An Amazing New YA Science Fiction Book!

The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013.

June Costa is an artist with ambition. She wants to be the best artist in Palmares Tres. She and her best friend, Gil, are determined to ensure that Enki is elected as the city’s Summer King. But things become much more complicated after Enki becomes the Summer King. When June and Gil first meet him, Enki and Gil fall head over heels in love, leaving a confused June on the sidelines. But in Enki she discovers another artist, and together they explore the subversive side of art as Enki seeks to draw attention to the inequities in the city.

This books gets it right on so many levels, I’m not sure where to start. The best science fiction is, at its heart, social criticism, and this book fits that category. It is dystopian. But the plot is not dependent on revolution and war. The spectacle at its heart, the institution of the Summer King, is every bit as harsh and violent as the Hunger Games. But Enki manages to turn his acceptance of that role into a subversive act. Science fiction, especially that written for YA audiences, is often criticized for lacking in diversity. The Summer Prince breaks that trend. The main characters are not white, and homosexuality and bisexuality are a normal, accepted part of life in Palmares Tres. That’s just the way it is and the book treats these issues in a matter of fact way that provides an example of just how it can, and should, be done.

This is not a simple or an easy book. But good science fiction isn’t. It makes you think. The reader is dropped into a futuristic Brazil without an extended explanation or back-story. Johnson does not waste time explaining. But that doesn’t mean the reader will be lost if he or she pays attention. June is a real person, not an almost-perfect heroine. She still blames her mother for her father’s suicide two years ago. She has never considered her chief rival as a person, just as someone to hate. But the beauty of the story is that she grows and learns. She has to choose between art that matters and her ambitions. In order to do what she thinks is right, she will have to sacrifice the likelihood of a normal, successful, comfortable life.

I was an Art Historian before I became a Librarian. The Art Historian in me loves the way this book explores the role of art. Is art just beautiful? Or is the best art somehow inherently subversive? Art in this book is a spectacle. It is political. June has to choose between what she feels art should be and her ambition for a successful career and popularity.

This book also examines love, and not just in a romantic sense. Enki chooses to become the Summer King because of his love for the city. He uses his position as a way to make a difference, to bring attention to the inequities in the system and help the people of the “verde,” the poorest level of the city, the level where he grew up. But he has taken some body modifications that ensure that he loves everyone. What does that mean? Is it possible to love everyone? Are there different degrees of love? What are the implications for romantic love? Those questions are issues that both Gil and June have to face.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, I’ve given this book 5 stars. It was absolutely not what I was expecting. It was SO much more! I’d recommend this to fans of Ursula Le Guin or Robert Heinlein. With that said, I would add the caveat that readers should be aware that this is a sexually explicit book and, as I mentioned earlier, homosexuality and bisexuality are treated as perfectly normal.  Of course, fans of Le Guin and Robert Heinlein won’t be shocked by that.

Related articles

• The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson: review (nicolelisa.wordpress.com)
• Samba, Spiderbots And ‘Summer’ Love In Far-Future Brazil - Book Review by Petra Mayer on NPR

Beware, These Carrots Strike Back!

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds. Illustrated by Peter Brown. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012.

Everybody knows that rabbits love carrots. Jasper Rabbit, in Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, is no exception. Jasper especially loves the carrots that grow in Crackenhopper Field. The problem is that Jasper can’t get enough carrots, yanking and ripping them from the ground every chance he gets. That is, he did until the carrots started following him. Jasper is convinced that the carrots are creeping up on him. But every time he turns around, there is nothing there. By the end of the week, Jasper is seeing creepy carrots everywhere. But Jasper comes up with a plan to ensure no creepy carrots will ever get out of the Crackenhopper carrot patch ever again.

Creepy Carrots has just enough suspense for little ones without really being scary, much like Mercer Mayer’s There’s a Nightmare in My Closet. The great thing is that Jasper solves his problem himself. Of course, his solution to keeping the carrots in the carrot patch also keeps him out of it. While this is a fun story on its own, it is the illustrations that really make this book wonderful!

The illustrations by Peter Brown are primarily in shades of gray. The carrots, in contrast, are orange, as are the objects that are sitting where Jasper thought he saw the carrots creeping up on him. Forget cuddly bunnies! The drawings in this book are more evocative of the original Twilight Zone or Alfred Hitchcock movies than Peter Cottontail. Even the layout of the pictures is in frames as if it were a film noire storyboard.

