Quintana of Charyn

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by Melina Marchetta
ages: 14+
First sentence: “
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!
Others in the series: Finnikin of the Rock, Froi of the Exiles

(Spoilers, obviously, for the other two.)

It’s been a few months since the Charyn king was killed, and Charyn is in upheaval. Froi is recovering from his wounds (to put it mildly), Quintana is pregnant and in  hiding, in the valley bordering Charyn and Lumatere. Isaboe and Finnikin are fighting, mostly because Isaboe, who is expecting their second child, is obsessing over Froi (he hasn’t returned from his assignment to assassinate the Charyn king). It’s all very complicated and political. As the book progresses, it doesn’t get any less so: the setting up of a country (or re-setting, I guess) is a messy affair. There are fits and starts, miscommunications and offenses, second guesses and traitors. It’s not a pretty story, laid out in nice, neat rows, but rather a realistic one: in this political game, where the futures of several countries are at stake, the question is how many lives is it going to cost?

(I’m glad I didn’t have to write the jacket blurb on this one.)

I wish I had had the opportunity to read this series like M did, one right after another. Well, actually: she read Finnikin, started Froi, didn’t like the book because it wasn’t Finnikin, put it down for a while, picked it back up, finished it, demanded Quintana, and then RAVED about it.

It took me a bit longer, and I think the book suffered for the wait. because it took me a while to get into the characters and the world again. But, thankfully, Marchetta remembered that it’d been a while since Froi came out, and helped me remember the important bits as we went along. While it’s not as dark as the previous two books, it’s still an intense ride. Marchetta keeps us on the edge of our seat the whole way through (which is a considerable feat, seeing as the book is 500+ pages long) , wondering if the outcome will be what we want, and wondering how she is going to get there. I loved this book for many reasons, but two stand out. First, that it was a messy book, which made it more real. This isn’t a fairy tale. This is a political drama, and I appreciated the mess. It kept me interested. The second thing was that the relationships were so complex. All of them. Marchetta has a gift when it comes to writing relationships. And not just romantic ones. Friendships were complex. Parent-child relationships were complex. And loves were complex, deliciously so. And because of that, everyone (EVERYONE!) had a growth arc. There were no simplistic characters. I can’t tell you how happy that made me.

And the end, oh the end. (Endings have been meaning a lot more to me lately, for some reason.) I should have seen it coming (M did!), but I didn’t, and it was perfect in so many ways.

Which means the only thing wrong with this book was that it was over, and there are no more stories to tell about these characters. And that makes me impossibly sad.

Untold

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by Sarah Rees Brennan
ages: 12+
First sentence: “Welcome to Sorry-in-the-Vale.”
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!
Others in the series: Unspoken
Review copy greedily stolen from the package the publisher sent to the bookstore, then hoarded on my shelves until I finally devoured it.

To catch up (spoilers for Unspoken, obviously.):
1. Kami’s imaginary friend, Jared, is real.
2. He’s part of an old sorcerer family.
3. Who used to rule Sorry-in-the-Vale
4. His uncle, Rob, is more than slightly batty, and is killing people because blood gives him power.
5. Kami wants to stop him.

In many ways, this is very much a second book in a trilogy. The first was a brilliant set up. This one, while still interesting and laugh-out-loud funny at times,  had the feel that everything is building toward some grand conclusion. Though we never quite get to it in this book.

That’s not to say that it’s a bad book. On the contrary, it’s actually quite good. Even though I felt like I was spinning my wheels — will Kami and Jared get together? Will Lillian ever stop being a Royal Snob?  Will Angela and Holly work out their differences? Will Ash ever grow a backbone? — it was done in a way that I didn’t mind the spinning. At all. It was also because I adore Kami. I hate to call her plucky, but she really is. She’s smart, and determined, and bossy, and willing to do ANYTHING for her family, friends, and town. I love her.

