Young Adult Fiction: White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

A new novel from author Tiffany D. Jackson usually means a thriller full of mystery and suspense. This time around, Jackson decided to include horror in this year's White Smoke. A new town means a new start for a teen with a difficult past, but the house she and her family have moved into has a past of its own.

The Situation: Mari must continually tell herself that change is good, necessary, and needed. This reminder will hopefully come in handy as she moves to a strange new town, far away from her best friend in California, and the beach she loves. When her mother accepts a job with the Sterling Foundation, it means a new start in Cedarville, a town looking for a fresh start of its own. Mari more or less blames herself for her family having to move, but this could be the change they all need. The house is free, though in a strange neighborhood with less than friendly neighbors. And it is clear that making the most of this new opportunity will be rough with Mari's annoying and bratty ten year-old stepsister, Piper. 

The Problem: Mari may have her own secrets she is trying to keep hidden from any new friends she may make, but Cedarville has a few as well. Even though the house Mari's family has moved into has been freshly renovated, it is clear that its own past cannot be painted over. Objects keep disappearing; footsteps are heard at night; a strange and horrid smell keeps coming from the locked basement; and even Buddy, the family dog, keeps reacting to things no one else sees. Mari was hoping this move would mean a new start for her, but these strange events have only triggered her anxiety, and she desperately wants to fall back onto her old habits of coping. Dealing with her own ghosts, as well as the ghosts of the house, and indeed the entire town of Cedarville, may prove to be too much. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult horror novel that follows 16 year-old Marigold as she moves into the town of Cedarville with her family. The move to Cedarville means a new start for everyone involved, though tensions are certainly high. Mari is pretty open (to the reader at least) about what she is running from, which includes a past opioid addiction, as well as a traumatic incident involving bedbugs. The book even touches on the impact of seemingly well-intentioned new laws on an established urban population, and the effects revitalization efforts have on the existing population, especially when those efforts stem from greed. And then of course, there are the ghosts. It is rumored that the house Mari has moved into is haunted, and she would love for that to not be true. But Piper keeps talking to someone, insisting that whoever it is does not want Mari there. And the more Mari learns about Cedarville, the less sure she is of her and her family's safety.

My Verdict: This is certainly a book worth reading during the Halloween season. The new family in town accepts a deal that is too good to be true, and moves into the local haunted house...sure, we have heard that story before, but this one puts a different twist on it. There is even a teenager with a troubled past, a creepy kid, and a mysterious benefactor. While the horror elements of the book are pretty scary, what I found the most terrifying was how easy it was for Mari's mother to not trust her, and for her stepfather to side with Mari's clearly troubled stepsister. The parents' lack of awareness is truly something to behold. However, they were not the most infuriating part of the experience. For me, the ending leaves as lot to be desired. In the middle of the action, it feels like that story just stops. There are still so many questions, and so many issues left unresolved. The book could have easily been 25+ pages longer, if only to allow for more closure.

Favorite Moment: There are a few times (though not nearly enough of them) when Mari's mom puts the stepfather in his place.

Favorite Character: Sammy is the little brother Mari needs. Without him, she would certainly spiral out of control more easily and more often.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Jackson's Monday's Not Coming, as well as Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley. 

Science Fiction: Constance by Matthew Fitzsimmons

The difficulties I have searching for science fiction that truly interests me have been mentioned before, and after yet another false start where I read a book I ultimately did not want to write about, I was fortunate to find Constance by Matthew Fitzsimmons. A plot with cloning at its center had the potential to be a difficult read, but at least I would get an exciting adventure.

The Situation: Constance 'Con' D'Arcy cannot even call herself a struggling musician. At least, not anymore. Not after the accident. When her band's van crashed, killing two of the members and putting a third in a coma, Con's entire life changed, and it went beyond the scars she can now trace on her knee. While she is still not entirely okay with the idea of cloning, something that is now possible in the year 2038, the accident led to her accepting a gift she received years ago, something that is usually only available to the extremely wealthy. If Con gets into another accident, or something else tragic happens to her, her clone will wake up in a lab, with all of Con's most recent memories already downloaded. Though she continues to keep the appointments to keep those memories updated, she feels conflicted every time. And it does not help that the 'gift' came from her aunt, who happens to be the woman who discovered the entire process.

