Review: The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Sarah

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour: Dutton Books, 2012 (Currently Available)

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Face Value: This cover is immediately appealing to me. I love the colors and the way, between the sunglasses and the hipster t-shirt, it totally screams “summer road trip” even if you didn’t know that’s what it was about. Yeah, there’s a slight cutoff on the face, but even beneath the sunglasses, it still looks like a specific person, not a generic model.

Here’s the thing about it though. Until I was a few pages in, I had no idea the protagonist was a boy (Colby being a fairly gender neutral name). It’s his story. So why is there a girl on the cover?

Through a critical lens, there are a few ways to read this, and I haven’t decided what I think yet. In one reading, we’re looking at an awesome role reversal. Instead of a female protagonist or author being played down to suggest “don’t worry boys! You can still read this!” we have a book from a boys point of view that looks like it’s about a girl! And it is, in a lot of ways – most of the other characters in the book are female. Bev is a hugely important part of Colby’s story.

But in another reading, here we have a classic case of the Male Gaze. Here we have a book, from the point of view of a boy. So by putting Bev, the object of Colby’s affection on the cover, we’re seeing her through his eyes. We’re looking at a woman through the lens of the male perspective, the male narrator

So what do you guys think? Do you like the cover? Is it misleading? Does it fit the book! I can’t decide!

Does it Break the Slate? It totally does. This is only the second book we’ve reviewed on this blog that features a male protagonist (the other was Everybody Sees the Ants. Interestingly, both of these books are by female writers). But what’s great about Colby is that he’s a totally feminist 18 year old dude. And he doesn’t need to go through a transformation during the book to understand these values – they are already instilled in him at the outset. He thinks girl bands are brilliant. He respects his female friends – in fact he surrounds himself with interesting, smart women. He knows a lot about Riot Grrl for crying out loud! I love this kid. And how cool is it to see this type of comfortably feminist male protagonist at the center of a teen novel? A feminist journey is great, but that’s not the journey Colby is on. He’s already there. His journey throughout the book is more personal, and that’s still a really interesting one to read about.

Who would we give it to? Music fans and hipsters. Seriously, this is a very cool book. Nina LaCour’s writing style is edgy and fun and relatable and she has a ton of music references peppered throughout the book. It’s set in San Francisco. The main characters just graduated from an arts high school. There’s a type of reader that will be all over this book.

But also, it’s a road trip book! Which is really fun for summer. And it’s all about the indecision and moment of transition in between high school and whatever happens next. And I think there are a ton of readers who will really relate to that. Continue reading →

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Review: Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Brianna

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian. Scholastic, 2010. Currently available.

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Face Value: Terrible. Just terrible. I cannot take this book anywhere unless I peel off the dust jacket. I even feel the need to conceal it within my own home, because I left it on the table and then a friend who came over saw it and exclaimed, “Brianna, WHAT are you reading?” She then proceeded to wave it in my face and mock me for reading romance/erotica. No matter how carefully I explain that this book is a sophisticated fictional exploration of how adolescents handle their sexuality, nobody will listen to me because it has that cover. It’s not that I’m opposed to teen characters being overtly sexual, it’s just a matter of being able to read a book in public without having everyone raise their eyebrows. It would be worse if I were still a teenager. If I brought home that book from my library my mom would have asked questions, for sure.

Does it break the slate? Vivian has written a nuanced story about teen sexuality and rigid gender expectations limiting adolescent girls’ experiences. This book is Slatebreaking much in the same way that The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is Slatebreaking – a prep school girl realizes that she’s fed up with the limited options for being a “good girl” and does something about it. Where Frankie takes subversive action, Natalie’s choices in Not That Kind of Girl are more personal, and the change is not school-wide but rather an individual revelation. Natalie sets a powerful, and wonderful, example of personal change that will resonate with teen girls struggling with similar sets of rigid gender expectations.

Who would we give it to? Anyone who attends a high school that is uptight about adolescent sexuality. So that’s probably everyone who attends high school. Continue reading →

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Review: May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Sarah

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2012 (currently available).

Genre: Historical Fiction, Poetry

Face Value: This is a fantastic cover. In fact, this is a book I wanted to read because I saw the cover and picked it up in the bookstore. I can’t stop looking at it. Here we have a cover that looks both totally historical – no misconception that we aren’t on the prairie, but also totally hip. The silhouette, the falling snow, the homestead in the background. Plus, the use of illustration and silhouette, as opposed to photographs, let’s May’s face be visible, without projecting an overly specific visual of her to the reader.

Does it Break the Slate? YES. Mavis Elizabeth Betterly, or May B. is determined to survive and she uses her intelligence, resources, and resolve to survive a prairie winter alone.

But even outside of her fight to survive, May B. is a Slatebreaker. Here we have a young woman who can identify what she wants in life and takes steps to get there. Reading is challenging for her, due to her learning disability, but she doesn’t give up. She sees possibilities for herself outside of the confines of her situation, both literally, trapped in alone in the sod house, or on a larger scale, as a young woman facing a future on the homestead.

