of the topics and how I can see the books being beneficial to a reader who is dealing with loss and grief.

I am already pining for Schroeder’s next book which she hasn’t even finished writing, but until then, I just might have to re-read Chasing Brooklyn.

As a special treat to readers of our blog, I asked Lisa Schroeder to sign a copy of CHASING BROOKLYN that I could give away in a contest. You have a chance to win a signed hard cover copy of CHASING BROOKLYN, a postcard showing all three covers, and an I HEART YOU bookmark.

To Enter the Contest:
1. You must fill out the form below.
2. You must be 14 years or older to enter the contest.
3. You must submit the form prior to 11:59 p.m. PDT on Sunday, July 11, 2010
For Extra Entries:
- Leave a comment in the comment section about why you want to read Chasing Brooklyn (1 extra entry)
- Tweet it, Blog about it, or post it on your blog or Facebook page (each item will earn you 2 extra entries)
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Click Here to Complete the Entry Form

Review of Sea

Author: Heidi R. Kling
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (June 10, 2010)
Pages: 336
Reading Level: YA
Source: ARC – borrowed, not sent for review

Excerpt from cover of GoodReads:
Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers.

And Sea’s real adventure begins.


As part of The Story Siren’s (Kristi) 2010 Debut Challenge, I selected about 25 books from new authors that I interested in reading. Sea by Heidi R Kling was one of the books that piqued my interest. So when I had a chance to borrow a friend’s ARC of Sea, I grabbed the chance to read it.

In a moment of full disclosure, I want to start off by saying that my personal reading preference lie along the lines of fantasy/science fiction/paranormal stories. When I venture in to works of realistic fiction, especially on the YA level, I tend to have great reservations. I wondered as I cracked open Sea whether I would love it or be completely disappointed in it. Consequently, I think I tended to be a little harsher while I read it. I wondered if the characters would seem real and be relatable? Would the relationships between characters resonate with real life or seem completely fabricated? And my biggest issue - would the story show the growth and change of the main character as a result of what happened or would it all seem kind of meaningless?!

When I started reading Sea, I quickly found myself enjoying the short chapter style. I couldn't help commenting to myself - I bet my reluctant readers will really like this. The length of the chapters also seemed to move the story along nicely right from the beginning and kept me engaged with the characters. Throughout the book, I never felt like the story slowed down or became bogged down. Actually, I found myself needing to slow down so that I didn’t miss something and that I could really enjoy the story.

Since I often have an issue with the characters in realistic fiction, I was pleased by how much I really liked Sienna and all the other people in the book. I felt like the relationship she had with her dad was well portrayed. Sienna’s emotional reaction to her father’s interest in his female partner was also very believable especially in light of Sienna's grief over her mother's death. Additionally, the journey that Sienna makes personally and emotionally is mirrored through the physical journey of the plane ride to Indonesia and throughout her experiences there (Kling doesn't hold back with her bathroom descriptions - let's just say "ewwww") and then Sienna's return to California. It was very evident that Sienna's experiences had grown and changed her.

And for those of you who like a little romance, Kling has included that as well. (Ah, Deni! Ah, Spider!) From the description above (taken from GoodReads), the story is viewed as more of a romance. However, this was one area that I had slightly mixed feelings about. Even though I am all for a good romance (I can be a hopeless romantic), I actually wondered at times if exploring the experiences/interactions between Sienna and the younger orphan girls would have provided a different type of depth and complexity to the story. It wasn't that I didn't like the scenes between her and Deni, but I kept wanting to see more of where the story could have gone with the other part.

Kling added a wonderful quality by setting the story of Sea in Indonesia, with it's backdrop of poverty and loss experienced by the child victims of the Tsunami. Kling's removal of the story from the United States forges into areas not typically seen in the majority of YA realistic fiction. Just the twist in location of the book opens the story up to reaching a wider audience including tweens and teens who may not see themselves in the lives of rich teens in affluent suburban high schools.

Now that I just said that I loved and praised Sea for being set overseas, I am still curious about one thing? I am thrilled about the story, but then I have never lived or traveled in a place like Indonesia. It did occur to me that individuals who have lived within a developing country, especially a predominantly Muslim country might react differently. How would someone not from the U.S. respond to Sienna’s experiences in Indonesia?! I wonder if this is an unfortunate drawback to being an adult reader of YA stories?! I spend a lot of time trying to help children and families understand different cultures and perspectives so I may tend to over analyze stuff. Yet, I still felt at the end that my students may actually relate more to the book than they do with other stories.

