Banned Books Week 2018

That time of year is upon us--when we celebrate our freedom to read! Every year, the American Library Association compiles a list of books that have been challenged or banned throughout the country. From these, they compile their annual top ten list, the books that have been challenged most frequently. And this is Banned Books Week, when we celebrate these books.

Five years ago, I shared my favorite banned books here. Well, believe it or not, there are still books being banned, and I have some new favorites to share with you.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reasons for challenges: Drug use, profanity
Reasons I like it: Oh, this book is powerful. It is a ripped-from-the-headlines story of a teen girl who witnesses an unarmed friend shot by a police officer. The ramifications of this are startling. The story of the unarmed black teen becomes national news, and she is the only one who knows what happened. This was a can't-put-it-down, important read. It also has won many awards and will be a movie next month.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier (on the top ten lists in 2014, 2016, and 2017)
Reasons for challenges: LGBT content
Reasons I like it: Telgemeier is insanely popular with middle school readers! She writes stories that feel like real kids, and illustrates them. Her graphic novels are colorful, funny, and creative. Drama tells the story of Callie, who loves theater, but can't sing/dance, so she joins the crew. Here, she finds her place among like-minded individuals, and discovers drama both on and off stage. It's adorable and so realistic (as someone who was in a middle school drama club, I attest to this).

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Reasons for challenges: violence, profanity
Reasons I like it: Somehow, I managed to not read this book in high school or college. It wasn't until a few years ago that I actually picked it up. It was a childhood encapsulated so well, and made me nostalgic for a time I never lived in. However, a big portion of the book covers the injustices to the African American community, and the case that young Scout's lawyer father is trying. It was an eye-opening look into the legal system, and not in a good way. If you, like me, have avoided this book, pick it up sometime. It's a quick read, and worth its Pulitzer.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Reasons for challenges: offensive language
Reasons I like it: First of all, how dare they? I was shocked when this book appeared on the banned books list in 2016. Our staff love this book, see here, here, here, here, and here (we may have a problem). In fact, at the American Library Association Annual Conference this year I was asked to read a passage from my favorite banned book and the first thing I thought of was this: (see the embarrassing clip here if you want). I had the opportunity to ask Rowell what she thought of this when I was fortunate to see her speak in 2016, and it's a sore subject.
If somehow you've managed to avoid this book, I'll tell you a bit about it. Eleanor is an outcast in her high school in the 80s. Park is an oddball too. The two of them form an unlikely friendship forged first in their shared love of music, and then developing into more. It really encapsulates high school teen years well, and it's a beautifully written ode to first love.

These are all books I've read in the last few years, and enjoyed reading. It saddens me to see others trying to keep them from your hands. So raise your voice and stand for the banned with me! As Stephen Chbosky, author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, said "Banning books gives us silence when we need speech."

For more information on Banned Books Week, visit www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks.

~Cailey

Five Books Worth Reading: Best Books I've Read in 2017 (so far)

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor – Lazlo Strange has dreamed of the lost city for his entire life. When the name of the city is ripped from the world (and Lazlo’s mind), he becomes obsessed. Then, travelers from the forgotten city come looking for help… and Lazlo is chosen. This story starts off slow, but, wow, what an amazing story it becomes. This was a five-star read for me and my favorite of the year, so far.

A Madness so Discreet by Mindy McGinnis – Grace Mae is unjustly sent to a mental asylum in 1890. When a visiting doctor sees something special in Grace, he recruits her into helping him investigate criminals and the psychology behind them. This book starts off unbelievably dark, but finds a small ray of hope to shine a light on the power of friendship and illuminate the mind of a killer. This is a great read… once you plow past the horror and sadness of the beginning chapters.

The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis –Three years after Alex Craft’s sister was murdered, someone tortured and killed her accused attacker. Who did it? Can vengeance and vigilantism be justified? How does the horror of a close family member being murdered change the psyches of surviving relatives? Can love forgive past horrible acts? McGinnis writes a great dark tale and The Female of the Species is another amazing example. This book will keep you thinking well after you have finished reading it. Highly recommended read. (see John and Meredith's crosstalk on this book here)

When by Victoria Laurie - Maddie knows when people are going to die because she sees death dates on the forehead of everyone she meets... and she will tell you When… for a price. Would you want to know? When is a very entertaining, suspenseful, and well written story about growing up, bullying, high school, a serial killer, and Maddie’s strange ability. Very enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

Missing by Kelley Armstrong - Winter Crane is looking forward to graduating and leaving her podunk little hometown… and not coming back. When she finds Lennon, battered and half-dead, in the forest, Winter begins to wonder about all the other kids who have left and have never been heard from again. Did they really leave or is there something more sinister going on? Then Lennon disappears again… Missing is an engaging, character driven, exciting thriller. Author Kelly Armstrong is moving from writing paranormal romance to thrillers and Missing is a good example of how a good writer is just a plain good writer no matter the genre.