This is one of those rare children’s picture books that has enduring appeal for the parents who are likely to be asked to read it over and over again. Creepy Carrots should be an enjoyable read for older preschoolers who like a slight scare while being sophisticated and funny enough for elementary-school-aged children. And adults who are fans of classic horror films might want to check out the Creepy Carrots Zone, too.

This review first appeared on the Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Shelf Life blog on March 28, 2013: Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds.

When Fairy Tales Are Real

Kill Me Softy by Sarah Cross. Egmont, 2012.
In the town of Beau Rivage, fairy tales are real and curses can kill you.

Mira’s godmothers have always done their best to shelter her. They refuse to let her return to the town where she was born, the town where her parents died when she was a baby. On the verge of her sixteenth birthday, Mira runs away to try to connect with her past. She is unprepared for a place where fairy tale characters have come to life. These are not children’s bed time versions of the fairy tales, but the original, bloody versions. In fairy tales, sixteenth birthdays are often momentous occasions. Mira’s will be no exception.

Kill Me Softly is a fun, quick read. But it has its dark side as hinted at by the cover. Romance plays a key role in the story, but there is much more to the tale. At its core, this is a story that explores the idea of destiny. What do you do when you are swept up in a tale towards a future you don’t want? Is there a way around the curses and blessings bestowed by fairies, both good and bad? Is your identity dictated by your destiny? For those whose destiny is dictated by the story line of classic tales, such a life can be a curse.  And some curses are deadly.

The view of fairy tales as deadly and dangerous is reminiscent of Adam Gidwitz’s A Tale Dark and Grimm. This book will also likely appeal to fans of Mercedes Lackey’s tales of the 500 Kingdoms, where life is a constant struggle to resist the destiny dictated by fairy tales.

 

It’s Another Tiger. Oh No!

Oh, No! by Candace Fleming. Illustrated by Eric Rohmann. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2012. ISBN 9780375842719.

Unlike the last picture book I reviewed, It’s a Tiger!, the tiger in Candace Fleming’s Oh, No! is not friendly or cuddly. Frog is being chased through the jungle by the tiger when Frog falls into a hole. “Ribbit-oops! Ribbit-oops!” As other animals pass by or stop to help, they all fall into the hole with frog. “Oh, no!” Just as the tiger returns with an offer to help them out, a large friend comes to the rescue. In the commotion that follows, Tiger falls into the the hole. Will the other animals help him out? “Oh, no!”

This is a story that begs to be read out loud! The rhythm is infectious and lends itself to singing or chanting. The repetition provides plenty of opportunities for children to join in with the story. Peter Rohmann’s illustrations are colorful and engaging. Rohmann captures each animal’s personality and emotions. I really loved the picture of all the animals peeking over the edge of the hole at the newly-stranded tiger. This book is sure to become a classic!

Early Literacy Hints:  This book is perfect for reading together because the text encourages children to join in, whether it be by repeating the animal’s cries of “Ribbet-oops!” or “Pippa-eeek!” or by shouting the chorus of “Oh, No!” The unusual animals in the story, like the loris and the sun bear, provide an opportunity for building vocabulary, and you could extend the lesson to include a S.T.E.M. component by learning more about animals that live in the jungle.

Butter by Erin Jade Lange

Butter by Erin Jade Lange. Bloomsbury, 2012.

Butter is a severely overweight teen who is lonely and isolated by his weight. Frustrated by the way others treat him and upset by comments students have made about him online, he decides to take control of the dialog in a drastic way. He builds a website inviting everyone to watch “Butter’s Last Meal,” where he will eat himself to death and broadcast it live. Suddenly he’s no longer invisible. In fact, he is the center of attention and the newest member of the in crowd.

While Butter has his occasional doubts about the group’s motivation, he enjoys the sense of belonging. He begins to actually come out of his shell and enjoy life a bit. Does he really still want to die? But if he doesn’t follow through, will his new friends drop him and make him an outcast again? Why, as things get better at school, do things get worse at home?

The story is told from Butter’s point of view. That means we get an excellent insight into the thought processes that could drive someone to do this. But Lange manages to include enough description of other characters’ actions that we can see past Butter’s understanding of them and their motivations to get a sense of how they are struggling to cope with Butter’s problems. For example, Butter’s parents simply don’t know how to deal with the situation. Butter believes his Dad loathes him and his mother is meddling and over-protective. But the reader can see that his Dad finds the situation so painful that he withdraws from direct interaction with Butter, while his Mom desperately wants to comfort him by fussing over him and feeding him.

