Hooray for discovering new YA authors! And David Yoon is the husband of the already well-known Nicola Yoon, author of The Sun Is Also a Star and Everything, Everything. Today I get to discuss his debut, Frankly in Love, which follows a Korean-American boy as he navigates issues of culture and identity throughout his senior year of high school.
The Situation: It is senior year and Frank Li is gearing up for the SATs, and subsequent college applications, with the rest of the Apeys: students that are in all advanced placement, or AP, classes. He must balance study time, school work, hanging out with his best friend Q, and helping out at his parents' grocery store. As the second child of Korean immigrants, he must also balance his life as a more or less typical American teenager, and his life as the dutiful Korean son wanting to honor his hard-working parents. The thing is, Frank does not necessarily agree with his parents' view on everything, specifically how they see other cultures. He is quick to admit that his parents are racist, simple as that. They have not spoken to their own daughter, Frank's older sister, ever since she began dating a black man, and are quick to talk in stereotypes about other races. Frank knows this behavior is not okay, but is not sure how he would go about attempting to correct them.
The Problem: When Frank falls hard for Brit Means, a beautiful, brilliant, funny, and also white girl from school, he knows his parents must never know. But when Joy Song, a childhood friend in a similar position, finds out, the two of them come up with a brilliant plan that is certain to work. If Frank and Joy pretend to date each other, while Frank is actually with his white girlfriend and Joy is with her Chinese boyfriend, then their Korean parents will be happy, and they can spend time with the people they really want to be with. Seems like the perfect plan, right up until it isn't, and everything begins to unravel. It is weird enough keeping his girlfriend a secret from his parents, but keeping this secret a secret from his girlfriend just feels wrong. And the harder Frank attempts to convince himself that it is working, the more obvious it becomes that it is not, and not necessarily because of his parents. Frank's senior year will be filled with more complications beyond this one, and it becomes clear that these issues do not simply vanish after high school.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel that focuses on the experience of Frank Li, a Korean-American high school student in his senior year. Set in southern California, Frank engages in the usual teenage experiences: hanging out with friends, attending school, being forced by his parents to attend social functions he normally would not go to on his own, even dating someone his parents would not approve of. With Frank as the narrator, the reader gets the first-hand account of just how deep his parents' prejudices go. He had to witness the removal of his sister from his life after she began dating a black man. She is never mentioned, his parents never call her, and she never calls them. Frank still talks to her, mostly through texts, and both lament how terrible it is to have to choose between their parents, and being able to live their lives. Now Frank wants to date a white girl, and a close friend wishes to date a Chinese boy. But beyond these dating restrictions are the pressures to do well on the SATs, and subsequently get into a good college, and then there is the issue of keeping up appearances for other Korean families beyond his own. The experience of growing up as a child of immigrant parents is a unique one that is difficult to navigate, but Frank is doing his best.
My Verdict: This book brings up the big issues right away. Instead of shying away from them, or talking around them, Frank addresses them head-on, and calls them out for what they are, even though it is his parents he is talking about. I appreciate the honesty and the bravery, and know that many will benefit from it. But when it comes to the story that Frank is attempting to tell, it was a little all over the place for me, like it was trying to do too much, or tackle too much, all at once. Also, in the beginning it was hard to remember that Frank and Q are supposed to be seniors in high school. For whatever reason, they seemed more like middle schoolers to me, but then they would get behind the wheel of a car, or would start talking about the SATs and college applications. Eventually this started to smooth out, but it took awhile. Perhaps Yoon was making a point about where these two started at the beginning of the novel versus where they would up? Overall, it is a great book, and a debut that deserves recognition for bringing up issues we need to keep talking about if we are to ever solve them.
Favorite Moment: It is actually really difficult for me to pick a moment that does not contain a spoiler, but I suppose I will go with whenever Q's dad attempts to sound cool by spouting slang and buzz words that he clearly does not know how to use, and he knows it.
Favorite Character: I adore Q's sister Evon, even though she only shows up for brief moments and rarely says anything. She is simply effortless and does not care to be bothered, and I can appreciate that.
Recommended Reading: I recommend The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, a book that also explores the experiences of children of immigrant parents trying to make their way in the U.S.
I am not sure how I stumbled across Mary Beth Keane's Ask Again, Yes, or why it took me so long to read it. At some point I must have seen the beautiful cover, glanced over the synopsis, and was intrigued enough to place it in my always growing to-read pile. Thanks once again to the Could Library for the easy access and readability.
The Situation: In the early 70s, Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope started out together as rookie cops for the New York Police Department. For six weeks they would be partners, and later, when they both get married, they will be neighbors in the small community of Gillam. Almost immediately, it is clear to Francis' wife Lena that not all is well at the Stanhope house, particularly with Brian's wife, Anne. The years go by, and both families grow, and both of the men continue in their work as cops for the NYPD. The youngest of Francis' kids, Kate, happens to be the same age as Brian's only child, Peter, so the two children naturally become close, best friends even, until tragedy strikes just before the two of them celebrate their graduation from the eighth grade. It is an event that will change the trajectory of both families, and cause Kate and Peter to lose touch for many years.
