The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Another selection on the September LibraryReads list is THE WATER DANCER by Ta-Nehisi Coates.  Our students read and discuss Coates’ award-winning Between the World and Me, but this is something very different, involving magical lights and superpowers. I was expecting more traditional historical fiction due to its Southern plantation setting and focus on the institution of slavery. Although Coates does use aspects of the historical period to explore the tension between duty to self (should one escape and make a better life) and duty to family, the novel also contains elements of fantasy and seems somewhat more akin to Colson Whitehead’s writing (our students also read The Intuitionist, for example). Wall Street Journal reviewer Sam Sacks says, "there's a lot of talk in this novel, but not enough tale." Coates extensively researched the Underground Railroad and speaks in the video below with PBS NewsHour’s Jeffrey Brown about the differences between history and myth:

Coates has an extensive tour planned; specifically in Chicago, he will be speaking at a FAN event to be held at Evanston High School on Friday, October 4 beginning at 7:00 pm. More info about Ta-Nehisi Coates and his new book is available from CBS this morning, NPR’s Fresh Air, and this New York Times review.  THE WATER DANCER received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow

THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY by Alix E. Harrow is a new book with an absolutely beautiful cover and an absolutely beautiful beginning. Harrow is a talented writer, describing a doorway as “a dividing point between here and there, us and them, mundane and magical” and commenting on the word Door: “There, look how tall and proud the word stands on the page now, the belly of the D like a black archway leading into white nothing.” She tells two parallel stories – one about Ade, a young girl living in the late 1800s, who meets a ghost boy from another world and then spends years looking for him, and another story about January Scaller, a troubled mixed-race child with a dog named Bad who is betrayed by her guardian, Mr. Locke. Both stories are imaginative and pull in the reader; I just did not like flipping between them. In addition, I thought that the pace of this debut novel really slowed and therefore found it difficult to stay interested at times, despite the wonderful writing and unique blend of historical fiction and fantasy. Booklist recommends THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY for teens, saying “Young adult readers will relate to January as she grows into herself and discovers the world around her.” I do think that teen – and adults – will enjoy these adventures and find much to consider in the commentary on social class. Readers just need to be patient as the novel unfolds, for “it is at the moment when the doors open, when things flow between the worlds, that stories happen.”

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger (author of Ordinary Grace and Cork O’Connor mysteries) is a new work of historical fiction that received a starred review from Library Journal and was a LibraryReads selection for September.  In an author’s note Krueger says, “I’ve poured the best of myself into this story … [as a key character says] ‘open yourself to every possibility, for there is nothing your heart can imagine that is not so.’”  Set in Minnesota in the summer of 1932, Krueger’s novel deals with themes of social justice, survival, and belonging. THIS TENDER LAND tells the story of four orphans, “impish” Odie (the narrator) and his older brother, mechanically minded Albert, plus their very strong Sioux friend Mose/Amdacha and little Emmy whom they all try to protect. Together, the four take a canoe on the Gilead River towards the Mississippi in the hopes of eventually finding family in Saint Louis. Along the way, they encounter cruelty and kindness, sickness and hunger, as well as joy through friendship and music. Booklist also recommends THIS TENDER LAND, saying “teens will enjoy this historical crossover novel of adventure, and identify with its young protagonist.” My only concern is the length – 464 pages is too long for a required read and only the more motivated students will select it as an independent choice. Those who do will find that the characters are appealing and their travels and adventures certainly pull readers through the story. Adults and book groups, particularly those who liked Where the Crawdads Sing, should definitely consider this heartland tale, too. Highly recommended.