~Mary P.

Crosstalk: The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

Author Mindy McGinnis will be visiting MPL next Tuesday, June 20 at the main branch. In light of her coming visit, Meredith and John revisit one of her works that very much affected them, The Female of the Species (2016). 

John: Mindy McGinnis’s The Female of the Species is a story about high school kids (girls primarily) in a small Ohio town. It’s got to be one of the most intense books ever to come out as a YA title. The story centers on a girl named Alex whose sister has been murdered and it looks at the ways that that experience alters her. I remember the first time you described the plot to me I really could hardly believe it. What was it that first drew you to this book?

Meredith: A couple of superficial reasons, actually. First of all the title, The Female of the Species, is odd in a way that I found attention-grabbing. It gives you the sense that teen girls are some sort of mysterious creatures that need to be studied in order to be understood. And then there’s the first line of the jacket, “Alex Craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn’t feel bad about it.” This book ends up covering a few different topics, one of which is female anger. That’s something I find endlessly fascinating: the way girls are socialized to internalize their anger so as not to upset the people around them. Our protagonist Alex, understandably, has a lot of anger. Her sister was brutally murdered and the killer went free because of a lack of evidence. So Alex is left to deal with all of those feelings and one way she copes is with catastrophic violence. John, the way the book unfolds leaves the reader with a lot of doubts regarding Alex’s reliability as a narrator. Did you get the same feeling?

John: Absolutely. The narrative structure of the book is really interesting. It’s told in alternating and overlapping bits by the three main protagonists (Alex, Peekay, and Jack) and in the present tense, which leaves the story open for revision. But as far as Alex goes, yeah, you’re left in some doubt about how much of what she’s saying is true and how much is sort of...aspirational. It’s especially interesting because the things that she’s thinking and talking about have a pretty profound influence on the kind of person she is. McGinnis does a great job of contrasting her internal monologue with the external view that her friends have of her. This is important especially because of the role that violence plays in the book. Alex’s life is shaped by violence, and it has changed her into the kind of person who is ready to use violence in ways that can be quite startling. What did you think about how violence played out in this story?

Spoilers ahead! Click "Read More" below to continue this Crosstalk. 

Top Ten Tuesday: YA Book Covers 2017

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme started on the Broke and the Bookish blog.

They set the topic, we make the lists. Visit their site to see more on this topic

People often say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, but we all do it. YA novels in particular often have very beautiful and enticing covers; I assume this is to attract reluctant teen readers. But as an adult librarian who is well aware of how little the cover has to do with the content, I am still a sucker for a well done book cover. This is a list of my top ten YA novels published/to be published in 2017 that have amazing covers. Some I have read, some I plan to read, and some I have little interest in and only plan to admire the cover.

Defy The Stars by Claudia Gray
I finished this book recently and I admittedly picked it up solely based on its beautiful cover. Luckily, this story lived up to the artwork. Noemi is a warrior, sworn to protect her home planet of Genesis against the forces of planet Earth. Abel is a mech (robot) from Earth that has been stranded in space for 30 years; during this time his programming has evolved into something he doesn’t quite understand. When these two meet, a journey across space ensues. This is a fun sci-fi adventure with a lot of heart.


Hunted by Meagan Spooner
This Beauty and the Beast retelling is another that I have read recently. The “Beauty” in this story is a fierce hunter and her prey is the beast. The cover of this book sets the tone for the story that takes place in a medieval Russia-type setting – there is a lot of snow and just the right amount of magic. For some reason I am not usually a fan of book covers with people featured on them, but I think this one was done well.



Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Lazlo Strange is an orphan and junior librarian obsessed with the lost city of Weep. When an opportunity to venture to this forbidden and unseen city presents itself, Lazlo must take it. I am currently reading Strange the Dreamer and so far, it is just as magical and mysterious as the cover would have you believe.




The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Tea is a bone witch with the gift of necromancy who is given an opportunity to train under an older, more powerful bone witch who will teach her to control her powers. I was intrigued by the description of this book and the beautiful cover. Unfortunately I only made it about one-fourth of the way in before abandoning it. The story itself was just very slow and just not interesting. The cover is still beautiful though!


The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano
Wil is the daughter of a king who uses her as a spy to further the expansion of his empire. When she finds out she can turn people to gemstone with one touch, Wil must leave her home to find the truth about her curse. I read Lauren DeStefano’s book Perfect Ruin a few years ago and really enjoyed it so The Glass Spare is on my “to be read” list. The cover has a medieval kingdom feel; I am excited to see how the story lives up to the artwork.



The Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
Mariko is the daughter of a samurai and although she is an accomplished alchemist, she is also a girl arranged to be married for political gain. But on the way to her wedding, she barely escapes an attack by members of the Black Clan. Determined to find her attackers, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan disguised as a boy. With purple throwing stars adorning the cover of this book, I am expecting an exciting story from this one.


