Taking place directly after the first book, Edie has burned through all of her favours with Wedderburn and Kian has made another deal with the Harbinger to ensure Edie's safety. The action is amped up in this installment, as the unpredictable Harbinger comes into play, old allies and enemies resurface, and Edie gains new powers. She is still a pawn in the game, but she is determined to play harder and better than the rest to save Kian.
The Harbinger
The newest character is the Harbinger, old entity of mischief and chaos. You can clearly see that Aguirre is fond of this new character, and she does acknowledge this in the Author's Note. For me, he was the best part of the entire book. He is capable of kindness, but he is also self-motivated, and ultimately he is driven to cause others pain. While he protects Edie in this book, I think it's important not to think of him as part of a love triangle. I think Aguirre set up a very intriguing character, and it will be interesting how Edie interacts with him in the third book.
Edie
The main character gets herself into gear--she trains (knowing it will only give her a slight edge against gods), gets new weapons/items, and gathers allies. She demonstrates agency and is active in moving the plot forward, not just reacting to it. For a while, I feared she was going to be OP (overpowered). She almost does, but Aguirre cleverly saw this too, and used it as part of Edie's arch and the story.
Gripes
I could have done without Edie and Kian constantly bickering. There were mistakes in this book, too (one is on page 331, "Like Nicole, when she was pretending to be our teacher." No, HE was pretending, not Nicole). A pivotal death scene in the book was so very anticlimactic and the writing wasn't very clear. It reminds me of the major death scene in Sever. In regards to another character, DCS would have taken him in. It's so obvious and it isn't addressed. Finally, another character death happened too soon. There was some attachment forming between the other characters, but when said character dies, I didn't care so much. If you're going to kill off a character, more time has to be devoted to them, or it falls flat.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this more than the first book. The story has left behind the first book's premise of getting revenge on highschool bullies. Now, Edie is looking for loopholes to save Kian. The setting goes between the everyday mundane to creepy. If you have the first book in the collection, there's nothing stopping you from including this one.
Cassie has always been drowning, one way or another. When she was 15, her mother had her locked away in a psychiatric facility for youth. She was a troubled teen, but not mentally deranged. Her ineffectual father, co-dependent brother, and narcissistic mother left her there. When she turns 18, she's ready for freedom. Then her mother offers to pay for her tuition at college like nothing happened. Cassie still has all her emotional baggage, and yet her mother waltzes back in, after barely any communication after two and a half years.
Genre
This book falls into the categories of mental health, mental illness, and realistic fiction. Cassie is labelled as crazy, sick, etc. and it is an excellent exploration of how absolutely dangerous these labels can be. Here, it becomes a weaponized tool in someone else's game.
This is also a book that blows your heart to smithereens. I don't know how to define that as a genre, but it's there.
Essay/Discussion Ideas
Toxic motherhood, toxic families, toxic fatherhood, a son being a white knight, and mental illness. I can't think of any other book quite like it. The internet has an abundance of lists for YA mental illness in general, where the MC has a mental illness to some degree. The only book I can think of that has parents a significant mental health issue is The Ravenous. If anyone can think of any, please leave a comment! I know there must be more out there.
Final Thoughts
Some parts were genuinely difficult to listen to. There are the obvious assault portions, but even just listening to everything Cassie has gone through and her reactions were challenging. Yet, it was cathartic to get through it. I wanted to defend her, even when her reactions weren't justified. It was an interesting experience. I highly recommend this to teens and adults looking for heart-rendering stories of mental illness, mother/daughter relationships, and dysfunctional families. It does have some heavier subject matter (sexual assault, emotional abuse, physical abuse, co-dependence). I listened to the audiobook and Jorjeana Marie was fantastic.
Will has not been back to Medicine River, Alberta, in years, and he only returns for his mother's funeral. He meets Harlen, a man who is nosey and annoying at times, but ultimately well-meaning. The book details the other inhabitants of Medicine River. As a single, 40-year-old man, Harlen attempts to get Will into relationships, sports, and business. Will himself is half Indigenous and Medicine River is bordering on a Blackfoot reserve, so there are some tensions in the community. This book about identity, culture, and self-discovery.
I decided to do a short review here because in my AP literature class in high school, another student was assigned this book. Plus, I believe it was included in one of my university classes.
