"Dreamland" by Sarah Dessen

When it comes to uber-popular authors like Sarah Dessen, I don't always get around to reading their work as quickly as I would like.  I'm a slow reader, and I don't like to take books out of the hands of eager teens if I can avoid it.  So, it was serendipity that I was able to get this title as an eBook from the DC Public library -- for reading on my new iPad, supplied by my employer.  I saw Ms. Dessen at the National Book Festival last year and enjoyed listening to her.  She is a funny, energetic and upbeat presenter, whose overall persona belies her age.  She seemed like a bouncy post-college girl with her short skirt, high heels and big earrings (she is actually in her 40s).  Obviously, her ability to stay in touch with that younger self is a big part of what makes her books so successful.  Students say that her work "speaks to them" and it is easy to see why.  The descriptions are clear -- I could picture every setting, every person, in my mind.  Details like "tinkling silver bracelets" bring important undertones to the story.  The characterizations in "Dreamland" are so realistic that I found myself comparing the characters to people I know, analyzing how the relationships in the book reflect mine, particularly where mothers and daughters are concerned.  Sarah Dessen's bubbly personality may make it easier for her to reach the younger set with her writing, but it's still a mystery as to where she draws such dark tales from.  Dubbed "Jodi Piccoult Jr." for her troubled themes, "Dreamland" was a book that got me in ways I didn't expect.  It starts out as typical teen novel -- there is family upset and resulting stress.  But then it turns.  I just had this knot in my stomach as Caitlin, the teenage girl at the center of the story, makes dramatic changes to her life.  Like many teens, she idealizes situations which I, as an adult, know won't end well, but Ms. Dessen is neither arch nor judgmental.  She stays true to who Caitlin is, and where she is, and lets the story happen.  This, as I have written about so often in the past few months, is good writing.  The author isn't superimposing, she simply draws a strong set of characters and events, then lets the book go to where it needs to go.  Without giving too much away, this is a tale with physical abuse, and Ms. Dessen got every detail right.  I wonder, having read the book, whether/how she did the research to make this story so authentic.  In the end, it isn't the "moral lessons" that come out, as they do in those achingly preachy teen tomes, but a sense of struggle and survival, of working to find oneself  -- something that is lost by so many teens -- that comes through.  It's upbeat without being overly clean and the complexity that is life remains.  I did laugh at the lack of cellphones and computers (the book has a 2000 copyright).  Amazing to think of how relationships have changed these days because of technology, although I expect Ms. Dessen would have could have found a way to tell this story regardless of time period.  While a distressing read in some ways, it was far better than I expected for an author sometimes dismissed by critics as "chick-lit."  I look forward to reading the next book of hers that I can actually get my hands on.

"Sirena" by Donna Jo Napoli

This one has been on the "to read" list forever.  While I knew that it had been a popular title a few years back, and knew that it was Greek myth book (hit those Rick Riordan fans!) I had little idea how stunningly good this book was.  More lyric than I would expect for a popular middle school book (with more frankness on sexuality than I would have expected), the concept of "rich" doesn't even begin to describe this book of literary excellence.  And no, one doesn't usually associate popular books with books that English teachers like, but this one somehow manages to make the marriage work -- most probably because the lead character's voice is so compelling.  Sirena is a mermaid.  She is young, wistful, and a little foolish.  She is a dreamer who doesn't just want love, she craves it.  Using elements from Homer's Odyssey and tales of the Trojan War, Sirena comes across that which she desires.  The question becomes, what happens when your dreams are fulfilled?  This is a love story, a predictably sad one.  It is most definitely not Disney.  But it is a story told with grace and gentleness and beauty.  There are five "parts" to the book.  Each has the cover image preceding, but as the story progresses, each image is zoomed in.  The final part has a close-up on Sirena's face, showing a plethora of emotions.  For a simple tale, it was an amazingly complex read which had me running for "Greek Myths" by Olivia Coolidge.  Those who have read the Percy Jackson books (comical, in comparison) will have more familiarity with the cast of characters, but still may not know the human at the center of this story.  It definitely was a keeper -- a book I thought a lot about after I finished it and one that most definitely had me "turning the page."  Fewer students have picked it up off the shelf lately -- time for a revival, I say.