Wicked Like A Wildfire by Lana Popovic
This book is about two sisters with very strange magical abilities. After their mother is attacked the sisters set out to find the truth about the magic surrounding their family and they unearth a wicked curse. I’m not sure if this story is my style but I love the whimsical cover art so I think I may try it.


Roar by Cora Carmack
Aurora Paven is being groomed to be queen of kingdom ruled by violent magical storms that are control by people called Stormlings. But Aurora has a secret; she has no magical ability and will not be able to protect her people as queen. When she learns there may be a way to gain the magic from the storms themselves, she sets out to do just that. Once again, I am not usually a fan of people on book covers but I think this one is beautiful and it makes me want to read about that world.


Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Scarlett has always dreamed of seeing Caraval, the once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show. When she finally gets her chance, she discovers that her sister Tella is at the center of the show this year. As she races to find Tella before the 5 days are up, she is whisked away by the magic of Caraval. This is one that I don’t think I will read, it is just not for me, but I still love the cover.
 



Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Kiko Himura has a difficult home life and when she doesn’t get into her dream art school, she jumps at the chance to tour schools with her childhood friend on the west coast. Now that Kiko is finally free, she must confront hard truths about herself and her past. This is a contemporary YA fiction novel, and while I don’t usually gravitate towards this particular subgenre, I can appreciate this beautiful cover. Plus purple is my favorite color.

So there you have it! Those are my picks for the best YA book covers of this year, so far. Obviously, don’t always avoid books with poorly designed covers and certainly don’t force yourself to read a poorly written book with an attractive cover, but it is definitely OK to occasionally judge a book by its cover!

~Ragan S.

Five Books Worth Reading: Characters with Special Abilities

I read a lot of fantasy, so I've seen many characters with special abilities: the good and the bad. This list is some of the best examples I've read, and they all happen to be YA novels, meaning these characters are all teenagers. Enjoy!

 

When by Victoria Laurie  – What would you do if someone could tell you the exact date you were scheduled to die? Would you want to know? Be angry? Be happy? Prepare? Maddie deals with this every day because she sees the death dates on the forehead of everyone she meets. When is a very entertaining, suspenseful, and well written story about growing up, bullying, high school, a serial killer, and Maddie’s strange ability. Very enjoyable read. Highly recommended. 

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson – What would happen if people in the world suddenly had superpowers? How would they react? Would they be superheroes or would they become super-villains? Well, they say that absolute power corrupts absolutely. David wants to kill the “Epic” Steelheart because he killed David’s father on the day Steelheart announced his powers to the world. This is an entertaining, funny, geektastic ride through a world filled with supervillains, the Everyman, and the danger and mania that comes with the desire for revenge. (Book 1 of the Reckoners trilogy.)

Wake by Lisa McMann – When other people fall asleep, Janie sees their dreams. Which would be cool, except Janie can’t control when it happens and it is starting to interfere in her everyday life. Then one day someone dreams of fire, burning, and torture and Janie is pulled into a nightmare – both waking and sleeping. This is an engaging, character driven teen, urban fantasy story with a romantic twist. Wake is the first book of the Wake Trilogy. I recommend all of them.

Insignia by S.J. Kincaid – In the middle of WWIII, wars are fought in outer space by drones flown by teens. Tom Raines is a down-on-his-luck teenager whose only talent is playing video games. When the military comes and wants to put a super computer in his brain to make him the best drone pilot on Earth, how can he say “No”? But nothing is what it seems and computers can be reprogrammed, even if they are inside your brain. (Book 1 of the Insignia trilogy.) A fun, well-written dystopia with a little mind-control and hopeless romance thrown in. 

Transparent by Natalie Whipple– If no one could see you, what would you do? Fiona was born Transparent. (The doctor dropped her because he couldn’t see her.) Fiona’s father, the head of the local mafia, wants to use her talent for thievery and assassinations. Can Fiona and her mother find a way to make Fiona’s transparency a gift rather than a curse? Well written, good characters, interesting story… with a believable ethical struggle thrown in. A really good read.  (Book 1 of the Transparent duology.)

~Mary P.

Series Review: The 5th Wave

Now that Rick Yancey has completed his trilogy The 5th Wave, and so have I, I wanted to do a quick review of the series as a whole, while also trying not to spoil it for any of you who have not read this series at all yet. (What are you waiting for?)

The 5th Wave
I have booktalked this book to death with the teens (and some adults) at my library. It was gripping, scary, and yet in some way relateable. Cassie Sullivan is a teenage girl struggling to stay alive and save her baby brother in the midst of an alien war. What I loved about this concept was that the aliens were not tentacled green monsters (or anything similar). In fact, they were mostly not present in the book; those that were present looked like regular people, but were emotionless and much more sinister than your average human. I also liked the jumps between character perspectives, which gave me a fuller picture of what was happening in different parts of the world created in this book. We jump between Cassie and some other teen and child characters, learning about their experiences as the "war" progresses.

