Recent Read: City of Saints and Thieves

City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

“If you’re going to be a thief, the first thing you need to know is that you don’t exist.”

Tina is an excellent thief. She knows how not to exist—how to go through a crowd unnoticed, swiping valuables from unsuspecting victims. She and her mother practiced the same kind of invisibility as they slipped away from Congo as refugees, landing in Kenya where her mother found a job working as a maid for the prominent and wealthy American businessman, Roland Greyhill. It was there, in Greyhill’s office, that Tina’s mother was murdered years ago.

Now Tina returns to the scene of the crime, hoping to exact revenge on the man who murdered her mother. With the help of her street gang, she plans to hack Greyhill’s computer and acquire secrets to ruin and bankrupt him. Everything is going according to plan until she's interrupted by his teenage son, Michael, her former best friend.

Michael doesn’t believe his father did it and convinces Tina to hold off on her revenge until he can acquire the security footage of what really happened that night. What follows is a compelling murder mystery. Twists lurk around every corner as Tina and Michael delve deeper into her mother’s history—including why and how her mother fled Congo.

I listened to Pascale Armand read this as an audiobook. Her narration combined with the developed characters, vivid setting, and good writing made for a very enjoyable read. But while the driving force of the book is this exciting murder mystery, at its heart lies a story of victims of conflict in Africa. The author worked for NGOs in Africa, and for 3 years, she interviewed refugees seeking asylum in the U.S. Her job was to listen to refugees tell their stories all day. In an interview, she said, “What I’d heard was every bit as compelling and engrossing as any dystopian or post-apocalyptic world.” It’s true, we have real life dystopias in our world today. Anderson handles this most heart wrenching part of the story with grace, delicacy, and, dare I say, even beauty. So while it is an excellent murder mystery, it’s also much more.

Recent Read: The Thing About Jellyfish

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Zu used to talk a lot—she would fill up empty spaces with scientific facts and explanations of the natural world. But after the death of her best friend, Franny, Zu doesn’t say a word. She doesn’t believe that Franny could have drowned like they say. There must be an explanation. And so, as her parents take her to therapy, and she goes to school and works on homework, Zu ponders how Franny must have been killed by a deadly jellyfish sting. Zu’s mission to prove the real cause of Franny’s death is mixed with recollections of Franny—how they became friends, what their friendship was like, and how it started to crumble.

These memories were my favorite part. They were so vivid and real. They sparked memories of my own. As the Zu’s past with Franny unfolds we begin to understand the motivation behind her drive to prove the “true” cause of Franny’s death. it's heartbreaking. The Thing About Jellyfish is the very definition of lyrical. It sometimes felt like a painting, blending thoughtful descriptions of the natural world with recollections of the past and contemplation about our place in the universe. Lovely, but I also think not for everyone.

The Thing About Jellyfish releases September 22

Recent Read: Saint Anything

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen 

Sydney has always lived a bit in the shadow of her charismatic older brother, Peyton. First she was overshadowed by his legend, later by his infamy. In and out of rehabs, court, and prison, Peyton became the central focus of Sydney’s family, culminating in a drunk driving accident in which a sixteen-year-old was paralyzed. Peyton is now in prison for the long term.

Sydney, in an attempt at a fresh start, transfers to the public high school where she meets Layla Chatham. Layla embraces Sydney taking her into her own group of friends and family, a place where Sydney can be herself and feel safe.

 Now, this is Sarah Dessen, so you may be wondering, where’s the boy? The answer is Layla has gentle older brother (I don’t think I’m really spoiling anything here). But one of the striking things about this novel is that I wouldn't categorize it as romance. It’s more contemporary realistic, with a romance in it. The focus of this novel is Sydney herself, her family, her friends and friendships. 

