The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas Delacorte Press - July 31, 2018 I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Sometimes you just need a dark, gritty crime story and The Cheerleaders is that book! I was excited to receive an advanced digital copy of this title after reading that it was reminiscent of Riverdale and Veronica Mars (two of my favorites!). It did not disappoint and is one that I have already been talking to my young adult library friends about. The Cheerleaders follows the life of Monica five years after her sister’s death and the death of four other cheerleaders in her quaint, quiet town. The first two cheerleaders died in a car accident, the next two were brutally murdered, and the last cheerleader, Monica’s sister, committed suicide. After these deaths, the cheerleading squad was disbanded and the cases surrounding the deaths closed. As the fifth anniversary of the deaths nears, Monica uncovers new evidence and people connected to the deaths that may shed some light on what really happened all those years ago. This was a page turner for sure and it kept me reading long into the night. There were so many twists and turns, and every time I thought I had it figured out, a new curveball was thrown. This story was deliciously dark and appealing, making it one of the most well-written YA thrillers I’ve read in a long time! I loved how the action moved quickly, you never knew what to expect, and that the ending totally changed my perspective on the characters. I cannot say enough great things about this book. I was so pleasantly surprised and will be recommending and sharing it with all the young adult librarians I know. It does contain mature content including references to abortion, murder, and drugs. I would highly recommend this book for young adult collections in school and public libraries where mystery/thriller/crime stories are well circulated.
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The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo HarperTeen, 2018 The Poet X is the beautifully written debut novel from slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo. Written in verse, the story follows Xiomara, the daughter of Dominican immigrants growing up in Harlem. Her father is in her life, but emotionally absent, her twin brother is a genius, and her extremely religious mother expects Xiomara to be pious, faithful, and fully devoted to God. Xiomara just wants to be heard and be who she is, but she struggles to express herself to those around her. Xiomara records her thoughts in a leather bound journal, writing poems to describe how she feels, who she desires to be, and what’s really in her heart. She is fierce and sharp with her words, which comes from the necessity of protecting herself from the advances of men of all ages. Xiomara describes herself as curvy, with a bubble butt, and as an “Amazon.” Her features attract the unwanted advances of many men throughout the story, which is a timely and relevant topic to discuss. She wants desperately to find a boy, falling for the sensitive, soulful Aman, her lab partner in biology class. As she struggles to speak for herself, her English teacher invites her to join the school’s slam poetry club. Reluctant at first, through the encouragement of her brother and friends, she eventually realizes the power of her own words. This book is incredibly timely. The topics and themes are ones that most readers will easily relate to. I appreciate that the author didn’t shy away from discussing what the unwanted sexual advances of men felt like for Xiomara. The issues her family faced are relatable, as well, and the story ultimately ends on a positive note with all characters finding their way forward together. My favorite part of this book is Xiomara herself, especially as The Poet X, her stage name. I loved her fierceness, how protective she was of her friends and brother, and I especially loved how much her character grew. X became even stronger through slam poetry and realized how powerful her thoughts and words could be to herself and others. I was so impressed by this novel and the beauty of the poems, characters, and themes within. There is some mild language and sexual themes, so I would recommend this book for high school and up. I cannot wait to see what else Acevedo has in store for us in the future! Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2017 A Newbery Honor Book A Coretta Scott King Honor Book A Printz Honor Book Longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Winner of the Walter Dean Myers Award Wow, all I can say is, wow. This book had me from the first second I opened it. It is just so extremely timely, relevant, and well-written. It is engaging, thought-provoking, and emotional. I absolutely cannot say enough good things about this book! Long Way Down is the story of fifteen year old Will, who is determined to revenge his brother Shawn’s murder. Will is only following the “Rules” passed down through generations before him about what to do when someone is killed through violence in their neighborhood. He finds his brother’s gun, puts it in the waist of his pants, and heads out seeking the person he knows killed his brother the night before. As he begins his journey down to the lobby from the eighth floor of his apartment building, the elevator stops at each floor bringing in a ghost from Will and Shawn’s past. These ghosts include family members and friends who each add a piece to the story of Shawn’s death and some hesitation to Will’s plan. Does he really know who killed his brother? Why is there one bullet missing from the chamber? What will happen if he misses his shot? Can he really do it? These questions hang in the air as Will approaches