“Between the Lines” by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

A very “different” kind of book by Jodi Picoult, as she explains in a lengthy note at the opening of the novel (I shouldn't be surprised, she did a great job with "Wonder Woman" as described in an earlier review.  Definitely an author that likes to stretch herself out of the box now and then).  This one is a fairytale, inspired by and written with her high school aged daughter, “Sammy.”  Stories within stories, it is clever and creative with capital “Cs.”  Oliver is a prince in a fairytale who is bored with doing the same thing over and over … he wants out.  Delilah is a teenage girl who craves something more.  Until the day that she realizes the characters in the book are alive.  What follows is a strongly-woven fable that cycles between the actual fairytale and the perspectives of Oliver and Delilah.  Crazy “rules” are created in these blended universes, but Picoult and her daughter remain absolutely committed to the strictures they invent.  The characters in all three storylines are smart and their occasional drifting into over-the-top romanticism can be excused as they don’t linger in the place of sighing, lingering looks (it is a fairytale, after all).  The book isn’t just an enjoyable read, it is pretty to look at.  The fairytale drawings are detailed and rich in color, crosshatched for depth.  Ironically, the non-fairytale sections have two dimensional black cut-outs – which are nonetheless intriguing.  It makes you think about reality when the fairytale images are more fully realized than the real-world images, but questioning reality is a major theme here.  Delilah’s sections are written in a clean, green, non-serif font, while Oliver’s voice is portrayed in a more traditional “Times New Roman” font, in a subtle indigo hue.  Everything about this book is that carefully chosen … the images, the layout, the words.  It is a fun read but also exquisitely executed.  Brava.

"Every Day" by David Levithan

It is easy to see why this book is already getting serious buzz coming into awards season, and why it is rising fast on the New York Times bestseller list.  David Levithan is a guy with gifts.  He not only is a terrific writer, but it turns out he also works as an editor for Scholastic -- teaming with some of the top YA authors out there today.  His efforts come together in a novel that simply does not have flaws ... and is the most unique story I've ever read.  A sixteen year-old named "A" does not have a body, but flows from person to person each day.  The perspectives and experiences of "A" challenge the reader to redefine our preconceptions about, well, everything.  What does it mean to not have tomorrow?  What would happen if we were to see out of the eyes of others?  Who are we if we are not defined by our physicality and gender?  What is personhood?  This is one of those "eating" books that you simply must savor, and may want to read and re-read.  A classic in the making, it is a novel with tremendous literary merit that is also extremely accessible.  This, too, is one of Mr. Levithan's gifts; the ability to create characters you connect to, even when the characters are seemingly inaccessible.

SPOILER ALERT

Readers of this blog will know that I'm not always a fan of the open ending, but the truth is, I don't mind open endings when that is where the story builds to.  In "The Giver" for instance, the ending fits.  That is also the case here, although Levithan's fans clearly want more.  At the National Book Festival the author was asked about a sequel to this book.  He responded that he might consider writing a type of companion novel, about one of the people "A" inhabits, but that a sequel was not likely.  If nothing else, the end will make the world of fanfic writers happy, although I'm pretty sure none could match the richness of this tale.

Hands-down a "best book" -- get it now.  Seriously, stop reading this, turn off your computer, go out to your local library, and find a copy.  And enjoy.  And think.  And enjoy.

“Cinder” by Marissa Meyer

Another brilliant book ruined by a bad ending.  More on that in a moment.  Let’s talk about the brilliance first.  This is Cinderella (and you should know, I love me some Cinderella).  Except … Cinderella is a cyborg living in a plague-ridden future Earth.  World War IV has come and gone and the five remaining governments of the world struggle with increasing tensions between them and the Queen of the lunar colonies … someone so calculating, manipulative and dangerous she makes Richard III look like a puppy dog.  Cinder works as a mechanic in an open-air Asian marketplace.  Ms. Meyer does a phenomenal job of subtly weaving in all elements of the original fairy-tale … in remarkably clever ways at times.  It is a fresh, re-imagined story, but one with echoes of familiarity.  The world Meyer creates is detailed, specific and real and she is strikingly consistent on every element she brings into it (always a pet peeve with me and Sci Fi authors who make up stuff as they go along).  A page turner, I couldn’t wait to pick this one up and read the next chapter.  I also deeply enjoyed the romance element – painted with a soft and engaging brush.  I truly was “wowed” by this book.  Until the end. 

SPOILER ALERT

Clearly, this is planned to be a series, which I didn’t know when I picked it up.  The thing is, it doesn’t need to be.  Ms. Meyer exceeded all expectations in creating this tale and shouldn’t have left us dangling at the end to begin a whole other story about a whole other character (“Scarlet” is the as-yet-unpublished 2nd book in the series about a different girl in the same world who dresses in a red cloak).  Meyer included every element of the original fairytale, wove a believable and endearing love story … then walks away (in this case, the character, literally) right where the pay-off should have been.  As much as I like the book, I don’t see myself plowing through yet another endless YA series to get what should have been here in the first book – a complete story.  It’s ironic that someone like myself, who is generally not a fan of romance, is so very into the “true love” as portrayed in fairy tales.  I really want the prince to get his girl … isn’t that the whole point of these things? 

Anyway.  It’s a fantastic read.  And if you don’t mind the cliff-hanger ending and waiting for the next (??? how many???) books to be published for resolution, go ahead.   One side note of interest to me, personally, is how our inherent racial biases play into our perception of people in books.  Although the physical details of the characters aren’t tremendously specific, it is clear they are not Caucasian, as I am.  It was fascinating to me how many times I had to mentally adjust the images of the characters in my head, working to steer away from that euro-centric Disney princess one tends to default to.  Props, again, to Ms. Meyer for expanding the familiar into new territory.  If only she had wrapped things up a tad more.