American Born Chinese by Gene Luan Yang

This complex graphic novel won the Printz Award for Young Adult literature last year, a first for a graphic novel. I have to say, it is extremely well done. The graphics are clear and engaging, the dialog strong, and the themes powerful. I don’t think this is a graphic novel for the younger set, however. As much as I enjoyed the book, I can’t honestly say I fully understood it. Some of it was a lack of full understanding of Chinese cultural traditions, and some was simply that the book is a tad abstract. There are three storylines, separate at first but clearly intertwined by the end. First, there is the monkey-king legend (one of my favorites from Asian mythology). Interspersed with that are the stories of Jin, an American-born Chinese kid trying to assimilate into a culture which still views him as alien; and the story of Danny, an all-American kid trying to come to terms with a 1940s film-style stereotypical Chinese cousin. Without giving too much away, I will caution readers that none of the stories take place within the same timeframe, and close attention should be paid to monkey-king’s abilities as they might be reflected in the other stories. In the end, this isn’t so much a story of cultural assimilation as it is about learning to accept your inner nature as you grow up. I liked the book and would strongly recommend it to teens who are able to take in the messages of disparate visual images, but for older folk, you may want to stick with more linear graphic novels, such as “Pedro and Me” by Judd Winick.

Double Helix by Nancy Werlin

***Spoiler Alert***
I try very hard to not to give critical plot points away in reviews, but in this case, the big stumbling block of the book ~is~ the major plot point. Before I give it all away, however, let’s talk about the book in general. The copy I received had several award stickers on it. In addition to the “Edgar Award”, given to mystery books, this one also made the TAB top ten list. These tell me that the book is considered to be well-written, as well as well-liked. I can’t disagree. Nancy Werlin’s writing style is engaging and her characters feel like people you know. My struggle was that this book was made into a mystery. Nearly two thirds of it is actually a “coming of age” novel. Had that been it, I would have been fine. Eli Samuels is a super-smart high school grad with an intelligent and understanding girlfriend, but he is drifting in life. Didn’t apply to college, can’t deal with his mother’s losing battle with Huntington’s Disease, and fighting constantly with a critical, distant father. Such stuff is the gristmill for teen lit, and, when it is written this well, makes for a good read. Sadly, the author didn’t stop there. Ms. Werlin adds in a storyline about “big scary science”. Eli is just too smart, too good at everything he does. At a genetics lab, he discovers a secret…was he “made”???!!!! If the plot sounds familiar, it should. Genetic alterations have made for some great Sci-fi of late, but sadly, this book isn’t one of them. The grand climax fell deeply flat, mostly because the advances in genetics in the few years since the book was published make Eli’s secret sad, but not Frankenstein-like. Today, I think we know that the age of manipulating genes isn’t “on the horizon”. It’s here. Instead of (gasp), discovering that genetic alterations are happening, authors need to explore what the moral role should be as we learn to alter the nature of humanity. As for books, the best example of this, IMHO, is Nancy Farmer’s “House of the Scorpion”, which brings the moral, ethical and human issues to a deeply disturbing and provocative point. In “Double Helix”, my general reaction was “so what?” It’s the ~answer~ to “so what?” that is far more interesting to me than the realization that our technology might be advancing faster than our common sense. Been there, done that. It’s the 21st Century. Time to look past the possibilities and focus on impact. And yes, I’m also a Sci-fi TV buff. For almost identical storylines to this book (done better) check out “The Pretender”, “Dark Angel” and “Kyle XY”.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Okay, just kidding. I’m not really going to review this book in detail because a) I have no interest in putting spoilers out there and b) there are plenty of folks who will be sharing their opinions. Actually, now that the series is “complete” I just thought it would be interesting to talk about it as a whole. A synopsis seems hardly necessary, but here goes: The series is about a young boy who discovers he has magical powers and (of course) a great enemy. The books have adventure, humor, drama, even sports, and do a delightful job of following young Harry as he “comes of age” and discovers the deeper mysteries of life along with his growing magic powers. Although it is pure fantasy, the strength here is that non-fantasy readers have enjoyed the books as much as the hard-core Fantasy buffs. The characters, the friendships, the school setting and the growing pains are all very real and very identifiable. IMHO, Ms. Rowling succeeded exceptionally as she portrayed the emotional life of Harry during each of his teenage years. One would think she spends a lot of time around teenagers(!) That said, the Harry Potter series isn’t just a fad, but downright phenomena. Three hundred and twenty-five million copies of the books in this series have sold thus far, and a record-shattering 12 million copies were printed for the *first* run of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. The collected series have the highest print runs of any book in American history, and compete with “The Bible” and “Shakespeare’s Collected Works” in terms of world publishing history. And yet, they are not literary masterpieces (yes, I said it, feel free to throw stones…). They are simply good. Very good, and they have something unusual for any book, much less ones aimed at teens – they have a universality about them. In our culture, we tend to equate universality with blandness. An example of this would be to compare a really good ethnic restaurant with a fast food franchise. The fast food places are far more palatable to the masses, but are widely seen as having inferior food as everything is boiled down to a kind of acceptable homogeny. In this case, I think that such assumptions do not apply. The Harry Potter books may not please teachers who worship at the feet of authors like D.H. Lawrence or Somerset Maugham, but to dismiss them is to seriously underestimate their quality, and, I believe, their staying power. Ms. Rowling freely admits her Dickensonian influences in writing these books, and the comparison is apt. Charles Dickens wrote “penny dreadfuls” and was considered the fun but volume/trash writer of his time. Think of him as the 19th century Jacqueline Susann. As far as I can tell, Dickens has fared pretty well a hundred or so years later. I’ve come to believe that some books get the crown of literary merit not only for good prose, but simply for sticking around long enough. And then there is something to be said about literary masterpieces being well-written, but not necessary being, well, enjoyed. Most people recognize the brilliance of “Moby Dick” but few put it on their favorites list. The Harry Potter books, in contrast, are favorites of children, teens, adults and seniors worldwide. They are books that can be reread and treasured for generations to come. It is this factor that will keep them around, and perhaps with time, appreciated for their full value.

