Young Adult Fiction: Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry

Sadly, due to the global pandemic, the San Antonio Book Festival was canceled for this year. Samantha Mabry, author of Tigers, Not Daughters, was scheduled to appear and talk about her work, the most recent of which is set in and around my former neighborhood of Southtown, and follows the Torres sisters as they navigate life after the death of their oldest sister.

The Situation: A year and two months ago, the Torres sisters attempted to run away from home. After they each climbed out of an upstairs window and down a tree, Ana, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa made their way into the streets, crowded with those celebrating Fiesta. But thanks to the group of boys who hang out at the house across the street, who believed themselves to be helping, the girls are caught and brought back to live with their father, a man who fell apart when their mother died 13 years ago. Two months later, Ana dies after having fallen out of that same window, and things got worse. Angry and scared Jessica is now even more angry and scared. Deeply introverted Iridian has done the impossible and folded in on herself even more, only waking up to read Anne Rice's The Witching Hour, write in one of her notebooks, or watch TV. Rosa manages to remain a bright light in a dark house, holding onto her faith and her desire to help, but her adventures may inadvertently put her in harm's way.

The Problem: It has been a year since Ana died, and while it is clear the Torres house is falling apart, both the family and the actual structure, it does not look like anything will change. Jessica is holding down a decent job at the local pharmacy, but taking care of the house and her father takes most of her money. Iridian keeps to herself, allowing her anger and contempt to keep everyone else at bay. And Rosa keeps looking for ways to help, often consulting Father Mendoza on her path in life. If their father Rafe, were at all helpful, he would be able to see that Jessica's boyfriend is abusive, Iridian needs help, and Rosa is wiser and more helpful then her 13 years would suggest. But instead of providing solutions, he remains possibly the main problem, as all he can do is drink, borrow money, and insist his daughters stay close to him. He does not even notice when strange things start happening at the house, things that the sister's believe are proof that Ana's ghost has come back to haunt them.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult novel that is set in San Antonio, Texas. The book opens up in the month of April during Fiesta, the annual celebration that seemingly takes over the entire city for close to two weeks. After the sisters' attempt at running away is unsuccessful, the book jumps to June 9th of the following year, and follows the three remaining Torres sisters for the next eight days. Jessica works at the pharmacy, hangs out with her abusive boyfriend, and also gets closer to Peter, her coworker and one of the boys who hangs out across the street. Iridian rarely leaves the house, opting instead to read, write, remember Ana, and go through her dead sister's things. And then there is sweet Rosa, the youngest but possibly the strongest of the Torres sisters. Wiser than her years, but also the most lost in her own world, she manages to hold it together better than all of them. The Torres house is inhabited by four people who are grieving, and a ghost that is not quite down with this world. When Rosa asks if it is possible for a house to be abandoned and still have four people living in it, the answer is a clear 'yes.' 

My Verdict: My feelings on this one are incredibly mixed. While there are some powerful moments in this book, the majority of it feels jumbled and messy. This could be attributed to the narration style, which jumps from sister to sister as the chapters change, and occasionally moves to the group of boys across the street who have seemingly done little else but watch the Torres sisters. But some of the characters also feel less than solid, specifically Jessica and Iridian. Jessica is clearly angry and scared, but something about the way both of those traits manifest does not quite work. Iridian is also angry and scared, but her desire to only read, write, and watch TV only served to make her the least interesting of the three surviving sisters. I understand that these girls are hurting, and that their father is less than helpful, but hard moments, such as the loss of a loved one, help to bring out who people really are. If that is what is happening here, then Rosa is the only one of the Torres family I would have patience for. 

Favorite Moment: When Rosa picks up a lamp and successfully uses it as a weapon.

Favorite Character: Rosa, easily. Jessica and Iridian would be lost without her, and they know it.

Recommended Reading: There are quite a few young adult books out there with daughters who shoulder larger burdens than they probably should due to the absence (either literally or figuratively) of one or both parents. I recommend Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo and Sadie by Courtney Summers.

Historical Fiction: The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

Since I enjoyed her previous novel, Before We Were Yours, I decided to pick up Lisa Wingate's recent book, The Book of Lost Friends. Told from two different perspectives, over 100 years apart, the story follows a former slave caught up in a dangerous adventure, and an optimistic teacher who may have bitten off more than she can chew in a small town in 1980s Louisiana.