The Infinite Sea
Continuing our tale where the last book left off (and without giving much away), this book followed much of the same pattern as the previous book, but mixed up who the narrators were. We were able to see into the heads of some of the more secondary characters from the previous story, learning their pre-alien infest backstories and how they got to where they are, as well as catching up with Cassie and the other characters we got to know in the first novel. After the characters have escaped certain death in the first book, they have largely been separated and are trying to survive the harsh conditions on Earth. This second book was very good, but it felt like the "middle," meaning that it was pretty clear we were in some ways just biding time until the last story. Some of this book also took me out of the realm of realism (as much as there can be in an alien infestation story) and into the realm of fantasy, which wasn't super ideal to me. I'm picky like that.

The Last Star
This last book in the series was action-packed. There were so many different fight scenes and near-death experiences over the course of this story. Continuing where we left off in The Infinite Sea, the characters are on the clock before something big and bad happens. (No, I'm not spoiling it!) The fact that there's a clock ticking makes this whole story very intense, keeping you on the edge of your seat and very aware of how much time is left. I wanted the ending to be a little different, but it worked.

Overall:
Put all together, I really have to commend Rick Yancey for the amazing world-building he created. The books left me constantly questioning what I knew, tricking me along with the characters. There were a lot of ups and downs and quite a bit of blood and death. In that way, the books would make good readalikes for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent. I also really appreciated the fact that Yancey never let us forget that these were children (characters aged 5-19ish) and how that would impact kids on their own in a treacherous world. The concept reminded me a lot of the zombie stories that have been oh so popular in the last five years or so, especially considering the kids are constantly on the move in abandoned places, foraging for survival. But with more guns.

I very much recommend this series, even if you aren't a fan of alien books. When I grabbed the first book, I didn't realize the premise was alien-based. Honestly, had I known that I probably would not have read the series, and that would have been quite a shame, since I really enjoyed these books. They kept me on the edge of my seat, made me laugh, made me cry, made me have existential crises, etc. So, give it a shot. Also, if you are an audiobook listener, these were excellent on audio. Some of the best I've ever listened to.

~Cailey

PS-I did see the movie out earlier this year and yes, the book was better. The movie was not terrible though.

My Life as a Book: The Hits that Hurt the Most

It’s a drizzly Saturday in Portland, Oregon. I’m standing on a muddy field, rugby ball in hand, wearing the red and black hooped number 10 jersey of the fly half of the Reed College Rugby Club. And even at the distance of years, I can still tell you exactly what I am thinking: “Is this the day that I get killed doing this?” This is not an idle concern. In the preceding seasons I’ve dislocated fingers and broken ribs. I’ve had cuts, bruises, black eyes, and stitches. I’ve been kicked, cleated, clothes-lined, and driven head first into the ground. I’ve separated both shoulders and been knocked unconscious. I’ve been on the bottom of a pile so heavy that it nearly pulled my arm out of joint. But I do know one thing. I’ve got 14 teammates out there who have my back, no questions asked. And so, in a weird way, I feel safe too.

Reading Andrew Smith’s Winger brought back some really intense feelings for me. I don’t read a lot of YA fiction. It’s not that I don’t like it as a genre, but my plate is kind of full and I have a stack of things weighing down my desk and laying claim to the very minimal free time that I have these days. That said, I had some good reasons to make time to read Winger. In the first place, it was recommended to me by one of my colleagues with whom I share a lot of common interests. In the second, rugby plays a central role in the book, and as former player, I still have a degree of fascination with the game that is not quite healthy (although maybe not quite as unhealthy as actually playing).

The central character is Ryan Dean West, a fifteen year old junior at Pine Crest Academy. He plays left wing on the rugby, thus the name of the book and our hero’s nickname. When the story opens we find him newly ensconced in Opportunity Hall, the school’s punishment dorm, sharing a room with his teammate XXX, one of the team’s locks whose temperament is (typically for people who play in the second row) aggressive to the point of psychosis.

Rugby is only one of a number of important themes in Winger. Another is the powerful longing for girls that for adolescent boys (or at least for this one) is generally coupled with an almost complete failure to understand them. Ryan Dean is no more susceptible to this, but certainly no less, and he has the temerity (or this misfortune you might say) to have fallen for a girl who is, by all rights, simply out of his league.

The Reckoners Series: A Review

My last contribution to this blog was about my first encounter with Brandon Sanderson’s work, which occurred after I selected The Rithmatist for a meeting of MPL’s Teen Book Club. I was so enthralled by Sanderson’s writing that I binge-read three of his books last month; and after reading April’s book club selection, I began a fourth.