Overall, this was a fun read and a great debut novel from Heidi R. Kling. I plan on picking up a few copies to give away to some teens that I know. I am glad that I discovered it through the 2010 Debut Novel Challenge and I do look forward to future books by Ms. Kling.

Until the next book,
Aly

ASH

Author: Malindo Lo
Publisher: Little, Brown Books (2009)
Pages: 272
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Own

Malinda Lo's ASH is commonly referred to as a Cinderella tale with a twist. Similar to the original tale you have a man with a daughter who marries a woman with two daughters. Shortly after this new union, the man dies and his daughter essentially becomes a servant in the home of her step-mother. However unlike the Disney version the fairy godmother in this version is male, darker in nature and more representative of traditional fey mythology. Yet, Sidhean, Ash's fairy godparent, is not really where the twist lies. In Lo's version we are introduced to the Huntress who leads the royal hunts. It is here that the story veers. Ash enters into a friendship with Kaisa, the current Huntress. It is through this friendship that Ash's life changes.

As I read ASH, I had mixed feelings. I had heard such wonderful things about the book. Yet the first part of the story felt slow and flat. It wasn't until the second half of the book that my interest picked up. However, something was still off for me. In conversations with friends, my thoughts about the book became clearer. I actually loved Lo's descriptions of the world and it was her world that I wanted to see more of without the restraints of the Cinderella story. It almost seemed like the need to maintain certain elements of Cinderella distracted from the core of the story which was more centered around Ash's connection to Sidhean and her growing relationship with Kaisa. I wanted more of the world of faeries and the history of the Huntress and less of Cinderella.

So even though I had mixed feelings about ASH, I was actually really excited to find out that Malinda Lo is currently working on a companion novel/pre-quel entitled the HUNTRESS. I am hoping that with her next book I will get the richness of Lo's writing with what I expect is a fascinating world of the Huntresses.

Enjoy the rest of Children's Book Week by grabbing a book. Happy Reading!

-Aly

The Cinderella Society

Author: Kay Cassidy
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 336
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Author

Sixteen-year-old Jess Parker survives by staying invisible. After nine schools in ten years, she's come to terms with life as a perpetual new girl, neither popular nor outcast. At Mt. Sterling High, Jess gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret club of the most popular girls in school, where makeovers are the first order of official business. But there's more to being a Cindy than just reinventing yourself from the outside, a concept lost on Jess as she dives tiara-first into creating a hot new look.

With a date with her popular crush and a chance to finally fit in, Jess's life seems to be a perfect fairy tale. That is until the Wickeds--led by Jess's archenemy--begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers her new sisterhood is about much more than who rules Mt. Sterling High School. It's a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys need Jess on special assignment. But when the mission threatens to destroy her new dream life, Jess is forced to choose between this dream realized and honoring the Sisterhood. What's a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn't want to wear it anymore? (Product description taken from Amazon)

I have spent over fifteen minutes trying to figure out how to start this review. I have never encountered a book where I could easily book talk it to librarians and teens as being easy to read and good for even reluctant girl readers and yet it took me weeks to read it. I also have never had a book where I grumbled through the first 12 chapters and then went on to finish it and sincerely wanted to read the sequel.

Kay Cassidy's debut novel THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY is really a little less about Cinderella and a little more about girl empowerment. On the day of the book's release, I tweeted Cassidy something to the effect that the message of the book was important whether you were a 15 year old teen girl or 45 year old professional woman. And as I attempt to sort through my emotions or feelings about the book, I realize that in many ways my grumbling was really my inner teen insecurities protesting at being disturbed. Most days I can hide behind the "I am a successful, professional woman" facade and pretend like those feelings or struggles with self-esteem or self-worth are safely in the past. However, to be honest, most adult women I know who are successful have gotten there through the support and encouragement of other successful women mentoring them at various times in our lives.

Cassidy took very real struggles and issues that girls face throughout high school and gave them names. The Cindys, a secret club of popular girls whose mission is to embrace their strength and be extraordinary, and the Wickeds, mean girls bent on making life miserable for the Reggies, or regular girls. The Cinderella Society is a sorority or sisterhood that 16 year old Jess Parker finds herself being initiated into after moving into a new town and being the target of the leader of the Wickeds.