The Situation: It is 1987 in Augustine, Louisiana, and Benny Silva is starting her first year of teaching. Having taken the job more out of necessity than anything else, and being a last resort for the school, Benny's start is less than encouraging as the kids are disinterested, dismissive, and disrespectful. Unfortunately, this is exactly what is expected of them, and it has long been the unstated policy that nothing more is required. Over 100 years ago, Hannie Gossett looked forward to the day she and her small family would finally own the plot of land they have been working on for years. Slavery may have ended, but that has not stopped her former owners from treating her like less than a human, and it will not take much for them to find a reason to tear up the contract that would give Hannie the land. Things are going fine until Master Gossett goes missing, and his two daughters become determined to find him and learn more about their own inheritance.

The Problem: Benny is determined to get through to her students, and after finding a mysterious treasure trove of books in an old house, she believes she found a solution to her issues. After slowly making friends and acquaintances with some of the small towns notable residents, she begins to make some headway with her students, even hitting upon a project they seem to really connect with. But her efforts are met with more than a little resistance, threatening not only the project, but the uncovering of an interesting truth about the town. Back in 1875, Hannie finds herself on an adventure she never wanted to take, but by dressing up as a boy, she accompanies the Gossett daughters as they look for their father. As the three of them set off for Texas, it is clear from the start that this trip will be nothing but trouble. But Hannie is not only looking for Master Gossett. She also holds onto a hope, however small, that she will be able to reconnect with her own people, family members that were sold away from her when she was a child. It is an adventure that will ultimately connect her life and history with Benny and the city of Augustine.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction book set in both 1875 and 1987, following Hannie Gossett, a former slave, and Benny Silva, a first-year English teacher, respectively. While Hannie sets off on an adventure that will take her across the Texas/Louisiana border, Benny has an adventure of her own as a teacher of students who are less than interested, in a system that has long lost interest in them. Hannie is met with the dangers of racism, prejudice, and people who wish to go back to way things were before the war, and Benny is met with opposition to new ideas and attitudes. In between chapters are clippings from the Southwest Christian Advocate, a Methodist newspaper that published letters from people looking for family members they have lost. The Lost Friends advertisements often saw pleas from former slaves looking for family members that were sold separately from them. It is these ads that led Wingate and her desire to tell Hannie's story. 

My Verdict: This is a great story with wonderful characters. It is rare for a book that attempts to tell two different stories, even if they are linked, to keep the reader equally interested in both. But Wingate manages to pull it off as I always wanted to know how Hannie's adventure was going, and how Benny could possibly get the kids interested in reading and their town's history. Probably the only issue I had with the book was the ending. I am fine with how the heroines ended their separate journeys, but there were several plot points that did not seem to go anywhere. Also, some of the minor characters are introduced, set up to be seemingly major players, and then are somewhat forgotten and cast aside. However, even with these issues, it is a book that was hard to put down, and I think many historical fiction lovers will feel the same.

Favorite Moment: When Aunt Sarge commands the kids' attention, leaving little room for any bad behavior or disrespect. 

Favorite Character: I did not think this would be the case at the beginning, but I liked Benny a lot. Overly optimistic people with big ideas can be grating, but sometimes, they are the ones who dig the rest of us out of the ruts we find ourselves in.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Wingate's previous novel, Before We Were Yours, which looks into the practice of stealing children and selling them to the highest bidder, while calling it adoption.   

Nonfiction: Sigh, Gone by Phuc Tran

There is a strange calm that comes over me when I read nonfiction. For some reason, knowing that the story is true makes me less tense while reading it, when it probably should be the opposite. When reading Sigh, Gone: A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fight In by Phuc Tran, there was still some tension there, probably because of the racism he experienced as a Vietnamese immigrant growing up in small-town Pennsylvania.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a memoir that follows Tran's life from the time he and his family left Vietnam in 1975, to his high school graduation in 1991. In between is 16 years of identity struggles. With a father that would always struggle to get a handle on English, and a mother who would ultimately stick with Vietnamese, Tran will unashamedly choose English early on. This begins a long trek through his most formative years as he does his best to fit in, his interests leading him to friends that will see beyond his immigrant status. In the early years it is Star Wars and comic books. And then, after a chance encounter while holding his skateboard, Tran is introduced to the world of punk, eclipsing his interest in superheroes. But while he has found friends that feel like family, it seems his real family does not understand him. Trans relates the tension he felt at home, plus the racism (sometimes subtle, sometimes not) he experienced outside of it, in chapters named after the classic works of literature that he would later discover and hold on to, believing his education to be his ticket out of his small town.