Genre, Pace, & Plot
Goodreads has this listed as Fiction and Cultural > Canada. I'd call it literary fiction. It has literary merit and subtle complexities regarding social issues that deserve insight and further thought. The pace is fairly slow, with the stories revolving around Medicine River and Will. While the stories can be intriguing in a slow-burning and quiet way, they are realistic and quite frankly, boring. A lot of criticism I see online for this is that it is boring, which I do not refute. However, welcome to real life. There are no big explosions, rarely do people get "hero" moments in their lives. Life is usually a string of mundane experiences with occasional knots of mild interest.
The major problem I have with the plot is with regards to Will's overall arch. He is insecure, passive, and simply floats in life. The thing is, this doesn't change! By the end of the book, he doesn't learn, despite Harlen's attempts to make him DO something. The book ended and I turned the page, expecting there to be more. No, there isn't. It's like King just stopped writing. Did he forget to write the end? Is my copy missing pages?
Essay/Discussion Topics
Families, identity, location and identity, First Nations/Indigenous/Aboriginal Peoples in literature, Canadian literature, fatherhood. I enjoyed how Will interacted with South Wing, given his own history with his father.
Final Thoughts
For a personal read, it was an okay book. I hate that the reader is left with Will being exactly the same, unchanged, learning nothing. There area few spelling errors in my edition which bothered me (this was published by Penguin!). For an academic read, it does give an interesting dynamic to dissect. It was a quick, easy read. This book is similar to Stone Angel, as it is set in the present day and there are flashbacks to the past (I know this sometimes bothers readers). If you need to read Canadian fiction for a class, this is a good pick.
Also, question, if this book is set in Canada, why does it use miles rather than kilometres?
Published: 2013 Publisher: Thomas Nelson /Audible Author's Website Format: Audiobook, Unabridged Series: Anomaly Narration by: Hayley Cresswell Introduction
Thalli lives in Pod C, designed by scientists to be a musician. She and her pod mates live in an underground society because nuclear war has decimated the surface. Their society is very rigid and rational. Emotions are to be regulated. Questions are not to be asked. Love as a concept and feeling has been abandoned. Anyone who exhibits these traits are anomalies and must be annihilated. Thalli has avoided suspicion for all her life. Now that she is 17, it is harder. When she begins to cry uncontrollably, the scientists to label her as an anomaly to be disposed of. Desperate not to die, she and her childhood friend, Berke, try to prove her unusual character to be useful to their society.
Genre-Christian Fiction
I didn't realize it is Christian fiction until the talk about the Creator came in, and it was lightly spoken of at first. Goodreads has it tagged as Christian Fiction, so if you are interested in the genre, here's a Christian fiction, sci-fi, dystopian YA. Towards the end of the novel it got a bit heavy and it honestly dragged on and on when it really didn't need to. It might be a turn-off for some readers, but I thought the mixing of "science is the only way" and religious belief was interesting.
Writing
The writing is bland, and that's being generous. The world they live in is devoid of emotion and frivolous ideas like fancy words. It makes sense that everyone speaks without contractions and they are very "to the point". But even Thalli at her best is a white-bread experience. I am so very certain the writing style is very intentional given the world, but the reader has to enjoy reading the book. I listened to this as an audio book and all the dialogue and Thalli's descriptions came off as so stilted.
Also, the writing about the Thalli's brain and conscious vs unconscious thought and music was going to solve all of their problems...that was silly. I couldn't suspend my disbelief to think that the resident musician was going to solve the problem the scientists couldn't solve.
Twists
Most of the surprise twists were awful. Laughably awful. Yes, question the scientific society and you'll catch them in some lies. But the ridiculousness piled up and they were unbelievable. I don't want to spoil the book if someone actually wants to read this, but once you do read it, you'll know what I'm referring to (pretty much everything).
At first, I finished the book and was relieved the experience was over. Then I hop on to Goodreads and see this is a trilogy. This. Has. More. Books. White Bread: The Sequel. White Bread: The Conclusion. I doubt I'll listen to or read the others, but...maybe. Why? I also disappoint myself.
Final Thoughts
If you like Christian fiction, YA, sci-fi, and dystopias, I can see why this may interest you. I haven't read much Christian fiction, so I can't recommend anything in its place. However, this is a hard sell for me. The sci-fi portion of it was so disappointing. The twists that take place were ridiculous and unbelievable. The ending was a dumpster fire. I don't recommend this, unfortunately. It has, however, made me realize I should read and review Christian fiction so I can recommend some titles if a library patron ever asks.
*I don't have a problem with white bread, I really don't. I just don't want a book printed on it.