I wasn’t sure that I would like this book and was nervous about reading it. I couldn’t see how the story could possibly work be anything but depressing. While it is harsh – the story of how Butter got his nickname is heart breaking – it isn’t as grim as I expected. I was truly drawn in to Butter’s story. I could see Butter’s flaws but could also understand his actions. While the book does end on a hopeful note, it doesn’t feel like everything is wrapped up and perfect now. Butter clearly has a long way to go, as do his family and friends.

This is more than just a story about a morbidly obese teen who tries to kill himself. It is a classic coming of age story about a young man trying to figure out who he is, where he fits in, and what he wants to do with the rest of his life. I highly recommend it!

This books is a nominee for the 2013 Teens’ Top Ten Booklist.

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2012.

After Clay Jannon loses his web design job, he finds himself drawn to work as the night clerk at a most unusual book shop. But the book shop seems to be more of a front for an odd lending library, and Clay’s job is more about observing customers’ behavior than salesmanship. When Clay brings his computer skills to bear on the puzzle of customers’ actions, he finds himself drawn into a bizarre secret society and their search for the secret of immortality. Making the most of his network of friends, including a love interest who works for Google, Clay uses all of the resources of modern computer technology in his efforts to solve the mystery.

This story is a book-geek’s and librarian’s dream, from the glow-in-the-dark books on the cover to the secret hidden in the organization of the books on the shelf in the store. But it is more than just a straightforward mystery story starring Google. Sloan has created a tongue-in-cheek satire of those who believe technology is the answer to everything and the genre of secret society mystery novels like Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code.

On the surface it seems like Google is the star of the story, the answer to all questions. But Sloan pokes fun at the information giant. This version of Google controls even the nutrients in their employees’ food and has a division called Google Forever dedicated to discovering the secret of immortality. While harnessing the vast computing power of Google allows Clay and his friends to solve many intermediate mysteries, in the end Google fails to find the answer.

This book made me smile so many times. Who could take seriously a secret society called “The Unbroken Spine” that punishes errant members by burning their books? That believes the secret to immortality is tied to a book written in code and a unique typeface? I loved the portable book scanner in the cardboard box! In some ways, this novel reminded me of some of my favorite Terry Pratchett books. And to think, I would never have read it if it hadn’t won an Alex Award and been part of the Hub’s Best of the Best Reading Challenge.

If you’re looking for a serious thriller with a sinister secret society and truly arcane puzzles, this is not a book for you. But if you love books and appreciate a bit of satire, you’ve got to read this. And if you’re a librarian, you really should not miss this book, if only to discover the secret hidden in the classification system used to organize the books on the shelves.

 

It’s A Tiger! And It’s Wonderful!

It’s A Tiger! by David LaRochelle. Illustrated by Jeremy Tankard.

“Are you ready for a story?” It starts with monkeys in the jungle. But wait! What’s that? As the title of this delightful book warns, it’s a tiger. The child in the story runs to escape, only to encounter the tiger again and again. Not even a sea voyage is enough to escape the persistent tiger that wants to eat us. Or does he?

This is a must have book that is a tremendous hit on multiple levels from a story that begs for interaction to amazing illustrations. Jeremy Tankard’s illustrations feature bold black outlines and bright colors. They alternate between broader scenes that invite children to find the hidden tiger and close up encounters with the tiger. As the book progresses, the tiger’s appearance becomes less fierce and more friendly, setting the stage for the beginning of a friendship.

The text is perfect for interactive reading or for a Preschool Storytime. Children will eagerly shout out, “A tiger!” each time the beast appears. In the end, they will be won over by the tiger who seems to just want a friend. So, let’s tell the tiger a story. Stories are fun and enjoyable. What could go wrong?

Early Literacy Hints:  This book lends itself well to promoting Print Awareness because of the variation in letter style and size. Children will already be eager to join in by shouting, “A tiger!” Encourage them to do so when you point to those words in the book to help them recognize that the words represent what they are saying.

The Hub Reading Challenge Update – Week 10

Wow! I’m really slipping here! How did two weeks go by so quickly? I guess that means I need to dive right in with a full update.

Week 8: Code Name Verity (audio) by Elizabeth Wein. Read by Moreven Christie and Lucy Gaskell.
I was nervous about reading this book because I was afraid I’d get too emotional over it, not a good thing when you’re listening to a book while driving to work. But while it was gut-wrenching at times, it didn’t reduce me to blubbering just before reporting to work on the teen desk. And it was such a good book! I really liked the way Wein was careful to remain historically accurate, giving us an insight into the amazing contributions of women to the war effort during WWII. I admit to having a bit of trouble connecting to Verity. But the second part, told by Kittyhawk, more than makes up for it. In fact, it was Kittyhawk’s story that made me truly connect with Verity in the end.