There’s real depth here. Sydney’s family is trying to cope with the imprisonment of their only son—and not handling it too well. Sydney is a bit invisible to them. She feels anger and resentment toward her brother. And in the absence of outward signs of her family’s guilt over the accident, Sydney takes on all of the guilt and responsibility herself. Meanwhile a friend of Peyton’s has weaseled his way into the family like a parasite, comforting Sydney’s parents, while giving Sydney an inappropriate amount of attention.

The Chathams are a safe haven, a place where her voice is heard and she is seen. The question is if she can find a way to be seen and heard by her own parents, recognized as the individual that she is.

I loved it. Highly recommended.

Recent Read: Roller Girl

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson 

The moment Astrid sees roller derby in action, she’s in love. All she wants to do is become a star player like Rainbow Bite. But her best friend Nicole, with whom she does just about everything, is not as enthused. Astrid finds herself embarking on her new passion alone, while Nicole spends more and more time in ballet with Astrid’s sworn enemy. As Astrid’s fear of losing her best friend takes over, she risks losing Nicole, her new roller derby friend, and her developing roller derby skills.

I loved this book. It’s a story about growing up and figuring out who your friends are and who you are, set against the exciting backdrop of roller derby. When Astrid finds out there’s a roller derby summer camp, she’s in, and she assumes her best friend is with her. Thanks to Jamieson’s deft illustrations, we can see the hesitation in Nicole’s face where Astrid does not. Astrid signs up for camp, and excitedly talks about it with Nicole, only to find that Nicole is not going to derby camp, she’s going to ballet camp.

Now she has to face derby camp all alone, while her best friend spends more and more time with perennial mean girl Rachel. From there, Astrid struggles with the physical difficulty of her would-be passion. Her worry over losing her best friend turns to a sort of vengeful jealousy. She also explores this new-found world of roller derby, with its colorful characters (and hair). I can’t believe how much emotional depth, not to mention entertainment, Jamieson packed into this 240-page book. I fully expect it to make my top 10 at the end of the year.

Recent Read: Better Nate Than Ever

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle

The ultimate dream-come-true for Nate Foster would be to star in a Broadway musical, which is why he’s leaving sports-obsessed podunk Jankberg, Pennsylvania to try out for E. T.: The Musical in New York City. He’s got his mother’s credit card, his lucky rabbit’s foot, a New York-savvy catch phrase (“The A train is running local today, what a hassle”), a greyhound bus ticket, and a best friend at home cheering him on. But New York is full of all sorts of surprises, and the experience isn’t quite what Nate had imagined.

I laughed throughout this heartwarming novel. Seeing New York, Broadway auditions, even Applebee's through Nate’s eyes was so much fun. He’s innocent, earnest, funny, and oh so loveable. As an example, he and his best friend, Libby, shout the names of Broadway flops instead of swearing (“Holy Dance of the Vampires!”).

Not too surprisingly, short, chubby, always singing Nate has a history of being bullied, called names and accused of being gay—something which he himself says he’s not even old enough to really know about yet. When he reaches New York City, it doesn’t live up to every expectation, but he still feels as though he’s found a place where he might belong. He faces obstacles and disasters, but almost nothing can get this indefatigable thirteen-year-old down. His warmth and excitement win over our hearts (and maybe some others, too).

It would seem that Federle was inspired and influenced by his own life. He himself moved to NYC as a teenager to pursue a career on Broadway. He performed in The Little Mermaid and Gypsy, among others. At thirty, he was working as an associate choreographer on Billy Elliott, constantly auditioning boys whose voices hadn’t changed yet, when he saw a pudgy, freckled boy, clutching a rabbit’s foot on stage. That sparked an idea for a story, and many of his experiences working on Billy Elliott provided material for Better Nate Than Ever.

One more note: I listened to the audiobook of Better Nate Than Ever which was read by the author Tim Federle. He was a delight as a reader. This is a must for theatre kids in particular.



Also, if you want to get a sense of his humor, don't miss his twitter.

Recent Read: The Truth About Alice

The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu 

Everyone’s heard that Alice slept with two guys in one night at Elaine’s party. And one of them, dreamy star quarterback Brandon, has just died in a car accident. And everyone knows it was Alice's fault.