That’s just how I am—when I discover something new that I really enjoy, I obsess over it. For example, a couple years ago I was browsing Netflix and started a Charlie Chaplin film on a whim. Next thing I knew, I was completely fascinated by the man. I couldn’t watch his films or read his biographies fast enough. I tried to subtly persuade my husband to get me an original 1931 poster for City Lights that I found at a local antique shop for Christmas. Yes, it was expensive—I could never justify purchasing it for myself, so it had to be a gift—and, no, we didn’t have anywhere to put it, but that didn’t stop me from walking past it a hundred times, dreaming.

This time around, my obsession became Brandon Sanderson’s writing, which flows so naturally that it feels effortless. He makes writing well seem easy, which is truly the mark of a master talent. As mentioned above, I read three of his books last month—specifically, the Reckoners trilogy.

The first book in this series is Steelheart. Here, Sanderson demonstrates his masterful world-building prowess and introduces an intriguing cast of characters. Readers are transported to an alternate version of the United States, ten years after a mysterious star appears in the sky, and ordinary people begin to develop superpowers. These superhumans—who come to be known as Epics—don’t have much in common with the superheroes with whom we are familiar, however. In fact, most Epics have a decidedly evil streak, overthrowing civilization as we know it and lording over cities as kings and queens.   

The story is about David Charleston’s quest to avenge his father’s murder by the titular Steelheart, widely considered to be the most powerful Epic in existence. Ever since he was orphaned at the age of eight, David has studied Epics and the Reckoners—a clandestine group of rebel assassins. More than anything, David wishes to join their ranks. When he discovers that the Reckoners’ next target is in his hometown, he devises a way to introduce himself. They’re the only ones who can possibly help him take down Steelheart once and for all.

What follows is a fast-paced plot that is as fun as it is suspenseful. While it may be a bit too violent for some, I would recommend Steelheart to anyone who enjoys a good action movie. Sanderson’s writing is so visually expressive that I often lost myself in the imagery. To this day, I can picture certain scenes as if I saw them on the big screen.

The other books in the trilogy are also very good reads. Firefight adds to the Epic mythos, answering some questions while simultaneously introducing a greater mystery. The final book, Calamity, gives readers an unexpected and completely satisfying conclusion, which is an uncommon feat for YA dystopian series (I’m looking at you, Divergent). If you are like me and get to the end wishing for more, don’t give up hope—Sanderson stated recently that his next series will take place in the same universe as the Reckoners! 

Usually, the novelty of my obsessions wears off after a while. I find myself back where I started, more or less the same as before… until my next obsession comes along, that is. After a month of Sanderson, however, I can tell that my obsession with his writing isn’t just a phase. My next undertaking is going to be his highly acclaimed Mistborn series. I predict that I will enjoy it so much that I will feel compelled to write another blog entry about it. Only time will tell!

Have you ever enjoyed a book or series so much that you binge-read it in a short span of time? What are your literary obsessions? Let us know in the comments below!

~Ariel

Mentor Public Library’s Teen Book Club is open to teens in grades 9 to 12. The club meets on the first Saturday of every month, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM at our Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch. At our next meeting on May 7, 2016, we will be discussing I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. Copies of selected books are available at the Lake Branch on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is requested. Call 440-257-2512 with questions.

The Rithmatist: A Review

Brandon Sanderson could easily win a spot in the Top Ten Greatest Fantasy Authors of All Time. That’s why I am kind of ashamed to admit that I never read any of his books. It just seems wrong for someone who claims to be a fantasy aficionado to have ignored such an esteemed author!

The good news is that I no longer need to feel guilty about it. I recently finished reading The Rithmatist, which I selected as the Teen Book Club’s book for March 2016. First published in 2013, it is Sanderson’s debut into the wild world of YA literature.

The protagonist of the story is Joel, a 16 year old who is fascinated by Rithmatics, a calculated magic based on geometry, and the Rithmatists who channel it through chalk by drawing one of four known Rithmatic Lines, each of which have special powers. Needless to say, it’s a pretty unique system of magic—much different from the sparkly, wizardy stuff that typically comes to mind. Joel attends Armedius Academy on scholarship and desperately desires to be a Rithmatist. However, Rithmatists are chosen by The Master (a.k.a. God) when they are 8 years old, and Joel’s opportunity was impeded by a familial tragedy. He thus applies himself half-heartedly to his studies, thinking his true calling and passion are beyond his grasp.

During summer vacation, Joel gets the chance to study—but not practice—Rithmatics with the timid, yet brilliant Professor Fitch. Here he meets Fitch’s remedial tutee Melody, a spunky Rithmatist of little aptitude on the brink of expulsion. Yes, it’s the common YA trope:  boy meets girl, and a friendship blossoms despite their initial mutual dislike of each other. I liked seeing Joel and Melody’s friendship grow throughout the book. It felt natural, and I really respect Sanderson for resisting the temptation to make their relationship romantic. That happens too often and too quickly in a lot of YA books, so this was a refreshing change of pace. Of course, I wouldn’t be opposed to this possibility in future installments… 

Anyway… Young Rithmatists begin disappearing; Fitch, Joel, and Melody find themselves in the middle of the investigation. All that’s left at the crime scenes are the chalky remnants of Rithmatic duels and trace amounts of blood—evidence that the students were ambushed and forced to defend themselves. Were they kidnapped? Or worse? Strange chalk drawings near the crime scenes provide another puzzle for our heroes: could there be undiscovered Rithmatic Lines, and if so…what do they do?