And the ending? Oh. My. Gosh.  If I wasn’t already convinced that endings can make or break a book, I would be now. The ending is brilliant. And painful. Because now I have to WAIT for the next book.

It was worth it, though.

First Sunday Daughter Reviews: October 2013

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I almost forgot about this; some months, the first Sunday creeps up on me too fast. We’re adjusting to M being gone, and even though we get to “talk” to her via Facebook and email, there are still times when we miss having her around.

As for the rest of them, they’re doing the usual: homework, bickering, spending too much time on the computer, and (of course) reading.

C is nearly done with this one, but has put it aside.

It’s not because she doesn’t like it, but rather because she doesn’t want Amanda and Leo’s story to end. From what she’s said, it’s quite a wonderful conclusion to the series.

A has joined Battle of the Books. It’s basically an elementary school competition here in town. Interested 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders read a list of books then create teams and compete, answering questions about the books read. Neither M or C were interested in doing this, but A seems to be liking it. Currently she’s reading

and says it’s “very emotional” right now. She’s not that far into it, though.

And Hubby has convinced K to read

None of the other girls have had any interest in this favorite series of his, and at first, K wasn’t that enthused. (And when asked, she said, “Not so good.”) But, she eagerly asks to read, and even though she’s a bit flummoxed wtih the 19th-century boy stuff, she’s entertained.

The big thing for us, though, is next weekend we’re driving to St. Louis to see Rick Riordan on his House of Hades tour. (Hubby’s not.) The rest of us are thrilled. Pictures forthcoming!

Until then… Happy reading!

Audiobook: Persuasion

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by Jane Austen
read by Greta Scacchi
ages: adult
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!

It’s been nearly five years since I last visited Anne Elliott and Captain Wentworth’s story, and I thought, especially after liking Emma so much and because of this article in Slate where they ranked it dead last, that maybe it wouldn’t be nearly as good this time around.

Maybe it was the reader — she was delightful — but I really do think that no matter how much I like to pretend otherwise, Persuasion will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s not funny or witty, though it is poking fun at snobby class-conscious people. No, what I said last time still holds:

This book is the best one of Austen’s because it’s a re-finding of love lost, it’s the rekindling of hope, rather than the blush of first love. Anne and Wentworth were torn apart — by pride, prejudice, situation, class… all of which are Austen themes in her other books — and yet they overcome all in order to be together.

It’s still my favorite.

The Beginning of Everything

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by Robyn Schneider
ages: 13+
First sentence: “Sometimes I think that everyone has a tragedy waiting for them, that the people buying milk in their pajamas or picking their noses at stoplights could be only moments away from disaster.”
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!
Review copy snagged from the ARC shelves at my place of employment.

Ezra Faulker is the Golden Boy. Junior class president, captain of the tennis team. Surrounded by friends, doted on by parents. Driving a BMW, with the Perfect Girl on his arm. Then, after a party where he interrupted  his girlfriend having sex with someone else, he got into his car, drove away, and… was blindsided by a jerk who blew through a stop sign. His car? Totaled. His knee? Smashed. His life as he knew it? Gone.

Fast forward to the start of his senior year. He’s been an invalid all summer, his friends haven’t come to visit, and he knows his place at the Top of the Heap is gone. He’s signed up for a bunch of AP classes and debate, where he runs into is former best friend, Toby. And the new girl, Cassidy.

Before I go much further, in many ways, this was John Green-lite. It has much of the same feel of a John Green book — privileged kids with their angst and soul-searching — but in without much of the philosophy and depth that John Green adds to his books. In some ways, that’s a good thing: the kids in this book come off less as pretentious and more as real, interesting teenagers. And I liked that. Even though Ezra’s injury wasn’t life-threatening, it still was a massive change for him, and he had to learn to adapt (or be a jerk about it). Cassidy, fresh from boarding school with a tragic backstory of her own, walks that line between free spirit and muse. There are some moments that are classic — their date to the playground, or watching the Disneyland fireworks, or the debate hotel room party — and others that seem forced. And the ending? Not perfect, but also unexpected, which made me happy.