Published: 2014 Publisher: Entangled: Teen/Audible Author's Website Format: Audiobook, Unabridged Series: The Book of Ivy Narration by: Taylor Meskimen
Introduction
50 years after a nuclear war, survivors in the United States rebuild. Conflict regarding leadership arose between the Lattimers and the Westfalls. The Westfalls were defeated. In their post-apocalyptic world, the two families have "shared" leadership, with the Westfalls as figureheads of goodwill with no power. A major premise of their society is forced marriages between the two sides of town-the "good side" (Lattimers) and the "bad side" (Westfalls). Every year, teenagers (from each side) are paired off with opposition by the government and take on traditional gender roles. Men work, women have babies and clean the house. The Lattimers and Westfalls must marry their children to each other, age and gender permitting. This year, Ivy Westfall must marry Bishop Lattimer, but her father and sister Callie have something more planned for her. To overthrow the government, Ivy is tasked to kill Bishop. It's step one in her father's plan to rid them of their operssive rulers.
Story The premise of the story is a question: Can Ivy kill Bishop? I assumed the simple answer would be this:
Turns out, it's a little more complicated. First, can she kill anyone? And how can she kill a boy she doesn't know, but is getting to know? The book is a love story, though we've seen it a thousand times.
As the story progresses, there are some interesting twists I didn't see coming. Like most dystopias, the characters come to realize that they had been lied to, to some degree. Ivy questions everything and tries to remain a good person, and the struggle was engaging.
Essay Idea: Government Control & Enforced Gender Stereotypes
Could easily pair this with A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. The government makes you marry someone of their choosing. The government is not elected. Men go to work, women have babies. These unions are not always happy or safe. Ivy is keenly aware of the threat of domestic violence.
Dissent is not an option. If you do commit a crime, such as refusing to enter into an arranged marriage, you are put outside of the wall that surrounds their settlement, and you are left alone. Cast out with no water, food, or shelter, you have to fend for yourself in an unknown landscape.
Bishop's Character
I was surprised that I liked Bishop so much. Spoiler alert: he's not like his parents in SO MANY WAYS. Kind, but wow, he's not afraid to dish out punishment when he sees bad things happening. I find a lot of YA men are bland and one dimensional. Time and effort were put into his character, and I appreciate it.
Final Thoughts
I recommend this to teens who like dystopias, gender roles, and oppressive governments. There is only one more book in this series, so it's great for readers who don't want to read seven books to get the ending. There could have been more world-building, but I suspect that the second book will cover that, given the circumstances.
I have something to say about the ending, so if you haven't read it, skip the rest of the post.
Ending Spoiler
What did she think Callie would do?! Plus...I don't like how she opted to have herself ejected from society rather than choose a side. At the very least, I thought she'd give Bishop a heads-up (you know, DON'T TRUST CALLIE!) but she didn't. That was anticlimactic.
Sayuri was brought from a small fishing village to become a geisha--an artist who entertains men. Early on, he falls in love with the Chairman. Part of being a geisha is not loving at all, but Sayuri is determined to have something with him. As her position in Gion rises with her perseverance, WWII is approaching, threatening everything she has worked for.
Authenticity
There was much discussion regarding whether or not the book is historically accurate or a truthful description of geisha life. The following post is not going to focus on the truthfulness of this historical fiction/fictional memoir but as a launching point for essay/assignment ideas. When I was in high school taking an AP literature class, a student was tasked with comparing it with another book, and I believe it was Three Cups of Tea, which also has a scandal regarding its authenticity (see Three Cups of Deceit).
Essay Idea: Sexualized Orientalism/Women as Sexual Objects
Despite trying to pound into the reader that geisha are not prostitutes, the sexualization and exchange of money are hard to ignore. They are educated young women, and still, their bodies are treated as marketable. Portions of the book are focused on how much flesh can be displayed to whom, and when. The end game of some geisha is to become a wealthy man's mistress (which can be seen as a prostitute attached to only one man). Hatsumomo's downfall accumulated with her probably becoming a prostitute, which is portrayed as negative. The conflicting ideology is tough to swallow. The label of prostitute is the absolute worst, yet the height of their careers is when they can exchange sex for money. A geisha's sale of her virginity is probably the highlight of her career, and people remember the sums they bring in.
The book depicts children/women as a burden. They are sold and whisked away to the city, where they become geisha or prostitutes (in the book, there's no mention of other possibilities, such as factory work, maids, etc.). When they do not earn as much as they used to, they are no longer valued and are seen as another mouth to feed (Hatsumomo). Hatsumomo and Pumpkin can be viewed as the outcome of such a life of exploitation.