The Problem: What happened will have effects that will reach well into the next few decades. Even after all of the surgeries, the rehab, and the stays in psychiatric hospitals, and all of the "healing" that is supposed to occur on both sides, what happened and why it happened cannot be easily forgotten, or forgiven. And although Peter moved away to live with his Uncle George, and Kate stayed behind in Gillam, the two never forgot each other, managing to reconnect while they attended two different colleges. Naturally, there are fears on both sides as to what this means, and what it could lead to, but it seems that both time and tragedy cannot keep the two of them apart. But is love enough to overcome what happened in the past? Is it enough to deal with what will come in the future?
Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set in modern-day America, primarily in the northeast region of the country. The story begins in 1973, when Francis and Brian decide to join the NYPD, and follows both of their families through the decades as far as 2017. In that time, both men will marry, have kids, and endure hardships and tragedies that will shape who they become and how their families turn out. And where Francis and Lena may represent a relative amount of stability and normalcy, Brian and Anne are the cautionary tale of settling down with someone too soon, maybe without really knowing who they are. And then there are Kate and Peter, whose connection seems to be able to endure through nearly anything, while ignoring all protests and opposition. It would make sense if they did not work out, and it would make sense if they simply lost touch and moved on with their lives. But how long can we let one incident in the past decide who we are in our future?
My Verdict: This is an extremely well-written novel that explores something I love seeing books tackle: How do we extend forgiveness to someone for something they did in the past? Or maybe more appropriately, do we ever extend that forgiveness at all? Or do we simply move on with our lives and ignore that person's existence? What if that person is family? What if that person is sick? What if that person is not the only one to blame? Keane explores all of this and much more in her story about the Gleesons and the Stanhopes. The characters are not only relatable, but also real, and fully fleshed-out, and believable. We have all met and know some of these people, some of us have even been hurt by them. There is something in here that everyone could relate to; something in
here that everyone has struggled with at some point in their lives.
Favorite Moment: *spoiler alert* When Kate confronts her father about the affair he had, giving her the opportunity to tell him about her and Peter.
Favorite Character: George Gleeson is Brian's brother and Peter's Uncle. He is far from perfect, but he manages to step in when *spoiler alert* Brian disappears, leaving his son behind while he starts an entirely new life.
Recommended Reading: I recommend Shelter by Jung Yun, which also asks the question of what obligation do we have to the people in our lives who have hurt us?
Today I get to talk about Children of Virtue and Vengeance, the second book in Tomi Adeyemi's incredibly popular Legacy of Orïsha series. I had the privilege of hearing Adeyemi speak at the 2019 LibraryPalooza in February, and was able to endure an incredibly long line to have her sign my copy of the first book, Children of Blood and Bone. We already know that the series is a trilogy, so another book is still to come. But knowing that this second book is not the end still may not prepare readers for the questions that may remain once the last page is turned. And I have to issue a major *spoiler alert* as some of the key details of the plot will be discussed.
The Situation: It has been a few weeks since Zélie successfully brought magic back to Orïsha. The thing is, she was so successful that she awakened the magic inside of those with royal blood as well. Now there are not only more maji with incredible abilities, but also those that are referred to as tîtàns: those in the royal blood line, like Amari, who had no idea they had magic inside of the them and now have a power they have no idea how to handle or control. When a plan to have Amari claim the throne as queen is unsuccessful, it is clear that the war between the maji and the royals is not over; if anything it has only intensified. Amari's own mother has declared her daughter a liar, and decides to double-down on the crown's long-standing position of seeing the maji as the enemy, using her own newly-discovered powers to her advantage.
The Problem: While Zélie understands that the war is not over, she is certainly tired of fighting. Her father died so that the maji could finally live in Orïsha in freedom and peace. But instead, the enemy has been given their own power, and a fight that could tear Orïsha apart continues. And after learning that Inan still lives, her one desire becomes to end his life for good, which is of course the opposite of what Amari wants. Even though she was unable to secure her place as queen, Amari is insistent that she can find a way to end this war and obtain peace for everyone. Of course, she would be better able to execute her plan if any of the maji trusted her. As a royal, most of them will barely look at her, much less listen to her. And her desire to do what is right may reveal some similarities with both her father and brother, even as she insists she can be better than both of them. For Zélie and Amari, fighting royals and military with newly discovered powers will be no easy thing, even with the maji resistance behind them. And fighting each other certainly will not help matters either.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction book set in an undetermined time in the fictional land of Orïsha. As told in the first book, when Zélie was young, the then king of Orïsha decided to rid the world of magic, but then Zélie brought it back...for everyone. Now the country is even more divided, despite the two sides having something in common. The monarchy insists that ridding Orïsha of the maji is the answer, while the maji resistance, or Iyika, launch a full assault on the palace. Zélie's one desire is to kill Inan and end the monarchy, while Amari insists that peace between the two sides can be achieved. In other words, it is a war, and there is no easy way to end it. In this second installment, readers see more of the different maji clans and the different types of magic. More of Orïsha's history is also revealed, allowing some characters to rethink what they have been taught to believe, and to wonder if magic was ever the real problem.
