Review: Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Sarah

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King. Little, Brown and Company, 2012. Available October 23, 2012.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Face Value: When this cover was first released I didn’t really care for it. The photographic image seemed distinctly less powerful than the lovely, drawn covers I recognize from King’s previous books. But after reading the book, the cover grew on me quite a bit. Now, instead of a disembodied girl, I looked at this  cover and saw Astrid, looking up at the sky, reaching out to send love to the planes overhead. The light pouring in, the typeface of the title – it worked for me. The cover fits the book, and it works really well.

Does it Break the Slate? Oh Astrid, of course you do. This is an incredibly powerful Slatebreaking book about a girl coming to terms with who she is, with regards to sexuality, but also with regards to humanity. Then she tries to be the person she wants to be, while putting as much love as she can out into the world. This book is slate-shattering. Not that I would have expected anything less, given my previous experience with King’s work.

Who would we give it to? I’ve read a lot of terrific contemporary realism with LGBT characters recently and Ask the Passengers is one of the best. Like Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom, this is a book about some of the horrible things that can happen to you when you’re a gay high school student – it doesn’t shy away from them – but it’s also about a girl who manages to still be her awesome self. We really believe that it’s going to “get better” for her, even if it isn’t right now. With that in mind, there are a whole lot of young people who would benefit from reading her story. Continue reading →

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Review: Laugh With the Moon by Shana Burg

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Brianna

Laugh With the Moon by Shana Burg. Delacorte, 2012. Currently available.

Genre: Middle grade realistic fiction.

Face Value: I like this cover a lot. Even though it is definitely PINK, I find the silhouetted characters and landscape to be very striking. It caught my eye in a bookstore and led me to place a hold on a copy at the library before I even knew what the book was about.

Does it break the slate? I’ve been hemming and hawing about this as I describe the book to fellow readers. Yes, Clare is an outstanding female character who undergoes significant growth as the story progresses. But the continuous emotional roller coaster of the plot and the “white girl discovers the world” theme negate its value as a potentially Slatebreaking book.

Who would we give it to? Readers who are interested in learning about global cultures may find this interesting. It would be appropriate supplemental reading for students who are learning about Malawi in geography or social studies classes.  However, I would encourage the educator to closely read and analyze this book beforehand and to decide whether or not the sentimentality and portrayal of Malawian culture is something you are comfortable including in your classroom reading. It’s always good to do some research before you introduce a work of fiction as a means of exploring another culture.

Continue reading →

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Review: The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Sarah

The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George. Viking, 2012. Currently Available.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction.

Face Value: There are two covers for this book, and the one I picked up from my library (left) is great. Bright colors and simple line drawings, the space between Jesse’s boot and Emily’s ballet flat evokes the characters and the story without telling us too much. It’s so much better than this alternate cover (right), which is, boringly, two people kissing, and since you can’t see the faces you can’t even tell that it’s too girls kissing. Plus that awful curlicue font and pink/purple detailing doesn’t serve the book at all.

But I should be clear – let’s celebrate the fact that the simple, lovely, line-drawing cover seems to be the one released out in the wild! Thanks publishers!

Does it Break the Slate? Totally. I love when an author lets her characters be fabulously flawed, but still self-determined, strong characters. Plus, the fact that these characters are all, in their own ways, politically involved, is a great modeling of how to be an activist in your community.

Who would we give it to? There’s been a ton of great, not-over-issue-y Gay YA recently! This is fabulous – I hope we keep seeing more funny, sharp literature that features non-hetero protagonists. And I’d give this book to any teenager, gay or straight, who likes contemporary, mildly political romance. Continue reading →

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Guest Post: A Few Words about The Andre Norton Award with Carrie Vaughn

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Brianna

We have a special guest post for you today, and we could not be more thrilled to welcome author Carrie Vaughn to the Slatebreakers blog. We first learned about Carrie through frequent Slatebreakers reader Deb Vaughn. Deb helped us connect with Carrie and learn more about the Andre Norton Award and some fantastic, feminist fiction from the science fiction and fantasy genre. Without further delay…here’s Carrie!