the bottom floor. This book is so incredibly vivid and it always astounds me how an author can write so much in so many fewer words using verse. One of my favorite things about this book is that it is a verse novel, which makes it so much more accessible for reluctant readers. The themes of this book are so relevant and really shed light on the impact of gun violence in the lives of our youth. It does have some curse words scattered throughout, but they are used within the context of the story (one of my pet peeves is an author throwing in curse words just to use curse words...that does not happen here). This book, in my honest opinion, should have been the Newbery winner. It is so impactful; I immediately came to school and began sharing it with teachers. I can’t wait to booktalk it with my students, as well. I highly recommend Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly Greenwillow Books, 2017 Winner of the 2018 John Newbery Medal Hello, Universe was just announced as the 2018 winner of the Newbery Medal, one of the most well-known awards for children’s literature. I’ve heard lots of great things about this book, as well as some mixed reviews, and wanted to check it out for myself. This story contains the unique perspectives of four kids, two boys and two girls, on the first day of summer after sixth grade. The main character, Virgil, is a young Filipino boy whose quiet personality doesn’t quite fit in with his outgoing, athletic family. His grandmother, Lola, is his confidant and someone who plays a pivotal role in the story, sharing Filipino folklore that directly relates to the events of the story. Kaori is a self-proclaimed psychic who befriends Virgil as she helps him with how to deal with some of the problems he he is experiencing. She is closely shadowed by her sister, Gen, who is along for the adventure of this story. Valencia is deaf, struggling with nightmares, and secretly desperately lonely. She is, however, incredibly smart and brave, and proves to be a vital resource to the group. Chet is the school bully who has been relentlessly attacking Virgil throughout the past school year. Throughout the story, the lives of these four kids intertwine as each chapter is told from one of their perspectives. You really get a feel for their emotions and motivations in a way that is easily relatable for younger readers. Without giving too much away, after an encounter with Chet, Kaori and Valencia set off to find and rescue Virgil who relies on the knowledge imparted to him by his Lola to survive. So, here’s the honest truth, I did not love this book. I liked it, it was well-written, the characters were well-developed, it had a satisfying ending, etc. It just didn’t “wow” me. When I think of the Newbery award, I think of amazing books that have left a lasting impact on me as a reader, like When You Reach Me and The One and Only Ivan. This one just didn’t do that for me. That being said, it is a good book, and one that I will recommend to students, especially fans of realistic fiction and survival/adventure stories.
Bibliography
Ruby, Laura. 2015. Bone Gap. New York: Balzer + Bray. ISBN 9780062317629 Plot Summary When Roza disappears just as mysteriously as she arrived, the people of Bone Gap are not surprised. Finn, however, knows the truth. He knows that Roza was taken by a dangerous man with a face he can’t remember. It is up to Finn to find and save Roza, before it’s too late. Laura Ruby seamlessly blends elements of contemporary realistic fiction and fantasy in this mesmerizing and beautiful novel. Critical Analysis Finn, better known as Spaceman, Sidetrack, Moonface, Pretty Boy, Loner, and Dude, is the kind of character readers of all ages can relate to. As Finn navigates through the loss of Roza and his attempts to find her, he must also deal with an aloof older brother, writing college essays, and finding love for the first time. As the story progresses, Finn’s characterization grows and you find yourself rooting for him, even as fantastical things happen that cannot be explained. Finn speaks like a teenager, acts like a teenager, loves like a teenager, and has a tenacity that draws the reader to him. Another characteristic of Finn that stands out is his inability to recognize faces. This plays a major role in the disappearance and hunt for Roza. Finn is not the only engaging character in the story. Roza, whose story unfolds in the chapters she narrates, is so full of emotion and strength. Her character plays an important part in Finn’s discovery of his own strength and in the repair of his relationship with his brother. Petey, the bee charmer, is Finn’s first love, who helps him discover what makes him different than the others. Even the crazy townsfolk, Charlie Valentine, Finn’s friend Miguel, the Rude brothers, and Petey’s mother, create a memorable cast of characters that elevate the story and make it that much more memorable. Bone Gap is a small town full of “talking” corn (at least Finn and Miguel think so), mysterious gaps in reality, and gossipy residents. It is much like any small town initially, as Finn deals with normal teenage angst, including the Rude brothers, five of them, who like to beat him up. Anyone who grew up in a small town will quickly make connections to people they knew, but all readers will recognize the setting and its importance as the story delves into the realm of fantasy. Where Bone Gap differs from other current fiction is in its blending of realistic fiction and fantasy. While most of the story is contemporary and realistic, as Finn dives into the journey of finding the missing Roza, fantasy elements are seamlessly blended into the story line. What is most amazing about this blending is that, as the reader, the transition