My Verdict: Book number two in the Legacy of Orïsha series proves to be as intense and thrilling and thought-provoking as the first one, if not more so. I have to say, I like this one even better than Children of Blood and Bone, maybe because I came into this one already having a decent handle on the world, though there are still some shocking things about Orïsha's history that are revealed. I was surprised to see that this book was actually shorter than the first one, but that does not at all indicate a lack of plot, or characters, or adventures, or anything really. It actually feels more focused, while still not skipping on the details. Adeyemi used every page to build on what she has already accomplished, leaving me excited (and also somewhat apprehensive) for whatever the third book will bring.
Favorite Moment: When Zélie closes a wall on the arm of a tîtàn soldier. It is incredibly brutal and bit gross, but she does what she has to do.
Favorite Character: While I adore many of these characters and want them to succeed, I am having a hard time choosing. For the first book I chose Amari, and while I still adore her, in this book she is blind to how her fear of repeating her family's mistakes are actually causing her to repeat her family's mistakes. And she wants to help the maji, but cannot understand their mistrust or why they do not see things her way. She is kind of a lesson in privilege. And Zélie often gets on my nerves, so I suppose I will choose Mama Agba, her mentor and friend.
Recommended Reading: I will once again recommend the Reader Trilogy by Traci Chee, which also includes elements of magic and adventure in a fictional land and in an unknown time.
So here we are. It has finally come time to announce the winners of the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards. For the last few weeks, readers and critics have been voting, hoping that their favorite books take home the top prize. I am curious to see if there are any upsets; and of course, this also gives me an opportunity to research those books that I somehow managed to miss throughout the year.
Well, the first one is not a surprise at all as The Testaments by Margaret Atwood is our clear winner for Best Fiction. With over 50,000 votes separating it from second place, this follow-up to Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale has clearly resonated with readers.
Another book that completely blew away the competition is Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid in the category of Best Historical Fiction. There is something about the style, voice, and story that many readers loved. It is a book readers are still talking about. And I am sure it will be given by many as Christmas gifts for fellow readers.
While I really liked Recursion by Blake Crouch, I am a bit surprised (though incredibly pleased) that it has won Best Science Fiction. It was up against some stiff competition, but there were enough readers who also enjoyed this different look at memory and time travel.
The win for Best Graphic Novels & Comics goes to an author who has won many Goodreads Choice Awards, though usually it is in the Best Young Adult Fiction Category. Rainbow Rowell's Pumpkinheads has managed to garner more votes than even the graphic novel adaptation for The Handmaid's Tale. With Rowell's usual mastery over characters and setting, Pumpkinheads celebrates all things autumn and Midwestern.
And when it comes to the Best Young Adult Fiction category, Angie Thomas came so incredibly close to taking home the win with On the Come Up, much like she did with The Hate U Give back in 2017. Instead, Rachael Lippincott's Five Feet Apart takes the win, with a margin of less than 2,000 votes. So close...
And there it is. Out of the 25 DSNs that were nominated, four have managed to come away with the win. Now the process starts all over again as contenders for 2020 are already out there gathering their reader-base. I am excited to see what the next year will bring.
Oh time travel...I try to avoid it. And yet, here I am, ready to review Recursion by Blake Crouch. Though to be fair, this book is less about time travel and really more about memory and reality. But the subject of time travel is very much front and present.
The Situation: Barry Sutton is a cop in New York City. In November of 2018, he was unsuccessful in stopping a woman from jumping to her death from a building. Due to a new illness, False Memory Syndrome, or FMS, suicides are on the rise as people are suddenly recalling memories from a life they never lived. The memories are so vivid, so real, that many people cannot handle the intensity and ultimately decide to end it. Neither doctors nor scientists can find its cause (or cure), and it also appears to be somewhat contagious. When Barry digs deeper into the false memories the suicidal woman shared with him before she jumped, he discovers something so unfathomable that he normally would not believe it, until he starts living it. And only after meeting Helena Smith does he come to understand what it could possibly mean.
The Problem: While working at Stanford, waiting to see if her research proposal will receive funding, Helena is approached by a strange man and presented with an offer she cannot refuse, though she eventually wishes she did. Her ambition to see her passion project come to fruition, and her desire to help her mother, who is struggling with Alzheimer's, has led her to Marcus Slade, a wealthy man who wants to fund her research. But it turns out Marcus is even more ambitious than she is, and also without ethics. What started out as a project to map and preserve memories, ends up becoming a process that can send people back in time. Together, they unleash an effect that could unmake humanity, and potentially destroy the world. With Barry's help, Helena hopes to stop it, using all her research to once again alter memory and reality, but this time, for the billions of people around the world.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set mostly in the present-day US. Because of the time travel aspect of the story, there are some trips back to the late 80s, but most of them only go so far as a few years. And while Barry's story begins in 2018, Helena's starts in 2007, when she was a researcher at Stanford. The primary focus of the novel is on memory and how it shapes our reality. The result of Helena's work is the ability to alter reality with the use of memories, which of course, results in many different entities wanting control over this power. There is a hint of humans meddling in things they probably shouldn't, and ultimately losing control of that. And as much focus as there is on memory and reality, there is also the issue of power and control. In this world, it simply will not do for one country to be able to go back in time...at least not if the rest of the world knows about it.