Thanks to Brianna and Sarah (and to Deb for bringing us together!) for inviting me to write for Slatebreakers about one of my favorite things in the entire world:  science fiction and fantasy.  Specifically, the Andre Norton Award for outstanding young adult or middle grade science fiction and fantasy. Continue reading →

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Review: I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Brianna

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett. Doubleday, 2010. Currently available.

Genre: YA Fantasy

Face Value: I’m afraid to admit this, but…the cover is too “fantasy” for me. Fantasy is not a genre I typically read, but I make exceptions for Sir Terry. There’s definitely a headless female on this cover – that’s a pet peeve of mine, so it’s difficult to ignore that. And the wee blue men, who frankly look like cartoons, don’t really add to its appeal. If this cover didn’t say “Terry Pratchett” on it I would not have given it a second glance in a bookstore or library. This is the case with most fantasy covers that I see. Let’s give those fantasy books a makeover! In my opinion, more readers might cross into the fantasy genre if the covers didn’t have such a cliché look.

Does it break the slate? This is such a Slatebreaking book. My husband read Wee Free Men, as well as several of the Discworld books about witches, and has been telling me for ages that I would enjoy the feminist themes that emerge in those stories. My favorite Discworld plots were in the City Watch and Moist von Lipwig lines, so I never bothered to pick up the others. I am so glad that I finally did, because Tiffany Aching (the central character of this book) is one of the most Slatebreaking characters Terry Pratchett has created yet.

Who would we give it to? There are a gajillion Terry Pratchett fans out there, and I would give this book to them, but they’ve probably already read it. So, who would enjoy this book other than someone who is already a Pratchett devotee? I Shall Wear Midnight is an excellent “gateway” book to the fantasy genre because Discworld bears many resemblences to the world in which we live. Yes, there is magic and tiny leprechaun-like creatures and a fairly rigid system of nobility, but the Discworld novels tend to be palatable even to those who don’t enjoy reading fantasy often. I would not describe myself as a fantasy reader, but I read one Discworld novel and was hooked. And even though this book is the fourth in the Tiffany Aching line of Discworld novels, I have not read any of the others and I think it stands alone quite well. Continue reading →

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Review: The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Sarah

The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman. Small Beer Press, 2011. Currently Available.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction

Face Value: What I like about this cover is the way it captures the story – the line drawings manage to be evocative of both time periods of the book, the 1960s and the 1860s. It plays a little young – middle schoolers will probably be more likely to pick this up based on the cover than high schoolers will, but overall, I think it’s a lovely, effective piece of cover art.

Does it Break the Slate? Oh my goodness YES. This is a slate-shattering book, on many levels, both explicit and more subtle. In The Freedom Maze, Sherman has given us a wonderfully empathetic Slatebreaking heroine in Sophie, and a meaningful perspective on race, gender and families in two different historical contexts that translate beautifully to contemporary readers.

Who would we give it to? I think this should make its way into the middle school required reading list. It’s a compelling story, with meaningful historical and contemporary context about race, gender and humanity. But more specifically, I think this will appeal to both lovers of historical fiction and more fantastical time travel stories. Sophie is a reader, and she makes her reckless wishes inspired by Edward Eager’s time traveling children. Lovers of Eager’s work who are ready for something a little grittier will find a lot to love in this narrative. Continue reading →

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Review: Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Brianna

Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen & Heidi E. Y. Stemple. Illustrated by Anne-Sophia Lanquetin. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2010. Currently available.

Genre: Picture book

Face Value: This cover is amazing. The girls are hard at work turning the cover from a pink monstrosity to an eye-catching multicolored billboard. I like that the cover conveys the fun, positive tone of the book. I like that it’s appealing not only to very young girls but perhaps also those readers who may have outgrown picture books, but enjoy a good read-aloud every now and then.

Does it break the slate? Yes, but not in a way that will shock or offend. It is a gently Slatebreaking book. Although I am a fan of the bold and brassy Slatebreaking character, I also understand that we need books of a more moderate tone to advance the idea that girlhood is not easily defined.