I found the investigation aspect of the plot to be so-so. Obviously, there needs to be speculation for this type of story to work, but I felt like the characters (and thus readers) weren’t given a lot of new information over the course of the investigation. They(/I) continued to have the same questions, without really being given much new information as events transpired. The plot could also have benefited from a bit more excitement, as there was little to no action until the climax.

That being said, this is the first time a mystery novel successfully pulled off a bait-and-switch on me. Seriously. Sanderson led me to the wrong conclusion, tricked me into thinking I was correct, pulled the rug out from under my feet, and made me kick myself for not seeing the truth all along. If that’s not what a mystery book is supposed to do, then I clearly don’t know anything about the mystery genre.

Overall, I thought The Rithmatist was delightful. Honestly, I didn’t even talk about half of all the things I found compelling about it in this review. With a mild steampunk flair and clever hints at what I can only describe as a “post-dystopian” setting, The Rithmatist is an entertaining fantasy-mystery hybrid. I am eager to learn more about the characters and the world in the promised sequel, which is anticipated to be released in 2017.

Uh oh… Now that I have read a bit of Sanderson’s work and enjoyed it so much, I can feel that guilt creeping back into my mind. I better get to work on one of his other series, stat!

~Ariel


The Teen Book Club meets the first Saturday of the month at the Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch of the library. Attendees must be in grades 9-12 and can pick up the monthly books at the library.

Five Books Worth Reading: Inspired Retellings

Retelling a classic story is all the rage right now. You might have noticed this in movies, television, and books yourself. So here are my five books worth reading on the subject. (Fair warning: mostly fairy tales)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer – The first book in a popular teen series retelling the story of Cinderella told from the point of view of the cyborg, Cinder.  In addition, this well written sci-fi series has evil witches, shapeshifters, spaceships, and awesome cover art. I highly recommend it.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas – A Beauty and the Beast retelling featuring clueless humans and mysterious elves. Sarah Mass is an excellent writer and I would recommend anything she writes (ahem… Throne of Glass… ahem).

Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell – This is a spot-on Steampunk retelling of Cinderella.  My favorite thing about this book was that the quintessential teen angst/ love triangle doesn’t end up the way that the reader thinks it will…This ending is better.

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge – A retelling of Beauty and the Beast where wishes will get you enslaved, the beast is a Demon Prince, and “Beauty” has been raised from birth to kill him. This story is geared for Adults, not teens or children.  The second book in this series, Crimson Bound, comingles the stories of Little Red Riding Hood and The Girl with No Hands and is even better than the first.

Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd – What happens to the daughter of Dr. Moreau after the island is abandoned/destroyed? This book, set in Victorian England and inspired by The Island of Dr. Moreau, tells us her fate. The “monsters” featured in the second and third books in this series pay homage to Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde and Frankenstein.  

So those are my five. What retellings have you enjoyed lately? 

~Mary P.

Saint Anything: A Review

Saint Anything is the newest book by YA author Sarah Dessen. Dessen now has 11 books to her name. While not John Green, she has her own following of devoted readers, myself included. I first discovered her as a teen myself, and began reading her stories in earnest. More than ten years later, I still look forward to her new releases. Her books always involve romance, but they are deeper than that. The teens in her books are always dealing with some sort of difficult drama or trauma. For example, in past books, her characters have dealt with sexual assault, drug abuse, parental abandonment, the trauma of relocation, loss, and dramatic weight loss (among other things). What I find remarkable about her stories is that despite the somewhat heavy nature of whatever topic is being covered, her books are easy to relate to and very real.

Saint Anything is the story of Sydney, all around good girl. She goes to a fancy private school, gets decent grades, listens to her parents, and is just a responsible kid. She always has been. Living in the shadow of her older brother Peyton, Sydney has always been the opposite of him. Where Peyton is daring, Sydney is safe. She just doesn't take risks, since she's seen how they have worked out for her brother.

Peyton is trouble. Not just in trouble, but trouble all around. His parents have tried everything to keep him out of trouble, but again and again, he messes up. This time there is no easy solution. After minor infractions for drugs and break ins, Peyton got behind the wheel drunk. The family's lives will never be the same. This is where the book starts out.