My Verdict: As with most science fiction that I pick up, I was apprehensive, but ultimately pleasantly surprised. I think what I love most about the book is that it takes a slightly different approach to time travel from what I am used to seeing. The focus being more on memory and how we perceive reality certainly helped, but I was personally thrilled that Crouch avoided many of the time travel problems that we have seen in a lot of fiction. No issues of people meeting up with their past selves. No warnings about not changing anything from the past so that it doesn't mess up the future (that happens anyway). There is not necessarily a time machine...I guess if anything it is more of a memory machine, but not even that is completely accurate. It is a refreshing take on a common theme. And the interesting characters and events are simply cherry on the top of a fascinating novel.
Favorite Moment: When Helena manages to evade Marcus in one of her timelines, starting her on the road to fixing what they have started.
Favorite Character: Helena is wonderful and brilliant, but I actually think Barry is my favorite. Despite the pain, and the hassle, and the struggles, he simply does whatever he has to do.
Recommended Reading: First, I recommend Mem by Bethany C. Morrow, or Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty. But I also recommend A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Crouch named one of his characters after Towles, and admitted in the acknowledgements that A Gentleman in Moscow is one of his favorite books, which is something we have in common.
The full title of today's selection by Maureen Callahan is American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century. It can sometimes be difficult to find true crime that is not discussing someone that we have already heard plenty about. What Callahan has done is painstakingly researched one of the most careful - and frightening - serial killers in America that most of us have never heard of.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction/true crime book that explores the life and crimes of Israel Keyes, a man who confessed to looking up to men such as Ted Kraczynski, Ted Bundy, H.H. Holmes, and Timothy McVeigh. Only when 18 year-old Samantha Koenig went missing in early 2012 did Keyes finally show up on US law enforcement's radar. Samantha went missing from her job in Anchorage, Alaska, and with only a surveillance tape to go on, it was hard for local police and detectives to find out where she had disappeared to. But after writing and sending a ransom note, and also after making a few key mistakes on his escape through the lower 48 states, law enforcement had their guy. Of course, what they would discover was that the disappearance of Samantha Koenig was only one in a long string of horrible crimes. Keyes would end up having some of the usual serial killer traits - possibly abuse by a parent, escalating cruelty to animals, didn't make many close friends - but what made him different was just how good he was at what he did. So good in fact, that he has managed to keep the FBI guessing.
My Verdict: Like most true crime books, this one is more than a little unnerving. Anyone could have been a victim of Keyes, as he seemingly chose at random. It is clear that Callahan wanted to portray just how meticulous Keyes was when was committing his crimes. His intense ability to focus and stay on his toes also served him well when dealing with the authorities. It is clear that Callahan did her research, and I applaud her for focusing on someone many do not know about. However, there was something about the structure of the book that was off-putting, often making me feel as if something were out of balance. Granted, that could be attributed to Keyes as the subject, as he was good at making those around him feel the same way. It could be a natural result of hearing his story, often in his own words. He was good at maintaining control, and perhaps was even successful through the pages of someone else's book.
Favorite Moment: Whenever the incompetence of law enforcement when dealing with someone like Keyes was openly acknowledged, which was often, because they messed up a great deal.
Recommended Reading: I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara is another wonderful true crime book that thoroughly follows a serial killer not many know about.
Thanks again to the Cloud Library. I do prefer physical books, but being able to pull out my phone and enjoy a new historical fiction release at almost any time is not a bad deal. This is how I was able to read The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung, which I had been hearing marvelous things about since its release in early June.
The Situation: Katherine is different, in more ways than one. Growing up in 1940s and 1950s Michigan, she did not know any other half-Chinese children, and had grown accustomed to the stares she and her mother received. That is until her mother left her and her father, without a word, and without a goodbye. But something else that gained the attention from those around her was her aptitude and obvious love for numbers. Katherine's love of mathematics will not only form her life and relationships in college and in her future career, but it will also lead her to answers (and more questions) about her parents, and an old notebook, filled with mysterious mathematical equations, that her father gave her when she was younger.
The Problem: From the outset, if people are not judging Katherine for her heritage, then they are more than ready to dismiss her because she is a woman. And after an incident during her undergraduate years when a male colleague takes credit for her work, Katherine is sure to always be on guard against anyone who would take advantage of her, or think her to be at all inferior to her counterparts. Resolved to working harder than anyone else, her efforts lead to an invitation to continue working and studying in Germany. Armed with precious information she obtained from her father regarding her mother, and his time in the military during World War II, Katherine goes on an adventure to learn as much as she can about who she is, and the old notebook she carries with her. What she learns will change everything she knew about her family and herself.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set mostly in 1940s, 50s, and 60s America. As a girl who grew up with a white father and a Chinese mother in middle America, Katherine was always set apart and identified as different. And when she shows real skill with numbers, it is no question that she is not like other girls. A theme that consistently comes up in the book is how women were (and still are) often dismissed, despite their clear ability to contribute to whichever field they have chosen. In Katherine's case, that field happens to be the heavily male-dominated one of mathematics, and her father is always quick to tell her how difficult it will be for her to receive a job once she is done with graduate school. Another theme that came up even more is the wreckage left behind by World War II, and the attitudes that continued to persist. While living in Germany, Katherine must reconcile what she sees and the people she meets with the atrocities that occurred and the people who died. Did the people who continue to prosper in Germany benefit from the Jews who perished? How is Katherine's own history linked to what she sees? And what does any of it have to do with her mysterious notebook? Using the examples of famous mathematicians of the past (some real, some made up), Katherine will set her own course for the future, while learning about her past.