The Truth About Alice is told from four perspectives—social queen bee Elaine, former best friend of Alice (and wannabe popular girl) Kelsie, the beloved quarterback’s best friend Josh, and nerdy social pariah Kurt. Through these lenses, we start to get a picture of what really happened, how various lies and rumors get started, and who each of these people are individually. They look like stereotypes or categories, but Mathieu does an excellent job of forming distinct, well-rounded characters. There’s something relatable and human in each character’s story.

This might seem like a weird thing to say, seeing as how some of these people make a girl’s life miserable by lying to cover their own asses, to get ahead socially, or just because. The narration from each character is unflinching in its honesty. But they’re all people, with emotions and desires that are human (and dare I say sympathetic?). They justify their actions in ways that are all too familiar.

I should note that this is not Some Girls Are. It’s not the story of a cruel, relentless attack on Alice. And in there, amongst the selfishness is a story of friendship that’s sweet and meaningful.This is a good one for fans of 13 Reasons Why and  Before I Fall.

Recent Read: To All the Boys I've Loved Before

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Each time Lara Jeans falls in love, she writes the boy a letter to say goodbye. Then she tucks it away in a hatbox, never to be sent. But then the boys start receiving their letters.

Great premise, but it wasn't really what I expected. This little description doesn’t really provide a picture of what the story actually is. Lara Jean’s older sister, Margot leaves for college in Scotland as the book begins. Before leaving she breaks up with her long-time boyfriend, Josh—a boy that Lara Jean loved (and realizes she still does). So when he gets his letter, Lara Jean makes up a boyfriend to save face. She no longer has any interest in the fake boyfriend, (Peter, who also got a letter she had written in middle school), but they decide to keep the charade going for the sake of Josh and Peter’s new ex.

So that’s the set up. And I loved it…until the end. One of the best teen romances I’ve read…until the end. When it comes to romance, YA has a lot of passion, drama, sensitivity, and physical intimacy of different kinds. Jenny Han brings something to this story that I rarely see: humor and playfulness. It was a joy to read this. I felt like I was giggling and blushing along with the protagonist. They tease each other and make each other laugh and enjoy spending time together. It’s a bunch of little things that collect over time. It was nice to read something that felt so natural and fun.

Unfortunately, it was not without its problems. The voice was the first thing I noticed. She sounded 13, but she’s 16. She wasn’t especially emotional, which I found strange.

(spoiler-ish things ahead)
Then there's the biggest problem of all: right at the end something sours things for Lara Jean and _____. And they don’t really get resolved. On the final page we see Lara Jean intending to resolve things. But we don’t really get to see them together as a happy couple. I wanted to see that! I don’t want to rely on my own imagination! The ending was focused more on the sisters than the couple. And truth be told, I was a little unsatisfied with what happens between the sisters, too. I can’t imagine letting go of the things they did to each other that quickly and did Margot ever really get what Lara Jean was going through? I dunno. I’ve never had a sister, so maybe I can’t understand. I kept trying to change the story or resolve it in my head after I finished the book. All this build up and then…blah. Not only did the book feel unsettled, it made me feel unsettled, which I did not appreciate. (Though obviously if I had this kind of reaction, she succeeded very much in getting me involved and caring about the characters.)

Recent Read: The Killing Woods

The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher

Emily's dad emerges from the woods one night carrying what she thinks is the body of a deer, but it's not; it's the body of a girl--one of her classmates. Her dad is charged with manslaughter--accused of killing the Ashlee during a PTSD flashback. But Emily doesn't believe it. What really happened that night?

Emily’s not the only one wanting to know what happened that night. Ashlee’s boyfriend Damon woke up wondering why his girlfriend wasn’t next to him, his memories of the previous night foggy, at best.