The film, in my opinion, focused too much on the scenery than on being a good film (but it was a gorgeous film!). Characters aren't introduced properly, and I'd wouldn't be surprised if viewers were confused. In the book, Sayuri pursues men of her own choosing (aside from the constant pursuit of the Chairman). In the film, she does not pursue men other than the Chairman (which can be read as predatory, as he was a married adult when he met her, and she was 12). There are a plethora of differences that can be discussed.
Essay Idea: Truth of the Geisha, Golden VS Iwasaki
This book was written by an American. He does have some impressive credentials, including a degree in art history (specializing in Japanese art) from Harvard, and a M.A. from Columbia University in Japanese history. He had to ask some geisha to break their secrecy for this novel, and apparently, Mineko Iwasaki asked to not be named...which he did. In the back of the book, he thanked her, which cause a scandal in the current geisha world. She has since released her own memoir (Geisha, a Life), as it is contested by many that Memoirs of a Geisha has a lot of misinformation. A compare and contrast of the books' geisha would be interesting (as of writing, I have not read Iwasaki's book, I am waiting for it to arrive).
It has been purposed that perhaps he conflated oiran with geisha. They were in the pleasure districts and it seems that Golden's geisha are a mixture of oiran and geisha.
The book gives some details about how Japan was changing before, during, and after WWII. If you like history, you can write about the Great Depression and the American Occupation. How were they affected in Gion, or were they sheltered? What about the traditions they held on to, or tried to hold on to?
Essay Idea: Female Characters & Identity
This book is full of women, both good and bad. Ultimately, they all seem to scheme, one way or another, to survive in their world. Who survives by being strong and independent, and who submits to the oppressive system to get by? Why doesn't Hatsumomo make it?
(In the reverse, it seems that all men are creeps, even, IMO, the Chairman. What does that say in the narrative, as it relates to the women?)
Also, the concept of identity is interesting in this book. The female geisha characters are born with one name (Chiyo), and when they become geisha, they get a name that usually connects them with their mentor (Sayuri). If they are adopted by their okiya, they get the family name (Nitta) as well. Sayuri narrates her life, and her older persona seems to have a new identity as well, detached from her former selves. Geisha have elaborate hair and makeup, masking them, shielding them, making them a fantasy. Their kimono give them an unnatural cylinder shape that is difficult to walk in. The obi of their kimono have to be tied by men. With the help of men, and for men, they have to shift their identities. (Unless men are adopted for business reasons, they never change their name.)
Perhaps shifting identities is the only way for these women to survive their society. Perhaps they needed it because just being a regular woman in society was a dangerous feat.
Essay Idea: The Translator's Note?
The beginning of the novel starts with a translator's note, which is just Golden framing the narrative. What does this add? Authenticity, especially when the book's truthfulness is questioned? A buffer for misconceptions? The book isn't really a memoir either.
And this is all I have come up with. Please let me know if any of this was helpful! This blog gets hits but I rarely get comments anymore, so I feel like I am screaming into the void here.
This is the prequel to The Immortal Rules. It follows a new character, Kylie, and returning character Ben Archer as they attempt to survive the early days of the epidemic.
Not Really YA?
First, the two protagonists are in their 20s, in their careers, and away from parents. They are established adults.
Second, there is also some graphic sex in the middle of the book that I found really off-putting, especially as I listened to this audiobook while running in a park. Why do this when the other three books are YA? Goodreads has this listed as YA as well, and I can't agree. It was so detailed and it went on forever. It is by far the most graphic scene of its kind I've encountered in "YA" thus far.
Final Thoughts
It didn't add anything to the other entries in Blood of Eden. In the beginning, Kylie is indistinguishable from Allie. If I were a library purchaser, I'd probably just skip it, unless you have die-hard fans, which is unlikely now, as the series is old and finished. This isn't YA, where would you put it? Away from the rest of the series in the regular fiction? Nah, not worth the trouble.
Zeke is dead, and Allie, Kanin, and Jackal are still travelling to stop Sarren. Allie has decided that with Zeke dead, she hates everything, and she wants to be a monster now. Jackal approves. Kanin isn't mad, he's disappointed.
Weak Female Protagonist
First, this book waxes sentimental WAY too much. I wish my music app on my phone had a "skip ahead 10 seconds" button like Youtube.