My Verdict: This is a touching and well-written story about a woman who is desperate to find out who she really is, while also making her own mark on the world of mathematics that she loves so much. Her life is a mystery, its own math problem that she wants more than anything to solve. The story is never boring, though often confusing, especially as different characters tell different pieces of the story, and it is easy to get the time lines mixed up, as well as the ever-growing branches in Katherine's family tree. But I think even those who are not so interested in math will enjoy unraveling the mystery and going with Katherine on her journey. And while there is plenty of focus on WWII, it is not so much that it overtakes the story. It is simply an event that has a long reach, whose effects are difficult to outrun.
Favorite Moment: When Katherine tells the story of a boy in one of her undergraduate math classes who dismissed her because she is female, only to end up failing the class himself at the end of the semester.
Favorite Character: Katherine's friend Henry, whom she meets while in Germany and is roommates with for a time, is smart, funny, independent, and has a love for folk and fairy tales from all cultures.
Favorite Quote: "Forget princes. Forget men. Let's never get married. Let's stay single and free forever, and do what we want. Let's be heroes or villains, but never the princess. Or if we have to marry, let's be like the girl in Bluebeard, who marries the villain with all the dead wives in the basement, and then kills him in self-defense and inherits all his wealth." - Henry after a discussion about fairy tales.
Recommended Reading: Both Lilac Girls and Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly are fantastic stories centered on women in World War II.
It is the final round of voting for the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards, which means in just a few short weeks, readers will have made it known which books have been their favorites across 20 categories.
The selections have gone from 20 to 10 in each area, which means there will be more than a few favorites that will not be available for final consideration. Time to find out which DSNs are still in the running, and which ones have sadly been left behind.
While all five of the DSNs that were originally nominated for the Best Fiction Category have managed to hold on, not every novel from Best Historical Fiction has been so lucky. I am certainly surprised to see that Martha Hall Kelly's Lost Roses did not make it through to the final round, though that does not change my vote as Daisy Jones & The Six is still going strong.
Blake Crouch's Recursion is also still holding on in the Best Science Fiction category. Unfortunately, Tressie McMillan Cottom's Thick has been removed from Best Nonfiction, and Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman's Sounds Like Titanic is no longer in the running for Best Memoir & Autobiography, though I cannot quite bring myself to vote for Maid for Stephanie Land.
All is well in the Best Graphic Novel section, and I am interested to see if the graphic novel version of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale will prevail. I will still be voting for Rainbow Rowell's Pumpkinheads, but either book has a chance of taking the top prize. There are no changes for the DSNs in Best Debut Novel, but the same cannot be said for my favorite category, Best Young Adult Fiction. It seems Internment by Samira Ahmed did not receive enough votes to advance, which is a shame but this is an incredible book. Sure, there are five other DSNs still going strong, two of which are from YA Fest, but still.
And as a surprise to no one, Stephanie Garber's Finale still has a chance to win for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction. Though it received my vote in the previous rounds, I must switch now that I have read Neal Shusterman's The Toll, the conclusion to his Arc of a Scythe series. Yes, it is just that good.
The final round of voting will receive more time than the previous ones, as it will close Monday, December 2, allowing for a full two weeks. The winners will be announced Tuesday, December 10, so be sure to get in your final votes and support those novels that are still standing strong.
The last book in Neal Shusterman's Arc of a Scythe series is probably one of the most anticipated books of the year. At last it is time for The Toll, the book that will answer the question of what happened to Rowan and Citra, what has Scythe Faraday found, and what could the Thunderhead possibly have in store for the humanity it loves so much. And for those who are not caught up on the previous books, either Scythe or Thunderhead, please be aware that there will be spoilers everywhere.
The Situation: It seems the impossible, and the awful, has happened, and Scythe Robert Goddard has been named High Blade over MidMerica. Naturally, one of his first orders of business is to be the be rid of the quota all scythes must adhere to, so those who do not wish to kill so many no longer have to. Of course, those that wish to kill more may do so to their heart's content. Soon it is even allowed for them to focus on certain people groups, such as those pesky Tonists, who have lately become more and more vocal against the Scythes. If Goddard could be rid of their leader, the one who claims to be the only person to whom the Thunderhead still speaks, then perhaps that would be enough to gather all of the scythe regions of the world under his power. It would be another victory to add to the sinking of Endura, and being rid of both Scythe Anastasia and Scythe Lucifer. Finally, the ultimate control he has always wanted may soon be his.