The Problem: When Con wakes up in the Palingenesis lab, the company that does the cloning, she immediately knows something went wrong during her most recent appointment to update her memories. Then she learns the horrifying truth: the original Constance D'Arcy has died, and the woman who is now waking up is her clone. Another problem is that the new Con does not have the memories from the last 18 months. Con's original is dead, and the new Con has no idea what her life was like during the last year and half. Finding food, shelter, and money are only the beginning of Con's adventure. If she is to find out what happened, she has to make deals and out-maneuver a host of untrustworthy characters, many of which also want the new Con dead. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in the not-so-distant future of 2040. The action of the book is mostly split between Washington, D.C, where Con lives, and the state of Virginia, where cloning has been outlawed. When the process for cloning was first realized, it was used only for the military. Once the process became available to the public, only the very wealthy could afford the convenience of being revived after a tragic death, therefore extending their life after theirs was cut short. The common arguments we have against cloning today are presented, along with a few nightmare scenarios that show up in the book, due to its setting in a future where clones walk around like we do now. Unsurprisingly, most of the issues are the result of corruption, greed, fear, and lack of forethought.

My Verdict: Simply placing this book under the category of science fiction does not do it enough justice. It is also part murder mystery, as well as suspense thriller, and Con's adventure leaves little room for boredom. The clues come fast, but they often bring more questions than they do answers, right to the very end when things are resolved, as well as unresolved. Technically, the reader gets two main characters, the original Con, and the clone of Con that must solve her own murder. As for all of the issues surrounding cloning, Fitzsimmons does not shy away from the questions, but instead confronts the points brought up by both sides head on. For those that want a fast-paced adventure, as well as a look at the conflict cloning can bring should it go mainstream, this is the book for you. 

Favorite Moment: Mentioning my favorite moment would be a major spoiler. The book has many twist and turns, and even hinting at one of the smaller ones would not feel right. I will say that I appreciate the quote from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at the beginning of the third part. That felt more than appropriate.  

Favorite Character: Peter Lee is the assistant to one of the former leaders of Palingenesis, the company that does the cloning. He is unassuming and nice, but capable of more than you would think. He helps Con a great deal and remains someone she can actually trust.

Recommended Reading: Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty also deals with the potential future of cloning and what it could mean for mankind. I also recommend the Arc of a Scythe series by Neal Shusterman for a picture of the world if humans could live forever. 

Historical Fiction: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

One historical fiction book I am forever recommending to friends is A Gentleman in Moscow. The story of Count Alexander Rostov and his forced, extended stay in a luxury hotel is especially interesting considering what life what was like at the beginning of the pandemic. So I was pleased to see that Amor Towles was coming out with a new novel, The Lincoln Highway, this time set in 1950s America.

The Situation: Emmett Watson has just returned to his home in Nebraska after serving time in a juvenile work farm. Due to his father's death, Emmett is actually released early from his time for committing involuntary manslaughter. Since the bank has foreclosed on the farm, Emmett has decided that he and his younger brother Billy need to make a fresh start somewhere other than a small farming town. Having set his sights on Texas, Emmett begins making preparations for the long journey, only for his plans to be immediately disrupted. First, Billy insists the two brothers need to head to California, via the Lincoln Highway, in order to find their mother. And second, it seems two of Emmett's fellow inmates have arranged their own early release from the juvenile work farm, and they have a different kind of adventure in mind. 

The Problem: Emmett is not exactly angry with Duchess and Woolly for showing up at his house, at least not until they "borrow" his car for their own adventure east. Now all four boys are headed to New York City: Duchess and Woolly are on a sort of treasure hunt as they attempt to locate the latter's inheritance. And Emmett simply wants his car back, while young Billy is along for the journey. On the way, the two brothers will encounter all sorts of obstacles, while also meeting various characters who are on their own adventure. And while Billy loves a good adventure, Emmett must stay focused on keeping them both safe, and getting his car back.  