Overall, Allie is a weak protagonist in this book, which is the exact opposite of what she once was. People do change, sometimes for the worse, but this seems like bad writing. Instead of saving the world, she decides to go after her love interest. You know, after saving the world, he will STILL BE THERE. Saving the world is more important. Too many times she should have waited for the other two members of her team to come, but she rushed into danger and made everything worse. I guess the power of lub <3 is detrimental to strong women.
Sacrifice Ending
That was so lazy and just a dramatic gimmick. I'm pretty sure you could have sprayed your blood on them and gotten the same effect. You're a vampire, and we know limbs regenerate. Toss them an arm!
In my headcanon, he didn't die. He decided to get a hobby, like golf, and he took some time off to be by himself, away from the trio of idiots he had to spend last 6(ish) months with.
Final Thoughts
Despite Allison's terrible decision-making abilities, I still recommend this book. The trio has a nice family dynamic to it that was hilarious to listen to. If you've read the first two books in this series, or if your library has purchased the first two, there isn't a reason to not have the final book in the series in your collection. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys paranormal fiction, dystopias, vampires, or horror.
Does your library have a gaming program? Have an Xbox One?
Microsoft has announced an adaptive controller, and libraries may benefit from having a few available.
Back in May, it was announced, and recently we heard that even the box is accessible. The base controller (above), can be connected to more peripherals (there are 19 jacks in the back), such as joysticks, pedals, and finger switches. The base controller doesn't come with these extra peripherals, but I think this is a strong step in the right direction. It releases sometime this year (2018), and I'll be looking to see if any libraries utilize it, and the outcome.
At the end of the last book, Allison is alone again. Now, she is looking for her maker, Kanin, following the blood bond. Around her rises a new strain of the Red Lung virus that is fatal to both humans and vampires. Her journey leads her to reunite with those she never expected to see again. She gains unexpected allies and new missions: save Kanin, find the cure, and stop Sarren. Allison fights her own inner monster to remain as human as possible, despite being told it's impossible.
Returning Characters
I appreciated the recurring characters. I find that too many authors are quick to add new characters in every book when there are already established characters at the ready. The characters that showed up here worked very well and I was glad to see them all again (with one exception, I was hoping he was gone). There's a comic relief character that was so very needed.
Book about Walking
Like the Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, a lot of this book is walking. Gets a little boring, but I think the banter and the events that happen from point A to point B make up for it. Based on the world they live in (usually no access to functioning cars), it's understandable.
Different Book Covers
Seems that this book some different covers. The one above is nice, but it doesn't match the previous cover, which means that your books aren't going to match. I'd get the covers to match, personally.
Final Thoughts
The sequel did not disappoint. If you have the first one in your library collection, nothing is keeping this from anyone's collection.
There are indie kids, the kids who are special, the Chosen One(s). They have destinies. Their lives are full of extraordinary occurrences, tragedy, and love. And they always save the day. But what about the rest of us? The teens that go to high school and the adults and their jobs? What happens when you blow up the school, kill all the vampires or zombies, and many of your classmates and friends go missing? With all the storylines swirling around them, what is everyone else up to? Not surprisingly, they have lives too, affected by the chaos, their own problems. A politician mom, a struggling father, mental health issues, sexual orientation, college admissions, prom--all problems that these background characters deal with. A satire of young adult literature in a familiar world afflicted with over-the-top end-of-the-world situations.
Every new chapter gives a summary of what the indie kids are doing. At first, I didn't like it, but the two stories intermingled a bit and it was great. This is the forefront story, but this book is centred on the teens in the background. It would have been a bit confusing if we had no idea what the indie kids were doing. Plus, at times, it was funny. Above, we hear that there's more than one indie kid named Finn (of course), and a girl named Satchel. Reminds me how books and films influence baby name trends (all those Edwards!).
The section dividers are occasionally these cats, and I love them:
+1 to this book.
Worst Character Award
Henna.
People make mistakes (and all of the characters in this book make mistakes) but I found myself consistently disliking her. I feel bad because, in the back of the book, we hear that her name is from a real-life person. Yikes.
Dislikes
You don't have to like the protagonist, ever. Unlikable protagonists are acceptable. However, Mikey sometimes just pops in with these mean comments that I found jarring, and they don't come up again. At least make it consistent. There're some things going on with his sister, and he has these comments about another family in the restaurant that he works at. Shouldn't he be keenly aware of these kinds of remarks swirl in his sister's head?