The story contains make-overs, hot boys, and a mission to find out the plans of the Wickeds and stop them from the way they torment the Reggies, but the real power of the story is Jess' transformation from the beginning of the book to the end. Without giving too much away, Jess learns that make-overs and having a hot boyfriend and being popular may not always be what it is cracked up to me. There are somethings that may just be more important.

Thanks Kay for reminding me of all of the women who were there to support me since high school and empowered me to become the woman and the professional that I am today.

In honor of the book, I have 10 Cinderella Society bookmarks to give away to the first 10 people who comment about a woman mentor who has made a difference in their life. Please remember to include an email address so that I can contact you about your prize. And even if you don't include a comment, please go out and thank a woman who made a difference in your life.

- Aly

Teen Fiction Tuesday: Scribbler of Dreams

Scribbler of Dreams, by Mary E. Pearson

Publisher: Graphia
Pages: 240
Reading Level: Young Adult
Enjoyment Level: High

I really enjoyed this book! It's a modern-day Romeo & Juliet story that I think fans of Sarah Dessen and the Perfect Chemistry series will really enjoy. It's not too long, but it is deep and touching, and the prose is very beautiful and easy to read. With so much paranormal and fantasy on the YA shelf at bookstores and libraries, I think readers who prefer realistic fiction will really like this one.

In the story, Kaitlin Malone has been raised to hate the Crutchfield family, who has a dangerous past with the Malone family involving friendship, betrayal, lies, and even death. To escape the stigma of her family name, Kaitlin enrolls in a new school using her mother's maiden name and begins falling for a boy at her new school, who is popular and handsome, but sensitive and kind... and a Crutchfield. In order to kepe their relationship alive, Kaitlin continues to lie about who she is and in the process learns even more secrets about their families histories.

I loved that this story wasn't melodramatic. It was emotional and the characters were well-developed, but it never felt like a soap opera. There wasn't any obvious stereotyping or clichéd characters, so it felt like a very realistic situation and I could really "get into" it. It wasn't "oversexed" either. Many YA books today rely on heavy sexual tension and promiscuity to keep the plot exciting, but Pearson's writing and story is interesting enough to keep readers engaged, so I think even younger readers can appreciate this love story. (There is also no profanity.)

Also, the "warring families" was a very interesting obstacle for Kaitlin and Bram to overcome. Most modern-day stories like these deal with race or class issues that keep the lovers from being together, but I really liked that this was a different story and more similar to Romeo & Juliet. I also really liked the pace of how Bram and Kaitlin got together. It wasn't strangers to madly in love in the span of two days. There was growth and development, and I really respected that.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend. The writing is really poetic and the story very sweet and interesting.

Happy Reading.

-Renée

Three Viewpoint Thursday: Going Bovine

Another Three Viewpoint Thursday, where three of us at YA Lit Review sit down and chat about one book. This week, we read Going Bovine by Libba Bray (best-selling author of The Gemma Doyle Trilogy and winner of the 2010 Printz Award).

Cameron Smith, a high school slacker, is living a somewhat aimless life when he is diagnosed with Creutzfeld-Jakob variant BSE, popularly known as mad cow disease, for which there is no cure. When he is visited in the hospital by Dulcie, an punk angel with pink hair, who knows of a Dr. X who can cure him, Cameron and his roommate Gonzo, a neurotic video game-playing dwarf, set off on a quest that takes them from Texas to New Orleans and into Florida, all the while pursued by the Wizard of Reckoning and other enemies.


Renée: First, just from reading it myself, and from impressions I browsed on GoodReads, I get the feeling that GOING BOVINE by Libba Bray is a kind of polarizing novel. You either love it or hate it. What are your general impressions of the book?

Vilate: It was definitely difficult to get into. I'm not sure I'm on one end or the other, though. I didn't like it very much, but that was mainly because I found it tedious. I don't passionately feel anything about it enough to go with love or hate.

Alyson: I would agree with Renee. When I looked at GoodReads, I felt that people either loved it or disliked it. I felt that it was unfair to rate it just because I didn't "get" it. I feel like there are people who love that kind of humor and style. However, I never felt I connected with Cameron or the other characters and I just didn't really like the humor in this particular book.

Renée: Well, I admit that the first 100 pages were a real struggle. I agree with both of you that it was very difficult to get into. But once the characters' big "adventure" began, I got very wrapped up in it, and all the random details that annoyed me at the beginning started filling in pieces of the plot, and I ended up really enjoying it. But yes, Aly, I think it's one of those books that isn't going to be universally "gotten," with that offbeat style and dark humor.