Shattering Glass by Gail Giles

This was the last of the many Gail Giles books I read for the upcoming “Books for the Beast” conference. Sadly, I would have to say it was my least favorite. Ms. Giles has a tendency to put unexpected twists into her stories, meaning that you know something bad is coming, but don’t really know what. Unfortunately, in this overdone novel, I knew exactly what was going to happen. It was a suspense novel that had no suspense. Added to that is one of the most boilerplate plotlines one could come up with. See if any of this sounds familiar: A popular group of kids adopts a nerdy geek with the intention of making him/her popular. There is the jock, the handsome guy, the rich kid with brains, and the popular guy who has a mean streak. Add in parents who are distant, cold and demanding and you have any given teen show on the CW network. Each chapter begins with an “interview” of sorts (the meaning of which becomes clear very quickly). These let the reader know who was involved and what happened after the fact. While these interviews take the air out of any sense of anticipation, I actually liked them more than the story itself. Somehow these voices seemed more “real” to me. This book might appeal to any kid trapped in the social nightmare of school stereotypes, but other than that, I would read one of the other Gail Giles books if you want a good creepy scare.

What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles

I call this a 50-50 book. On one hand, the psychological underpinnings really work and the style helps drive the story forward in a rather breakneck pace. The book is told through three perspectives: Cass McBride, a popular girl who has been kidnapped; Kyle, her kidnapper; and Ben, the lead detective trying to find her. The story is strongest in the voice of Cass, trying to understand and gain the upper hand in her fate. The title of the book says much. It’s not just what happens to Cass in this event, but what ~has~ happened to her, and those around her, that brings her to this place. Kyle’s story is disjointed and sad, but works well to create dramatic tension with Cass. The negative part of this book comes with the police search and the ending. Ben’s story is necessary to move the plot forward, but seems to only be there as that device. The characters are so flat in his narrations that they become interchangeable. The dialog is so “bad TV cop show” that it is actually laughable. The editing needs work, too. “Party Hardy” is spelled “Hearty” and there are hanging quote marks throughout the book. What really bugged me about the story, however, was the ending. I strongly felt that Ms. Giles betrayed the “truth” of one of her characters to force her rather trademark creepy/twisting end. Given the voice that she had created for some 200 pages, I just didn’t believe where it ended up going. Like I said, this one rated five on a scale of ten for me.