Final Thoughts Patrick Ness clearly likes Buffy, but he goes behind the scenes for this book. It definitely isn't a book for readers that want a warm-feelings-and-butterflies romance. It has a diverse cast, and it is a bit of a coming-of-age story. The writing was easy and unobtrusive, though the first few pages almost made me put the book down. The teens are contemplating the concept of love, and like teens do, they try to figure it out by trying to sound mature and philosophical. But give it a try, and I think there are many teens who would enjoy it.
Published: 2014 Publisher: Audible/Macmillan Audio Author's Website Format: Audiobook, Unabridged Series: Immortal Game Narration by: Susan Hanfield
Introduction
Edie Kramer has been pushed into despair by her cruel classmates. On a bridge, a mysterious young man makes a deal with her: three wishes, which she will then repay later with three favours. There's a game afoot around her, played by the immortals in the mortal world. While Edie craves revenge on her classmates, the people around her are tormented by unexplainable events. The paranormal threatens Edie and those she cares about. The mysterious and beautiful man who made the deal with her seems to want to help her, but he is also a pawn in the game. Can Edie trust him? Is there a way out of the game after she made the deal? Luckily, Edie is exceptionally intelligent.
Bullying and Revenge
The set us is that Edie was severely bullied the year before, and she's out for revenge this year. The revenge plot quickly falls apart, though, and it was disappointing. I wanted to see her either rise above the bullies or get any kind of revenge! So, the book blurb isn't really true. It's more about different immortal factions playing a game, and us humans are pawns to be controlled and moved.
Emily is not impressed at Edie's amateur attempts.
Essay Ideas
Faustian deals with the devil? I can only think of The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus. Bullying, revenge, the paranormal, privilege? Hell vs Wedderburn, Mawer & Graf? Urban myths and mythology in contemporary fiction? Relationships with parents (I once wrote an essay regarding a protagonist's agency in conjunction to if their parents were alive or not (Harry Potter, Lyra Belacqua, etc.) and once you read this book to the end, it fits PERFECTLY).
Length
Plot gets bogged down with the paranormal aspects. There are a few characters I'd cut for wordcount/character count. The book dragged on far too long. I tried to listen to this audiobook years ago and I couldn't finish it. I'm glad I did, but I wouldn't call this a short read.
Horror Aspect
There are some horror elements that I appreciated, but I've never seen this recommended for anyone looking for horror. There are creepy "monsters" wreaking havoc and bodily harm, and some body horror.
Final Thoughts
Personally, I thought it was a great book, though the book blurb doesn't serve the actual plot.
Looking into the book, it seems that a lot of people have problems with the concept of beauty fixing all the world's problems, and that this book promotes the wrong idea of beauty. I don't agree -- I think Edie chose to be transformed because she wanted to be pretty, not because the author/Edie thinks being pretty is above intelligence. (And I thought it was great that she is still recognizable, not moulded into a movie star.) I think she did it for herself, and second to that, she could get close to the popular kids at school and get her revenge. Plus, all through the book, we hear about Edie being exceptionally intelligent, so it's not saying that Edie has no other qualities. She is also empathetic towards people who have done her wrong. So, other readers might not like the message about beauty.
I don't believe in trigger warnings, and I don't believe in censorship, but this does deal with suicide, depression, bullying, death, etc., which some readers might dislike.
Perhaps some people might not like the idea of dealing with otherwordly beings.
In conclusion, if your library has a strong collection development policy, I'd include it in a library.
Eventually, all alone in the world, she tries to find a purpose. From a band of humans, she learns of Eden, a place free from vampires.
Protagonist
Allie is a rough scavenger. She talks back, is sarcastic, and wields a katana. She does have a nice side; teaching others to read, making sure Stick doesn't starve, and going out of her way to help even the people that hate her. She is definitely not passive and it is refreshing.
The Love Interest
I wasn't too attached to him. Everyone hates vampires without question, kind of like how everyone hates the pixies in Carrie Jone's Need series. You love someone, they hate what you are. At what point do you throw up your hands, call them a bigot, and tell them to save themselves? And Allie isn't a damsel in distress in this book. She has a sword and will kick butt. She does more than her share of saving others, all while hiding what she is. Essay Topics Discrimination (humans vs vampires OR vampires vs humans) would be a very easy one, and it can be paired with Wicked, Need, or pretty much any other YA paranormal book. You could also look at vampire depictions across different genres/publication dates/marketed audience. These vampires are ruthless monsters. Twilight, not so much. Interview with a vampire, they can be, but they are very Romanticized. Depending on the story, vampires represent many different types of real-life fears, and you can tie in some film clips, if you have to present the argument (the film rights have been sold, but we will probably have to wait a while before it is released).