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel that takes place across ten days in June of 1954. While Emmett is the primary hero of the story, almost an equal amount of chapters are told from the point of view of Duchess, and he has a few scores to settle with people. Then there is Billy, who is obsessed with his  Compendium of Heroes, Adventurers, and Other Intrepid Travelers, and has read it over 20 times. Throughout their journey, he cannot help but see the similarities between the heroes in the book, himself and his brother, and even some of the people he meets, some of which get their own chapters. It is a ten-day tale with overlapping storylines from various characters, all leading up to day one, when it all comes together. 

My Verdict: I was expecting a grand adventure, and I certainly got one. From the first page of the first section, which simply says "Ten," the countdown has begun, and the expectation is set that something big is going to happen when the reader reaches "One." Even though the book is 500+ pages, what follows is a non-stop adventure told from multiple points of view. There may be long hours on the open road involved, which in real life are always a breeding ground for intense boredom, but that is not the case throughout the course of this book. Each character sees the world and the situation in a different light, and they each have their own idea of what their adventure should be. It is wonderful to find an author who a reader can trust for 500 pages and know they will not be let down.

Favorite Moment: When Billy meets another adventurer while riding the rails with his brother, and it is someone that proves to be helpful, protective, and nice.

Favorite Character: Billy is a ten year-old boy, but he is a clever, observant, obedient (to a fault), and resourceful. 

Recommended Reading: Naturally, I recommend A Gentleman in Moscow. It is a story I read four years ago, but I still think about more often than most of the books on my shelves. 

Young Adult Fiction: Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance

After reading 2018's My So-Called Bollywood Life, I recommended the book to my supervisor for a few reasons: it was relatively short, the story moved quickly, and I knew my supervisor would like the frantic pace and actions of the main character, Winnie. And when it was announced that Nisha Sharma would be publishing another YA book, this time Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance, I knew we were in for another fun ride.

The Situation: Radha loves to dance. Performing? Not so much, not with her panic attacks anyway. And competing she could do without. Unfortunately, that is what she has spent most of her life doing. She may be one of the best kathak dancers in the world, but she became so at the expense of any outside life and interests. And before stepping onto the stage in London for one of the most important competitions of her life, she decides to walk away from competing for good. Jai is also a dancer. As the captain of the Bollywood Beats dance team at the Princeton Academy of the Arts in New Jersey, Jai also boasts straight A's, but has no plans to attend college due to family obligations. Everyone around him  is urging him to follow his dreams, which he insists includes staying home after graduation and helping the family.

The Problem: Though she is done with performing and competing, Radha agrees to attend the Princeton Academy of the Arts as part of a deal with her mother. Also, it allows her the chance to leave Chicago and all of the talk about her exit from competing behind. But it also means no longer being around her dad, not that their relationship was ever particularly close. When she meets Jai, the attraction is pretty much instant. And when he and the rest of the Bollywood Beats see her dance, they know they could win the Winter Showcase easily if she were to join...just like Radha knows Jai should apply to Columbia like he has always dreamed. As the two seniors navigate their last year of high school, they must also consider their futures, and if it is worth it to face their fears in order to follow their dreams.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set mostly in New Jersey, and follows both Radha and Jai in their last year of high school. For Radha, she loves to dance, but her performance anxiety makes it difficult for her to do so in front of a crowd. This does not stop her mother from pushing her to return to the stage, as well as competition. If anything, her mother's insistence has given her further cause to look for ways around the school's Winter Showcase requirement. For Jai, he wants to help out his family after the last few difficult years they have had following his father's injury, insisting that going to college will only set them back. Plus, he is having a hard time reconciling his love of dance with his love of science, as if they two loves cannot exist in the same person. Radha is having the same problem with her newfound love of cooking, though it has allowed her to be closer to her father. Both of them will have to face their fears and acknowledge what they really want out of life. 

My Verdict: This book is just as fun and delightful as I anticipated it would be. There is the dancing, along with the detailed recipes for Indian cuisine, and then the conflict within the two different families, and a love story poured on top. As lovely and amusing as the story is, there are also some moments when things get incredibly serious. The tension between Radha and her mother often passes uncomfortable and borders on painful. And Jai's stubbornness regarding his future is beyond frustrating. And then there is the exploration of disability caused by disease, a subject that Sharma attempts to traverse with sensitivity. The love story is somewhat predictable, as is the overall climax and resolution, but on some level, most readers will not care.