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar

I have to admit it. I am an absolutely huge David Lubar fanatic. IMHO he is to YA books what Joss Whedon is to television, what Shakespeare is to theatre, what Britney is to bad girls…(LOL). His writing is smart, funny, unexpected, layered, engaging and so much more. This book was no exception. Scott, a clever but underdeveloped young man, suffers through his freshman year with “Job”-like issues…but his “put one foot in front of the other” attitude and sardonic view of the world around him make this book a laugh-out-loud delight … with a few of those spin on a dime moments that will totally make you catch your breath. Added to this, you have a really strong book that is extremely guy focused. How rare is that? David Lubar is a welcome addition to the modern landscape of teen novels. Take time to enjoy the fun.

Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters by Gail Giles

Two thumbs up for an eye-catching title. In this succinct, fast-to-read novel, Gail Giles continues her noted style of getting to the point. Reading almost like a short story (I read it in one sitting, unusual for me) this book takes place mostly over one afternoon. Creepy but less dark than some of her works, “Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters” is about Sunny, the seemingly unperfect daughter amidst a family so dysfunctional they make the “Married…With Children” folks look healthy. Sunny’s older sister, the “golden child” has died. Father drinks, mother is a basketcase. But, as in all good mysteries, nothing is quite as it seems. The page-turning quotient here is high and the end is most certainly open to debate. Not a bad way to spend 90 minutes. A good choice for those who like a lot of mystery in compact form.

A Brief Chapter In My Impossible Life by Dana Reinhardt

When you have an “out loud” laugh by page three, you know you are in for a treat. When the book is a first novel, you have to be that much more impressed. This book had a good deal of support in the TAB bookclub last year and I’m happy to say that it has been my favorite book this summer (barring Harry Potter, of course). The folks in this book aren’t just real – they remind me so strongly of the students I work with that you have to remember it is fiction. There is not one moment of “dramatic plot device” here. While one of the major plotlines is predictable, it never takes that Lifetime TV twist I expected. Things progress naturally, very much as they would do in real life. It is a funny book, a thoughtful book, a sad book, but does not have any of the darkness in it which is so prevalent in YA novels these days. It was a complete joy to read, and the first page-turner I had picked up in months. Kudos to Ms. Reinhardt for something fresh and delightful. I look forward to her next work.

Black Juice by Margo Lanagan

Australian authors are all the rage these days. Newcomer Margo Lanagan adds to the pack with her unique short story collection, “Black Juice”. Loosely categorized as fantasy, this collection of rich but oddball tales defies true description, but does, in fact, border on horror. Threads of the supernatural and the dark recesses of human souls run through this dense and richly woven text. The first story, told in the tale similar to Appalachian myth, tells of a family “singing down” a daughter as she drowns in the tar pits. Following this are stories of murderous clowns, devil-like angels, cults, and a dry, mechanical, bleak future. While I recognized the brilliance in the writing, I can’t say that I enjoyed this collection. Some stories felt like drafts of longer works, while others, with their Australian slang, left me confused as to what, exactly, was going on. Ms. Lanagan clearly has skill as a writer. It will be interesting to see if she develops this ability for American audiences in future works.