Worst character award goes to:
Stick.
Morgan has his stick.
Rafiki has his stick.
This Stick, is not good.
Second to Stick in the worst character award:
Ruth.
Final Thoughts
An interesting mix of paranormal and dystopian fiction with a female protagonist that can hold her own and vampires that don't suck (har-har). Julie Kagawa is a popular YA author, so I see no reason to exclude this book from a YA section. I hope to alternate between this series and the Immortal Game series by Ann Aguirre.
Karen and Zipporah are best friends, hanging out in Zipporah's attic, making fun of their classmates and talking about boys. When Karen's life seems to unravel, Zipporah is concerned and tries to get to the truth.
But Karen's story isn't so black and white. Young Adult Literature? Goodreads has this listed as YA, which is why I am including it here. I don't know how this was marketed back when it was published. Just because you have two main characters who are teens does not mean that it is a good example of YA literature. Why do I say this? Because these teens do not act nor speak like teens. They speak like my grandmother would write or describe formally, which is not how young people speak, even in 1979 or 1997. This is sad. None of the teens described are really good depictions of young adults. It reads more like how an adult, who doesn't know any better, would say teens act. Times do change, and I wasn't around in 1979, but the writing is awful either way (in a fight, would you say someone "embraced" your legs, or someone "grabbed" your legs?), and I suspect some actual teens might find it off-putting.
And about the writing: say KAREN one more time, I swear. Library Inclusion
I wouldn't buy this for a library, unless, for some reason, Virginia Andrews (of Flowers in the Attic fame) becomes popular again (and you want even the books she didn't actually write but has her name on the cover). The slow unravelling of deceit was alright, but the poor characterization of two teens doesn't make it worthwhile to me.
Below I have a spoiler for something that bothered me in the epilogue, if anyone is interested. Aside from that, this review is done, so you can stop reading it now if you don't want to spoil anything.
The Epilogue
Everyone figures out Karen is a manipulator and liar. Why doesn't Zipporah bring up that Karen SAID she slept with two other men, instead of letting her brother's name be dragged through the mud? Karen's mom may be right about who the father is, but we're just not going to bring up any other names in this? No? Anyone? Ok. I don't know if they had paternity tests whenever this is supposed to take place (and I don't care too much to research it), so they'd never really know the truth. I just found the absurdity of the ending to be lazy writing so Karen can be reborn "into the family".
Published: January 26th 2016 Publisher: HarperTeen Author's Website
Introduction
The Ocean calls them to ships or the sites of disasters to bring a mass of people into their watery graves by singing to them. Kahlen was one of those who heard the sirens' song, and the Ocean decided to keep her, making her siren for 100 years. Along with her siren sisters, she serves Her, the Ocean, through the decades. Kahlen struggles to do what she must, but she obeys because once her sentence is over, she can have a normal life. Fall in love, have a family, go to school, use her voice to communicate. And then a boy stumbles (or perhaps jitterbugs) into her life, and he throws her plans--and the Ocean's--into disorder.
Genre/Demographic
This book was an interesting mix. It definitely was fantasy (sirens), romance, and it has mass death in it, plus the emotions of being part of that.
While this does fall into the category of YA on Goodreads, I'd say this is more for an older YA audience, but not quite new adult. There's implied physical relationships, alcohol consumption (but only a bit from the narrator), and most of all, the scenes of shipwrecks. Cass doesn't describe drowning, but you get the horror of a huge ship capsizing with no survivors. The MC, Kahlen, fills in the blanks for the reader by relating the huge amount of guilt she carries, and how she'd rather look away. I think the way the author wrote this so delicately really lets the reader's imagination do its job, and it's so much better than describing it in detail.
It was also a fast read--I was able to read most of it in one day when I was volunteering at a reception desk. I appreciated that the book doesn't dwell on details like the houses they live in, clothes they wear, partying, etc., which I believe are some complaints that Cass gets for her other series, The Selection (the film rights were sold for a film for this in 2015, if you are interested). Each of Kahlen's sisters is unique with their hobbies and mannerisms, and I enjoyed reading about all of them. We get just enough of everything to fill in ourselves and continue on.
Insta-Love
10 days.
That's how long they knew each other for.
10.
Days.
No.
This is from page 160 of the 2016 paperback (I blacked out the love-interest's name). I got serious Edward Cullen vibes. What's with people thinking this is endearing?
Some more ideas can be an exploration of the Enthralling Siren trope and the Femme Fatale trope, as I don't necessarily think they fit the bill for it (reluctant femme fatales?). A paper can probably be written about the subversion of these tropes.