Told from the alternating voices of Emily and Damon, the reader is very much inside each of their distinct heads, and neither one of them shares everything with the other, making for very different perspectives and interpretation of events and evidence. Christopher unfolds this riveting mystery piece by piece, always giving the reader significant information, without ever being predictable. As Emily and Damon both investigate and analyze the events, they find themselves awash in doubts and also drawn together in ways they never expected. Though at its heart this is a mystery, The Killing Woods explores deeper themes, like guilt, character, and trust, and tells more personal stories, like that of Emily coming to grips with her father’s PTSD. The Killing Woods is one gripping, psychologically intense, and emotionally charged murder mystery. Loved it.

Recent Read: Counting By 7s

Willow Chance is a girl who doesn’t fit in. She’s strange, and she knows it. She has three obsessions: medical conditions, plants, and the number 7. And she’s a legitimate genius. She’s always had difficulty making friends. And it’s when she makes her first friend and things really start looking up that her world falls apart. She comes home to find policemen at her house, saying, “There’s been an accident.”

The writing here is great. Holly Goldberg Sloan's Counting by 7s is heartbreaking, but more than that, it’s uplifting, and funny and heart-warming. It’s a story of loss, but also of belonging and friendship and family and service. Willow is odd, yes, but she’s also thoughtful, kind, and sympathetic. She’s observant, and it’s fun to see the world through her intellectual and rational point of view. A motley crew collects around her. We get to know all of them, and we come to care about each of them (sometimes in spite of them). One of the things I loved about this was how they rally around her, and in caring for her, they improve themselves. They become better people because she was in their lives.

Recent Read: Something Like Normal

After spending time in Afghanistan as a Marine, Travis is back home trying to figure out how to live a normal life after the death of his best friend and other traumatizing experiences at war. When he comes home, he has to face the ex-girlfriend who dumped in a letter for hi younger brother, his overbearing father, the disintegration of his parents' marriage, in addition to figuring out life after Afghanistan. It's when he runs into Harper a girl he knew in high school, that he finds someone in whom he can confide. But will he clean up certain aspects of his life in order to keep Harper in his life?

It's the emotion and characters of Trish Doller's Something Like Normal that really make this book. This is not a story of heroism in war, rather it's a story of a young man trying to adjust and find his place in the world after war has changed him so drastically. Characters and emotions are fleshed out in such a way that they become real, and I couldn't help but care and become involved in their story. Everything about Normal felt authentic--especially Travis's young Marine voice and the romance. That romance--it pushes a lot of the right buttons. It's tentative, playful, and emotionally intimate. I believed it all the way and was totally sucked in. Despite the cover, this is no Nicholas Sparks book. Rather it's a book that takes a look at what faces a young Marine when he comes home--ranging from family dynamics to ptsd to friendships to grief to intimacy. I think it has appeal for guys, too (damn cover!).

Recent Read: Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery

Lia can barely tolerate living at home with her nagging mom, annoying sister, and father who is pushing for her to run the family bakery she has no interest in--all Lia wants is to be independent. She wants to be 23, have her own flat and her own money. And she fantasizes about the mysterious Raf who could pass for any number of supernatural heartthrobs. Then, at age 16, she wins the £8 million lottery. All of the sudden, she can live the life she always dreamed of, but will it actually be as good as she imagined?

Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery by Keren David is a really fun read. Funny chick lit with some substance to it, and mysterious and unexpected plot developments. Lia herself is great--completely selfish and narcissistic, she's still quite likable (and her faults are very human). I especially enjoyed all the humor related to Lia's obsession with supernatural werewolf/vampire/ghost/angel romances. I also enjoyed some of the more substantive themes and subjects, like Lia's (evolving) perception of her best friend's practice of Islam. Recommended for fans of Louise Rennison.

Recent Read: Endangered

Sophie is spending yet another summer in the crumbling city of Kinshasa, Congo at her mother's bonobo sanctuary. She becomes responsible for the safety of a baby bonobo who will not survive without her constant companionship and care. She is still caring for this young bonobo when her mother has to leave to release some rehabilitated bonobos into a protected reserve on a remote island in the north. Sophie continues to be a mother to this little bonobo who has become so dear to her, when the president of Congo is shot, and rebel fighters armed with machetes and machine guns take over the city. Alone with her bonobo, Sophie must find a way to survive and get to safety.