"Glimmer" by Phoebe Kitanidis

This book started as a "4" and dropped to a "2" as I read it. In terms of a "what if" the concept was top-notch.  "What if" you woke up with no memory of who you are?  "What if" the town you are in is ... very strange?  The problem was in execution.  Kitchen sink plotlines (too much randomness thrown in) and inconsistencies in characterization and storyline made this not so much a page-turner for me, but a having-to-push-through-to-finish it story.

***Spoiler Alert***  "She" and "He" wake up to find themselves naked in bed.  They have no personal memories but they are not blank slates -- they understand the world around them, just not their place in it.  The chapters alternate between the two teens as they try to piece together what has happened.  This was the first problem for me -- their voices are not overly distinctive.  As usual, I was unable to read the book through in a few sittings and had to go chapter by chapter during some brief free moments.  I was constantly having to turn back to the chapter headings to remind myself who was speaking.  The biggest difference, over time, is that the boy swears a lot.  Beyond setting him up as a stereotypical male teen and making this book unacceptable for lower level readers, I really didn't see the point.   The other issue is that the chapters tell the story sequentially, with "him" picking up directly after "her" ... until the last third or so of the book, when it suddenly switches to concurrent action -- "she" and "he" relating their views of the same time period.  While I understand the need for this change as the tale progresses, I feel that changing story structure to advance plot is generally distracting and not indicative of good writing.  The number one rule in fantasy is that you can create anything you want, but you must remain consistent in what you create.

Within the first few chapters, there is a huge hint as to what is going on when a man bursts in the room and utters the word "wards" -- giving away a big chunk of the plot.  I wonder if the author felt compelled to hint at things rather than let them unfold, as it felt like heavy-handed foreshadowing.  As the two wander about town, they look in mirrors and reflections to figure out who they are.  Here is another complaint -- and a frequent one from me.  The girl describes herself as "looking younger than her age -- a blond cheerleader type, like a pissed off Disney princess."  The cover looks like a 25 year-old party girl from New York city with a substance abuse problem.  To all publishers out there:  For the love of all that is holy, can you please reconcile cover art with at least some of the story details?

There is a sense of "incompleteness" with this story.  The big jock is a jerk.  Or he is abusive.  Or he isn't.  Or he's just a dupe.  How are we supposed to feel about him?  It's never clear.  "She" meets her dad, but then hides in a closet and runs away.  Was there an interaction between them?  Unclear.  Magic is accepted in this world, with occultists who can be hired, but no one has ever thought that maybe there is some magic at work in this strange little town.  "She" is abused by step-dad, an oft-worn plot, okay; but then she remembers being abused by someone else.  It's a lot of abuse.  Are we dealing with issues much?

In the end, I had too many beefs.  There were so many themes thrown in -- ghosts, Native Americans, magic, labyrinths, eternal life, identity vs stereotype, alcoholism, depression, mommy issues, family abuse, etc etc.  It just felt like "stuff" being piled on rather than necessary elements of the story being incorporated or woven into the telling.  I also didn't warm up to the protagonists.  The two teens go through more emotions in an hour than most of my students do in a week.  I get teen angst, but this just made them seem bipolar and unlikable.  There is a premise here that you become a different person (in the girl's case, 180 degrees different) if your memory is erased.  The concept is critical to the climax, but there was little to explain or support this idea, and I just didn't buy it.  And the author got the labyrinth part wrong, IMHO.  The idea that one can break a curse by walking around the outside of a labyrinth rather than actually traveling it is bizarre -- labyrinth myths are based on the concept that one "travels" the path; failing, learning and discovering along the way (see Ursula K. LeGuin's Farthest Shore trilogy).  After the two characters had made their journey to find themselves, the idea that they could solve the puzzle by walking a circle (albeit under water) felt like a cheat.

All issues are nicely resolved in a big bow at the end, with a (nearly) happily ever after.  The girl's convenient skills as a lifeguard help with the final crisis and all is well.  It's not quite Prince Charming waking up Snow White, but it comes close.