Who would we give it to? The audience for this book is pretty easy. Any self-respecting Little House fan will be swept up in the details of May’s life on the homestead and on the edge of her seat as the snow starts to accumulate. But for those who express interest in prairie life but can’t quite get into Laura Ingalls Wilder’s description-heavy prose, the crisp simplicity of May’s poems will make for a quick and easy read. Continue reading →

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Review: Giants Beware! by Rafael Rosado and Jorge Aguirre

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Brianna

Giants Beware! by Rafael Rosado and Jorge Aguirre. First Second Books, 2012. Currently available.

Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel

Face Value: I love it. The whole terrific cast of child characters graces the cover, with Claudette front and center, taking the lead. I also love the title – we get a sense of the fantastical adventure upon which these young characters will embark. Also, if you look close, there is the shape of a giant emerging from the clouds – creepy but suspenseful!

I showed this cover to several friends, telling them how excited I was about this book featuring a young female giant-hunter, and they said, “But isn’t that a little boy?” We then launched into long discussions about Claudette’s androgyny and what that means for gender in graphic novels…but I’ll talk more about that once I get to the heart of the review.

Does it break the slate? This is the most tremendously Slatebreaking middle grade book I have read in months. It may even be my most Slatebreaking book of 2012 so far. Not only does it feature a brave, exciting female lead character, it also includes healthy female friendships, a strong brother-sister bond, and a respectful father-daughter relationship. Oh yeah, and the little boy character (Claudette’s brother, Gaston) defies gender stereotypes. So there’s a whole lot of Slatebreaking going on between those covers. First Second Books is really nailing it with the Slatebreaking graphic novel titles for young readers (they also published Anya’s Ghost).

Who would we give it to? Entire elementary school classrooms. I’m serious – this story features elements of the hero’s journey, includes magical elements that would fit well within a fairy tale unit, and I predict it would be a hit with reluctant readers. This is a book that both boys and girls will love. Although the leader of the child giant-hunters is a girl and there are dynamic female characters throughout the story, there’s nothing that marks this book as marketed directly “for boys” or “for girls.” Plus there’s lots of barfing, so that will win over young readers. When you’re a kid, few things rival the hilarity of bodily function jokes. (Ok, I admit it, maybe that’s the case for me still as an adult.)

Continue reading →

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Review: Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Sarah

Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson. Nancy Paulsen Books, 2012 (Currently Available)

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Face Value: This is a classy cover. Nothing about it either glamorizes drugs, sensationalizes drug addicts or resorts to scare tactics. No faces. Bleak, textured color. White powder hovers around the second “o” in moon, but it’s not exactly obvious right away. This book has both street cred and librarian cred. Nicely done.

Does it Break the Slate? It does. Beneath a Meth Moon breaks the slate because there just aren’t that many books out there that talk about nice kids who end up addicted  and start to find their way back. Not in a real way, in a way that balances gritty realism with just enough hopeful potential. Not in a way that makes you care deeply about our heroine without ever forgetting the depth and danger of her addiction. It’s heartbreaking. But it’s also Slatebreaking because there are a whole lot of young women out there who need narratives like this.

Who would we give it to? I read this book because Jacqueline Woodson is one of my all time favorite authors. If she wrote it, I know it’s going to be good. But I think there’s a huge market for this kind of books. Because Woodson so carefully balances despair and hope, and because nothing in the writing feels even remotely inauthentic, I think that this book will appeal to young who are, have been, or have been impacted by meth addicts. And I think this book could do a whole lot more than a lot of existing anti-drug programs when it comes to convincing you that this is a drug to stay away from without demonizing those who are addicted. Continue reading →

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Review: Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Brianna

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy by L.A. Meyer. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2002. Currently available.

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Face Value: Here we have a curious tale of two covers for one book. I have seen both in stores and on library shelves, and they are so wildly different that we need to do a compare-and-contrast right here, right now. First, the illustrated cover.

It’s not bad at all. I like the sense of movement – it’s reminds me of a still from an action movie. But Jacky looks so young and androgynous in this picture that I can imagine it was hard to have this on a shelf in the YA section. If I were a young reader perusing through YA and saw this cover, I might think that it was a middle grade novel that had been incorrectly shelved.

Now, the photo cover:

 WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?! Yes, this cover feels distinctly more YA, but they couldn’t have been more off the mark with their portrayal of Jacky.  Her hair is gracefully billowing in the wind, but in the book Jacky took great care to keep her hair either short or concealed and she would never, ever have let it whip in the wind while out on deck. Also, the blue-green tint of this cover makes this book look like a paranormal romance but it’s totally not. Ugh. Looking at this cover for too long raises my blood pressure.

Does it break the slate? Yes yes yes! Jacky is clever in her use of the skills she already has, and whatever she doesn’t know she is willing to learn. She’s assertive and although she might be the smallest “boy” she doesn’t let anyone push her around. What I think is most admirable, however, is how Jacky still owns her femininity, yet won’t let that interfere with her ambition to climb the ranks and someday be the captain of her own ship.

