In Mike We Trust
by P.E. Ryan
ages: 13+
First sentence: “They were just finishing dinner when they heard a screech of tires, followed by several taps of a car horn.”
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Donut Days
by Lara Zielin
ages: 13+
First sentence: “I’m no biblical scholar, but I’m pretty sure Adam — as in the guy who named all the animals in the Garden of Eden — wasn’t a hermaphrodite.”
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When I found out what two books I’d be looking at for this round in Nerds Heart YA, I realized that I’ve got a terribly difficult task: I’m choosing between a book about a gay guy figuring out how to get his family to accept him for who he is and a book about an evangelical Christian girl dealing with problems in her church and her family as the church tries to oust her mother as a pastor. Apples and oranges, right?

In many ways, yes: these two books are polar opposites. I have no idea what Emma and Garth would think of each other, but the fundamental feeling and sensibilities of these books are polar opposites. How was I supposed to choose which one?

So, I went back to what appeals to me: plot, characters, and whether or not I found the book interesting. (Totally subjective, I know.)

I thought In Mike We Trust was a good book. There was much to like about the underlying issues of honesty throughout the book — not just with the con game, but also with who Garth was. I did think that the plot was a bit of a stretch — con games, in Richmond, really? It occurred to me to wonder if this was set in the south because the author thought Southerners were more gullible. That said, the characters in the book seemed a bit stereotypical to me: the struggling single mom, the understanding best friend, the open-minded guy, the lovable best friend.

I didn’t have a much different reaction to Donut Days, though. It was a good book as well, dealing with honesty issues; in this case, being more open about issues and problems within a family. Emma’s dealing with some pretty stressful problems in her world, and while there were times when I didn’t particularly care for Emma, overall I thought she was a likable character. I related to her struggles with her faith and her determination to make her own way.

The difference between the books — and eventually, for me the deciding factor — was the endings. In Mike, the ending felt organic, something that I could see happening, something that made sense and yet wasn’t too pat. In Donut Days, though the ending felt a bit melodramatic and forced, swelling to a crescendo that was out of place with the rest of the book. And then the denouement was just too saccharine for my tastes.

So, I’m going to send In Mike We Trust on to the next round.