Review: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Sarah

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. Hyperion, 2012. Currently Available.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Face Value: When I first saw this book reviewed, back in February over at The Book Smugglers, I got really excited, because this is such a Sarah-book. Plus, it had this gorgeous cover, that I couldn’t wait to see on my bookshelves. Isn’t it pretty? I love the color palate, the silhouette, the font. The tagline, “I have told the truth” sends chills down my spine.

But then I got really disappointed because I thought the British release date was the US one, and I had to wait three months for my copy to come in from my local bookstore. And the US cover – well, it leaves a lot to be desired.

I mean, it’s not as bad as it could be, I suppose, and I like the soft texture of the book jacket. But the roped hands clasped together look a little more bondage-y than female pilots and wireless operators, and nothing is suggestive of the period at all. Luckily the book itself is good enough that it still gets to keep that place of honor on the bookshelves.

Does it Break the Slate? Oh. My. God. Yes. The slate is left shattered in a thousand tiny pieces. And not just because our two main characters are fantastic or that this is a book about women breaking boundaries during World War II. It’s also stylistically Slatebreaking, in the fact that this book, at its core, is about female friendship, celebrating that bond in a way that few books have.

Who would we give it to? This is an exciting one because it has potential appeal on a lot of levels. In fact, this book is going to the top of my “YA-Books-To-Give-To-People-Who-Say-They-Don’t-Read-YA”  list, because it is so incredibly rich, with complex storytelling and full of literary references. It appeals on the feminist angle, the WWII History angle, the edge-of-your-seat thriller angle and the beautifully rendered characters angle. In fact, let’s be clear. I loved this book. I’m going to give it to everyone.

Continue reading →

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Use Your Gray Matter: Summer Reading

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Brianna

Use Your Gray Matter: Summer Reading

Temperatures are rising and university courses are wrapping up. Soon, our friends in elementary, middle, and high schools will be out for the summer as well. Because I work with young people, my life pretty much revolves around the school year schedule – so it is around this time of year, when I see the word “May” on my calendar, that my mind turns to summer reading.

There is something magical about summer reading, and it’s hard to pin down exactly what makes it so wonderful. For me, it has to do with the freedom from required reading. I don’t have to read for school, and I don’t have to read as many articles related to my work. I feel the freedom to read books that are more frivolous than what I would typically read. A book that at a different time of year would never make it into my to-read pile is fair game for summer reading.

Even though I don’t actually have more time during the summer – in fact, I work probably the same amount of hours that I do during the school year – the season still feels full of leisure reading opportunities. With all of that wonderful reading potential, I need a plan to tackle the exciting challenge of summer reading. I develop strategies to use when carefully crafting my summer reading list. Some are practical, while others are merely fun. Here are the things I think about as I plan my summer reading: Continue reading →

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Review: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Sarah

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore. Penguin, 2012. Currently Available.

Joint Review: Since Brianna is moving to Wisconsin this week and we both have been excited about this one for awhile, we decided to take advantage of the opportunity and write a joint review while we could still sit on the same couch to write it.

Genre: Fantasy

Face Value: We love the illustrated covers, and the way the trilogy feels connected without being repetitive. The keys are actually a vital element to the story, noting that whoever designed the cover quite possibly read the book. All good signs. Only major downside is the slightly creepy girl’s face, obscured by the image in the background. It’s the most generic thing about this cover and the stock photo detracts from the beautiful illustrations. And this isn’t just the cover, but the illustrations by Ian Schoenherr embedded throughout the book are extraordinary and add so much to the story itself.

Does it Break the Slate? Absolutely. Obviously. There was no question, having read the first two books that this would be an overwhelmingly Slatebreaking read. The satisfying part was seeing in what ways the Slatebreaking elements were integrated. Bitterblue is a Slatebreaker in a totally different way than Katsa is. She’s vulnerable, she doesn’t have the physical capabilities of her predecessors in these books, we see her get scared. BUT this might even make her more of a Slatebreaker in the long run, because we see her confront her fear, confront her personal tragedies and emotional fallout in a complex, believable, dynamic and incredibly brave way. She is a character who confronts both the horrible things in her and her kingdom’s past, as well as the privilege inherent in her station and above all else wants to do the right thing.

Who would we give it to? Unlike Graceling and Fire, this one wouldn’t work as a standalone novel. But I would recommend this trilogy to any reader of fantasy and many people who generally avoid the genre too. Cashore creates a world with no plot holes or worldbuilding confusion that addresses contemporary political and social landscapes in a really powerful way. Continue reading →

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Review: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Brianna

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valence. Feiwel and Friends, 2011. Currently available.