Favorite Moment: When Radha begins video-chatting with her father as they explore recipes together.

Favorite Character: I think Radha is incredibly strong and resolute when she has her showdowns with her mother. Sharma conveys just how intimidating the woman can be, and yet her daughter often does not back down.

Recommended Reading: Naturally, I recommend My So-Called Bollywood Life. In fact, the protagonist from that book makes an appearance in this one. I also recommend With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo.

Contemporary Fiction: The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

Eight years ago in 2013, I was excited just from reading the title for A Tale for the Time Being, the first book I read by Ruth Ozeki. Today I will talk about her latest novel, The Book of Form and Emptiness, which follows a mother and her teenage son as they manage their grief.

The Situation: Benny Oh lives in San Francisco with his mother Annabelle. For the most part, he has the usual struggles and issues that come from being a teenage boy who is forced to attend high school: He has a hard time getting along with some of the kids at school; his mother embarrasses him; he wishes she would stop storing her stuff in his room; and he would rather spend his days at the library, because even skipping school to go to the mall would mean dealing with more people. To make matters more difficult, Benny's father died in a tragic accident a few years ago, and both he and his mother are dealing with their grief in different ways. Of course Annabelle is willing to do whatever it takes to help her son, though that usually means she also neglects her own needs.

The Problem: Benny Oh hears voices. And they are not the kind we usually read about that live in someone's head. What Benny hears are objects that are speaking to him, most of the time in a language he does not understand, but he captures the emotional tone. Most are nice and gentle, but others are mean and angry, even spiteful. And when he nearly follows through on a command given by a pair scissors, it lands him in a psychiatric ward for children. But this is where he meets Alice, who is possibly his first real friend. Meanwhile, Annabelle is focused on her son and holding onto her job, if nothing else. Sure, she finds time to shop at the thrift store and the craft shop, but that only adds to the amount of stuff piling around the house, stuff that can speak to Benny. If Annabelle could find her own social community to connect with, and if Benny could learn to listen to the voices that really matter, this mother and son will have a chance of getting through all of this together.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set in San Francisco around 2016, as there is mention (in vague terms) of the presidential election and the unrest that followed. Most of Benny's adventures happen in one of three places, his home, his school, and the San Francisco Public Library. The library is where Benny often escapes, as he remembers going there with his mother as a child and loving it. The story opens with the book introducing itself, and then introducing Benny, before moving onto the first scene, the death of Benny's father, Kenji. As the story is told, Benny will often interject to say how he felt about a certain event, or even to admonish the book for giving too much detail, or too little, or for not getting more involved. Benny's voices will lead to a series of often harmful, though possibly well-intentioned, misdiagnoses, and his mother's hoarding will go unchecked. While it can probably be said that Benny is the main focus, Annabelle's struggle is just as important. 

My Verdict: This book is frustrating. That does not mean that it was not good or that it was not enjoyable, but my goodness...we all know that moment when you start yelling at the characters of a horror movie, telling them to not run upstairs or go down into the basement. For me, that was this book, especially when it comes to Annabelle in nearly everything she does. But if anything, that means Ozeki was successful is presenting the struggle of someone who wants to do better, but needs more help than what they have to get there. Neither Annabelle nor Benny is over Kenji's death, and grief can be a terrible thing. What I enjoyed most are the moments at the library, and getting to explore all of the different floors and rooms and sections. It is a well-written book, but there are moments that will certainly try your patience.

Favorite Moment: Mrs. Wong is Annabelle's landlord. She makes a return after a lengthy time away after breaking her hip, and it is possibly the most relieved I felt during the entire 500+ pages of the book.

Favorite Character: All of the characters are frustrating in their own way, even the side characters of Alice, and the homeless man that Benny meets on the bus. I will pick Cory, the nice librarian who comes to Benny's rescue in more ways than one.

Recommended Reading: I do recommend Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being. It is a different kind of adventure, but told in the same unhurried, intentional, and methodical style.