Vilate: I felt like the writing style was Vonnegut-esque, but without the savvy. I also felt like I knew what was going to happen, so it made it that much more difficult to care about the main character. Dark humor, I understand, but a journey for no reason makes it hard to empathize and hard to connect.

Alyson: I agree that in some ways it was predictable. Cameron's disease is fatal, technically, and I guess I was hoping that the ending would be a little different. That the ending would make up for the rest of the story. Also, and this is just me... a journey that is filled with all this crazy living might have purpose if it is tied together in the end but that didn't seem to happen for me.

Renée: Personally, I think it is one of those (clichéd, as you mentioned) things where the journey is more important than the destination, but going back to Cameron. What were your opinions of him and the other main characters?

Vilate: I didn't dislike Cameron. I do feel like there was a change in him from beginning to end, although like Aly, I don't feel the journey was coherent enough with the ending to justify all the weirdness. I actually think that his change is kind of useless... But I did feel like his personality was realistic. And I liked Gonzo. I think that's what makes it difficult. Some of the characters and events that I liked might have been completely made up in Cameron's head. Gonzo was a great character.

Alyson: I didn't mind most of the characters - Gonzo, Balder, Dulcie. And Gonzo was a balance to Cameron for me. I think maybe the journey went on too long for me. I found myself wanting to skim pages. It wasn't holding my attention which was frustrating.

Renée: I agree. There were parts of the journey that moved slower than others, and I was just eager for things to pick up where we would get more "signs" or things from the past that start to make it all make sense. And for me, it didn't matter whether I was 100% sure if all the people and things that happened were "real," because they were real to Cameron, and they still made him feel things. I liked the mystery and ambiguity.

Renée: Did you all have a favorite character or favorite scene that stood out? Or was it mostly just more random stuff?

Vilate: It's hard to answer that one because of my feelings towards the book. Like I said, though, I did like Gonzo. He had real depth. I also did end up liking Dulcie, and the whole situation with the yard gnome was interesting.

Alyson: It just hit me. I think for me I would have preferred if Cameron had something non-fatal that caused the same effect... The idea of – “Was this a dream or some kind of reality? Or alternate reality? And in the end there was a purpose to it all and that it had an impact on his life”... Whew! So now that makes me feel a little better. LOL! As far as favorite characters... I think I liked the combination of Gonzo, and then Balder (gnome), and Dulcie (a punk angel) and the Wizard. I didn't really like Chet and some of the others at the school. And the whole snow globe "rescue" at the end was fun in a weird way.

Renée: I think we are all in agreement that the side characters - Gonzo, Dulcie, Balder - were really good. For me, I really liked when Gonzo and Cameron met those happiness fanatics with the smoothies & bowling. It was refreshing to see how silly constant happiness is, compared to the almost-constant self-pitying cynicism from Cameron with his disease. I think for me, this is when I started to "like" the book, and see some meaning emerge.

Vilate: I did like that part when taken out of context of the book as a whole. And it's funny, now that we're talking about it, I'm leaning more towards the 'hate it' side of the fence, lol. The happiness compound was interesting and well-done in and of itself. Probably the shining moment for me, in a book that tried way too hard to be unique and deep.

Alyson: Did anyone feel that the humor was too clichéd? Too many current day uses of language that can easily date the book? Just curious?!

Renée: I wondered about some of the slang... Phrases like "ridonculous" will probably fade from our language soon - if they haven't already. But, I agree with what Vi said earlier about how (despite how frustrating it became at points) Cameron and the others did sound like 16yr old boys. That is exactly how guys in high school who think they're too cool to care actually sound...

Vilate: I feel like a lot of it was made up slang, anyway. Some of it may date itself at some point, but one of the things that make this feel like Vonnegut is the use of made up slang, terminology and ideas/companies.

Alyson: I think you can make it feel like a 16 yr old boy talking and be careful with the slang. When I think of Libba Bray's Gemma from A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY, she managed to speak like late 19 century English school girl but still had this snarky humor in her thoughts but it didn't have a "dated" sense.

Renée: I personally think this whole style of writing, with the overuse of slang, very conversational tone, "smart alec" vibe works well for male readers, particularly teenage boys. But I read an article that included GOING BOVINE on a list of top 10 teen books adults can enjoy (along with YA books with much heavier subject matter or more typical coming-of-age stories). Where do you think this book falls in terms of audience?