between reality and fantasy is so smooth, you do not even question what is happening. From the appearance of the horse and goat in the barn, to Roza’s experiences in captivity, to Finn’s encounter with the dangerous man as he attempts to rescue Roza, reality and fantasy blend so well, it only adds to the plot of the story. The theme of Bone Gap is two fold. Finn begins to understand who he truly is and accept himself. He, and several of the other characters, also finally find where they belong, another strong motif in young adult fiction. A thematic characteristic of this novel that stood out to me was that all of the characters experience these two themes in their own unique ways. For example, Petey, Finn’s love interest, finally begins to see that she is beautiful and that with Finn she will always have a place to belong. Likewise, Roza discovers that she is strong in ways she didn’t know and that she has a home and safe haven with Finn and Sean. The themes are strong, and well written into the storyline. Ruby’s use of varying story perspectives gives the reader a multi-dimensional look at the story. Although most of the story is told through Finn’s perspective, Roza and Petey, also get in on the action of sharing their perspective and experience in the plot line. Even with the changing point of view, the story does not get overloaded, it only accentuates the development of the story. There is also a nice balance between Finn’s male perspective and the female perspectives of Roza and Petey. One of the most important factors in this story is that, after Finn completes his journey, there is a happy ending for all of the characters. Bone Gap definitely stands out as a blended genre novel that will engage readers of all ages and satisfy them with a wonderful story. Response Bone Gap is by far my favorite work of young adult fiction this year. I became so engrossed in the characters’ lives and challenges, I had difficulty putting it down. I still think about this book everyday and use it as a marker for judging other young adult books! One of my favorite elements of the story was the development of the relationship between Finn and Petey. Writing haikus, discovering other-worldly places, and each other, their relationship draws on the feelings any reader had the first time they fell in love. Another element of Bone Gap that I found incredibly interesting was Finn’s condition, prosopagnosia, or face blindness. This is something I had never heard of, but, of course, is very real. Its effect on Finn throughout his life, and throughout the story, is incredible, interesting, and eye-opening. Overall, this is one book that will remain on my booktalk and recommended shelf for a long time to come! Honors 2016 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature National Book Award Finalist Reviews "One part magical realism and two parts fantasy, Bone Gap is a story of whispering corn, buzzing bees, and glimpses of magic in parallel universes...Like in so many classic small-town stories, the town of Bone Gap becomes an integral character. Its collective judgment influences each main character; its magic is both the question and the answer to this very complex, emotional puzzle...The real magic in Bone Gap is the discovery of love, an idea many stories misrepresent but Bone Gap explores with the utmost honesty and truth." —Voya, starred review "It is a rare book that sits comfortably on the shelf with the works of Twain, McCullers, Conroy, Stephen King, and D'Aulaires' Greek Myths—rarer still that a novel combines elements of these authors together. Bone Gap does just this, to superb effect. We start with a boy named Finn and his brother, Sean. Sean is the classic hero: strong, silent, great at everything he does. Finn is a pretty boy whose otherworldly goofiness has earned him the nicknames Spaceman, Sidetrack, and Moonface. Along comes Roza, a beautiful and damaged young woman, fleeing from some unknown evil. When she disappears, only Finn witnesses her abduction and he is unable to describe her captor. He is also unsure whether she left by force or choice. The author defies readers' expectations at every turn. In this world, the evidence of one's senses counts for little; appearances, even less. Heroism isn't born of muscle, competence, and desire, but of the ability to look beyond the surface and embrace otherworldliness and kindred spirits. Sex happens, but almost incidentally. Evil happens, embodied in a timeless, nameless horror that survives on the mere idea of beauty. Ruby's novel deserves to be read and reread. It is powerful, beautiful, extraordinary." —Nina Sachs, School Library Journal "Bone Gap marks Laura Ruby as one of fiction's most original voices. She is capable of moving you to tears, terrifying you on deep and dream-like levels, and making your heart shout with happiness. This book is magic realism at its most magical." --E. Lockhart, author of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and We Were Liars "Ruby's enigmatic novel weaves together the brutal realism of small-town cruelties and sexual violence with the best kind of dreamlike folk magic, inflecting the hard parts with fairy tale softness...and shimmering, hopeful mysticism. With rich characters, captivating world building, and a stunning secret at its heart, Bone Gap is utterly bewitching." —Booklist, starred review Connections Other Blended Genre Young Adult Titles:
Other Young Adult Titles by Laura Ruby:
Bone Gap Book Trailer |
AuthorMy name is Mrs. Scott and I'm a secondary Media Resource Specialist (librarian) in Texas. This blog was created as part of my graduate coursework at Texas Woman's University. All reviews and opinions are my own.
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