Review: Tina’s Mouth: An Existential Comic Diary by Keshni Kashyap; Illustrated by Mari Araki

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Brianna

Tina’s Mouth: An Existential Comic Diary by Keshni Kashyap; illustrated by Mari Araki. Houghton Mifflin, 2011. Currently available.

Genre: YA contemporary graphic novel.

Face Value: I found it eye catching. The golden graphics reminded me of henna tattoos I have seen, and I immediately wondered if Tina was a character of Indian descent. I was intrigued enough to pick it up off of the library shelf and eventually take it home with me. I had never heard of this book before I saw it at the library. If the cover was appealing enough to get picky old me to check it out, I’d say that it’s pretty good. I do not often check out or buy books that I haven’t heard of or read about beforehand.

Does it break the slate? Thoroughly. Tina’s existential journey promotes a level of introspection that we as a culture do not typically encourage of adolescent girls, and I see that as a good thing. If teen girls had more time and space to self-reflect, I firmly believe that high school would be less awful.

Who would we give it to?  Any teen girl, really. Tina’s experiences are rooted in her unique cultural heritage and school atmosphere, but there are many elements that translate to girls everywhere: finding oneself, figuring out crushes, and co-existing peacefully with your family.

Continue reading →

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Review: Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Sarah

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan. HarperTeen, 2012. Currently Available.

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Speculative Fiction

Face Value: This cover is cheesy, and conforms to a fair number of stereotypes, but it also sort of feels like it’s in on the joke. From the font to the standard love pose (populated though, not by the two men vying for Mel’s affection, but by the lovesick Francis and Cathy), this cover winks at the joke while still appreciating the genre – much like the book itself.

That said, I still took the book jacket off when I read it in public.

Does it Break the Slate?  Totally. This book succeeds both on the character level (Mel, with her sassy attitude and self-determination is absolutely a Slatebreaker) and on a larger commentary level, as it takes to task some of the less Slatebreaking elements in – ahem – some of the more popular vampire fiction out there.

Who would we give it to? What’s great about this book is that it’s going to appeal to both sides of a crowd – the vampire-lovers and the vampire-haters. Those suffering from eye-rolling vampire fatigue  will laugh out loud at the way Larbalestier and Brennan skewer the more annoying tropes of the genre but vampire devotees will still find a vampire story here, that plays by the rules and gives them something to latch on to. Plus it’s laugh-out-loud funny. Continue reading →

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Review: Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Brianna

Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer. Balzer + Bray, 2012. Currently available.

Genre: YA contemporary realistic fiction.

Face Value: Just one moment, please, as I climb up on my soapbox. Ok, I’m ready. PUTTING GLASSES ON A CUTE GIRL DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MAKE HER A NERD. Somehow, somewhere, cover designers decided that gorgeous girls wearing glasses equal awkward social outcasts. That is infuriating. But the attention-grabbing title goes a long way in making up for the cover image. Despite the irritatingly smug girl on the cover, I had to read this book because of that title.

Does it break the slate? Absolutely. Strohmeyer has written a terrific YA novel in the sassy, funny, and Slatebreaking vein of authors like Maureen Johnson. This book has just the right blend of serious self-reflection and situational humor.

Who would we give it to? The girls on the honor role. They need a break from all of their AP textbooks, and this is the perfect leisure reading to remind them that they are powerful and capable individuals. Continue reading →

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Review: Princess Academy and Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Sarah

Princess Academy and Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale. 2007 and 2012. Bloomsbury. Currently Available.

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Face Value: These covers aren’t that appealing to me. While I like very much that we see an actual girl that could be Miri based on the physical description, and certainly appreciate that we see her whole face, the images on the covers don’t tell us much. The thing is – these books are so much more than they present to the world. You wouldn’t  know, just from the covers, that you’re actually getting a complicated pair of stories about social classes and power and political revolution?

But maybe that’s a good thing. Even a great thing. Because these books also look marketable. One only has to go any place where items are marketed to girls to know that princesses have selling power. Read Peggy Orenstein’s fabulous book Cinderella Ate My Daughterfor a fascinating look at the way Princess Culture is marketed to girls and women. But within that Princess Culture, these books have real potential to make it into a lot of hands. And once that book is out there, it’s giving its (frequently young and female) readers a really important point of view. That seems both subversive and Slatebreaking.