Sydney switches schools to gain a new identity after being the kid whose brother's in prison. She starts off at the local public high school feeling lonely and invisible. It's not a new feeling for her, since that's how she feels at home too. Her parents' lives, in particular her mother's, revolve around Peyton. They barely notice her as long as she is where she is supposed to be on time. It's not until Sydney meets the Chathams, Layla and Mac, that things begin to change for her. She finally has real friends she feels comfortable opening up to, and she has a place. All of her new friends see her, and it helps Sydney see herself outside of her family.

This book is a very self-aware type of novel. A lot of the book is just Sydney trying to figure out who she is--in her family, in school, in her group of friends, in relation to her brother. After so much change in her world in the last few years, Sydney seems to have lost herself. Over the course of the novel, she comes to terms with a lot, while still leaving work in some other areas. (Side note-I like when an author doesn't tie up the novel neatly: that's not real to me.)

The book deals with some difficult issues, but it handles them very well. Dessen hasn't lost her touch. She's an excellent writer and character developer (is that a thing? Let's say it is.). I love the way she crafts details into the characters, even secondary characters, without being too overwhelming or making the book feel like it's dragging. Despite the fact that Sydney is dealing with some very particular issues that many teens (or adults) may never experience, Dessen manages to make the story easy to relate to, with problems many teens will and do face regularly. Plus, the characters are likable, and the story is just plain good.

This book was a bit different than her others, most notably that it did not take place during the summer, which most of her previous books do. When I think summer reads, I tend to think of Sarah Dessen's books. Oh, hey! It's still summer! Perhaps you should pick her books up yourself. Just saying.

Some similar reads:
Anything else by Dessen. My favorites include Along for the Ride and Keeping the Moon.

Some other realistic fiction authors with romance:
Susane Colasanti 
Deb Caletti

~Cailey

Lois Lane, Girl Blogger

As residents of NE Ohio, you all probably already know that Superman made his comic book debut in 1938’s Action Comics #1. The man of steel was created by fellow Clevelanders, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. What you may not already know is Lois Lane, girl reporter, also made her debut in that same issue. She wasted no time establishing herself as a go-getter journalist hot on the trail of the latest scoop.

Panel from Action Comics #1

The character of Lois Lane has morphed over the decades as the role of women in society has changed. That plucky girl reporter became an unsatisfied career woman in the ‘50s and ‘60s when women in the workplace were viewed more negatively in a post-WWII America. By the late ‘80s she regained her ‘30s spirit and the partnership between Lois and Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent was emphasized. Their relationship was eventually the focus of the television series, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997).

Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher in "Lois and Clark," ABC Television

Lois Lane has endured alongside Superman for over 75 years. Currently, she can be found butting heads with Clark at the Daily Planet or interviewing Wonder Woman, but always on the hunt for her next Pulitzer Prize winning story. Because of her lasting legacy, DC Comics has looked for opportunities to include Lois in other ways. Marvel has found some success in publishing novels featuring their female characters (The She-Hulk Diaries and Rogue Touch) as a way of targeting an audience that may never find themselves inside a comic shop. Last month, DC stepped into the arena of young adult novels with the publication of Gwenda Bond’s Lois Lane: Fallout.

Lois Lane: Fallout finds our titular hero back in high school. Army brat Lois has just moved with her family to Metropolis, a city where they hope to finally put down some roots. Lois’ only goal is to make it through a year of school without getting into or otherwise causing trouble, but a chance meeting with Daily Planet editor, Perry White, sets her on a perilous path. Given a spot on the news team of Planet’s online sister paper, the Daily Scoop, Lois begins investigating the virtual reality video game, “Worlds War Three” that has swept the student body and the cyber-bullying subculture that goes along with it, but she quickly finds herself running afoul with the school principal. With the help of her new classmates and her mysterious chatroom friend known only as “SmallvilleGuy,” Lois has to use all her wits to unravel this conspiracy.

I feel a little divided about this book. On one hand, I thought the story was a bit of a hot mess. A lot of the conflict involved this virtual world which required clunky descriptions of “holosets” and characters' avatars. The penultimate set piece was a confusing confrontation between Lois and the CEO of a generic sounding corporation called Advanced Research Laboratories. On the other hand, this version of Lois Lane is really excellent. She’s intelligent, resourceful, and not afraid to break a few rules to find the truth. That’s a trait of modern-day Lois I really like. Her stubborn determination leads her to do whatever it takes, even if it means operating outside the lines. It juxtaposes well with Clark Kent’s “Golden Boy” persona.

It’s my understanding that this is actually the first title in a planned series. While I’m not completely fangirling over this book, I enjoyed it enough to be interested in reading a sequel. The inevitable meeting between Lois and her “SmallvilleGuy” has great story potential, so I look forward to future installments.

Interested in learning more about Lois? DC published a collection of Lois Lane centered comics for her 75th Anniversary. Lois Lane: A Celebration of 75 Years includes issues from the ‘30s and ‘40s all the way through the modern iteration of the character and makes for a decent survey of her long history.

