Critically Acclaimed New Novels

All three of these titles were highlighted at a recent Bookstall presentation on new Spring and Summer titles by publisher representatives.  

A PLACE FOR US by Fatima Farheen Mirza is a thought-provoking debut which deals with the intergenerational relationships and personal lives of a Muslim family in America. Parents Rafiq and Layla are from India. They struggle to impart their values, language, and religious traditions as the children (daughters Hadia and Huda and son Amar) become young adults, all working to balance expectations with their own doubts and daily realities.  A PLACE FOR US is the first novel from Sarah Jessica Parker's new imprint and it received a starred review from School Library Journal. The novel is told from different perspectives and that helps define and build empathy for the characters, particularly the troubled and rebellious nature of Amar. I liked the establishment of this story very much, but felt it then became fairly slow and repetitive. Perhaps that was a result of frequently changing perspective and time periods? Or a feeling that readers needed more explanation to understand the characters?  By the midpoint, I preferred more action and less description which in turn could have also contributed to a shorter book. A PLACE FOR US, with its focus on family dynamics, assimilation, and social messages, could work as a text for Junior Theme, but its roughly 400 page length will be a deterrent to some students. Publishers Weekly called Mirza “a writer to watch” and I hope to read more of her work. This link leads to a helpful discussion guide. 

THERE THERE by Tommy Orange is a novel profiling twelve individuals and their reasons for attending the Big Oakland Powwow in California. Again, there are multiple perspectives which is a big plus in trying to describe the cultural identity and overall complexity of the Native American experience. However, the emotional anger really seems to dominate, making this a surprisingly difficult book to read. The author intertwines the historic occupation of Alcatraz with brutal current day Urban Indian violence and critical issues like fetal alcohol syndrome, domestic abuse and addiction. Other reviewers used phrases like “jangling energy,” “a rush of intensity,” and “devastating” to describe this debut storytelling work. THERE THERE received multiple starred reviews (from Booklist, Kirkus, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly).  Discussion guide here. 

THE GIRL WHO NEVER READ NOAM CHOMSKY by Jana Casale is yet another debut novel, this time focusing on a character named Leda and a myriad of details as she transitions from college to living in San Francisco, to marriage, to the lingering competition of motherhood and eventual old age. Throughout, there is a tension about pretending to be someone she’s not, supplemented by explorations of forming memories about inconsequential encounters with people like the cable guy and crying at sad commercials. The cover is unfortunate and needs more “oomph,” but this is a quiet, reflective book which has been quite popular with 20-somethings. Starred reviews from both Booklist and Kirkus (“So much fun, so smart, and ultimately profound and beautiful”), with an accompanying discussion guide.

Immigration stories ...

Immigration has been a hot topic lately, both in the news and with new literature. Here are several related titles:

THE HOUSE OF BROKEN ANGELS by Luis Alberto Urrea (Pulitzer Prize nominated author) is a work of fiction based loosely on events experienced by Urrea’s own family. The novel is set in San Diego and starts slowly, but has some fabulous reviews and could probably work for Junior Theme with a determined student. The main character, Big Angel, is dying and his family throws a huge birthday party on the same weekend that they bury his mother. There is quite a bit of introspection on what it means to be an immigrant – “we are Mexi-cans, not Mexi-can’ts” – and on intergenerational relationships. Wife Perla as well as children Minnie, Lalo, and Yndio feature in this family story filled with complex expectations and connections. One day, speaking as a Mexican father, Big Angel says, "All we do, mija, is love. Love is the answer. Nothing stops it. Not borders. Not death." 

THE HOUSE OF BROKEN ANGELS received a starred review from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. Our copy will soon be available.

STRANGER by Jorge Ramos, non-fiction and subtitled “The Challenge of a Latino Immigrant in the Trump Era,” makes it readily obvious where the author stands despite having lived in the United States for more than 35 years. An Emmy-award winning journalist, Ramos points out, “Almost all of us here are either immigrants or the descendants of foreigners, and that has always helped us to cross borders and exceed the limits of what we thought was possible.” This work draws on statistics and points out inconsistencies in policy (asking how the deportation of 11 million people would actually work and noting that building an expensive wall does not begin to address the 40 percent of undocumented people who either come by plane or overstay their visas). Ramos also provides firsthand accounts of his encounters with Trump during press conferences and describes his own profession, saying “a journalist’s primary social function is to question those in power.” Ramos explains that he views himself as a public servant and that he agrees with the principle of objectivity in journalism, but argues that does not mean that a journalist should always remain neutral since neutrality sometimes runs counter to the truth itself, quoting Elie Wiesel, “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.” STRANGER is also available en Espanol: Stranger: el desafio de un inmigrante latino an la era de Trump and was recommended for teens by Booklist due to “Ramos’ direct and personal style, clear approach to urgent issues, and reflections on his youth.”

 

Turning again to new fiction, AMERICA IS NOT THE HEART by Elaine Castillo is a debut novel that received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. However, I found a sadness mired here, too, and I am honestly not sure that it will hold our students’ interest due in part to the several languages and unusual tenses employed. Castillo begins the story in the Philippines and describes life for a young girl and eventual nurse trainee named Pacita/Paz, writing in second tense (e.g., “You think about ignoring him, … You should ignore him, … You don’t know yet ….”). . Next, the American Dream is explored as Castillo shifts the story to California when former political prisoner Hero arrives to stay with her uncle Pol, his now wife Paz and their young daughter, Roni.   

Perhaps try this challenging, new title with adult book groups; it offers potential for discussion and interpretation, plus perceptive observations: “Baggage means no matter how far you go, no matter how many times you immigrate, there are countries in you you’ll never leave.”

The Balcony by Jane Delury

THE BALCONY by Jane Delury is a novel in stories. The centerpiece is a manor house in near Paris which provides the background for over a hundred years of events, primarily in the life of one family.  Debut author Delury has chosen to not tell the story in chronological order, rather inviting her readers to make connections as the chapters flit from 1992 to 1890 back to 1980 and so on. The characters include Henri, a Resistance Fighter, his troubled sons named Guy and Jacques, two grandsons and a great-grand-daughter, appearing at different stages in their lives as well as a young au pair who is attracted to her employer, an alcoholic academic. Somehow, there’s quite a sense of foreboding and melancholy throughout these well-written stories. Personally, I would have preferred a few more happy memories for the deftly developed characters. THE BALCONY by Jane Delury received a starred review from Kirkus.