More Young Adult Fiction ...

The list of ABE nominees are here (in a pdf) and this year Susan sponsored students who were reading and voting on selections for the list – that was exciting, especially when they were recognized by the Board of Education for their efforts!  As a group, the Librarians at New Trier will be talking about these books in the next few weeks and I am sure some more reviews will appear here.  In the meantime, here’s a mix of recent Young Adult titles, some of which might appear on the ABE list in the future:

Don’t you love the cover of THE BEAUTY THAT REMAINS by Ashley Woodfolk (March 6; Random House; SLJ: Grade 9 up)? The story is also multi-faceted, being told from three perspectives by racially diverse characters: Autumn, Shay, and Logan each of whom have lost someone they loved (a best friend to a car crash, a twin to leukemia and a boyfriend to apparent suicide). They, too, need to rebuild and reform their lives and get beyond the shocking situations, the panic attacks and the self-medicating with alcohol. Debut author Woodfolk weaves a darker and very emotional tale as these three try to cope with grief, saying at one point, “Lying is the new language we speak. It’s the only way we can talk at all.” Gradually, though, they begin to rely on new friendships and a shared interest in music. THE BEAUTY THAT REMAINS received a starred review from School Library Journal. 

A GIRL LIKE THAT by Tanaz Bhathena (February 27; Farrar, Straus and Giroux; SLJ: Grade 8 up) has another very compelling cover and insightfully explores some heavy themes. This story, told from multiple viewpoints, offers a look at life in Saudi Arabia for a young orphan girl named Zarin Wadia. Her aunt criticizes and restricts her actions constantly and, as Kirkus says, there are “graphic descriptions of assault and sexual abuse.” Zarin has difficulty establishing friendships (unlike her Muslim school mates, she is Zoroastrian) and she rebels, acting out by smoking cigarettes and sneaking around with male friends. Readers will feel compassion for her and anger at her difficulties coping with such a controlling and often sexist society. A GIRL LIKE THAT received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal. Read an excerpt here.

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE by Cori McCarthy (April 1, 2018; Sourcebooks; SLJ: Grade 8 up) is an unusual blend of present day movie making and a fantasy story.  As it begins, Iris Thorne (17) and her young brother Ryder are arriving in Ireland to observe the filming of their grandmother’s fantasy epic named Elementia. Iris has a trust fund established by her grandmother and is clearly privileged.  She doesn’t seem to recognize this and spends an inordinate amount of time sulking and bemoaning her in loco parentis role as well as obsessing over the strained relationship she has with her father. Good for her that there are several supportive cast members and an empowering, feminist-leaning director. Seemingly on a quest herself and experiencing romance for the first time, Iris does an amazing amount of maturing in just over a week or so as the filming zigs and zags from one crisis to another. 

Although not too realistic, NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE is ultimately an uplifting, hopeful story and I have two favorite quotes:  “My ma has a saying.  It’s a life policy, really. Do something that scares you every day.” And…   “Say that the book is a sculpture. You can walk around the story.  You can touch it. You can view it up close or far away.  That is why people love books.  The stories interact with your memories, your experiences.  They are personalized.  Movies? Movies are a picture of that same statue.  The parameters are set. The characters have defined faces. The scenes artistically rendered to one person’s vision.” Can’t wait to use that description in my next booktalk!  In the meantime, hope you find a book that speaks to YOU.