Genre: Fantasy

Face Value: Simply enchanting. It presents as exactly what it is: a luscious fairy tale. The title forecasts the adventure that lies ahead, and the illustrated characters are intriguing and have a certain mysterious charm. The cover is what initially caught my attention, before I had heard anything about the book. My mother-in-law had a similar experience with the cover. She saw this book on my kitchen counter and was immediately drawn to it, asking all about the story and telling me that she wanted to borrow it as soon as I was done. This is a glorious example of illustration used to make an effective and intriguing book cover – none of that stock photo business needed, thank you very much.

Does it break the slate? Yes. The book is peppered with subtle references to the girl characters of classic fantasy stories, particularly Lewis Caroll’s Alice and Dorothy from L. Frank Baum’s Oz stories. Although these girls are clearly September’s literary ancestors, September navigates her strange new fantastical world with a level of confidence and aplomb that Dorothy and Alice lacked. September is most definitely a fantasy heroine with guts.

Who would we give it to? This is a tough call. The writing is very complex and the narration features a dry humor suited to young people reading at the YA level. However, our daring protagonist is a girl of 12, and would be an aspirational peer to readers at the middle grade level. I think this book would be good for a young reader who loves YA but wouldn’t mind reading about a character younger than him or her. Fantasy lovers both young and old will be able to really dig in to the amazing world that Valente has created.

Continue reading →

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Review: With a Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Sarah

With a Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo. Margaret Ferguson Books, 2011. Currently Available

Genre: Historical Fiction

Face Value: Gorgeous. I love this cover. I love the illustration. I love the look on Ollie’s face. I love the flyers falling out of her bag behind her and the trailer and the landscape in the background. This is one of those magical covers where whoever created it not only clearly read the book, but created a truly lovely piece of art to represent it. It’s also age appropriate, in that it will seem not babyish, but also decidedly middle grade for the 3rd-6th grade reader.

Does it Break the Slate? Yes. And also, no. Aspects of this book (the coming of age of Ollie and her sisters, the strength of her mother) are genuinely Slatebreaking, but there are distinct other elements (the playing out of the mystery) are surprisingly not. It doesn’t make the book not worth reading, but it does merit some context.

Who would we give it to? When I worked in a library a couple years ago I had a parent ask me to help her find books with non-preachy but actively religious characters, and I wish I’d had this one to point her to. Religion is an important and constant part of these characters’ lives and their narrative, but I never got the sense that Hilmo was preaching at us, or telling the reader how they should live their lives with regards to religion. Fans of Ruth White and  well-written small town stories will definitely find this book appealing. Continue reading →

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Review: The List by Siobhan Vivian

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Brianna

The List by Siobhan Vivian. Scholastic, 2012. Currently available.

Genre: YA Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Face Value: We’ve got a headless body count of three here, which is not ideal. However, the girl at the center of the image has all of her body parts. I do love the way the cover image captures the shock of being on the list. The girl’s facial expression conveys just how stunned she is, and she could be either the ugliest or the prettiest, we don’t know. These faceless bodies surrounding her are watching her reaction, and probably judging her. The cover does capture the unsettling feeling that underlies all of the girls’ stories throughout the book. My only concern is that the contemporary clothing styles might soon look dated, so it’s not really a cover with longevity. I can’t wait to see what they come up with for the paperback to convey that same icky sense of social discomfort.

Does it break the slate? Completely and totally. Vivian shatters the slate and sweeps away the pieces so that there’s nothing left. Siobhan Vivian has a keen sense of what it means to be a part of adolescent girl culture and what she writes feels real – almost painfully real, at times, because it’s so honest and feels familiar in a “been there, done that, don’t ever want to go back” sort of way. She writes in a way that points out the absurdity and hurtfulness of the teen girl social structure without making the reader feel guilty for being part of it. As I was reading, I experienced moments of deep regret for the mean, judgmental, and unfair things I have said about other girls and women. Reading The List encouraged me to take a hiatus from bodysnarking.  Since I finished the book a few days ago, I have tried to refrain from commenting on girls’ and women’s bodies. It’s tough because it has become so a part of the way we function as a culture, but I want to try to go at least a month without bodysnarking and hopefully cut it out of my life fully. Thanks to Vivian, I was inspired to change my behavior, and I think other readers may have a similar reaction to her bold, sharp story about the hurtful aspects of girl behavior.