Overall, it’s a good discovery novel, one that I enjoyed reading.

September 2013 Wrap Up

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I thought I was prepared, and had this all ready to go up this morning. Then I remembered that I got sick over the weekend and spent it vegging rather than doing Blog Work (or much of anything, really). At least I caught it today. As a reminder: CYBILS NOMINATIONS OPEN TOMORROW. Go forth and nominate.

No surprise, my favorite this month was:

The Dream Thieves

It don’t get much better than this, folks.

The rest of the rest

Middle Grade

Hollow Earth
Life of Ty: Penguin Problems
Runt
Treasure Hunters

YA:

Winger
Frozen
The Madman’s Daughter
The Spectacular Now

Adult:

Tara Road (audio)
The Golem and the Jinni

What were your favorites this month?

A Couple of Quick Kidlit Remdiners

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First off: nominations for the Cybils open on Tuesday. I’ve been busy thinking of books to nominate for each category (follow the link for category descriptions), and then back-up books for those just in case my first choices are already nominated by the time I get to the computer. The nominations are open to everyone, and are for books published between October 26, 2012 and October 15, 2013. You’re going to nominate something. Right???

Registration for KidlitCon 2103 is open. You should come, and not just because it’s going to be in Austin, TX. Need some convincing?? Check out Bookshelves of Doom, Jen Robinson, Charlotte’s Library, Mother Reader, and Fuse #8 for some thoughts. I’ve already registered, asked for the days off of work, and got myself a roommate (hopefully), so I’ll see you there. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone, learning, and getting the chance to hang out with my people.

Five Reasons Why Reading YA Books Makes Me a Better Parent

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I’ve been thinking about this post for a long, long time, ever since Kelly @ Stacked‘s post at Huffington Post titled “What Are Grown-ups Afraid of in YA Books?”  (I saw it via Liz B.) I kind of put my thoughts on the back burner until this week, when I was doing a Banned Books Week display and I got to thinking about what I read and why I read it, and what my kids read.

I don’t think I’m one of the adults that Kelly talks about, those who read YA to take it away from the kids. I read the books for work, yes, because someone has to weed out the good and the not-so-good, and someone has to be able to recommend to a grandparent a book that their Ranger’s Apprentice-loving grandson will like. But I also read it for personal enjoyment; I have found for years, and continue to find, that some of the best writing and storytelling out there is in the books written for elementary, middle, and high-school-age kids.

But, most importantly, as my oldest has graduated and is leaving, I have realized I am a better parent because I read a lot of middle grade/YA fiction.

Here’s why:

1. What I read helps me develop empathy, in general.  One of the things that has struck me most about Shannon Hale’s crusade against sexism has been a comment she made in a conversation we had over the Mortal Instruments movie. She said: “I always expect more from those in the arts — those who read or dive into stories — to have the capacity for more empathy.” So, so true. I dislike it when people ask me if I read MG and YA books to weed out ones for my kids. NO. Actually, if there was only one reason I could give a parent to read MG and YA book it would be this: the more you read, the more you will empathize with what your children experience. The same goes for reading books about and by people of color, or nationalities, or disabilities, or GLBTQ. The more you read, the more you can experience the world from differing perspectives. And in this age of widening divisions, any reason for more unity — especially with my own children — is a good one.

Which leads to:

2. It gets me in the head of my teenagers and their friends. One of the keys to empathy is understanding, which is why I value this. Especially when it comes to boys, since I don’t have any. It’s not always a comfortable place for me (no parent of a daughter wants to realize how much boys think about sex, I think), but I feel better not only for knowing on an intellectual level, but for having experienced a boy’s story through his own eyes and to realize that really, deep down, all anyone wants is to be accepted and liked. And that we’re all just humans going through this human experience together.