Does it Break the Slate? This set of books would shatter a slate, even if it were made of linder. Miri is everything I could wish for in a Slatebreaking heroine – thoughtful, smart, brave, compassionate and willing to confront insurmountable obstacles to make life better for herself, her family and her community. But let’s be real, it’s not just Miri – any of these Mount Eskel girls could shatter a slate without thinking twice about it. Frid could do it with her bare hands. Katar with her ambition. Esa with her thoughtfulness. Shannon Hale has given us a dynamic cast of female characters who are insanely deserving of the Slatebreaker title.

But both of these books offer the reader more than just Slatebreaking characters. They give us a Slatebreaking worldview, encouraging its readers to think critically about power dynamics, systems of social classism, gender disparity and ethics.

Who would we give it to? Lots and lots of readers. This duo, as well as Hale’s Books of Bayern, would be first on my list for the fairy tale lovers, or kids who have read books like Ella Enchanted and loved them. Also, see my above comments in the face value section about how this book is going to plant big ideas in a lot of minds.   Continue reading →

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Joint Review: Drama by Raina Telgemeier

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Brianna

Drama by Raina Telgemeier. Graphix (Scholastic Imprint), 2012. Currently available.

Genre: Graphic novel, contemporary realistic fiction

Face Value: We love this cover because we loved the book, the cover perfectly exemplifies it. Graphic novels often have great covers, because the author is already creating a visual image for her characters in world – there’s no way she wouldn’t be involved in the design process. So like the book, the cover perfectly captures middle school, romance and theatre – everything we’re about to get in the story. Also – that title hits everything. Drama, in every sense of the word is the only appropriate title for this book.

Our only qualm here is with the back matter. The synopsis reads,

“Callie loves theatre, and while she would totally try out for her middle school’s production of Moon over Mississippi, she can’t really sing. Instead, she’s the set designer for the drama department’s stage crew.”

Um, hello? While many of us emerging theatre artists found ourselves in crew because we didn’t get cast, that couldn’t be farther from Callie’s situation. She is in love with set design – that is her art form and first choice. To suggest otherwise does the character a disservice and betrays the uniqueness of this story.

Does it Break the Slate? There’s no question. Not only does it show us the story of a middle school girl navigating confusing crushes in a self-determined way and young women with an artistic vision and the skills to back it up, it also presents multiple ways to look at the process of coming out in a totally elementary and middle school appropriate and accessible way.

Who would we give it to? This book should be mass distributed to elementary and middle school drama clubs and to those adults who were part of those clubs at one time. As theatre artists since childhood, we both related to this book in an all encompassing way. But you don’t have to love theatre to love Drama .The characters and emotional resonance will transcend the admittedly specific (and well researched) stage crew experience. Continue reading →

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Review: Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Sarah

Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2012. Currently Available.

Genre: Historical Fiction.

Face Value: Exquisite. This is another cover suitable for framing. In fact, this is a book that I wanted to read entirely because I noticed this cover on bookstore shelves awhile ago, and gave into purchasing after looking at it longingly enough times. I particularly love the muted colors, and the impeccable detail. When you look closely at the cover, you can see almost every element of the story (from the conjoined twins to the bicycle) included here.

Does it Break the Slate? Oh yes. Portia is a Slatebreaker. She starts out Slatebreaking because she persists in being herself, even when the world around her is asking her to be something different.  The whole book paints a Slatebreaking portrait of the options available to women at this point in time, and how one young woman might find a way around them.

Who would we give it to? Did you read The Night Circus? Did you find its fantastical setting magical but feel that its characters left something to be desired? Then The Wonder Show is for you. If you like innovative storytelling and well crafted characters, and are entranced by really great writing, you will find something here. I’d recommend this book to both readers of historical fiction and of fantasy. Continue reading →

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Review: Mothership by Martin Leicht and Isla Neal

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Brianna

Mothership by Martin Leicht and Isla Neal. Simon & Schuster, 2012.

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Face Value: Eye-catching, for sure. Ray guns! Outer space! And…a pregnant lady? I first saw this cover on the Forever Young Adult blog and it looked weird but intriguing, which is a combination that makes me run right to my library website and put a hold on a book. This bright, over-the-top cover is an indicator of the wild space adventures contained within it.