A bigger topic can be exploring nature personified (the Ocean, which is so motherly She gets unbearable sometimes).
It is the most mature book on sirens/mermaids I have read thus far. I recommend it for an older YA audience. I suspect that a younger audience might become bored. Cass is a popular author, so I think including this in the YA section of a library is an easy yes.
Published: February 6th 2018 Publisher: HarperTeen Author's Website
Introduction
Brienna's grandfather has placed her in Magnalia House, a boarding house to intensively study one of the five passions: art, music, wit, theatre, or knowledge. The problem is, at 10 years old, she doesn't have an innate ability in any of the passions. Her grandfather convinces the Dowager (headmistress) to take her, even when they were already full. All she knows is that it has something to do with her mysterious father. Ardens (students) live and learn at Magnalia House for 7 years, and Brienna must master a talent and secure a patron (an employer). Obtaining a patron doesn't go as planned, but she does become entangled in politics from the neighbouring country, Maevana. Maevana was once ruled by queens, and is now ruled by a ruthless king. The queen is rising, and Brienna finds herself part of the uprising.
IF YOU'RE READING A PRINT COPY, DON'T READ THE FAMILY TREE IN THE FIRST FEW PAGES. Seriously, it's like putting Luke Skywalker's family tree before the scrolling wall of text.
Similar Stories/Essay Ideas
The easiest thing to compare this to is Divergent. Brienna doesn't have more than one talent, but I think she benefits from knowing a bit about each one. There also isn't much on the line for her if she fails to passion (become a master), other than being embarrassed and going home, not like in Divergent. Harry Potter comes to mind as well, as Houses are separated by personality. I don't tend to read many stories that separate their people like this, so this is all I have.
Feminist matriarchies come to mind as well, as Maevana has always had queens, and they highly respect their women. An essay can easily be written about feminism or matriarchies.
Romance
There is a romance that is a bit problematic. The romance of Brienna's story doesn't take up much space, but it's there. This part of the story might bother some people.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
I have a problem with who Brienna ends up with. He seems to be a fine young man, but the issue is that he IS A YOUNG MAN. At the end, Brienna is 18. He is 26. If that was it, I don't have much of an issue with it. But he was her teacher. There's a major power imbalance. He doesn't act on his feelings until she's about to leave. Ok... but he knew her when she was 10, and he was a teacher. Something about this is so skeevy. It didn't seem that he was grooming her, and he only taught her for her last two to three years. It also didn't help that the audiobook makes him sound like an old man. Anakin and Padme is so close to this. At least she wasn't his teacher.
End of Spoilers
Final Thoughts
It was a great book! The author has stated on Goodreads that there is a second book coming out next year. There's action, school drama (at the beginning), a tiny sprinkling of romance, some mystery, a tiny bit of magic, and a bit of simple politics. I liked how it wasn't a YOU'RE THE CHOSEN ONE, BRIENNA, story. A queen is rising, she's not the queen. It makes the rest of us pleebs feel good. I see no reason to keep this from a library collection.
This 2016 adaption of Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls was alright. I'll make this quick review based on my thoughts about it being shown in a library or having it in the collection.
Library Showing
I think the problem with this film is similar to what I also believe is an issue with the book (perhaps): most adults can enjoy it, because adults can theoretically relate to dying before their children. Teens, though, I think the book might not connect with everyone unless they are dealing with a parent that is ill. Honestly, I don't think I would have connected with the book at all when I was the target demographic. I'm fairly certain I would have found it childish. Like the film, there's something childish about Conor that I found off-putting. But as an adult, I can appreciate what he's going through.
Ultimately, I don't think it would hold the interest of teens, unless you can find a group of them that WANT to see it together.
Library Collection
Why not? I suppose someone might be upset by the bullying. It wouldn't go in the children's department, and I never hear of teens' sections having AV materials. There shouldn't be too much trouble putting it in the regular film collection.
Other Thoughts
The three stories are animated instead of live action. I think the animation is good, but it's jarring. I get why they did it for the narrative, though.
The monster was interesting. I suppose it is like most films where you get to see the monster up close and regularly: it becomes familiar and no longer frightening.
There's a lot of scenes that adults get how good they were filmed.
I felt that it was an ok film, and I'm a little disappointed, but it did convey the story nicely. No reason not to include it in your collection, though it is a few years old now. I'm waiting on the Chaos Walking Trilogy to be filmed.