Playing in Traffic by Gail Giles

This story is about Matt, one of those good kids who blends into the background of his school, and Skye, a troubled “Goth-girl” who pursues Matt. It isn’t so much a love story as a train wreck, but it isn’t hugely depressing. In part, the reason it isn’t a downer is because of the speed of events. This fast-read book has short chapters which whisk by as the almost inevitable impending doom approaches. There is a lot of “normal” here, and some insightful moments. I understood Matt’s observation that his family lived together, but separate, and I laughed out loud when he noted that if it “wasn’t on the computer then the research was not worth doing”. Matt is fairly grounded for a 17 year-old, a sense, perhaps, of the author’s voice coming through. It is that grounded nature, however, that makes the tale somewhat unbelievable. He spirals from decent guy to party animal so fast that it is hard to see where his reasonableness loses out to self-destructed behavior. The reason given is the pull of a girl coming on to him, but I still feel it is a tad far-fetched. A subtle morality book, there are many kids as troubled as Skye out there. The best advice, sadly ignored, is when Matt’s younger sister tells him that he needs to be talking to an adult. If teens reading this book could pick up on that simple idea, a number of their struggles could be better resolved. But that wouldn’t make for good YA fiction, would it? And so we have a short little book with a mature content and a troubling, sudden end. Read it, and share your views.

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez

With a book by Alex Sanchez, you have to know there will be both gay and Hispanic themes. There are in this book, and they are treated with the utmost respect and delicacy. Frederick is a newly arrived “gringo” to a well-to-do Hispanic neighborhood in L.A. Xio is a fun and outgoing girl in the 8th grade at her local middle school. The two become friends, and I grew to really like both as the narrative smoothly slips from one character to the other through timely chapter breaks. Is Frederick gay? It is something he dreads, like many young people who want to fit in. It is also something he would do anything to avoid. Xio likes him, and she is determined to make this cute young man her first “real” boyfriend. Read the book to discover Frederick and Xio’s delightful personalities and the discoveries they make along the way. Proof positive that reality doesn’t have to be depressing.

Jason & Kyra by Dana Davidson

An overly long romance book, this one has mature content and will please many a reader of those “heartache-but I’ll love you forever” kind of novels. It wasn’t to my taste, but then, I’m not a fan of romance. Sickenly unrealistic, Jason & Kyra go to a really good high school in Detroit and live in relative splendor. He’s the super-jock that doesn’t indulge in chemicals and she’s the shy smart girl who surprisingly gets his attention. Girl gets boy, girl loses boy, you know the drill. The only thing that struck me as fairly compelling in this wordy tome were the scenes between the two of them. Their dialog in those sections seemed natural, and their feelings relatable. The book is sorely in need of an editor, bulging at over 300 pages. There is also a switched “narrative voice” (a modern trend) but it is deeply inconsistent. One chapter is Jason’s. The next starts as Kyra, then goes back to Jason. Along the way, there are paragraphs and sentences where the point of view swings wildly to other students and even, on one occasion, a passerby. It’s too much. The constant emphasis on Kyra’s love of R&B music doesn’t seem to have a point other than to make sure we understand she doesn’t listen to Rap. Okay, after the first time, I got it. R&B sets the mood – but five mentions later of the same thing put me in a coma. That’s not the only thing in this book that seems unmotivated. Jason’s father starts out as hardworking, distant and stern. It is later revealed that he is a physically abusive drunk. It doesn’t fit with how he is presented, it doesn’t fit with his successful career or the girlfriend we never meet, it just seems to be a device to push the lovebirds together. It was one of many things I could have done without. This was a first novel by Ms. Davidson. Hopefully her next will be more polished.

Boy Proof by Cecil Castellucci

It’s not deep, it’s not 100% realistic, but I really enjoyed this book. Yet another tale of L.A. (I guess all those “heartland America” books are over). Victoria, aka “Egg”, is a child of Hollywood, but she lives in a simple setting. Her divorced parents represent different parts of the business, and of her personality. Her father, a well-respected make-up artist is quiet, sometimes warm, and sometimes temperamental. Her mother, a fading actress looking for a new break is trying to reach out but doesn’t really know how. Victoria will appeal to many a teenage reader. Angry, lost, confused, funny, smart, strong, she discovers much about herself along the way and I really enjoyed her journey. The ends aren’t tied up all neatly, and adults may not love some of the choices Victoria eventually makes, but there is something to be said for a young woman who finds her passion and pursues it. Brava to “Egg”. I hope others enjoy reading this as much as I did.