Additionally, and this will probably ding my comics cred but, I always liked Erica Durance’s portrayal of Lois Lane in the later seasons of Smallville. Seasons 8, 9, and 10 have some great moments between her and Clark at the Daily Planet that make for a fun watch.

~Meredith

Five Books Worth Reading: My Favorite YA Summer Stories

YA books are filled with stories of summertime romances, summer vacations, summers that just change your life, and more. So since summer is rapidly approaching, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite YA summer reads. And trust me, grown ups can read them too!

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

I am a big Sarah Dessen fan, and I've read all of her books. All of them are summery, but this is my favorite. Fifteen year old Colie is spending the summer in a beachside town with an aunt she barely knows while her mom is traveling for work. Colie is an angry teen for a number of reasons, and she really doesn't want to be there. The cast of characters in this town draw her out though: the wild young women next door who show her what friendship should be like, her aunt's renter Norman (not to be confused with Cat Norman), and the bevy of unique people in the town. The book just feels like summer vacation: crappy summer job, riding a bike to and fro, hanging out at the beach, a touch of summer love, and fireworks. It's worth a read, and a great intro to the author if you aren't familiar with her. 

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

So I love this book (and the series) because it's all about friends. The pants thing is kind of secondary and honestly quite far-fetched to me. What I love about this book is that four friends decide to try and include each other in their summer vacations. All of them are doing very different things, but they keep in touch and try to support each other through what turns out to be a kind of rough summer for some of them. It covers a broad range of life-changing events, including first loves, first sex, first time away from home, first heartbreak, first big loss, first job, etc. So much happens in this one book! If you have discounted this series due to the films, or just didn't get on board with the hype, think again. Read it. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll have so many feels.

Lumberjanes, Vol. 1 by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis and Brooke A. Allen

"Friendship to the max!" Lumberjanes is a camp for "hardcore lady-types" and our five main characters are vastly different, but excellent friends. This story has adventure, magic, and some really awesome bonding moments. This is the first volume of the comic series, featuring issues 1-4. I love how these friends complement one another and keep themselves so tight. So often, there is girl drama with a group of teenage girls, but this book is all about the girls supporting one another. And banding together to fight a giant kitten god. You know, your average summer camp experience.

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler

Sarah Ockler is another one of those authors who writes great summer stories. This one though, sounds pretty awesome. I haven't read it yet, but I can't wait, so it makes the list! Elyse, the youngest of six girls, was in a boating accident that took her voice and since then, she's been terrified of the ocean. She goes away for the summer to a seaside town where she is pushed to overcome her fears in life and learn to express herself. You guys, she's basically "The Little Mermaid." Isn't that amazing? Oh, I cannot wait!

This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki

This one is a little different, since there's not really a romance, and I kind of think grown-ups would like it more than teens. This One Summer tells the story of two friends who meet up every summer while on vacation. This summer is no different than the others, except that they are growing up. The two girls explore the beachside town they are staying in, and eavesdrop on the older kids in town. The reason this summer is pivotal for them is that they seem to grow up more, if only by observing the older people around them. It's kind of sad, funny, and nostalgic. It will make you think of that one summer when you were straddling the line between kid and teen. Also, the artwork is just lovely.

Those are my summer must-reads. What are yours?

~Cailey

Time Travel to Save the World

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

When you have read a book six months ago and, yet, it still resonates with you today, you know that you’ve read a great book; All Our Yesterdays is that book for me.

In the not too distant future, Em is being held in a secret government facility. She has papers describing a machine that can send people back in time (in order to change the future) and Em has been imprisoned and tortured by “the Doctor” who wants her copy of those plans. The future has become a nightmare; the Doctor is using the machine to change the past and amass power for himself. Personal freedoms and rights have been set aside in the name of “security” and America has become a police state. But, Em can change it. All she has to do is go back in time. But, she has gone back and tried 14 different solutions to fix the future. None of them have worked. This is her last chance and all she has to do is the unthinkable – kill the person she loves most in the world.

In general, I dislike time travel books, but All Our Yesterdays got such great reviews I thought I would try it. And, this books proves that time travel isn’t that bad – if there is logic and good writing behind the plotline. The ending of this book is a little convoluted and I wondered if the teenagers this book was intended for would understand it. But, once you get past it, it makes total, logical sense. This book presupposes the reader is intelligent enough to take the actions at the climatic moment of the book , backtrack, and apply those changes to a “new” past/present. Will teenagers get it? The popularity of this book says they do.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has action, it has heart, it has teenage angst, and it has a love story that isn’t quite love and doesn’t quite end up the way you thought it would when you started reading. It also makes you think, “If you had the chance, would you go back in time and try to change to past in order to change your present? Would you kill to do it? Would you kill the person you loved the most in the world to do it? Could you?”

Read the book, see what Terrill’s characters do, and then try to answer that question yourself.

~Mary P.