Who would we give it to? Oh my goodness, everyone. I certainly want to give it to all of my female friends. I also want to give it to all of my female students, all of my male students, anyone who teaches or works with adolescents, anyone who was an adolescent…I think I want to order this book by the case and hand out copies like candy on Halloween.

There is one reader group to which I would not give this book: middle school girls about to start high school soon. If I had read The List before starting high school, you could not have paid me to walk through those school doors on the first day. I would have stepped off the bus and bolted for the parking lot. This book does not paint a pretty picture of the high school experience, and I would hesitate to give it to those readers who have not yet experienced high school. Not necessarily because of content relative to age, but because you at least want to have some shred of optimism remaining to carry you through freshman year. Continue reading →

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Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Sarah

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers. Houghton Mifflin, 2012. Currently Available.

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Face Value: Though this book has some signifiers that I usually don’t like, with a girl in a fancy dress looking off into the distance, I’ll give the book some serious credit for the fact that this fancy dress is actually a fancy dress that said girl wears during the book. And some more credit for the crossbow. And some more credit for the awesome tagline: “Why be the sheep when you can be the wolf?” Basically you know this book is going to be Slatebreaking as soon as you look at it, and who can really complain about that?

Does it Break the Slate? It’s about a 15th century convent that secretly trains assassins. So, yes, obviously. But also, even within the fantasy context, Grave Mercy is a complicated look at what life and options were like for a woman in the 1400s, and the characters in it go on their own, fascinating emotional journeys.

Who would we give it to? This would be a natural recommendation for readers who loved Graceling or die hard Buffy fans. It’s long, and has a lot of historical detail alongside the main plot, but will definitely appeal to a certain type of fantasy reader. Continue reading →

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Review: Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett & Illustrated by Jon Klassen

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Brianna

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Jon Klassen. Balzer + Bray, 2012. Currently available.

Genre: Picture book

Face Value: To die for. Jon Klassen’s illustrations throughout the book are worthy of framing, but the cover is especially dynamic. I love the knitted texture of the title lettering.

Does it break the slate? Yes, it does. It’s not a slate smashing kind of picture book in the way that Imogene’s Last Stand is, but it definitely challenges our ideas of what children can be capable of. Annabelle’s knitting is quietly rebellious rather than in-your-face, and that’s part of what makes her such an appealing character. She is understated in her Slatebreaking.

Who would we give it to? Resourceful, creative little ones who love to make things. They will connect with Annabelle and her creative use of the endless yarn.

Continue reading →

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Review: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Sarah

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth: Balzer + Bray, 2012 (Currently Available)

Genre: Slightly Historical / Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Face Value: Other cover artists take note. This is a beautiful, resonant cover that speaks to the book meaningfully without giving too much away. We see the girl, her whole body, but not too close up. We see the farmland, the vast landscape that evokes a sense of Cameron’s solitude. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

Does it Break the Slate? It totally does, even if its not always in the way that I want it to. Cameron does what she can with her situation and takes care of herself in the best way possible. Sometimes my reader-self really struggled with the horrible things that happened to Cameron, the way she was treated and her limited options. I wanted a big bold confrontation, where she fought the system and won. I didn’t’ get that, and that’s ok. Sometimes a quiet chipping away at the slate is what’s available to you, and it still totally counts. More details in the full review.

Who would we give it to? This is another great addition to your LGBTQA section of your library, and a really good choice for lovers of realistic fiction. Cameron’s journey is so empathetic, and the story is beautifully told. Small town life is really honestly captured.

Continue reading →

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Review: Vegan, Virgin, Valentine by Carolyn Mackler

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Brianna

Vegan, Virgin, Valentine by Carolyn Mackler. Candlewick Press, 2006. Currently available.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Face Value: Sigh. Another disembodied girl. So boring. I would much prefer the cover image to be a hot, melting, oh-so-sexy grilled cheese sandwich. (If that sounds weird, don’t worry – it will make sense later.)

Does it break the slate? Yes, although it leaves the job unfinished due to an abrupt ending. Right when Mara is on the verge of doing her most Slatebreaking action of the entire book, Mackler leaves us hanging. So frustrating! But prior to that major revelation, Mara undergoes smaller Slatebreaking changes. She learns to stop slut-shaming her niece. She sees value in alternative educational and career paths.

Who would we give it to? High school overachievers, including myself back when I was in high school. This book hadn’t been written yet, but I sure could have used something like it when I was frantically trying to live up to everyone’s expectations. Continue reading →

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