Vilate: I guess I can't imagine a boy picking this up on his own and enjoying it. Not that it goes over heads or anything, but the action is way too slow and random. Cameron, as a character, I think would appeal to teenage boys, but put in this story - no. As for adults, I feel like a 'literary fiction' crowd might get more use out of the book than teens will.

Alyson: I noticed on GoodReads that some of the teens that I know who read it marked it lower than the adults. I'm not saying that all teens wouldn't be interested in the book but it isn't an easy one to get into and it is hard sometimes to get boys into books as it is and this one might not be as Vi was indicating...fast enough or with enough action. But who am I to say. As for adults...I think some will love it and others will not.

Renée: I actually thought that teens might find the hi-jinks and randomness more entertaining, but adults might have more patience for it, so I guess I am on the fence.

Renée: I feel we covered a lot. Do you all have any final things to touch on about this book?

Vilate: Nothing for me. I do want to say that, despite not liking the book, I'm glad we were able to talk about it in this venue. I feel like it's important sometimes for anyone to read things they don't completely enjoy. I feel like this discussion has been a good one.

Alyson: I agree. I might never have ventured into the book if it wasn't for the discussion. And I do appreciate seeing other styles and how things are written. I think you can always learn from books - well most books. :) And it was fun to discuss it with everyone.

Renée: Basically reiterating what you all have said, I think we had a lot to say about this one since it wasn't as readily liked as the first two books we read together :)

Vilate: So thanks for another great discussion!


It was a very interesting chat – lots of opinions! – and we look forward to continuing with this! If you'd like to participate, please send an email to us at blogger@yaliteraturereview.com for more information.

Happy Reading!

-- Renée

Three Viewpoint Thursday: The Silver Phoenix

Welcome to Three Viewpoint Thursday, where three of us at YA Lit Review sit down and chat about one book. This week’s discussion - Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia by Cindy Pon.

No one wanted Ai Ling. And deep down she is relieved—despite the dishonor she has brought upon her family—to be unbetrothed and free, not some stranger's subservient bride banished to the inner quarters. But now, something is after her. Something terrifying—a force she cannot comprehend. And as pieces of the puzzle start to fit together, Ai Ling begins to understand that her journey to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams isn't only a quest to find her beloved father but a venture with stakes larger than she could have imagined. Bravery, intelligence, the will to fight and fight hard . . . she will need all of these things. Just as she will need the new and mysterious power growing within her. She will also need help. It is Chen Yong who finds her partly submerged and barely breathing at the edge of a deep lake. There is something of unspeakable evil trying to drag her under. On a quest of his own, Chen Yong offers that help . . . and perhaps more. (from GoodReads)

Aly: So we are here to discuss Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon. This was her debut piece in 2009. Let me just ask...what were everyone's initial impressions of the book?

Vi: The first part was a little slow for me, then the middle really picked up and was exciting, but the end fell flat because I didn't feel like I got the closure I needed. I swear I looked on the next page because I thought for sure I was missing something.

Renee: I thought that the pace was really good throughout, and thoroughly enjoyed the book, but I agree that the ending left me wanting something... I think I read somewhere that there may be a sequel, so perhaps that is why….

Aly: I really liked the book right from the beginning. I thought I might need to read/scan initially because lately books have dragged in the beginning but not with this one. I also thought the pace worked but I wanted a slightly happier ending. I can see this being a stand-alone but also can see this being turned into a series.

Vi: I'd like for it to continue, mostly because the ending didn't hold the closure I was looking for. Maybe it was because I'd gotten so wrapped up in the story and the pacing was intense for so long that I kept expecting a different ending. Not that I think it would've made sense for the Ai Ling to get engaged or anything right there, but... it just wasn't enough. So I hope it'll be a series. Or at least have a sequel.

Aly: Let's talk a little about the characters. Ai Ling and Chen Yong and Li Rong and the others. Did you feel you connected with the characters? Did you feel they were likable and "real"? Did you have favorites? Ones you loved to hate? Ones you wished weren't there? Go for it.

Renee: I really loved the brotherly pair of Li Rong and Chen Yong. Chen Yong had a kindness to his stoicism that I really liked, while Li Rong's playfulness and flirtatious attitude was really refreshing for their "serious" journey. When they interacted, I really loved them together.

Vi: I really love Li Rong. He's probably my favorite out of all of them, and I wish that I could've gotten to see more of him. Chen Yong was a little too stoic for my taste, but he definitely felt like a real person with real reactions to events in the story. I like that *all* of the characters had depth to them. Ai Ling is a great heroine and a good example of a strong female lead.