So, clearly, I didn't care for it, which is sad because I was sure I would when I started it.  For better him/her tales, try "The Wanderer" by Sharon Creech or "So Hard to Say" by Alex Sanchez.

"Close to Famous" by Joan Bauer

It's been interesting these last few months.  I've read a lot of books that land solidly in the middle school ethos, with characters ranging from age 10 to age 13.  Some have been very good, but many have hit my sore spot by being overly preachy.  If there is one thing that young adult novels don't need is another one of those "hit you over the head with the lesson/moral/point" stories.  As loaded as this book is with messages, it somehow avoids any kind of didactic tone.  Perhaps it is an example of a tale well-told.  When the story is compelling and well-woven; the characters engaging, interesting and real, the lessons feel like part of the tale instead of something awkwardly piled on top because it's a "book for children."  As has been evidenced by so many novels of late, a good book is a good book for all.  And this is a good book.  The young protagonist, Foster, is a child who struggles but sees the good.  She is a strong spirit who rises above those who would see her put down (yes, that is a small reference to the cooking theme of the book).  She has dreams and is fierce about pursuing them.  Begun as a car chase in the night, this entertaining story about a girl who is a maestro in the kitchen gently touches on the darker elements of the adult world around her.  Maybe that's why there are so many stories written about kids of this age.  It is a magical time when kids still believe that any battle can be won with perseverance, determination and heart.  Filled with colorful, unique, and unexpected characters, this is a story with lots of delightful twists and oodles of heart -- charm, but not saccharine.  It is a genuine story, and one I really enjoyed reading.  One very minor quibble ... the book made me hungry.  Ms. Bauer, please include recipes at the end!

Oddly, I thought a lot about race when reading this book.  After the sad blog comments about skin color in the casting of the Hunger Games movie, I started thinking about how we perceive characters based on color.  Foster's mother is obviously mixed race and Foster is most certainly a bit of a mix herself (not fully or accurately portrayed by the cover of the book).  Several characters are likely African American -- but beyond a quick description Foster gives of her mother's heritage and a description of herself in a bathroom mirror, specific skin color is not mentioned.  Does it matter?  It shouldn't.  But it is interesting how "picturing a character" is important when reading a book.  Did I picture some characters as white and others black?  Yes.  Does it have any effect on the plot?  No.  Was I "right" about skin color?  Probably not.  What does all that mean?  I don't know.  But it's worth mentioning the preconceptions we bring with us into literature.  And it's worth thinking about how that impacts the world we choose to see outside of books.

Anyway.  Until next time.  Eat a cupcake.  And read this book.

"The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

***Spoiler Alert***

Popular author Wendelin Van Draanen has tackled an oft-written story -- the high school athlete who loses a limb in a motor vehicle accident.  Jessica is a compelling character and the beginning definitely pulls you in ... but ... the book didn't hold my attention throughout as it became somewhat "pat" IMHO.  I like happy endings and it's always nice to have an inspiring tale, but I couldn't help but be reminded of the random CW teen show.  There are boys, and a mean girl, a strict teacher, etc etc.  Van Draanen avoids being overly pedantic, as many of these novels are, and goes into detail on the amputation and prosthetics in a way I've never seen.  The medical portion of the book is really interesting but it feels like many aspects of Jessica's recovery are glossed over.  She gets out of the hospital in eleven days.  Perhaps this is possible, it just seems very fast.  Similarly, Jessica gets very depressed -- which is normal -- but literally bounces out of it in a day after her friend calls her on it (psychiatric counseling is not mandatory for this type of injury???)  Jessica's best friend, Fiona, is a saint, and her dog, Sherlock, is adorable.  In the end, tremendous obstacles are overcome and the girls get their guys.  It's not a bad book.  It has some neat philosophy tucked in there (the section headings are in reverse order of an actual race -- for good reason).  See Rosa's comments for the "meat" of the tale.  It's just an uncomplicated book, one that ends up as a "feel good" read.  There are worse things.  My biggest complaint is something odd -- one of the characters, although not described as an African American, is given a "black" name and dialog that is somewhat stereotypical.  It surprised me in this day and age and was a distraction in a book where most of the characters seemed grounded in a kind of reality.  See my review, above, with comments on race and perception in books.