The Problem: While Goddard seems unstoppable, there are certainly plenty of people the world over trying their hardest to do so. There are plenty of scythes that refuse to join him, even ignoring his decree not to dig up the treasure that was on the now sunken Endura. And the Thunderhead may not be able to meddle in Scythe business and stop Goddard directly, and it still is not speaking to the many it has marked 'unsavory,' but it still has Greyson Tolliver, and that will have to be enough. With Greyson now seen as the leader of the Tonists, he holds enough power to carry out crucial instructions that may allow the Thunderhead to save humanity. A key factor in that plan is what Scythe Faraday has discovered out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, in a place that most do not know even existed, including the Thunderhead. Now this place must be made known, though only to a few. It may be the only way to save humanity from itself, and stop Goddard before it is too late.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult novel, and the third and final installment in Shusterman's Arc of a Scythe trilogy. Though the events of this book jump across timelines and continents, going from person to person as chapters - and sometimes sections within chapters - change, the ultimate conclusion takes place more than three years after the events of Thunderhead. We last saw Citra and Rowan sink to the bottom of the sea, as Scythe Goddard made his getaway. Now Goddard has the title and power he has always wanted; our heroes are lost; Greyson is the only person the Thunderhead will speak to, and Scythe Faraday is on his way out to the middle of the ocean. In Thunderhead, readers got a glimpse into the complex inner workings of the system that governs this world. Now we get to see it attempt to make itself even more perfect, more aware, and more able to relate to humans. It has already succeeded in being more than just another artificial intelligence; now we see it struggle to become something closer to human. In The Toll, readers also learn more about the founders, the end of the mortal age, and exactly why sending humans to begin colonies in space never quite worked.
My Verdict: This book is over 600 pages long, so the first instinct of many may be to say that it could have been broken up into two novels. Perhaps that is true, but I think it works best the way it is, and that keeping it as an epic conclusion allows it to be the most effective. For one, there is a lot going on here. There is the jumping across stories, characters, and timelines, as well the sheer amount of stuff humanity is going through. Yes, it was sometimes confusing, but it was rarely overwhelming. And the desire to know what happens and how everything will play out is enough to keep the reader turning the page, accepting that everything will be sufficiently explained in due time, and it is. It is an ending that reaches back, past the first book, and reconciles a part of the story that happened before the events in Scythe, and ties them to this hectic future. What is evident is the level of care and passion Shusterman holds for his story, and he has made his best effort in presenting a wonderful story to his faithful readers.
Favorite Moment: I am Texan through and through, so any mention of that charter state standing against Scythe Robert Goddard made my heart happy.
Favorite Character: There are many to choose from here. There is the newcomer Jeri, a gender fluid Malagasy whose loyalty to both Citra and Greyson will prove useful through to the end. Then of course there is Scythe Faraday, who is always noble and honorable, though in this book he does go through some things. And then there is also Scythe Morrison, who is certainly not a great scythe, or even a great person, but his decision to assist Greyson proves to be a fantastic new direction for his life.
Recommended Reading: Well this will certainly be a hard act to follow. I suppose I will suggest the Rosewater series by Tade Thompson. Definitely not young adult, and definitely more science fiction than fantasy, but it still deals with the idea of being able to heal from any illness, and what it means to take that for granted without much thought as to what that may mean for humanity.
And just like that, we're already at the semifinal round for the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards. Time to find out which books got added, as if choosing just one from each category was not already hard enough.
I am beyond thrilled that Thick by Tressie McMillan Cottom has been added to the Best Nonfiction category. I will be giving it my vote as this book deserves more attention than it has received.
Unfortunately, it is the only DSN that received enough write-in votes to be included, which means that all books that will be considered for a 2019 award have been chosen, and no more will be added. I suppose that is good news for the existing competition, which was already going to be tight given the books readers have to choose from. 2019 has been a stellar year as far as the quality of books that were published, let alone the sheer volume.
The semifinal round will remain open for voting through Sunday, November 17, with the final round opening the following Tuesday, November 19. Remember, in the final round, the number of books in each category gets cut by half, so make your voice heard so your favorites make it through.
After nearly eight years of writing for this blog, it is natural that I would have a still growing list of authors whose new releases I always get excited about. One of those authors is definitely Ruta Sepetys, and I am beyond excited to talk about her newest novel, The Fountains of Silence. Sepetys writes historical fiction for young adult readers, and this time she is tackling life in Spain under the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.
The Situation: It is 1957 in Madrid, Spain, and 18 year-old Daniel Matheson has joined his father and mother on a trip from their home in Dallas, Texas. Daniel loves photography, and is rarely seen without his camera. But as the son of an oil tycoon, there is considerable pressure for him to join the family business. While his father conducts business, and his mother plays the cheery socialite, Daniel is free to take pictures, and also get to know the pretty maid that has been assigned to his family at the hotel. Ana is funny, smart, good at her job, and also mysterious and careful. Daniel desires to take pictures of the real Madrid, and Ana is the perfect person to show it to him. But if Daniel is to stay out of trouble, he is going to have to take a cue from Ana and be careful, because in General Francisco Franco's regime, you never know who is watching.