Who would we give it to? This is THE book for readers who loved The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle but need something a little more grown-up. It’s also an excellent gift for any young readers who are obsessed with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, because it offers much stronger female characters than you will find in any of those films. Continue reading →

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Review: Sparks by S.J. Adams

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Sarah

Sparks by S.J. Adams Flux, 2011 (Currently Available)

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Face Value: Worth looking at. There’s nothing truly extraordinary or breathtakingly beautiful, but it avoids all the major cover disasters, so we’ll give it a thumbs up. No disembodied girls or giant faces or pastels. The single image on the clean white background is actually from the book and relevant to the plot. So all in all, it’s hard to complain.

Does it Break the Slate? Yes, absolutely. Debbie is sort of a “Slatebreaker-on-the-brink” when we first meet her. She’s been making the vast majority of her decisions for the past few years based on her best friend Lisa, who she’s secretly in love with. But when she snaps into action, she starts to really take action on her own behalf.  I feel like she finds herself on a Slatebreaking journey of sorts as the book goes on. Plus, Emma and Tim are great supporting, Slatebreaking instigators.

Who would we give it to? This is a book for someone looking for a coming out story told with humor and far more internal than external angst. It’s a quick read and a great addition to library bookshelves if you’re looking to build your LGBTQ-friendly selection. Continue reading →

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Review: Pearl Verses the World by Sally Murphy

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Brianna

Pearl Verses the World by Sally Murphy. Candlewick Press, 2011. Currently available.

Genre: Middle Grade Poetry

Face Value: So endearing. Heather Potter’s illustrations have a gentle beauty. I would want to have this cover as a poster print on my wall. It’s intriguing but also soothing, somehow. Pearl looks expectant, bright, and ready to be your best friend. Don’t you just want to sit down and read this book from cover to cover immediately? Plus, the title is a pun. Puns are the best!

Does it break the slate? Yes, it really does. This poem follows Pearl through a major life change, and throughout it all she shows how resilient she is. Although Pearl has a lot of questions, she still has a strong sense of who she is at her core. She also keeps a clear head through some irritating drama at school and is totally admirable in the way she navigates social situations.

Who would we give it to? My first instinct is to share this book with young people who are coping with the loss of a grandparent – but then again, that might result in a great deal of tears because this is a book that threatens to induce a serious crying jag. Any child who is losing a loved one – whether through death, a change in family structure, or a move – would find something to connect with in Pearl’s story.

Continue reading →

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Review: All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Sarah

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2011 (Currently Available)

Genre: Dystopian

Face Value: This is a cover that drew me in right away. It features some things I really love. The chocolate heart image I could take or leave, but I love the blank white space, the way the numbers heighten the message of the title and the ‘look-closer-to-read-it’ hook lines that set up the story to be seriously compelling. It’s way, way better than the giant face on the paperback cover, to be released in May.

Does it Break the Slate? Unequivocally. Anya basically has the weight of the world on her shoulders, and she handles it astonishingly well. She’s constantly trying to balance her own wants and needs with her responsibility to her family, she’s a fierce protector of the people she loves and very few people want to mess with her. She handles some seriously horrible situations with about as much grace as one could possibly manage, and tries to do the right thing even when it means doing something she doesn’t want to do. Plus, dumping a tray of lasagna on your insane jerk of an ex-boyfriend is not unlike breaking a slate over somebody’s head when provoked.

Who would we give it to? This is a very different kind of dystopia. I think I’d save this one for someone experiencing dystopia burnout, or interested in exploring the genre while still maintaining some of the traditional features of contemporary realism. At its heart this is a story about love and family. The futuristic setting creates a fascinating backdrop, but it’s much more people than plot. Continue reading →

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Review: The Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Brianna

The Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011. Currently available.

Genre: Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

Face Value: This cover is dynamite. The illustrator, Abigail Halpin, created this vivid depiction of Dini’s new setting – her new home in India. I love the bright colors, Dini’s sweet but smart attitude, and the gorgeous typography of the title. The best part is that the cover also includes clues as to Dini’s struggles. If you flip the book over, you follow the flight path from Maryland to India and you get to see Maddie standing there with a phone. This cover establishes the central conflict of the story without spoiling any of the fun. I would love to see more of this kind of cover on the shelves.

Does it break the slate? Yes! Dini is Slatebreaking because she is acutely aware of the level of agency she has in her world. She knows that her parents are in charge and that they don’t take her seriously, so she takes charge in her own way and creatively changes her circumstances. Dini is also a keen observer of human behavior. She pays much more attention to the world than the adults around her, and her observations lead to insights that often surprise the grown ups. Dini reminded me that I should never, ever, underestimate a young person.

Who would we give it to? Girls whose families have recently relocated. Moving is tough, and if any character will comfort a girl who is trying to fit in a new place, Dini will.

Continue reading →

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