Who Am I Without Him? Short Stories About Girls and Boys in Their Lives by Sharon Flake

I really love Sharon Flake’s work, but this was not one of my favorites. Not because it was poorly written, it wasn’t. The characters stand true and speak in voices so clarion it is difficult not to hear their cry. I found the short story format, one I like, to be difficult in this instance. In most cases, the stories were too short to really grab me. There was no thread between them other than the stated title. I would have preferred to see something along the lines of Ortiz’s “An Island Like You” or the works of E.R. Frank where there are ties between the characters, however distant or occasional. There is also the darkness in these stories. The opening one, however real, made me deeply sad. Most of the others, including a heart-wrenching letter from a father to a daughter at the end, did little to lift my mood. The one story that stood out for me was that of “Mookie”. Mookie is a young man who knows how to treat a woman because of a group of very controlling female relatives. He uses this knowledge to become a “playah”, but then falls in love…real love. It was the only story in the book that utterly delighted me. Would students be attracted to this book? I think so. There is no question that what is written here is very much about life. The only question is how glossed over we like our reality.

Sammy & Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I don’t want to say this was a weak book. It wasn’t. It has emotional impact. It makes you think, particularly about the “necessary lies” of life. But I didn’t love it. In part, it just isn’t my thing. With a title and cover that makes you think “romance” it is, in actuality, a kind of fictionalized memoir. The author grew up in a barrio of Las Cruces, NM named “Hollywood”. He grew up poor, Hispanic and in a time when everything was changing – the sixties. The character of Sammy really seems to be the author, a good student with a sharp mind and dreams of getting out. Sammy struggles with the pull between the nature of his community and the shattering of normalcy as societal expectations change overnight. It is a sad book. A lot of people are “lost” along the way and a sense of hopelessness and expected doom reign throughout. In some ways, it reminded me of Irish culture in the tendency towards the morose. There are strong characterizations here, and the people are very real…so real that they speak Spanish throughout. While this lent a kind of naturalness to the dialog, I found it somewhat distancing as I could not figure out what the phrases meant. I also strongly felt the book was in need of an editor. Without any given through-line, it just meanders along. At one point, Sammy has struggles during Lent…unfortunately, that episode lands squarely in the middle of summer. It was disconcerting. Had the book been streamlined, I think it would have a beauty to it. At nearly 300 pages however, it was just one too many references to fistfights and the “Aztec chin”. Mr. Saenz has a lyricism to his text. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.

The Squire’s Tale by Gerald Morris

I had been looking forward to reading this series for some time. A fan of fantasy and alternative treatments of Arthurian Legend, I had heard a good deal about this series by Gerald Morris. Unfortunately, I felt quite disappointed. In many ways, Morris is faithful to the original telling of the Arthur tales – this first book in the series is fairly segmented. Within each chapter, there is a mini-adventure, and the story doesn’t move forward as much as it simply moves. The knights seemed somewhat interchangeable to me…they save maidens and hack off heads, and only occasionally have any emotional reactions. Nothing is dwelt on very much. It struck me like a computer game: Step one, cut off evil head; step two, escort lady to castle; step three, get reward from king; step four, start again. There isn’t even emotional connection to the main character, Terence, an elvish boy, as he observes the actions of his master. There are secrets about Terence, but by the time I learned some of them, I just didn’t care. Lastly, I gotta say that as an ardent feminist who adores Marion Zimmer Bradley’s “Mists of Avalon”, I can say I was heartily disappointed with the depiction of females throughout this “tale”. The rescued maidens are two-dimensional, self-obsessed bores, or harping and bitter. There isn’t a decent woman among the lot. As for the rest of the series, I think I’ll pass.