Week 9: The Diviners (audio) by Libba Bray. Read by January LaVoy.
I enjoyed this book when I read it and loved it even more as an audio book. Libba Bray captured just the right level of creepy for me. The audio version is just that little bit creepier. I don’t think I could have listened to this right before bed. Evie is not always a sympathetic character. But she feels real and honest. She never quite manages to control her impulsiveness but does become less selfish over time. This is a long book with sections that are clearly setting up the rest of the series. But the individual story arc also is wrapped up in a satisfying way. No great cliffhangers here, just enough hints of a detailed and complex epic tale to come to have me eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Week 10: Back on track with one audio book and 3 print books

Crusher by Niall Leonard. Read by Daniel Weyman.
So few YA books lately are traditional mysteries. But Crusher breaks that trend. I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed it. I loved the British slang, though I can see how it might bother some readers. There was plenty of suspense, but most of the real violence takes place “off stage.” I enjoyed the twists and turns and did not see the ending coming.

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis.
After a string of darker, intense books, I needed something lighter. Enchanted filled that need perfectly. Kontis did a great job of weaving together many fairy tale references without forcing her own story to conform to any one of them. It was fun to identify all of the nods to traditional fairy tales, while trying to guess how Sunday and her frog prince were going to save the kingdom.

The Silence of Our Friends written by Mark Long & Jim Demonakos. Art by Nate Powell.
This is another excellent graphic novel. I really do need to make more of an effort to read graphic novels outside the challenge. This book is a view into one event in the larger Civil Rights struggle. By focusing on just one event, it is able to explore the implications for everyone involved, from the protestors to the children of the white TV reporter. One of the great things about a good graphic novel is that the illustrations help bring to life the events, making them more real or more immediate. Yet another Challenge book that my husband grabbed and devoured!

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan.
I don’t even know where to start to talk about this book. It was not what I expected, though I’m not quite sure what I did expect. In the end, I couldn’t put it down. I loved it! I had to see where Sloan took the story. I fear that its reliance on current popular culture may mean it will become dated quickly. This book was nowhere near being on my radar before the Challenge. I would probably never have read it. Oh what a shame it would have been to miss it! Amazing! It is deceptively easy to read. But the more I think about it, the more parody and satire I see in it. I will definitely have to go back and read this one again!

After a week of real progress in my Challenge reading, I think it is time for another push to work through my “To Be Read” shelf.

2013 Hub Reading Challenge check in #10 (http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/)

The Hub Reading Challenge Update – Weeks 6 & 7

I failed to write an update for week 6. It would have been a rather short one, even if I had checked in. I read just one book that week. But I made up for that this week by reading five this week. In the process, I completed the Challenge and my personal goal of reading something from each list. That doesn’t mean that I will stop reading for the Challenge. There are lots of books that are still calling to me. I’d be tempted to try for the bigger challenge of reading all of the books. But I know that won’t be possible. There are too many titles that my library system doesn’t own. So, we’ll see how far I get. In particular, I’m looking forward to seeing how many lists I can complete.

Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman
This is definitely a grim book. It’s definitely well written and interesting, but Rory’s life is pretty horrible. There’s a sense that she is going to escape and break the cycle in the end, but I was hard pressed to really feel hopeful. After all, her mother had been similarly abused as a child and was determined to protect her daughter. Though she moved and tried to change her life, she failed to see the signs when her child became the victim. It’s unusual for me to take an entire week to read one book. But I could only read this story for short periods of time before needing a break. It’s not graphic. In fact, that almost makes it more powerful. Hassman leaves it too your imagination by blacking through the entries that the 8-year-old Rory can’t bear to remember. This Alex award winner may appeal to some older teens. I can’t say that I enjoyed this book. I’m not sure I’m glad I read it. But it definitely moved me and will stay with me for a long time.

Page, Squire, and Lady Knight by Tamora Pierce
After reading Girlchild, I really needed to read something light and fun. So I turned to my shelf and grabbed these. I’ve already raved about how much I love Tamora Pierce and how great this series is. So, enough said. I’ve now read the entire Edwards Award List.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I was hoping for something similar to Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford or Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar. But this book just felt like it was trying too hard. It was just too over the top for me. When I finished, I was left wondering “What was the point?”