My Verdict: Tran's story is funny, honest, thought-provoking, and often heart-breaking. The choice to name each chapter after a great work of literature is a fun one, even if the reader has not read many of them. Tran thoughtfully relates the chosen work to that period of his life, which, if anything, could make readers curious enough to discover the work for themselves if they have not already. As far as his choices in literature go, my only issue is the lack of diversity in the authors. But Tran's actual story about his life seems to leave nothing out, including instances that must be painful to remember, much less commit to paper and be published for a large audience to read. Sure, there are instances of racism that are addressed, but there are also events that took place inside of his own home that Tran does not shy away from. Memoir lovers will appreciate the honesty and humor, while fiction lovers will appreciate the exploration of literature.

Favorite Moment: Whenever Tran's friends stand up for him when faced with racism.

Recommended Reading: Almost American Girl by Robin Ha is a graphic novel that tells the story of a young Korean girl as she makes the difficult transition from Korea to the U.S. during her teen years.  

Contemporary Fiction: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

There are some books that are so obviously going to be trouble, but you know they will be worth it. I was not entirely sure if Kate Elizabeth Russell's My Dark Vanessa was going to be worth the troubling journey through its pages, but I went ahead and took the chance. Stories about inappropriate relationships between students and teachers are hard to navigate, and this one is no exception.

The Situation: Fifteen year-old Vanessa Wye has started her sophomore year at Browick, a boarding school in Maine she managed to convince her parents to let her attend after earning a scholarship. After having a major falling out last year with her best friend and roommate, Vanessa now has her own room and mostly keeps to herself. The only person she has any interest in talking to is her 42 year-old English teacher Jacob Strane. Well, him and maybe Jesse, the only other student in the Creative Writing Club, for which Strane is the advisor. Vanessa takes every opportunity to talk with Strane, whether it is during class, after class, during office hours, during the meetings for the Creative Writing Club, whenever. It is not long before the situation turns inappropriate and scandalous, but that is what Vanessa wants, a stance she will maintain for nearly 20 years.

The Problem: It's 2017, and Vanessa reads the allegations along with everyone else. Moving between her sophomore year at Browick, and her life now, she tells her own story of when she had a relationship with her English teacher. For her it was consensual - yes, she knows she was only 15 and how people feel about the word 'consensual' when applied to that age - but these allegations mention abuse, and the woman from the article wants Vanessa to also come forward. Of course, Strane, who is still teaching at Browick, wants nothing more than to make sure Vanessa will keep her word to never say anything. While he uses the reasoning that not only will it be bad for him, but for her too, she agrees with him. Besides, how can she accuse a man of something she wanted him to do? But as she tells her story, and the two timelines come closer to meeting, it is clear that Vanessa's hold on the truth, even her version of it, is tenuous at best. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel that is set both in 2000-2001, and 2017. In 2000, Vanessa was starting her sophomore hear at Browick, and in 2017, she is in her 30s and barely managing to hold on. As Jacob Strane's history of abusing his young students finally catches up with him,Vanessa is being forced to once again face the facts of what happened to her, and closely examine her relationship with the man who gave her Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita to read (a book that is referenced heavily in this one, and the author acknowledges her own 'complicates feelings' towards it). She maintains that she was not abused, that she was different, almost special, and vows to never tell. She wanted the relationship with a man 27 years older than her and cannot bear to see Strane as the monster his accusers see him as, even as her own relationship with him has finally ended. It is a complex story that calls into question what it means to consent, and what it means to be a victim, while also exploring how manipulation can work, and just how easily the system can fail.

My Verdict: Yeah, this one is tough. The story is upsetting, the characters are frustrating, and what makes everything harder to take is the fact that this kind of stuff happens all of the time. If you can get past the difficult subject matter, it may be possible to appreciate how well it is written. The book is incredibly complex, especially when it comes to the character of Vanessa. But there are other elements that are worth pointing out, such as the setting of the Browick boarding school, which is also pretty complex. It is a school with high standards and expectations, and yet, despite its beautiful grounds and respected reputation, it is clear to the reader that something is not right, even before everything begins to go wrong. Even the character of Strane comes across as troubling, or at the very least as an annoying teacher, before he even learns Vanessa's name. However, the element of the book that requires the most patience, at least from me, is Vanessa herself. It is an issue with an easy answer, but also not. It's hard.

Favorite Moment: *spoiler alert* When Vanessa finally has her breakthrough and can acknowledge what happened to her.

Favorite Character: I don't think I can pick one. I tried, and there was no one I really wanted to see more of in this book. To be clear, I don not see this as a failing on the author's part. This is a crappy situation that results in crappy interactions and personalities.