Aly: I really thought that there was a good blend of characters. And I do feel that the lead female character was strong and smart and though at times acted rashly I didn't feel like "OMG" I can't believe she is doing that which is refreshing. I did like Chen Yong and also felt that Li Rong balanced him out well. I am trying to stay away from spoilers...but anyway, the three together were very good. I also liked the journey that they were on and various other characters that were introduced. I have to say it was also nice to have parents in the story even if they weren't there all the time but there were referred to and respected in many ways.

Vi: I agree about the parents. It was really nice to have several good adult role models, and I especially liked Master Tan. I liked that he admitted he made a mistake and did what he could to rectify the situation.

Renee: I was actually going to mention Master Tan earlier... he seemed very kind, and to stay away from spoilers, I really liked how he reacted to the aftermath of the "issue" at his home and went out of his way to be generous. It seemed believable.

Aly: Just to keep this moving. I was wondering what people thought about the setting. So much of today's YA fantasy stuff takes place in urban settings or high fantasy seems to take place in what I call some interesting version of the British Isle. So China...several centuries ago...more Asian mythology, etc. How was that?

Vi: I loved, loved, loved the setting. I had a hard time with some of the names and stuff, but I could feel the richness and tradition in every page. The world is vivid. I loved the... I guess mythology of the world. Asian influence isn't seen quite as much in YA fantasy these days and I think it's probably because it's not easy to write in a way that feels believable. That wasn't the case for me with this book.
Renee: I personally LOVE Asian mythology, so I really enjoyed the period setting. It was a "rich" world as you said, and it had an element of the mystical that could appeal to audiences who are not quite ready to read supernatural/paranormal fiction that is so prevalent in YA today.

Aly: I also loved the setting and after getting use to the names and some of the other things I settled in and really just enjoyed the world that Pon created. It was vivid and real as Vi mentioned. It just was a nice change from so many other books. Also a nice change from the vampires, werewolves and faeries in many other stories that are out there. Yet the mystical and paranormal are fully there for those who like that kind of thing. Any questions or thoughts that people want to bring up?

Vi: What did everyone think about the "final battle" between Ai Ling and her nemesis? (trying not to put in spoilers! ^_^)

Renee: I liked that it began "before" meeting the villain and that even at the end, there were so many steps and obstacles to get to him... It really made the journey of the whole novel feel bigger that there were so many "foes" for her defeat.

Aly: I also liked that Ai Ling had to learn about her abilities as she went and that the adventure/journey allowed her to learn more of what she was capable of as she traveled which built her confidence for the final battle so to speak.

Aly: Oh I finally remembered what I wanted to ask...if you have more thoughts on the final part share away but I wanted to see if you felt this was really YA or more of "new adult" in the story? Just curious.

Vi: First, in regards to the final between Ai Ling and her nemesis, I liked that it had a feeling of history (and that it touched on reincarnation) and I liked that she used the major skill she learned in order to defeat him.

Vi: I do think this is still YA. I mean, I find the new "new adult" idea a little strange anyway, but this, to me, is a classic coming-of-age adventure story for teens. *and* it is fit for kids younger than fourteen, in my opinion, so I wouldn't classify it as "new adult."

Aly: Pass...sorry Renee what are your thoughts first…

Renee: Well, I think that it is still YA (but one that can be enjoyed by people of all ages). There were typical YA elements like being entrusted with a quest and meeting people of higher positions (in this case, from other worlds and old legends sometimes), very similar to other young adult coming of age stories.

Aly: Hmmm...I guess I was wondering about the scene at the Tan's household on the first night (which I thought was well written) or even the scene at the confrontation (which again I thought was well done). I don't censor books for teens, but I know I have to be cautious because of my position when recommending certain books to 11 or 12 year olds who are reading YA. It is always a dilemma for me.

Vi: I definitely understand about that. I think that I'd still classify it as YA. That particular scene, I think, was handled pretty well. The book might not work for all younger readers, but more of them, these days, are more mature and are reading books for adults. I know that's probably not the best way to judge, but I kind of have to think back about what *I* was reading at 12, too.

Renee: Agreed. It referenced some older material without being graphic, so I think maturity might be an issue, but content-wise the words on the page would not be necessarily inappropriate for younger readers.

Aly: I know that when I was 12 I was reading adult literature but I still try to be careful what I recommend to students because of my position. However, outside of school I would definitely just be recommending it.