Honestly, in finishing Eliot Schrefer's Endangered, I was surprised because I have an aversion to monkeys and apes, and Schrefer had me caring about a bonobo in the first chapter alone. The bonobos are characters just as the humans are, and I enjoyed getting to know them, their culture, and their individual personalities. Among the many things I liked about this book, I loved seeing Sophie grow and mature and become a selfless caretaker. Though the conflict is fictional, I found the survival aspect of the story surprisingly believable. Schrefer depicts the tragedy and horror of the conflict in a frank and concise way, while still shielding the reader from some of the more sordid and disturbing details. Had I known what the story would be before I read it, I might have passed it over, thinking I would be bored. Instead I found myself interested and invested the whole way through.

Releases October 1

 

based on NetGalley advanced reader copy.

Recent Read: Wonder

August Pullman is accustomed to being gawked at. The facial deformities that he was born with have not only meant that we would be in and out of surgery 27 times during the first ten years of his life, they've set him apart, eliciting all sorts of reactions from people who don't know him. Now that he's approaching fifth grade, his parents decide it's time to send him to school outside the home. Can August overcome the challenges he faces at school? Will his classmates be able to see him and not just his face?

R. J. Palacio's Wonder was a joy to read. I loved it. Even though it's a book dealing with serious subjects, it's funny--charming and sweet funny, as well as laugh-out-loud Diary of a Wimpy Kid funny. The style was refreshingly direct and matter-of-fact. With the aid of that style and short chapters, the pace moves quickly.

Perhaps the best part of the book--the thing that elevates it to another level--is the excellent characterization and the way Palacio tells the story from different perspectives. The characters (Auggie in particular) are well-drawn, very human and so appealing. We get to see Auggie and the story through the eyes of Auggie himself, his sister, two of his friends/classmates, his sister's boyfriend, and his sister's friend. This added such depth and perspective. And I think it gives the book an all-ages appeal--I would recommend it to teens and adults as much as I would recommend it to children. I thought Palacio's take on each point of view was spot-on, as was her depiction of the behavior of the children around Auggie.

There are a few of things that could be criticized. I don't see the point of having a section written from the perspective of Justin (the sister's boyfriend). The pop culture references may date it at some point (they already show the author's age). And the quotes that start sections are bordering on didactic (quoting Christina Aguilera? really?). But when it comes down to rating the book I didn't care much about those things. Wonder is great not because of the "important" subject, it's great because of the real, irresistible characters and wonderful story. It may make you cry, but it will also lift your spirits.

Also, read the explanation of where the idea for the book came from in Palacio's words:

About five years ago I took my kids to visit a friend of mine who lives out of town, and at some point during the day we found ourselves sitting next to a little girl who looked the way Auggie looks in the book. We were in front of an ice cream shop, and she was sitting next to us with her mother and a friend. My younger son was only about three at the time, and he reacted exactly the way you might think a three-year old would react when seeing something that scared him: he started to cry—pretty loudly, too. And though my older son, who was ten at the time, knew better than to stare, his expression said it all despite his best efforts: he looked like someone had just punched him. It was terrible, on all counts, and I got up as quickly as I could to remove us from the scene—not for their sakes, of course, but to spare the little’s girl’s feelings. As I pushed my younger son’s stroller away I heard the little girls’ mom say, in as sweet and calm a voice as you can imagine: “Okay, guys, I think it’s time to go.” And that just got to me. 