Favorite Quote: " 'Vanessa,' she says gently, 'you didn't ask for that. You were just trying to go to school.' "

Recommended Reading: This is hard because I have never read a book quite like this one. I have read and (mostly) enjoyed Lolita, but I hesitate to recommend it to anyone. So instead, I will recommend Good and Mad by Rebecca Traister. This feels like a good antidote to how readers may be feeling after this one. 

Contemporary Fiction: The Other People by C.J. Tudor

Like most book nerds, I carry a book with me pretty much everywhere I go. And I love that having the Cloud Library app means all I need is my phone. Sure, the same works for Kindle, iBooks, etc., but if I buy a book, 99.9% of the time it will be a physical copy. I was able to borrow The Other People by C.J. Tudor, and knowing I could click open the app almost anywhere at any time and pick up where I left off made me so happy. I am sure this is reading somewhat like a paid advertisement, but it is not. I simply love Cloud Library.

The Situation: For nearly three years, Gabe has been driving up and down the same highway, endlessly searching for the daughter everyone else insists is dead. It was in April of 2016 when he was heading home, already late, and he saw his daughter's face appear briefly in the rear window of the car he was traveling behind. That was the same night his wife and daughter were supposedly killed in his home, and his life was turned upside down. Even after he was finally cleared of all suspicion of murder, Gabe knew he could no longer be the person he was, with the life he had. He was also sure that Izzy, his daughter, was still alive, and that the little girl they buried was someone else. Now his mysterious friend has news for him, something that makes him even more determined, despite there still being a lack of concrete evidence. This new information will once again disrupt his life, while bringing him closer to the truth.

The Problem: While Gabe makes slow progress at finding out what really happened to Izzy, Fran and Alice attempt to outrun a danger that has no intention of stopping until they are found. Fran could not be more careful, but with Alice's strange habit of falling asleep in odd places, coupled with her unsettling fear of mirrors, staying one step ahead of those who want to find them will always be difficult, and seems to be getting more so by the day. And Gabe's slow progress begins to hit major snags when those he is supposed to be able to trust are hiding things from him, and some outside force seems intent on keeping him from finding what he is looking for. One thing he has been able to find is the existence of The Other People. Somewhere on the Dark Web exists a site meant to connect those who seek justice, those who have experienced pain, and want others to experience it as well.  Submit a request, and if it is fulfilled, you will be expected to fulfill a request in the future, with refusal meaning dire consequences. It is clear The Other People are somehow connected to what happened to Gabe's daughter, and time is running out if there is any chance she can still be saved.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set in and around the modern day United Kingdom. Before he loses his wife and daughter, Gabe is a fairly normal husband and father who works hard for his family. He has his secrets, and his marriage has its issues, but he remains devoted and committed to making it work. The man he becomes looks almost nothing like the man he was, as he is now consumed by grief, hope, and also guilt. And then there are Fran and Alice, who will always be on the run. Things were not perfect before the death of Fran's father, but afterwards, they quickly spiraled out of control. Grief, hope, and guilt follow her too, but for very different reasons. Fran sees potential danger around every corner, and is constantly unnerved by the things Alice sees, and the small bag the little girl keeps with her at all times. Both Fran and Gabe will have to face what they have done, while also wondering at one point does justice cross the line into revenge. The Other People promise the former, but it all comes at a cost that is too high for some. 

My Verdict: The books opens with every parent's nightmare: a man sees the image of his daughter in the rear window of a strange car, and that is the last time he sees her. With this, Tudor builds a mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the end. Sure there are many twists and surprises, but they do not feel cheap or forced, and the connections that are made are fairly solid. If there is anything that does not come through completely it is the small, but incredibly significant, paranormal elements of the story that almost seem to have been added for convenience. Just as easily as they are introduced, they are forgotten about, with practically zero follow-up. And with all of the suspense that is built throughout the story, the resolution ends up feeling rushed, and the loose ends tied too quickly. Still, it is a hell of a ride that examines the idea of true justice, and whether revenge is ever the answer. 

Favorite Moment: When Alice manages to take down a would-be attacker with the small bag she always keeps with her. 

Favorite Character: In this book there are none righteous. No, not even one...except maybe the children. And Katie. Every other adult seems to have a fatal flaw, something that has led them to the difficult circumstances they have found themselves in. They are all case studies in the effects of grief and pain, and just how dangerous the thirst for revenge can be.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Sadie by Courtney Summers, a young adult thriller that also involves a search for a missing girl.