Vi: I like the way all of the "mature" content is handled in the book, but I understand that teachers may need to read it first before handing it out or recommending it to even teenagers. Compared to "new adult" books I've read, though, this is very tame.

Aly: Are there final thoughts or points that we haven't talked about that we should?

Vi: None from me. Just that I REALLY hope there's a sequel! And I'll be looking for more from Cindy Pon even if it's not about Ai Ling.

Renee: I agree. I'm looking forward to a sequel, since I really enjoyed this story and the different worlds and legends from the history books in the story.

Aly: I think it is unanimous that everyone would like to see a sequel or at least more from Cindy Pon. I thought it was a great debut novel and really well done especially from that perspective.

It was a fun chat and we look forward to continuing with this! If you'd like to participate, please send an email to us at blogger@yaliteraturereview.com for more information.

Until next time...
-Aly


Note: I am happy to report that there will be a sequel coming in the fall of 2010. Really can't wait.

Beautiful Creatures

Authors: Kami Garcia and Margi Stohl
Publisher: Little Brown
Pages: 563
Reading Level: YA

Excerpt from cover of book:
“Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she is struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even with the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.”


In my eyes, there are books and then there are BOOKS. Every time I crack open a book, I wonder if this will be the one. The book that whisks me away to a new place, consumes me, calls to me, and lures me away from other things. Is it a book that haunts my thoughts? Does it make me believe that I am there in its world vs. being in my world? And most importantly, when I finish the last page, does it make me want to go back and read it over and over again?

A few months ago, I heard about the upcoming release of Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margi Stohl. I had not previously heard of Garcia and Stohl and aside from a really well done book trailer by VLC productions all I knew was that it was a YA Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Love story. For whatever reason, I found myself really drawn to it and became a fan of the book before even reading it. This can be dangerous in a way. What happens when the book finally comes out? Will it live up to expectations or fall flat? I took a risk with it and I am so glad that I did.

Beautiful Creatures is definitely one of those books that meet the criteria for “stand out” book in a genre. After reading about 15 pages, I found myself being consumed by the story. If I hadn’t needed to be a responsible adult, I would have just kept reading and finished it in one sitting. However, by the time I got up to 300 pages, my ability to be a responsible adult was quickly taking second place to my need to finish the book.

Garcia and Stohl have created a story that is gorgeous, haunting, and addictive. There is a bit of a risk that an author(s) take when a debut novel is 563 pages. Either you better be able to capture the reader right from the beginning or risk losing them after 200 or 300 pages. Never once did I have the sense that the story was taking too long or why hadn’t it ended yet. The writing is rich and well-crafted. What is also amazing to me is that the writing is seamless. There is no sense that this is a novel written by two people. It is written as one authorial voice with both authors being deeply in-tune with one another.

As I read through Beautiful Creatures, I appreciated the balance between being given enough information to understand the story but also enough questions and mysteries left for me as the reader to ponder where the story would go next. I dislike when I feel that the author is holding back or not giving me the information that I need to fully grasp the tale. I never once felt that way as I read through the book. There were questions that arose and ones that I had at the end, but I felt that these might be answered in the sequel.

Another element that I was drawn to in the story was the sense of place and history that is evoked by the plot and characters. I could imagine myself in Gatlin, seeing Amma make biscuits or pie, feel the humidity, or hear the southern drawl of the characters. I was fascinated with how Garcia and Stohl used the past and tied it into the present. And there was a community feel. Most YA fiction seems to leave out adults. However, Ethan and Lena were surrounded by adults – some who cared, some who got in there way, some who were dangerous, and some who assisted them.

Finally as I read through Beautiful Creatures, I was also struck by how Garcia and Stohl balanced tension, conflict, and mystery throughout the story. I didn’t just feel like the characters were solely in love with one another and caught up in their own world. Instead the challenges faced by both Lena and Ethan kept them solidly grounded in real life issues even whilst dealing with supernatural ones.

For those of you who enjoy YA Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Love Stories, you will find Beautiful Creatures to be an enjoyable read.

-Aly

P.S. I have recently contacted Kami Garcia and Margi Stohl about doing an interview for YA Literature Review. Both have graciously agreed to meet with me, so keep an eye out for an interview posting.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 391
Reading Level: Young Adult

In the fall of 2008, I discovered Suzanne Collin’s book Hunger Games. However it took me a couple of months to finally read the book. Even though it had gotten great reviews, I struggled with the concept of a book premise where teenagers were forced into a game where they were required to kill one another. Yet, once I finally picked up the book and started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. It was one of those “disturbing in a good way” books. To my amazement, I ranked the Hunger Games as the top book I had read in 2008. But then began the wait for the sequel Catching Fire.