Who would we give it to? This is a great book for any very young girl who may have been teased or criticized for not fitting into someone else’s idea of what a girl should be.  It could also be a great gift for the “very princessy” girls who wear tulle and tiaras on a regular basis, and may need a book that encourages them to broaden their concept of what it means to be a girl in power. Continue reading →

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Review: A Certain October by Angela Johnson

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Sarah

A Certain October by Angela Johnson. Simon & Schuster, 2012. Currently Available.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Face Value: This cover is perfect. I love it. I can’t stop looking at it. Were I a librarian or bookseller, this would be one of the books I was constantly shifting position so that it could be standing face out, grabbing attention of potential readers. It looks totally modern, but still classic – it’s not going to seem dated in six months. First, we have a girl, a black girl, a real-looking girl, with braids, on the cover, not obscured or hidden at all. Scotty is the hero of this book and she is the star of this cover. I love the colors and the typeface, and the way they suggest fall without actually having anything to do with fall. I love the emotion on the girl’s face, that hints at the depth of emotion in the book. All publishers should take note of the exquisite crafting of this book.

Does it Break the Slate? Yep, this is one of those books that quietly chips away at a slate, when you’re not even really realizing it’s happening. At the start of the book, Scotty sees herself as a side character in her friends lives, “like tofu – it’s what gets added that makes it interesting.” But then, as some terrible and wonderful things happen, we see Scotty start to take center stage in her own life.

Who would we give it to? Despite it’s size, this short novel is not a simple book. Like in her previous novels, Johnson doesn’t spell out all the details for her readers, and pushes us to find the depths of emotion hidden between the sparse, elegant sentences. But this is a book that a lot of readers will find resonance in, given the time to find the rhythm of the story. And because it is short – less than 200 pages with plenty of white space on the pages – it might bring in some more reluctant readers. Continue reading →

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Review: The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Brianna

The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery. Philomel Sleuth, (2006). Currently available.

Genre: Middle grade mystery/historical fiction

Face Value: This is a terrific cover illustrated by Peter Ferguson. I love Enola’s hunted look, her bicycle, her period-specific clothing, and the twisting trees in the background. This cover conveys the notion that something is amiss, which is exactly what a good mystery cover should do. This is also a pleasantly sophisticated cover illustration for a middle grade novel.

Does it break the slate? Absolutely. I learned about Enola through this blog post from The Nerdy Book Club. When I started the book, I was a little disappointed with Enola. She wasn’t as bold and brassy as I had hoped. BUT WAIT!  Enola undergoes a major philosophical shift that helps her grow into an absolutely Slatebreaking young woman. And I believe that’s what makes Enola such a wonderful character for young readers: they get to experience her change in perspective while reading.

Who would we give it to? Mystery lovers, especially kids who enjoy the original Sherlock Holmes stories. Adults who can’t get enough of Sherlock on the BBC or are eagerly anticipating Elementary on CBS will also enjoy reading about Enola. Continue reading →

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Review: The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Sarah

The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford. Scholastic, 2012. Currently Available.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction (with a bit of fantasy-ish)

Face Value: Classic, standard middle grade. This cover doesn’t grab me and scream “Read Me Now” but it’s totally classic upper elementary cover art, and I can’t complain about that. The tree branches, the scrawled title on notebook paper – it captures the intent of the book and will appeal to readers of both genders.

Does it Break the Slate? Yes. The Secret Tree captures an incredibly recognizable moment in life, when your world, your friendships, and your perspective are shifting, whether you want them to or not. In Minty, Standiford has written a Slatebreaking character who has to make the shift from childhood to whatever comes next. She isn’t sure if she wants to, but she finds a way to grow up without losing herself in the process. Plus, it features Roller Derby, possibly the most Slatebreaking of all athletic activities!

Who would we give it to? Kids in elementary school who are just on the verge of pre-teenness, who might be ready for all that brings and might not be. Minty’s journey will resonate deeply with that age group. Continue reading →

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