It also means that:

3. It helps me helps me keep a channel of communication open. Because my only “rule” for reading is that they talk to me when there’s something they don’t understand or are uncomfortable with, I’ve been able to have many conversations with them about lots and lots of issues, from dating and relationships to underage drinking and rape. I’ve been able to help my kids learn to think about characters and people, to put aside snap judgments and to look past those to find acceptance and understanding. In short, because we both read the same books, we’re able to talk about them more, and I’m able to help them find empathy, as well as see consequences to life decisions, both good and bad. But it’s not just the issues.

In addition:

4. It helps me share their interests and likes. This is not only because I know what they think is “cool”. (Though in our house it’s more nerdy/geeky that reigns supreme.) Because I read what they read, we’re able to share in the experience, fangirling over Hale (well, that’s just me, and they laugh at me) or Percy Jackson (I’m as excited as they are to see Rick Riordan); being excited in the anticipation of the next release, or thrilled at an author event at my bookstore. We have a common ground, my girls and I, and I think our relationship is stronger because of that.

But, perhaps this is the most important one:

5. It allows me to allow my kids space and allows them to make their own decisions and mistakes and shows me what NOT to do. I know this sounds pretty cliche and like something I should be doing anyway, but I’m not sure that this is a natural parenting choice. Most parents — myself included — want to protect their kids, want to make sure they are safe. But, in doing so, the kids aren’t allowed to grow and learn. And, after reading adventure after adventure where the kids are forced to make decisions and mistakes, I have learned that sometimes parents get in the way. And reading about all the missing moms, controlling moms, and flat-out bad moms, I have learned to trust that my daughters’ judgement, while invariably flawed, is valid and that her life is her own. I need to be there as a guide, but not as a controlling force.

So, there you have it. My thoughts. What are yours?

Frozen

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by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston
ages: 12+
First sentence: “They were coming for her.”
Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there!
Review copy snagged off the ARC shelves at my place of employment.

I’ve come up with a tagline for this: It’s what’d you get if you smashed an environmental dystopian novel with Firefly. And I’m not just saying that because of my Nathan Filion crush. Promise.

It’s a future where due to environmental changes, the world flooded and then froze, and those who survived did so by either stubbornness or by selling their soul to the military that controls the government of the RSA — the Remaining States of America. It’s a tough world, one where you get by on luck and with a quick wit and a faster gun.

Nat is one of the survivors in this world, and she’s found herself in New Vegas, working as a blackjack dealer. Except she’s one of the Marked: a race of people with special powers, who have been marked on their body some way. That makes them ripe for persecution; the military, especially seems hell-bent on exterminating them. Nat was caught, once, but managed to escape. And now her powers — voices in her head, really — have her set on finding the Blue: a place where the sun shines and the grass grows.

For that, she enlists Wes, a captain of a crew and a ship, a mercenary with a heart of gold. Why, yes: he is Captain Mal and Han Solo rolled into one. He’s charming and captivating, saucy and sly; everything you’d expect a 19-year-old mercenary in a dystopian world to be. And yeah, there is a romance. But I didn’t mind that.

Oh, one more thing and it’s a little bit of a spoiler: that dragon in the O? It means something. And it makes the book that much better.

Considering my last outing with Melissa de la Cruz ended in a Did Not Finish, I consider this a win. It’s not a amazing book, but it is a lot of fun.

As a bonus: pictures from the event last night. They were really fun, and talked a lot about collaborating and selling the rights to their stuff. The girls had a good time.

I think out of all of them, Alison was the most interested in the book. We picked it up, she got it signed to her, and started reading it. Pretty cool.

A Brief Personal Interlude

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We said goodbye to my oldest, M, today. She’s off to Durgapur, West Bengal, for the next 8 months. And after 3 1/2 years of prepping and working to get to this point, she’s undeniably both really nervous and really excited. She said, as we were driving her to the airport, that this will be an Awesome Experience, even if she has to make it so by the sheer force of her will.

I hope so.

If you’re interested in following her adventures, she’ll be posting here once she arrives and gets settled.