At the end of the Hunger Games, main character Katniss Everdeen had found a way to not only win but to also keep fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark alive as well. Her behavior was viewed as an act of rebellion, and upon her return home, life was not as she expected. Her relationship with her best friend Gale is strained. Peeta, her fellow victor, is ignoring her and there are rumors of a rebellion rising as a result of her and Peeta’s actions in the arena. So what’s a 17 year old girl to do when the Capital feels that her actions were an act of defiance, and she has become a symbol of a potential uprising?

Suzanne Collin’s second book in the Hunger Games Trilogy picks up shortly after the end of the first novel. With this installment, Collins again contrasts the shallow, arrogant, self-centeredness of the Capital’s leaders and residents with the struggles, poverty, and oppression of the residents of the 12 Districts. Sinister President Snow informs Katniss that he is aware of her feelings for Gale and that if she doesn’t want it to seem as if she intentionally defied the authority of the Capital that she and Peeta will need to prove that their displays of affection in the arena were sincere. Embarking on the Capital’s cruel Victory Tour, Katniss slowly begins to recognize the role she has played in the growing unrest.

Though Catching Fire is somewhat slower paced than its predecessor, the intensity never quits. I found myself having to periodically stop reading and take a break, but my curiosity with how the book would end kept drawing me back to the story. I was particularly enthralled with how Collins gave readers glimpses into the lives of former victors, and the impact the games had on each of them. Additionally, I found a growing appreciation for Katniss as the ultimate flawed heroine who struggles as the reluctant symbol of a burgeoning insurgence. And with the 75th Hunger Games, Collins creation of new surprises doesn’t fail to keep her readers on the edge of their seats.

Once again, I find myself waiting for the next installment of the Hunger Games Trilogy. Wonder what I have to do to get an ARC of the third book????

Review of Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 384
Age Group: Young Adult

Summary (adapted from book cover):
While skipping out of school to play an Alternative Reality Game (ARG), 17 year old Markus and his friends find themselves caught at the center of a terrorist attack on San Francisco. Apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Markus and his friends are interrogated and tortured. Upon his release, Markus finds that his city has become a police state and that his world has been changed forever. Can a 17 year old computer hacker and his friends fight back against the DHS and the sweeping paranoia of a community and bring about a change? Just maybe…


Before anyone says “I’m not into stories about computer geeks”, I want to challenge you to give this a shot. I consider myself reasonably computer savvy by way of the average computer user. However elevate it to the level of techno-babble, and my eyes glaze over and my head spins. Yet, author Cory Doctorow does a great job in making the story enjoyable for geeks and non-geeks. Though I questioned the extensive technical explanations from the story’s teen narrator in the early chapters, I quickly realized that I would likely be lost without them and felt free to skim the explanations about things that I had a better grasp of.

Doctorow’s main character is a likeable 17 year old computer hacker who enjoys hanging out with his friends and playing computer games. Markus finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and his responses to the circumstances set off a series of events that will forever change him and his view of the world. As he struggles to battle against the government, his close friends distance themselves from him and he finds a new ally and partner in a 17 year old girl who is his computer equal.

As I read through the story, I felt that the author did a reasonable job with the struggles and choices that Markus has to make. Are all his choices the right or best choices? No. Sometimes his choices actually set into motion a whole series of other events which at times make things worse. And despite questioning the actions and intentions of all adults throughout the story, Markus eventually finds he needs the assistance of his parents and several other adults in order to find the best resolution.

Adult readers will enjoy the references back to Jack Kerouac’s On the Road and comparisons to the late sixties civil rights movement in San Francisco. Additionally, though some may find Markus’ parents’ reactions, particularly his father’s reactions somewhat annoying, I actually thought that given the circumstances that they were justifiable.

Overall, I found the book to be an enjoyable read which held my attention despite a few times when I started to glaze over from the more technical descriptions. I have already recommended the novel to both teens and adults that I know and would continue to recommend it.

Note: There are often lots of debate regarding YA stories and whether language or sexual content should be included in novels written for teens. The language and sexual content in this book is typical to what most teens would be exposed to in an average high school or age appropriate movie.