The Problem: As Daniel and Ana get closer, there are many forces seemingly doing their best to keep them apart. On Daniel's side, he has his family, who would prefer he stay tied to a girl back in Texas as that relationship looks perfect, if only on paper. It also does not help that Mr. Matheson is less than supportive of Daniel's photography. For Ana, spending too much time with a hotel guest could mean termination, and she desperately needs this job. While Daniel may want for nothing, Ana knows only hard work and sacrifice, as do her brother, sister, and brother-in-law. Even her cousin works tirelessly as a volunteer in the local orphanage, which may hold more secrets than anyone can imagine. Franco's regime requires cooperation and obedience, and the punishment is severe for those who do not comply. Daniel must decide what pictures to take, and what part he wants to play in exposing the secrets of Madrid, while Ana holds onto secrets of her own.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult and historical fiction novel set mostly in Madrid, Spain in 1957. After the Spanish Civil War, General Francisco Franco would rule over Spain for 36 years. This book takes place during his reign, and during a period when the U.S. was attempting to navigate a relationship with a country whose are ideals are incredibly different from its own. Daniel's family stays at the Castellana Hilton in Madrid, which was a real hotel, and is where he meets Ana, who works as a maid. This hotel will serve as the central meeting place for most of the characters, with other key events and actions taking place in and around Madrid. Sepetys became interested in the Spanish Civil War and the postwar period after reading an article about the hundreds of thousands of babies that were stolen under Franco's rule. Just as Ana and Daniel have their secrets - along with almost every other character in the novel - so does the country of Spain, and secrets only stay hidden if those involved decide to remain silent.
My Verdict: I fear I do not have adequate words to describe just how beautiful this book is. Sepetys is a crossover novelist for a reason. I may be an adult whose favorite genre is young adult, but I feel like many adults, and not just fans of historical fiction, will enjoy this book. The main characters may be teenagers, and yes, they do silly and foolish things as a result, but really, so do adults. And the adults in this book are not exactly shining examples of how people should act. These characters act like people attempting to operate in an atmosphere of secrecy, caution, and mistrust. There is a constant and often heavy suggestion of a threatening presence in 1957 Spain. Inside of the beautiful and grand hotel, and amidst the lovely Spanish people, architecture, and scenery, there is clear and near-constant turmoil that Franco would rather have his people smile through, while keeping their mouths shut. The threat feels real, as do the relationships, and the reality of the situation is given its proper attention. The drama is present, but not oppresive, and the tension keeps the reader interested and intrigued.
Favorite Moment: When Ana's brother Rafa gives an account of the tragic death of a close friend. It is a sad story, but it is beautifully told both because of Rafa's grief and the language used.
Favorite Character: Daniel's mentor Ben is a hot mess of a person, but he is good at his job, and is unending in his support of his young friend. I also like Miguel, the owner of a shop in Spain who develops all of Daniel's pictures.
Recommended Reading: I first fell in love with Sepetys' writing while reading her debut novel, Between Shades of Gray. I also recommend The Age of Disenchantments by Aaron Shulman, a nonfiction account of Spanish life under Franco.
It's here! One of the three reasons November is my second favorite month of the year has arrived. Readers everywhere have a chance to vote for their favorite books in the opening round of the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards. The competition is always fierce, and possibly more exciting, there is ample opportunity to discover more books and authors.
Naturally, I am always itching to see which DSNs made the cut. Each category only has 15 choices, which means there will certainly be a few favorites that are overlooked. So let's do this!
We jump right into the heat of it with the Best Fiction category, and wow, is this immeditaely difficult. So many DSNs to choose from: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, Normal People by Sally Rooney, Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (future DSN post), Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, and of course, The Testaments by Margaret Atwood. I have a strong feeling Atwood is going to take this one, and I am one who believes she should. The Testaments will certainly get my vote.
The next category is also a big one with four DSNs making an appearance in Best Historical Fiction. And choosing between The Huntress by Kate Quinn, Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly, The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, and Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is not easy. Honestly, if any of these won it would be well-deserved. I will give my vote to Daisy Jones & The Six, but I am sure The Nickel Boys will make a strong showing.
Only one DSN made it into the Best Science Fiction category, and it is Recursion by Blake Crouch (future DSN post). Time travel becomes a reality, though a dangerous one, and a powerful villain emerges that must be stopped, or it may result in the end of the world. What interested me in Crouch's novel was his approach to a common science fiction theme, something I am sure resonated with other readers as well.
For the category of Best Nonfiction, there is Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark, and American Predator (future DSN post) by Maureen Callahan, which both deal with true crime in some amount. Kilgariff and Hardstark are the hosts of the popular true crime podcast, My Favorite Murder, though their book is more memoir. American Predator follows the capture and investigation of a serial killer that many have never heard of, though his crimes are just as horrific as those that have become household names. Of the two, I will choose Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered, if only because of the humorous aspect.
Maid by Stephanie Lane and Sounds Like Titanic by Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman have both been nominated for Best Memoir & Autobiography. Both are honest and informative, though Hindman's story is the kind that is almost too weird to believe. When I initially picked it up, I thought it was fiction, because the premise was that crazy. That alone makes me want to vote for it.
I can usually manage to pick one graphic novel at some point during the year that ends up being nominated for the Best Graphic Novels & Comics category. This year there are two to choose from, and they are both strong contenders. Both The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and Renée Nault, and Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks are great graphic novels. With that being said, I am choosing Pumpkinheads because it is just that delightful.
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, and Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, both from the Best Fiction category, are up for consideration for Best Debut Novel. While Vuong's novel is more heartfelt, Queenie is both funny and endearing as it follows a young British Jamaican woman who is, quite honestly, a hot mess. But the humor is there, and it gets my vote.