On the drive home I couldn’t stop thinking about how that scene had played out. It occurred to me that they probably went through something like that dozens of times a day. Hundreds of times. What would that be like? What could I be teaching my children so they could understand how to respond better next time? Is “don’t stare” even the right thing to teach, or is there something deeper? All this stuff was flying through my head on the long car ride home while my boys slept in the back seat of the car. I was literally obsessing about it, so after a while I turned on the radio just to keep myself from thinking about it and the first thing that started to play was Natalie Merchant’s "Wonder." It was so amazing because that song had always been one of my absolute favorites—but that night the words really hit me, almost like I was hearing them for the first time. "People see me—I’m a challenge to your balance. I’m over your heads, how I confound you and astound you, to know I must be one of the wonders of god’s own creation…" It was like the song had been written for this girl I had just seen. 

The book kind of wrote itself in my head on that drive home. I would write the story from the child’s point of view. It would help people understand—not pity. I’m just like you, the child would say. I’m an ordinary kid—except for this one thing. And I would call the book Wonder because this child is a wonder. 

Recent Read: Drama

Callie thinks her crush is finally in a position to sweep her off her feet when he goes back to his ex-girlfriend. As annoyed and hurt as Callie is, she has lots of friends in her middle school drama department and lots to keep her busy as she designs awesome set pieces for the upcoming musical. Soon Callie meets a couple of twins who, in addition to becoming involved in theater with her, present some interesting romantic possibilities. Drama unfolds both on stage and off in this fun, light-hearted graphic novel.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier is a fun, entertaining read. Telgemeier's illustrations are colorful and humorous. I'm sure current and former theater kids will enjoy it. The "drama" was great and very typical of this time of life I thought--crushes and gossip and the school play. And perhaps best of all, Telgemeier handles the discovery of self and sexual orientation really well. It reminded me of something that happened between two people in my own 9th grade class. The lgbtq aspect of the book is handled in an age-appropriate (middle grade), positive, and almost innocent way.

Releases September 1


Based on NetGalley uncorrected proof.

Recent Read: The Disenchantments

Colby has big plans. Now that he's graduated, he's going to go explore Europe with his best friend (and true love), Bev, in lieu of going to college. But before Europe, Colby's going on tour with his closest friends, a girl band called The Disenchantments. They'll play in nondescript basements and clubs in the Pacific Northwest before beginning their next big adventure. Only Bev drops a bombshell: she's abandoning Colby and their plans to go to Europe. She promises to tell him why, if he sees the tour through to the end. What does the future hold for both of them? How could she do this? And will their relationship survive?

Nina LaCour's The Disenchantments is a perfect summer read--it just has that summery feel to it. I was hooked once Bev drops her bomb. LaCour really drew me in with Colby's emotions--the pain and confusion and betrayal and his desire for answers. Each of the quirky main characters has his or her own story, and LaCour developed these characters and their relationships with one another well. She also did a good job at depicting this transitory time of life--wanting to grow up and move on, but not wanting to say goodbye, trying to figure out the future, making decisions alone, etc. It was thoughtful and reflective, with a distinct road trip feel. It's definitely a book with hipster, artsy appeal (in fact, I don't think there's a single "mainstream" character in the whole book). Some things about the book were a little too convenient, and I had some doubts/questions about the ending resolution (specifically with how Bev and Colby's conflict plays out) which I won't get into b/c of spoilers. If you're a John Green fan, there's a good chance you'll enjoy this, too.

Recent Read: Friends With Boys

For whatever reason, this is a difficult book for me to encapsulate/introduce in a few sentences, so here's my best effort:

In Faith Erin Hicks's Friends With Boys, Maggie is starting her very first day of high school after being home-schooled by her mother her whole life. But her mother's just left, and so Maggie is left with three rough-housing brothers, a hippie police chief father, and no friends at her new high school. As if that weren't enough, she's haunted by a local ghost who won't leave her alone, and she can't figure out why. In this skillfully drawn graphic novel, Maggie navigates change, school, family, and friendship. What I thought lifted this above the average (besides the wonderful illustrations) was the treatment of deeper themes: dealing with change, and family relationships and dynamics. Oh, and did I mention that the people who befriend her at school are a brother and sister who both have mohawks? You can read the first 20 pages here.