Does it break the slate? Yes. I initially thought this book would focus more on teen pregnancy and sexuality, but it was mostly space shenanigans. It was still Slatebreaking! Elvie, our star impregnated teenager, is one amazing lady. Even though she is almost ready to burst forth with a baby, she takes the lead in rescuing an entire ship of pregnant women from an alien invasion.

Who would we give it to? Teen readers who feel tepid about science fiction. This story is set in the future, but the U.S. American culture hasn’t changed too much, and this is more snark than it is science fiction. Readers who couldn’t quite get on board with the dramatic romance and tension of Across the Universe may find Mothership to be more to their taste.  Continue reading →

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Review: The Princesses of Iowa by M. Molly Backes

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Sarah

The Princesses of Iowa by M. Molly Backes. Candlewick, 2012. Currently Available.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Face Value: Surprisingly good. With a title like this one, there is a pretty serious potential for some egregious cover crimes, like girls in fancy dresses or sparkly crowns. But instead we get an endless expanse of fields, with blue sky and just a glimpse of the girl in the rearview mirror. Normally I don’t like disembodied images of girls faces or bodies on a cover, but because it actually just shows what you might normally see in a rearview mirror it reads as very intentional and aesthetically pleasing.

Does it Break the Slate? Paige falls into the category of emerging Slatebreaker – she’s definitely not defying expectations or taking the world into her own hands at the start of the book. But, as we would hope, we see her grow up throughout the book, to grow into herself and who she wants to be, and starts taking action to both fix things that have gone badly and to become the kind of girl she wants to be.

Who would we give it to? This is another contemporary realistic YA that will resonate with fans of If I Stay and the like. It’s thoughtful, with believable teen characters, and a good balance of emotional growth, engaging supporting characters and a reflection on the political landscape. Continue reading →

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Review: Purity by Jackson Pearce

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Brianna

Purity by Jackson Pearce. Little, Brown, and Company, 2012. Currently available.

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Face Value: Ok, this cover makes me laugh. The cover designer was clever enough to utilize the lock symbol to represent Shelby’s virginity, and then to make that lock open and just gradually hanging on to that chain. I appreciate that the cover represents the ‘precarity’ of Shelby’s situation, because she’s on the verge of making a decision. The cover is simple and bold, and I like that.

Does it break the slate? Yes. I knew that this would be a book about a chastity ball, so I started reading with certain expectations for plot and character. Pearce defied all of those expectations as she developed Shelby into a smart, self-assured, yet vulnerable character. She is making a decision that many, many girls have made before, but Pearce crafted a unique plot situation to make Shelby’s story more compelling than other virginity-oriented narratives.

Who would we give it to? This is a great book for girls who are struggling with parental relationships and feel that they can’t communicate with their parents. This book focuses on a relationship between a father and daughter, but it could spark a discussion between mothers and daughters too. Continue reading →

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Review: Messy by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Sarah

Messy by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. Poppy, 2012. Currently Available

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Face Value:  It reflects the story and avoids a headless girl, so 10 points to this cover right off the bat. Plus, I think the bright colors against the black background and the makeup lettering suggest just the right amount of campiness for this title.

Does it Break the Slate:  Unequivocally. More so, actually, than the first book. In Messy, we have two heroes, Max and Brooke, who both give us really different ways to be a Slatebreaker . Max is our more traditional Slatebreaking character with her quick wit, sarcasm and feminist values. But Brooke, who initially presents as a flaky Hollywood starlet is ultimately painted with a fair amount of depth, and desire to be taken seriously. The surprisingly sincere friendship that develops between the two of them is totally Slatebreaking.

Who would we give it to? Readers of the Fug Girls blog, obviously. But most likely they’ve already read it. Messy, and it’s precursor, Spoiled offer up the perfect blend of fluff and substance, tapping into LA culture, blogs, social networking, and a whole host of other contemporary things without ever feeling like an advertisement. Reading the book feels light – it’s not a mentally taxing read, and the pacing moves at kind of a Gilmore Girls fast talking speed. But it isn’t fluffy either – these characters and their story have substance and humor that really holds up beyond just a beach read. If you’re looking for a book to give someone who watches every show on the WB and reads every issue of Us Weekly, this is the perfect book, offering both style and substance.   Continue reading →

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