And then there is Best Young Adult Fiction, always and forever my favorite category. And to choose from, I have Internment by Samira Ahmed, The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen, The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys (future DSN post), With the Fire in High by Elizabeth Acevedo, On the Come Up by Angie Thomas, and Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus. That's right, six YA books to choose from, and I can only pick one. Out of all of the YA books I have read this year, Thomas' On the Come Up still stands out among them all. I am sure it was difficult to adequately follow up the runaway train that was The Hate U Give, but I think Thomas did it.
Today, The Toll, Neal Shusterman's third installment in The Arc of the Scythe series, comes out. If I had a chance to read it before the voting for these awards began, then there would be two books for me to choose from in the Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction category. But since I have not picked up my copy yet, I will go ahead and vote for Finale by Stephanie Garber, which is the final entry in her Caraval series, and my personal favorite of all three books.
That makes 23 DSNs that Goodreads saw fit to consider the best of the best. The opening round of voting closes Sunday, November 10, with the semifinal round opening the following Tuesday, November 12. If the rounds operate the same as they have in years past, then there will be five more books added to each category for the next round of voting, so there will be even more competition, and more difficult decisions to be made.
So it is time to get voting, and I cannot wait to see which titles endure to the end.
It was just earlier this year that I covered the first two books in Tade Thompson's The Wormwood Trilogy, and now, seven months later, I have had the opportunity to read the third and final book, The Rosewater Redemption. Readers have the chance to find out what happens to Kaaro, Aminat, Femi, and of course, the alien species that has come to call the city of Rosewater home.
The Situation: After the insurrection, the city of Rosewater has become an even more chaotic place than it was before. Even though humans can be healed at a much quicker pace, chaos reigns, destruction and crime are constant, and not everyone is okay with the alien presence, which now calls itself Koriko. As real motives are uncovered, alliances seem to shift hourly, and no one is safe. Even the mayor's own household is not in agreement, as Jack Jacques is holding strong to the deal he made with the aliens, while his wife is openly challenging what they are doing. Some are convinced that Koriko, and by extension Wormwood, must be stopped, while others worship her as a god. The only thing that is clear is that something is coming, something big. And while Kaaro continues to declare that he is retired, he certainly still has a place in the conflict, as his skills are far too valuable for him to sit on the sidelines.
The Problem: The presence of an alien species is not the only issue Rosewater has to contend with. It also seems that Nigeria is not too keen on allowing Rosewater to be independent for long. The president enlists the help of one of Rosewater's best, but like everyone in the story, their alliance is questionable. Deals that were made in the past mean nothing, and those that appear to be on the same side may not actually be. Even Aminat, who works for the mayor on paper, is not sure what side she is really on, and what the repercussions of her current work, or the deal with the aliens, could be. As the city continues to unravel, and the already thin semblance of peace falls apart, the aliens' true intentions are revealed. Rosewater will need every resource it has to survive what is coming. Unfortunately, those resources do not get along, cannot agree, and may not even be powerful enough.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction book that closes out The Wormwood Trilogy, which began with Rosewater in 2016. What began as a city that sprung up around an seemingly benevolent alien presence, has become a nightmarish landscape full of chaos and crime. Fortunately, those that get hurt are instantly healed, and those that die are almost instantly brought back to life by Koriko. Naturally, the people of Rosewater are split on how they feel about their loved ones being brought back to life, especially if that means a completely different species inhabits the body. If this were the first book, the reader would almost exclusively be following Kaaro and how he is handling all of this. In the second book there was more focus on Aminat, Kaaro's lover. Now the mythical, though very real Oyin Da, or 'Bicycle Girl,' tells the story, though she insists she is the wrong person to do so. From her, the reader learns from the beginning that Rosewater is no more, and then the story jumps from person to person, group to group, as we learn how everything ended.
My Verdict: This is a hell of a way to end an already intense but fun experience. The story up to this point was already a crazy ride; this third entry becomes something else entirely. There are spots where things got confusing, especially as it could be hard to keep track of who is supposed to be aligned with who, and why they aren't aligned with someone else, or why they betrayed this other person who they were aligned with...it can be a lot to follow. But ultimately, Thompson brings it all together to the explosive conclusion. Oyin Da may protest having to be the one to tell the story, but she is the one that saw it all. Plus, having her tell the story gives a better picture of who she is. Questions from the previous books are answered, relationships are tested, and motives become clear, all to the backdrop of the fun but ugly mess that is the city of Rosewater.
Favorite Moment: When handwritten notebooks with important information are presented, with the defense that at least they cannot be hacked.
Favorite Character: I never thought I would say this, but Bad Fish ends up being my favorite. He may be trouble, but he is also smart and useful.
Recommended Reading: I am going back to the recommendation I made with the first book, which is the Binti series by Nnedi Okorafor.
Hooray for discovering new YA authors! And David Yoon is the husband of the already well-known Nicola Yoon, author of The Sun Is Also a Star and Everything, Everything. Today I get to discuss his debut, Frankly in Love, which follows a Korean-American boy as he navigates issues of culture and identity throughout his senior year of high school.