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
This book was the one that completed the Challenge for me and also let me check off the last list. But that is not why I spent every spare moment I had yesterday reading it. I needed to know what happened! OK, I was able to figure out some parts of it early on. But Johnson kept me hooked all the way and the end still had surprises in store for me. I might not have read this book if not for the Challenge because Jack the Ripper just doesn’t hold any interest for me. But this really isn’t about Jack the Ripper except as a figure that captures the public’s attention and generates fear. This was a good way to end the week!

 

I’m now listening to Code Name Verity and enjoying it so far. The audio of The Diviners also arrived this week. That’s a lot of CD’s to listen to in just two weeks. There are multiple requests on them, so I won’t be able to renew them. It’s time to look hard at my To Read shelf and prioritize it so that I start to get through some of the books that have been sitting there the longest. I’m embarrassed by how many times I’ve renewed some of them.

Related articles

• Why Tamora Pierce Has Ruined All Other Writers and Heriones (writingwomenfordummies.wordpress.com) This post pretty much sums up how I feel about Pierce’s books in general and The Protector of the Small quartet in particular!
• The Hub Reading Challenge Check-in #7 (yalsa.ala.org/the hub)

The Hub Reading Challenge Update – Week 5

Wow! It’s hard to believe that it has been five weeks already. I’ve made excellent progress this week, reading three more books and listening to another. I also read from two more lists, leaving just one to go. If I count the books from the Nonfiction and Morris Challenges, I have already completed my 25 books for this challenge. Limiting myself to just those titles finished since the beginning of February, I am at 19.

Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
This book had been sitting on my shelf for longer than I care to admit. The description sounded interesting and I had liked the little bit I read. But I always seemed to get sidetracked by something else. This is a moving story about family, love, misunderstanding and jealousy. For me, it seemed to get off for a slow start. I just didn’t connect with June at first. But I’m glad I stuck with it. This was the first of this year’s Alex Award winners that I have read, and it was an excellent place to start.

Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am by Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangis
This was a good book, but I felt myself wanting a bit more from it. Or maybe a bit more of it. The best part, for me, was the descriptions of what it was like to have a traumatic brain injury. The sandstorm analogy was excellent. I liked that the book balanced Ben’s struggles with those of his family and friends. I’ve seen people comment that they don’t believe someone like Ben would enlist. But I have no trouble believing it. I’ve seen teens who feel strongly about serving. And I’ve seen how much of a struggle they face with adults who don’t understand, are frightened by the idea, or who view military service as something you do only if you can’t do something else, something better. I actually wish the book had touched more on this. Also Ben’s flashback in the supermarket really came out of the blue and raised many more questions. It was a convenient plot device for him to start getting memories back, but doesn’t do justice to the complex issue of PTSD. I’m really not complaining. This book was excellent for what it was. I just see potential for it to have been something more. But then it would be appropriate for me and not for its intended audience.

Protector of the Small Quartet: First Test by Tamora Pierce
What can I say? It was on my shelf, so I couldn’t resist the temptation. While I enjoy the books about Alanna the Lioness for their fantasy and magical elements and, of course, the strong female protagonist, I think I like the Protector of the Small quartet even more. The magic is still there, but Keladry herself is an ordinary girl. She has to prove herself and earn her place on her own merits. Despite the fact that she has to consistently perform better than her male peers just to keep her place, she refuses to give up her dream. But she also refuses to give up being a girl. She is a powerful role model! We like to think that such difficulties are a thing of the past in our culture. But they are not. My own daughter works in a very male-dominated field. She had professors who routinely told her that girls didn’t belong and who did what they could to get rid of their female students. It’s out there. And it takes a strong young woman to stay the course. Clearly there’s a lot to talk about here. I sense a full review coming after I’ve finished re-reading all the four books.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney, read by Ramón de Ocampo
This series doesn’t really hold much appeal for me. But I do understand its popularity with its target audience. I definitely found the audio book more engaging than the print version. De Ocampo really captures the tone and manner of Greg Heffley, allowing me to connect more with the character than I have in the past.

I’m quite pleased with my progress so far. The only list from which I still need to read is the Top Ten Popular Paperbacks. But before I get to that, I have two books on my shelf that I won’t be able to renew. So this week I need to read Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and Girlchild. I’ve got my fingers crossed that the audio of either The Diviners or Code Name Verity will arrive soon. I don’t know what I’d do without audio books for my commute!

Related articles

• Top 5 Female Heroes in YA Novels (girlsincapes.com)
• The Hub Reading Challenge Check-in #5 (yalsa.ala.org/thehub)